A Shaw thing

HEROES

Darren Clarke

It has been a fine 13 months for Northern Irish golf. Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell won their first major trophies at this year's US Open and last, and now Clarke, 42, has joined the list by lifting the claret jug at Royal St George's. Clarke has filled out in recent years but his final round showcased guts of a different kind. He bogeyed the fourth before eagling the long seventh and thereafter never relinquished the lead. In a nostalgic twist for those who enjoy perennial runners-up, Phil Mickelson finished three shots back in a tie for second.

Chris Sandow (South Sydney) & Luke Walsh (Penrith Panthers)

Two games, two fierce rivalries, two golden-point field goals to seal victory. Saturday night's fixtures were a dream for NRL marketing types, Rabbitohs fans and the Panthers faithful alike. It would be unfair to prefer either Sandow or Walsh's heroics over the other, so let's applaud both. The Souths man's 51m drop goal earned a vital win in the finals race and bragging rights over a bitter rival, while Walsh continued Penrith's revival under caretaker coach Steve Georgallis and ruined the Eels' celebrations for Nathan Hindmarsh's 300th game.

Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo)

Common wisdom holds that cyclists are either born climbers or sprinters, but never both. However, Norway's reigning world champion pays little heed to so-called truisms. Having worn the yellow jersey for a week as the Tour de France got going, Hushovd was determined to add a stage win to his 2011 resume. Few would have expected the famed sprinter to triumph in the Pyrenees. In a breathtaking move, Hushovd launched his pursuit of breakaway leader Jeremy Roy on the ascent of the Col d'Aubisque and descended like a madman. He made up two minutes in the final 43km, blasting past the Frenchman inside the final  two kilometres to celebrate a stunning win.

Nicholas Livermore (Brisbane Bombers)

For choosing the NRL franchise's new name over the proposed alternative, the River City Kookaburras. "We short listed about 15 names and selected what would work corporately and commercially and what kids would enjoy," Livermore said, providing a horrifying insight into how truly bad team names are born.

GOATS

Heath Shaw (Collingwood)

Was Collingwood's rebounding half-back ignorant of the AFL's strict policy forbidding players from betting on matches, or just stupid? Stupid, said the Magpies, Shaw's uncle Tony, and Shaw himself. The player was caught placing a $20 bet on captain Nick Maxwell to kick the first goal in the round-nine match against Adelaide (Maxwell did not kick the goal). Shaw has a rap sheet at Collingwood and can count himself lucky to still have a contract with the club. "He will do the time, he did the crime, and that will be that," said Pies president Eddie McGuire. For the Magpies, the twin saving graces are the suspended portion of Shaw's penalty and the extended AFL season. With only an eight-game ban to serve rather than 14, Shaw could return in time for Collingwood's first final.

Mal Meninga (Queensland)

'Humble in victory, gracious in defeat' is, presumably, not a saying inscribed on the walls at Suncorp Stadium. Meninga's Sunday Mail column after guiding the Maroons to last week's State of Origin triumph was as bitter as it was laced with conspiracy theories. Central to Meninga's anger was his belief that the NRL employed "faceless men of influence" who were determined to undermine the Maroons. He suggested the league's match review committee were part of the conspiracy. Both Johnathan Thurston and Dave Taylor appeared before the MRC during the Origin series, and Taylor was suspended for five games. MRC chairman Greg McCallum demanded an apology, Meninga ignored McCallum's deadline and now, not surprisingly, the whole graceless saga is headed for the NSW Supreme Court.

France Télévision's unnamed driver

Even before the accident that put Dutch cyclist Johnny Hoogerland into a barbed wire fence, Tour de France riders had been complaining that TV cars were driving too close during this year's race. "A lot of cars brushed right past us," said Luis León Sanchez, stage-winner on the day. The crash left Hoogerland with shredded shorts and deep ragged cuts across his legs for which he received 33 stitches. Remarkably, he rode on and retained his king of the mountains jersey for three further days. The driver, who race organisers said had ignored an order to pull over and let a team car pass, was kicked off the race. The fence post is being auctioned for charity.

Angus Monfries (Essendon)

The Essendon forward confirmed suspicions that he had produced an Oscar-worthy performance to earn Hawk Jordan Lewis a two-game suspension for the lightest of Liverpool kisses, admitting he was a diver. Surprisingly the AFL opted not to charge Monfries, perhaps deciding that public humiliation was punishment enough. Given the circumstances, Monfries' career-best performance to lead the Bombers to a long-overdue win in Adelaide on Friday night was almost enough to make up for his admission - but not quite.

The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.

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