This week’s roundup also features Muzzy Izzet, ‘The Ocho’ and Roger Federer still being an absolute boss

1) The college football season is under way Stateside – here are 10 of the opening weekend’s finest plays, topped by a ridiculous one-handed catch from Texas Tech’s TJ Vasher. There was more monodextrous magic from Washington’s Quinten Pounds against Auburn, and Miami’s Jeff Thomas – although there wasn’t much else to shout about for fans of ‘The U’ in the defeat to LSU. Elsewhere, Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa was on fire against Louisville, and Toledo scored a punt-return touchdown with a difference against Virginia Military Institute.

2) Alastair Cook announced his retirement from Test cricket this week and bows out as one of England’s greatest ever batsman. Here he is in 2016, talking to Wisden about his favourite innings, whilst his only Test wicket came against India back in 2014. Despite his international career stalling somewhat, there have still been recent moments of genius, such as his record-breaking 244* at the MCG last December – Cricket Australia have been kind enough to upload these highlights. More time, then, for farming and Essex CCC. Farewell Chef, and thanks for the memories.

3) An officiating howler for the ages from Scotland below, as the referee chalks off Kris Doolan’s fine long-range effort for Partick Thistle. Incredibly, it’s happened before at the same end of Firhill – Dundee United’s Paddy Connolly robbed back in 1993. Those didn’t count, but here’s one that did – Reading somehow awarded a goal at Watford by Stuart Attwell, 10 years ago this month. Then there’s this, ‘scored’ by Leverkusen’s Stefan Kiessling in 2013.

Play Video 1:52 'What on earth has he given?': Partick Thistle denied as officials miss goal – video

4) Inspired by a gag in the 2004 film Dodgeball, ESPN2 temporarily rebranded last month as ESPN8: ‘The Ocho’, serving up a weekend of obscure sports. Here are some highlights, including cornhole, log-sawing and, er, darts. Picks from The Ocho’s first year: kabaddi, disc golf, head tennis and something called spikeball.

5) Despite going out of the US Open, at 37 years old, Roger Federer is still a boss: here he is going around the net on his way to a straight sets win over Nick Kyrgios (look at the Australian’s face afterwards) in the previous round.

6) For absolutely no reason at all, here’s Muzzy Izzet scoring a bicycle kick for Leicester City.

1) Handball action from the German third division, and HSG Konstanz are 24-23 down to Fürstenfeldbruck with seconds to go – what happened next?

2) From the Pathé archives: Manchester United beat Benfica to win the 1968 European Cup at Wembley.

3) Sauber F1 driver Marcus Ericsson was very lucky indeed to walk away from his practice crash at Monza, as this footage shows.

Spotters badges: aellerton, vastariner, whobroughtoranges, Black Caeser

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