Here Sport Times looks at the heroes and villains from another memorable weekend of sport.
The Hots...
1. Now and again there is a moment in sport that knocks ‘winning at all cost’ in to the long stuff. And at the weekend, the spontaneous and selfless act of Alistair Brownlee captured hearts and new found supporters around the world when he grabbed his exhausted brother Jonny 700m from the finish line to help him complete their Triathlon World Series in Mexico. A superb gesture – and an unexpected second place!
2. Shinty finds itself in the Hots & Nots this week in the shape of Newtonmore’s Andy Mackintosh. Actually, make that Andy’s baby daughter Marnie, who, at less than a week old, made a very public appearance as she helped her dad celebrate winning both the Camanachd Cup and the Albert Smith Medal for his man-of-the-match performance. Marnie slept all the way through the presentation, helped greatly by the players refusing give a rousing cheer for the waiting photographers. Shhhhh…
3. Andy Murray’s honest reply to the question during his Davis Cup press conference when asked why he had to leave the court. “The reason I had to go off is because … I can’t get my nuts out on the court.” An easy excuse; I don’t even think he tried …
The Nots...
1. Remember Alistair Brownlee helping brother Jonny over the line and to second place in the Mexican round of the Triathlon World Series? Well, while those two were struggling along the road, arm in arm, along came South African Henri Schoeman to win the race. Congratulations. Unfortunately, your celebrations Henri – when you beat someone who ended up in a hospital bed - made you look a total plank…
2. The Joey Barton experiment was always like to end in tears. His spat with other members of the Rangers squad saw him banned for a week, then another three. Instead of taking his initial punishment, Barton decided to use social media and the airwaves to sound off. Calculated or just insincere, it all makes Barton look extremely stupid in the eyes of many Gers fans. Well done Joey…
3. Our SPFL referees have a difficult gig. But most agree that ref Don Robertson made a calamitous blunder when he failed to send off Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko when he felled Inverness Caley Thistle midfielder Ross Draper. Mistakes, genuine or other, will happen. But it would be nice in 2016 to hear a referee saying sorry, or, how he thought he’d got it right …
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