1) The Vuelta a España, the third and last of cycling’s Grand Tours of 2018 gets started on Saturday with a time trial in Málaga. Last year, the race was won by Chris Froome, who won’t be in Spain to defend the red jersey. Philippa York, then known as Robert Millar, recalls here the heartbreaking loss of the 1985 Vuelta to Pedro Delgado. In 1988, Sean Kelly did manage to win the Vuelta, the legendary Irishman’s only Grand Tour. It’s not being used this year, but the Angliru in Asturias is recognised as the toughest climb in stage-race cycling. In 2013, Chris Horner, at 41, set up overall victory on that fabled hill. Thirty years before that, Bernard Hinault, “the Badger” himself, won the Vuelta after this velodrome finish at Ávila.
2) PRIN$$ Boateng, or Kevin-Prince Boateng to his mum and team-mates at Sassuolo, has released a new rap joint called, naturally, ‘King’. KPB has previous in the performing arts, having done this ‘Moonwalk’ to celebrate Milan’s 2011 title win. Younger brother and Bayern defender Jérôme is no slouch in the hip hop stakes either, having celebrated winning the German double in 2016 with a human beatbox.
3) Manchester City’s All or Nothing has provided a peek behind the curtain at the club into Pep Guardiola’s intense team talks. But the Catalan ain’t got nuffink on former Leyton Orient manager John Sitton. Behold Sitts taking a considered approach to a 3-0 half-time deficit at Brentford, and offering two of his players out in the legendary “bring your dinner” scene. Then there’s Peter Reid sounding like a 90s hip-hop radio edit at Sunderland, Neil Warnock talking tactics with Sheffield United defender Chris Morgan and Steve Bleasdale resigning as Peterborough boss before kick-off. To square the circle, here’s Granada’s 1981 documentary Manchester City: A Club in Crisis in full.
4) Kansas City’s new starting QB Patrick Mahomes II launches a cannon of a 70-yard touchdown pass in a pre-season match against the Atlanta Falcons. The 2017 top-10 draft pick has form – here he is breaking the 60mph barrier last year.
5) Saturday sees Wembley host the Challenge Cup final between Catalans Dragons and Warrington Wolves. This year saw the 50th anniversary of Don Fox’s infamous conversion miss for Wakefield Trinity. “He’s a poor lad” indeed. Ten years on in 1978, Leeds beat St Helens 14-12. Twenty years ago, Sheffield Eagles pulled off one of the greatest shocks of all in beating mighty Wigan.
6) The Texas Rangers end a 106-year wait for a triple play that didn’t require a batter when playing the LA Angels. Infielders Jurickson Profar and Rougned Odo, with all three Angels bases loaded, achieved something last pulled off by the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Cincinnati Reds in 1912 as the Rangers won 8-6.
7) ‘IOM TT’, a short film on the Isle of Man TT race, made by Chris Kippenberger, is well worth a watch as it captures the power and glory of one of sport’s most dangerous events.
Our favourites from last week’s blog
1) Christian Cullen aka the ‘Paekakariki Express’ – perhaps the greatest rugby union full-back of all time.
2) A short documentary on Central Park, the humble home of Cowdenbeath FC.
3) And here’s a novel way to practice your volleyball moves with no one on the other side of the net.
Spotters badges: GrahamClayton, BarabbasFreed, kjesso
Guardian YouTube football channel
Do subscribe if you fancy.
Guardian YouTube sport channel
Do subscribe if you fancy.