Post-Olympics blues came in the guise of Kevin Pietersen departing the England Test scene (for good), Robin van Persie becoming the first Arsenal player to join Manchester United since 1987 and the predictable Olympics versus football debate.
London 2012 has, and will, be missed for as long as it lingers, which is guaranteed at least until after December's BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. But in the meantime, the Premier League is back and England are battling South Africa in the third and final Test match. The Paralympics are just 12 days away too.
In the meantime, here's the sporting week in pictures...
A Week In Sport
(01 of23)
Seattle Mariners' Eric Thames smiles after being hit with a shaving cream pie after batting the winning run in the bottom of the ninth against Tampa Bay Rays winning the baseball game 3-2 in Seattle on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
(02 of23)
Fleetwood Town's Jamie McGuire tackles Nottingham Forest's Andy Reid
(03 of23)
Four times Olympic sailing gold medalist Ben Ainslie sails his Finn class dinghy Rita past Big Ben, on the River Thames, London.Picture date: Thursday August 16, 2012. Ainslie defended his Olympic title to become the most successful Olympic sailor in history. Today he announced that JP Morgan Asset Management will sponsor his America's Cup campaign which he begins in San Francisco next week. See PA story SAILING Ainslie. Photo credit should read: Chris Ison/PA Wire.
(04 of23)
Wales' Gareth Bale is substituted after clashing with Bonsia-Herzegovina's Emir Spahic during the International Challenge match at Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli. PRESS ASSOICIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2012. Photo credit should read: Andy Lloyd/PA Wire
(05 of23)
Wales' Gareth Bale reacts after clashing with Bonsia-Herzegovina's Emir Spahic during the International Challenge match at Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli. PRESS ASSOICIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2012. Photo credit should read: Andy Lloyd/PA Wire
(06 of23)
Detail of signage instructing fans to watch their language in the stands at The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium
(07 of23)
Coventry City's Cody McDonald wins a header
(08 of23)
Ireland Gold medallist Katie Taylor arrives at the Games Terminal at Heathrow Airport, London.Picture date: Monday August 13, 2012. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
(09 of23)
Great Britain's Olympic sailing squad take part in an open-top bus tour of Weymouth and Portland following their medal successes at the London 2012 games in the town earlier this month.Picture date: Wednesday August 15, 2012. Photo credit should read: Chris Ison/PA Wire
(10 of23)
Birmingham City's Marlon King goes close with a shot on the Barnet goal.
(11 of23)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Thomas DeCoud (28) reacts before the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
(12 of23)
Manchester United's new signing Robin Van Persie (left) with manager Sir Alex Ferguson following a press conference at Old Trafford, Manchester.Picture date: Friday August 17, 2012. Van Persie has signed a four-year contract with United, bringing to an end one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the summer. See PA story SOCCER Man Utd. Photo credit should read: Barrington Coombs/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Maximum 45 images during a match. No video emulation or promotion as 'live'. No use in games, competitions, merchandise, betting or single club/player services. No use with unofficial audio, video, data, fixtures or club/league logos.
(13 of23)
Great Britain's Luke Campbell arrives with his boxing gold medal for an Olympic homecoming in Queen Victoria Square, Hull.Picture date: Tuesday August 14, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Hull. Photo credit should read: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
(14 of23)
Alistair (left) and Jonathan Brownlee celebrate with their medals during a homecoming reception in Millennium Square, Leeds.Picture date: Monday August 13, 2012. See PA story OLYMPICS Leeds. Photo credit should read: Barry Coombs/PA Wire
(15 of23)
BREMEN, GERMANY - AUGUST 11: Shay Given of Aston Villa during a preseason friendly match between Werder Bremen and Aston Villa at Weserstadion on August 11, 2012 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Martin Stoever/Getty Images)
(16 of23)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake poses for photographers before ringing the bell at the start of play during day one of the 3rd Investec Test match between England and South Africa at Lord's Cricket Ground on August 16, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)
(17 of23)
MALAGA, SPAIN - AUGUST 13: Spanish matador Mari Paz Vega during a bullfight at the Malagueta Bullring on August 13, 2012 in Malaga, Spain. (Photo by Daniel Perez Garcia-Santos/Getty Images)
(18 of23)
BERN, SWITZERLAND - AUGUST 15: Manger Roy Hodgson of England looks on before the international friendly match between England and Italy at Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf on August 15, 2012 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
(19 of23)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Rock star Alice Cooper watches play during day one of 3rd Investec Test match between England and South Africa at Lord's Cricket Ground on August 16, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
(20 of23)
Andy Murray, from Great Britain, hits a forehand against Sam Querrey during a match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
(21 of23)
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 3: The President's Race is held during a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins on August 3, 2012 at Nationals Park in Washington DC. The Nationals won 7-4. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
(22 of23)
MUNICH, GERMANY - AUGUST 17: The team of Bayern Muenchen poses for a team photograph during the official S.Oliver kit handover at the Bayern Muenchen training ground on August 17, 2012 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Bongarts/Getty Images)
(23 of23)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 17: Rhys Stanley of the Saints is injured as he competes for the ball with Tom Lonergan of the Cats during the round 21 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium on August 17, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)