Memories of Murray Walker, Sabine Schmitz and Marvelous Marvin Hagler
1) Sabine Schmitz, the “Queen of the Nürburgring”, has died at the age of 51. Schmitz is the only woman to win the German track’s 24 Hours race, in 1996 and again in 1997 – you can see some highlights here and a tribute from the track (in German) here. Schmitz went on to join the Top Gear team, memorably racing round her favourite circuitin a Transit van and a Volkswagen Golf GTI, and also putting some vintage vehicles to the test on Fifth
Gear. Here she is doing what she did best: tearing through the field with jawdropping precision in this exceptional on-board video.
2) Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the legendary middleweight boxer, died last week aged 66. Hagler won his first world title at Wembley Arena in
1980, stopping Alan Minter inside three rounds. The southpaw’s most memorable fights were a brutal battle with Roberto Durán and “The War” with Thomas Hearns, which began with a relentless first round and escalated from there. In 1987, Hagler was dethroned by the other member of the “Four Kings”, Sugar Ray Leonard, in a controversial points defeat. It would be his last fight, with Hagler moving to Italy and becoming an action movie hero. Hagler gave an emotional speech when he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015, saying: “I had to fight hard in life and in the ring.”
3) Érik Lamela scored one of the goals of the season before being sent off in Sunday’s north London derby. The Spurs winger has some form, of course. Other exponents of the rabona finish include André Ayew, Ángel Di María, Gothenburg’s Andrés Vasquez, Roma’s Diego Perotti, Boca’s Jonathan Calleri, Worcester’s Sean Geddes and Angthong’s Viliam Macko, whose second touch was better than his first.
Elsewhere in football: a strange save in Poland, bad blood at Morecambe, and Shkodran Mustafi up to his old tricks at Schalke. In Bulgaria, things get out of hand and wonder goals abound despite bus-parking and a testing surface. And finally, a frankly ludicrous long-range hit from Serie B.
4) This pre-game interview with Bristol prop Max Latiff is a bit different even before he starts talking. The Bears also gave BT Sport access to their pre-game training drills. In the Premier League, Kelechi Iheanacho gave a lovely interview after his hat-trick for Leicester.
5) Wales play France on Saturday aiming to secure the grand slam and Six Nations title. Here, Martyn Williams looks back to 2008, when victory over France in Cardiff secured the slam. Williams scored twice in 2005, in a slamdefining victory in Paris, while another was sealed against France in 1978. Wales’ last win at the Parc des Princes came in 1975; they have had more joy at the Stade de France, starting with a 34-33 win in 1999.
6) It’s March Madness! The NCAA basketball tournament returns after the 2020 edition was cancelled. Virginia beat Texas Tech in the 2019 final, 12 months after suffering an historic upset against UMBC. Get up to speed with underdog picks, buzzer-beaters and all the winning moments since 2000.
Our favourites from below the line last week
1) “I’ve got to stop, because I’ve got a lump in my throat.” The late Murray Walker covers Damon Hill’s final lap at Suzuka in 1996, when the Williams driver became world champion. Plus: Walker’s greatest commentary moments, discussing Senna v Prost, and paying a perfect tribute to the Brazilian after his tragic death at Imola. Plus a couple of our favourites too: if he’d done the snooker, on Letterman and John Cleland “going for first”.
2) A fleet of tricked-out Mini Miglias do battle at Thruxton.
3) Another slice of NHL wizardry, this time from the Vegas Golden Knights’ William Karlsson.
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