Lots of F words - flu, fanfare, Federer, Faumuina, franchises, France, football transfer fees and fumbling favourites - jumped out at me from the headlines this week.
It was nice to see Roger Federer finally getting the French Open monkey off his back to become only the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Perhaps having friend Tiger Woods cheering him on (via the TV screen) had something to do with it.
We could all do with a bit of luck from Tiger, who has won his 67th PGA Tour title so soon after knee surgery and rehabilitation.
That man is a freak, along with footballer Kaka, who has signed with Real Madrid for an estimated 65 million ($NZ152 million) after turning down 100 million to transfer to Manchester City last season. Oh to be so wanted.
Another person who has been heralded a freak of nature is Sonny Bill Williams but I must say I was disappointed and a little embarrassed for the Baabaas.
It looked like such a mismatch.
I don't know what game the All Black selectors were watching, but did Luke McAlister really have an outstanding game which deserved a call to join the All Blacks?
Are we giving away All Black jerseys now because someone is doing well, or is almost there, or will do for now because there is nothing better around?
I have nothing personally against McAlister but he didn't dictate play well in the Barbarians game and to put him in the All Black squad sends the wrong message, in my opinion.
All other first fives and utility players in New Zealand must be keen to say another F word upon hearing that announcement.
As for Sonny Bill, he played well for someone who has had very little rugby time but is all the hype and fanfare surrounding him justified?
I think Matt Giteau's statement that the Barbarian game was a great product of rugby sums up what it is all about: money, commercialism, having the big names to draw the crowd.
It's sad to see that you can get something many players dream of because of your personality, media profile and commercial potential rather than your skills, athletic talent, and mastery of the game.
Giteau and Stirling Mortlock made the Barbarians backline look silly and the scoreline reflected that.
One player who I thought was impressive in terms of workload and attitude was Jerry Collins, but I am a forward and I'll always be biased towards anyone wearing a jersey numbered 1 to 8.
Continuing with the F word theme, the New Zealand franchises in the ANZ Championship continued the drought on Australian soil, but it was awesome to see athleticism being celebrated in women's sport with the one-on-one tussle between Casey Williams and Sharelle McMahon creating an exciting match between the Magic and Vixens.
Continuing to behave in a bizarre and mysterious way is Beatrice Faumuina, who was a no-show at a recent athletics event, which means she still hasn't qualified for the world championships.
There doesn't seem to be any explanation for her absence yet she still fronts the Tagata Pasifika show late at night - perhaps her priorities are changing and she'd rather throw segues than a discus?The swine flu epidemic/paranoia has hit league, with six Broncos, three Cowboys and a Warrior being quarantined.
But this is the least of league's worries with the allegations over the behaviour of the Cronulla Sharks boss putting league back in the hot seat with the media and public.
Last but not least, the junior rugby and twenty/20 cricket world championships have seen some favourites staying and others leaving in shocking fashion.
New Zealand has not fallen victim to the luck of the Irish in the rugby, managing to beat them 17-0, while the Australians have been knocked out of the twenty/20 tournament by Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
With no-shows, upsets, big personalities, great rivalries and controversies, this week has been fantastic for sports watchers.
No doubt next week's dramas will offer more food for thought.
