He shoots, he scores, he lights another fag …

Just days before France played Portugal in the World Cup, photographers caught Zinedine Zidane having a crafty cigarette. It's not what we expect of sporting heroes, but, says Simon Hattenstone, that's because we've got very short memories.

Should you ever take a sickie?

Lucy Mangan: The commitment of the average British worker to the health and happiness of his company and colleagues being what it is, the attractions held out by major sporting events mean that during the World Cup, sickie-ness becomes endemic.

The smallest marathon in the world

Blake Morrison: While 34,000 runners slogged round London last Sunday, I was taking part in the world's smallest marathon, on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. I'm not sure whether "smallest" refers to the number of competitors (130) or the circuit (3.6 miles).

Olympic ideals flouted

Nick Cohen: The problem of obese children is conveniently ignored when it comes to sponsorship of the 2012 Games.

How Freddie survived his 24-hour binge

David Adam: As befitting his new status as national hero and general God-like cricketing genius, Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff was spared the usual tabloid scorn when he chose to celebrate England's dramatic victory on Monday night with a 24-hour booze-fuelled binge.