Sports Ladder (6th - 12th May)

UP - Manchester City - Well I suppose through gritted teeth I should probably congratulate Manchester City on their second Premier League title. Okay, so clearly I didn't want them to win but they did, and in some style it has to be said. Pellegrini has turned out to be a marvelous appointment, playing fast, attractive football but perhaps more importantly settling down a chaotic dressing room from the start of the season. With investment likely over the summer they will obviously be back in the hunt again next year.

UP - Michael Sam - It shouldn't have to be a story but alas it is one, and due to the nature of it's importance one I shall cover. Michael Sam this week became the first openly homosexual player to be successfully drafted into the NFL (American Football for those of you that don't follow StarSpangledHammer). He was the 249th pick of this years draft and will join up with the St. Louis Rams for this season, also becoming the first homosexual player to play a game should he start.

UP - Martin Kaymer - Well after looking like a really dangerous player a few years ago, German golfer Martin Kaymer has somewhat faded into the rough. This week, however he came back into the limelight with his first PGA Tour victory in four years with a one shot victory in tough conditions at the Players Championship. Kaymer will now be pushing on to try and secure a Ryder Cup spot. Also rising up the ladder is sports photography. I mean what a photo!

UP - Rebekah Tiler - What were you doing when you were 15? Well, whatever it was I bet it wasn't the same as Miss Tiler. This week Rebecca Tiler became the youngest ever winner of a British weightlifting title with her victory in the 69kg class. In fact, Tiler managed to lift a whopping 205kg which is not only nearly three times my weight, but also enough to have won her both the 75kg and 75+kg categories at the British championships. Certainly beats my 10kg dumbbells.

UP - Laura Trott - There is nothing in sport we love more than an absolute fighter. Now we know Laura Trott is a sensational athlete but this week really showcased her grit and determination. Okay, so she finished the Tour of Britain in 55th, but after a huge fall on the third stage the Olympic star did well just to pull herself back onto the bike. Clearly in agony not only did she finish the stage but she then repeated the feat the next day to finish the race. Now that, is true British fighting spirit.

DOWN - Ronnie O'Sullivan - Ronnie O'Sullivan really did have a stinker of a weekend. Despite feeling in the form of his life, the master managed to squander a 10-5 lead to lose the World Championship to Mark Selby 18-14 in an enthralling final. However, Ronnie was then involved in a car accident whilst travelling home from his final loss on the M1. Luckily both himself and his son, who was also in the car were absolutely fine, but it will be a week to forget for the former champion.

DOWN - Liverpool - You don't win anything by squandering a three goal advantage in football. Liverpool found that out the brutal way this week as they tossed aside a three goal lead against Crystal Palace to draw 3-3 and throw away any chance they had of really applying pressure to Manchester City. Ultimately it wouldn't have mattered as City would have won on goal difference but that result epitomised Liverpool in recent weeks. Threw the bottle in right at the end.

DOWN - Atletico Madrid - Atletico have had a simply sublime season, there can be no doubting that. Front runners heading into the final day of the Liga BBVA title race and into a Champions League final for the first time since 1997, also setting up the first final between two sides from the same city ever. But, their's team performances were let down this week by racist actions from their fans. They were heard directing monkey chants at Papakouly Diop of Levante. Modern football should certainly have outgrown this behaviour by now and it's so disappointing to still see it in the higher echelons of the game. Kick racism out of football.

DOWN - Michael Jackson - It's amazing the influence a dead popstar can have on the sporting world isn't it? Well according to Mohammed Al Fayed, the old chairman of Fulham, the removal of the Michael Jackson statue outside of Craven Cottage was the main reason they got relegated. That seems like a pretty 'dangerous' suggestion considering how 'bad' Fulham were and how (smooth) criminal their defending was throughout most of the season. Don't worry, I'll beat it after those terrible puns.

DOWN - Andy Murray - Right after I cover another disappointing week for the British tennis number one. So who did he lose to this time? Well this time it was the turn of the Colombian Santiago Giraldo to take a major scalp as he convincingly beat the Brit in two sets in the Madrid third round. Murray is rapidly running out of time to find form ahead of, first the French Open and then his Wimbledon defence. He needs to get a coach in and sharpish because he seems to be lacking direction at present.

Sports Ladder (13th Jan - 19th Jan)

UP - Ronnie O'Sullivan - Not only did Ronnie O'Sullivan claim his fifth Masters title this week, but he did it in such style. Leading 7-1 after the first session against defending champion Mark Selby, O'Sullivan finished him off, eventually winning 10-4. Brutal from Ronnie who only dropped seven frames throughout the entire tournament. Absolutely no pot luck about it.

UP - Australian Open - Where to begin? It's been an eventful week down under. Ridiculous weather ranging from a four day extreme heatwave to freak lightning storms. Seeds have toppled early in Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Juan Martin Del Potro and Caroline Wozniacki. Fedberg is proving to be a dangerous partnership. Oh, and Murray is quietly going about his business. Roll on the second week.

UP - Lizzy Yarnold - Yarnold is one of a number of British hopefuls who will soon be departing to Sochi to take part in the Winter Olympics. Normally we are happy to celebrate just getting one medal but this time there is a genuine chance of a number of medals. Yarnold in the Skeleton, Christie in speed-skating, and both curling teams are notable prospects in amongst a whole host of others.

UP - Hyde - Hyde fans were celebrating their first victory in 30 matches this week as they claimed a 2-0 victory against Welling United. Their last victory came all the way back in April and such a poor run of results has left them eighteen points adrift of safety. With just seven points and one win all season, it seems extremely unlikely that they will avoid the drop but you never know! Stranger things have happened.

UP - Jamaican Bobsleigh Team - This is a story with so much history. After Jamaican qualification to the 1988 Games led to the film Cool Runnings, it looks like Jamaica will be back, qualifying for the first time in 12 years. Courtesy of an issue with the Dutch team not meeting their National qualifying standard, it looks as though the two man team will qualify for Sochi. Then, they just need to raise the money to actually get there. Nothing warms the soul like a Caribbean country competing at the Winter Olympics..

DOWN - Alexis Ruano - I'm still wincing despite reading this story on Friday. Whilst a Messi wondergoal and a Neymar ankle injury stole the headlines, Alexis Ruano certainly came out of that game badly. After what seemed like a routine coming together Ruano was carried off on a stretcher. It was later revealed that the Getafe player suffered 'broken veins' in his testicle leading to it swelling up to an enormous size. I'm squirming just typing this.

DOWN - Jermain Defoe - Jermain Defoe's transfer to MLS side Toronto has been on the cards for months and this week it finally became official. However a combination of an overenthusiastic promotion video and a geographical nightmare has made the transfer a bit of a joke this week. The video [below] is hugely entertaining but it was Defoe stating that he was "happy to be in the USA" which stole the headlines. Who wants to tell Jermain that Toronto is actually in Canada?

DOWN - Rory McIlroy - Poor Rory. Just when he thinks he's back in form he's slapped with an unfortunate but required two stroke penalty meaning he ultimately finished just one shot behind. He claimed a moral victory as he literally hit the fewest shots despite not winning. Nevertheless, it was a strong showing from McIlroy who looked to be back to his best. Perhaps his upcoming marriage has given him a new lease of life?

DOWN - England Cricket - It just won't stop. The English men's cricketing collapse continued this week as they lost the ODI series 3-0 with two matches still to play. The second match was tight but the other two were feeble efforts and Captain Cook really needs to reassess the situation down under. At least the women are showing us how its done, closing in on an Ashes victory to show the men up.

DOWN - Serena Williams - The Queen has been dethroned! Well, technically she wasn't actually the Queen of Melbourne, just the Queen of tennis. Regardless, her loss this morning to Ana Ivanovic was by far the biggest shock of the tournament so far and has blown the women's draw wide open. Azarenka will now be the odds on favourite to claim a consecutive Aussie Open title.