Sports Ladder (June 29th - July 6th)

UP - Surprise Packages - So the semi-finals are decided and we have a heavyweight bunch with Brazil against Germany and Argentina versus Holland but it really was the performance of certain 'minnow' teams that captured the imagination of the public. Costa Rica were the last to fall after an outstanding qualification from a 'group of death' but there was some sensational stuff from Colombia, USA and Algeria to name just a few. If we could have some of that passion for our England boys in four years then that would be fantastic.

UP - Susie Wolff - Okay, so it only lasted one racing lap. Okay, so it was a bit disappointing that the car suffered an oil pressure issue. Besides that it was great to see Susie Wolff become the first female driver to step into a Formula One car on a race weekend in twenty-two years. So the actual practice session was a disaster as she suffered a technical issue beyond her control and finished second last in the session. Yet Susie will get another chance in Hoffenheim and I for one look forward to seeing her get a proper crack of the whip.

UP - Nick Kyrgios - If you had not heard of the tenacious Australian before this week then you will have now. Kyrgios, who I met just last month at the AEGON Trophy in Nottingham, took the tennis world by storm as he blew apart Rafael Nadal on route to his first Wimbledon quarter-final at just nineteen years old. He may have lost to Milos Raonic but the youngster certainly proved why many are considering him to be the next big tennis sensation.

UP - Jordanne Whiley - Whilst British eyes were fixed on Andy Murray this week, (well until Wednesday at least), there was another Brit who walked away with a title as Jordanne Whiley and her partner Yui Kamiji won their third Grand Slam Wheelchair Doubles title of the year, meaning they need just the the US Open to complete the set. The pair have been playing some magnificent stuff over the last 12 months or so and now sit proudly at the top of the global rankings.

UP - Aberystwyth Town - With the World Cup coming towards a sparkling end it will not be long before we return to the regularity of everyday football. For some however, that has already started and I couldn't help but chuckle at the sly dig made by Aberystwyth Town to Manchester United when they messaged the Red Devils saying 'we are all off to Europe... are you?'. Unquestionably funny but perhaps United will have the last laugh as Aberystwyth were only travelling to Derry and lost 4-0 in the first leg.

DOWN - Massimo Cellino - So it's official, we have another Vincent Tan on our hands. We all knew from his time at Cagliari that Cellino was a little bit bonkers but he stepped it up this week by refusing to allow Paddy Kenny to join the first team because his birthday is on the 17 May. Seventeen is considered an unlucky number in Italy and Cellino's deep suspicion of it has now left Kenny looking for a new club. People like this should not be allowed to own football clubs.

DOWN - Mark Cavendish - Poor Mark. You wait your whole life to cycle the most prestigious event on the cycling calender right past your own doorstep but the Manxman had it taken away from him when he unfortunately crashed barely 200 metres from the end of the first stage. The resulting shoulder injury has ruled Cavendish out of the rest of the Tour after he was just a little too desperate to wear that coveted yellow jersey at home.

DOWN - Luis Suarez - Why? Just why? I cannot help but laugh at the calamity that is Luis Suarez. He has the potential to be one of the absolute best players in the world but is constantly impeded by his vampirical tendencies. I'm not sure what was worse though, the fact he bit someone for the third time in his career or his excuse that he tripped and fell teeth first into Chiellini's shoulder. I'm concerned that if he does it again he will emerge from the ban in the 'twilight' of his career. Terrible vampire joke quote ticked.

DOWN - Serena Williams - Well it looks like the Queen of women's tennis has now well and truly lost her grip on the thrown. Suffering her third early exit in Grand Slams this year Serena will now have a monumental job on her hands to retain her US Open title. Luckily her grip on the number one ranking is well in tact as Li Na also lost early but others are catching fast and it may only be a matter of time before Serena loses in tennis' game of thrones.

DOWN - Match Fixing - Whichever direction you turn your head in the sporting world there seems to be problems with match fixing at the moment. Lou Vincent, the self-proclaimed cricketing cheat, was littered on the back page of the papers this week for his confession and then we were treated to a number of stories about match-fixing at the World Cup. As if that wasn't enough, there is now an investigation into Aberdeen in the Europa League. It has become an epidemic that needs to be killed sooner rather than later.

Disclaimer - This was written before the finish of the Wimbledon Men's Final and before I have watched the British Grand Prix so that's why neither are mentioned.

Sports Ladder (29th April-5th May)

UP - British Cycling - With the Tour de France kick starting along the mean streets of Yorkshire this year it seems only fitting that we should get in the party mood with some victories in the months beforehand. British riders underwent something of a Super Sunday this week as both Adam Yates, Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome all obtained victories. Yates won the Tour of Turkey with Cavendish claiming the stage on the day whilst Chris Froome retained his Tour de Romandie title.

UP - Amir Khan -Britain's boxing superstar this week burst back into the ring with a marvelous display in Las Vegas against Luis Collazo. In his debut fight as a welterweight, Khan rolled back the years to win a dominant points decision, knocking his opponent down three times throughout the bout. This victory re-opens the chance for Khan to line-up a potential dream bought with the mighty Mayweather. It looks a real possibility.

UP - Marc Marquez - Whilst a lot of motorsport media heads in the direction of Formula One, it is the two-wheeled escapades of Marc Marquez which are making headlines of a different kind. After winning the Moto GP last year in his debut season, becoming the first rookie to do so since 1978, the young Spaniard has continued his fine form with not one, not two, not three but four consecutive victories to kick start this season. Start as you mean to go on I suppose.

UP - GB Taekwondo - After Jade Jones helped put British Taekwondo on the map with her gold medal at London 2012 it seems like the team are making greater strides after a record medals haul at this years European Taekwondo Championships. Held in Azerbaijan, Jones and the team collected eight medals between them to eclipse the previous record of seven collected during the Manchester Championships of 2012. Top effort.

UP - James Nielsen - An interesting tribute to Roger Bannister's four minute mile in California this week as James Nielsen completed a mile in under five minutes. But this was no ordinary mile. In fact, Nielsen completed the Beer Mile. Four laps around an athletics track with a beer in between each 400m. With a Budweiser in one hand and gritty athleticism in the other, Nielsen stormed round the track in 4 minutes 57.1 seconds to set a new Beer Mile record. That deserves a celebratory pint!

DOWN - Reading Fans - Don't count your chickens before they hatch. A slightly awkward moment this week as Reading fans stormed the pitch to celebrate their team grabbing the last Championship play-off spot... Only for Brighton to dive in and steal it with a late, late goal in their game. This left the Royals fans looking rather silly as they were now celebrating narrowly missing out on the play-offs. Oh well, there is always next year!

DOWN - Tyson Gay - It has become a far too common sight this year seeing athletes at the very top of the Athletics world getting bans for drugs and Tyson Gay joins the likes of Asafa Powell on the sidelines after testing positive for a banned substance. Initially he was to be banned for two years but his cooperation with the case meant this sentence was halved. Gay has also returned his medal that he won at London 2012 as part of the 4 x 100m American relay team.

DOWN - Relegation Rubbish - So you're in the relegation zone and as the footballing cliche goes, 'fighting for your life'. Well this week's display did plenty to dispel that particular phrase as Fulham, Cardiff and Norwich all produced languid displays to all but confirm themselves as the three teams tumbling out of the Premier League basement. Fulham fell foul to Stoke whilst Cardiff were crushed by the Toon and, although Norwich drew with Chelsea, they showed no intent to win when they had to. A relegation well earned.

DOWN -  Spanish Football Fans - This week we'll end with a serious note as a wave of racial incidents have arisen in Spain which had opened up the question of whether racism in Spanish football is more endemic than previously realised. After an incident involving a banana thrown at Dani Alves last weekend, this weekend saw Atletico Madrid fans abused Papakouli Diop just weeks before their appearance in the Champions League Final. Spanish football officials need to wake up and act!