Leona Maguire, NFL season openers and Jackie Stewart at the Nürburgring
1) On this day in 1973, Jackie Stewart clinched his third and final Formula One drivers’ title with a spectacular recovery drive at Monza. Stewart retired at the end of the season, with his final grand prix victory coming at the fearsome Nürburgring – here’s a frankly terrifying on-board clip of Stewart racing a lap. Five years later, he took a spin around Brands Hatch, with onboard commentary.
2) Leona Maguire was Europe’s star as they upset the USA to win the Solheim Cup this week, her rise having been long telegraphed. Here’s a documentary about Leona and her sister Lisa, then aged 13. And back in the present, her proud father Declan gives his verdict on her stunning victory over Jennifer Kupcho in Toledo.
3) Rising tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez have blasted their way to the US Open semifinals, setting up the possibility of an all-teenage grand slam final. Martina Hingis won the 1997 Australian Open at the age of 16, then lost to 17-year-old Serena Williams in the 1999 US Open final. Monica Seles (1990 French Open) and Tracy Austin (1979 US Open) also won slams before their 17th birthdays. Michael Chang remains the youngest men’s grand slam winner. He won the 1989 French Open at 17, beating Ivan Lendl in an all-time classic on his way to the final.
4) The new NFL season kicks off later on Thursday with the defending Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay taking on Dallas. Memorable recent opening games include a Saints-Packers slugfest in 2011, Kansas City powering past the Patriots in 2017, New England edging out AFC rivals Indianapolis in 2004, and Peyton Manning throwing seven touchdowns for Denver against Baltimore in 2003.
5) The Premier League returns this weekend with Manchester United hosting Newcastle. Here are the full 90 minutes of Newcastle’s 5-0 demolition of the champions in 1996 – or the two-minute highlights if you prefer. Includes that ludicrous icing-on-the-cake chip, if you will, by Philippe Albert. Leeds United v Liverpool is the Sunday game: back in the 2000-01 season, Mark Viduka scored all four for Leeds in a 4-3 win.
6) England need some cheering portents going into the final Test against India, trailing 2-1 in the series. One is that they have never lost to India in an Old Trafford Test. Herea re those exemplars of unshiftability Graham Gooch, Mike Atherton and Robin Smith each making centuries in England’s first innings in 1990. England only drew that match, however, and this week they need something more like their emphatic Old Trafford win in 1974, or their victory seven years ago, when Stuart Broad set the tone with six first-innings wickets.
Our favourites from below the line last week
1) Curtly Ambrose tears through Australia in Perth in 1993, taking seven wickets for one measly run (eventually finishing with figures of 7-25) and setting up an innings victory for West Indies.
2) A hint of handball here in this archive Scunthorpe United v Grimsby Town clip, which also features some early Kevin Keegan.
3) The men’s long jump world record is now 30 years old. Mike Powell beating the legendary mark of Bob Beamon after 23 years in Tokyo in 1991, moments after Carl Lewis surpassed Beamon’s mark with a wind-assisted leap.
Spotters’ badges: VirgilHilts, Jaines, vsbain67.