Robben to Root to Rafa: my sports rankings of the week

IT is typical that at a time packed full of deadlines and exams, the sports gods should provide us with a weekend of unbelievable action: from Wembley to Wentworth, via Headingly, Monte Carlo and Rolland Garros. No doubt suffering ‘lack of need to refresh Premier League table’ withdrawal symptoms, I have opted for a ‘league table’ system by way of summery, taking in the best stars, flops, finds and fans...

Best World Star:

1. Arjen Robben: A thunderous volleyed winner to knock Man Utd out of the Champions League aside, Robben had never done it on the big stage. His right foot may be village team class but his left is a magic wand and that was enough to poke home the winning goal and cement himself into Bayern immortality.

2. Vincenzo Nibali: Cycling’s Giro d’Italia began and ended on a bank holiday weekend and has contained twenty-one grueling stages in between. Yet while lesser men were seen off Nibali was utterly dominant, climbing like Sir Edmund Hilary and descending better than a one-hit wonder. Team Sky must be praying he doesn’t change his mind about skipping the Tour de France...
3. Gael Monfils: France’s record in the men’s singles at the France Open makes Britain’s at Wimbledon look half decent. Luckily Monfils, who has barely played for a year with a career threatening injury, shocked fifth seed Thomas Berdych (and my outside bet for the title) with a stunning display.

Honorable Mention: Nico Rosberg for winning an anti-climatic Monaco Grand Prix, and Rafa Nadal for trademark fighting qualities when on the cusp of going two sets down.

Best of British:

1. Mark Cavendish: The snowy climbs and icy descents did for Bradley Wiggins but Cavendish hung on and then destroyed his rivals in all five of the sprints he contested - to join a select bunch to win points jerseys in all three Grand Tours. It has been said before but we really don’t know how lucky we are to have Cav – the greatest pure sprinter of all time.

2. Carl Froch: I’ve never understood the need for Boxing’s war of words and was consequently disappointed by Froch’s pre-fight wish to ‘kill’ Kessler. That said once inside the wing we saw 12 rounds of pure drama and a testament to sheer guts and determination.

3. Wilfried Zaha: There’s a lot of talk about which names Moyes is going to sign but his hottest new talent could well have been brought already. Rather like Barca with Messi, or Spurs with Bale, Zaha ran the show for Palace and the Premier League is already crying out for more of the same next year.

Best Find:

1. Joe Root: If Jess Ennis is Sheffield’s queen, Root is, well, the pageboy. Aged 22 his appearance might resemble a 12 year old but his presence is that of a grizzled veteran as he transformed England's first innings with a first century of what will surely be many.

2. Neymar: With the possible exception of when you suggest that Argentina look odds on for the next World Cup, there is little that gets a Brazilian more excited than mention of Neymar. How good is he? We will see for ourselves next year at Barcelona.

3. Hagos Gebrihwet: With no birth certificates and a different calendar to the rest of the world, you can never be sure with Ethiopians, but Gebrihwet is apparently 17 and with a dominant 5,000m victory at the New York Diamond League is the biggest threat yet for Mo Farah. Remember the name – because you certainly won’t be able to spell it.

Honorable Mention: Spearheaded by the Gloucester trio of Burns, Twelvetrees and Morgan, England’s youngsters in destroying the Barbarians, and Matteo Mannassero, the PGA Champs winner in Golf.

Best Flop:

1. Dylan Hartley: Quite simply a complete idiot. Surprisingly picked for the tour of a lifetime Hartley ruined it all by becoming the first player to be sent off in the Premiership final and his ban now rules him out of the Lions Tour. Claims his abusive tirade was aimed not at the referee but he has quite a CV in this sort of thing. Now if only Football would deal with foul language this way...

2. Top European Golfers: After Sergio Garcia’s idiotic ‘fried chicken’ remark, Messrs Poulter, McDowell, McIlroy and Donald all managed to miss the cut at Wentworth. Lee Westwood did better but even he suffered a final day meltdown on a bad weekend for Europe’s elite.

3. Chennai Super Kings: The top IPL franchise endured a terrible week, with match fixing allegations followed by a final defeat against the Mumbai Indians. Maybe I’m just bitter due to lack of access to ITV4 but I say good riddance to Twenty20 so we can focus on the proper stuff this summer…

Honorable Mention: If they don’t win tomorrow Andy Flower and Alistair Cook for bizarrely holding off declaration despite an impending Yorkshire deluge. That said, New Zealand’s batting could be on this list as well...

Best Comeback:

1. Carl Froch: A sportsman can go along way with a big heart. And Froch showed exactly that by fighting back from the brink to defeat Kessler and avenge his earlier defeat. A bruising fight which underlined all that is good about boxing.

2. Ian Holloway: Journalists across the land must cheer and groan with the same breath with the news that Holloway has returned to the top flight. He may talk more rubbish than sense, but Football’s most famous Bristolian will be sure to keep the Premier League exciting post Fergie.

3. Rafa Benitez: Speaking of managers, who would be the first to claim a new job? Mourinho? Pellegrini? Mark Hughes or Ole Gunar Solsjaer? No its Rafa at Napoli, and while Chelsea fans are no doubt glad to see the back of him, he thoroughly deserves another chance.

Honorable Mention: Bayern and Leicester for winning after losing finals last year, and Rory Best for earning a belated but deserved Lions call-up.

Best Fans:

1. Germans at Wembley: They might not have been happy about the lack of Bratwurst on offer at Wembley, but like their players the fans of Bayern and Borussia taught ours how it’s done with raucous support followed by the ability to drink London dry without resorting to hooliganism and a rendition of ‘Ten German bombers’...

2. Cricketers at Headingley: “It must be hard being a cricket-watching nun” said the commentator: “as every time you turn up people must assume you are in fancy dress.” The Yorkshire test has come a long way from the days when dressing up meant not wearing a cloth cap, but when Trott and Compton were in full flight, the spectators deserve full marks for simply staying awake let alone enthusiastic.

3. Boxing at the O2: I have often struggled to see why home advantage is so important in sport, but it was fairly easy when the decibel levels were considered during Froch v Kessler. The crowd simply propelled their man to victory.

Honorable Mention: Anyone who made it up the mountains in horrific conditions for the Giro d’Italia, and the home crowd at Rolland Garros inspiring Gael Monfils.