1) The Solheim Cup begins on Friday, and to celebrate Swedish trio Trinity have released the official song – ‘Unforgettable’ – to help inspire Europe to victory. It’s no Three Lions but if three unknown pop singers miming “You’ve got to keep the faith, You’ve got to hit it straight” from what appears to be the deep rough of their local golf club doesn’t inspire Charley Hull and co to victory, then Classic YouTube doesn’t know what will.
Meet Team Europe, including 46-year-old Scot Catriona Matthew who is playing in her eighth tournament, and Team USA, who have included rookie 20-year-old Alison Lee in their ranks alongside others such as Stacy Lewis and Michelle Wie. Europe are the holders, having cantered to a 18-10 win in 2013 – the largest ever margin of victory for either side – and recorded the first ever Solheim Cup hole-in-one, with Anna Nordqvist doing the honours.
2) Great Britain will play in the Davis Cup semi-final for the first time in 34 years on Friday against Australia, having beaten France in the quarter-finals at Queen’s in the summer, with Andy Murray coming from a set and a break down against Gilles Simon to seal the win, a victory which left him in tears. He also beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in some style, and teamed up with his brother, Jamie, in the doubles.
Australia beat Kazakstan in the quarter-finals to reach this stage, remember their draw in that round was made by a five-metre 700-plus kg saltwater crocodile – no other than Crocodile Dundee star Burt – jumping out of water to eat a raw chicken in a place called Crocosaurus Cove. Obviously.
3) Fumiaki Tanaka is set to be one of Japan’s most exciting players in the Rugby World Cup: the scrum-half stands at just 5ft5in but is good enough to mix it with Aaron Smith in Super League with New Zealand-based side The Highlanders and even made it into the Guardian’s 10 players to watch in this year’s tournament. He’s also a bit odd in interviews.
England’s Joe Marler takes a slight different tact in front of the cameras, but his deadpan delivery – here, here, and here – ain’t bad either.
4) Some high school American Football for you now: Immaculata player tackles Linden opponent. Linden player removes helmet of Immaculata man and bashes him on the head with his own lid. Linden player doesn’t get sent off, Immaculata man has to go to hospital to receive 10 stitches.
5) The International Table Tennis Federation calling this rally back in May “the point of the century.” Surely this one from the Chinese Super League on Sunday is better?!
6) Alex Hales was called into England’s Test squad for the series against Pakistan this week and duly celebrated by starting the chants at Nottingham Forest’s trip to Birmingham on Tuesday evening. Whilst we’re on Forest, do have a look at the Guardian’s exclusive trailer for I Believe in Miracles, a new film about Brian Clough’s fabled side of the late 1970s and earlier 80s.
Our favourites from last week’s blog
1) Kelly Slater has still got it.
2) Karma klaxon: from behind the safety of a perspex glass, a fan taunts ice hockey player Steve Sullivan, who had just suffered facial injury. Later in the game, the puck somehow deflects over the glass and hits the fan right on the noggin. Keep your eyes peeled for his girlfriend, even she laughs.
3) Zak Maytum zooms 70mph down a road. On a longboard.
4) Raido Roman scores an outrageous header/volley combo in Estonia. Perhaps this dog should have gone in goal.
5) Léo Taillefer has probably got a screw or two loose, and not just because he makes weird animal noises as he skies down mountains. First-person gnarlyness.
6) Even if you saw Glenn Maxwell’s two outrageous catches against England at the weekend, have another look. And if you like your cricket a bit more traditional, here’s some remarkably good footage of England’s Ashes Tour to Australia in 1962, featuring cameos of Richie Benaud and Don Bradman, no less.
Guardian YouTube football channel
Do subscribe, if you fancy. You’ll find goodies such as this …
And the Guardian YouTube sport channel
Do subscribe, if you fancy. Where you’ll also find such things as …
