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ماراتون الرياضة

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 04:22:00 +0300

الرياضه الان سيئة جدا والدول العربية هي الأسوأ طبعا والفائز بالمركز الأول في السوء السعوديه في جميع أنواع الرياضه .

Jenson Button is Formula 1 drivers’ champion

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:25:00 +0300

Jenson Button yesterday became the Formula 1 World Champion after a magnificent and controlled drive at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo. His victory makes it back-to-back wins for British drivers in the motorsport, following Lewis Hamilton's triumph last year.

Button picked up four points for finishing fifth in the Brazilian Grand Prix having started the race in 14th spot on the grid after a disastrous qualifying session. Going into the last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi GP in a fortnight's time, he now has an unassailable 15-point lead over Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, with Brawn teammate Rubens Barrichello a further two points back in third spot. Brawn also picked up the constructors' championship yesterday, with a 25.5-point lead over Red Bull also proving to be too much to overturn.

Almost overshadowed by the division of the silverware was another typically chaotic and exciting race at Interlagos. A first-lap clash between Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Force India's Adrian Sutil (which also did for Fernando Alonso in his penultimate Renault drive) almost turned physical as the drivers squared up to each other. Then a pit-lane incident saw Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari temporarily turn into a fireball as fuel from the McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen sprayed over it.

While other drivers were finding the circuit a real test, Button was quietly making up his lost ground, while at the front of the pack the Red Bull of Mark Webber was powering ahead. When Barrichello suffered a late puncture, to limp home in eighth, Button clinched the championship. Webber's win was his second of the season, and Hamilton came from 17th on the grid to grab third place, behind Kubica of BMW, and suggest that next season he will be a force to reckon with again

How a Beach Ball Ruined Liverpool's Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:04:00 +0300

Liverpool is a club drenched in tradition. Among England's biggest teams, it is the only one not to have moved to a new stadium in recent years or comprehensively refurbished its current home, Anfield. (Plans are on the drawing board for a new facility.) Until recently it also showed a resistance to some of the more overt commercialization, from club-themed television channels to personal seat licenses, which other Premier League clubs have embraced in an attempt to maximize revenue.
.Much of this traditionalism stems from the values instilled by the club's most iconic manager, Bill Shankly, who led Liverpool from 1959 to 1974. Mr. Shankly, who joked that as a boy he was so poor that he did not take a bath until he was 15, was a committed socialist who fostered the notion of Liverpool as a community club. Among other things, he created Liverpool's "boot room ethos," a sort of in-house apprenticeship aimed at producing future coaches in his own image. Indeed, in the 25 years following his retirement, Liverpool had five different managers (a remarkable total, given the rapid coaching turnover at most clubs). Each was either a "boot room" graduate or a long-time Liverpool player.

Saints' rout of Giants shows NFC has a new pecking order

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:37:00 +0300

NEW ORLEANS — Big Apple vs. Big Easy. Unbeaten New York Giants vs. unbeaten New Orleans Saints. Top-ranked Giants defense vs. tops-in-scoring Saints offense. This had all the makings of a tightly contested NFL showdown for supremacy (at least October supremacy) in the NFC.
But quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense took the suspense out of it early Sunday with one touchdown drive after another. Saints fans at the Superdome got to spend most of the second half in a Mardi Gras-come-early celebration of a 48-27 romp.

RIO GIVEN A THIRD LIFE

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:33:00 +0300

Ferdinand will again partner captain John Terry for England at Wembley, but his error in Saturday’s defeat against Ukraine prompted action from Capello. Vice-captain Ferdinand has made two serious mistakes in his last two internationals, which resulted in England conceding a goal against Holland and contributed to goalkeeper Robert Green giving away a penalty and being sent off against Ukraine.

Capello had originally planned to rest Manchester United defender Ferdinand against Belarus, but has decided to give him another chance after their discussions.

And Capello will talk to Ferdinand for a third time ahead of kick-off.

“Rio will play,” said Capello. “I spoke with him on Monday and on Tuesday morning. I asked him what happened and about the moment in the Ukraine game.

“We will look at the DVD of the Ukraine game to understand what happened and to see the mistakes.

“Rio is a big man, a good man and he is an important player for England and Manchester United.

“He needs to play and I will speak with him again before the game. He is one of the best defenders in England and I have big confidence in him.”

Terry has described his defensive partner Ferdinand as “one of the best in the world” and revealed Ferdinand, 30, is desperate to atone for his recent mistakes.

“Rio wants to put things right and he’s looking forward to this game,” said Terry. “Some players go into their shells, but Rio wants the ball and he is a player that wants to put it right when he makes a mistake. That’s why he’s one of the best in the world and someone I still learn from

Raptors' Chris Bosh wins Internet cybersquatting case

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:20:00 +0300

The ruling, which Bosh's lawyer said is the first time a court awarded third-party domain names to a plaintiff, gives the basketball player control of www.chrisbosh.com and website names that incorporated names of other NBA stars, including Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Phoenix's Steve Nash.

But Bosh, a four-time National Basketball Association all-star and Olympic gold medalist, has no plans to retain the domain names.

"I am thrilled that I am able to offer the return of these domain names to a host of other athletes and celebrities whose names were cybersquatted," Bosh said in a statement. "I will offer the return of the domain names free of charge."

The domain names were awarded to Bosh in a U.S. federal court in California on September 24 but the announcement was delayed until all the domain names involved were secured, the lawyer said.

The ruling came against Hoopology.com, which displayed ads using Bosh's name to generate revenue without having any association with the star. Other domains included entertainers and product names.

"This is the first time a plaintiff has convinced the court to award third-party domain names directly to the plaintiff," Bosh's lawyer Brian Heidelberger told Reuters.

Young arms relieve Yankees

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:06:00 +0300

He looked like a kid who couldn't stop playing with a shiny toy. But this was hardly flaunting a 7-2 lead on the Minnesota Twins, showing off a bullpen that is at the same time a regular-season revelation and a postseason mystery.

"What a great thing Joe did," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says. "They experienced their first games. That's golden."

TRIPLE THREAT: Yankees considering 3-man rotation
MR. OCTOBER: Track the top postseason performers
GALLERY: Photos from the postseason

They've been golden so far, this unlikely collection of relief pitchers charged with bridging the gap between the Yankees' high-priced starting rotation and closer deluxe Mariano Rivera.

Girardi marched them in from the bullpen, one after another, after CC Sabathia pitched into the seventh inning:

•Phil Hughes, a 23-year-old who was dropped from the rotation in June only to become what Girardi calls one of "two keys that turned our season around." (The other was the return from injury of third baseman Alex Rodriguez.)

•Phil Coke, 27, a lefty who went from 14⅔ innings of major league experience before this year to a Yankees rookie-record 72 appearances.

•Joba Chamberlain, who became a folk hero as a fireballing rookie at the end of the 2007 season and, just 24, since has been trying to earn a full-time spot in the rotation.

And then Rivera, the all-time postseason leader in just about everything that has to do with relievers, finished up.

This isn't 30-somethings Jeff Nelson and Mike Stanton setting up, or Rivera in an apprentice role under John Wetteland in the 1996 World Series.

"It's definitely a different group," Rivera says. "Before we had all of these veterans with a lot of experience. Now we have these young boys with no experience, but they have the heart and the desire and the will to win, and that's the most important thing."

The next night, Chamberlain, Coke and Hughes pitched again in an extra-inning game. So did Rivera, plus a couple of playoff newbies.

Alfredo Aceves, a 26-year-old the Yankees enticed out of the Mexican League in 2008, got through the 10th inning despite allowing a hit and a walk.

David Robertson, 24, a 17th-round pick who led AL relievers in strikeouts per inning, pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 11th, allowing the Yankees to win on Mark Teixeira's walk-off homer.

"They get the bases loaded with nobody out," Girardi says. "We've got Robertson in, who has pitched to one hitter in playoff baseball (the hitter whose single loaded the bases) in his career, and he ends up getting out of it. The emotions are unbelievable."

That's the way it's going to be for the Yankees heading into the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees have no choice, haven't had many other options for more than half the season, really from the day in early June when Girardi called Hughes into his office.

Rafael Nadal swatted aside by Marin Cilic in China

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:08:00 +0300

Marin Cilic shocked world No2 Rafael Nadal at the Beijing Open to set up a final showdown with Novak Djokovic tomorrow.

Eighth seed Cilic needed just 83 minutes to beat his Spanish opponent 6-1, 6-3, breaking Nadal five times during the match.

It was the first meeting between the pair, and the Croatian will be hoping to claim his fourth ATP Tour title in tomorrow's final against Djokovic.

The second-seeded Serbian also won in straight sets in the semi-finals, seeing off Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-3.

Djokovic has won all three of his previous meetings with Cilic.

By clinching a place in the final Djokovic is set to claim the No3 spot in the world rankings from British No1 Andy Murray.

In the women's event, sixth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova booked her place in the final with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 win over Nadia Petrova.

The Russian broke her countrywoman five times, saving as many break points on her own serve, during a match which lasted 68 minutes.

She will play Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland saw off France's Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-3

Republic of Ireland 2-2 Italy

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:46:00 +0300

It was, in the end, the perfect scenario for an adopted Irishman of Italian descent. Not that Giovanni Trapattoni is the type to let emotion ever get in the way of a football result, but he could be forgiven an extra shiny twinkle in his eye after both of his teams went home happy. Italy got the point they needed to qualify for South Africa. Ireland made sure of a play-off place. How prescient that the strains of Hot Chocolate's Everyone's A Winner rang out over the PA system before the game. Did somebody back there know something?

Not a bit of it. Anyone who dared to think there could be some kind of arrangement, a nod and a wink between the two technical areas, grossly underestimates the spirit and resilience that is alive and kicking in these teams. Three minutes from time, Ireland rose to celebrate what they thought was a glorious match-winner from Sean St Ledger, who could not believe his fortune to nod in from Stephen Hunt's dipping free-kick.

Three minutes later, Alberto Gilardino slipped in the equaliser. It glossed a rewarding game with a grandstand finish. Irish attention now turns to two more big occasions, with the sudden-death play-offs in November. Wednesday night's game against Montenegro is nothing more than preparation.

The Republic's achievement – in remaining undefeated throughout the group thus far; in pushing Italy in both the matches; in creating a young and evolving team who are more competitive than anything they have managed since their last appearance at a major tournament seven years ago – is considerable.

The Irish took heart before kick-off as they got wind of Bulgaria's spectacular flakiness – the only team who might have pushed Ireland for second place combusted in some style in Cyprus.

With the Group Eight runner-up spot safely in the bag, the mathematicians began analysing the permutations to help the cause in the great play-off stitch-up, which favours the top seeds in the draw. Avoiding the second pot is not going to be easy. The Republic set about giving themselves the best chance possible as they started the match with relish.

For the first time since they moved into their second home, a genuine football atmosphere crackled through the towering stands of Croke Park. The place took off in the seventh minute when the Republic took the lead with a cleverly crafted free-kick after Robbie Keane was bundled over. With Italy expecting Liam Lawrence to go for the more direct route by pumping the ball into the penalty area, the Stoke midfielder elected to tuck it back towards Glenn Whelan, who was lurking 25 yards out. He swept a curving shot oh so sweetly beyond the reach of Gianluigi Buffon. On the touchline, Trapattoni and his assistant, Marco Tardelli, jigged merrily.

Italy were surprised, all right, and it was fitting somehow that the jack-in-the-box was Whelan, an industrious player whose progress epitomises the Trap effect. The man the Republic manager refers to as his Gattuso was identified, promoted, encouraged, trusted. In that moment he proved why. To Ireland's frustration he later picked up a yellow card for a clunky tackle on Angelo Palombo, which rules him out of their next match.

Then Italy knuckled down. The forward combination of the meaty Vincenzo Iaquinta and the nimble Antonio Di Natale followed Andrea Pirlo's lead and unpicked holes in the Irish back line. Fabio Grosso cantered upfield to fizz in a long-range drive. A minute later Italy were level. Iaquinta's corner found Mauro Camoranesi free in the area and he was able to glance in a simple header.

The Republic had a scare early in the second half, when Giorgio Chiellini got his head to a free-kick, Iaquinta flicked it on, and the ball ended up in the net. But the referee, Hauge Terje, ruled it out for offside.

Without exactly throwing caution to the wind, both teams were happy to search for goals when the opportunity presented itself. Robbie Keane twisted and turned to gain position in the area and could not quite manage to shoot as clinically as he would like. Then Richard Dunne headed too close to Buffon.

Italy sauntered up the other end and John O'Shea arrived to make a vital interception. Shay Given, the Republic keeper, then sprang to the floor to turn aside Gianluca Zambrotta's blast.

Both teams effectively drew and won simultaneously. Nice work all round. As Trapattoni once said: "The memory of beautiful football lasts for a while. The result lasts for ever."

Strong first half helps Arkansas upend No. 19 Auburn 44-23

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:45:00 +0300

The 19th-ranked Tigers — and their fast-paced, powerful offense — had been stopped in their tracks.

Michael Smith rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown, and the Razorbacks held off a late Auburn rally to hand the Tigers their first loss of the season, 44-23 Saturday. Arkansas — which gave up 52 points on this field less than a month ago — shut down Auburn for most of the game.

"We weren't going to play soft with these guys," Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said.

The Tigers scored three touchdowns during a quick flurry toward the end of the third quarter, but by then the Razorbacks had built a commanding lead.

Ashes dates for 2010-11 announced

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Thu, 8 Oct 2009 05:56:00 +0300

The schedule for England's defence of the Ashes in Australia during 2010-11 has been finalised.

England beat Australia 2-1 in this year's contest and the next five-Test series will start at the Gabba in Brisbane on 25 November.

Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney will also play host to Test matches.

England will play three warm-up games against first-class opponents before the start of the series and one in-between the second and third Tests.

In the 2005-06 series, which Australia won 5-0, England had only one first-class game before the first Test, although they did also play warm-up games against a President's XI and New South Wales.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said: "The recent Ashes Test series between the two sides was the sporting highlight of the summer and has really whetted the appetite of all cricket supporters as England seek to retain the Ashes next winter."

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland added: "I know we have only just finished an Ashes series in England but I also know that the Aussie players - and Australian cricket in general - are already thinking about the Ashes series down under which starts in just over 12 months.

"Australia has a very good Ashes record at home and I'm hopeful that will continue next summer and we can bring the urn back to Australia."

Phillies beat Rockies in playoff opener

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Thu, 8 Oct 2009 05:10:00 +0300

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies made a confident start to the postseason with Cliff Lee throwing a six-hitter in a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Wednesday's opener of their NL Division series.
It took until the fifth inning for Philadelphia to get on the scoreboard at a windswept Citizens Bank Park when Raul Ibanez doubled to right field to score Jayson Werth.

Carlos Ruiz then lined a single off Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez that scored Ibanez for a 2-0 lead.

The Phillies broke the game open in the sixth with three more runs as the Rockies outfielders were tested by some swirling fly balls.

Ryan Howard doubled home Chase Utley, and Werth followed with a deep drive to left that caromed off the wall for a run-scoring triple. A single from Ibanez plated Werth to make it 5-0 -- a daunting lead considering how Lee was pitching.

Colorado finally scored in the ninth, but Lee took the applause with a complete game victory in his first career playoff start.

The left-hander struck out five, issued no walks and retired 16 successive batters at one point as Philadelphia drew first blood in the best-of-five series.

"I tried to treat it like a regular game, obviously more excitement but everything is the same. This is the start you want though," said Lee who had ended the regular season in mixed form.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy said his hitters had failed to take advantage of some looser pitching from Lee in the early stages.

"He got good as the game went on, beyond the third innings we didn't get many good swings at him. We had some opportunities early on though and there were some vulnerability in his start," he said.

"You tip your cap to him - it's a five game series and we have been in this position before. Tomorrow (Thursday) is a pretty important game - we don't want to go back to Denver two down in the series," said Tracy.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was well satisfied with his team's display.

"I felt we did a good job, we created chances and took advantage of all of them. We hit the ball very good and Cliff pitched a hell of a game.

Meyer: Tebow Not Cleared to Practice, Play vs. LSU

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Tue, 6 Oct 2009 21:33:00 +0300

Florida coach Urban Meyer said Monday his star player has not been cleared to practice or play against fourth-ranked LSU on Saturday night. But Meyer added that the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner is no longer dealing with post-concussion symptoms.

"From what I understand, there's no symptoms and I think he's cleared to act like Tim Tebow," Meyer said. "Everything but practice right now. I know he's allowed to watch TV. Earlier in the week he wasn't allowed to do anything focused. I guess that's normal protocol, then after a week, they acclimate."

Meyer said Tebow has been without headaches and other symptoms for several days. He said Tebow was given balance and memory tests Friday, Sunday and Monday - part of the school's baseline neurological testing - and the results were "very positive."

Tebow was hospitalized overnight nine days ago after his helmet struck teammate Marcus Gilbert's leg during a sack at Kentucky. The top-ranked Gators (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) have declined to divulge all of Tebow's symptoms and the severity of his concussion. They talked about making the athletic trainer available for interviews last week, but it never happened.

The most significant updates have come from Meyer, who said Tebow skipped every practice last week. Meyer wasn't sure whether Tebow would return this week.

Could Tebow play if he receives clearance late in the week?

"I can't answer that," Meyer said. "Can Tim play quarterback at Florida against a very good defense without practicing? I don't know that. It's going to be as we move on."

The Gators practiced Monday with backup John Brantley taking most of the repetitions at quarterback. Brantley has completed 73 percent of his passes this season for 232 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. But he's played only in mop-up duty, so he still hasn't taken a meaningful snap in college.

Meyer said he plans to let everyone know when, and if, Tebow is cleared to practice, and insisted he wouldn't keep it a secret in hopes of deceiving the Tigers (5-0, 3-0) or making them prepare for two quarterbacks.

"I haven't even thought about it," Meyer said. "A lot of that I think is overrated. I think one's a great proven player and one's got a lot of ability. Do things change? Are we going to abandon (our offense) and all of a sudden be this I-formation, under-center, power, off-tackle team? No, we're not.

EVERYTHING POINTS TO MASTER CLASS

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Tue, 6 Oct 2009 20:31:00 +0300

As the Irish flat season begins to wind down there was a last chance to see one of the stars of 2009 in domestic action at Dundalk on Friday evening as the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes hero Mastercraftsman put his Breeders Cup credentials on the line in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes.

The Danehill Dancer colt, who had chased home Sea The Stars in Juddmonte International and taken third behind that iconic champion at Leopardstown four weeks previously, was tackling a polytrack surface for the first time in this extended ten furlong event and was right at home at Dundalk.

After looking on from a remote third for much of the race, Aidan O'Brien's charge picked up the leaders in effortless style in the straight and sauntered clear to defeat the very smart Fiery Lad by five lengths. A much tougher assignment lies in wait for the four time Group 1 winner on his next outing but he couldn't have done this any better.

A trip to Santa Anita now beckons for Mastercraftsman for either the Breeders Mile or Classic. This warm up for next month's spectacular in California couldn't have gone any smoother and a bold showing can be expected from this colt whatever direction he is pointed in at Santa Anita.

Two days later at Dundalk O'Brien introduced quite a useful looking juvenile in Fighting Brave who made a winning debut in the seven furlong maiden. He looked to be in trouble early in the straight but got on top well in the closing stages and looks the type to progress well off this outing.

Tipperary's mixed card on Sunday played host to the penultimate group race of the Irish flat season and it was the Eddie Lynam-trained Duff who emerged victorious in the Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes.

Fresh from his win in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster last month, the fast ground loving six-year-old produced another accomplished display to account for the very useful Dohasa. A trip to Hong Kong's international meeting in December now beckons for Duff.

The last week also played host to a number of promising looking two-year-olds, among them the Dermot Weld-trained Thunder Bridge. He was decidedly impressive over an extended six furlongs at Sligo on Wednesday where he scored by 13 lengths on his racecourse debut when he had the notable disadvantage of an outside draw to overcome.

Two days previously Keredari became John Oxx's first juvenile winner of the campaign as he readily disposed of the experienced Purple Heart in a seven furlong maiden at Roscommon.

Another newcomer, this Oasis Dream colt appeared to win with any amount to spare and should be well worth his place at a higher grade. He has a good future.

Meanwhile back at Dundalk on Friday the Tommy Stack-trained Plum Sugar produced a likeable effort to win a one mile fillies maiden. Previously the Footstepsinthesand filly has run a promising fifth in a Leopardstown event won by the subsequently Group 1-placed You'll Be Mine. She looks a nice prospect for next year.

The stars of the national hunt scene are steadily returning to the fray and the former Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition was back in action at Gowran on Saturday but he had to settle for second on his comeback in a Grade 2 two and a half mile chase.

Mouse Morris's charge jumped and travelled well throughout but over a trip short of his best he was unable to match the versatile The Fonze from the third last. War Of Attrition should progress well for this and when he moves up in trip he can do better too.

The Supreme Novices Hurdle hero Go Native made his return in a Grade 2 hurdle at Tipperary on Sunday and notched up a very easy success over this three rivals as odds of 4/7 suggested he would. He will face much more demanding tests in due course but can still be expected to hold his own in open company throughout the campaign.

Elsewhere Fosters Cross produced a smart effort to account for the promising and hitherto unbeaten Loosen My Load in a useful novice hurdle and the Doncaster Sales-bound Dumitas scored impressively in a winner's bumper at Tipperary on Sunday. He looks more than capable of making up into a smart good ground jumper

Walcott left out of England squad

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Mon, 5 Oct 2009 05:38:00 +0300

Winger Theo Walcott has failed to make England's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus.

Walcott, who has just recovered from a back injury, scored for Arsenal in the 6-2 win against Blackburn, but coach Fabio Capello opted not to recall him.

Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor returns in place of Jermain Defoe who misses out through a hand injury.

With injury also ruling out goalkeeper Ben Foster, Portsmouth's David James is back for the first time since April.

James returns after recovering from shoulder surgery and a knee problem but the injury that has ruled Foster out is unspecified.

The Manchester United keeper played a full part in his side's draw against Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.

In-form striker Darren Bent, who scored for the Black Cats in that match and is currently the top English scorer in the Premier League, misses out on selection.

England, who have a 100% record in World Cup qualifiers, have already booked their place in the finals in South Africa in 2010.

Even so, Capello has indicated that he will play a full-strength side when England face Ukraine away on 10 October before returning to Wembley to host Belarus four days later.

"I will play with the best players 100% in the first half as always," he said. "The second half it's possible I will make some subs.

"They are not friendly games, they are not experimental games. We have to continue what we have done in qualification."

Before England head out to Ukraine, however, Aston Villa host Manchester City and Capello will hope that the six players he has selected from those teams emerge unscathed from that match at Villa Park on Monday.

Tessier scores second goal in overtime as Remparts beat Huskies

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 04:59:00 +0300

Tessier scores second goal in overtime as Remparts beat Huskies
THE CANADIAN PRESS

After blowing a big lead in the third period, the Quebec Remparts relied on their captain to bail them out.
Kelsey Tessier scored his second goal of the game in overtime as the Remparts beat the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 5-4 in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action Wednesday.
Quebec was lucky to come away from the game with two points. The East Division leaders had a three-goal lead in the third period before the Huskies scored three times in less than 10 minutes to force overtime.
Defenceman Samuel Groulx had a goal and two assists for the Remparts (5-1-2), while Mikael Tam and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault also scored.
Brad Yetman, Jeff Desjardins and Alexandre Mallet scored in the third period to salvage a point for the Huskies (4-3-1). Gabriel Levesque also scored for Rouyn-Noranda.
In Wednesday’s other QMJHL game, Montreal beat P.E.I. 6-3.
At Rouyn-Noranda, Que., Remparts goalie Peter Delmas was pulled after the Huskies’ fourth goal at 11:06 of the third period. He allowed four goals on 32 shots. Jean-Philippe Gagnon stopped all four shots he faced in relief and picked up the win.
Mickael Audette stopped 23 shots for the Huskies.
The win gives the Remparts 12 points, tied with Drummondville for most in the league, although the undefeated Voltigeurs (6-0-0) have played two fewer games.
Junior 6 Rocket 3
At Montreal, Nicolas Chouinard scored twice as the Junior beat P.E.I.
Jeremy Gouchie, Guillaume Asselin and Pier-Antoine Dion also scored for Montreal (3-3-0).
Jarrad Struthers, Jean-Philippe Mathieu and Ben Duffy replied for the Rocket (4-1-2).

Rio de Janeiro wins bid for 2016 Summer Games

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 04:53:00 +0300

In a stunning decision that saw the early knockout of Chicago, despite personal lobbying from U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, the IOC awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

In doing so, it also turned its back on a plea from former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch to give his Spanish capital of Madrid the Games because “know that I am very near the end of my time.”

Voting results show Rio overwhelmingly trounced Madrid in the final round, collecting 66 of the 98 votes. But in the first ballot, Madrid led with 28 to 26 for Rio and 22 for Tokyo. Chicago, which had poured so much effort into winning, was knocked out on the first round with a mere 18 votes.

The results of the second and third ballots appear to show that most of the votes for the U.S. and Tokyo, which was knocked out in the second round, went to Rio. Madrid had only gained four votes from start to finish.

IOC vice-president Thomas Bach said the vote for Rio wasn’t a backlash by the IOC against the United States or the United States Olympic Committee, with which it has a testy financial relationship.

“I think it is a step toward universality with regards to organizing the Games,” he said. “So it is a good day for the Olympic Games. I don’t know whether (Chicago) was a favourite. But I also was surprised that Chicago did not make it to the second round.”

An angry television journalist from Chicago braced Bach, asking if, “with due respect,”; the IOC members had not just said “screw you” to the U.S., which contributes a huge amount of money to the Olympics.

“The United States today made a very impressive presentation,” he said. “This you cannot even say with all due respect. You should exercise respect to the votes and you should acknowledge that this was a fair competition among four cities and one has been elected.”

The American contingent was thunderstruck by its early defeat. A large contingent of media grew frustrated over lack of access to IOC members to ask them how it came to be that the U.S., a strategic Olympic partner, could only garner 18 votes in the first round.

But Chicago bid chairman Patrick Ryan refused to criticize the IOC, and instead took the high road.

“We introduced Chicago to the world,” he said. “Chicago is so much better known today and appreciated and respected — all around the world. Chicagoans can hold their heads high. We’re sorry we didn’t bring home a victory.”

Earlier, Samaranch had effectively called in a lifetime of Olympic chits, asking IOC members to understand that at 89, he might never see Spain host an Olympics again. The last one it held was in his home city of Barcelona in 1992.

But in selecting Rio de Janeiro as the host city for the next Olympics after the 2014 Sochi, Russia, Winter Games, the IOC bent to the entreaties of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who said it was time the Olympics went to a new continent with the promise of opening new sporting frontiers.

“I honestly believe it is Brazil’s time. Among the top-10 economies of the world, Brazil is the only country that has not hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Lula told the IOC during Rio’s presentation earlier Friday afternoon. “For the others, it will be just one more Games.”

Rio’s improbable win came after a stunning defeat for Chicago in the first round.

When IOC president Jacques Rogge announced after the first round that Chicago had the least votes, a roar of shouts erupted from people watching the televised proceedings at Copenhagen’s Bella Center. Some were screams of joy. Others were angry shouts of outrage. Not a few people simply gasped.

And when the next vote revealed that Tokyo had also been dropped, the realization came swiftly that either Madrid or Rio, two countries steeped in Hispanic and Latin history, would host the next Games.

Lula told the IOC members his was a nation that was working hard to move out of poverty. He evoked images of a country where 30 million people had moved into the middle class and that owned the newest and richest offshore oil finds in the world.

But it was the spectre of the IOC not heeding to the call of universality that Lula pressed home most.

“This bid is not only ours. It is also South America’s bid, the bid of a continent with almost 400 million men and women and around 180 million youngsters. A continent that, as we saw, never hosted the Games. It is time to address this imbalance. For the Olympic movement, this decision will open a new and promising frontier.”

To award Rio the Games, the IOC had to ignore a concern that Brazil’s hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup would eat into potential marketing revenues in the first five years of Olympic preparation. But Lula and Rio’s other bidders pledged at various times that Brazil has the financial capability to carry the bid’s $14 billion US cost. That amount was among the largest of the bidders, but the IOC seemed not to hold that against Rio.

Kansas' Morningstar suspended after DWI arrest

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 04:32:00 +0300

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Kansas junior guard Brady Morningstar has been suspended for the first semester after his arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

Kansas Turnpike spokeswoman Lisa Callahan says Morningstar was stopped early Saturday on the Kansas Turnpike near the East Lawrence interchange.

He was arrested around 3:25 a.m. and booked into the Douglas County Jail.

Online jail records show he was released on $250 bond at 6:01 a.m.

Calls to Kansas athletics officials were not immediately returned.

The arrest is the latest embarrassment for the Jayhawks, who could be ranked as high as No. 1 in the preseason poll. Morningstar's suspension comes as university police open an investigation into last month's brawl involving members of the school's football and men's basketball teams.

Avery eyeing Thursday debut

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 04:22:00 +0300

Sean Avery, who has missed the opening two games of the season with a sprained knee, is targeting Thursday night’s match in Washington for his 2009-10 debut.

"I’d have loved to play in [tonight’s] Garden opener or Monday in Jersey, but I have to be smart about this and not rush back too soon, especially with a knee," Avery told The Post between periods of Friday’s opening 3-2 defeat in Pittsburgh.

"I don’t want to put myself or my team in the situation where I come back before I’m completely ready and then suffer a setback that’s going to keep me out for a month."

Avery, who sustained the injury in a collision with Ryan Callahan during a Sept. 21 practice, has been skating with the club since Tuesday, but he’s yet to engage in contact.

"A couple of days of practice and drills will be good for me," Avery said. "I am really looking forward to getting out there."

When Avery does return to the lineup, it will likely create a chain reaction in personnel that could cost either fourth-line center Brian Boyle or fourth-line right wing Aaron Voros a spot on the roster. It could also generate an overhaul of the line combinations that were intact on Friday and last night against the Senators.

LSU wins again

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 03:28:00 +0300

The LSU Tigers are living dangerously. They're severely flawed. But they're 5-0, ranked fourth in the country and just gained a gigantic boost of confidence heading into next week's showdown with No. 1 Florida.

After struggling offensively for three-plus quarters at Georgia, after seeing the game nearly slip away from them on a phenomenal A.J. Green touchdown catch with just 1:17 left, the Tigers still managed to leave Sanford Stadium with a 20-13 victory Saturday after star running back Charles Scott -- headliner of a previously non-existent LSU running game -- slipped two tackles and burst for a game-winning 33-yard touchdown.

The game's epic finish (the lead changed hands three times in the final three minutes) will undoubtedly be marred by controversy. Officials called a seemingly unwarranted excessive celebration flag on Green following his go-ahead score, moving Georgia's ensuing kickoff back 15 yards. The Dawgs couldn't bring down Trindon Holliday on his 40-yard kick return which, combined with another penalty, set up LSU at the Georgia 38.

The Tigers were averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on the afternoon, but Scott gained five yards on his first attempt, then dashed to the end zone with 54 seconds left. A subsequent Perry Riley interception of Dawgs QB Joe Cox sealed the deal.

Prior to those dramatic final minutes, this was a painful game to watch. Georgia (3-2) came in ranked 74th nationally in total offense and LSU 105th, and both teams looked it -- heading into the final minutes, the score stood 7-6 Georgia. Picking up where it left off in last week's escape at Mississippi State, the Tigers' offensive line struggled mightily (especially with an apparent flu bug taking down three guards during the game) as the Dawgs sacked Jordan Jefferson five times.

The whole time, one couldn't help thinking: These are the toughest remaining opponents on Florida's schedule?

LSU will have a lot going it for it next weekend in Death Valley -- a raucous home crowd and, most notably, the possibility Tim Tebow either won't play or won't be fully recovered from his concussion -- but the Tigers will need an inspired performance to knock off the Gators. The offense we saw for most of the day Saturday wouldn't stand a chance against Brandon Spikes and the Florida D. LSU's best hope is that the late-game heroics of Jefferson (who engineered an 88-yard go-ahead touchdown drive prior to Green's score) and Scott will spark a breakthrough.

Georgia, meanwhile, has another month before its Jacksonville date with Florida, and the Dawgs have plenty of work to do before then. Green continues to make a case he's the most dangerous receiver in the country, but Georgia managed just 44 yards rushing on the day and committed more costly penalties.

easily earn awards

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 03:18:00 +0300

OK, the Most Valuable Players in each league turned out to be rather obvious. But not to worry.

The three-man race for the National League Cy Young Award is one of the most compelling in years. The two rookie races also are loaded with legitimate candidates, reflecting the increased reliance on young talent in today's game.

Portsmouth and cash crisis

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 03:02:00 +0300

A 19th-minute header by French midfielder Hassan Yebda secured a win that was greeted ecstatically by Pompey’s players, manager Paul Hart and fans. However, they are still bottom of the table and in the depths of a financial crisis. Peter Storrie, Portsmouth’s chief executive, has said that the club — unable to pay some of its players last week — needs at least 30% of £50m in new funds promised by the club’s chairman-owner, Sulaiman al-Fahim, within a fortnight or it will risk financial meltdown.

Revenue and Customs, the bank and local suppliers are among creditors demanding repayment of debt. Agents Pini Zahavi and Jonathan Barnett are also owed £3m. Al-Fahim, in hospital in Dubai being treated for kidney stones, insists he is close to securing a £50m loan from America. However, a source in Dubai told this paper: “It’s evident he has no money of his own and he won’t find backing in the Gulf now. He no longer has the confidence of the sheikhs. He’s not a bad guy and he never intended to cause problems but he loves the attention. He likes being famous and wanted to own a football club. He’s a dreamer who didn’t really think what he was doing.”

To cover the current deficit, Storrie has negotiated a £5m loan from the two Faraj brothers, Saudi Arabian businessmen, to help keep the club afloat. The brothers were prominent in a consortium, also involving Storrie, that was beaten to control of Portsmouth by al-Fahim. Last night there were reports that the brothers had been sold a majority shareholding. “By Monday or Tuesday [one of them] will be on the board,” al-Fahim was quoted as saying. He would remain at Portsmouth with a minority stake.

Beckham close to Milan return

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Sun, 4 Oct 2009 02:35:00 +0300

Beckham is hoping to repeat his switch from Los Angeles Galaxy to the San Siro when the transfer window reopens in January.

"There are other options available, but none that will stop me going to Milan," Beckham told the Mail on Sunday newspaper. "It is close to being finalised."

Barack Obama and 2016 Olympic Games

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Fri, 2 Oct 2009 21:59:00 +0300

The International Olympic Committee handed President Obama a humiliating defeat today after his home town of Chicago made a shock early exit in the race to become host of the 2016 Olympics, with Rio de Janeiro declared the winner.

A massive beachside crowd erupted in Rio as Brazil’s victory was announced - ushering in a new world order in sport - but there was stunned silence among the throng gathered in Chicago’s Daley plaza.

They had expected their city to win after Mr Obama had flown in Air Force One to Copenhagen, where the vote took place, to make a personal, last-minute appeal to the IOC delegates, along with his wife Michelle and the television star Oprah Winfrey.

The disbelief in Chicago after the city was knocked out first with the least number of votes symbolized the shock felt across America at such a crushing defeat and the fact that the IOC had delivered such a public humiliation to Mr Obama.

A White House spokesman said that Mr Obama was “disappointed” at the decision, but insisted that he was not sorry to have gone to Copenhagen.

Tokyo was second to exit the race, leaving Rio and Madrid as the final two cities contending for the 2016 games. In an announcement filled with tension and drama, Jacques Rogge, the IOC president, struggled to open the huge envelope containing the winning city, before declaring Rio triumphant.

It will be the first time the Games are held in South America. As the winner was announced, the jubilant Rio bid team fell upon Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had earlier outshone even Michelle Obama with the passion of his speech to IOC members.

Pele, the Brazilian football legend, burst into tears, while 6,300 miles away from the vote in Copenhagen on Copacabana Beach, 50,000 people erupted in celebration, frantically waving flags and hugging each other. The party was expected to go on well into the night, and officials said the crowd would easily surpass 100,000 people.

It's official: Henry decides to pull the pin

noreply@blogger.com (أنـــا) — Thu, 1 Oct 2009 01:04:00 +0300

After months of swimming hibernation, the triple Olympic gold medallist made it real yesterday. She signed the papers notifying swimming officials she had retired.

''It's funny but it doesn't feel weird actually because I've been out of it for so long [20 months since she last raced], it's more a technical thing I had to get over and done with,'' Henry said.

''It's been a gradual thing. I started to really enjoy my life without swimming, of not having to be home by a certain time because you have to train in the morning, or being constantly tired, and now that I have made the announcement, of not having people in my ear saying, 'don't fully retire yet you have so much more to do,' or 'I wish I could be you and have your talent'.

''At the end of the day if you don't enjoy it, then you're not going to succeed.

''It came down to whether I thought I was going to enjoy it again and the thought of getting back into it and swimming on [to London] was terrifying for me.''

She was Australia's darling in 2004. Three gold medals, the star of our Games' team, with sponsors making a queue. But beneath the surface the end was beginning.

It was after Athens things changed. She asked herself, where do you go after winning Olympic gold? She moved with her coach Shannon Rollason from Brisbane to the AIS in Canberra just five months after the Olympics and didn't like it. She would miss training sessions, and when she did go, she wanted to go home as soon as she arrived.

She changed coaches in Canberra for six months before returning to Rollason. By the end of 2007, she had had enough, and moved back to Brisbane to join Rollason's former assistant, Drew McGregor. Henry was then hit by a debilitating injury, eventually diagnosed as an imbalance in the muscle group around her pelvis, which caused her pain every time she swam. It cost her the chance to swim at the 2008 Olympic trials, and she announced she was taking a break. As of yesterday the break is over, and now, officially, so is Henry's swimming career.

''It was on a downhill slope from when I moved to Canberra,'' she admitted. ''It just wasn't right for me. I think to realise that was a really hard thing because I was good at what I did, and I thought I had to keep doing it for that reason. Finally, I thought, 'I don't enjoy this, maybe I shouldn't be doing it'.