BRITISH OPEN 2008
Since the great Lee Trevino in 1972 only two players have managed to defend their British Open thrones.
In 1983 Tom Watson managed it and in total the Kansas City kid piked up an amazing five claret jugs.
Twenty three years later Tiger Woods won back to back opens joining the select club of defending Champions.
And for those into statistics the last European golfer to have successfully defended his title was the Scot James Braid way back in 1906.
This week at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club Ireland's Padraig Harrington aims to follow in the footsteps of Woods, Watson, Trevino and Braid but he more than anyone else knows that doing so will be amazingly difficult.
Nursing an injured right wrist the Open Champion will have it all to do if he's to challenge for the top honour but he's determined to give it his best shot at the Lancashire course.
Harrington's injury came last weekend when he played in the Irish PGA Championship, an event he won for the fifth time on Saturday.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
When Peter Crouch was sold by Portsmouth in 2002 Aston Villa paid £5 million for the 6ft 7inch striker's services.
He now returns to Pompey for over double the price but in todays crazy days of big money signings Harry Redknapp knows he's picked up the big hit man at a relatively good price.
Crouch scored 42 goals in all competitions for Liverpool over three seasons at Anfield but after the signing of Fernando Torres last season the England International was always going to struggle to book a regular starting place in the Red's side.
Now Harry Redknapp will hope the England little and large tag team of Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch can help solidify his side's place in the Premiership elite.
And judging by Crouch's strike rate over his career to date clever Harry seems destined to see his plan work.
The 27 year old has in general been consistent throughout his career and fans of Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth (2001-02), Aston Villa, Norwich City, Southampton and Liverpool will be quick to tell you that he's a massive talent.
EURO 2008
Firstly hats off to the stylish Spanish who brought a breath of fresh air to a major Championships and fully deserved to win on the big stage for the first time since 1964.
While striker Fernando Torres of Liverpool was the hero last night in the final against Germany Spain boast an entire squad of gifted players who for
once all pulled in the one direction for the benefit of their country.Today the 28 year old Barcelona midfielder Xavi (pictured right) was voted player of the tournament though I have to say I disagree with UEFA's panel on that decision.
Certainly he played a major role in Spain's return to the big time and his goal against Russia opened the floodgates for his side but at least two of his fellow countrymen stood out for me.
WIMBLEDON TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP 2008
It's almost impossible to dislike the wonderful Roger Federer. At 26 the Swiss star is already a legend and his five succesive Wimbledon wins speak for themselves.
The King of centre court he just doesn't know how to lose in South West London but last year the first signs of a Federer crack started to emerge.
There he was back in a Wimbledon final and though he was facing the world number two Rafael Nadal he probably thought it would be another usual four set win.
Nadal had other ideas. The reigning Champion did hold on to win but he was brought to a fifth set for the first time in his Wimbledon career.
Federer won 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 but fans leaving Wimbledon that day knew the great Swiss' run as undisputed leader in chief here could be coming to an end.
Then at this year's French Open final in Paris the clay court specialist Nadal coasted past his great rival winning 6-1,6-3,6-0. It was the third year in a row that he beat Federer in the Roland Garros final but the first in consecutive sets and in such a commanding way.
Now we must ask has the tide finally turned in the men's game?
