There was plenty happening across the sporting globe over the weekend but it’s fair to say much of the world’s focus last night was on England as the most dramatic of EPL seasons came to an end. Unlike two years ago, when Manchester City scored two goals in added time to steal the crown from cross-town rivals United, there was no such drama this time around as the sky blue eased to a 2-0 win over West Ham to make it two titles in three years.
That left Liverpool to settle for second spot as they came from behind to beat Newcastle 2-1, while Chelsea finished third with a 2-1 win at Cardiff. Notably, Manchester United’s horror season was complete by the time Tottenham romped to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa. A 1-1 draw with Southampton on the final day ensured United won’t be playing in Europe next season for the first time in 25 years with Spurs and Everton claiming the final European spots.
There were no real surprises in Madrid as Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova added another title to their glittering resumes, although it took the final set retirement of his injured opponent for Nadal to claim his third tournament win of 2014. The Spaniard came from a set down to beat Kei Nishikori in the final with the rising Japanese star severely hampered by a back complaint. Sharapova also came from a set down to beat Simona Halep 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 and boost her record on clay to 47-3 over the past three years ahead of the French Open in a fortnight.
Lewis Hamilton made it four wins in a row in the Spanish Grand Prix to move to the top of the driver standings ahead of ultra-consistent teammate Nico Rosberg, but the important news for those of you who follow our daily sports tips was Daniel Ricciardo’s first career podium finish. Having been disqualified from the season-opening Australian GP due to a fuel irregularity after finishing second, we tipped the Red Bull driver to finish in the top three in Spain and he duly obliged with an impressive third place finish ahead of teammate and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel.
And it was a busy weekend in the United States where the NBA finals continued and the NFL held its annual draft. The big guns have started to flex their muscle in the NBA playoffs with Indiana and Oklahoma City taking the lead in their respective series against the Wizards and Clippers and Miami leading Brooklyn 2-1. San Antonio has also put their first round struggles against Dallas behind them to take a 3-0 lead over Portland – the big guns of the West having notched winning margins of 24, 17 and 15 points.
Meanwhile, the NFL draft saw impressive young defensive end Jadeveon Clowney named by the Houston Texans as the first overall pick with coach Bill O’Brien hoping the 21-year-old’s bone-jarring tackling will help them become the feared defensive outfit they once were.
