UP - Liverpool - If you had said to me at the start of the season that Liverpool would win the Premier League I would probably have laughed at you. This Sunday, a 3-2 victory over Manchester City has left fate entirely in their own hands now though, as if they win their remaining four games they win their first title in the Premier League era. Not only do they thoroughly deserve it but as an Englishman nothing would please me more than to see Gerrard collect a winners medal.
UP - Bubba Watson - An emotional Bubba Watson earned himself a second green jacket this week after a marvellous Masters victory in Augusta. The big hitting American played a masterful weekend to win for the second time in three years, the first player to do this since Phil Mickelson in 2006. His all-guns-blazing approach won him yet more fans as he successfully held off the challenge of rookies Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt to celebrate with an eight under par victory.
UP - Sir Dave Brailsford - It comes with a heavy heart that Sir Dave Brailsford has had to step down from his position as performance director of British cycling. This decision comes after he led Team GB to sixteen medals across the last two Olympic games, a remarkable feat from the man so focused on detail. We will still see his face dotted around as he takes on a more permanent role with Team Sky where he has already won two yellow jerseys with Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.
UP - Manny Pacquiao - This week Manny Pacquiao fought hard to claim yet another title in his eighth different weight division. Pacquaio added his 56th victory to his illustrious career with a points victory over Timothy Bradley. The Filipino was in control throughout much of the bout and gained revenge for his controversial 2012 defeat to Bradley. His welterweight title now frees the path for a reopening of negotiation between his camp and Floyd Mayweather's for the potential fight of the century.
UP - Zoe Smith - A story that slipped quietly under the radar as weightlifter Zoe Smith became only the second British woman ever to gain a European medal as she claimed bronze in Tel Aviv. Smith's achievement is all the more impressive considering she was competing in just her first competition since London 2012 after a serious of injuries kept her out for well over a year. Smith will now turn her head towards the Commonwealth games in Glasgow next year.
DOWN - The Sunday Sun - Say what you want about the Sun, it may have a bad reputation for various reasons, but what a hilarious headline on the back page of the paper this Sunday. After Alan Pardew criticised the media for his sides disappointing form, the Sun responded by listing Pardew's defeats and also his headbutt on David Meyler and taking rather sarcastic credit for these actions. My respect levels for the Sun definitely went up after this little escapade.
DOWN - Mo Farah - So we were all going to love Mo regardless of his result in the Marathon, but after he built up his own chances so highly it was inevitable that there was a little bit of disappointment when he failed to finish in the top three. Farah crossed the line in a credible eighth place but failed to beat the British record that he desperately wanted, finishing over a minute slower than Steve Jones' record. It may be sometime before we see another MoBot.
DOWN - Chris Hughton - Another one bites the dust. Premier League managers have been dropping like flies this season and another one has met their unfortunate fate this week as Chris Hughton joined the casuality list. On Monday he was sacked by the board with just five games to go including Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal so its going to be a tough job for step-in coach Neil Adams. For me this is the right decision at completely the wrong time.
DOWN - Masters Favourites - Another fantastic Masters tournament comes to an end but this one will go down as the tournament of the outsiders. Tied in second was a pair of rookies, Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt and the veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez was in fourth. Hardly names we were expecting to see there and even Bubba Watson was not spoken about in the build up despite winning two years ago. Another poor tournament for Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and the likes. We are definitely in the years of the underdog.
DOWN - Barcelona - Talk about the wheels coming off. After an enforced eighteen month transfer embargo last week, Barcelona proved that this was a monumental problem after effectively dropping out of two competitions. The midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid meant Barcelona failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2007. They then followed this up with a 1-0 loss to Granada to fall four points behind Atletico Madrid. It seems that the Catalans are crumbling.
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