The buzzwords of 2003

The big one was obviously Chelski. But then there was THG, Galactico, Riogate and Twenty20. Yes, dear old 2003 came armed with a host of new words to pad out the sporting dictionary.

Chelski

It was all revealed on 1 July and if it had been exactly three months earlier, it would have been dismissed as a joke for fools. Chelsea to be salvaged by mystery Russian zillionaire who glances down from his private helicopter and thinks Stamford Bridge looks nicer than White Hart Lane. Perestroika at the Bridge, Chelski's rouble revolution . . . no, surely this couldn't be taken seriously. Yet six months and about £111 million later, who's laughing now? The Chelseviks are proof that money can buy you happiness.

THG

Three little letters which soiled athletics' grimy image still further, an acronym which could run and run through to the Olympics and beyond. Yet though the revelations of the use by top athletes of the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone led to the downfall of Dwain Chambers, there was still a strange feeling that the uncovering of the scandal was a turning point in the anti-doping fight. For once, the testers had the jump. Dick Pound and his anti-doping pals won't get off the Yanks' case. Sooner rather than later the Americans are going to be shamed into leading the crusade instead of ignoring it.

Galactico

Previously only heard of in science fiction, this creature, we learned, is the one lured to the Bernabeu every July with a fistful of Euros. Yet who'd have thought David Beckham would prove the Galacticos' Galactico? Certainly not those who thought he'd be found out in Madrid. Instead, the man has simply soared. His mate Jonny may have eclipsed him recently but Becks showed off the most celebrated stitches in history (courtesy of Sir Fergie), did a Henry Kissinger job when the England players threatened to strike and even had time to give us the ultimate comedy penalty in Istanbul.

Bill

The cosy way that the Aussies referred to the William Webb Ellis Cup, as if it were an inseparable pal, was one of their more grating habits. Nice to see that dear old Bill turned out to be a party pooper, going walkabout for most of the event and deserting the hosts completely in the final.

Twenty20

Imagine your average MCC member sporting a Kiss Me Quick hat and you get an idea of the culture shock cricket received when the 20-over game was introduced. Yet even the crusties had to acknowledge its success and England went on to put the miseries of the Ashes and World Cup behind them with a rousing contest against South Africa. New skipper Michael Vaughan applauded everything, from Tuffers' desert island reign to his own cover boy role on Wisden. Cricket may never be the same again.