Emerging hurdles star Michelle Jenneke caught millions of eyes for more than her athletic talent in 2012
Photo: Getty Images
Impossible is nothing (if you're Ibrahimovic)Zlatan Ibrahimovic would like to know: can Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi score from a 30-metre bicycle kick on a slight angle? Because Zlatan can, and still he wins no awards from the anti-Zlatan establishment. The Sweden striker's goal against England was a thing of beauty, arrogance and showmanship, and must be considered amongst the greatest.
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Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse also deserves some recognition for this astonishing strike that seems to defy gravity on its way into Petr Cech's net, while Peter Crouch gave Stoke supporters a reason to smile with his volley from long range.
While we're at it, check out this behind-the-back-while-falling-out-of-bounds three-pointer from Latvian basketballer Armands Skele. It's a hell of a lot better than the Belgian bloke who tried four times to sink a layup in the wrong basket and still couldn't make it count.
Fans can be funny creatures
Streaking is a strange way to show your appreciation for sport, and it's even weirder if you do it while cross-dressing as Goldilocks. This fan found out the hard way that rugby players aren't into dudes in drag after veering too close to Bath centre Olly Barkley, who unleashed this textbook flying tackle to bring him down.
Barkley's comeback was better than that of American golfer Webb Simpson, who could only manage a meek "Enjoy the jail cell, pal" after being videobombed at the US Open. Simpson had just won and was giving the obligatory post-win interview from the 18th hole when a man in a rooster cap interrupted with a hilarious bird call. The cawing clown, who calls himself 'Jungle Bird Man,' was apparently on a premeditated mission to raise awareness of global deforestation. Not drunk, as we all assumed.
At least the bird guy didn't get violent, which is more than we can say for the Leeds United fan who punched Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in the face. Aaron Cawley, a known football thug, got a four-month jail sentence and a life ban from Elland Road for his troubles.
But players behave badly, too
Tennis is famed for dummy spitters and there are few better than Bernard Tomic, the enfant terrible of Australian tennis. He's had bigger scandals since, but few will forget his meek attempt to have his own father (and coach) ejected from a match in March.
Tomic's dummy spit pales in comparison to that of Marcos Baghdatis, though, who readers may remember methodically smashing four racquets while losing to Stanislas Wawrinka at the Australian Open.
If they gave out red cards in ice hockey then Jean-Phillippe Cote would have gotten one for this devastating check that left Blake Geoffrion hospitalised with a fractured skull.
Geoffrion suffered no long term damage, which is more than we can say for Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub after part of his ear was torn off in this late hit.
That was ugly, sure, but we don't have to look outside our own backyard for the worst clash of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you Sharrod Wellingham.
The lovely ladies
Stop everything you're doing and relive the moment you discovered Michelle Jenneke, the Australian hurdler whose sexy pre-race routine went viral. Then reassure yourself that you're not shallow by admiring Liz Cambage's world-first dunk at the London Olympics. Girl power!
...and one for the girls
Izzy Folau may have jumped ship to the ship he originally jumped from, but memories of his ridiculously toned rig will live on.
Sports commercial of the year
If you haven't yet seen NBA rising star Kyrie Irving wear old-man makeup and prank a bunch of streetballers in New Jersey, do yourself a favour and watch. This is one advert we can get behind, even if we still prefer Coke.
And finally...
Check out this incredible time-lapse video of the Staples Center in Los Angeles hosting six playoff games (across NBA and NHL) in four days. Hats off to their exhausted ground crew.
Next up: Scandals
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