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Leeds v Chelsea fun, Larry Bird genius and the amazing Amanda Nunes

This week’s roundup also features Nigel Mansell, 10-wicket hauls and a classic Gary Anderson interview


1) On Saturday, Leeds visit Chelsea to continue one of English football’s most storied rivalries. Here’s action from their clashes over the years – memorable occasions include their 1952 FA Cup fifth-round second replay, the 1966 FA Cup fourth-round tieand the infamous 1970 FA Cup final replay. Here’s a collection of choice fouls, and Eddie McCreadie’s head-height assault on Billy Bremner; here’s Match of the Day’s report of crowd shenanigans in 1982; a league encounter from 1992 featuring a brilliant goal from Eric Cantona; and one from December 1999 featuring a double from Stephen McPhail and a red card for Frank Leboeuf.

2) Snooker’s 2021 UK Championship is in the books, and what a belter it was. Here’s an unbelievable shot from Judd Trump, and a Ronnie O’Sullivan special to enjoy. Kyren Wilson fluked green then brown to beat Wu Yize, then finished off Ben Woolaston with doubles, and what about this beauty from his semi-final loss to Luca Brecel? Ultimately though, the tournament was a coming-out party for the new champion, Zhao Xintong. Here he is finishing off Brecel to secure the trophy, his post-match interview, and chatting with O’Sullivan, who explains just how good he is. There was also the spectacle of a spectator blowing off steam during the final – or was it the return of the dreaded snooker trolls?

3) In this context, it is, of course, impossible not to revisit this classic Gary Anderson interview, given after he beat Wesley Harms in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts. While we’re at it, here’s the Flying Scotsman laying into Wayne Mardle, Phil Taylor and Mardle in an awkward studio exchange and some recent beef between Peter Wright and Adrian Lewis. Still want more? Enjoy darts’ biggest bust-ups, part one and part two.

4) On Sunday, the amazing Amanda Nunes – UFC champ in the women’s featherweight and bantamweight divisions – defends the lighter belt against Julianna Peña. Here are five of her best finishes, and here she is with her wife, the UFC fighter Nina Nunes, as they talk about their relationship, careers, and daughter. In her most recent fight, Nunes finished Megan Anderson by reverse triangle armbar, then introduced Anderson to her daughter afterwards.

5) On this day in 1987, Larry Bird’s streak of 59 straight successful free throws came to an end; he went on to make 71 in a row in 1990. For an idea of how good Bird was at his peak, take a look at his putback effort from the 1981 NBA finals, and his over-the-backboard shot from 1986. More highlights: his famous-left-handed game from the same year, winning a three-point shootout without taking his coat off and in this clip he is unable to miss a one-pointer even when trying to.

6) On this day in 1993, the great Danny Blanchflower died. This is a terrific feature on his childhood in east Belfast, here he is delivering his famous line on tactics, and an explanation of what made him so successful. Blanchflower’s performance as Spurs captain in the 1961 FA Cup final sealed the first double of the 20th century.

Our favourites from below the line last week

1) Nigel Mansell’s famous lap to win pole position at Silverstone in 1992.

2) A documentary following Mansell through the 1992 season.

3) Accounts of Jim Laker’s all-10 for England v Australia in 1956.

4) Anil Kumble’s all-10 for India against Pakistan in 1999.

5) Valentino Rossi’s top five comebacks.

6) Freestyle skills, but during matches.

7) How F1 teams set up a garage.

Spotters’ badges: SticksMeister5, whobroughtoranges, vsbain67.

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