Tim Tebow leaves Denver Broncos to add thrust to NFL push by New York Jets

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times: it was Tebow time. And it's also far from over, judging by the rapt response to news that Tim Tebow, down-home quarterback hero of the last NFL season, is leaving the Denver Broncos for the New York Jets in a classic Broadway narrative of humble-hick-travels-to-big-city (in return for fat contract). The move leaves Mark Sanchez, hitherto first choice, looking nervously over his shoulder. "He's such a classy guy I'll be honoured to call him my team-mate," Tebow gushed, with that overblown humility NFL fans have grown to love and not yet hate. "Timsanity" headlines: they're coming. Football according to plan A decisive ramping up in Europe's top two football leagues this week as two of the teams who always tend to win the title began to look as though they might – believe it or not – win the title again. In La Liga Cristiano Ronaldo, surely the greatest-ever second-best footballer in the world, scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid as a routine 5-1 cuffing aside of Real Sociedad left them six points clear of Barcelona. In the Premier League Manchester City struggled to a last-gasp home win against Chelsea, but were gasp-free three days after as Stoke held them to a 1-1 draw. Manchester United, level top with a game in hand, are quivering with intent at their shoulder. Alonso winning in the rain Chaotic manoeuvres, heavy rain and a Ferrari pulling off a plucky underdog win: the Malaysian Grand Prix was the wackiest of races with just 97 seconds separating 15th place from winner Fernando Alonso and an unexpected second place for Sergio Pérez ahead of Lewis Hamilton. "This is a Sunday we will remember. It is a big surprise. It's unbelievable," Alonso said afterwards, becoming increasingly convinced, even in the course of a single sentence, of the basic unbelievability of it all. Afghanistan bowled over Sport! Sometimes it gets it right. Afghanistan's cricketers have qualified for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September, a second major ICC tournament appearance just a decade after the game was reintroduced to the country by Afghans who had caught the bug in Pakistani refugee camps. Ireland will also be there after beating Afghanistan in the final of the World Twenty20 qualifying competition in Dubai.