All Sport Live

Multiple reports say that LSU DC Bo Pelini will be introduced as the new Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach early next week.

Pelini will coach the Tigers defense Saturday in the SEC championship game against Tennessee and, according to a source close to the situation, will be in Lincoln for an announcement Monday.

No word yet on the exact terms of the deal. Interim Nebraska AD Tom Osborne would not comment on the report.

HuskerMike approves of the hire, noting the Pelini has the biggest upside of any of the coaches publicly linked to the NU job, but he will need to carefully select his assistants to offset his inexperience as a head coach.

But overall, Nebraska needs to ensure that overall, this coaching staff does everything well: recruiting, teaching, game-planning, and motivating. It doesn’t do Nebraska any good to dismiss any of these areas, as it will bite the Huskers eventually. It nailed Bill Callahan’s coffin this year.

I do have some reservations about Pelini. He’s not the most polished. He may say or do something to get himself into trouble. That’s why it’s important to have Pelini surrounded by a great support staff to help prevent it.

Pelini has some risk, but — Mike’s right — Pelini has the biggest upside of any of the candidates.

I think this is a great hire for Nebraksa. It rights some wrongs for the Huskers, since they should have hired Pelini when he was interim head coach years ago.

Source: Pelini to be introduced as Nebraska head coach

Rafael Benitez

LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks says his dispute with manager Rafa Benitez was blown out of proportion.

Benitez recently complained that Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr. and Hicks, who owns the Dallas Stars and baseball’s Texas Rangers, have failed to back him in the transfer market. The American owners bought Liverpool in February.

"It’s been a big misunderstanding blown very much out of proportion," Hicks said Saturday. "George and I are happy to see that it has settled back down.

"We’ve a big game on Sunday against Bolton, a big game against Marseille and a big game with our neighbours to the east (Manchester United), and the main thing is the team is playing better."

The Reds trail leader Arsenal by six points in the Premier League. In the Champions League, Liverpool will likely need to win at Marseille on Dec. 11 to take the five-time winners into the knockout stage.

Before Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over FC Porto, about 2,000 Liverpool fans marched outside Anfield to support Benitez. Fearing the Spaniard could be fired, they also chanted his name inside the stadium.

"The fans are very passionate and that’s what we love about them," Hicks said.

One of Benitez’s complaints is the lack of contact with the owners. Gillett’s son Foster was at the Porto game but failed to offer his congratulations. On Friday, Benitez said it was "another misunderstanding."

Benitez will meet Hicks and Gillett on Dec. 16 when Manchester United visits Anfield.

"I guess we are absentee owners - there’s no question about it," Hicks said. "But Foster returned to Liverpool last week. He’s our day-to-day person to help facilitate communication, and we come as often as we can."

Hicks emphatically denied a British media report on Friday that suggested he was planning to sell his stake in Liverpool after just eight months.

"I am not selling any of my shares to anybody," he said. "I have no idea why anyone would think that. It was just rubbish."

Hicks also dismissed reports of a rift with Gillett.

"George and I have never been closer. We both were very disappointed and confused as to where that inaccurate information came from, Hicks said. "Owning Liverpool has been great, we’re still enjoying it." 

Source: Benitez feud blown out of proportion?

Second Test, Calcutta (day two, stumps): India 616-5 v Pakistan 50-1

Ganguly salutes the Eden Gardens crowd upon reaching his century

India posted their highest ever home total against Pakistan to take control of the second Test in Calcutta.

Opener Wasim Jaffer (202) moved from 192 to his second Test double century before edging Sohail Tanvir behind.

Sourav Ganguly (102), VVS Laxman (112 no) and Mahendra Dhoni (50no) then piled on the agony for the tourists before India declared on 616-5.

In reply, Pakistan reached 50-1 off 16 overs, losing Yasir Hameed lbw to India captain Anil Kumble for 21.

Kumble will be delighted with the way his batsmen took advantage of a slow pitch which began to break up towards the end of their innings.

That played into the hands of the home spinners and Kumble duly made the breakthrough before stumps.

For the visitors it compounded a day of toil, in which they took just three wickets in as many sessions.

Jaffer finally nicked Tanvir’s first delivery to Kamran Akmal in the second over to fall 10 short of his career-best 212.

And Pakistan’s stand-in captain Younis Khan, boosted by the improved health of pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, had good reason to believe his side had clawed their way back into the Test.

But any joy was short-lived as Ganguly and Laxman effectively batted them out of the game.

Former skipper Ganguly, 35, has come in for some intense criticism recently but he responded with a 14th Test century, his first against Pakistan and maiden ton at his home ground Eden Gardens.

“When you grow up in a city and spend all your life playing on a ground you want to get a hundred there and I’m happy that it’s come,” said Ganguly.

Laxman struck 14 fours before pulling Shoaib to deep square-leg for his 11th Test century and first against India’s neighbours.

The right-hander was at the centre of controversy soon after when he was stumped by Akmal off the bowling of Kaneria and the third umpire gave him out, only to earn a reprieve while on his way to the pavilion.

Devoid of ideas and reliant on the wicket’s widening cracks for a breakthrough, Malik’s men appeared to be hanging on for the declaration.

Dhoni took advantage with a quick-fire half century before Kumble called his men in and trapped Hameed right in front of the stumps before bad light stopped play.

Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson was left to lament the state of the wicket.

“Pitches that just suit batting, that’s not terrific cricket, is it?” said the former Australia fast bowler.

“Cricket is all about balance, balance between bat and ball.

“You play Test cricket on all different sorts of pitches but on pitches like that, you don’t see a lot of bounce at all. It’s all in favour of the batsman.”

Source: India turn the screw on Pakistan

Giteau scored the opening try for the Barbarians

Barbarians (15) 22
Try: Giteau, Williams, Elsom
Pens: Giteau
Cons: Giteau

South Africa (5) 5
Try: Pieterse

South Africa’s World Cup-winning year ended with a defeat as a tired-looking side were outplayed by the Barbarians.

Matt Giteau opened the scoring with a typical Barbarian counter-attack try as the visitors failed to make the most of their early pressure at Twickenham.

Barend Pieterse’s try gave South Africa hope but tries either side of the break by Martyn Williams and Rocky Elsom ended hopes of a Springbok revival.

Jason Robinson did not score but earned a standing ovation on his farewell.

South Africa’s Ryan Kankowski came close to the opening try when he broke free and charged up the left wing following a scrappy Mark Regan line-out throw.

But Joe Rokocoko’s superbly-timed tackle knocked him into touch inches short of the line.

That break camped South Africa on the Baa-Baas line, and it just looked like a matter of time before they scored.

But when the try came, it was a thrilling Barbarian breakaway, after an uncharacteristic handling mistake by Habana.

Ma’a Nonu and Giteau combined well to set up Conrad Smith to cover half the pitch, and he looked to have lost the initiative before off-loading to Rokocoko, whose pass put Giteau over to touch down.

Nonu wasted two good chances to add to that advantage before Schalk Burger’s late replacement Pieterse finished off a Habana-inspired attack to put South Africa on the scoreboard.

But when Francois Steyn’s ill-judged kick went straight down the throat of Robinson, making his final appearance on the world stage, it just set up the next Baa-Baas try.

His electric burst brought the crowd to its feet and set up Williams for a slick finish just before the break, and when Elsom added another straight after the restart, the Barbarians were out of sight.

The death of the match as a competitive event coincided with rain setting in, and the spark of the first half was lost as the conditions grew worse.

Pride meant that South Africa began to treat the game more like a competitive Test, but for all their efforts and pressure, they rarely had try-scoring chances.

With 13 minutes left, Robinson was substituted, to a standing ovation, with his place going to Peter Grant.

Troy Flavell was yellow-carded with 10 minutes to go for a clumsy high challenge on Habana as a game which had promised so much early on ended up petering out to a tame conclusion.

Barbarians: Robinson, Rokocoko, Smith, Nonu, Neivua, Giteau, Marshall, Pucciarello, Regan, Ma’afu, Cockbain, Harrison, Elsom, Williams, Collins. Replacements: Brits, Moller, Flavell, Owen, Shanklin, Grant, Cohen.

South Africa: Pienaar, Ndungane, Fourie, Steyn, Habana, Pretorius, Januarie, van der Linde, B. du Plessis, J. du Plessis, Muller, Ackermann, Pieterse, Smith, Kankowski. Replacements: Liebenberg, van der Merwe, van den Berg, Lobberts, Olivier, Julies, Jantjes.

Source: Barbarians 22-5 South Africa

Kaka is not the only one winning awards.Guerin Sportivo have awarded the Bravo Trophy for the best U-21 player in Europe to Lionel Messi.He is the first Argentine to win this trophy.

Source: Kaka wins 2007 Ballon D’Or

This is the first post in a series I will be writing about the current happenings and dark horses and fallen clubs in the 2007/09 season. Since I am Italian, I will start with my native Serie A. I’ll try not to be too biased towards Juventus.

It’s been 12 games only, and the forerunners are already evident. In defiance to the many doubters, Juventus have immediately bounced back and recovered from the Serie B, currently occupying 2nd place and 3 points behind league leaders Inter Milan. I, being a Juventus fan, never doubted the bianconeri’s swift return to Italian soccer’s elite. However, I didn’t expect a title challenge and am thoroughly delighted. But the imminent retirements of Nedved and Del Piero and the transfer speculation surrounding Tiago has unsettled the club, and, after a few losses, morale has been damaged.

The defending champions are back in style, with many signings that have greatly aided them so far, Chivu and Suazo to name a few. Apart from a close-fought draw with Juventus and 3 other draws alongside 8 wins, the nerazzurri are dominating the Serie A, with Juve on their heels. They recovered from their worrying Super Cup loss magnificently, coming back to dominate. Unfortunately, I think it’ll be a third straight title of Inter.

AS Roma had an amazing season last year, challenging for the title until 3/4 of the season and gaining a respectable 2nd spot, establishing them as 1 of the new ‘Big 7′ of Italian football: Inter, AC Milan, Juve, Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, and Udinese. They are still in the top 4 so far, but are failing to beat Juve in the standings. They sold a key player in Chivu, but replaced him with Juan and bought Giuly. I think 3rd place for the Romans.

Udinese have shot back after two highly disappointing seasons. After their appearance in the 2005/06 Champions League, they successively failed to qualify for both the 2006/07 and 2007/08 editions of the premier European competition. Having bought clinical striker Fabio Quagliarella from Sampdoria, I think they will be the 4th Italian team in the Champions League 2008/09.

Fiorentina have proved that there is life after Toni, and have shown this by challenging for a Champions League place so far this season. They have amazed in the UEFA Cup and will definitely challenge Udinese for that 4th Champions League spot. The thing most fans are still unsure about is Christian Vieri- the once great footballer has fallen dramatically, quite like Leeds United. Will he return to his former self? It remains to be seen…

AC Milan are performing like last year again, except it seems unlikely for them to win the Champions League this year and last year they had an excuse- deducted points. After a summer where the ‘big signing’ never arrived, AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi assured fans by saying that ‘Ronaldo is the real big signing.’ However, this hasn’t seemed true and this could be a major embarrassment for the rossoneri.

Lazio are in with a chance of qualifying for the UCL Round of 16 for the first time in their history, but are performing badly at home. Currently in 14th place, the biancocelesti are 15 points off the pace and it seems unlikely they will make a repeat performance of last year’s amazing 3rd place finish. But, anything can happen in football and they can make a spectacular comeback like AC Milan did last year.

At the end of the season we will see if my predictions are true, but now I’m just hoping that all 4 Italian clubs qualify for the UCL Round of 16 (which seems likely, except maybe Lazio) and that Juve can defeat the nerazzurri to become the first ever club to clinch the Serie B and Serie A titles back-to-back.

Next: Spain, 07/08.

Arrivederci, amici.

Source: The Rise and Fall: Serie A 2007/2008

Familiar coaches to match up Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena as Arkansas (5-1) hosts ORU (4-2) in a 2:05 p.m. contest.

Filed under Arkansas

Source: Arkansas vs. ORU

Harrogate Railway v Mansfield Town
The FA Cup, sponsored by E.ON
Second Round Proper
1.10pm, Sunday 2 December 2007
Station View, Harrogate
Winning clubs receive £24,000
Click here for Second Round fixtures
Live on BBC1

Harrogate Railway Chairman Rob Northfield is hoping his club will be running full steam ahead when they face League Two Mansfield Town in Sunday’s live FA Cup televised clash.

The Northern Premier League side came through a fierce First Round derby against Harrogate Town to book their place in the Second Round and now stand just 90 minutes away from a potential clash with the likes of Manchester United or Chelsea.

And with the eyes of the nation ready to gaze upon events at Station View, Northfield admits the successful Cup run has already boosted the profile of the club.

“There’s been a lot of media attention and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing, but we’ve tried to make sure the players have been kept away from it,” said Northfield.

“We’ve got a job to do and we can’t allow their focus to be taken away from the task in hand.

“But it’s a nice distraction to have. We’re going to make at least £75,000 out of the television coverage and we’ve sold all the available tickets.

“We’re not sure how much we’re going to make out of this match and we won’t be able to work it out until after Sunday but it’s a big financial boost for us.

“In terms of getting Harrogate Railway on the footballing map, we couldn’t have really asked for anything more.”

Railway last reached the Second Round in 2002-3 before bravely bowing out to Bristol City - but Northfield is hoping his side can keep their Cup aspirations on track with victory on Sunday.

“The furthest we’ve been is the Second Round proper, so this is a wonderful chance to make it through to the Third Round for the first time in our history,” added Northfield.

“We know Mansfield will come here and try as hard as anyone but hopefully we can give them a good game and spring a surprise.”

Source: Railway on the map

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is expected to start against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 9 and keep alive his record streak for consecutive starts.

Brett Favre

Quarterback
Green Bay Packers

Profile

2007 Season Stats Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat 439 296 3323 22 10 97.9

“Just to quote the medical staff, his [starting] streak is not in danger. He’ll be OK,” coach Mike McCarthy said Friday, the day after Favre was knocked out of the Packers’ 37-27 loss at Dallas with elbow and shoulder injuries.

His streak, which dates to 1992, stands at 249 games (269 including playoffs) and is a league record for quarterbacks.

The 38-year-old Favre was at Lambeau Field on Friday for treatment of a bruised right elbow. He also aggravated a left shoulder separation, which he first injured 15 years ago, on a hit by blitzing Dallas cornerback Nate Jones in the second quarter.

McCarthy said the medical staff didn’t indicate that Favre had nerve damage in his throwing elbow, which had been feared after the game.

“It has more to do with the belly of the muscle around the elbow. It’s not as severe as last year,” McCarthy said.

Favre damaged a nerve in the same elbow against New England in November 2006 and didn’t finish the game.

After the game Thursday night he said the elbow was slightly more swollen than the previous time, but in a somewhat different area.

“It kind of got the nerve, but not as direct as it was last time, so I think it’ll be fine,” he said.

He also lost feeling in the last two fingers of his right hand following the blindside hit from Jones, who was unblocked on his blitz from the left side. Favre’s elbow struck Jones’ helmet as he released the football, resulting in an interception.

“Clearly, that was my fault,” Favre said. “There ain’t too many times in my career I can say that a guy came free and I didn’t see him coming. Unfortunately, that was one of the times.”

Favre had started to regain feeling in the hand Friday, said McCarthy, who wasn’t concerned about the shoulder injury.

“I don’t think it’s an issue at all. That’s the actual lesser of the two [injuries],” McCarthy said.

Favre had a first-degree separation of the left shoulder Nov. 15, 1992, against Philadelphia. He was able to finish what was the seventh start of his streak and rallied the Packers to a 27-24 win.

McCarthy is optimistic the extended break between games will allow the league’s only three-time MVP ample time to heal.

“Anytime you have a player go down in the game and you receive the news this morning that he’ll be able to play in 10 days, that’s a big sense of relief, especially when it’s your quarterback,” McCarthy said.

During his 16-year tenure in Green Bay, Favre hasn’t finished seven games in the starting streak because of injury. He’s always come back to play the next game.

Favre’s more notable hasty recoveries include overcoming a bruised hip in 1994, a badly sprained ankle in 1995, a sprained right thumb in 1999, a sprained knee in 2002, a broken right thumb in 2003, and a concussion and a sprained right hand three weeks apart in 2004.

“He’s a gamer. He’s got the streak alive,” Packers backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the game Thursday. “So, you just get used to not taking any reps in practice and still preparing to play but knowing you’re probably not going to get in.”

The Packers have only two quarterbacks, with receiver Ruvell Martin the emergency backup.

McCarthy said Favre would have re-entered the game Thursday had something happened to Rodgers, who played well in relief the last two-plus quarters.

Rodgers directed two touchdown drives to rally the Packers from a 27-10 deficit to get within 27-24 in the third quarter.

After holding out injured defensive standouts Charles Woodson and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila to preserve them for the stretch run of the season, McCarthy hasn’t ruled out giving Favre a game off against Oakland.

“That’s something that we could talk about,” McCarthy said. “But, we’re less than 24 hours away from the actual injury. So, being on the long week, that’s something we can talk about Tuesday or Wednesday.”

Even Favre admitted Thursday night he can envision a game he doesn’t start.

“Sure, I could. I hope this is not one of those times,” he said. “I couldn’t go back in the game (Thursday). Believe me, I wanted to. But, we have four days before we start back into a normal week. I anticipate being fine; I hope I am.”

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

Source: Packers expect Favre to recover, start vs. Raiders

PGA Tour

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. - Frank Lickliter II followed his two opening 62s with a 4-under 68 on Friday at Orange County National for a five-stroke lead after the third of six rounds in the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament.

The top 25 finishers and ties will earn 2008 PGA Tour cards, while the next number of players nearest 50 will get full Nationwide Tour exemptions. The remaining players in the 166-man field will receive conditional Nationwide Tour status.

Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont., and Bryan DeCorso of Guelph, Ont., remained in the hunt through Friday’s third round. Fritsch fired a 1-under 70 to move to 8 under, good for a tie for 21st. DeCorso is also 8 under after shooting a 71.

Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Ont. (74) fell into a tie for 160th at 6 over, while Lee Curry of Kemptville, Ont. (74) dropped to 164th at 7 over.

The 38-year-old Lickliter, a two-time winner on the tour, had a 24-under 192 total, the lowest 54-hole score since the tour began keeping such statistics in 1992. Andrew McLardy had the previous low, playing three rounds in 21-under 195 in 2000.

Lickliter played the Panther Lake course in the third round.

Jason Allred was second after a 64 at Panther Lake, and “Big Break VII” winner Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey shot a 65 at Panther Lake to move into third place at 16 under. Jim McGovern (68) was 14 under, followed by Travis Perkins (69) at 13 under, and Tag Ridings (67), Brett Rumford (68), Alejandro Canizares (70) and Brendon de Jonge (71) at 12 under.

Robert Gamez withdrew during the round because of a left wrist injury.

Source: Lickliter still playing well at Q-School