Sixty years ago today, if Swede Hans Jeppson wanted to toast the appearance of his name in the first Guinness Book of Records using the most expensive bottle of wine commercially available, he would have had to spend a staggering £8 on a 1949 Feinste Trockenbeeren Auslese, a white wine from the Rhine Valley.

Take it again. Tim Smyczek’s simple act of sportsmanship in his Australian Open match with Rafa Nadal won’t endure in sporting folklore, says Larry Ryan.

After all the months hearing about them, reading about them and buying them, finally, over the last few days, we’re guessing you got round to actually reading some sports books.

It’s no surprise that the dominance of Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics in 1936 would overshadow every other story that emerged out of those iconic pre-World War II Games.

We hear much about the magic of sport, but after a week like this might it be worth reflecting on what has become of that other great sport of magic?

Usain Bolt secured the legendary status he craved by becoming the first man to win the Olympic sprint double twice in succession on a historic night in London.

Sebastian Coe has refused to call Michael Phelps the greatest Olympian of all time — despite the American winning more medals than any other athlete in history.

AS JOHN TREACY ran the finishing 100 metres of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic marathon, the RTÉ commentator, Jimmy Magee, listed 12 names.

As the London Olympics draws closer, Robert Hume recalls a time when the games weren’t so PC

THIS IS the time of year that publishers reveal their book prize candidates for feckless people like me seeking inspiration for Christmas presents.

GERMAN sportswear giants Adidas and Puma are to settle on the football pitch a feud kicked off over 60 years ago by their founding brothers.

Usain Bolt smashed his own 100 metres world record by winning in 9.58 seconds to claim gold at the World Championships in Berlin.

Michael Johnson has congratulated Usain Bolt on breaking his 200m record and believes the Jamaican has taken his place among sprinting’s greats.

IN A sport where personality is hidden behind goggles and below the water mark, Ian Thorpe did virtually the impossible.

OLYMPIC long jump champion, Dwight Phillips, was among the early arrivals as the stars for tomorrow’s BUPA Cork City Sports at The Mardyke began to assemble yesterday.

NEIL ARMSTRONG’S first steps on the moon has emerged as the most popular TV news image of the 20th century.