3.17 seconds. In a match played between America Futebol Clube/ MG (Fred’s junior club) vs Vila Nova Futebol Clube. (Hat tip to David). A goal scored by Yael Averbuch for the UNC women’s team is also considered one of the fastest goals of all times. (video here).
Source: Video: Fastest goal by Fred
MLS Commissioner Don Garber didn’t say a lot about expansion but what he did say was very telling.
First, he said that the race to land the next expansion team was indeed a two city event between Philadelphia and St. Louis, meaning that even if Miami moves ahead on their stadium idea or if Montreal pulls together their group, they are non-factors. Second, he said “If Philadelphia is able to finalize their plan, they have been leading the charge and have a step ahead of St. Louis.” So if both team are equal, Philadelphia will get the nod.
The idea that Philadelphia is the more desired of the two cities should not come as a big surprise as they are a bigger market and is the last major city along the Northern East Coast without a team.
Something else the Garber mentioned was expanding the deadline (huge shock). He has been saying for months that 31 Jan was the latest date MLS was willing to consider but that has now moved. Although they would prefer to announce by the end of the month, they are now willing to wait 30-45 days, which could push it back to the end of February. It looks to me that this is yet another example of the league wanting to give the Philadelphia big every opportunity to be successful.
Labels: Don Garber, MLS, MLS expansion, Philadelphia, St. Louis
Source: MLS Expansion - Philadelphia a step ahead of St. Louis
Who said fighting in hockey is dead? First, we got that massive Russian Superleague brawl, and now we get this after-the-game brawl between the Sarnia Sting and Oshawa Generals. Thanks to JP from Japers Rink for passing this linkage on.
What looks like ye olde typical post game celebration turns ugly … w00t!
On another note, Joe Pelletier has details about Dave Semenko’s exhibition boxing match vs. Muhammed Ali. I never knew the two fought, but apparently Ali’s people agreed to have his boy fight Gretz’s bodyguard. All of this was put together by Mark Messier’s uncle, proving there isn’t anything the Messier’s won’t do for a buck.
Semenko apparently trained quite hard for the event, training under Rocky Addison, a former Manitoba middleweight champion. They watched video of Ali’s fights looking for tendencies, and hit the gym for many hours. They held a one week training camp at the worst possible time for Semenko.
“They’d only just introduced Happy Hours in the lounges in Edmonton and the first think Rocky did was put me on the wagon. “Two for one sodas are not my idea of a Happy Hour on a hot June afternoon.”
He gave up beer? Wow, that’s dedication!
Labels: Brawls, Fight, junior hockey, Semenko, video
Source: Fight Night in the ‘Shwa!
A meeting in 2004 between Roger Clemens’ former trainer and a representative of the pitcher’s agents could have implications in the back and forth claims about steroid use that came out of the Mitchell report, according to published reports.
Jim Murray, who is employed by Clemens’ agents, met with the pitcher’s former trainer Brian McNamee in 2004, near Clemens’ New York apartment, according to McNamee’s attorney Earl Ward.
Ward said that at the time, McNamee was concerned that some steroids may be lingering in Clemens’ system that could result in a positive test in Major League Baseball’s first round of steroid testing.
“He did speak to Murray about his suspicions, his concerns that Major League Baseball had implemented testing and that Roger could have a problem,” Ward told The New York Times after speaking with his client Friday night.
McNamee said Murray took detailed notes about the meeting.
“Brian wanted to let them know Roger had some problems,” Ward told the New York Daily News. “They discussed steroid use.”
Clemens has repeatedly and vigorously denied McNamee’s claim that he injected Clemens with steroids 16 times in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Clemens has acknowledged he received injections from McNamee, but he said they were for vitamin B-12 and the painkiller lidocaine.
During his news conference defending himself on Jan. 7, Clemens played a telephone conversation between himself and McNamee taped the previous Friday. That tape includes a reference to Murray.
“I told Jim Murray. I told Jim Murray. I told him. I told him. I sat down with him in Starbucks on the corner where you [Clemens] used to live, and I told him the guy’s name,” McNamee says on the tape, referring to the ex-trainer’s source for procuring steroids.
The person McNamee was referring to was former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.
On the tape, Clemens asked McNamee if he knew Radomski.
“I asked you point blank,” Clemens said. “I said, ‘Do you know who this cat is when we were working?’ I said ‘There’s some rumblings about some guys with the Mets. Do you know who this guy is?’ You told me ‘no.’”
McNamee’s response appears to validate his claim about the meeting with Murray.
“I met with Jimmy in ‘04, and I told him. I said ‘Jimmy, I just wanted to give you guys a heads-up because you better have some information. I’d rather you be prepared than unprepared,’” McNamee said.
Ward also says McNamee contacted Murray shortly before the Mitchell report was released to warn him that both Clemens and Andy Pettitte would be mentioned by name in the report. Clemens and Pettitte have the same agents, Randy and Alan Hendricks.
Ward also said that when Murray called McNamee back, he believes Murray taped the call, which could be used as evidence in both Clemens’ lawsuit against McNamee as well as for the congressional hearing slated for Feb. 13.
Rusty Hardin, Clemens’ attorney, told the Times on Friday that no one from the Hendricks agency mentioned the alleged conversation between McNamee and Murray in 2004. Hardin added that the agency denied that either Hendricks brother ever received a message from McNamee on the topic.
“McNamee never told Jimmy that Roger or Andy were in any way connected to steroids or human growth hormone,” Hardin told The Times.
The Feb. 13 hearing before Congress is expected to include Clemens, Pettitte, McNamee, Radomski and Chuck Knoblauch.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
IT was lights out early for sleep-deprived Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic ending his Australian Open campaign with a crushing straight-sets win at Melbourne Park.
Forced to back up from his controversial 4.34am Sunday finish, Hewitt was unable to repeat his third-round heroics and slumped to a 7-5 6-3 6-3 defeat at the hands of Serbia’s fast-rising world No.3.
Facing a quick turnaround with his body clock all out of whack, Hewitt returned to Rod Laver Arena with concerns about his ability to recover from his epic four-and-three-quarter-hour battle with Marcos Baghdatis as debate continued to rage over whether Open officials should have even sent him on court 11 minutes before midnight Saturday.
But it was Hewitt who looked the sharper early on, Australia’s former world No.1 breaking a shaky Djokovic in the fourth game of the match to open up a 4-2 lead.
He had an another break-point opportunity the next game to forge a 5-2 advantage, but missed his big chance and then promptly dropped his own serve to love to allow Djokovic back on level terms.
It was the only invitation Djokovic needed, the third seed breaking Hewitt again in the 12th game to snare the opening set.
Hewitt, though, continued to play confidently and again claimed the first service break in the second set to go ahead 2-1.
Alas for Hewitt, Djokovic raised his level to reel off four straight games and jump out to a 5-2 lead before calmly closing out the set.
Djokovic, runner-up to Roger Federer at the US Open last September, motored through the third set with two more service breaks to set up a quarter-final against Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer.
For Hewitt, his 12th unsuccessful title tilt ended in less than two-and-a-half hours.
Djokovic admitted to suffering from serious butterflies against Australia’s last remaining singles hope, but felt he was able to exploit Hewitt’s fatigue.
“The fact was Lleyton plays his best tennis at the Australian Open. He was very motivated to win it and I was very, very, very nervous,” the 20-year-old said.
“But he was tired from his match against Marcos Baghdatis and I tried to seize the opportunity.”
AAP
Source: Hewitt’s Open closed by Djokovic
The FA Carlsberg Vase
Fifth Round Proper
Saturday 9 February 2008
Winning clubs receive £2,000
Click here for the fixtures
When any FA competition ‘goes national’, there is always the possibility that a team will face a very long journey.
The FA Vase, contested since the 1974-75 season, has draws based on geography up to and including the Third Round.
The draw for this season’s Fifth Round, made at Soho Square today, has sent Whitley Bay from Tyne & Wear down to play Vase holders Truro City in Cornwall.
It means a 460-mile journey for The Bay - but is it the longest that any Vase side has had to make?
Well, it beats these recent trips in the Fourth Round:-
2007: Truro City v Newcastle Benfield (456)
2006: Crook Town v St Blazey (428)
2001: Marske United v Porthleven (440)
But not this one:-
Bedlington Terriers (Northumberland) beat Falmouth Town (Cornwall) 4-1 after extra time in 2001, a journey for the visitors of 479 miles. It would be like travelling from London to Frankfurt.
A Wembley appearance in the Final on 11 May will surely make all the travelling worthwhile for this season’s participants!
Source: The long road to Wembley
A three-part series previewing the 2008 season.
Jan. 21, 2008
NORMAN, Okla. - The 2008 softball season has already started for the University of Oklahoma softball team as the 2007 Big 12 Postseason Champions have been busy practicing at Marita Hynes Field preparing for their season opener against UCLA in the Freeway Series Tournament (Feb. 8-10) in Westwood and Fullerton, Calif.
In preparation for the upcoming season, SoonerSports.com will preview the 2008 Oklahoma softball team under the direction of head coach Patty Gasso, who enters her 14th at the helm of the Sooner program. The first part in the series features a brief outlook and a glance at the Sooners’ schedule.
Oklahoma, picked second by the coaches in the Big 12 preseason poll, will kick off its 2008 season at the Meet the Sooners Banquet on Friday, Feb. 1. Following a casual dinner, a highlight video will kick off the dinner along with a short preview from head coach Patty Gasso.
“This team was probably one of the most dedicated squads I have had in the offseason,” Gasso said. “I think a switch turned in their heads and they realized the only way to get back to the World Series is to spend much more time working on their own. I’m excited to see how they take that offseason dedication into the regular season and how well we benefit from that.”
Oklahoma has the tools to make its sixth trip to the WCWS in the last nine years as it returns 55 percent of its offense, including last year’s nation RBI leader in Samantha Ricketts. While the offense is stacked with four of its top five hitters returning, the Sooners are also solid in the circle.
The entire four-member pitching staff returns, which includes All-American and Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Lauren Eckermann. The right-hander returns for her senior season after tying a school record with 37 wins in 2007.
THE LINEUP
Similar to last season, Gasso’s hurdle will be trying to make room for all the bats she has on her squad. The young squad was an offensive juggernaut last season, topping all Big 12 schools in seven different offensive categories and finishing fourth in the nation in batting average and scoring.
The biggest question mark of 2008 will be who will replace three-time All-American and 2007 Big 12 Player of the Year Norrelle Dickson. The table setter ended her career at Oklahoma as one of the best leadoff hitters to play for the Crimson and Cream. The four-year starter is the OU career leader in at-bats, runs scored, hits, batting average, stolen bases and on-base percentage.
“Norrelle was vital to our success during her time here and was a key reason Sam (Ricketts) led the nation in RBI last season,” Gasso said. “It is so important to get our lead off on base because we have such a strong middle of the lineup that can bring people across the plate.”
The top two spots in the lineup remain competitive as Gasso will aim to find a replacement for the leadoff position as well as a possible lefty in the two-hole, which would protect base stealers. Possible replacements for the leadoff spot include speedy underclassmen Iver McDonald and Krystle Huey. Amber Flores, who hit .325 in the three spot as a freshman starter last year, is also an option.
Gasso believes the bulk of the lineup (spots 3-7) is completely interchangeable with all the power returning from last year. In addition, OU’s powerful offensive lineup doesn’t present many options for opponents to pitch around. The Sooners benefitted greatly from that last season and look to capitalize on it again in 2008.
Highlighting the heart of the order is Ricketts, one of three finalists for USA Softball National Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2007. The cleanup hitter owned a .415 batting average with 18 home runs and only 11 strikeouts last year while setting a school record with 81 RBI in a season. Ricketts paired with fellow All-American Susan Ogden as a tough tandem for opponents. Opponents couldn’t pitch around Ricketts last season as they would face Ogden, who hit .381 with 10 doubles and 36 RBI in the fifth spot of the lineup.
In addition to Ricketts and Ogden, Gasso expects Traci Dickenson, Lindsey Vandever and Savannah Long to be strong contributors to the Sooner lineup as well. Dickenson was arguably the best nine-hole hitter in the country last year as the All-Midwest Region selection owned 14 home runs with 51 RBI in the final spot of the lineup.
“Traci was perfect in that spot for us last year. Opponents didn’t expect such power at the bottom of the lineup and it took off a lot of the pressure,” Gasso said. “However, her numbers were so strong last year that we are definitely going to move her up in the heart of the lineup so she can get more at-bats.”
With one season under her belt, Vandever returns for another year after hitting .287 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Veteran senior Long should also provide stability in the lineup as she owns power and speed with six home runs and seven stolen bases last season.
New faces could make up the latter part of the lineup. In addition to the speedy Huey, Chana’e Jones is also vying for a spot in the lineup. Huey’s speed puts pressure on the defense and she could be called upon in pinch running situations. Jones not only brings speed but also showed some very strong power during her fall campaign with the Sooners. Adding competition is freshman Dani Dobbs, a standout third baseman at Moore High School.
“This freshman class has a lot of high expectations to meet but I’ve been comforted by the fact that the upperclassmen have demanded them to hang with them and they have, step for step,” Gasso said.
Season Preview Schedule:
Monday: Outlook and Lineup
Tuesday: Infield and Outfield
Wednesday: The Battery
Source: Softball Season Preview: Part I
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
MILAN, Italy - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two late goals Sunday to lead Inter Milan to a 3-2 victory over Parma in the Serie A soccer league.
Ibrahimovic converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute. In injury time, the Sweden forward controlled a cross with his chest between two Parma defenders and scored from close range.
Ibrahimovic has scored 13 goals this season - six from the penalty spot - and shares the lead with David Trezeguet of Juventus.
"Parma played really well, they are a strong team and they gave us a tough time," Ibrahimovic said. "It’s not important that I score goals, what is important is that we win."
Esteban Cambiasso put Inter ahead in the 30th, but Parma responded with goals by Luca Cigarini in the 40th and Andrea Gasbarroni in the 69th to take the lead.
With two minutes of regular time left, Parma defender Fernando Couto headed away a shot from Ibrahimovic on the goal line. The ball then appeared to graze Couto’s hand as he fell to the ground.
The referee ruled the ball hit Couto’s hand after his head and called the penalty.
Couto was expelled and an injury for Daniele Dessena left Parma with nine players on the field when Ibrahimovic scored the winning goal.
Inter retains its seven-point lead over AS Roma, which beat Catania 2-0. Inter has 49 points, Roma 42 and Juventus 37.
AC Milan - which has 24 points and three games in hand - also pulled off a last-minute win.
Alberto Gilardino took over for the squad’s Brazilian attack, scoring in second-half injury time in the team’s 1-0 win at Udinese.
Gilardino, who had come on 10 minutes earlier to replace Ronaldo, took a behind-the-back pass from Kaka and scored from close range.
"There is a lot of competition to play here at Milan and I realize that," Gilardino said. "All I can do is do my best and hope to play as much as possible."
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti benched Gilardino last week to allow Ronaldo, Kaka and teenager Alexandre Pato to play together for the first time and the Brazilians went on to score four goals.
Ronaldo hit the post once, but otherwise Udinese’s defense held the Brazilian trio in check. Milan had few other good chances except a 90th minute free-kick by Clarence Seedorf that froze the Udinese goalkeeper, but went just wide.
"Gilardino is a great player and in eight minutes did more than Pato and Ronaldo in 180," said Ancelotti. "Gilardino was very good at being ready at the right time."
With starting goalkeeper Dida out with a sprained knee, Zeljko Kalac had a rare start and made several key saves for Milan.
Roma beat Catania despite missing Francesco Totti and several other starters because of the flu. Ludovic Giuly scored in the eighth minute and Daniele De Rossi put the game away by converting a penalty in the 57th.
Juventus was held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Sampdoria and lost ground on Roma. Trezeguet hit the crossbar, had a shot saved on the goal line by a defender and had a several other chances, but failed to score.
Napoli striker Marek Hamsik scored twice - including a goal 15 seconds from the end of second-half injury time - in a 2-2 tie with Lazio. Napoli went ahead in the fifth but Lazio responded with goals in the 31st by Goran Pandev and in the 55th by Cristian Ledesma.
Palermo scored in the 4th against visiting Siena before conceding two goals in five minutes in a hard fought match, which Siena won 3-2.
In other action, it was: Livorno 1, Empoli 0 and Reggina 2, Cagliari 0.
On Saturday, Genoa beat Atalanta 2-1 and Fiorentina defeated Torino 2-1.
Neville and Lescott
LONDON - Andy Johnson and Joleon Lescott scored Sunday to give Everton a 2-1 win at Wigan in the Premier League soccer action.
The win put Everton into at least a tie for fourth place, while Manchester City missed the chance to join the Toffess with 42 points after a 1-1 tie against visiting West Ham.
Johnson took advantage of a stumble from Wigan defender Titus Bramble to shoot through the legs of Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in the 39th minute. Lescott doubled the lead in the 42nd by tapping in the ball from the far post after Phil Jagielka had played across a corner from Mikel Arteta.
Wigan recorded an own goal in the 53rd minute. A long ball from Wigan striker Jason Koumas was poorly defended in the box and went into the net off Jagielka.
"Wigan is a good team and this is a hard place to come and get a result," Johnson said. "Physically, this is one of the hardest games we’ll play but the important thing is that we got the three points and we’re sitting pretty in the league."
Wigan remains in 17th place and manager Steve Bruce fears the poor field at the JJB Stadium could hurt its chances of avoiding relegation.
"I’ve some good players here, and yet the pitch is giving us grave concerns," Bruce said. "If you are a Premier League team, the one thing you need is a decent pitch, and that could affect us."
Carlton Cole put West Ham ahead in the eighth minute, kicking the ball back over his head into the net. Darius Vassell tied it for City in the 16th from close range.
City, which eliminated West Ham from the FA Cup last week, now has 40 points for fifth place. West Ham remains in 10th.
Manchester United leads the Premier League with 54 points. On Saturday, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo scored in a 2-0 win over Reading.
Arsenal is second on goal difference after a 3-0 win at Fulham, while Chelsea remained four points behind the leaders with a 1-0 win at Birmingham. Everton is fourth with 42 points, followed by Manchester City with 40.
Liverpool and Aston Villa - who play each other Monday - both have 39 points.
Kevin Keegan’s second stint as Newcastle manager began with a 0-0 draw against Bolton.
Definitely not going anywhere are Everton duo Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert, who have both signed new contracts until 2012 (Everton website, 1200 GMT).
Portsmouth are interested in Milan Baros and Patrik Berger, but say Sol Campbell is not going anywhere (Sportinglife.com, 1130 GMT).
Newcastle have joined West Ham in the race to sign Reading’s Nicky Shorey (eatsleepsport.com 1020 GMT).
Birmingham have been given permission to talk to Aston Villa’s Gary Cahill (clubcall.com, 0940 GMT).
Keep an eye on our gossip column during the day for updates and breaking news throughout the transfer window.
Everton are ready to offer 2m for out-of-favour Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis (Mail).
Portsmouth are interested in taking Bobby Zamora from West Ham either on loan or in a permanent move (Mirror).
Newcastle want to take Sol Campbell from Portsmouth, with Manchester City’s Micah Richards and Manchester United’s Michael Carrick also on their shopping list (Star).
Tottenham boss Juande Ramos has decided he wants to keep Jermain Defoe at the club despite suggestions he could join Aston Villa (Times).
Burnley could make a shock 750,000 move for Dundee United captain Barry Robson (Mirror).
Liverpool’s American owners have rejected an initial 300m offer from Dubai International Capital to buy the club (Times).
John Terry has still not spoken to Fabio Capello and does not yet know if he will be his England captain (Mirror).
Terry Venables is favourite to be the next Republic of Ireland boss as Gerard Houllier’s contract buy-out with the French Football Federation is too high (Mail).
Former Preston and Derby boss Billy Davies is on stand-by to replace George Burley at Southampton if Burley gets the Scotland job (Mirror).
Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill says the club does not have a big enough squad to cope with the demands of playing in Europe (Independent).
Sir Alex Ferguson says he was just expressing “relief” at Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal, rather than being insulting, when cameras caught him making gestures to the crowd at Reading (Various).
Kevin Keegan says he is “sure” Alan Shearer will manage Newcastle at some point in the future (Sun).
Norwich boss Glenn Roeder wants Dion Dublin to put off his decision to retire for a year (Sun).
Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says goalkeeper Joe Hart is a future England player and would not be fazed if he was called up now (Mirror).
Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe says he was “a bit embarrassed” to be made captain on Saturday as he knew it would raise speculation about his future at the club (Times).
Reading skipper Graeme Murty swapped shirts with Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday but had it pinched from the dressing room when he was in the shower (Star).
When he was a boy Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor practiced his heading by hanging a ball from a piece of string and shortening the string every time he managed to touch it (Guardian).
Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws says his wife is such a big Owls fan she had packed his bags and threatened to throw him out if they did not beat Sheffield United (Mail).
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov won Lithuania’s version of Strictly Come Dancing (Independent).
Hermann Hreidarsson’s reward for winning Iceland’s player of the year award was an encyclopaedia of Icelandic grammar which was too big for him to bring to England (Mirror)
Little Britain star Matt Lucas has sent Arsene Wenger a full set of the show’s DVDs after meeting the Arsenal boss last week (Mirror).
Source: Monday’s gossip column