Something From The Weekend: Ben Ainslie; Curse of the Hammers; Painting the city blue

The Good, The Bad and The Odd

Giles Lucas
Monday 21 May 2012 10:35 BST
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The Good: Ben Ainslie

Britain's greatest ever sailor literally brightened the mood of the nation at the weekend. The triple Olympic champion, fresh from clinching an aston-ishing sixth world title, on Saturday became the first person to run in the London 2012 Olympic torch relay. The 35-year-old labelled it "a great moment for the nation" and predicted this summer's showpiece event would be "the greatest Olympics ever". What followed later that evening made him even more jubilant. An avid Chelsea fan, Ainslie watched his beloved Blues win the Champions League.

The Bad: Curse of the Hammers

Fans of the Tangerines will still be playing Saturday's events through their minds. Ricardo Vaz Te's late winner for West Ham United brought relief to their manager, Sam Allardyce, but rancour and regret to Blackpool's Ian Holloway, whose side face another campaign in English football's second tier. Some will say the writing was on the wall even before kick-off: the Seasiders had not defeated West Ham since 1971.

The Odd: Painting the city blue

Manchester City's title triumph will live long in the memory and council workers are aiming to make the moment indelible on city streets. Plans are afoot to lay a blue tarmac pathway on a road called Blue Moon Way in Moss Side. The path will sit opposite the club's former Maine Road home. "This is a wonderful idea," the former City midfielder Mike Summerbee said. "You can feel the emotion whenever you drive to that part of the city."

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