The death of former England boss Sir Bobby Robson on Friday really took the wind out of my sails.
Obviously, I didn't know the man personally, but I had followed his career with interest as he can rightly be regarded as one of the few genuinely successful English managers of the current era.
Fans of Ipswich, Newcastle, Fulham, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, and Barcelona, and the numerous other clubs he managed, will obviously have their own very fond memories of Sir Bobby. But for me it was his time in charge of the Three Lions that really stood out.
In 1982, he inherited a team that were good but by no means great. Yet he stamped his authority and personality on them in a way I don't think any manager since has been able to match.
In 1986, his team lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals of the Mexico World Cup thanks to a combination of cheating and genius from a young lad called Diego Maradona.
In Italia '90, his team, including the brilliant Paul Gascoigne who he mentored for many years, went out at the semi-final stage to Germany on penalties - a heartbreaking way to end his England career.
During those eight years in charge, Robson showed himself to be a model England manager. He knew how to get the best out of players like Gazza, Lineker and his namesake Brian. And he was the sort of man who never appeared on the front pages of newspapers either, leading his private life with dignity.
Funnily enough, I have just finished reading his biography, which is a fascinating book. You don't manage the teams he did without a considerable amount of talent and without having quite a few tales to tell.
Another reason why I felt his loss a little bit more than I expected is that he was the first England manager I actually remember. I was the grand old age of 10 when he took the job, and the likes of Ron Greenwood never really featured on my football radar.
He has been frequently described as the grandfather of English football. And I think that really sums him up perfectly. Like all kindly, wise and entertaining grandfathers, he will be very deeply missed by those who knew him, and others, like me, who just felt like they knew him.
Now that he is up there on that big pitch in the sky, you can pretty much rest assured some decent matches will get organised. Especially if that other English managerial legend Cloughie is in charge of the opponents. Back down on earth though, Robson will be missed. They don't make 'em like that anymore. More's the pity.
Another normal week in F1
This must surely be heading into the history books as the most remarkable Formula One season ever.
We've had rows over technicalities, walk-out threats and resignations. We've seen a new team take the grid by storm while an existing team has just announced it is quitting the sport entirely. And we've seen a race abandoned because nobody had the smarts to realise it might get a little damp in Malaysia during monsoon season.
But despite the almost ritualistic weirdness of the season to date, the past week has been the most interesting and bizarre so far, for good and bad reasons.
First, Felipe Massa is involved in a life-threatening accident during qualifying; then, with the Brazilian still wired up to machines in hospital, Michael Schumacher comes out of retirement to take his place.
You could have made a thousand predictions about this season before it got underway, but Schumacher dusting off his overalls and getting behind the wheel of a race car is something nobody could have seen coming.
Yet, come the European Grand Prix on August 23, the five-times world champion will be sitting proud in the cockpit of a Formula One car for the first time in three years.
Some people may believe Schumacher is doing this just to make up the numbers. And the fact that he has insisted he is only keeping the engine warm until Massa returns adds weight to that theory.
But you should never underestimate the competitiveness of this particular legend. He may not be back in the sport for the long term, but you can rest assured he will be giving it 110 per cent over the short term.
"For team loyalty reasons I can't ignore this unfortunate situation. As the competitor I am, I also very much look forward to facing this challenge," he said.
Since hanging up his steering wheel, Schumacher has been a consultant to Ferrari, so the fact that they turned to him in their hour of need is not a great surprise.
That he accepted, however, is. At least to me.
The German now has three weeks to get himself up to speed, no easy task considering the sport is now on an enforced 'cost-cutting' shutdown. That means he will get the first proper test drive of the current Ferrari just two days before the race, when official practice starts.
For most drivers, getting to grips with what is essentially a new car in just 48 hours would be an impossible task. However, with Schumacher you just know he will pull it off.
Ultimately, this is a no-lose situation for Schumacher. If he comes back and performs well his status as a legend is further cemented. If he doesn't do anything spectacular then so what, it's not really his car anyway.
The big question is, assuming the rumours about Massa's eye are true and his racing career is in doubt, will his temporary replacement fancy staying out of retirement longer than the end of this season?
Instinctively, you would have to say no. But then again, who thought he would be coming back now? Not the other drivers, for sure. Since Schumacher made his announcement they have been queueing up to welcome him back.
"He is one of the sport's greatest competitors, a legend - it'd be great to compete against him," world champion Lewis Hamilton said.
And current championship leader Jenson Button echoed his thoughts, dismissing suggestions the 91-race-winner may be past his drive-by date: "He's still young - 40 is not old, and he'll still be competitive. His reactions will still be there and I'm sure he's fit enough."
All in all, I think it is fair to say the world of motor racing is relatively ecstatic to welcome back one of its greats. Let's just see now if it goes according to script and Schumacher marks his return with at least a podium.
If nothing else, Schumacher's return to the big time at the age of 40 gives me a sliver of hope - I've still got three years left to find myself a drive...
Your say
Looks like the Manchester City debate is getting a touch heated...
"With reference to last week's letter from Hugh von Brockdorff I have to take exception to his stance. The very fact that he chose to describe the football club he supports as 'the Manchester City project' highlights everything that is wrong with what they are doing.
"Clubs, not projects, should live within their means. Their financial outlay should be based on success, not on huge investment from wealthy individuals. What teams like Manchester City are doing, and Chelsea before them, with their short-cut, spendthrift approach to success, is distorting the playing field and making it anything but level.
"How can it be fair that a team like City can spend £100 million on players while a similar-sized team like Everton can't, simply because of their owners?
"There were once rumours that Fifa was planning to impose a limit on spending whereby clubs would be able to spend only a portion of their turnover on players and wages. The sooner that is introduced the better. Then maybe teams like City and Chelsea would find their rightful place in football's hierarchy." John Grey, Arsenal supporter.
"I don't know why, but you seem to have a go at City every other week. Do I detect a hint of jealousy perhaps? Just joking.
"May I add that I love reading your column and it's the first thing I read on Sunday mornings. Keep up the good work, and may Sheffield Utd get promoted this season." Edward Cachia, a big City fan.
"Contrary to what Mr von Brockdorff said in his letter last week, I believe you are standing up for true fans when you write your 'silly' articles criticising Manchester City's spending spree.
"I have no problems with the team itself or their dedicated supporters. In fact, Manchester City is one of those teams I have always enjoyed watching and observing from a distance in the past.
"But the way they are buying up players is ridiculous. It's almost as if they want to spend for the sake of it while the rest of the world struggles to make ends meet. It just makes football a joke.
"Personally, I support Sampdoria, don't ask me why; so my only interest in English football is as an outsider. But as someone looking in from afar I am afraid the Premier League is losing credibility with the influx of foreign investors." R. Gatt, Qormi.
sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com