The Mexican Grand Prix was arace like no other giving Lewis Hamilton the 2017 Formula One World Champion - the Mercedes driver securing his fourth drivers 'title two races prior to the season finale. Despite World title rival Sebastian Vettel finishing in P4 ahead of Hamilton, the latter still had a lead of 56 points over the German with only 50 points, at that time, to play for in the final two rounds in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.And, in sealing the 2017 Formula 1 championship title it makes the Hertfordshire man the most successful British driver – ever! Deflated, but magnanimous in defeat,Vettel said "He deserves it.

He had avery, very strong season. Two races togo he clinches the championship. In a straight fight, he was the better man. So, congratulations."For Hamilton and Mercedes, the party started with the Briton adding his name to an elite list of F1 drivers which include the likes of Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher - Lewis inching closer to theall-time F1 title of the German at seven.Whilst others are forever chasing him in his slipstream, one of Britain’s greatestever sports personality still, despite unrivalled success, is still hungry for more by getting to the magnificent ‘7.’Already in the record books as the youngest-ever formula one grand prix world champion when winning the title I2008 season with McLaren, many believe his insatiable thirst for ultimate glory will see him driving on until, at least, he gets to eight. In fact he is looking to surpass Schumacher by 2020.

He said: "I have to figure out the pros and cons from this year and see how I can improve. I want to be better next year. The challenge is going to be even bigger from Ferrari and Red Bull. F1 doesn't sleep. It doesn't stand still. There is always someone waiting to take my position."He singled out Red Bull's young Dutch driver, Max Verstappen, who dominated the Mexican Grand Prix as Hamilton fought back to finish ninth after a first lap clash with his title rival Sebastian Vettel, as a potential major threat."Max is just sitting there waiting to takeit," Hamilton said. "So I have to raise the game another level in order to stay ahead of him and that motivates me, so there is my motivation already for next year.

"He now holds the all-time record for pole positions; putting together at least five qualifying laps to rank with the best he has ever done - Montreal, Baku, Silverstone,Monza and Malaysia were each breath-taking in the way they redefined the perception of what was possible.The race that finally clinched it was a bit messy, through no fault of his own, but the season in which Lewis Hamilton won his fourth world title has underlined his status as not only one of Formula 1's all-time greats, but one of sport’s all-timegreats.“I love driving now more than ever,”Hamilton said.

“I feel like I am driving better than ever, and I feel the most whole as a driver that I have ever been which is a great feeling. Who knows if we are going to get anywhere near Michael Schumacher’s record of seven championships? I don’t have a desire to chase that, but records are there to be broken so at some stage someone will break them. Whether it is me, I can’t tell you.”

They chanted it in the‘Brummie’ Road End, at The Hawthornes; ‘One Cyrille Regis, There’s only one Cyrille Regis, One Cyrille Regis, There’s only one Cyrille Regis.’ And, to the world of football and wider afield, there really was only 1 Cyrille Regis.In the world of football he was a ‘soldier’ who fought the tyranny of the most inhumane forms of abuse ever heard of on terraces up and down the country, yet, with the greatest form of bravery, determination and admiration, he some how took it on the chin with immense dignity – whilst deep inside could only image what was stirring.

Black players were the rarest of rarities in years gone by. From Arthur Wharton, at the turn of the 19th century, to Leeds United’s Albert Johannessen and Gerry Francis in the 1960s and former West Ham favourite Clyde Best, they, along with far too few others were often treated as a novelty toy, for the purpose of ridicule, at best – at worst, a target of verbal, and where possible, physical– abuse by both sets of fans.

When Cyrille signed for West Bromwich Albion, in 1977, it proved to be the dawning of a new world for young boys who were kicking around a football out in the streets up and down the country.When Ron Atkinson arrived at The Hawthorns he brought right back, Brendon Batson along with him before then signing the young whizz-kid, Laurie Cunningham, from Leyton Orient.

That signing proved historical. For probably the first time in English football there would be three Black players in the same team.This was the late 1970’s. Black and Asian families were settling in the UK. There numbers were small– their living quite concentrated in locality.With Enoch Powell’s ‘rivers ofblood’ speech resonating, the National Front led the political undercurrent that would be a ‘figurehead’ for the open racism that was rife back then. And football was the perfect vehicle to let it be known.

A pioneer for Black footballers in the UK, alongside the late Cunningham and Brendon, the trio was nicknamed the ‘Three Degrees’ by Atkinson.And when the American superstars,who originated the name (TheThree Degrees) were in town, Ron couldn’t miss the opportunity. The iconic ‘2 Three Degrees’ picture aunique statement of the time. But, away from one of the rare moments of positive, the match-day realities were often too extreme.Black players were not only tackling opposing players, they had to tackle the verbal abuse, not only from the terraces, but on the field of play too.

The true ‘weight’ ofThe true ‘weight’ of expectation fell on the likes of Abdulazeez Ibrahim, Ndidi Nwosu,Roland Ezuruike and NdidiNwosu to bring home gold from the 2018 Common wealth Games,with the not-too-surprising Bronze for the Women’s 4x100 metre runners to the shock of Quadri Aruna’s gold inthe men's table tennis, Team Nigeria’s 9th position in the recent Common wealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast provided  mixed bag amid the elation of what was largely a very successful 2018 celebration of sport.

Whilst Patience Okon-George,Glory Nathaniel, Praise Idamaduduand Yinka Ajayi won silver for Nigeria, with a time of 3m:25.29s,in their showpiece 4x400m Final event, from Suwaibidu Galadima’sT47 100 metre gold, and, equally, Blessing Oborududu’s Women's Freestyle 68 kg Wrestling win,the total of 9 Golds, 9 Sivers and 6 Bronze medals proved what was probably expected by many, though some might put it as; ‘am opportunity lost’ for a generation of superbly tuned athletes primed for greater success than ever before on the world stage.

“Congratulations to my Nigerian brothers and sisters on an awesome Commonwealth Games,” said Nigerian international football captain, John Mikel Obi.The former Chelsea midfield superstar, who is now plying his trade with Tianjin TEDA inthe Chinese Super League, was speaking ahead of him leading the Super Eagles onto their Russian adventure – and the FIFA World Cup Finals.Tayo Oreweme, Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department, said that Nigeria’s Ministry of Youths and Sports Development did everything to ensure the country’s surpasses all expectations at Gold Coast 2018 and they made Nigeria very proud.“We did everything we possibly could for the Games in the Gold Coast,” she said, “as soon as we returned from the Games in Glasgow.”The overall results at the end of the Games proved encouraging asTeam Nigeria now start to focuson the 2020 Olympics Games inTokyo.