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Jeronimo fires Reds over Phoenix

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

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At the double ... Jeronimo continued his impressive start in the A-League. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United folk hero Cassio celebrated his 100th A-League game with a goal as the Reds downed Wellington Phoenix 3-1 on Saturday.

Argentine striker Jeronimo Neumann scored twice as Adelaide netted three goals in the final 40 minutes to deliver the Phoenix their first loss of the season.

The Phoenix finished with 10 men after Ben Sigmund was controversially sent off in the 77th minute.

P W D L GD Pts
1 Adelaide 4 3 0 1 4 9
2 Newcastle 4 3 0 1 1 9
3 Perth 3 2 0 1 2 6
4 Wellington 4 1 2 1 0 5
5 Brisbane 4 1 1 2 3 4
6 Central Coast 3 1 1 1 0 4
7 Heart 3 1 1 1 -1 4
8 Western Sydney 4 1 1 2 -1 4
9 Sydney 3 1 0 2 -2 3
10 Victory 4 1 0 3 -6 3

Wellington's Stein Huysegems scored the opening goal in the Hindmarsh Stadium fixture before the visitors were overwhelmed by Adelaide, who return to the top of the ladder with the win.

Jeronimo's brace was punctuated by fan favourite Cassio's 68th minute goal, which gave Adelaide a 2-1 lead.

Cassio, after a 20 metre run that sliced open Wellington's defence, flicked to Jeronimo, who fed the ball back to his teammate and the Brazilian promptly scored with a slick left-footer.

Replays suggested Jeronimo might have been offside when the ball was played to him, but the goal still stood.

Adelaide's comeback triumph came after Phoenix talisman Paul Ifill created Huysegems' strike with a crafty through ball in the 42nd minute.

As a flat-footed Adelaide defence stood hoping for an offside call, Ifill's insightful pass played the Belgian international into ample space.


Relive all the key moments from the game with our A-League Match Centre, featuring stats and video highlights.


Huysegems closed within 10 metres and powered a left-footer with such force it gave Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galevokic no chance.

Adelaide hit back just 10 minutes after halftime when Jeronimo scored.

After a scramble, Wellington's attempt to clear their defensive area rebounded into the path of the Argentine just 10m from goal.

While fortunate to find the ball at his feet, Jeronimo's finish was clinical - a left-footer which equalised against the flow of play.

Jeronimo repeated the dose in the 85th minute after being played into space by Adelaide's creative Dario Vidosic, his left-foot finish sealing the victory for the Reds.

While Phoenix captain Andrew Durante was fuming after the game about Jeronimo's actions that saw Sigmund sent off, coach Ricki Herbert was riled at a goal by Wellington's Jeremy Brockie being ruled offside in the 59th minute.

"You have seen the video footage, write it yourself, I probably don't need to put words in your mouth," Herbert said.

"At the end of the day we have got an opinion and sometimes we can't voice it and I think that is to be respected.

"But all we ask for, is there an equal sort of line across the board?

"I think Jeremy's goal was a great goal.

"I thought Cassio's goal ... that is offside.

"You make your own assessments on those.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vettel, Webber fastest again

Same again ... Vettel and Webber have dominated qualifying recently. Source: Greg Baker / AAP

Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel completed a third-successive Red Bull front row lockout on Saturday when he took pole position for Sunday's Indian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Mark Webber.

The 25-year-old German, who is seeking to become the youngest triple champion in F1 history, made an error on his first flying lap in the top-ten shootout but responded with a second effort in one minute 25.283 seconds to clock the fastest time.

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It was his fifth pole of the season and the 35th of his career.

"All in all it has been a great weekend so far," Vettel said.

"We have to keep pushing - there are a lot of races to go.

"I'm happy to be on pole but there's a hard race coming up tomorrow."

His Australian partner Webber did his utmost to match him, but could only deliver 1:25.327 and took second as Red Bull proved they have the overall pace to start as clear favourites.

"It wasn't the smoothest (flying lap) for (Sebastian) and also for me," said Webber.

"On the last corner I got a little on the Astroturf on the exit and didn't have the cleanest run to line, but I'm driving the car.

"It was a pretty tight run thing between Seb and I. The McLarens were doing a very slow out-laps, and I had no grip in the first sector. I was surprised to end up in second."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton took third place late in the session to jump ahead of his teammate and fellow Briton Jenson Button.

The two Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are on the third row.

Alonso, championship leader for a long period of the season, is now six points behind Vettel and, with four races remaining, needs to deliver a strong result, if not a victory, to stay in serious contention.

But the Red Bulls appear stronger, Vettel having overturned a 39-point deficit to Alonso by winning the last three races in Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

The German also won the inaugural Indian last year at the 5.125km Buddh Circuit, 45km south of New Delhi.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wanderers beat Roar for first win

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Landmark ... Wanderers celebrate their first A-League goal, scored by Mark Bridge (second left). Source:AAP

Striker Mark Bridge headed home Western Sydney's first goal as the rookie A-League club secured a maiden win in a massive 1-0 upset of defending champions Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.

After missing a sitter in last weekend's 1-0 derby loss to Sydney FC, Bridge nodded in the drought-breaker 18 minutes into the first half, leaving Brisbane and the home fans shellshocked.

Brisbane's defence gave Bridge far too much space to move after Dutch import Youssouf Hersi delivered him a perfect ball off a short corner kick from star Japanese import Shinji Ono.

It ended 288 minutes of anxiety for for the Wanderers, who failed to score in their opening three games, though Bridge may have been lucky to grab his place in club history.

P W D L GD Pts
1 Adelaide 4 3 0 1 4 9
2 Newcastle 4 3 0 1 1 9
3 Perth 3 2 0 1 2 6
4 Wellington 4 1 2 1 0 5
5 Brisbane 4 1 1 2 3 4
6 Central Coast 3 1 1 1 0 4
7 Heart 3 1 1 1 -1 4
8 Western Sydney 4 1 1 2 -1 4
9 Sydney 3 1 0 2 -2 3
10 Victory 4 1 0 3 -6 3

It could easily have gone to 22-year-old midfielder Aaron Mooy, whose fourth minute speculator rebounded off the right post into the left post as powerless Roar 'keeper Michael Theo looked on.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic said before the game he was hoping for a "lucky goal'' to put Brisbane under pressure.

Mooy almost provided it.

The coach had to wait another 14 minutes but there was nothing lucky about Bridge's goal and Western Sydney grew in confidence.

They made Brisbane look average in the first half with eight corners to nil.

The magnitude of the upset can be measured by Brisbane's fabulous Suncorp Stadium record, having lost just three of their previous 34 home games.

The visitors continually upset Brisbane's rhythm.

Popovic's defensive structure closed down the Roar in the middle of the pitch where they are usually very dangerous.

Hersi tormented Brisbane's defenders all night, taking the sting out of the crowd, who expected most of the action would be directed at Wanderers 'keeper Ante Covic who was rarely tested.

Covic had heated words with Brisbane's Jack Hingert, who he claimed had clipped him in the head with his boot searching for the equaliser.

Popovic kept his emotions under control despite the significance of the win for the club and the pressure on his players to score.

"Obviously the stats don't lie and we hadn't scored but there was no lack of confidence in this group,'' he said.

"We came here with a belief we could win the game if we played well and in the end we did that.

"At no stage did we doubt ourselves before the game.''

Popovic said keeping a class outfit like Brisbane scoreless for 90 minutes was equally as satisfying as the win.

"It would have been an injustice had we come away tonight without those three points, which can happen in football,'' he said.

"We didn't get down on ourselves when we didn't get a win or a goal in our first three games and we certainly won't get ahead of ourselves after this.

"It's three points, three great points.''

Roar coach Rado Vidosic looked in shock after the loss, unable to offer an excuse after two high quality training sessions during the week.

"They were very hard to penetrate, their defence was excellent,'' he said.

"They looked better (than us) on the fast break and could have punished us with more goals.''


Relive all the key moments from the game with our A-League Match Centre, featuring stats and video highlights.


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Durante labels Jeronimo a cheat

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Heated ... Durante was clearly displeased with Jeronimo's actions. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United's double-scorer Jeronimo Neumann has been branded a cheat by Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante for diving in a bitter A-League fixture at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.

The Phoenix were left fuming after defender Ben Sigmund was given a straight red card for bringing Jeronimo down as the last defender during the Reds' 3-1 win, but replays suggested the Argentine's reaction was significantly delayed.

Durante was incensed at the time, as he was when Cassio scored Adelaide's second goal after receiving a pass from a seemingly-offside Jeronimo, and the Wellington skipper didn't hold back during the post-game interview with Fox Sports.

"We got a few tough decisions against us," Durante said.

"I think the first one was offside from what I saw, the second one he's dived. He's a cheat.

"In my book, if he's dived, he's a cheat. I think the referees were shocking tonight.

"To end the game with a referee's decision like that ... I mean, that linesman on that far side did nothing to help this game. I thought it was extremely poor.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was equally disappointed with the match officials, and while he said he wasn't aware of Durante's comments, he had a similar message.


Relive all the key moments from the controversial clash between Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix with our A-League Match Centre!


"Let's have a look at the review on the dive - if the boy hasn't dived, then fine, we all move on, it happens from time to time," Herbert said.

"But if he has, then maybe there is a chance to make a bit of a statement here."

Adelaide coach John Kosmina was surprised at Durante's comment about Jeronimo.

"That is a bit unfortunate, not a nice to thing to say," Kosmina said.

Kosmina suggested referee Jared Gillett, who made headlines last season for awarding a stoppage time penalty for Brisbane Roar in the A-League grand final, was in best position to judge whether Jeronimo dived.

"The referees make decisions that you agree with sometimes and they make decisions that you don't," he said.

"Looking at the replay, it was a hard one to call.

"And he was in a better position than I was, and probably in a better position than the cameras, because he was right behind it."


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heskey double hands Jets victory

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 26 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

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Double trouble ... Emile Heskey the first of his fantastic goals against the Victory. Source:AAP

Emile Heskey and Newcastle Jets continued their flying starts to the A-League season as the striker scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday night.

The former England international struck with two opportunistic goals in front of 13,912 fans at Hunter Stadium, moving him to the top of the league's scoring chart with four goals in as many games.

The second half strikes secured the Jets a third straight win, ensuring their best start to an A-League season.

P W D L GD Pts
1 Newcastle 4 3 0 1 1 9
2 Adelaide 3 2 0 1 2 6
3 Perth 3 2 0 1 2 6
4 Wellington 3 1 2 0 2 5
5 Brisbane 3 1 1 1 4 4
6 Central Coast 3 1 1 1 0 4
7 Heart 3 1 1 1 -1 4
8 Sydney 3 1 0 2 -2 3
9 Victory 4 1 0 3 -6 3
10 Western Sydney 3 0 1 2 -2 1

While Sydney FC's marquee star Alessandro Del Piero has been hogging most of the competition's early headlines, former Liverpool striker Heskey has proven a revelation himself.

The 34-year-old becomes the first Jet to score in three successive games since Johnny Warren medallist Joel Griffiths in the club's championship-winning 2007/08 season.

The Victory hit back late through Archie Thompson but failed to build on a breakthrough win over Adelaide United last weekend, leaving coach Ange Postecoglou with plenty to ponder after three losses from four games.

The visitors had looked the most dangerous side in a scoreless first half, and could have gone ahead in the second minute had Marco Rojas not wasted a great chance.

Only two great stops from Mark Birighitti prevented the Victory from taking a lead into the sheds at halftime.

The Jets' gloveman used his legs to deny Thompson from close range in the 37th minute before tipping over a curling, long-range effort from Adam Traore.

Heskey turned the game after the break, storming onto a great cross from young defender Josh Brillante in the 54th minute to put the home side up.

The big frontman made the most of some sloppy defending from Mark Milligan and he capitalised again two minutes later, neatly converting a close-range chance as the Victory failed to clear from a corner.

Thompson put the Victory back in the game in the 71st minute when he pounced to head in a wayward clearance from Tiago Calvano but the Jets held on to move atop the competition table.

Jets coach Gary van Egmond was not happy with aspects of his side's performance and didn't hold back his thoughts in an animated halftime speech to his players.

However he was thrilled with their ability to grind out another win.

"What I'm really, really pleased with is their attitude and their desire to win the game,'' van Egmond said.

"We still can be better in regard to our performance ... but result-wise it's been terrific.''

Heskey came off late due to a tight hamstring as a precaution and van Egmond was delighted with his output.

"It's fantastic. Four (goals) in four games so from that respect it's a great return,'' he said.

While disappointed with a loss, Postecoglou was upbeat about the fact his men were in control for most of the game.

"I thought it was a step forward for us tonight,'' Postecoglou said.

"I thought that was the best we've played.

''... It should have been our game but in our sport there's a fine line between winning and losing and when you don't take your opportunities you fall on the wrong side of that line.''


Re-live the match with our A-League Match Centre.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Red Bulls dominate practice

Out in front ... Vettel and Webber were the fastest two cars in practice on Friday. Source: Saurabh Das / AAP

Sebastian Vettel kept the momentum going when he dominated Friday practice for the Formula One Indian Grand Prix where he seeks a fourth-straight season win.

Driver Team Pts
1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 215
2 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 209
3 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 167
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 153
5 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 152
6 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 131
7 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 93
8 Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 88
9 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 81
10 Sergio Perez (MEX) Sauber 66
11 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) Sauber 50
12 Nico Hulkenburg (GER) Force India 45
13 Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 44
14 Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 43
15 Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 33
16 Bruno Senna (BRA) Williams 25
17 Jean Eric Vergne (FRA) Toro Rosso 12
18 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Toro Rosso 9
19 Timo Glock (GER) Marussia F1 0
20 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Carterham 0
21 Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Carterham 0
22 Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL) Lotus 0
23 Charles Pic (FRA) Marussia F1 0
24 Narain Karthikeyan (IND) HRT F1 0
25 Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) HRT F1 0

Vettel, the world champion of the past two seasons and current overall leader, topped the morning session and then clocked a day-leading 1 minute 26.221 seconds in the afternoon.

Red Bull teammate Mark Webber was next in 1:26.339 followed by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (1:26.820) at the 5.125km Buddh Circuit, some 45 kilometres south of New Delhi.

Vettel overturned a 39-point deficit on Alonso by winning the past three races in Singapore, Japan and South Korea, and Friday's results further confirmed Red Bull's current dominance on the circuit where Vettel won the inaugural race last year.

Vettel has 215 points in the standings with four races left.

Alonso is on 209, while Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (167), McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (153), Webber (152) and Jenson Button of McLaren (131) only appear to have a mathematical chance.

Raikkonen was fifth on Friday, Hamilton sixth and Button seventh.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday and the race is Sunday.


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Sea Siren wins Manikato Stakes

Class... Jim Cassidy rides Sea Siren to victory at Moonee Valley. Source: Ian Currie / News Limited

The riding brilliance of Jimmy Cassidy and the training skills of John O'Shea have combined perfectly with the outstanding galloping ability of Sea Siren to claim the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

The winner of both the Doomben 10,000 and BTC Cup in Brisbane, both at Group One during the winter, Sea Siren joined an elite group with Friday's third win at the highest level.

"She deserved it and the ride deserved it," O'Shea said.

Cassidy immediately found the perfect position on Sea Siren, one off the fence outside the favourite Buffering and on the back of joint leader Satin Shoes.

From the 1000m mark, everything went to a script that was written on Tuesday when Sea Siren galloped at Moonee Valley.

"She took the the Valley like a duck to water," Cassidy said.

"I knew on the corner they'd have to be good to come from behind me and beat me.

"I thought she'd win and she did."

At the first sign of distress from the leaders, Cassidy made his move on Sea Siren ($5.50) and the mare sprinted clear, hanging on to beat Mental ($14) by a neck.

We're Gonna Rock ($10) came from last to take third place a further 2-1/4 lengths away.

O'Shea played down his effort in training Sea Siren to win three Group One races in her past four starts, preferring to praise the mare and her rider.

"That was just a great Jimmy Cassidy ride," O'Shea said.

"I just got her fit gradually and had her right tonight."

Sea Siren will now be aimed at the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 10, as will the slightly disappointing Buffering who weakened to finish sixth.

O'Shea will then consider a trip to the rich Hong Kong International meeting in December.

"I'd love to run her down the straight at Flemington," he said.

"I'd also love to take her to Hong Kong, it's the pinnacle of international racing in the world and I think she'd be very effective."

Buffering dropped out to finish an "inexplicable" sixth, but will press on the the Patinack Farm Classic.

"He was extremely disappointing and I don't know why," said trainer Robert Heathcote.

"He had no rhythm. It was an uncharacteristically below-par performance."


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

United's Kagawa out for a month

Injured ... Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa (L) has been ruled out for up to a month. Source: AAP

Shinji Kagawa will miss Manchester United's English Premier League top-of-the-table game with Chelsea on Sunday after the Japanese midfielder was ruled out for up to a month with a knee injury.

United manager Alex Ferguson revealed on Friday he should have substituted Kagawa sooner after the player suffered the problem in the first half during the 3-2 Champions League win over Braga on Tuesday.

Kagawa was eventually replaced at halftime by Nani.

"Kagawa is going to be out for three to four weeks,'' Ferguson said.

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"I think playing on didn't help the situation although he did well to play on with it to be honest.''

United start the weekend four points behind leaders Chelsea after eight games, but Ferguson's side have won 10 of the last 11 games in all competitions.

"It is always a very difficult game for both Chelsea and ourselves, it's never easy,'' said Ferguson.

"Chelsea are top of the league and have had a great start to the season. They are playing an interesting formation and it's something we've got to deal with.''

It is the first of three games in a week for United which could shape their season.

They return to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the fourth round of the League Cup before entertaining Arsenal in the league on November 3.

United have managed just three clean sheets in 12 games in all competitions this season, but are set to welcome back Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra after both were rested as Ferguson's side came from 2-0 behind to beat Portuguese side Braga 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.


Watch the top-of-the-table clash live and exclusively on Fox Sports 1 at 2:53am (AEDT) on Monday.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Valencia chasing Terry: report

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 25 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

On the way out? ... according to FIFA agent Francois Gallardo, Terry asked to leave Chelsea. Source: Efrem Lukatsky / AAP

Former England captain John Terry could be on his way out of Chelsea and heading for Spanish club Valencia in the January transfer window, according to a report from the UK.

Terry is serving a four-match Football Association ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand and Chelsea have slapped a fine on the player into the bargain.

The Daiily Mirror reported that FIFA agent Francois Gallardo has claimed Terry has been offered the chance to relaunch his career in the Spanish top-flight.

Valencia are reportedly ready to offer the 31-year-old defender an 18-month contract, with an option for another year.

Gallardo told Radio Intereconomia: "Valencia are negotiating, and I am involved in person, with the signing in the winter transfer market.

"The offer is on his table. The player is out of contract in June and will not renew there for several reasons at Chelsea and he wants to come to Spain."

Gallardo added: "Terry has problems. They are insulting him and he is not taking it anymore. He asked to leave, not us.

"It's real. This has been going on for 15 days and two meetings have already taken place. The deal is already on his table - a year and a half plus one. I think he will accept."


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

LeMond urges McQuaid to quit

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Scandal ... UCI president Pat McQuaid is resisting calls to step down. Source: Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP

Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has urged Pat McQuaid to quit as head of world cycling's governing body the UCI in the wake of the Lance Armstrong doping affair.

"I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to resign,'' LeMond said on his Facebook page.

''... resign Pat if you love cycling. Resign even if you hate the sport.

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"Pat McQuaid, you know damn well what has been going on in cycling, and if you want to deny it, then even more reasons why those who love cycling need to demand that you resign.''

LeMond, who won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990, said McQuaid and his predecessor as UCI chief, Hein Verbruggen, "have destroyed the sport''.

"It is time to walk away. Walk away if you love cycling.''

McQuaid this week warned against blaming the sport's authorities for doping scandals after Armstrong was banned for life and stripped of his seven Tour de France wins.

Verbruggen has come under scrutiny for his role in the Armstrong affair as he was at the helm at the time of the shamed US rider's consecutive wins in cycling's most gruelling race between 1999 and 2005.

In particular, Verbruggen has been accused of shielding the Texan amid claims he and US Postal Service teammates were tipped off about the arrival of dope testers and the UCI received a donation from Armstrong allegedly to cover up a positive test, but Verbruggen has denied the claims.

In his Facebook entry, LeMond also issued a supportive call for funds for Irish journalist Paul Kimmage's legal battle with the UCI, the latter accusing the former professional cyclist of defamation after accusations of corruption.

UCI and Kimmage, who used to work for Britain's Sunday Times, have a court date in Switzerland on December 12.


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Donaldson outshines stars in China

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Course record ... Jamie Donaldson takes the lead after the first round in China. Source: Eugene Hoshiko / AP

Four of the world's top five golfers including No.1 Rory McIlroy are at Lake Malaren this week, but it was world No.51 Jamie Donaldson who outshone all the stars on Thursday.

The Welshman shot a course-record 10-under-par 62 to lead the BMW Masters by four shots after the first round.
Donaldson won his first tour title at the Irish Open at Royal Portrush earlier this season after 10 years and 255 tournaments of trying.

He would be wise not to look over his shoulder when he tees off in the final group on Friday.

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If he does he will see a world-class chasing pack headed by Ryder Cup stars Peter Hanson and Francesco Molinari at six-under bearing down on him.

More ominously, US PGA champion McIlroy, who won on this course last year when the tournament was an invitational event, lurks just one shot further back after a birdie on 18 gave the Northern Irishman a 67.

Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, pleased to get his clubs back in his hands after guiding his team to an emotional victory at Medinah less than four weeks ago, also shot a sublime bogey-free 67 to be five off the lead.

And McIlroy said it was good to see his skipper's name alongside his.

"Yeah, Ollie's name on the board there was nice to see,'' said McIlroy.

"A few weeks ago 12 individuals came together as part of the team and now we're back playing and trying to beat one another.''

McIlroy said the benign, windless conditions made good scoring possible, but was still mightily impressed by Donaldson's round.

"Jamie has shot 10-under, which is phenomenal scoring, and I was just happy to stay somewhere within touching distance.''

He did that with "my best two shots of the day'', a driver in the 18th followed by a nine-iron from 144 yards to within four feet for a birdie three.

"It was definitely a nice way to finish and puts me in a good position,'' said McIlroy.

Far from out of the picture, with 54 holes still to play on the long and demanding Jack Nicklaus-designed 7,607-yard course, are world number five Justin Rose (four-under), number three Luke Donald and number four Lee Westwood (both on two-under).

But it was Donaldson who sparkled in Shanghai, and he rated the bogey-free 62 as one of the rounds of his life despite having twice shot 61 in previous tour events.

"Yeah it's up there with the best rounds I've ever shot. The golf course is harder than the other two I played, the other low scores," said Donaldson.

"The golf course is no pushover by any stretch of the imagination,".

Donaldson's round contained 10 birdies, five each on front and back nines, and eight pars. And so flawless was his golf he never had to scramble to keep a bogey off his card.


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Disgraced Malik wants to coach

Return ... Salim Malik wants to return to cricket and be the Pakistan batting coach. Source: AP

Disgraced former Pakistan captain Salim Malik on Thursday said he has applied for the job of national batting coach, insisting he is not barred after a court lifted his life ban four years ago.

Malik, 49, was banned by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2000 after a judicial inquiry conducted by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum found him guilty of offering bribes to Australian players to lose.

Australian trio Shane Warne, Tim May and Mark Waugh alleged Malik offered them huge sums to underperform during their team's tour to Pakistan in 1994.

Malik, who always pleaded his innocence, was also named in an inquiry conducted by India's Central Bureau of Investigation, which led to life bans on their captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma.

The ban on Malik was lifted by a court in Lahore in October 2008, but the decision has not been endorsed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which reportedly blocked his appointment to the PCB academy in Lahore in 2008.

Malik, a stylish batsman in his day, now claims that he is cleared of all fixing charges.

"I am cleared and my life ban was lifted four years ago,'' Malik told reporters after submitting his application with the PCB.

"I am cleared by the PCB and the ICC so I can now be involved in any cricket related activity.''

PCB earlier this month advertised the post of batting coach in an attempt to overcome the national team's frailties, which let them down in major events like the 2011 World Cup and World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka this month.

During an illustrious career, Malik scored 5768 runs in 103 Tests and 7170 runs in 283 one-day internationals and said he could help improve Pakistan's batting.

The fact he does not have a level III coaching qualification, as required by the PCB, has not put him off.

"A Test cricketer like me doesn't need any coaching course or any certificate,'' he insisted.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

'There will never be another Prince'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 24 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

There's only one ... Prince has been with the Titans since they joined the NRL. Source: Colin Whelan / AAP

Gold Coast Titans founding chairman Paul Broughton says the NRL club revolves around Scott Prince but it may learn to benefit from the halfback's mooted UK move.

While the Prince issue remains far from resolved - he met with Titans coach John Cartwright on Wednesday for the first time since being with linked to English Super League club Hull - Broughton said a change at No.7 would ultimately serve the club well.

"The Gold Coast fans will expect whoever wears the No.7 jersey to emulate what Scott has done," Broughton said.

"But there will never be another Scott Prince because the Titans revolved around Scott Prince."

Broughton added: "Look at Melbourne - it's not their seven (halfback) that is the be all and end all, it's their one (fullback), seven and nine (hooker).

"We just haven't had that for Scott to help him along. We never had the players outside of him to take the pressure off him.

"Maybe a change in the format may advantage them because now they will have to do a little bit more themselves.

"It will disadvantage the club in the immediate future but both should benefit in the long term."

Cartwright returned from an off-season break in the United States on Wednesday and met with Prince, the halfback's manager Steve Robinson later saying the situation had not been resolved.

"There's not much to say that has not already been said," Robinson said.

"It's just a matter of finding a resolution."

Hull coach Peter Gentle was certainly not giving anything away.

"We still have a number of irons in the fire and that includes speaking with player representatives in Australia," he told the Hull website.

"We are working towards concluding our recruitment and we still think another pivot is important as we look to balance our squad for 2013."

Prince is contracted to the Titans through to 2013 with an option for 2014 but the veteran is believed to be upset that he's being shopped around by the club to free up money under the salary cap.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Golfers too honest to dope: Tiger

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Honour ... Tiger Woods doesn't believe there is major doping in golf. Source: Mohd Rasfan / AFP

Tiger Woods on Wednesday suggested golf's culture of honour reduced the chances of a Lance Armstrong-style doping scandal, despite a comparatively light drugs testing regime.

The American great, speaking after Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins in a case that has rocked cycling, said anti-doping officials test golfers' urine while they do not take blood samples.

He indicated that a sport such as golf, where players admit their own penalties, had an intrinsic honesty which was not apparent elsewhere.

"We just implemented testing probably three years ago I think it is... I know we don't do any blood work like some of the other sports do,'' he said ahead of the CIMB Classic tournament in Malaysia.

"Right now it's just urine samples, but that's certainly a positive step in the right direction to try and validate our sport.''

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World cycling chiefs this week accepted the findings of a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report which put Armstrong at the heart of a sophisticated drugs conspiracy.

But Woods, another iconic sporting figure who fell from grace when a sex scandal came to light in 2009, said golf was an entirely different matter.

"This is a sport where we turn ourselves in on mistakes. A ball moves in the trees, guys call penalties on themselves. Golf is a different sport,'' he said.

"I think that's one of the neat things about our great game, and I think with the testing, it's only enhanced that respectability throughout all of sport.''

Comparisons have been drawn this week between Woods, who remains sponsored by Nike despite his marital infidelities, and Armstrong, who was dumped by the sportswear giant over the USADA report.

Golf lacks the intense physical demands of cycling but the pressure to hit the ball hard and accurately, and maintain mental focus over four four-hour rounds, with huge rewards at stake, could tempt some players to seek an unfair edge.

In 2007, nine-time Major-winner Gary Player said he knew "for a fact'' that golfers were taking human growth hormone, creatine and steroids, and called for random drug-testing.

In November 2009, after tests were introduced on the PGA and European tours, America's Doug Barron became the first golfer to be banned for taking a performance-enhancing drug.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Is Potter the best of the rest?

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Best of the rest? ... Potter was unveiled as Tigers coach on Wednesday. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

Is Mick Potter a good fit for Wests Tigers, or simply the best of the leftovers - or possibly both?

Potter was unveiled as the Tigers' new coach on Wednesday after the club parted with long-time leader Tim Sheens last month.

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With many of rugby league's top-tier coaches already tied to deals, the Tigers had a limited pool from which they could choose, leading to some suggestions that Potter may not be a good fit for a club that is alleged to have a strong culture of 'player power'.

CEO Stephen Humphreys rubbished claims the club's new coach was a cut-price option, and slammed talk suggesting Potter's deal was heavily incentive-based and had a five-figure base salary.

"I can clarify that's total rubbish," Humphreys told AAP on Wednesday.

"It's obviously inappropriate to talk about someone's salary package but I can say that Mick's remuneration package is in line with someone of his experience at this level.

"It's a normal 'vanilla' (plain) type of deal."

Veteran rugby league journalist Greg Prichard believes Potter is the best man the Tigers could get, given the limited budget at their disposal.

"I think out of the people that they had in the running for the job, he was the best choice, so effectively he was their first choice," Prichard said on Fox Sports News.

"They're hamstrung by the amount of money they can't spend - that's the main fact in all this.

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"He's supposed to be on around $250,000 a year, which would make him the lowest-paid coach in the competition I would imagine, because (Cronulla Sharks coach) Shane Flanagan's probably got a rise."

"When you're paying that sort of money, you're not going to get a Bellamy, a Hasler, a Bennett or even the next rung down."

Prichard said Potter's first port of call would be to ensure the players know where they stand with him.

"There are no guarantees that he's going to be the answer, but I think he's a good fit, at least to start with, because he's a straight shooter," Prichard said.

"He's going to make it clear that he's the boss and the players are not the boss, and he'll get on with it from there.

"They (the players) will buy in to what he wants to do, it's whether his plan is good enough.

"They'll back him to start with. If it fails, it will either be because Mick Potter can't coach, or the players didn't stick at it long enough."


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stoner's winning streak at home

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Five ... SPEED takes a look back at Casey Stoner's Phillip Island winning streak. Source:Supplied

As Casey Stoner gears up for his last Australian MotoGP, he stands on the edge of extending an already tremendous feat.

Which of Casey Stoner's Australian MotoGP wins was your favourite?

You see, the 27-year-old has a winning streak on home soil dating back five years. In fact, it doesn't even suffice to say he has merely won those five consecutive races.

He has utterly dominated them.

King Casey has made Phillip Island his own personal fiefdom, ruling his two-wheel contemporaries with absolute authority.

The cast of characters that have fallen to Stoner's dominance are by no means mugs, either. At the top of the list is Valentino Rossi, who himself also notched up five-straight wins at the Island, but none since Stoner's arrival.

Similarly fruitless has been Jorge Lorenzo. Same-same Dani Pedrosa. Champion riders all, but none have been able to hold a candle to Stoner on home soil.

And this is at no pokey, point-and-squirt circuit, either. The fast and flowing Phillip Island circuit is one beloved and revered by riders, offering a high-speed challenge without peer on the MotoGP calendar.

Perhaps the most startling statistic is this: Stoner has led every single racing lap on home soil since the lights went out at the start of the 2007 race.

So sit back and enjoy as SPEED turns back the clock and remembers each of Stoner's five-straight wins at Phillip Island.


Which win is your favourite and why? Leave your comment below.


2007 - THE PERFECT END TO A PERFECT YEAR

2007 ... Stoner greets the chequers first. Source: Supplied

First MotoGP win: check. First MotoGP World Championship: check. First win on home soil ...

There was just one box left to tick in Casey Stoner's incredible 2007 season, and after locking up his first title at Motegi a week earlier, he arrived at the Island looking to complete a dream year by winning in front of a home crowd.

Despite never having won at Phillip Island he started as he meant to go on by dominating every practice session, a pair of crashes on Friday and Saturday showing just how hard he was trying.

He missed out on pole to Pedrosa - the only time Stoner wasn't fastest on Saturday during his streak - but wasn't to be denied on Sunday.

A good start saw him hold a narrow lead over the field in the early laps, before putting the hammer down on lap 10.

Suddenly a margin measured in tenths stretched out to seconds, and at the end of 27 laps he led teammate Loris Capirossi across the line by almost seven seconds.

Just the third Aussie to win his home race, Stoner said the reception from the crowd while he stood on the podium was unbelievable.

2008 - HARD-FOUGHT SEASON, HARD-FOUGHT WIN

Stalked by Hayden early, Stoner pulled away for win No.2. Source: News Limited

2008 wasn't the dream year that 2007 had been for Stoner.

It started off well with a win under the lights at Qatar, but problems with the bike followed by a string of crashes meant that Stoner kissed goodbye to the world title at Motegi just over one year after he'd won it.

After a season-long battle with new champion Valentino Rossi that peaked with a heated duel at Laguna Seca, Stoner was shaping up for a battle to win at Phillip Island.

But the expected Rossi challenge failed to materialise; instead, Stoner's opposition came from an unexpected quarter.

Shadowing Stoner's red Ducati in the early laps was the Repsol Honda of his soon-to-be teammate Nicky Hayden.

For 10 laps the American stalked Stoner, pushing the Aussie hard. Finally Stoner started to eke out a gap, with Hayden unable to lap within a second of the Ducati rider's times, eventually losing second place to Rossi on the last lap.

This win was special for the Ducati team, Stoner posting his second Australian MotoGP victory in their 100th MotoGP race.

2009 - THE COMEBACK KID

White Duke ... Stoner completed comeback with Island win. Source: News Limited

Stoner arrived at the Island in 2009 under a big question mark. This was the year he suffered his 'mystery illness'. Sapped of strength and stamina, he struggled to the finish of races through the mid-season.

Courageously, he hopped off the bike for three races to both work out what was wrong and recover, copping plenty of criticism from media, fans, and past-champions for not racing through it.

Australia was his second race back, Stoner admitting he still wasn't fully fit, nor had the mystery illness – later determined to be lactose intolerance – been diagnosed at that point.

From pole, Stoner passed a fast-starting Pedrosa early on lap one and shot away from the main pack, tailed only by Rossi's blue Yamaha.

Lap after lap Stoner and the nine-time world champ traded fast times like punches, their bout looking like it would be decided on points.

That was until seven laps to go. Suddenly the margin between the pair stretched. Stoner had been toying with the Doctor, who had been riding on the ragged edge just to keep up.

When the chequered flag waved Stoner and Rossi were separated by two seconds, but they were in a race of their own. In a distant third was Pedrosa, a whopping 23 seconds behind.

2010 - TOTAL DOMINATION

2010 ... fans flocked for Stoner's Ducati swansong. Source: News Limited

Sometimes the numbers really do tell the story, and so it is with Casey Stoner's 2010 win.

As the pack headed into Doohan Corner on lap one, pole-sitter Stoner was parallel with Lorenzo.

By the exit of the Southern Loop, Stoner had a quarter-second margin. When they got to Honda the lead was out to half-a-second. At Siberia, it was one second neat.

Over Lukey Heights and down into MG his lead stretched further still.

By the time the field crossed the start-finish line at the end of the first lap, Stoner had gapped the field by an incredible one-point-five-seconds.

In that one spectacular opening lap, Stoner crushed the field under the heel of his boot and said to them, "match that you bastards."

And they couldn't.

Stoner closed out his time at Ducati with his most dominant victory, eight-point-five seconds to the good over Lorenzo at the finish despite popping a monster wheelie over the finish line.

2011 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

New bike, same result for Stoner in 2011. Source: News Limited

If you could plan the perfect birthday, what would you do for it?

How about this: winning the Australian MotoGP for the fifth-straight time with a home crowd cheering you on, and also clinching your second world championship, all while feeding it to the knockers who said you only ever won because of the bike you raced.

Welcome to Casey Stoner's 26th birthday party.

Arriving at the Island aboard a Repsol Honda for the first time, Stoner notched up eight wins to make a clear statement on just how talented he was, punctuating it with another dominant win on home soil.

He had one hand on the title as it was, but when his main rival Jorge Lorenzo hurt himself in practice badly enough to miss the race, Stoner was left with a clear shot at winning the championship on Sunday.

While not as emphatic as his 2010 victory, he checked out to a small gap early and maintained the margin while the pack behind him fought for second.

Not even a light shower could rain on Stoner's parade this day, the Aussie finishing weekend with pole, the win, the fastest lap, and the championship.


Follow Casey's last race on home soil with SPEED's Live Blog, Oct 28 from 12:30pm EDT.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Zidane statue angers French

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 23 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

Anger ... The statue of Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Matterazzi displayed outside a French gallery. Source: Remy de la Mauviniere / News Limited

A row is simmering over a giant bronze sculpture depicting French footballer Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, which has been placed outside the Pompidou Arts Centre in Paris.

The five-metre tall statue is the work of French, Algerian-born artist Adel Abdessemed, who is being honoured by the Pompidou with a retrospective on his work from October to January.

But its prominent display outside the popular centre has angered the national association of local French football officials who claim that it is not the image of Zidane, who retired after the 2006 World Cup final, that should be promoted.

"By choosing this provocative image, the artist has deliberately opted to ignore all your talents and all the postitive emotions that you were able to share with the people of our country,'' the officials wrote in an open letter to Zidane.

They called on Zindae to use the full powers of his influence to have the statue removed immediately, adding that it would have been better to have highlighted his two headed goals in France's 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final.

Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi, who he claimed had provoked him, came during extra time in the 2006 final in Berlin with the sides tied at 1-1. He was red carded and thus missed the penalty shoot-out which Italy won.

Pompidou Centre chief Alain Seban expressed shock at the complaints, saying that they amounted to an attempt to censure artistic creativity.


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Rio plans union for black players

Rio Ferdinand ... is setting up a union for black footballers. Source: AAP

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand is setting up a union to protect the interests of black footballers in England.

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Ferdinand has long been a vocal campaigner against racism and the Daily Mail reported that he and other high-profile black players have overseen the first draft of a constitution.

The England defender made headlines last weekend for angering club manager Alex Ferguson by refusing to wear a t-shirt for the Kick It Out campaign, an initiative designed to rid the sport of racism.

Ferdinand believed that not enough was being done to combat the problem after Chelsea's John Terry was handed a four-match ban and fined STG220,000 ($A344,000) last month for racially abusing his younger brother Anton, who plays for Queens Park Rangers.

Rio Ferdinand and his colleagues want to wipe out discrimination in all forms and will hold a series of meetings in London in the coming month.

The union has a working name of The Federation of Black Players.

The news comes after Kick It Out's chairman Herman Ouseley criticised Rio Ferdinand for boycotting the FA-funded campaign.

"Would Rio tell England where to stick their shirt if picked or does he think the FA has done enough to tackle racism?" he said.

"Will he tell Manchester United where to stick their shirt and STG150,000 ($A234,000) a week or have they done enough to tackle racism?"

"Should we tell women not to support women against rape groups because they have not done enough to stop rape?"


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Malthouse revolt barb a 'cheap shot'

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Cheap shot ... Mick Malthouse can't help but have another dig at former club Collingwood. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

New Carlton coach Mick Malthouse's latest swipe against his old club Collingwood is "a cheap shot" according to The Back Page host Mike Gibson.

Malthouse launched his memoirs, written by daughter Cristi, on Tuesday and continued to stir the pot over the controversial succession plan put in place to hand the Magpies' coaching reins from Malthouse to Nathan Buckley.

The premiership coach said a senior player had approached him in 2010 and had wanted to start a petition to keep him at the club.

"A very important player came to me and said that's what he wanted to do. There were a number of players who wanted to sign a petition to keep me at the club," he said.

"I was a very moving movement."

Speaking on The Back Page, respected journalist Gibson said digging up the incident was disappointing.

"It's a cheap shot," he said.

"For those players - several players - it's like 'sources say'. Name them if they did."

After being replaced at the end of 2011, Malthouse has launched several barbs at the Magpies.

Earlier in the season, the new Carlton coach started a war of words with Collingwood president Eddie McGuire by questioning the team's gameplan under Buckley.

Fellow panelist Robert Craddock took it one step further, saying it was yet another strange dig at Buckley and the Magpies.

"In brackets it should have said afterwards 'because the players didn't rate Nathan Buckley as a coach'," he said.

"Now Nathan Buckley's sitting at home thinking 'gee, which players didn't rate me'."

Watch the full video of The Back Page discussion above.


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McIlroy plays down $250m Nike deal

McIlroy ... could join Tiger Woods as a wealthy member of the Nike stable. Source: AAP

World No.1 Rory McIlroy on Tuesday attempted to brush aside growing speculation in that he is about to sign a multi-million dollar deal to join Tiger Woods in the Nike stable.

McIlroy, in Shanghai for the $US7 million ($A6.81 million) BMW Masters which begins on Thursday, was responding to stories in Irish newspapers which claimed the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland was about to sign a Nike contract which could see him earn up to a staggering $US250 million ($A243.30 million) over 10 years.

McIlroy's current deal with golf giant Titleist expires at the end of 2012, making the double major winner and leader on the money list on both sides of the Atlantic the most prized free agent on the equipment market.

"These rumours have been going around for years and it seems to always come up at this time of the year," McIlroy said at Lake Malaren Golf Club.

"I leave it up to Conor (Ridge, McIlroy's manager) to sort out as it leaves me to concentrate on my golf.

"That's all I can do and besides I have enough to think about trying to get the ball in the hole.

"Also I've got a very important end to my season coming up and I need to concentrate myself fully on that goal."

It is no secret that Woods, the world No.2, and McIlroy have become good friends as well as on-course rivals. Indeed, the two will go head-to-head in "The Duel at Jinsha Lake" in Zhengzhou, China, next Monday.

"That should be really exciting and I'm really looking forward to heading back to Lake Jinsha," said McIlroy of the 18-hole medal match.

"I've spoken to Tiger about it and we are both really excited as it will be the first time we will ever do something like this together, and hopefully the first of a few occasions we can do this.

"We both enjoy each other's company, and besides there are not many guys I would do something like this with and I know he feels the same. So it should work well."

And with more than a hint of further commercial hook-ups between the two biggest draws in the game in the future McIlroy added, tellingly: "I see it also as a good marketing exercise for Tiger and myself."

Nike regard the clean-cut, immensely likeable and youthful McIlroy as a dream signing after sticking with Tiger Woods through his well-documented marital indiscretions and fall from golfing grace.

If the rumours turn out to be true then that burgeoning relationship between McIlroy and Woods could mean Nike capture the two biggest names in golf for the next decade or more - but at a huge price.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Biggest crisis cycling's faced'

Written By Unknown on Senin, 22 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

Sickened ... Pat McQuaid has labelled the Lance Armstrong saga the biggest crisis in cycling. Source: Salvatore Di Nolfi / AP

Lance Armstrong's fate was sealed on Monday as cycling's under-fire world governing body decided to back a life ban for doping and strip him of his record seven Tour de France titles.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) said it supported the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) decision to erase the rider's entire career after August 1998, as president Pat McQuaid called the scandal "the biggest crisis'' the sport had ever faced.

"The UCI will strip him of his seven Tour de France wins. Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling... He deserves to be forgotten in cycling,'' McQuaid told a news conference in Geneva, saying he had been "sickened'' by the revelations.

Earlier this month the US body released a devastating dossier on Armstrong, detailing over 202 pages and with more than 1,000 pages of supporting testimony how he was at the heart of the biggest doping programme in the history of sport.

The revelations, including evidence from 11 of Armstrong's former team-mates, plunged a sport which has been working hard to rid itself of its murky doping past into crisis.

McQuaid succeeded Hein Verbruggen as president of world cycling after Armstrong's seventh and final Tour victory in 2005 and is credited with boosting the body's anti-doping program, notably with the pioneering blood passport.

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The Irishman was under pressure to answer how Armstrong and his teams managed to dope for so long without being detected. But he rejected calls to quit, vowing to continue his work against the scourge of doping.

Armstrong's sporting reputation as the cancer survivor who fought back to win cycling's most gruelling and celebrated race has been shattered since the revelations, leading to sponsors leaving him in droves.

There has also been fears of a wider withdrawal of financial backing for the sport after Dutch financier Rabobank said it was ending the sponsorship of its professional cycling team after a 17-year association.

The sponsor described professional cycling as "sick'' to its core and unlikely to recover in the foreseeable future.
The strongly-worded comments went to the heart of claims of failings at the UCI and in particular to McQuaid, who has been criticised for failing to see the extent of doping within the sport.

Verbruggen, who stepped down in in 2006 but remains honorary president, ran the UCI during Armstrong's golden era -- a time when USADA's report says Armstrong and team-mates evaded dope tests either by hiding or being tipped off in advance.

The Dutchman has also been accused of protecting Armstrong -- even accepting a donation to cover up a positive dope test. McQuaid on Monday said the UCI "absolutely deny'' that Armstrong bought off the body.

Armstrong's cancer backstory and Tour triumphs from 1999 to 2005 were seen as key to restoring cycling's tattered image after a string of high-profile doping scandals in the 1990s.

His Tour victories are unlikely to be re-awarded, the race's director Christian Prudhomme has said. The void would prevent further headaches, given that most riders who finished on the podium in that time have since been implicated in doping.

But the final decision will come in a special UCI meeting on Friday.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Lance has no place in cycling'

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Lance Armstrong ... (insert caption here) Source: Thao Nguyen / AAP

The Intenational Cycling Union has handed Lance Armstrong a life ban and stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles after recognising the sanctions imposed by United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA).

UCI president Pat McQuaid confirmed USADA's findings in a press conference beamed around the world from the governing body's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday night (EDT).

In a long address to the media, McQuaid called it "a landmark day for cycling" and said that despite all the pain the sport was going through, "cycling has a future".

But he said Armstrong had no place in cycling and that the one time pin-up boy of the sport "deserved to be forgotton by cycling".

McQuaid succeeded Hein Verbruggen as president of world cycling after Armstrong's seventh and final Tour victory in 2005 and is credited with boosting the body's anti-doping program, notably with the pioneering blood passport programme.

The Irishman was under pressure to answer how Armstrong and his teams managed to dope for so long without being detected. But he rejected calls to quit.

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Armstrong's sporting reputation as the cancer survivor who fought back to win cycling's most gruelling and celebrated race has been shattered since the revelations, leading to sponsors leaving him in droves.

There has also been fears of a wider withdrawal of financial backing for the sport after Dutch sponsor Rabobank said it was ending the sponsorship of its professional cycling team after a 17-year association.

The sponsor described professional cycling as "sick" to its core and unlikely to recover in the foreseeable future.

The strongly-worded comments went to the heart of claims of failings at the UCI and in particular to McQuaid, who has been criticised for failing to see the extent of doping within the sport.

Verbruggen, who stepped down in in 2006 but remains honorary president, ran the UCI during Armstrong's golden era - a time when USADA's report says Armstrong and teammates evaded dope tests either by hiding or being tipped off in advance.

The Dutchman has also been accused of protecting Armstrong - even accepting a donation to cover up a positive dope test.

The cyclist's cancer backstory and Tour triumphs from 1999 to 2005 were seen as key to restoring cycling's tattered image after a string of high-profile doping scandals in the 1990s.

Armstrong's Tour victories are unlikely to be re-awarded, the race's director Christian Prudhomme has said. The void avoids further headaches, given that the majority of riders who finished on the podium have also been implicated in doping.

Additional reporting: Justin Davis, AAP


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Lance's legacy to be erased

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Legacy ... Lance Armstrong is no longer welcome in the cycling community. Source: Tom Pennington / AFP

Once a symbol of perseverance in the face of the most incredible odds, Lance Armstrong now seems destined to go down in history as one of the most brazen dope cheats that sport has ever seen.

After sensationally conceding defeat in his fight to contest the charges against him in August, the Texan's world caved in further on Monday when the International Cycling Union (UCI) erased him from the sport's history.

The US Anti-Doping Agency had already published a damning report that laid bare his guilt.

Armstrong, they claimed, was at the heart of "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program that sport has ever seen''.

"He was not just a part of the doping culture on his team,'' said the USADA. "He enforced and re-enforced it.''

UCI president Pat McQuaid told reporters he was "sickened'' by the revelations, adding: "Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling.''

The decision to cast aside one of cycling's most successful exponents leaves Armstrong's sporting legacy in tatters but for all his detractors, there have been just as many admirers.

For his supporters, the doping allegations pale into comparison beside his battle with life-threatening cancer and the work of his charitable foundation, which he founded to help others living with the disease.

Doctors had given Armstrong a less than 50 percent chance of survival when he was diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain.

He persevered through surgery and chemotherapy and returned to cycling but was little known in his homeland when he won his first Tour de France title in 1999.

His years of dominance in the sport's greatest race raised cycling's profile in the United States to new heights and gave him a platform to promote cancer awareness and research.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised almost $US500 million ($A487.12 million) since it was created in 1997.

But in the aftermath of the allegations, several top sponsors dropped Armstrong and he even quit as chairman of Livestrong.

Even in his glory days of cycling, many were sceptical of his powers.

In 1999, it was a trace amount of a banned corticosteroid, which cycling officials explained by saying he was authorised to use a small amount of cream containing the drug to treat saddle sores.

After his 2000 Tour triumph, French authorities probed his US Postal Service team but brought no charges.

Critics seized on his friendship with Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, who was banned by Italian authorities over doping in 2002.

In 2004, a Texas promotions company balked at paying him a $US5 million ($A4.87 million) bonus for his sixth tour title because of doping allegations by European media.

In that court case, former teammate Frankie Andreu and his wife, Betsy, testified that Armstrong told doctors during his cancer treatment that he had taken steroids and other performance-enhancers.

Two books published in Europe, "L.A. Confidential'' and "L.A. Official'', alleged he doped and in 2005, French newspaper L'Equipe reported that urine samples taken during the 1999 Tour that were later re-tested were positive for the blood-booster EPO.

Armstrong fought back with denials and even court action, before briefly launching a comeback in 2009, but in the end the sheer weight of evidence against him -- including testimony from 11 former teammates -- proved too much to withstand.


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Man jailed over goalkeeper attack

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Chris Kirkland ... lays on the ground after been struck by a Leeds United fan. Source: Tony Marshall / AAP

A 21-year-old man was jailed for 16 weeks on Monday after admitting to attacking England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland during a televised game in the second-tier English Championship.

Aaron Cawley, from Cheltenham in south-west England, pleaded guilty to assault and invading the pitch during Sheffield Wednesday's 1-1 draw at home to Leeds United on Friday night.

Cawley appeared before magistrates in Sheffield, northern England, having been arrested for running onto the pitch at Hillsborough and shoving Kirkland in the face after Leeds scored a 76th-minute equaliser.

He then ran back into the crowd, but was detained by police on Sunday.

Kirkland, 31, has previously played for clubs including Liverpool and Wigan Athletic. He joined Wednesday from Wigan earlier this year.

He made one appearance for England as a substitute in a friendly against Greece in August 2006.


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Redbacks cruise to bonus point win

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 21 Oktober 2012 | 22.07

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Klinger ... made crucial runs in South Australia's win over Queensland. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Run gluttons Phil Hughes and Michael Klinger feasted on Queensland to deliver South Australia a crunching nine-wicket victory in Sunday's one-day match at Adelaide Oval.

ODD - Adelaide Oval

21 October 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

South Australia 1st Innings

P. Hughes 95 104 9 2 91.35
C. Ferguson 18 31 2 0 58.06
B. Ipson 10.1 0 48 0 4.72

Responding to Queensland's 189 all out, the Redbacks cruised to 1-192 in the 37th over, banking a bonus point for reaching their target within 40 overs.

Hughes (95 not out) and Klinger (72) cashed in after Redbacks paceman Kane Richardson ripped through the Bulls' batsmen to take 6-48, the equal third-best bowling figures by a South Australian in a domestic one-dayer.

Only seven bowlers have returned better domestic one-day figures than Richardson, who claimed four victims in an eight-ball span.

His teammates Hughes and Klinger then cracked a 138-run opening partnership from 24.1 overs to ensure Queensland remain winless from their opening two games in the tournament.

Hughes continued his prolific start to the season for his adopted state, the left-hander now second highest run-scorer in the one-day cup and third highest in the Sheffield Shield.

The ex-NSW batsman faced 104 balls, struck nine boundaries and his second six sealed the triumph.

The former Test opener was rapt to help deliver SA's first win in any format this season.

"It was nice to get a few runs and I thought Maxy (Klinger) batted beautifully," Hughes said.

"But it was all set up with the ball and in the field, it all really clicked tonight.

"For Richardson to get the six wickets, it really set it up."

Hughes said the bonus point could be precious in the later stages of the one-day competition.

"It (the bonus point) was always in the back of our minds," he said.

"It was just about getting a partnership, and we had that 100-plus run partnership which was crucial."

Earlier, Richardson's purple patch with the ball began when Bulls recruit Usman Khawaja tarnished his polished start.

Khawaja moved with ease to 57 by smacking Richardson for a leg-side six, but tried a reckless repeat three balls later and was caught at wide mid-on.

In Richardson's next over, the quick claimed three victims and the Bulls were in the midst of sliding from 1-89 to 7-131.

Only late resistance by Joe Burns (51) and Brad Ipson (33), who put on 57 runs for the eighth wicket, added a semblance of respectability for the visitors, who were bowled out in the 49th over.


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Bozza's Save of the Week, R3

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Miracle ... Sydney FC goalkeeper had to be at full-stretch to keep this shot out of the top corner. Source:FOX SPORTS

Sydney FC goalkeeper Ivan Necevski picks up his second Save of the Week with just three A-League rounds gone.

With just a single goal separating the sides in the inaugural Sydney derby in the A-League, Necevski's clean sheet was all the more important.

However Western Sydney didn't make it easy, especially Adam D'Apuzzo who hit a powerful curling shot towards the top corner from range, only for Necevski to get his outstretched fingertips to the ball and tip it over the cross bar.


Click on the video at the top to see the block Bozza nominated as Save of the Week and tune in to Sunday Shootout on Fox Sports 1HD every Sunday for analysis of every round of A-League.


At the end of each round of A-League action, Fox Sports Football expert Mark Bosnich will nominate his Save of the Week on Sunday Shootout.

Several keepers put their hands up, so to speak, for this week's award, but Bozza felt Necevski's effort was the best of the lot due to both its brilliance and its importance in the context of the game. 

"That is going right towards the top corner, that's a fingertip save," said Bosnich.

"It didn't get the kudos in the match, nor afterwards, but we call that a miracle save and that can be the difference between winning and losing.

"It's a fabulous save and he's been in really good form this season."


Did you think Necevski's save was the best from all the games in A-League round three? Leave a comment below to have your say on Bozza's pick!


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Eels appoint Ken Edwards CEO

Boss ... Ken Edwards (left) has been appointed CEO of Parramatta Eels. Source: Robert Mckell / News Limited

Ken Edwards has been named the new chief executive of Parramatta Eels football club.

A former boss of Stadium Australia and executive chairman of the Hunter Sports Group, Edwards' appointment comes three months after Ricky Stuart was named the NRL club's new coach.

Bob Bentley remains the Eels group CEO, overseeing the Parramatta Leagues Club and development of Eels Group assets.

Bentley had previously taken on both roles.


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Stosur loses Kremlin Cup final

Stosur .. lost the Kremlin Cup final in a tight three setter. Source: News Limited

Samantha Stosur has continued her horror run in elite level tennis finals, the top seed going down to third seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the WTA's Kremlin decider in Moscow.

Former world number one Wozniacki won 6-2 4-6 7-5 for her 20th career title and second this year to level her head-to-head record with ninth-ranked Stosur at 3-3.

Wozniacki, currently 11th in the world, broke early for a comfortable 3-0 lead.

The Australian broke back in the fifth game but failed to level as the Dane produced two more breaks to take the opening set in 37 minutes.

Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, fought back in the second set to level at one set all after one hour 20 minutes on court.

The 28-year-old Stosur started the deciding set with an immediate break to grab the 2-0 lead but Wozniacki broke back in the sixth to level at three games all.

In the 12th game Wozniacki made the deciding break to win the set and the match in 2hr 13min when Stosur, who survived two match points, sent the ball off the court with a forehand cross.

"It was a tough match and it could have gone either ways," Wozniacki said in Russian after the match.

"You win some, I win some but that's sport," she said to Stosur.

Wozniacki received a silver Cartier trophy and a $US122,000 ($A118,250) cheque, while runner-up Stosur pocketed $US66,250 ($A64,250).

She has won just three of 15 finals contested.

The men's final between second seed Andreas Seppi of Italy and Brazilian fourth seed Thomaz Belucci will complete the tournament's schedule.


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