1) Question: how long does it take to run 45 feet? Answer: two seconds, if you’re LeBron James. That was all the time it took for the Cleveland Cavaliers legend toblock a potentially decisive effort by Golden State Warriors man Andre Iguodala with two minutes remaining in Game 7 of the NBA finals. It was the defining moment of a scintillating contest, a feat of speed and athleticism all the more astounding for the fact that it came at such a critical juncture, with the teams locked at 89 points apiece and James already on court for more than three-quarters of an hour. “I’m at a loss for words,” said James afterwards. “This is unbelievable.” He was talking about a win that saw Cleveland become the first team to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series, leaving their star playercrying on the court. He could have been describing this moment alone.
2) If unpredictability is sport’s lifeblood, dominance can be its death knell. To many Wimbledon fans, Pete Sampras had assumed the air of the grim reaper by 1996. His serve might have been a thing of beauty when viewed in isolation, but spectators hoping to enjoy a rally or two were growing as tired of the relentless barrage of aces that flowed from the American’s racket as they were of his business-like on-court demeanour. Champion in each of the three preceding years, Sweet Pete had long since turned sour. From Cliff Richard crooning in the Royal Box during a rain delay to Melissa Johnson, the streaker who ran on to Centre Court before the start of the men’s final, everyone did their bit to enliven things. And no one did more than the eventual champion, Richard Krajicek, who stunned the defending champion in the last eight and went on to win the only grand slam title of his career. A 6ft 5in Dutchman with a whacking great serve of his own was hardly the obvious antidote to Sampras’s SW19 hegemony. But his victory, combined with MaliVai Washington’s fairytale progress to the second Sunday – the Floridian fought back from 5-1 down in the fifth set of his epic semi-final against fellow American Todd Martin to become the first black player to contest the final since Arthur Ashe in 1975 – proved a breath of fresh air. It was the only defeat Sampras would suffer at the All England Club between 1993 and 2000.
1) Question: how long does it take to run 45 feet? Answer: two seconds, if you’re LeBron James. That was all the time it took for the Cleveland Cavaliers legend toblock a potentially decisive effort by Golden State Warriors man Andre Iguodala with two minutes remaining in Game 7 of the NBA finals. It was the defining moment of a scintillating contest, a feat of speed and athleticism all the more astounding for the fact that it came at such a critical juncture, with the teams locked at 89 points apiece and James already on court for more than three-quarters of an hour. “I’m at a loss for words,” said James afterwards. “This is unbelievable.” He was talking about a win that saw Cleveland become the first team to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series, leaving their star playercrying on the court. He could have been describing this moment alone.
2) If unpredictability is sport’s lifeblood, dominance can be its death knell. To many Wimbledon fans, Pete Sampras had assumed the air of the grim reaper by 1996. His serve might have been a thing of beauty when viewed in isolation, but spectators hoping to enjoy a rally or two were growing as tired of the relentless barrage of aces that flowed from the American’s racket as they were of his business-like on-court demeanour. Champion in each of the three preceding years, Sweet Pete had long since turned sour. From Cliff Richard crooning in the Royal Box during a rain delay to Melissa Johnson, the streaker who ran on to Centre Court before the start of the men’s final, everyone did their bit to enliven things. And no one did more than the eventual champion, Richard Krajicek, who stunned the defending champion in the last eight and went on to win the only grand slam title of his career. A 6ft 5in Dutchman with a whacking great serve of his own was hardly the obvious antidote to Sampras’s SW19 hegemony. But his victory, combined with MaliVai Washington’s fairytale progress to the second Sunday – the Floridian fought back from 5-1 down in the fifth set of his epic semi-final against fellow American Todd Martin to become the first black player to contest the final since Arthur Ashe in 1975 – proved a breath of fresh air. It was the only defeat Sampras would suffer at the All England Club between 1993 and 2000.
3) There was a time when referees refrained from drawing attention to themselves with bizarre tongue movements, alleged sarcastic quips and pre-match rituals better suited to American college basketball teams, and instead focused simply on the smooth running of football matches. If that seems unlikely, cast your mind back to the occasion when a certain David Elleray wore a mic for a First Division clash between Millwall and Arsenal. To hear the former Harrow schoolmaster roundly inform David O’Leary, “You do not speak to my linesman like that”, or bark at Tony Adams to “Stand up”, is to recall an era before the Premier League turned footballers into self-regarding gazillionaires. Little did we dream then that the day would dawn when nostalgic yearning for Elleray would become a legitimate pastime.
4) “Don’t stand there like you’re going to do something to me … man to man, show some respect.” The regulation verbals before some drunken bar-room brawl, or the words of a quietly-spoken, apple-crumble eating world heavyweight heavyweight champion preparing for his first title defence against a 6ft 7in Californian intent on getting under his skin? The latter. The exchange between Anthony Joshua and Domic Breazeale at a photocall following the announcement of their clash at London’s O2 Arena may yet prove a good deal more entertaining than anything than happens come fight night.
5) Marshawn Lynch, the recently retired Seattle Seahawks running back, earned the nickname ‘Beast Mode’ for his celebrated aggression and ability to break tackles. But was there more to his success than just running straight through his opponents? No. No there wasn’t – as the big man spells out with meticulous clarity at 29 seconds. Lynch is similarly forthright with Hugh Jackman during a workout at an Oakland school – this ain’t rugby, mate...
6) He is Zlatan. And after the Sweden star’s announcement that Euro 2016 will be his international swansong, now seems a good moment to relive some of his best goals for his country – including that strike against England.