Zam'Sports

Dwight Howard's agent: No tampering

2011-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Dan Fegan, the agent for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, dismissed reports his client had illegal contact with the New Jersey Nets, saying Howard had received permission to explore potential trades.

Magic GM Otis Smith confirmed to ESPN the Magazine on Friday night that he granted permission to Fegan to speak to the Nets about a deal involving Howard.

Howard

Fegan read the following prepared statement over the phone to The Magazine: "I read reports today of a meeting between Dwight Howard, his representatives and the New Jersey Nets which claimed, according to the story's anonymous sources, that such a meeting violated the NBA's tampering policies. This story is clearly inaccurate with respect to tampering claims and other facts. Tampering doesn't apply once a team grants permission for a player and/or his representatives to make contact with another team. The Magic have given us permission to have contact with several teams in order for Dwight to explore his options. I most definitely had contact with the teams I was granted permission to speak with. Since we had permission to have contact with several teams the report of possible tampering is undeniably false."

Smith has given Fegan permission to speak with or meet with three teams -- New Jersey, Dallas and the Lakers -- about a potential trade, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.

Howard, however, has not been given such permission and even a mere phone conversation with another club could qualify as tampering.

Fegan said both he and Howard have spoken by phone with the Nets but no face-to-face meeting has occurred.

Sources told Broussard that Howard had flown to Miami Thursday to meet with Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

Magic chief executive officer Alex Martins told the Associated Press the Magic have not filed tampering charges with the NBA against any team for interference with Howard.

"Well there aren't any tampering charges," Martins told the AP. "What I would say to that is that Dwight is under contract with us and our rules in the league are very explicit about the fact when a player's under contract with the team, other teams are not allowed to contact the player or player's representative about them.

"And if that's been voided in any way, we'll deal with it to the fullest extent that the NBA constitution allows. But at this stage there aren't any tampering charges."

The Magic firmly believe the Thursday meeting between Howard and the Nets took place and that there is evidence to prove it, sources said. But they are undecided about whether they will file charges against the Nets.

Howard, in a telephone conversation Friday with ESPN.com, denied meeting with the Nets.

Fegan, Howard and the Magic were committed to quietly determining where the Magic center might go to avoid the media attention that Paul received in recent weeks and Carmelo Anthony endured last winter when he left the Denver Nuggets for the New York Knicks.

The Magic are determined not to relive the experience they had with Shaquille O'Neal, who went to the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in 1996 and left Orlando with nothing in return.

The Magic have had talks with the Nets and the Lakers about a potential trade, but talks with the Lakers have fizzled recently, sources said.

Orlando believes the Nets' package of Brook Lopez, two first-round picks and a willingness to take back Hedo Turkoglu's three-year, $34 million contract is not enough compensation for Howard.

McCoist: Aluko will bounce back

2011-12-10T07:39:00.000-08:00

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has backed Sone Aluko to bounce back after being banned for diving.

GettyImagesSone Aluko joined Rangers from Aberdeen in 2011

• Aluko's ban upheld

Aluko will sit out the next two Scottish Premier League games against Hibernian and Inverness after he was found guilty of simulation by the Scottish Football Association's fast track tribunal on Thursday.

The winger won a penalty in last weekend's meeting with Dunfermline to help Rangers secure a 2-1 win on what was only his second appearance for the Scottish champions and his Ibrox debut.

He also faced criticism the previous week for being slow to react and inadvertently playing Manuel Pascali onside for the Kilmarnock goal that inflicted a first SPL defeat of the season on the Light Blues.

However, despite his furious response to news of the ban yesterday, McCoist insists both he and the player were able to see the funny side of what has been a turbulent start to Aluko's Rangers career.

He said: "We had a little bit of a laugh about it yesterday, which you probably won't believe. It was like 'Welcome to Rangers'. It's been an interesting couple of weeks for him.

"I actually thought he played well down at Kilmarnock but he received a bit of stick for not coming off a post at the goal. Then the Dunfermline incident. If he ever needed a reminder of the situation he finds himself in at our club, he's got it quickly.

"He's a lovely lad and, disappointed as he is at yesterday's judgement, he will bounce back from it. He's a smashing lad and he will come back absolutely fine.''

Emotional Henry pays tribute

2011-12-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Thierry Henry paid an emotional tribute to Arsenal and his former team-mates after seeing himself immortalised in a bronze statue outside Emirates Stadium on Friday afternoon.

GettyImagesThierry Henry and Arsene Wenger address the press at the unveiling of Henry's bronze statue

• Arsenal legends to be honoured

Henry - who left for Barcelona in June 2007, where he would go on to lift the Champions League before moving to the Major Soccer League in the United States with New York Red Bulls - felt he had been left "speechless'' by the whole tribute.

"At the very beginning, when I heard about it, I honestly thought it was a joke, until I realised it wasn't,'' said Henry, who netted 226 goals as the Gunners won two Premier League titles and the FA Cup twice.

"I was fortunate to have won a lot of stuff in my career, but that tops it all.''

Henry, though, added: "Without your team you are nothing. It would not have been possible without them so I want to thank them too.''

The French World Cup winner has been training with Arsenal following the end of the MLS season, and admits watching games as a fan can be difficult.

"I am in pain when Arsenal lose, I can't take it well,'' said Henry. I didn't like it when I was a player and it's worse now - at least when you're a player you can do something about it.''

Henry added: "It was hard at the beginning of the season, but now I think they are on the right track and they have to keep on going.''

Heart coach sees red over yellow cards

2011-12-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

Melbourne Heart coach John van 't Schip saw the funny side before admonishing Argentinian Jonatan Germano for his Santa hat celebration during Friday night's impressive 2-1 A-League upset over Brisbane.

Referee Kris Griffiths-Jones may have been amused like many of the 10,000-strong crowd, but under the rules he had to book the exuberance of Germano with a yellow card which definitely didn't go down well with van `t Schip.

A smiling van `t Schip said later he had no idea the 22 year-old midfielder had taken the field at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night with a red Santa hat stuffed into his white shorts.

"I didn't control the pants before the game ... I didn't have a look inside," smirked van `t Schip.

"It's of course funny and nice for the people (fans) and the people at home to have a laugh but for us it's not professional of course.

"The way Germano plays. He's a fantastic player for us, he's young, he wants to win every ball.

"But if you get a yellow card for that, your next yellow is sending off and he and all our players have to be aware of that.

"We've got a few silly yellow cards this season with scoring goals and celebrating and I don't think that's professional.

"We'll have a chat about that"

Heart's fourth win from their past five games has lifted them into third place with van `t Schip predicting even more improvement from his young side.

"We're on the beginning of something I have the feeling of something that could happen," said van `t Schip.

"We have to be sharp, we have to be humble and we have to work hard on the training pitch and keep believing in the things we're working on.

"We're in a good moment now and we have to stay humble and understand you have to be a team and try and get better every day."

Mariners beat Jets to move level at top

2011-12-10T07:36:00.002-08:00

The Central Coast Mariners moved level on points with A-League leaders the Brisbane Roar thanks to a 2-0 victory over fierce rivals the Newcastle Jets at Bluetongue Stadium.

GettyImagesRostyn Griffiths scored Central Coast Mariners' opener against Newcastle Jets

In a performance that delighted the 10,643 home fans, the Mariners led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of a 25th-minute Rostyn Griffiths and they sealed the points when Matt Simon netted his fourth goal of the season just before the hour.

The lead was twice very nearly extended towards the end but the Jets were saved by the woodwork.

Bernie Ibini smashed a first-time shot against the bar following a good run and cross from Joshua Rose in the 65th minute and then, with time almost up, substitute Daniel McBreen saw his header also crash against the bar.

The win means the Mariners have now gone seven matches without defeat, picking up 19 out of a possible 21 points.

Elsewhere, a late Ben Sigmund header earned Wellington Phoenix a 1-0 triumph over Perth Glory. The winner in the 85th minute was the only bright spot in an otherwise scrappy and often ill-tempered encounter at Westpac Stadium, where chances for either side were few and far between.

The Phoenix finished the match with 10 men after substitute Mirjan Pavlovic was sent off for cynically tackling Steve Pantelidis from behind deep in stoppage time.

Fabian Barbiero snatched an 82nd-minute equaliser as Adelaide United secured a 1-1 draw against Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.

Victory looked set to take home all three points after Archie Thompson grabbed his fourth goal of the campaign just before the hour, but it was not to be as Barbiero ensured Mehmet Durakovic's men failed to hold a lead for a fourth time in 10 outings.

Ronaldo is a Nietzschean superman

2011-12-10T07:36:00.001-08:00

While Lionel Messi's genius is flawed, his main challenger for the Ballon d'Or, Cristiano Ronaldo, comes closest to the definition of the Nietzschean superman. The reaction to the prissy morality of his rivals defines him as the philosophy's modern flag-bearer. As you are all no doubt aware, Nietzsche declares exceptional people should follow their inner law, and who does that better than Ronaldo?

GettyImagesThe philosopher's muse: Is this what Nietzsche had in mind?

Slave morality was invented, he argued, to make those suffering feel that their morality was superior to those in charge. While football in the '90s became faster, stronger and more athletic, the lack of power in morality was renamed as meekness - a virtue - to imbue the sufferer with dignity. Look at Barcelona - Xavi, Messi, Villa - all half-pinters in a team of short rounds. By elevating the passing game above that of strength and power, they claim a false superiority. Ronaldo, though, and Real Madrid by extension, espouse master morality, theoretically the morality of the true victors. Look at Ronaldo's physique. If God is indeed dead, it's not because man killed him: it's because Ronaldo did. By himself, with his bare hands. The quality is true of his team-mates: Barca's effete Dani Alves was seen to by Real's Pepe, incurring a red card but proving the real superiority last season. Barcelona were reduced to waving to signal their apparent suffering in order to gain an advantage from the referee.

This way of thinking is fine for Barcelona - it allows them to make their team game a strength. Their passing suffocates teams into submission, and their incredible technique finishes them off or challenges whatever resistance might remain. For Real Madrid, though, they embrace the exceptional abilities of their superman, Cristiano Ronaldo. The ball is given to him so he can continue his remarkable scoring feats. To be a one-man team is to embrace the other morality of the master. Ronaldo is able to achieve greatness with his own talents: his team-mates simply highlight it. Of course, pragmatism steps in - even Ronaldo cannot play in 11 positions at a time - so they need ten other players to fill the pitch. But Ronaldo's greatness should not be confused merely with his goalscoring - it should be recognised in the other areas on the pitch.

His free-kicks are not always top corner highlight material, destined to be repeated in admiration. No, Ronaldo is clever enough to work out that sometimes it serves his team - and therefore him - if he is able to create a chance from shooting just in front of the 'keeper, so that the rebound can be bundled in. Pretty? No, but the most effective in securing Cristiano Ronaldo trophies and achievement in the long term.

Just because he's attacked as an egotistical bore, it's not the case that he is disinterested in passing. He expresses his superiority in allowing his colleagues to succeed at his behest. In 2009-10, he contributed seven assists; in 2010-11, a further 14; and this season he already has eight. He may have selfish traits but his commitment to his own success is reflected in the number of key passes he makes. He has the ability to set up goals with both feet, from distance or with short passes. If to be exceptional is to be an ubermensch, then the sheer breadth of his abilities must qualify him as the uberest.

GettyImagesLadies love Nietzschean supermen

Further, if the ubermensch is someone who can look at mere humans with contempt, then Ronaldo personifies this. His most talented team-mates, let alone opponents, cannot match his worth. Ronaldo is the one man whose injury would without doubt end Real Madrid's attempt to thwart Barcelona this year. Without Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso or Mesut Ozil, the team could endure. If it happened before the end of the transfer window, they could in all probability be replaced if not bettered were it deemed necessary. If Ronaldo had a long-term injury, who could fit into his role? Nobody. His otherworldliness is reflected in that his absence would lead to a fundamental readjustment to Real Madrid. Their aims would shift from domination to simply victory. No other player can do that.

The will to power of Ronaldo is what allows him to be the best player he can be with a relentless vigour. It is that he aims for the highest possible achievement that makes him vital for any team. An ubermensch is supposed to answer a question that we did not know existed, and Ronaldo has done that by reinventing football. Before Barcelona had their false nine, at Manchester United, with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, he was able to create a false front three, with no fixed positions. He invented the first and only irresistible English team in the Champions League. His qualities, above all, lead him to pursue the record books because he is aware of the eternal return - the acceptance of fate. He knows his time is limited on the field as it is in life, and as such he is striving to provide a bridge from human achievement, to something else entirely.

Kean backs Yakubu to claim 20 goals

2011-12-10T07:35:00.002-08:00

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean has backed in-form striker Yakubu to become the first player to score 20 Premier League goals for the club in a season since Alan Shearer in 1996.

GettyImagesYakubu's most prolific season so far in English football was in 2003-04 when he scored 16 for Portsmouth

Yakubu, 29, has already hit the back of the net nine times in eight starts in the league so far this campaign - including all four last weekend in the 4-2 victory over Swansea - and Rovers boss Kean says there is no reason why the Nigerian should not breach 20.

Roque Santa Cruz has come closest for Rovers, with 19 in the 2007-08 season, and Kean says the key will be to keep the service to Yakubu going and make sure the 29-year-old remains fit.

Kean said: "Any top striker thrives on good service. He has an eye for goal and he's in a position now when he gets any chance he expects to score. Last week he had five chances and scored four and was a couple of inches away from the fifth which would have been fantastic.

"If we can keep him fit there is no reason why he can't get those 20 goals in the season. It's not a case of him thinking 'I could be in here' - he just expects to see the net bulge every time he has a shot.

"I don't think it is a surprise how well he has done. Look back on his stats and as long as you keep him fit and on the pitch his returns are there to see. He has been breath of a fresh air for us.

"He does his work where you want him to, in the box. I don't want him to chase into corners from the half-way line I would prefer him to conserve his energy.''

Yakubu is already being viewed as the bargain buy of last summer after he moved from Everton for a fee just over £1 million on the last day of the transfer window.

Kean resisted labelling his striker as such - pointing out that the signing of 24-year-old centre-back Scott Dann could prove to be equally important.

"The last day of the transfer window when he got Yakubu and Scott Dann we felt was very good business and they have both hit the ground running," Kean said.

'Gobsmacked' AVB slams Neville jibes

2011-12-10T07:35:00.001-08:00

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has continued his war of words with television pundit Gary Neville, saying he has been "gobsmacked" by Neville's "assumptions" and "speculations".

GettyImagesAndre Villas-Boas says Gary Neville 'cannot know' what goes on under him at Chelsea

• Chelsea close book on racism case
• Anelka close to China move

Neville initially invoked Villas-Boas' ire after suggesting Blues defender David Luiz played as if he was controlled by a 10-year-old on a Playstation after the club's defeat to Arsenal last month.

The former Manchester United defender has continued his criticism of Chelsea's current deficiencies in recent weeks, and Villas-Boas could barely contain his fury as he revealed exactly how he would like to confront Neville.

"I'd say this to his face with most pleasure," Villas-Boas said. "What does he know about the Chelsea dressing room? What does Gary Neville know about our dressing room?

"How can you imagine what is going on in the Chelsea dressing room? How can you know? Have you been here? Do you know where Cobham is? You don't even know how to get here!

"You can't speculate and invent on things that are going on, based on assumptions or informants or speculation. Some people can have more or less an idea. But not him. He cannot know.

"I'm normally indifferent, not watching on the telly to see what these people say. But I was watching the television at that moment, and I was gobsmacked."

Villas-Boas, who went on to launch a passionate defence of Luiz after he appeared lucky to avoid a red card for a foul on Demba Ba in the club's 3-0 win over Newcastle last weekend ("Nobody tried to focus on the fact that maybe Demba Ba was offside in the David Luiz challenge. Nobody took that option"), also questioned the impartiality of some of Britain's other prominent pundits, including ex-Liverpool stars Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson.

"Most of these people we are speaking about have a direct past related to single clubs, which are their favourite clubs, which in the end brings a likely biased position in their opinion-making," Villas-Boas said.

"Comic criticism and the lack of in-depth criticism from top ex-professional players, when they take the route to the ridiculous, I think I have a word to say. When they opt for words as we've been seeing, in the past, I have to be aggressive."

Vidic out for the season

2011-12-10T07:32:00.002-08:00

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that captain Nemanja Vidic will be sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Ferguson rues Vidic KO

• Preview: Man United v Wolves

Vidic ruptured his cruciate ligament during Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Basel, a result that saw the Red Devils knocked out of the competition at the group stage for the first time in six years.

The former Serbia defender was carried off the St. Jakob-Park pitch on a stretcher after colliding with Marco Streller during the first-half and appeared to be in agony as he signalled to the bench that he needed to be immediately substituted.

Vidic later left the stadium on crutches and United boss Ferguson announced at his pre-match press conference on Friday that the defender will not play again this term.

"We thought it was a bad one," Ferguson said. "He's out for the season. It's not unexpected but it's still bad news. He'll see a specialist on Monday to work out the progress of when he has the operation. It won't be immediate as we have to let the swelling come down."

Ferguson is likely to call on Phil Jones to play in Vidic's stead alongside Rio Ferdinand for Wolves' visit to Old Trafford this weekend, with Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling also able to fill in at centre-back.

Wenger, Henry laud Van Persie abilities

2011-12-10T07:32:00.001-08:00

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie is "on the way" to entering the pantheon of Gunners greats, while club legend Thierry Henry said he is "in admiration" of the Dutchman's recent form.

GettyImagesRobin van Persie has taken on Thierry Henry's mantle of captain and goalscoring talisman at Arsenal

• Arsenal unveil stadium statues

Van Persie, 28, has been in sensational goalscoring form this calendar year having plundered 38 goals in all competitions for Arsenal in 2011.

And after watching the club unveil a statue of Henry, alongside monuments of Tony Adams and Herbert Chapman as part of the Gunners' 125th anniversary celebrations, Wenger tipped Van Persie to follow in his former forward's footsteps by etching his name into the Emirates Stadium history books.

"Robin is on the way,'' Wenger said. "It was the club's choice [with the statues] and I had the privilege to manage two of the players who were unveiled - hopefully there will be some more.''

Henry, who is Arsenal's all-time leading scorer, echoed Wenger's sentiments - hailing Van Persie's form and labelling his development since his arrival at the club "amazing".

"I saw him come in here and at the very beginning he wasn't the easiest guy to deal with, like I wasn't I guess, but it's amazing to see how he has improved," Henry said. "That tells you how intelligent a player he is.

"I am just in admiration. What he is doing right now, thank God he is playing for us and doing well. It is nice to see a player improve, and Robin is doing something amazing.

"That also tells you how important it is for him to not get injured. He has never had a chance to have a full season since he has been here - he was always out for two or three months.

"For the very first time he can go on a roll now and you can see the difference. I can only admire what he's doing now.''

O'Neill dreams of playing like Barca

2011-12-10T07:31:00.001-08:00

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill has outlined his ambition to have a team that plays with the style of Barcelona, though admitted "pragmatism has to be the order of the day" for the struggling Wearsiders at the moment.

GettyImagesMartin O'Neill looking far into a future where Sunderland play like Lionel Messi and Co

• O'Neill eyes Gyan recall

European champions Barca have been described by some as the best side ever to have played the game and Pep Guardiola's charges have unquestionably set a benchmark in the modern era with their devastating tiki-taka approach.

The Catalans have won many admirers and can count O'Neill among them, with the Northern Irishman keen to create a team in the future capable of emulating Lionel Messi and his team-mates.

However, O'Neill recognises that his lofty ambitions are a world away from life at the Stadium of Light at present, his new side currently sitting precariously close to the Premier League relegation zone.

"I always come back to the way Barcelona play and I think teams look to that," O'Neill said. "It's a long way in the future but you'd love to keep that in the back of your mind and think you could eventually have a team that could play like that.

"Over the course of time, people will probably throw that back at me. But we need to win some football matches and at the moment pragmatism has to be the order of the day.

"When I was at Aston Villa we seemed to have a reputation for being a counter-attacking side and when you have the likes of Milner, Young, Downing and Agbonlahor in the side, that's probably quite true.

"There was a lot of pace in the side so it was almost natural to play that way. I don't think, from the first look here, that we have that same kind of pace at the moment, so you'd have to adjust accordingly."

Balotelli turns out for Stoke reserves

2011-12-10T07:30:00.002-08:00

Stoke City have handed Mario Balotelli's younger brother Enoch a trial at the Britannia Stadium in the hope he can make a similar impact to his sibling in the Premier League.

GettyImagesCould Mario Balotelli be joined by his brother Enoch in the Premier League?

While Mario has been making waves at Manchester City, Enoch has been training with the Stoke youth team, but made his debut this week for the Potters' reserves in a 0-0 draw at Burton Albion, where he showed some neat touches and the family penchant for showboating.

The 19-year-old forward, who was born in Ghana before moving to Italy with Mario where the duo were adopted, played 82 minutes of the match before coming off with cramp.

Stoke academy coach Dave Kevan told the Stoke Sentinel: "He's been with training with us for a while and it was good to give him a run out. He's a good boy but a little bit raw at the moment. We will just have to see how things go."

If Enoch does sign for Stoke, the Balotelli's will join Rio and Anton Ferdinand, plus Fabio and Rafael da Silva as brothers playing in the Premier League.

Remy agent rejects Pav swap deal talk

2011-12-10T07:30:00.001-08:00

Marseille will not swap forward Loic Remy for Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko, according to the Frenchman's agent, who said: "I don't think Marseille want to lose a Ferrari and bring in a Citroen 2CV".

GettyImagesMarseille's Loic Remy: A Ferrari, apparently

Remy has long been linked with a Premier League switch, with clubs including Stoke City, Liverpool and Arsenal all reportedly interested in the player before he made the move to the Stade Velodrome in the summer of 2010.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is believed to be prepared to sell the unfavoured Pavlyuchenko in January as long as he can bring in a suitable replacement - but Remy's agent Frederic Guerra has laughed off any suggestion that the two players may be involved in an exchange deal.

"Loic is not a player you just swap," Guerra said, according to The Sun. "Besides, I don't think Marseille want to lose a Ferrari and bring in a Citroen 2CV."

Guerra admits that he will have to inform Remy of any offers from the north London club, but feels the emerging France international should wait until after next summer's European Championships, when he should receive more attractive propositions, before making any decisions about his future.

"Spurs have a good eye for a deal. If they contact me, I'll be obliged to pass the information on to Loic. But as his advisor I'll tell him to stay put," Guerra added.

"He's got Euro 2012 coming up and could have 10, 15 or 20 clubs coming in for him next summer."

Pavlyuchenko has made just two substitute appearances for Tottenham this season.

SEVILLE, Spain—It felt like a Grand Slam final

2011-12-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

SEVILLE, Spain—It felt like a Grand Slam final, not just the star-studded fourth rubber, but the whole tie. Like Centre Court on the last day of Wimbledon, there wasn’t an empty seat where fans could see the action in the massive, indoor/outdoor Estadio Olimpico on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But you’d be forgiven for thinking the passionate crowd was watching Real Madrid play Boca Juniors instead of Spain’s dynastic, deep squad against the hard-luck Argentineans, seeking their first Davis Cup after three prior failures.

It’s now four such shortcomings, after Juan Martin del Potro stumbled late in the fourth set Sunday against Rafael Nadal. The 23-year-old looked as if he lost a major final afterward, just like he did two days earlier against David Ferrer, who reacted like he won his first. And Nadal, owner of 10 Slams? Covered in clay after a celebratory collapse usually saved for Roland Garros, Rafa didn’t hide the fact that this was a necessary salve to cap a damaging season. “Today is one of the most emotional days of my career,” said Nadal. “After such a difficult year, this was a spectacular finale to the season. To win a final this way is very special.”

The source of Nadal’s frustration is Novak Djokovic, twice a conqueror on dirt in 2011, among other surfaces. With a chance to claim the Cup for his country, Nadal faced a taller version of the Serb in the first set—del Potro’s backhands were Djokovic-esque, the same punishing strikes that negated the Spaniard’s built-in clay-court advantage in the Madrid and Rome finals. Rafa’s forehand spin didn’t faze del Potro, either, recalling another recent Nadal nemesis and tower of power, Robin Soderling.

Argentina trailed the tie 2-1, but the pressure was squarely on Nadal. It came from the other side of the net; from the supporters treating this match like a local soccer derby (both sides spoke the same language, after all); from inside, after a season of struggle; and from his teammates watching courtside. Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez, who fell in doubles, didn’t want to be one of the reasons Spain blew a 2-0 lead, and Ferrer, taxed from 11 months of play and a five-hour war on Friday, surely felt more comfortable on the sideline than the baseline.

Nadal’s eventual win, his second of the series, reminded us that as much as Davis Cup stresses the team, tennis itself rarely strays from its individualistic nature. Argentine captain Tito Vasquez’s strategy revolved around one man, Nadal, although we’ll never know what else he had in mind. Would David Nalbandian have faced Ferrer in the fifth rubber, or would he have stayed with the original plan of Juan Monaco? The decision would have taken form into account—and Nalbandian looked particularly sharp alongside Eduardo Schwank in Saturday’s doubles win—but simply put, Davis Cup tactics are about match-ups. They have to be, when a tie consists of just five matches and one player can earn more than half the total points required for victory.

But although an individual can greatly influence the outcome, the Davis Cup isn’t awarded to a single man. The winner is Spain, now for the third time in the last four years. During this run, three Spaniards have earned the Cup-winning point: Verdasco in 2008 (in Argentina), Lopez and Verdasco (in doubles) in 2009, and Nadal in 2011. “Today it was my turn to decide a final,” said Nadal at the post-match press conference. “I think we have deserved it.”

It’s an incredible statistic, a testament to the country’s abundance of athletic riches (Yannick Noah wasn’t available for comment) and dedication to the competition. The greedy question is, will Ferrer get his chance to clinch the Cup next year? The sensible question is, how long can this last? Who knows, but another defense will be difficult. Ferrer all but confirmed he’s done with Davis Cup, perhaps realizing that his window of winning tennis’ biggest singles titles is closing. “At the end of the day, I have been here for many years,” said Ferrer. “Personally we all look for our own calendar.”

Nadal, who only had the opportunity to eliminate Argentina thanks to Ferrer’s valiant effort on Friday, didn’t leave any doubt of his intentions. With a “very complex year” coming up, he won’t suit up for Spain in Davis Cup, instead focusing his patriotic efforts on the London Olympics. “Thank God Spain has a good level of players,” said Nadal, “and there are many good players that will replace us that play really high-level tennis.”

Removing Nadal and Ferrer from the equation would certainly improve Argentina’s chances of ending its ignominious streak, but there were positives to take away from its latest last-round loss—a definite turnaround from the setback to Spain in the 2008 final, despite an identical score—particularly the play of del Potro. If he remains healthy, it’s very easy to see him returning to the ATP’s A-list in 2012. But the Argentine understandably thought nothing of that after yet another crushing defeat. “I have just lost the final,” said del Potro. “The next year, it’s a long way away.”

Regardless of Rafa’s future, he came full circle by sealing Spain’s triumph in Seville, the city where he captured his first Davis Cup in 2004. He wore his sleeves on his knees back then, was unknown to all but hardcore U.S. tennis fans, and was a boy playing—and winning—a man’s game. Advertisements around Seville show this younger Nadal leaping into the air in celebration, looking not much older than countless children yelling his name in the stands today.

Once again, Seville watched Rafa steal the show. The kid is now a king—of clay; he hasn’t lost more than two matches on the surface in a year since 2004—and he defended his territory to more rousing ovations. Nadal is not all of Spain, but as Spanish captain Albert Costa aptly put it, “Rafa is Rafa”—he’s unquestionably the biggest part of the team. Argentina arguably put up a greater challenge to Nadal and Spain than expected, but its Davis Cup dreams are still just that, dreams. “We prepared for a very tough tie,” said Nalbandian, sitting next to a defeated del Potro at the presser. “Sometimes, unfortunately, the opponent is better and that’s the way it is.”

Biggest Upset: Stosur d. Serena, U.S. Open final

2011-12-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

It was all set up to be Serena Williams’ day of redemption. She was playing at Flushing Meadows for the first time since her infamous, match-ending tirade of two years earlier, and she spent the fortnight doing her best to remind every fan of the women’s game what they had been missing—namely, the best tennis the WTA has to offer. She had brushed aside putative world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets in the semifinals; now it was the 10th anniversary of September 11th, and Serena said she wanted to win it for the memory of that day’s victims.

You probably couldn’t have found a single person among the 23,000 inside Arthur Ashe Satadium that afternoon who didn’t believe she would succeed. Williams was facing Sam Stosur of Australia, a woman who had frozen in her only other appearance in a Grand Slam final, when she was upset by Francesca Schiavone at the 2010 French Open. When Stosur started nervously against Williams, it looked like we were in for a very quick day. I can remember wondering for a split-second whether Stosur would would win a game.

It was indeed a quick afternoon, but Stosur won more than one game. She won 12, in fact, blowing a sluggish and angry Serena off the court, 6-2, 6-3. The match is best remembered for Williams’s sustained berating of chair umpire Eva Asderaki, but that ugly incident overshadowed a stunningly gutsy performance for Stosur. She won the match they way it should be won, with her best shot of the match, a forehand return winner.

Chakvetadze has nightmares about mugging

2011-12-10T06:21:00.000-08:00

An investigation into the robbery of former world No. 5 Anna Chakvetadze’s family home in Moscow in December of 2007 by the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reveals that her father Djamal was beaten up so badly that he had to go through two shoulder surgeries, and that Anna still has nightmares and often wakes up at 3 AM—the exact time the robbery occurred.

Six thieves stole about $260,000 in cash, jewelry and other items and were also said to have beaten Anna (she sustained a significant wrist injury), asking for the Rolex that she just given the day before at an exhibition in Belgium and then telling her, "Keep playing—we'll come again."

Her father Djamal alleges that the wrong men were convicted of the crime and the real robbers were protected by a corrupt police force.

The robbery occurred just a few months after the then 20-year-old Chakvetadze had her best run ever, winning Cincinnati and Stanford, upsetting Venus Williams at San Diego and reaching the semifinals of the U.S. Open. While she had some good results in 2008, most notably by winning the Paris Indoors, her career began to go off track and she has been on and off the tour since then, battling injuries and illness. Her father said that she is still traumatized by the mugging.

She recently ran for the Russian Duma (congress) with the Right Cause Party, but the party was unable to secure even one percent of the vote and she was not elected.

Chakvetadze is planning a return to the WTA after spending much of 2011 dealing with dizziness. She only played 14 matches this season and has seen her ranking fall to No. 229. She will use her special ranking to enter the tournament in Hobart, which starts the second week of January 2012.

Clijsters to be more careful with 2012 schedule

2011-12-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

Kim Clijsters says she will be more careful with her 2012 schedule in order to avoid injuries. After winning the Australian Open and climbing back to No. 1 just after reaching the final of the Paris Indoors in February, the Belgian was beset by injuries to her ankle, shoulder, wrist and abdomen.

On Thursday, Clijsters played her first match of any kind at an exhibition in Antwerp, where she defeated No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

"The start of 2011 was really good. But after that I made some decisions I no longer would make now," the 13th-ranked Clijsters said on her website. "After a physically and psychologically very strenuous Australian Open, the indoor tournament in Paris was the one event too much…. [but] I don't have any regrets. It was because of my final in Paris that I was able to No. 1 again. Now, I'll be listening to my body much better. I have been working really hard on my serve, because that often did not go well in the past year. And there are a few other details I would like to see improve."

Clijsters has reunited with her former coach, Carl Maes, who indicated that 2012 would be the 28-year-old’s last season. Clijsters herself indicated last year that she had no firm plans to play past the 2012 Olympics.

"Choosing someone entirely new for her final year would perhaps be a bit too tricky," said Maes, who coached Clijsters between 1995 and 2002. "There will always be things you do not have control of, but both physically and on the level of tennis, training is going really well. The main issue is how Kim will put things into practice for a real match."

Clijsters will start her 2012 season in Brisbane and then take a week off to prepare to defend her Australian Open title.

The Last Word: WTA No. 8, Agnieszka Radwanska

2011-12-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

Agnieszka Radwanska" width="250">

The Last Word returns, and each weekday, starting on Monday, December 5, we'll give you our year-end thoughts about tennis' best players—this time focusing on the ATP and WTA Top 10. We'll alternate tours each day; here's who we've looked at so far.

Best of 2011
It’s a real pick 'em because Radwanska won two big fall tournaments back to back, beating a comparable fields in Tokyo (d. Vera Zvonareva in final) and Beijing (d. Andrea Petkovic in final).

Worst of 2011
Let’s go with another two-fer: In Madrid and Rome, Radwanska won just one of three matches (d. Yaroslava Shvedova, first round of Madrid). In Rome, Radwanska lost her opener to No. 41 Elena Vesnina.

Year in Review
This girl epitomizes the concept of “sneaky good,” losing just three first-round encounters in 20 tournaments. Just four women in the Top 10 played fewer events, so you know “Aggie” didn’t game the ranking system (which is based on a players' 16 best tournament results).

Radwanska lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open to the destined champ, Kim Clijsters, and remained comparably consistent through the year. After that two-tournament glitch during the Euro-clay season, she made the round of 16 at the French Open (l. to No. 8 Maria Sharapova). However, her Wimbledon was disappointing (second-round loss to Petra Cetkovska).

Radwanska then caught fire: She won Carlsbad (d. Zvonareva) and played for the trophy in Toronto (l. to Sam Stosur). Angelique Kerber surprised her in the second round of the U.S. Open, but she was the dominant player in Asia (the aforementioned pair of wins). Oddly enough, two of those three first-round losses on the year were inflicted by the same player—Lucie Safarova.

See For Yourself
This clip from Radwanska’s French Open loss to Sharapova gives you a very good idea of how well she can defend. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you can also see how little she does with the ball when she’s on offense.

Oden signs 1-year deal with Trail Blazers

2011-12-09T18:29:00.000-08:00

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Portland Trail Blazers say they have signed center Greg Oden

The team says that the often-injured 7-footer has suffered another setback with his rehabilitation. Oden missed all of last season after microfracture surgery on his right knee.

The new contract was announced Friday after the Blazers opened training camp. A day earlier, Oden's agent reported that the former No. 1 draft pick had signed an $8.9 million qualifying offer that Portland had offered Oden on June 29.

The terms of the new deal were not announced.

The nature of the setback was not disclosed by the team.

Kalex-KTM debuts at Moto3 Valencia test

2011-12-09T18:27:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Héctor Faubel made the first laps aboard the Aspar Team’s KTM powered Kalex on Wednesday, the first day of Moto3 testing at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia.

Héctor Faubel (Aspar Team) took to the controls of the KTM engine powered Kalex for the first time on Wednesday, the bike will ride next year in the new Moto3 category. The Valencian rider was only able to complete about 10 laps on the first of the two-day private Moto3 test that began yesterday in Valencia.

The first day of testing at the Valencia circuit was filled with more activity in the team pit boxes than on the track itself, as both the Aspar Team and the RW Racing GP Team needed several hours to assemble the machines that arrived directly from the factory. Neither Alberto Moncayo, who signed with the Aspar Team on Tuesday, nor Luis Salom of the RW Racing GP Team made it onto the pavement, though KTM test rider Joan Olivé was able to join Faubel on track.

Following his first contact with the Kalex-KTM, Faubel said: "The first impression is that the bike goes quite well, it moves pretty good for a new bike and the engine is very different, it’s flatter and the power band is lower than the two-strokes. Now we have a lot of work to do because this bike is like a baby and needs to evolve."

"I made a few laps, maybe ten, because they had to assemble and prepare the bike first, but I know the four-strokes and everything felt fine. It’s early to say anything more about the bike," continued Faubel. "Tomorrow I expect we will work on the carburetion and fuel injection, which is different from the two-strokes, and we will work a bit with the chassis, since we put the bike on the track as it came from the factory."

Pirro to ride the San Carlo Honda Gresini CRT bike in 2012

2011-12-09T18:26:00.000-08:00

Bautista blogs from Experience Africa adventure

2011-12-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

Monday, 28 November 2011

The first of a series of blog posts from Alvaro Bautista who is participating in Riders for Health Experience Africa

The Spanish rider submitted the first of several blog posts from his adventure with the humanitarian organization, Riders for Health. Bautista left for Zambia on November 23rd to join a group of people taking part in the ride through Zambia which continues until the end of the month.

Experience Africa,

I have just finished my second day in Zambia, and my first full day riding and seeing Africa. We arrived in Zambia and had a day to get used to the bikes that we would be riding. They aren’t quite as quick as the ones that I am used to, but they seem just right for where we will be going.

This morning we left Lilayi lodge before 9am and began our ride to the Moorings campsite, six hours away. This is my first time riding through Africa and it has been a real eye-opener. When you see how isolated the villages are and how bad the roads and tracks are, it is really obvious what an important job the motorcycles do, and how much they help the health workers.

We have ridden through villages and met lots of people, and what amazes me the most is how happy the children are that we meet. Although they have so little, they are so pleased to see us. It is the kind of excitement and happiness that children get in Spain when they see Santa.

I have been riding for just one day, and I have already had an incredible experience. I always knew that it was important to support Riders for Health when I donated items to the auctions, but to see what they do with the money is amazing.

I can’t wait until tomorrow.

Alvaro

Randy de Puniet to MotoGP Aspar Team in 2012

2011-12-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

Friday, 25 November 2011

The Aspar Team is expanding their MotoGP effort next season to two bikes, with Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró piloting the Aprilia powered CRT machines.

The Aspar Team has joined the list of teams to compete the 2012 season with CRT (Claiming Rules Team) bikes. In addition, the team will have two riders, Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró.

De Puniet had the opportunity to complete two days of testing with the Aspar Team, and feelings of both sides have been magnificent. On the other hand, Valencia and Italian firm set are linked since 1996, have sealed their way four titles and seven subtitles. So the Aspar Team has decided to rely on Noale house as a supplier of engines for its new adventure CRT.

Jorge "Aspar" Martínez:

"We are convinced that this challenge will be very successful, both with the riders and the engines, which will be supplied by Aprilia. We wanted to work with the brand in this new project because of our good working relationship and for their proven capabilities in smaller categories. Our goal this year is to be the best CRT and prepare to go a step further in 2013."

Randy De Puniet:

"I am delighted to return to the Aspar Team, a team I raced with in 2005 in 250cc. I have very fond memories of that time. Together we will embark on a new challenge, CRT. I realize that this team is very competitive and will fight for the best material, in fact I have been able to train with them and the conclusions have been optimal. CRT is the future of MotoGP and I think there will be a lot of work ahead, but a very rewarding work. The goal for the next season will be to adapt as quickly as possible to the prototype, and gradually catch the front runners."

"Training in Jerez was productive and I was able to get a lot of information about the bike. It’s clear that we are still far from what the final motorcycle will be, but I'm very happy with how everything has happened. The test in Jerez gave me the opportunity to realize the enormous potential of the new concept of CRT,and I am proud to be one of the pioneering riders in this new category."

Aleix Espargaró:

"First of all, I am very excited to be on the Aspar Team, and returning to MotoGP is a big motivation for me. 2010 was quite positive for me and I would have liked to stay another year. I think for my weight and my height I can adapt well to the category and the bike."

"I am convinced that the year will go very well and I'll get great results for the Aspar Team. CRT is a completely new class, and we will initially have a lot of work, but I have chosen the Aspar Team is because I know it is a team that will face the new category very seriously. They are very professional and certainly developed a great bike. I am delighted with this new project."

De Puniet: “I’m very optimistic about this new project”

2011-12-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Randy de Puniet underwent a minor surgery today, ahead of further tests in January aboard the CRT of the Aspar Team. In an interview with motogp.com following the recent test at Jerez, the Frenchman described his first impressions of the bike and his expectations for next season.

After two days of tests last week in Valencia with the Aspar Team, Randy de Puniet took advantage of the current period of inactivity to undergo a minor surgery before testing resumes in January. The operation was completed successfully on Wednesday to remove the titanium rod plus one screw that were inserted into his left tibia as a result of an injury sustained last year in Sachsenring, as well as two screws from his left ankle were inserted after a motocross crash in 2009.

De Puniet’s immediate plans are to recover 100% physically, which will take a minimum of ten days, before resuming training in mid-December ahead of further development of the Aprilia powered CRT machine that the team will contest in the 2012 campaign.

Following the Jerez test, de Puniet spoke to motogp.com to share his views regarding the new bike and the project that will launch in 2012 alongside the 1000cc bikes in the premier class.

“We had great testing conditions for the two days, we made some progress and I had fun with this bike," said the 30 year old. "It was a good first impression and so the two days were encouraging. I'm happy with my times and my pace, we are still far from the prototypes, but I think we can be pleased because it was the first time riding the bike, and it’s far from the bike that it will be in January."

Regarding future work to be carried out based on his first contact with the bike, de Puniet said: "The objective of this test was to try to decide on a direction to build a chassis and I think the team now has a good idea of how to move forward. We will do more testing at Jerez in late January, before going to Sepang with a bike that won’t yet be final, as we’ll continue to develop it, but it will be the basis of what we’ll have next season."

“I'm very happy, this will be a new adventure, a new project, and I will do my best to be as competitive as possible and to be as close as possible to the prototypes and beat them if I have the opportunity," added the Frenchman. "I worked with Aspar in 2005, my last GP win was with them and it’s a very competent team. I know they will do everything possible to have the best material and I’m very optimistic about this new project”.

Report: Kings, Hayes agree on 4-year deal

2011-12-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

The agreement Friday came on the first day players are officially allowed to sign contracts and most teams opened training camp. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been officially completed.

Hayes spent his first six seasons with the Houston Rockets, playing mostly in a reserve role. He is averaging 3.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 17 minutes per game over his career.

Hayes attended high school in nearby Modesto, Calif. He has played power forward and center in the NBA.

Sacramento will begin training camp Saturday. The deal was first reported by Yahoo Sports.