SPORTING PSEUD OF THE WEEK

Here's a lofty new goal for young, sporting hopefuls.

Who needs Olympic gold, a World Cup podium, MVPs, MoMs, Lance Todds, the PFA awards, even BBC's Sports Personality of the year when there's James Lawton of The Independent bending to bestow gifts from on high:

"As always, the Lawton Awards duly acknowledge outstanding contributions to the sports life of the nation and so naturally eschew the gimmicky conclusion that really it was the year of the horse – Kauto Star – and any number of equine arses dressed up as professional footballers and cricketers."

Question: what do Martin Samuel and Jim Lawton have in common?

Answer: they have both been named Sportswriter of the Year - and Sporting Pseud of the Week.

Doubly blessed, you might say.