Chris Thompson   Chris Thompson on the internet

Today, in my trip to Oxford, I met up with some friends and played a pick-up game of American football. Suffice to say that now, when I try and walk, it’s somewhat painful; in fact, the entire right side of my body feels as though it’s dead. Currently I’m just lounging around, doing my best not to move my leg, and watching the movie Invincible.

And it’s been quite good so far. It’s one of those nice, uplifting ones, unless there’s a horribly sad ending coming up that I haven’t foreseen. It’s just what the doctor ordered, after a day of playing the game myself. To be able to chill out and watch it now is really quite nice.

It’s been a long, long day, and from the looks of it I’ve missed out on quite an exceptional Thai dinner. Right now, though, I’m just thinking about sleep. Which will hopefully be long, too.

On a Saturday evening, there’s something special about sitting down and watching football on an HDTV. It’s a most satisfying experience at the best of times – have a few mates over, stockpile beer and crisps and all manner of other food. Indeed, you can have brothers who spend all day playing computer games, and others who spend their time out in the garden for hours on end, so that they rarely see each other when it’s not lunch or dinner time – but when a good football game rolls around, it’s a union of temporarily like-minded individuals, and it’s awesome.

Manchester United vs Arsenal was the game of choice today, and it’s usually a lock to be entertaining. Here, we had a come-from-behind, on-the-edge-of-your-seat sort of match, and it was certainly a good advert for our new television and the benefits of Sky HD, even if it wasn’t the best football from the defending champions.

The new television was found after browsing the latest technology forums – which can be helpful in a great many ways. And because you’re interacting with and talking to a number of people who are very keen for and knowledgeable about technology, you can get answers for all of your questions, too.

Now, though, the Saturday’s over. And on Sunday, I’m off to Oxford, so no matter how brilliant the day might be, it will be late when I get back and it’s guaranteed to go by in a flash. Ho Hum.

With the relay underway, the world athletics championships are drawing to a close. But what a wonderful week of television it’s been. The best championships I’ve ever seen, I think; it’s had everything you could expect, and much, much more.

I expected joy, and I expected heartbreak, I even expected mind-boggling world records (it is, after all, Usain Bolt we’re dealing with here), but one thing I could not have predicted is controversy over gender. It’s just nothing I’ve really seen before, despite knowing there have been tests in the past, and people who have failed them.

Because the South African athlete Caster Semenya is being asked to take these tests, lots of people are upset. And it must be horrible and embarrassing for her. But all the same, they have to be taken.

There are a number of reasons why people are suspicious (and this includes me). She has only eighteen, she has come out of nowhere, she is shattering conventional times, I think, were I to describe her in a story, I would say she was handsome, rather than pretty. Add to that the fact she has a very deep voice, and you can see why people are suspicious. So, yes, if she is a female, it is horrible, and rude – but it still needs to be done, because people have cheated in such a manner in the past before, so we know people will do anything for success.

I hope she passes her tests, and I hope if she does, she isn’t put off what would be a spectacular career. But, whilst the IAAF might be going about it in a rude manner, it is their duty to go about it.

Today, my morning has very much revolved around shower enclosures, funnily enough. Considering it’s a bright, sunny day, this is not ideal, but as with most things that are not ideal, it needs doing. Of course, my dog doesn’t understand why that’s the case. I should be outside chewing on a bone in the sunshine, but then she can’t see the state that my shower’s in after a spot of foolhardy chin-ups. To think, it all happened with an increase in membership fees at my local gym.

There are things around the home that I decided could probably be used for a decent enough workout. Bicep curls with chairs or small coffee tables, that sort of thing. And, of course, chin-ups on my perfectly suited shower enclosure. It looked sturdy enough – like most electric showers, I suppose – but the rail has essentially been crushed, and it is now impossible to close the curtain. All in all a bit of a mistake, then.

Apparently 1 in 3 people favour deodorant instead of a shower, and I don’t particularly want to join that number, so it looks like I’m going to have to sort it out somehow. This will more than likely mean replacing it than trying to fix it. Currently, I can’t even begin to imagine how I would go about fixing it. You would think that, if it is weak enough to bend under my weight, then it should be malleable enough to move back into place, but evidently not.

So yes, not the most exciting start to the day. But there is much to look forward to, if you’re an athletics fan, at least. Usain Bolt is again taking to the track this evening in the 200m final, and I’m especially looking forward to it because I’ve got a bit of money riding on 2nd place. It should be interesting. And, of course, there is always the opportunity of another world record being broken.

Michael Vick has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, and whilst a lot of NFL fans are torn on the matter, I can’t help but feel glad that we’ll be able to see him in action on the field again soon.

Vick, in case you don’t follow the sport, was the face of not only the Falcons, but the NFL itself: he was the highest paid player in the league, and sold more shirts than anyone. And then he had a huge fall from grace, due to dog fighting. But now he has been given permission to play the last two pre-season games, whilst awaiting the full result of his reinstatement later in the year.

Yes, I’m certainly happy he’s back. After all, where would we be, without second chances? It’s quite interesting that he’s landed at Philadelphia, too. Someone on NFL.com was saying how it’s a good move – the Eagles have structure, and McNabb won’t feel threatened. But I would imagine he will. This is the same McNabb, remember, who was benched last year. And now they bring in Michael Vick?

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. But I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him play again, whether it’s at quarterback or not.

When you’re woken up abruptly and loudly by a dog barking in the morning, the smell of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon in the morning does a lot to remedy the situation. It certainly put a bit of spring in my step as I rolled out of bed.

The news, it seemed, was of the depressing and dark sort – as usual – so I did my best to ignore it, and looked up some news of the NFL variety. There are some gloomy stories there, of course – drugs, and arrests, and all sorts – but then there are some wonderful pieces as well.

Over recent weeks, they have been doing a feature called “Best in the Biz” – a feature that looks at various aspects of the game, and counts down a top 5 list of the best players at that position, or the best coaches, and that sort of thing. And now they have put together a list of the top 5 players currently playing the game.

Of course, the continuous debate between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady makes an appearance. How can it not? We’ve got the privilege of watching two sure hall of famer’s. It’s as much of a pleasure to debate as it is to watch – well, almost – and it really brings home the fact that this is a wonderful era for sports.

After the epic matches of the last few days, Wimbledon fever has well and truly reached boiling point. Andy Murray, our British lad, has, for the first time ever, made it to the semi-final. Which might not sound like much – but the quality of tennis on offer has been phenomenal: just ask Andy Roddick. And in recreation grounds across the country, people are playing tennis all day long.

I wrote about this sudden urge to play tennis a few days ago. But now, I’m beginning to feel that I wrote it in an overly sarcastic and perhaps a touch too pessimistic way.

My friend had a day off work today, and he quite fancied playing tennis. I said I’d take him up on the offer. Tennis, for me, can be a very satisfying game; like table tennis, or squash: you can make your opponent run around, and it can be very, very fun to do so. So I went, and I played, and I had fun – it was difficult not to, the weather was so beautiful. And when I was out there, I realised something.

Wimbledon fever is actually a really good thing.

So much these days, we hear about the obesity epidemic, which should probably be capitalised and read The Obesity Epidemic. We hear about our children not having enough PE lessons at school, and growing fat because of it. We hear about all sorts of these things, and really, for me to criticise people for wanting to go and play tennis because Wimbledon’s come on the TV is a bit rubbish.

It’s pretty fantastic that people of all ages get inspired by the sport to go out and play it themselves. It is tiring stuff, and is an easy way to get fit – and that’s an incredible thing. And when you consider how utterly sublime last year’s final was, where the tennis on display was probably the best that ever has been seen, it’s no wonder Wimbledon proves to be such an inspirational event.

It’s certainly not something to be grumbled about by foolish people like myself.

It’s time for Wimbledon again, here in England. And already, the British hopefuls are not doing very well.

You can tell it’s Wimbledon time by the way the sun has come out, fleetingly. And by the looming feeling that it will soon rain, as it always rains. And, of course, by all the people out and about playing tennis, in the yearly ritual. And you can tell it because, once again, the media is rallying behind one British man. Once again, Maybe It Will Be His Time.

Like clockwork, Wimbledon comes, and the tennis craze comes with it. There has been a British tennis player to rally behind for as long as I can remember, and, inevitably, we do. It has been Tim Henman, until quite recently. He was quite good. Not fantastic, like you have to be to win Wimbledon these days – but quite good. And, for year after year, the nation rallied behind him.

But he never won. Because you have to be fantastic to win in this era of tennis. In this era, there is Nadal. In this era, there is Federer, who is scintillating to watch on grass, and quite possibly the best player of all time. And really, when it comes down to it, that leaves just two other people who can hope to challenge them.

A Brit hasn’t won Wimbledon in 73 years, but for the first time, but now the hope around the country doesn’t feel quite so much like a fools hope. In fact, there is a very real sense that Andy Murray can pull this one off. After all, he has beaten Federer and Nadal before, and Nadal is coming into this competition with dodgy knees. And he is ranked third in the world, behind the two of them. So if anybody can do it, presumably it’s him.

And here am I, claiming to be immune to the effects of Wimbledon fever!