All Sport Live

Riquelme: Brace

Argentina kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Chile in Buenos Aires.

Juan Roman Riquelme was the hero for the home with two superb trademark free kicks in the first half.

Riquelme, who has not played for Villarreal this season, showed no sign of rustiness as he inspired Argentina to all three points.

The classy playmaker broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when he curled his free kick from the edge of the box into the top corner.

Riquelme repeated the act right on the stroke of half-time to double Argentina’s lead with another clinical free kick from 30 yards out.

Any hopes Chile had of getting back into the game went up in smoke on 54 minutes when defender Cristian Alvarez was sent off for crashing into Javier Mascherano.

Elsewhere at the start of South America’s World Cup qualifying campaign Venezuela stunned Ecuador with a 1-0 win in Quito.

Venezuela defender Jose Manuel Rey scored a memorable goal to give the visitors all three points.

From close to the halfway line, Rey scored with a powerful, dipping shot which flew over startled Daniel Viteri and into the goal in the 67th minute.

The defeat was Ecuador’s first at home in six years and is a major blow to their hopes of qualifying.

Uruguay got their campaign off to a flying start with a 5-0 demolition of Bolivia in Montevideo.

Goals from Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan, Sebastian Abreu and substitutes Vicente Sanchez and Carlos Bueno were enough to give Uruguay a convincing win.

To compound Bolivia’s misery they had Ronald Garcia sent off.

In the final game in qualifying Peru were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay.

Juan Vargas came closest to scoring for Peru when he saw his shot come back off the post, but Paraguay held on to earn a point.

• Football on Sky
• Score Centre
• Betting

Source: www.skysports.com

CINCINNATI — By hiring Dusty Baker as their next manager, the Cincinnati Reds have made a pronounced change in philosophy, turning to an outsider to run the team for the first time in 18 years.

The last time they did it, they won a championship.

The Reds confirmed on Sunday that Baker will become their next manager. Baker, who has a three-year deal, will be introduced at a news conference Monday in Cincinnati.

“Dusty is extremely excited to join the Cincinnati Reds with its rich history, and looks forward to helping re-establish the legacy of the Big Red Machine,” said his agent, Greg Genske.

The move got the players’ attention. Instead of promoting from within, the Reds went for someone with no ties to the organization. During his 14 seasons as manager, the 58-year-old Baker led San Francisco to the World Series and the Chicago Cubs to the playoffs.

“Since I’ve been here, we haven’t had the big-name manager,” said right-hander Aaron Harang, who has been with the Reds for the last five years.

They haven’t had a winning season over that span, either.

The last time the Reds hired a manager with no ties to the organization was 1990, when Lou Piniella took over and led the team to a World Series championship. Every manager since has either come from the minors, the coaching staff or from a scouting/advisory role.

Baker replaces interim manager Pete Mackanin, who was considered for the full-time job. Mackanin was the team’s advance scout when Jerry Narron was fired in July, and led the Reds to a 41-39 record the rest of the way.

“I’m very disappointed with the news, but I only wish the best for the Reds and the future,” Mackanin said by phone. “Dusty certainly has a winning record, and I hope that the players respond to him.”

Baker has a history of handling superstars. He managed Barry Bonds in San Francisco and Sammy Sosa in Chicago. He’ll be united with Ken Griffey Jr. in Cincinnati.

Mackanin might stay with the team in some capacity and still hopes to manage someday.

“It’s a bit of a surprise, but I wasn’t overwhelmed by it,” Mackanin said. “Obviously they felt they went the way they needed to go. I’m fine with it. I understand. It just isn’t my time. Hopefully down the road, my time will come and I’ll have an opportunity.”

Baker was fired by the Cubs after they finished an NL-worst 66-96 in 2006. Baker worked in television for a year while waiting for a chance to get back to managing. The Reds were coming off their seventh straight losing season — their longest slump since 1945-55 — and looking for someone with a record of winning.

“He has an established track record, a winning track record,” Harang said by phone from his home in San Diego. “He knows how to help teams win and to get them in a winning state of mind. I think he’s definitely going to get a change of attitude and get the players to play for him.”

Baker managed the Giants for 10 years, leading them to the World Series in 2002. He left San Francisco after a falling out with ownership and went to the Cubs, guiding them to the NL championship series in his first season.

That first season in Chicago was the high point. Injuries depleted the starting rotation, and the organization decided to change directions after that last-place finish in 2006.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

Source: sports.espn.go.com

England

Michael Owen has warned Russia that England will arrive in Moscow full of confidence for their crucial Euro 2008 qualifier this week.

England fly out from Manchester on Monday after training on a plastic pitch that is almost identical to the one they will face in Russia. And striker Owen says the whole squad is buzzing.

“We are ready to go out there and play against a good team,” he insisted. “They will have home advantage and a lot has been made out of the surface we will be playing on but we are in confident mood.

“We have got top players, playing well for their country, and we will be looking to get a positive result. Any result will be good but we are looking to win.”

Owen helped England to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Estonia on Saturday and although he didn’t hit the net this time, and was taken off the second half to keep him fresh, the Newcastle striker is in hot form.

He said: “I’ll be going into the game thinking I can score. Often in these games the best form of defence is attack and if we can get a goal, not many teams can score two against us.”

Owen, who underwent a hernia operation little more than a week ago, says he feels fit and raring to go for the big clash.

He added: “Fitness wise I am fine. I feel good and with only playing an hour on Saturday, I will have more energy stored up and hopefully I can show it on Wednesday.”

Source: www.thefa.com

Smith: signed off in style

Outgoing Leeds Rhinos coach Tony Smith was a proud man after watching his side claim the Grand Final in his final game in charge.

The Rhinos produced a superb display in both attack and defence to beat defending champions St Helens 33-6 at Old Trafford.

Man-of-the-match Rob Burrow was the orchestrater from scrum-half, allowing Brent Webb, Ali Lauitiiti, Scott Donald, Lee Smith and Jamie Jones-Buchanan to each score a try as Leeds ran out surprisingly comfortable winners.

“I am just really pleased for all my players, and so proud of them,” said Smith, who is leaving Headingley Carnegie to take charge of Great Britain on a full-time basis.

“They have worked so hard; they deserved it - and I knew they were going to do it tonight.

“They are a great bunch, and it is a fantastic club.”

Written off

Skipper Kevin Sinfield felt Leeds had proved their critics wrong with a second Grand Final success in four years.

“We’ve been written off a bit as well this year and to come out against such a great team, the champion team and come out with a performance like that is credit to the guys,” Sinfield told Sky Sports.

“The competition’s been really tough as well, but Saints have been stand-out the last couple of years.

“The guys had the belief. We knew we had it in us and the guys stood up today.

“The guts and determination and spirit and will to win was there from us.”

Great feeling

Leeds forward Jamie Peacock was delighted to get one over on Saints, having suffered at their hands when playing for Bradford Bulls in the 2002 Grand Final.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Peacock. “I’ve been wanting to beat Saints since the final in 2002. It means a lot to me.

“The momentum was with us today. We were on a roll the last six or seven weeks of the season.”

“They (St Helens) looked tired coming off the pitch (at half-time),” added Peacock. “We thought we could take them and that’s what we did.”

• R League on Sky
• Rugby League Scores
• Messageboards

Source: www.skysports.com

By:

As a psychologist and marriage counselor, I find that there can be up to 25 warning signs that indicate you or a family member would benefit from counseling or therapy when experiencing PTSD.

First, what are these signs?

1. Exposure to possible death or serious injury that resulted in an intense feeling of fear, hopelessness or horror

2. Intrusive, distressing thoughts or images that recall the disturbing event

3. Disturbing dreams associated with the trauma

4. Flashbacks suggestive of the traumatic event reoccuring

5. Intense distress triggered by reminders of the traumatic event

6. Physiologically-manifested reactivity i.e. sweating, palpitations etc. triggered by cues of the trauma

7. Compulsive avoidance of thoughts, feelings or conversations about the trauma

8. Avoidance of activity, people or places associated with the traumatic event

9. Inability to recall important aspects of the trauma

10. Feelings of detachment

11. Inability to experience a full range of emotions

12. Onset of fatalistic or pessimistic attitudes

13. Sudden sleep disturbances

14. Sudden irritability

15. Concentration impairment

16. Pervasive worry

17. Extreme startle response

18. Feelings of depression, anger or despair

19. Abuse of alcohol or drugs

20 Onset of suicidal thoughts

21. Onset of conflict in relationships

22. Inability to function normally because of compelling anxiety

If you experience any of these symptoms, it would behoove you to seek therapy or counseling.

But what will your counseling accomplish? How will it benefit you?

1. It should reduce the negative impact that the traumatic event has had on your life.

2. You will learn to develop and implement effective coping skills to fulfill normal responsibilities and participate constructively in relationships.

3. You will be able to recall the traumatic event without being overwhelmed by painful emotions.

4. You will discover how to minimize escape and denial and implement constructive behaviors that promote healing and functional living

5. You will be able to sleep without disturbing dreams of the trauma

6. You will be able to replace negative, distorted thinking with constructive self-enhancing and accurate thinking processes.

7. You will be able to implement anger control techniques to subdue your irritation and anger about the event.

8. You will be able to eliminate any reliance you have on abuse of mind-altering substances

9. You will be able to implement relaxation training as a coping mechanism for tension, stress and anxiety relating to the trauma

10. You will be able to eliminate the catastrophisizing and futility which saturates your thinking about the trauma

11. You should be able to see the future as hopeful and positive rather than bleak and depressing

12. Upon repeated re-telling about the trauma you will be able to do so with gradually reduced anxiety

13. You will be able to reduce any dissociative symptoms associated with the trauma

14. You will be able to use relaxation and positive imagery techniques to reduce tension, anxiety and any sleep problems related to the trauma

15. You will be able to identify and reduce any palpitations, agitation, catastrophic expectations, headaches or profuse sweating caused by the trauma

16. You should be able to approach previously avoided situations related to the trauma with much less stress by using relaxation methods, deep breathing and positive imagery.

17. You should have a plan to address the negative impact your PTSD has had on your job and family and be implementing steps to resolve those problems

18. You will have developed an awareness of PTSD, how it develops and worsens and steps to take to reduce the impact of any future relapses

Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo and Lake-in-the-Hills. He’s an expert marriage counselor and psychologist. Call 1 847 516 0899 and make an appt or learn more about counseling at: www.nextdayappointment.com

Source: ju-sport.blogspot.com

Ivo Karlovic

Stockholm, Sweden (Sports Network) - Ivo Karlovic of Croatia beat crowd favorite Thomas Johansson in three sets to capture the Stockholm Open on Sunday.

Johansson, a native of Sweden who resides in Monte Carlo, dethroned two-time champion James Blake of the United States in Saturday’s semifinals, but was unable to outlast Karlovic, who notched a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 triumph.

The seventh-seeded Karlovic, nicknamed Dr. Ivo, won his third title of 2007 and the third of his career. He previously won on clay in Houston and on grass in Nottingham, and with Sunday’s hardcourt triumph, joined Roger Federer as the only players to win on three different surfaces this year.

Karlovic ripped off 27 aces on Sunday and finished the tournament with 106 in four matches (he won one by walkover). His 1,035 aces this year rank third in ATP Tour history, trailing only Goran Ivanisevic’s totals of 1,477 in 1996 and 1,169 in 1994.

Johansson, who saved five match points in his victory over Blake, had no answer for Karlovic after earning a split of the first two sets. Karlovic won the first four games of the third and finished off the match in an hour and 23 minutes.

The 6-foot-10 Karlovic earned a first prize of $135,000 and improved to 3-1 lifetime against Johansson, including a victory in a round of 16 encounter at New Haven earlier this year.

Johansson, who won this tournament in 2000 and 2004 and was also a runner-up in 1998, was trying for his 10th career ATP singles crown. He still hasn’t won a title since 2005 in St. Petersburg.

Source: www.tsn.ca

Dementieva took her record against Williams to 1-4

Russia’s Elena Dementieva claimed her first Kremlin Cup title with a shock win over Serena Williams in Moscow.

The hometown player, who turns 26 on Monday, fought back to win 5-7 6-1 6-1 for her first victory over Williams in five meetings.

It is the eighth career title for Dementieva, who had previously never won a set against Williams.

Russian Nikolay Davydenko beat France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5 7-6 (11-9) in the men’s final.

“It’s just a great victory for me,” said Dementieva. “This has been one of my favourite tournaments and playing at home in front of my fans, finally I was able to do it.

“It is a very important win for me and my whole career.”

Williams said: “She just played really unbelievable, she should play like that more often.

“I’m not going to make excuses for myself. I played terrible. I had a feeling that almost every shot I hit, it was out.”

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Wade: dominant performance

James Wade demolished Raymond van Barneveld 5-1 to set-up a SkyBet World Grand Prix final against Terry Jenkins.

Wade was in magnificent form throughout a one-sided contest against van Barneveld and almost produced a nine-dart finish in the fifth set, missing the bullseye with his ninth dart.

At that stage Wade was already in total control having dominated his world champion opponent while opening a 4-0 lead.

Van Barneveld was at least able to avoid a whitewash by taking the fifth set after Wade’s near miss at the nine-darter appeared to break his concentration.

However, the Aldershot left-hander soon regained his composure to close out the match in the sixth set.

“I knew if I played to my potential I could do that, but I was surprised Raymond didn’t perform,” said Wade.

“I was 4-0 up but missing the bullseye for the nine-darter threw me for a set and a half. I realised it was worth 15,000.

“I couldn’t believe I was so far in front and had a shot at a nine-darter, but I managed to settle down at the end.

“It gives me great confidence and I’m having a good run at the right time.”

Jenkins comeback

In the first semi-final, Jenkins produced a stunning comeback to beat John Part 5-3.

The Herefordshire thrower lost the deciding leg in each of the first two sets as Part built a 2-0 lead.

And when the Canadian raced through the third set to extend that advantage to 3-0, Jenkins looked to be heading out of the tournament.

But Jenkins launched a superb rally, dropping just two legs over the course of the next four sets to turn his 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

Part won the first two legs of the eighth set, however, Jenkins levelled by taking the next two and then sealed victory by taking out double top at the first attempt in the deciding leg.

“To start with it was terrible, I was three sets to nil down!” Jenkins told Sky Sports.

“But I could still see some light at the end of the tunnel.

“I don’t know how I got through that because John’s such a good player.”

The final takes place on Sunday with coverage starting at 7.15 pm on Sky Sports 1.

• Darts Schedule
• Order of Merit
• On Sky TV

Source: www.skysports.com

Jonsson: $100,000 bonanza

Andreas Jonsson walked away with $100,000 after triumphing in the ‘richest minute in motorsport’ - the German Speedway Grand Prix.

The Swede dominated the final from the first corner to comfortably see off the challenge of Greg Hancock, Jason Crump and Leigh Adams.

Jonsson took advantage of a sluggish start from Adams to go around the outside and emerge into an early the lead that was never threatened throughout the remainder of the four-lap race.

Hancock edged out Crump for second, with Adams a distant fourth after never recovering from his slow start.

Deserved

It was a fully deserved success for Jonsson, who was the leading qualifier from the heats with a total of 12 points from his five races.

That haul included three heat wins, while Crump and Pedersen were the next best qualifiers with two heat wins each.

Jonsson’s one blemish came in the semi-final when he had to settle for second behind Hancock.

Nicki Pedersen - who had already secured the world title coming into the final round - was eliminated after only managing a fourth-place finish in the first semi-final.

The second semi-final was a more dramatic affair in which Hans Andersen was excluded following a crash.

That allowed Adams to take the victory in the re-run ahead of fellow Australian Crump, but neither could match Jonsson in the final.

German Grand Prix result:

1 A Jonsson (Swe)
2 G Hancock (US)
3 J Crump (Aus)
4 L Adams (Aus)

Crump’s third place in the final did at least allow him to earn the bronze medal behind Adams and champion Pedersen in the in the overall standings.

• Fixtures
• Results
• Standings
• Live on Sky Sports

Source: www.skysports.com

Daniel Anderson, the St Helens’ coach, has named both Sean Long and Maurie Fa’asavalu in his line-up for Old Trafford tonight as Saints go for an unprecedented second treble in two years.

Already winners of the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders Shield, just as they were last season, Saints start favourites in the Super League Grand Final, all the more so for news that two of their key players have recovered from leg injuries and will play.

Matty Smith, a capable deputy for Long in the victory over Leeds two weeks ago, is included in the 18 as a precaution, which could indicate some lingering doubts but Saints are no longer terrified by the prospect of going into a big game without the former Great Britain scrum-half.

Paul Clough and Bryn Hargreaves miss out, but a glance of the rest of the squad shows why Saints are expected to add to their collection of silverware under Anderson. Apart from Fa’asavalu and James Graham, they have the player officially crowned as the best in the British game this week. There was some controversy about the selection of James Roby as Man of Steel, not because anyone seriously doubts his qualities, but because he starts most games from the bench. To have done that with him a few years ago would have been unthinkable, but the game and its tactics have evolved.

There is no mystery about the way Anderson uses Roby and his starting hooker, Keiron Cunningham. Roby comes on after 20-odd minutes to create confusion from dummy-half and, at some stage in the second half, a well-rested Cunningham comes back on and the two of them operate together until the final hooter. As plans go, it is a predictable one, but knowing what Saints are going to do does not make it any easier to counter.

The importance of Kevin Sinfield to Leeds’ cause was underlined yesterday with the well-timed announcement that he has agreed a further four-year contract that will, in all probability, see him start and finish his career at the same club.

The Rhinos’ captain will become the first player in Leeds’ history, and only the second in Super League, to score in every game of a season if he registers today. His new deal means that he will be with the Rhinos until he is 31, having first signed for them as a 13-year-old. “To have secured my future at the club until I’m 31 is a great honour,” he said.

Like the rest of his team-mates, Sinfield proved a point last week. After a bruising and frustrating defeat by Saints that denied them the fast route to the Grand Final, Leeds produced a near faultless display to crush Wigan. The question now is whether they can lift themselves again, but Sinfield has no doubts. “I don’t think you can be any more charged up than by a great winning performance and that’s certainly what we got last week,” he said.

There are some puzzles about Leeds and their success this season. It is possible to pick a few holes in their team. Their front row does not frighten the opposition although Jamie Peacock is in magnificent form. They have no proper replacement hooker – compare and contrast with Saints – and no-one could claim that their centres, Clinton Toopi and Keith Senior, have been at the height of their powers this year.

What that proves is that the whole has been more than the sum of the parts, which after all is the essence of good coaching. Saints are going in search of an historic achievement tonight, and this is also a landmark in the history of the Headingley club. Not everyone was convinced that Tony Smith was the right man for the most demanding club job in the country when appointed four years ago, on the basis of steady progress at struggling Huddersfield, but he has been an undoubted success.

He won the Grand Final in his first season and today makes it three appearances at Old Trafford in four years. “I’m sure he’ll go down as one of Leeds’ great coaches and, if we can win it, he’ll be the greatest ever,” Sinfield said. “He’s transformed the club.” Leeds’ players will want to give him a memorable send-off tonight.

St Helens: P Wellens, A Gardner, M Gidley, W Talau, F Meli, L Pryce, S Long, J Cayless, K Cunningham, N Fozzard, L Gilmour, J Wilkin, C Flannery. Substitutes: J Roby, J Graham, M Fa’asavalu, M Bennett.

Leeds: B Webb, L Smith, C Toopi, K Senior, S Donald, D McGuire, R Burrow, K Leuluai, M Diskin, J Peacock, J Jones-Buchanan, G Ellis, K Sinfield. Substitutes: A Lauitiiti, R Bailey, I Kirke, C Ablett.

Referee: A Klein (Keighley)

* New Zealand have six new caps in their side to play Australia in Wellington tomorrow before leaving for their European tour. Former Kiwi Test winger, Henry Fa’afili, has signed for French rugby union club Biarritz despite apparently deciding to stay in rugby league with Harlequins. He was Super League’s leading try scorer playing with Warrington last season.

Interesting? Click here to explore further

Source: sport.independent.co.uk