1) Nicky Hayden, former MotoGP world champion, tragically died on Monday. Here is one of many tributes to the Kentucky Kid, and here he is on a champions’ lap of the Isle of Man TT back in 2011. Nicky’s father Earl Hayden spoke late last year about his son’s lifelong passion for motorcycles. Also from last year, Hayden gives an in-depth interview to CNET’s Tim Stevens, who has paid a personal, emotional tribute. Finally, take a look back at his finest hour – his 2006 world title, where he pipped Valentino Rossi after a season of high drama.
2) It’s FA Cup final weekend – here’s how Chelsea and Arsenal got to Wembley. The two London sides have only met in one Cup final before – the Ray Parlour final in 2002. Ryan Giggs remembers everything about Manchester United’s 1996 win over Liverpool – apart from David May. From way back when, here’s Pathé News on the full FA Cup final experience in 1966, including behind-the-scenes pre-match footage: “These Everton men, tense, strung up, nervous, only 90 minutes away from victory – or defeat.” Also from Pathé: 1939’s report when referees really knew how to dress, and a creative effort in 1936 when the cameras were locked out, so Pathé filmed the game by hovering overhead in the Pathé autogyro instead – the Skycopter of its day. Some brilliant footage, “taken in circumstances of considerable difficulty”.
3) It’s the Portuguese cup final coming up, too: Sunday’s game a repeat of the 2013 final, when Vitória de Guimarães came from behind to stun Benfica. Elsewhere in Europe, Wolfsburg face a relegation play-off against local rivals Eintracht Braunschweig. Oh Wolfsburg – where did it all go wrong? In France, Amiens were sixth with 10 seconds of their season left – but one goal lifted them to second. Here’s how it looked from the stands.
4) Yet more tension! It’s Championship play-off final time: Reading playing Huddersfield on Monday for £200m. The Royals have lost two Wembley thrillers before – going 2-0 up on Bolton in 1995 only to lose 4-3, and going 3-0 down to Swansea in 2011… and losing 4-2. Huddersfield have won three play-off finals in lower tiers – including a big day out against Bristol Rovers in 1995. More classic finals: Swindon 4-3 Leicester in 1993, Ipswich 4-2 Barnsley in 2000 and, perhaps best of all, Charlton 4-4 Sunderland (7-6 on pens) in 1998.
5) It’s French Open season, too. Last year Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in the men’s final, while Garbiñe Muguruza shocked Serena Williams in the women’s. Rafael Nadal is favourite, chasing a 10th title at Roland Garros, so here are five standout victories in Paris from the king of clay. You have to go much further back for the last French men’s singles champion – Yannick Noah, in 1983 – and not quite so far back for the last French female winner – Mary Pierce, in 2000. Nothing says clay-court tennis like endless, exhausting rallies – so enjoy five of the best:
6) Finally, 30 Liverpool U-9s versus Philippe Coutinho and Gini Wijnaldum. They called it a draw.
Highlights from last week’s blog
1) “Oh that is just pretty… that is beautiful.” In the NBA Western Conference finals, San Antonio Spurs’ 39-year-old Manu Ginobili nutmegs the Golden State Warriors’ David West:
2) A tackling masterclass from the AFL, as Geelong Cats repeatedly repel the Western Bulldogs.
3) And here’s a proper pre-match pep talk: Arminia Bielefeld’s assistant coach Carsten Rump getting his struggling side worked up before they faced second-placed Eintracht Braunschweig in Bundesliga 2. They went out and won it 6-0.
The best motivational speech of the season? We definitely think so! 😲⚽️
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) May 16, 2017
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