HARLINGTON (Reuters) - Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose striker Adrian Mutu has failed a drugs test, says it is impossible to know everything about a player's off-pitch life although clubs needed to find out all they can before they buy expensive players. In his first comments on the saga of Mutu's so-called playboy lifestyle, Mourinho said the best place to tell if a player was misbehaving in his private life was on the training pitch.Speaking on Friday after a coaching session about the problems of signing new players Mourinho said: "You can make mistakes from a sporting point of view...and on the social side you have to try to know the maximum you can." "Mutu was here before me so he was not my mistake," added Mourinho, who took over from Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea last July.

Mutu signed for Chelsea for 15.8 million pounds in July 2003. He was Romania's most expensive player, Parma's top scorer and one of the most prolific strikers in Serie A.

Mourinho, who took Porto to Champions League glory last season, said the training ground was a window on players' life outside the club. "When you see a player committed, concentrated, strong...his life outside of football is good. "When you see a player tired, having difficulty concentrating, with many changes of mood...then you put a question mark by him." Mourinho had said before news of the positive test broke this week that Mutu had experienced some problems in training.

STRAINED RELATIONS

It was all so different last July when Mourinho praised Mutu's attitude and the player said he was turning over a new leaf. But Mutu failed to secure a first team place and relations between manager and player became strained. Mourinho denied newspaper reports quoting Mutu saying the pair had almost come to blows during one confrontation. "Maybe he's having nightmares about me," Mourinho said on Friday. Newspapers have reported that Mourinho himself asked for the drugs test, which was conducted earlier this month. Mourinho said he backed drugs control "at the maximum level", but a distinction needed to be drawn between performance enhancing drugs and social drugs.  "But I think we also have a responsibility to try to help and find solutions because we are an example to young people," Mourinho added.  "I took something to make me feel good, I'll tell you later what it was," he said.

Escrito por fraja8 às 16h44
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A FIA (Federação Internacional de Automobilismo) anunciou nesta sexta-feira, em Interlagos - São Paulo, um pacote de mudanças para as próximas duas temporadas de Fórmula 1 que irá mudar completamente a configuração dos carros nas provas.
As alterações serão maiores nas partes aerodinâmicas, de motorização e de pneus dos bólidos. A entidade máxima do automobilismo tomou, praticamente, uma decisão unilateral - já que as equipes não chegaram a um acordo sobre as mudanças durante o ano.
O brasileiro Enrique Bernoldi, piloto de testes da BAR/Honda, já testou o carro com as prováveis novas configurações. E segundo o piloto, os bólidos deverão ficar mais lentos e mais difíceis de guiar. Por outro lado, Bernoldi acredita que acontecerão mais ultrapassagens.

Confira as principais mudanças:

Para a temporada 2005
Aerodinâmica: A asa dianteira será levantada. A traseira será avançada. O tamanho do difusor será diminuído e serão proibidos apêndices aerodinâmicos diante das rodas traseiras.
Pneus: Apenas um jogo será usado para classificação e corrida. Compostos mais duros visando diminuir a velocidade nas curvas.
Motor: Duração máxima de dois GPs completos.

Para a temporada 2006
Motores: Serão introduzidos motores V8 de 2,4 litros. Estima-se que a potência passe para 700 cavalos (atualmente são quase 1.000).

Escrito por fraja8 às 16h36
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Online advertising revenue closes in on the $10 billion mark. Can anything stop marketing's new daddy?

If numbers tell the story, then here's a darn compelling yarn. The latest survey from the Interactive Advertising Bureau shows online advertising revenue is up 40 percent to $4.6 billion for the first half of 2004. If you're counting (and plenty of marketers are), that's seven consecutive quarters of growth -- the last three, by the way, were records. Search-engine revenue alone is up nearly 100 percent this year, while rich media and other display and banner ads are growing at a 25 percent clip, or five times the overall industry average. The IAB predicts that online advertising revenue will hit the $10 billion mark by the end of the year. "I don't see anything on the horizon that will slow this down," says IAB president and CEO Greg Stuart.

Ad prices aren't going up sharply, Stuart says. So for the foreseeable future, anyway, look for advertisers to keep feeding marketing's new daddy. As Stuart, with the arrogance of a young turk back in charge, puts it, "What the hell else are they going to do?"

Escrito por fraja8 às 16h07
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Entidade destinará orçamento de 1,83 milhão de euros para combater o "mal" na temporada 2004-2005

A UEFA destinará um orçamento de 1,83 milhão de euros para a luta contra o doping durante a temporada 2004-2005, o que representa mais do dobro investido no último exercício e um aumento e 978.256 euros com relação à temporada anterior, foi informado nesta sexta-feira.
Lars-Christer Olsson, diretor executivo de UEFA, afirma no último número da publicação mensal da entidade que o novo programa contra o doping, aprovado recentemente pelo Comitê Executivo, pretende conscientizar os jogadores dos importantes riscos que correm ao consumir substâncias proibidas.
Além de renovar a estratégia da UEFA contra o doping, o novo programa inclui um aumento do número de exames nas competições e também fora delas, junto a um melhor desenvolvimento dos testes.
A organização de jornadas educativas dirigidas a jogadores, treinadores, médicos e familiares dos jogadores, centradas sobretudo na prevenção, também fazem parte do programa da UEFA, que enviará informações sobre a questão tanto aos clubes como às federações internacionais.

"De acordo com a Agência Mundial Antidoping (AMA) e a FIFA, a UEFA quer não só aumentar a qualidade e a freqüência dos exames antidoping, mas estendê-los também a todas as categorias, incluídas as seleções juvenis", aponta Lars-Christer Olsson.
O diretor executivo da UEFA afirma que, embora a maioria dos testes realizados pelo organismo tenham dado negativo, "não há motivo para relaxamento, principalmente quando todo o mundo do esporte luta contra o doping. Esta luta tem um preço, mas a saúde dos jogadores e a idoneidade nas competições é infinitamente mais importante", conclui.

Escrito por fraja8 às 15h24
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Técnico do São Paulo afirma que Santos tem celebridades, e santista responde que tem "jogadores de talento" no elenco.
SÃO PAULO - Desafetos declarados, Emerson Leão e Wanderley Luxemburgo, que se encontram no domingo, quando São Paulo e Santos jogam pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, trocaram novamente farpas pela imprensa nesta sexta-feira.
O técnico tricolor foi irônico ao comentar um possível clima quente para o confronto no Morumbi, o terceiro em pouco mais de um mês. "O jogo de domingo é o terceiro de uma série em que perdemos o primeiro, empatamos o segundo e agora queremos ganhar o terceiro. Mas não vai ter guerra, pois os titulares, ou celebridades do Santos, vão jogar, então o nível técnico sobe e a agressividade diminui", disse, referindo-se ao fato de o adversário ter utilizado um time misto pela Copa Sul-Americana.
Em Atibaia, cidade que hospeda o Santos nesta semana, o comandante alvinegro respondeu: "A declaração do Leão é problema dele. Não tenho celebridades, tenho um elenco que busca resultados. O que ele chama de celebridades chamo de jogadores de talento".
A briga entre os treinadores é antiga. Leão acusa Luxemburgo de ligar para o presidente Marcelo Teixeira e se oferecer para dirigir o Santos, provocando assim sua demissão.
Logo depois do primeiro jogo pela Copa Sul-Americana, no dia 10 de outubro, o técnico do Santos atacou o são-paulino, que sequer quis cumprimentá-lo antes do clássico.
"Isso é algo pessoal e não é minha obrigação comentar. Mas você cumprimenta quem quer e leva para a sua casa também quem quer, é um direito de ir e vir. Eu faço o que acho que tenho que fazer", disse, à época, Luxemburgo, que também falou sobre sua contratação pelo Peixe. "Ele (Marcelo Teixeira) me ligou. Eu estava em Foz do Iguaçu com a minha família e só a partir disso voltei para negociar", emendou.
Polêmica à parte, Emerson Leão espera uma partida mais tranqüila no domingo. Os dois primeiros confrontos foram bastante quentes, com acusações de ambos os lados. "Não tem clima tenso. É o jogo que todo jogador gosta de jogar. Não vamos colocar fogo onde não tem", afirmou. "Violência não faz parte do meu contexto e nem dos jogadores. Existe igualdade. As duas equipes têm qualidade. Não vejo favorito e temos condições de jogar", acrescentou.
O treinador do São Paulo também não mostrou preocupação com o árbitro Wilson Luís Seneme, que irá dirigir o clássico no domingo. "Ele conhece os dois times. Não tem segredo. Não me causa surpresa e nem preocupação", finalizou.

Escrito por fraja8 às 15h09
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Um mês após ter sido submetido a uma cirurgia no quadril direito, em Pittsburgh, nos Estados Unidos, Gustavo Kuerten deu início nesta semana à segunda fase da reabilitação, com ênfase no fortalecimento muscular.
O médico que operou o tricampeão de Roland Garros, o norte-americano Marc Philippon, fez uma avaliação geral do quadro de Guga e concluiu que a recuperação segue bem.
"Avaliamos o Gustavo e ele está evoluindo muito bem para esta fase da recuperação. Já iniciamos, aos poucos, a reabilitação da parte muscular e vamos começar também os exercícios de condicionamento para os braços e região abdominal", relata Marc Philippon.
Guga, que está nos Estados Unidos acompanhado também do médico Rogério Teixeira, continuará sua segunda fase da reabilitação, trabalhando também o ganho de mobilidade na articulação, principalmente a rotacional e seguirá fazendo exercícios na piscina.

Escrito por fraja8 às 15h02
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WORLD SERIES

Cardinals vs. Red Sox GAME 1 GAME 2 GAME 3 GAME 4 GAME 5 GAME 6 GAME 7 @BOS Sat. 10/23 8:05 ET @BOS Sun. 10/24 8:10 ET @STL Tue. 10/26 8:30 ET @STL Wed. 10/27 8:25 ET @STL Thu. 10/28 8:25 ET @BOS Sat. 10/30 7:55 ET @BOS Sun. 10/31 7:55 ET         If Necessary If Necessary If Necessary

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h57
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O italiano Valentino Rossi fez esse ano o que muitos achavam impossível: venceu a temporada da MotoGP com a Yamaha em seu primeiro ano na escuderia, batendo os pilotos da poderosa Honda.
O piloto tem ainda um contrato com a escuderia japonesa, válido para 2005. Mas depois disso, estaria pensando em uma possível transferência para a Fórmula 1, segundo seu pai, em entrevista para a revista Tuttosport.
"Seria fantástico se o Rossi pudesse ir para a Fórmula 1 com a equipe Ferrari. Durante os testes de Fiorano em Abril, ele foi muito rápido com a Ferrari. Ele já sabe agora como dirigir um carro da Fórmula 1", disse o Sr. Rossi.
Ainda segundo o pai de Valentino, sua transferência para a maior categoria do automobilismo mundial seria ideal em 2006, já que o piloto ainda estaria em boa idade para a mudança.

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h52
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Games between PSV and Ajax are games of their own and PSV head coach Guus Hiddink did not feel like looking forward too much to the annual clash and forecasting the final result during the customary Friday press briefing.He was by no means willing to go into ‘the domestic crisis’ at the Amsterdam club and the consequences, if any, for Sunday’s game "We all know it is impossible to perform well in all of the 34 league encounters. Moreover this game has no relevance with past results, so it is hard for me to judge. A team is bound to react. Anyway we know what took place in our club last season. I don’t know whether a situation like this is an advantage or rather a disadvantage", was the reaction of Hiddink .

Jefferson Farfán in standing in the middle during the 'piggy in the middle'.

Guus Hiddink thinks Ajax are a skilful side. The PSV head coach is particularly worried that Rafael van der Vaart will display a fine performance, like he did in the mid-week Champions League tie. "They are good, when they have possession of the ball. They may be less good in defence at times this season, but they will always try to dominate.”

Hiddink cannot wait for Sunday afternoon. "I just wish that we could play a nice game of football. Actually I am not in the mood for this kind of briefing." Guus Hiddink does not expect that championship race is over, even if PSV manage to claim a win. "We realize that a victory would mean a ten-point cushion over Ajax, the current number four in the Holland Casino Eredivisie table. However, I don’t feel the result is decisive for the title. The last time we won the Dutch title, we also had created a ten point gap, but due to certain reasons, we could not maintain that gap."

As to the chances of PSV: "I really don’t know. This is game that can go both ways."

(Provisional) PSV squad for the league clash against Ajax:
Goalkeepers: Gomes, Zoetebier
Defenders: Lee, Alex, Bouma, Lamey
Midfielders: Van Bommel, Cocu, Vogel, Lucius, Fehér, De Jong
Forwards: Park, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Beasley, Vonlanthen, Farfán and Sibon

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h46
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Since Arsene Wenger took over from Bruce Rioch on September 28th 1996, the two teams have met a total of sixteen times in the Premiership.

Of these, the Gunners have won 6, drawn 5 and lost 5, with their most convincing win coming at Highbury in September 1998 via a 3-0 victory with goals from Anelka, Adams and Ljungberg, who came off the bench to score on his debut for Arsenal.

During this period, Manchester United lost only two games of the eight encounters at Old Trafford, two 1-0 defeats in May 2002 and March 1998. They recorded their biggest win in February 2001, beating Arsenal 6-1 and opening an impressive sixteen point lead at the top of the Premiership.

The 6-1 result equalled United's best ever home win over Arsenal, as well as signalling the Gunners' biggest defeat under Arsene Wenger. The rout began after only two minutes with a Dwight Yorke goal, who then went on to complete a first-half hat-trick. Keane, Sheringham and Solskjaer also got themselves on the scoresheet.

Last season brought a stalemate between the two sides, with a 1-1 draw in March this year, preceeded by the controversial 0-0 draw in September 2003 at Old Trafford.

Both sides will be especially keen to secure vital points on Sunday as victory for Wenger will see the Gunners complete a 50 game unbeaten run and move 14 points clear of United.

Arsenal, however, will travel to Manchester having secured two very convincing Premiership wins; 4-0 and 3-1 over Charlton and Villa respectively and a Champions League 2-2 draw in Greece against Panathinaikos.

Injury News

Arsenal
Captain Patrick Vieira is still a doubt for the clash after sustaining an ankle injury against Villa and will not feature in the Champions League game in Greece. Wenger himself commented on the injury; "He had a scan yesterday (Tuesday) and it was better than expected, but I still think he will be short for Sunday. It is not definite, but there is an 80% chance he will be out."Midfielder, Freddie Ljungberg, however, appears to have won his race to be fit, featuring against Panathinaikos on Wednesday after sitting out Saturday's win over Aston Villa with a hamstring problem.

Manchester United
Keane, Ferdinand and Fortune missed United's trip to the Czech Republic on Tuesday, however as Ferdinand's absence was due to personal rather than injury concerns, he is expected to return for the game. Ferguson will be hoping Keane has sufficiently recovered from his bout of flu. Fortune remains in doubt with a calf strain.

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h39
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E no final do segundo treino livre, o brasileiro Rubens Barrichello, da Ferrari, tirou da cartola o tempo de 1min11s166 e fez a melhor marca do dia, nos combinados das duas sessões realizadas hoje em Interlagos, válidas para o GP do Brasil, que acontece no domingo.
Em segundo veio o companheiro de equipe do brasileiro, o alemão Michael Schumacher, sete vezes campeão do mundo, completando a dobradinha nas duas primeiras colocações no dia pela escuderia de Maranello. Schumacher fez a marca de 1min11s334.
O finlandês Kimi Raikkonen, da McLaren/Mercedes, terminou em terceiro, depois do tempo de 1min11s526. Dois carros da BAR/Honda vêm na posições seguintes, com o inglês Jenson Button, fechando em quarto com 1min11s731, e seu compatriota Anthony Davidson, em quinto, marcando 1min11s920.
O brasileiro Felipe Massa, da Sauber/Petronas, realizou um segundo treino livre muito bom e fechou na oitava colocação do dia, com 1min12s183. Já Ricardo Zonta, da Toyota, terminou em 14º, com a marca de 1min12s347.
O colombiano Juan Pablo Montoya, da Williams/BMW, melhor da primeira sessão de hoje, fechou esta bem mais atrás, em 11º. Seu companheiro de equipe, o alemão Ralf Schumacher, veio uma posição à frente, em 10º.

Confira os resultados dos tempos combinados das duas sessões livres realizadas hoje em Interlagos, válidos para o Grande Prêmio do Brasil de Fórmula 1:

1. Rubens Barrichello - Ferrari 1min11s166
2. Michael Schumacher - Ferrari 1min11s334
3. Kimi Raikkonen - McLaren/Mercedes 1min11s526
4. Jenson Button - BAR/Honda 1min11s731
5. Anthony Davidson - BAR/Honda 1min11s920
6. Takuma Sato - BAR/Honda 1min11s988
7. Fernando Alonso - Renault 1min12s005
8. Felipe Massa - Sauber/Petronas 1min12s183
9. Ryan Briscoe - Toyota 1min12s209
10.Ralf Schumacher - Williams/BMW 1min12s235
11.Juan Pablo Montoya - Williams/BMW 1min12s280
12.Jacques Villeneuve - Renault 1min12s316
13.Robert Doornbos - Jordan/Ford 1min12s345
14.Ricardo Zonta - Toyota 1min12s347
15.David Coulthard - McLaren/Mercedes 1min12s430
16.Jarno Trulli - Toyota 1min12s545
17.Giancarlo Fisichella - Sauber/Petronas 1min12s631
18.Mark Webber - Jaguar/Ford 1min12s816
19.Nick Heidfeld - Jordan/Ford 1min13s114
20.Gianmaria Bruni - Minardi/Ford 1min13s467
21.Christian Klien - Jaguar/Ford 1min13s509
22.Timo Glock - Jordan/Ford 1min13s966
23.Zsolt Baumgartner - Minardi/Ford 1min13s979
24.Bjorn Wirdheim - Jaguar/Ford 1min14s303
25.Bas Leinders - Minardi/Ford 1min14s754

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h35
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Presente hoje em Interlagos para acompanhar os treinos livres da Fórmula 1, válidos para o GP do Brasil, o tricampeão Nelson Piquet falou de suas expectativas para o futuro de seu filho, Nelsinho, na categoria.
"Estamos trabalhando para isso", afirmou Piquet, sobre as chances de Nelsinho ser titular de alguma equipe já em 2006. O jovem piloto, campeão da F-3 Inglesa deste ano, tem chances de ser piloto de testes da Williams/BMW no próximo ano, caso Antônio Pizzonia seja efetivado como titular do time.
Quando perguntado se a emoção de ver o filho campeão era maior de que suas próprias vitórias, Piquet não vacilou: "Não há dúvida. Muito melhor é ver o Nelsinho vencer", revelou o pai coruja.

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h32
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The ESPN Sports Poll, a service of TNS Sport, asked sports fans aged 12+ how interested they were in last year's World Series. Those who were interested were asked to name the company they would think is the biggest advertiser of the World Series. Following are those who were at least a little bit interested and very interested in the '03 World Series, as well as it's biggest perceived advertiser. Data was collected October 14-November 10, 2003 .

HOW INTERESTED ARE YOU IN THE '03 WORLD SERIES?
	SPORTS FANS	MALES	FEMALES	MLB FANS	AVID MLB FANS
	N=769	N=409	N=359	N=524	N=173
Interested	70.6%	74.7%	65.8%	89.3%	96.1%
Very Interested	28.8%	29.6%	27.9%	40.5%	70.7%

PERCEIVED BIGGEST ADVERTISER OF THE WORLD SERIES
(of those interested in the World Series)
	N=232
Anheuser-Busch	23.9%
Coca-Cola	8.2%
Nike	7.6%
Pepsi	6.4%
Fox	5.2%
Miller Brewing Co.	3.9%
Gatorade	3.5%
Ford	3.2%

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h21
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The Champ Car World Series is “set to announce next week that it will open a Canadian base to be headed by” former Molstar Sports & Entertainment VP BOB SINGLETON, according to Dean McNulty of the TORONTO SUN. The announcement is expected to come next Wednesday, the same day sources said that Champ Car will be “making a major announcement about its Canadian races.” McNulty notes that Singleton, who would only say that his new office would be in Toronto, has been “deeply involved in talks with Champ Car to renew Molson's deal to promote both the Toronto and Vancouver Molson Indy races as well as its sponsorship of the Molson Indy Montreal.” Molson's Toronto and Vancouver contracts expire after the ’04 season and the Vancouver date is “not expected to survive beyond 2005.” Singleton has been “front and centre in trying to move that date to either Calgary or Edmonton,” but there is “less enthusiasm in Molson's front office for expansion of its Indy franchise into Alberta”

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h20
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Mayor Proposes Drastic Measures To Quell Boston Rowdies

After a number of public disturbances in Boston following the Red Sox ALCS Game Seven win over the Yankees, Boston Mayor Tom Menino said that the city is “considering ‘drastic measures,’ including banning liquor sales, to ensure that World Series crowds do not turn violent,” according to Andrea Estes of the BOSTON GLOBE. Menino may enforce a state law that allows the mayor to “ban the sale or distribution of alcohol ‘in cases of riot or great public excitement.’” The mayor “did not know whether any alcohol ban would apply inside Fenway Park.” Menino also “will ask bar and restaurant operators today to ban live television coverage during games, because it incites fans.” But Massachusetts Hospitality Association Exec Dir Alan Eisner said, “If you shut down the bars, the problem will get worse. At least in a licensed premise you have supervision.” Estes notes that Menino “urged area college and university officials to immediately expel any students identified as taking part in street disturbances.” Menino: “Since people won’t act responsibly, I, as mayor, will take it into my own hands.” Menino dismissed the possibility of “curfews or bringing in the National Guard.” The Red Sox “have agreed to put on additional private police details at Fenway” for the World Series and players will appear in PSAs “urging calm” .

MASS APPEAL: In Boston, gossip columnists Fee & Raposa report Red Sox Owner John Henry, Chair Tom Werner and President & CEO Larry Lucchino will host a gathering tonight at the John F. Kennedy Library for 1,500 representatives of MLB, corporate sponsors and members of the media. The party will showcase the “pride of Boston” and include local food, entertainment and fireworks. Red Sox Exec VP/Public Affairs Charles Steinberg said the party is “designed as a way to provide hospitality for the 29 other ball clubs who send officials to the World Series. Instead of saying, ‘Hey, let’s all meet at the Cask & Flagon,’ it’s a way to schmooze the other clubs.” MLB Manager of Media Relations Matt Gould said, “In recent memory, the Yankees haven’t thrown a party, but not all teams do it. In 2002, the Angels hosted their party as Disneyland, but last year, neither the Yankees nor the Marlins threw one” .

GOOD CITIZEN: Also in Boston, Brett Arends reports Citizens Bank has 40 seats at Fenway Park, but the bank’s “top brass have passed up their privileges and are instead raffling the tickets in pairs to staff.” Over 6,300 of the company’s 10,200 New England employees had entered the raffle by Thursday evening .

Here Comes The Sun: Pro Bowl To Remain In Hawaii Through ‘09

NFL Extends Pro Bowl’s Stay In Hawaii Until ‘09

The state of Hawaii signed a new contract with the NFL this week to keep the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium through ’09, according to Dayton Morinaga of the HONOLULU ADVERTISER. NFL Senior VP/Special Events Jim Steeg did not have specific figures, but estimated that the new deal “will cost the state $21[M] over the five years of the contract.” Morinaga noted the state paid over $5.3M for the ’04 Pro Bowl. In exchange for the lower payout, the NFL “will be allowed to control the concessions, parking and advertising signage at Aloha Stadium during the Pro Bowl.” Steeg: “For our merchandise, that means we’ll offer a more diverse product line. We also want to do something more with the food concessions — create more selection, more points of sale.” Steeg added that the NFL “will pay $250,000 per year for the next five years for ‘capital improvement of the stadium’” and donate $1M “for the creation of an NFL Youth Education Town — educational and recreational facilities for at-risk children” .

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h15
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Pitching In: Parcells Featured In Pro-Stadium Commercial

Cowboys coach Bill Parcells “has joined the growing list” of current and former Cowboys featured in commercials campaigning for the November 2 stadium proposition, according to Jeff Mosier of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. A 30-second spot shows Parcells in front of a chalkboard full of diagrams and lecturing the audience as though they are members of his team. Parcells says, “All right. Listen up. Here’s a winning game plan for Arlington.” Mosier reports the commercial lists “the same reasons to vote ‘yes’ on Nov. 2 that show up in most pro-stadium advertising, including the possibility of a $238[M] annual economic impact and 2,000 new jobs in Tarrant County.” Other past and current Cowboys featured in pro-stadium ads include Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Roy Williams and Darren Woodson.

Fit For A King: Palace To Receive $5M In Improvements

The Palace of Auburn Hills will receive $5M in improvements and enhancements inside and out. The arena will feature a new Palace Hall of Fame window exhibit located on the exterior of the building between the atrium and administration entrances. Several of the concession stands inside on the main concourse have been re-tiled and the loge level arena stairways received a non-slip surface. The Terrace Club will be renamed “Captain’s Quarters” after Captain Morgan’s Rum as part of a sponsorship deal with Diageo. The video signage has been expanded to cover the entire circumference of the arena on the loge level. The scoreboard will add two rings Daktronics Pro-Ad video signage .

West Side Stadium Supporters Issue Report Citing Gains

Supporters of the proposed $1.4B West Side stadium issued a study Thursday asserting the stadium “would encourage new housing, shops and office buildings in the area,” according to Charles Bagli of the N.Y. TIMES. The study, paid for by The Building Trades Employers' Association, the Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Building Congress, predicts that the stadium “would be as successful” as Petco Park, Jacobs Field and Heinz Field. Hamilton, Rabinovitz & Alschuler President John Alschuler, who authored the study, said, “This plan meets the standards of plans that have been successful around the country. It’s part of a comprehensive, mixed-use plan. There are adjacent development sites. It’s got transit links, and there are parks and other amenities.” Cleveland State sports economist Mark Rosentraub said, “The question in New York is, can you justify what might be the largest public investment ever committed to a single stadium? What else could be done with the money?” .Alschuler cited Petco Park as the “most comparable” to the West Side plan. The study found that Petco Park has created $1.4B in investment with as much as $3B projected by ’07 .

Escrito por fraja8 às 14h13
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Japanese investment bank Nomura is “exploring ways of blocking a takeover of Manchester United” by Bucs Owner Malcolm Glazer, after being enlisted by UK-based investment bank Seymour Pierce Chair Keith Harris, according to Matthew Garrahan of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Nomura “had initially earmarked” US$366M that would allow Harris to “build up a stake in [ManU] which would be held by supporters and would be substantial enough to ensure that United could never be taken over without their consent or involvement.” The loan would be repaid partly from funds “released from a securitisation of future ticket sales or revenues from media rights.” But Glazer’s 28.11% stake in the team would allow him to veto the plan, as it “would require 75[%] of shareholders to back” it. Garrahan reports “in spite of this apparent setback,” Nomura is “continuing to work on a financing proposal” .

BEHIND THE WALL: In Ireland, Charlie Weston reports an unnamed Malaysian investor is “preparing to make a bid” for ManU. The person is “said to be waiting for [Glazer] to get an agreement to buy out” John Magnier and JP McManus, and then “he would buy out [Glazer] and provide the funds to buy out” Magnier and McManus. The investor is “said to be waiting until” Glazer owns “shares representing somewhere near a 75[%] stake in the club.” WH Ireland analyst David Gorman said, “I have always felt that Glazer could not afford to take over United and he is only trying to smoke someone else out. So I am not entirely surprised there are rumours coming out like this” .

NOT JUMPING SHIP: Bucs GM Bruce Allen said despite Glazer’s ManU bid, he “remains committed to the [Bucs] and is close to announcing a start-up date for the new training facility.” Allen: “The Glazers, as always, are interested in their football team being the best. Absolutely nothing has changed in that regard. We talk about the team, the draft and the new facility. We’re right on schedule with a state-of-the-art complex” .

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Owning Up: David Robinson Becomes Part Owner Of Spurs

Robinson Acquires Minority Stake In Spurs

Former Spurs C David Robinson has “completed his purchase of a 1.88[%] share of the Spurs” from former Spurs President & CEO and current Predators President & COO Jack Diller, according to Johnny Ludden of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The other Spurs investors “had to give their approval” for the sale to become official, but the NBA’s BOG does not have to vote on the transfer because it is less than 5%. Though Robinson’s stake could be worth more than $5M based on “media valuations of the Spurs and the recent sale of other NBA franchises,” he said that he did not join the ownership group “hoping to make money.” Robinson: “I just want to learn what (being an owner) is about. I want to get a feel for how things work.” Forbes in February listed the Spurs’ worth at $283M. Diller held his share since leaving the Spurs in ’97, and approached Robinson about the sale.

Franchise Notes

The Chargers are selling tickets for the October 31 home game against the Raiders only “in combination with an equal number of tickets purchased to one or more other games,” and in L.A., Sam Farmer writes the move was made to take advantage of the Chargers “most popular home game of the season — and to keep a flood of silver-and-black clad fans away.” Chargers VP & CMO Ken Derrett: “Our ultimate goal is to sell out every game and sell as many tickets as possible to Charger supporters” .

BILOXI BLUES: In New Orleans, John Reid noted the Hornets playing a preseason game against the Magic at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi was part of their “marketing efforts to draw bigger crowds.” Hornets COO Jack Capella: “I think we’ve got to see a [40-50%] improvement (in ticket sales) on the Mississippi coast and in Baton Rouge.” The team established a ticket office in Biloxi, is identifying a “group of sports enthusiasts through one of the Gulf Coast casinos to urge them to attend games,” and offers transportation to regular-season games for fans on the Gulf Coast. Reid added that when the team relocated to New Orleans in ’02 it projected 15-20% of sales would come from the “Gulf Coast and other outlying areas.” That did not happen last season, and the Hornets finished next to last in attendance with a 14,332 per-game average .

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NFL Decides Not To Renew Contract With MSG, Will Move Draft

NFL Moving Draft To Spite Dolans

The NFL has decided not to renew its recently-expired 10-year contract with Madison Square Garden (MSG) to host the draft after Cablevision Chair Charles Dolan and CEO James Dolan “lobbied against the [Jets’] proposed stadium” on the West Side, according to team source cited by Clark Judge of CBSSPORTSLINE.com. NFL sources confirmed that “talks are under way to move the site” of the draft and indicated that the Javits Center is one possibility. But other sources suggested that the Javits Center is “not only is the leading candidate but will be the site” of next April’s draft .

MO’ BETTER BLUES: In Columbus, Rob Oller writes the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals denied former Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett’s petition for a rehearing of his suit against the NFL. The final option for Clarett’s legal team is “to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.” But even if the Supreme Court rules in Clarett’s favor, the decision “would come too late to be of much use” to Clarett, who is eligible for next year’s draft regardless of the Court’s decision. A victory “would only help Clarett secure a place in history as the player who sued the league for early entry and won” .

NHL Face-Off, Day 39: Player Reps To Meet For Update

NHLPA Rounding Up Player Reps For Lockout Update November 2

The NHLPA has decided to bring player reps from all 30 teams to Toronto on November 2 “to update them on the labour dispute,” according to the CP’s Pierre LeBrun. The meeting will allow team reps “to hear directly from [NHLPA Exec Dir] Bob Goodenow and then relay the latest to their teammates” (CP, 10/21). In Toronto, Lance Hornby cites a source within the NHLPA as saying, “I wouldn’t read that much into this meeting. If you look back to the last lockout in 1994, we brought all the players in a couple of times. This is just the reps and it just seems like the logical time to have a meeting” .

EARLY EXIT? IIHF President Rene Fasel thinks that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman “will shut the season down far before the drop-dead date of early January.” Fasel: “It seems very likely that Gary Bettman will decree a lockout for the entire season in the second half of November. The question is not whether the North American hockey lover will see games this season, it’s whether he will see games in October, 2005.” NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly said, “I can say with certainty that his opinion is not based on anything he has heard from us” .

Mexican Fiesta: F1, LPGA Planning Events South Of The Border

LPGA Players Like Ochoa Will Tee It Up South Of The Border Twice In ‘05

Mexico in ’06 plans to host its first F1 race in 14 years after “more than 12 months of talks yielded an agreement” with F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone, according to BLOOMBERG NEWS. A group of unidentified business execs will invest $100M in a new track in Cancun under a five-year deal with the Quintana Roo state government and Ecclestone’s Formula One Management Ltd. State tourism Minister Artemio Santos said that “as many as 60,000 tourists may come to the Mexico race” .

TWICE AS NICE: SPORTSTICKER reported the LPGA has “added a second event” in Mexico to the ’05 schedule. From April 21-24, the Tres Marias Residential Golf Club in Morelia will host the $1M Corona Morelia Championship. The 138-player field will feature six Mexican-born players, including Lorena Ochoa. The LPGA last month announced the $1.2M MasterCard Classic will be held in Mexico City in March .

Gary Stevens Will Not Ride In Breeders’ Cup Due To Insurance

Lack Of Insurance Continues To Be Issue For Breeders’ Cup Jockeys

Jockey Gary Stevens will not ride in Breeders’ Cup races at Lone Star Park on October 30 “because of insurance considerations,” according to Bill Christine of the L.A. TIMES. Lone Star Park President Corey Johnson told Stevens that “there was a possibility of increasing the coverage from the existing $100,000 to $500,000.” Track officials eventually did offer Stevens $500,000 in coverage, but that was not “enough to persuade him to ride.” A Breeders’ Cup spokesperson said that negotiations “were ongoing with an insurance company”.

GO FIGURE: The NTRA’s “Thoroughbred Racing Economics Indicators” showed that Q3 purses were up 2.9% to $315.7M compared with the same period in ’03. Handle was down 2.13% to $3.9B from the ’03 figure of $4.0B. NTRA Commissioner D.G. Van Clief Jr. said in a statement, “With last year’s figures for August up a record 5.51% — a spike in part attributable to the release of [‘Seabiscuit’] –- the decline in handle is not unexpected. At the same time, a second consecutive quarter of growth in purses is encouraging, and we believe it is a result of the continued growth of alternative gaming at racetracks [slots]”.

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The Doctor Is In: Panthers Ink Deal With Healthcare Provider

Panthers Ink Ten-Year Deal With Carolinas Healthcare System

Carolinas HeathCare System (CHS) has renewed its sponsorship of the NFL Panthers, signing a ten-year deal “worth at least $15[M],” according to  Erik Spanberg. CHS’s current five-year, $4.9M deal expires after this season. CHS spokesperson Alan Taylor said of the Panthers, “Coming off a Super Bowl year, they are incredibly popular. And we feel like we have some equity with them after 10 years working together.” Taylor added that a separate ten-year deal “retaining CHS as the health-care provider for players and staff has also been negotiated, with the team paying adjusted rates for care and supplies.” Spanberg notes the Bobcats in March inked Presbyterian Hospital to a deal worth $1M annually .

WHAT’S UP DOC? In N.Y., Damon Hack notes the NFL this season has become the first major U.S. pro sports league “to bar teams from entering into contracts with hospitals and health-care providers that remove decisions based on heath care and the hiring of doctors away from teams.” Jets Medical Department Chair and NFL medical consultant Dr. Elliot Pellman: “Some see them as working for the team, unbiased in decision-making, but I think when you add that component of paying for the right to take care of the team, you further compromise that relationship. There is something inherently wrong with it”.

Mrs. Coffee: Taurasi Endorsing Eight O’Clock Brand

Taurasi Adds To Her Endorsement Roster

WNBA Mercury G Diana Taurasi has signed an endorsement deal with Eight O’Clock Coffee and is appearing in a 30-second TV spot for the brand. The ad, via The Kaplan Thaler Group, is tagged “Wake Up. It’s Eight O’Clock.” The commercial shows Taurasi in the morning missing shots until she has her first cup of coffee .

WHO’S GOT NEXT? Taurasi appeared on ESPNews Thursday and said she has a Nike shoe “coming out hopefully by next summer.” Taurasi also has a cameo in the upcoming movie, “Believe In Me,” which is scheduled for release next summer. Taurasi, on the movie: “We’re shooting it this weekend in New Mexico, and it’s kind of [about] a women’s team pre-Title IX. I’m the opposing coach”.

Smoke Detector: Chinese Gold Medalist Endorses Cigarettes

Gold Medalist Xiang Signs Smoking Deal With The Baisha Group

The Baisha Group, China’s largest cigarette manufacturer, last month signed Chinese Gold Medal-winning hurdler Liu Xiang to an endorsement deal, and Xiang has since appeared in print ads and TV spots on China Central TV and other channels, according to James Christie of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The Chinese Athletic Association has the “sole right to negotiate product endorsements for the country’s athletes, with income split between the athletes and the group.” Baisha CEO Lu Ping, whose brand is the best-selling cigarette in China, said of Liu on the company’s Web site: “Everyone likes [him] and hopes he will ‘soar’ higher and faster, and maintain his sunny, healthy, progressive image.” Liu, the first Chinese man to win an Olympic sprint or hurdle event, also signed an endorsement deal with a clothing manufacturer

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Will Hamm’s Marketability Be Able To Recover From Controversy?

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday ruled that U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm will keep his Gold Medal from the men’s all-around competition in Athens, but Wheaties has “only promised to consider Hamm” for an appearance on a cereal box after the ’08 Bejing Games, according to Filip Bondy of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Had Hamm campaigned for a second Gold Medal for South Korea’s Yang Tae-Young – who won Silver and sought to overturn Hamm’s Gold — Hamm “might be on a Wheaties box today.” Hamm’s agent, Sheryl Shade, said of such an effort by Hamm, “Would it have helped his marketing? Absolutely. But you go with what the athlete says. It was not something he entertained.” Bondy notes Hamm intends to write a book about his experience .

MEET ME IN THE MORNING: In Milwaukee, Don Walker reports a “new controversy broke out at the end of [Hamm’s] news conference” yesterday, as booking agents for morning shows on NBC, ABC and CBS “conducted a lengthy negotiation with Shade over which show would get him on set first on Friday morning.” Walker notes Olympic rights holder NBC ultimately “got first dibs” . Hamm appeared live in studio on NBC’s “Today” at 44 minutes into today’s broadcast. Hamm was seen signing autographs outside the studio before that. Hamm, on future endorsement deals: “Who knows? I’m not sure. I guess that’s my agent Sheryl Shade’s job.” He did not appear on ABC’s “GMA” or CBS’ “The Early Show” this morning, but appeared in studio on “Live! With Regis & Kelly”.

THE HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL: In L.A., Helene Elliott notes Hamm said that he was “satisfied with his choice to shun USA Gymnastics’ [USAG] post-Olympic tour in favor” of the Rock & Roll Gymnastics Championships. Rock & Roll promoter Mike Burg said that USAG “needed big-time name draws because it had lost three key sponsors and a TV deal,” adding, USAG “basically put a gun to the head of most of their athletes” to get them to join its tour. Burg: “Carly Patterson could make more money selling (merchandise) in the Gap than on that tour. ... Without Carly Patterson, that tour would fold. But they’re paying [her] the same as everyone else.” But USAG President Bob Colarossi said that he “had devised a tiered system that would have paid multi-medalists such as Patterson more than other gymnasts but changed it after athletes voted for equal pay.” Colarossi added that the tour is “expected to make a profit”.

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ESPN Radio has signed a five-year extension to continue as the national terrestrial radio rights holder for MLB through 2010. ESPN will receive exclusive national terrestrial rights for a season-long schedule extending from Opening Day through the World Series. ESPN relinquished its satellite rights to MLB broadcasts in ’05, which have been acquired by XM Satellite Radio

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Zurique (Suíça) - O esperado confronto entre Maria Sharapova e Venus Williams acabou com tranqüila vitória da russa de 17 anos. Em jogo válido pelas quartas-de-final do forte torneio Zurique, que distribui US$ 1,3 milhão em prêmios, a musa do circuito confirmou sua boa forma e marcou 2 sets a 0 na rival, com fáceis 6/3 e 6/4.
As duas nunca haviam se enfrentado antes, mas Sharapova mostrou superioridade durante toda a partida. Com a vitória, a sétima colocada do ranking mundial chega a 11 seguidas no circuito e segue firme na luta pelo terceiro título em menos de um mês (venceu em Seul e Tóquio). Busca ainda a quinta taça do ano, já que tem outra conquistada em Wimbledon.
Aliás, foi no Grand Slam inglês que Sharapova se firmou como uma das grandes tenistas da atualidade. Antes considerada apenas uma promessa, desbancou adversárias mais fortes e garantiu o troféu com vitória sobre Serena Williams. Agora, aumenta as chances de se garantir no Masters de Los Angeles, torneio que reunirá as oito melhores jogadoras da temporada.
Classificada para a semifinal de Zurique, Sharapova enfrenta a cabeça-de-chave número 3 Elena Dementieva. Principal favorita ao título após as desistências de Amélie Mauresmo e Lindsay Davenport, a russa teve dificuldades nesta sexta-feira para derrotar a japonesa Ai Sugiyama por 2 sets a 1, parciais de 6/1, 5/7 e 7/5.

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Cardinals’ Win Earns A 14.4/21 Overnight Nielsen Rating

Fox earned a 14.4/21 overnight Nielsen rating for Thursday night’s Astros-Cardinals NLCS Game Seven, down 31.8% from a 21.1/32 for the comparable Red Sox-Yankees ALCS Game Seven in ’03. Last night’s game earned a 45.0/58 in Houston and a 48.0/62 in St. Louis. Wednesday’s Game Six pulled a 7.0/15 final Nielsen rating, down 26% from a 9.4/21 for the comparable Red Sox-Yankees Game Six last year.

OUT-SOXED: Fox earned a 19.4/30 final Nielsen rating for Wednesday’s Red Sox-Yankees ALCS Game Seven, up 14.8% from a 16.9/27 for the comparable Marlins-Cubs NLCS Game Seven and up 13.5% from the 17.1/28 for Red Sox-Yankees Game Seven last season, which was played on a Thursday. The 19.4 is the highest rating for an LCS game since a 19.9/32 for Braves-Pirates Game Seven in ’91, and the average audience of 31.5 million viewers marks the most watched LCS game since 31.8 million watched Mets-Dodgers Game Seven in ’88. Wednesday’s game is the second-highest rated and second-most watched MLB telecast ever on Fox, trailing only a 23.5/34 and 39.1 million viewers for Yankees-D’Backs World Series Game Seven in ’01. Fox’ ratings Wednesday night bested the combined ratings of ABC, CBS and NBC among adults 18-49 (11.8 vs. 11.5), men 18-34 (11.6 vs. 6.9) and men 18-49 (14.6 vs. 8.5) .

BEAN COUNTING: Red Sox-Yankees Game Seven earned a 56.6/76 on Boston’s WFXT-Fox, with the rating peaking at 60.0/78 at 10:00pm ET . In Boston, Bill Griffith notes the only larger sports ratings ever in the market are a 59.9 for Mets-Red Sox World Series Game Seven in ’86 and a 59.0 for Reds-Red Sox World Series Game Seven in ’75 .Also in Boston, Jeff Horrigan reports WFXT earned a 14.2 for its newscast following the game, its highest rating ever .

Game Seven Grabs World Series-Like Number

NORTHERN LIGHTS: In Canada, Rogers Sportsnet drew 1,144,000 viewers for Red Sox-Yankees Game Seven, the highest rating in its six-year history. The game peaked with 1,359,000 viewers from 11:30pm-12:00am (Rogers Sportsnet). The net averaged 545,000 viewers for the entire ALCS, up 37% from ’03. In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich notes ratings for U.S. channels are not tracked in Canada, but estimates are that about 2 million Canadians watched the game on either Fox or Rogers SportsNet. Zelkovich: “That’s a hockey number and a playoff hockey number at that” .

SEVEN UP: The 11.7/20 average rating for the ’04 Red Sox-Yankees ALCS was up 9.3% over the 10.7/20 average for last year’s Red Sox-Yankees ALCS. The following chart compares the game-by-game ratings for the ’04 ALCS to the ’03 ALCS, as well as to the games in the comparable time slots in ‘03. Each of the comparable time slots listed are for Marlins-Cubs NLCS games. Games Four and Five of the ’04 Red Sox-Yankees series did not match up with a comparable game. Games of the same number in the ’03 and ’04 Red Sox-Yankees series were played on different days and in different time slots. ^ = split national telecast .

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TALENT REVIEWS: In Miami, Barry Jackson writes Fox’ Joe Buck “has joined the elite announcers of our era with a commanding presence and an ability to convey drama and historical perspective despite his youthful age” .In N.Y., Andrew Marchand writes analyst Tim McCarver’s “best skill is quickly first-guessing decisions.” But McCarver “misspoke during the series, saying ‘Brandon’ Arroyo, ‘Cleo’ Epstein and ‘Bill’ Wakefield.” Mets P Al Leiter, who was a guest analyst with Buck and McCarver for the ALCS, improved this year from last year. Leiter “slowed his delivery, allowing his points to be more easily digested” .In Baltimore, Ray Frager writes Leiter is “a nearly perfect third man in the booth –-compelled to speak only when he has something to add to the broadcast” .In St. Louis, Dan Caesar writes Fox’ second team of Thom Brennaman, Steve Lyons and Bob Brenly “turned in an ‘A’-level performance in broadcasting Game 7 of the NLCS. Clutter was minimal, the graphics were pertinent.” Brennaman “was on target and authoritative in his calls of key plays,” while Lyons and Brenly “added insight” .

FAN-DEMONIUM: In S.F., Steve Kroner writes, “One main gripe about the otherwise solid coverage of both the ALCS and the NLCS was the fixation on the Fenway fans” . In San Diego, Jay Posner: “I love nearly all the replays and don’t mind the close-ups, but Fox does seem to overdo it a little on the fan shots” .The MIAMI HERALD’s Jackson: “Reaction shots from the crowd have value, but Fox goes overboard” . In L.A., Larry Stewart writes, “One thing bothersome about Fox’s baseball coverage is the excessive jumping around from close-up to close-up, from crowd shot to crowd shot.” But Fox Sports President Ed Goren said that what Fox “is attempting to do is transmit the tension felt throughout the ballpark” . Nearly 45 minutes into a Fox conference call Thursday to discuss the net’s World Series coverage, Hartford Courant media writer John Howell asked Fox Sports TV Group Chair David Hill about camera shots of fans during games, saying, “You wonder, are those shots actually live or are they taped; are they plausibly live? A mixture?” Hill, before abruptly hanging up his line, said, “Just because you asked probably the most ridiculous question I’ve ever heard in my life, this will be our last [question]. ... That is the dumbest question I’ve ever heard. Of course they’re live” .

MORE BROADCAST NOTES: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes, “Replays that are introduced by the yellow animated AOL character swinging from a player’s head or neck is a needless distraction, especially to those who hate their AOL service” .The BOSTON GLOBE’s Griffith writes Diamond Cam “can offer some key shots. ... But, like most new toys, it’s being overused.” When asked why there were “no shots of Yankees owner George Steinbrenner during the ALCS,” Goren said that it was not “from a lack of trying” .

MONEY TALKS: Katz Media VP/Programming Bill Carroll said Fox’ six-year, $2.4B rights deal with MLB is “definitely worth it for the promotional platform –- the intangible value is enormous. ... If you get new viewers who usually don’t watch Fox to just sample your shows, you’ve hurt the competition. It’s going to pay off for Fox later.” Programming analyst Marc Berman added, “With seven games, Fox really gets its money’s worth” .

THE BEST IS YET TO COME? Hill said of the ALCS, “The way the country responded and the way it’s been covered, it’s been a great trip and now will springboard us into the greatest World Series ever”.

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Kobe Bryant erupted for a game-high 35 points, but the Lakers were edged 90-88 in overtime by Golden State on Thursday.

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The Rockets' Tracy McGrady drives the lane against the Bulls.

Dunk of the night? The Raptors' mascot slams it home.

Vijay Singh fires a shot during the first round of the Funai Classic.

Denver's Carmelo Anthony throws down a dunk against the Clippers

The Knicks' Stephon Marbury drives past the Mavs' Devin Harris.

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AFC Ajax head to PSV Eindhoven on Sunday in dire need of a first win at the Philips stadium in ten years.

'Huge importance'
Already seven points behind the Eredivisie leaders, Ajax must show that the performance that brought them a 3-0 midweek win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC in the UEFA Champions League was not a one-off. As coach Ronald Koeman put it: "On Sunday we have to start the comeback race in our domestic league. For us, this match is of huge importance."

Lean period
Ajax's last victory in Eindhoven was almost ten years ago to the day, on 23 October 1994. On that occasion, Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Peter van Vossen scored in a 4-1 triumph, with Luc Nilis registering PSV's consolation. That season, Ajax went on to win the Champions League under coach Louis van Gaal, who this week left his position as the club's technical director.

Historical precedent
Since then, Ajax have travelled to Eindhoven nine times, with PSV winning four and the remaining five matches ending in draws. Meanwhile, in 47 previous games between the clubs, the Eindhoven side have won 24 compared with their Amsterdam rivals' 12 victories.

Ajax worries
Ajax's hopes of improving on those statistics will be hampered by the absence of Czech midfielder Tomáš Galásek, who has back problems, although winger Mauro Rosales should be available again. However, Koeman's team come up against a PSV side in terrific form under Guus Hiddink - leading Champions League Group E as well as the Eredivisie after a 2-1 midweek win at Rosenborg BK.

Defensive concerns
PSV's main concern is their defence. André Ooijer is out with a hamstring injury, Wilfred Bouma had to skip Friday training and Brazilian centre-back Alex is doubtful because of a bruised foot. Peruvian forward Jefferson Farfán may also be absent after taking a blow to his knee against Rosenborg. "We will decide on them on Saturday," said Hiddink.

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Shooting guard Latrell Sprewell said that if the Timberwolves don't sign him to an extension before the Nov. 3 season opener, it could lead to "potential problems" down the road.
 -- St. Paul Pioneer Press

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AS Roma's Daniele De Rossi has been handed a three-match ban after his dismissal for violent conduct against Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Kicking out
The Roma midfielder was due to be suspended for one game after being shown a red card in the 87th minute of the UEFA Champions League Group B encounter, but the ban has been extended to three matches by UEFA's Control and Disciplinary body after reviewing video evidence. De Rossi was sent off after he kicked out at Leverkusen's Jacek Krzynówek.

Panucci punished
De Rossi's team-mate Christian Panucci has also seen his statutory ban extended. He was red-carded in the 61st minute for elbowing Krzynówek as the two players rose for a header. The Control and Disciplinary board has decided that this example of particularly rough play merited a two-match suspension. Roma have until midnight on Monday 25 October to appeal against the decisions

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1. Bill Lee (1969-78) -- Could a player this eccentric have been anything but a left-handed pitcher? The Spaceman was in an orbit all his own. At various times he wore -- on the field -- a gas mask, a Daniel Boone cap and a beanie with a propeller. Grew a Fu Manchu mustache but insisted it was a Ho Chi Minh. Long a devoted pot-smoker, he claims to have toked with President Bush. Of course, he also says that the CIA has a dossier on him, that the Bible is fiction and that the royal Stuart family of Scotland is directly descended from Jesus Christ.

2. Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd (1982-89) -- The Can delighted Sox fans, flinging pitches from a skinny 145-pound frame while uttering gems such as this one after throwing a 3-2 fastball: "When it goes up to the full house, the Can will bring high noon." He was perpetually high-strung, and his mound-strutting dismayed opponents but revved up the Fenway faithful. "I got color. I got character. I'm the Caaaan," he said (the nickname came from Boyd's hometown of Meridian, Miss., where beer was known as oil.) Sox fans were less delighted in 1986 when, upset over being left off the All-Star team despite an 11-6 start, the Can hightailed it to Mississippi and missed several weeks.

3. Wade Boggs (1982-92) -- The poultry-loving hitting machine had as many compulsions as Jack Nicholson's character in As Good As It Gets. He ate chicken every day. He ran wind sprints at precisely 7:17 p.m. He used pine tar, a doughnut and a resin in the on-deck circle, in that order. Then, more often than not, he poked one the other way off the Green Monster. Oh, and did we mention he was a sex addict? Countless philandering husbands, in New England and elsewhere, should pay tribute to Boggsy for trying to elevate screwing around into a serious-sounding medical condition deserving sympathy rather than a swift kick in the rear.

4. Ellis Kinder (1948-55) -- The patron saint of boozing ballplayers. Kinder made it a point to get especially sloshed the night before he pitched, then sweat out the booze in those heavy flannel uniforms by throwing zeros the next day at Fenway. It wasn't that Kinder had no self-control; according to David Halberstam's The Summer of '49, it was a conscious routine. Early in his career Kinder would stay in the night before he pitched, but he tossed and turned before playing, in Kinder's words, "like crap." Once Kinder discovered the secret of the sauce, he escaped a long minor-league career for a nice run in the bigs. Before a key showdown with the Yanks late in 1949, Yankees reserve catcher Ralph Houk met up with Kinder at a Boston bar. Houk knew Kinder from the minors, and was more than happy to accompany his friend on a colossal pub crawl. Houk stumbled into the visiting dugout the next day, feeling like hell but proud that he had helped pickle the Boston starter to seemingly ensure a New York win. Kinder threw a six-hit shutout.

5. Harry Frazee (owner) -- Frazee plays the villain in the Red Sox' cast of characters as the man most responsible for the Curse. Strapped for cash, the Broadway producer shipped a young Babe Ruth to the Yankees after the 1919 season, when the pitcher-turned-slugger had blasted a seemingly impossible 29 home runs. He sold Ruth for a then-stunning $100,000, plus Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert loaned Frazee $300,000 and took a mortgage on Fenway Park as collateral. Frazee's largesse didn't stop there, as he continually handed Ruppert whatever he needed to build the Yankee dynasty. By 1923, when the Yanks won their third straight pennant, they had 11 former Red Sox. A Boston cabbie likely acted for all of New England when, upon learning that the man who was just in his cab had sold Ruth, he dropped Frazee with a haymaker.

Escrito por fraja8 às 13h31
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6. Dick "Dr. Strangeglove" Stuart (1963-64) -- Stuart arrived in Boston with a reputation as a decent slugger but indifferent fielder at first base. He might have been sold short on both fronts. "Dick's not as bad a fielder as they say," said a Red Sox hurler during spring training in '63. "He's worse." The grumbling wasn't so loud when Stuart mashed 42 homers and led the league with 118 RBIs that season. By the end of the year he had his own TV show in Boston, Stuart on Sports. But his Hub honeymoon was short. During the 1964 season, manager Johnny Pesky was so fed up with Stuart's indolence afield that he considered quitting. Stuart was shipped to the Phils after the year ended.

7. George "Boomer" Scott (1966-71, 77-79) -- The burly slugger (271 homers) was cat-quick at first base, winning a very un-Strangeglovelike eight Gold Gloves. Yet perhaps his greatest contribution to the game was popularizing the term "taters" for home runs. He was also known for a peculiar Boomer-speak. "The Brew got the Duker in the first," for example, meant that Harmon Killebrew hit a home run off Earl Wilson in the first inning. After his big league career ended in 1979, Boomer headed south for the Mexican League, picking up a new nickname -- King Kong.

8. Luis Tiant (1971-78) -- El Tiante's back-to-the-plate corkscrew windup has been aped by a generation of wiffleballers in backyards from Bangor to the Back Bay. Nobody in Boston was entirely sure what the Cuban was saying, but they certainly understood when he lit up a fat cigar after a win, which he did often during three 20-victory seasons for the Sox. Tiant was the man during the '75 postseason, winning three games along with a no-decision in Game 6 of the World Series, which ended on Carlton Fisk's famous homer.

9. Ted Williams (1939-60) -- Teddy Ballgame wasn't merely a character, he was an all-American hero, a real-life John Wayne with the war medals and home runs to prove it. It's impossible to make any Red Sox list without including The Kid, the majors' last .400 hitter. Williams had his battles with the Boston fans and media, and the latter likely cost him at least two MVP awards. But the power of his myth is such that it has only grown since his death in 2002. His (frozen) body became the focus of a pitched battle between his children.

10. Bill Buckner (1984-87) -- Billy Bucks, of course, is vilified for his error in Game 6 of the '86 World Series, when he let Mookie Wilson's ground ball trickle through his legs to allow Ray Knight to score the winning run. Never mind that the Mets had already tied the score. Never mind that manager John McNamara left the gimpy Buckner in on defense, though he might have replaced him with Dave Stapleton as he had done earlier in the postseason. Buckner is the man who stands the most to gain from a Red Sox victory over the Cards..

10 Spot Extra: Jeopardy! vote results and Lock of the Week. The silent majority spoke up, voting overwhelmingly to continue the Ken Jennings updates with a whopping 87.2 percent of the ballots. Therefore Ken will be back in next Tuesday's edition and will continue in the 10 Spot until his defeat. As for the Lock of the Week, the Broncos smoked the Raiders last week to move us to 4-2. This week we're going with the Packers, giving 3½ points at home to the Cowboys. The Pack is probably sick of hearing how it's lost its Lambeau edge.

Escrito por fraja8 às 13h29
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We got Babe Ruth's ghost a hooker and now everything's cool.

Curt Schilling, reading off the No. 1 secret of the Red Sox comeback on David Letterman's Top 10 list.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h46
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Ludovic Giuly ha recibido el alta médica y podría ser titular el próximo domingo contra Osasuna después de entrenarse ayer y hoy con normalidad
El delantero se ha recuperado de la lesión muscular que le obligó a perderse los dos últimos partidos ante Espanyol y Milan.
Los servicios médicos del club han publicado esta mañana un comunicado en el que se afirmaba que el francés ha evolucionado muy favorablemente: "Dado la buena evolución de su lesión y su adaptación a las cargas de entrenamiento se le da el alta médico-deportiva".
De este modo, el técnico barcelonista, Frank Rijkaard, tiene a su disposición al delantero que hoy ya formó parte del teórico equipo titular en el entrenamiento. El sueco Henrik Larsson sería probablemente quien regresara al banquillo para ceder su puesto a Giuly.
El regreso del francés da cierta flexibilidad a Rijkaard y es que, con la plaga de lesiones, el técnico sólo dispuso de trece jugadores en los dos últimos encuentros disputados por el equipo.
Sin embargo, Gerard López seguirá de baja debido a la pubalgia que le ha impedido alinearse en las últimas semanas. El de Granollers podría volver a los entrenamientos el próximo lunes y, según su evolución, incorporarse definitivamente a la plantilla.
Por su parte, Sylvinho tardará un par de semanas más en poder jugar, tras la rotura parcial del ligamento lateral interno que sufrió en su rodilla izquierda.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h44
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MLB.com: What are your thoughts on the way the series ended? Sheffield: It's very disappointing. When you think you're going to win the World Series, you don't think about the possibility of losing. We always feel like we're going to win, so that was the attitude we took. Even when we were up, 3-0, we knew it was going to be tough. They got one game, which we let slip away, then we let another game slip away. This was the result of that.

MLB.com: You've known Kevin Brown for a long time and called him a big-game pitcher many times. How surprised were you by his performance? Sheffield: It's surprising, but that's a tough ballclub to get out. He made his pitches and guys were hitting them. In games like this, anything can happen.

MLB.com: Javier Vazquez comes in and gives up the grand slam on his first pitch. What are you thinking then? Sheffield: We've scored six runs before. The ballgame wasn't over. It was still a long way to go, so we were just going to have to come back again.

MLB.com: How good was Derek Lowe, pitching on two days' rest? Sheffield: He made his pitches. He kept guys off base, and when you do that, you can pitch backwards. That's what he did. Normally, he uses his sinker a lot, but he stayed away from it tonight, went with the slider. He did an outstanding job.

MLB.com: When you're down, 6-0, then 8-1, is it a feeling of stunned disbelief? Sheffield: At first, you're stunned when you're down by that much, that early. You never thought it would be like that, especially in our home ballpark. You have to tip your cap to those guys.

MLB.com: How big was David Ortiz for them in this series? Sheffield: He's humongous. That guy just showed what he's all about. He did everything he could possibly do in this series. When his team needed him the most, he came through.

MLB.com: Johnny Damon was having a bad series until Game 7, when he hit two homers. Was it surprising that he was their big bat in this game? Sheffield: We knew that he's dangerous. When you can keep him off base, it deflates their offense and slows it down. Ortiz picked them up until Damon was able to come around.

MLB.com: What are your thoughts on the series as a whole? Sheffield: It really hasn't hit me yet. The fact that we're not going to the World Series is what sticks out in my mind right now. I'm not thinking about would've or could've. I don't think like that.

MLB.com: Do you feel that the better team won? Sheffield: No. They just outplayed us for the last four days.

MLB.com: Does this make you itch a little to get back here next year? Sheffield: Absolutely. This is what we play for. This is why we put in the work we do all season. I'll be back, ready to go here next year.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h27
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General manager Brian Cashman will soon start retooling the Yankees for 2005.

"My mindset is not to worry about things like that. I worry about what I can control, and those are decisions that are above me," Cashman said. "If it was an issue, it would have been an issue whether I was worrying about it or not. I chose not to think about it."

Cashman is closing out his seventh season as the Yankees' GM, and he has one more year remaining on his contract. Having watched his team blow a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven ALCS, Cashman knows that organizational meetings in Tampa are imminent, as the club will figure out a course of action to take this winter. Hours after Wednesday's 10-3 loss to the Red Sox, Steinbrenner told Cashman that his job was safe, clearing up any questions as to whether or not he would be blamed for the playoff collapse.

"He told me last night that he had no intentions of making any changes with me -- and to be prepared to get after it this winter," Cashman said. "We'll assess the free-agent and trade markets, get some guidance from the Boss and everybody else in the organization and try to come up with a game plan."

Steinbrenner issued a statement through his publicist Thursday, congratulating Boston on its first AL pennant since 1986. "I congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their great victory, and I want to thank our loyal fans for their enormous support," Steinbrenner said. "Of course I am disappointed, because I wanted a championship for them and for our city. "You can be assured we will get to work and produce a great team next year."

"I feel I know how to do this job. I feel I do a good job. Sometimes the decisions work, and sometimes they don't."

-- Brian Cashman

Cashman said that Steinbrenner was "disappointed" with the Yankees' loss, but the GM refused to comment beyond that on the owner's mood.

"You know George, and he certainly didn't like the result last night, especially with a 3-0 lead against the Red Sox," said manager Joe Torre. "It's understandable." Cashman will have a tough task ahead of him this winter, trying to retool a team with several hefty contracts weighing it down. "Pitching is an area we always have to concentrate on, and it's obvious this winter. We have areas we need to fix," Cashman said. "There are certainly a number of names out there that have had their share of success, but more importantly, we'll see what our scouts say."

Among those names are Pedro Martinez and Carl Pavano, though Cashman wouldn't comment on any one player, citing baseball's tampering rules. There could be some players available on the trade market as well -- including Randy Johnson -- but whether or not the Yankees will have the chips to deal remains to be seen.

"With some organizations, the answer is going to be yes. With others, it will be no," Cashman said. "It depends on what their requests are. We're stronger at the lower levels than we are at the higher levels, so it depends if teams want immediate help vs. longer terms."

The Yankees' payroll, which was roughly $184 million this season, could top $200 million in 2005. Cashman said that Steinbrenner has yet to give him an indication of the payroll restrictions, adding that it is an issue for him every year, no matter how high the payroll is. "When we win, it's not an issue. When we lose, it's an issue," Cashman said. "He wants a return on his investment, like any businessman." No matter what the Yankees end up doing this winter, it will be Cashman pulling the trigger from the GM's office for an eighth consecutive season. "I feel I know how to do this job. I feel I do a good job," Cashman said. "Sometimes the decisions work, and sometimes they don't. I'm comfortable in the job I'm doing, but it doesn't matter what I think. It only matters what he thinks, and he told me I'm coming back."

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h25
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AFC Ajax midfielder Tomáš Galásek is facing several more weeks on the sidelines according to coach Ronald Koeman.

Back problem
The 31-year-old Czech international has not played since 13 October because of back problems, and Koeman said on Friday that he expects to be without Galásek for the near future, ruling him out of the UEFA Champions League Group C match at Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC on 3 November. "There appears to be something wrong with [one of the discs in his back], and as it looks now, he will not play for a while," the coach said.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h21
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New York Gov. George Pataki, left, dons a Boston Red Sox jersey to settle a bet with Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, at a hotel in New York Friday, Oct. 22, 2004. Because the New York Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, Pataki agreed to wear the jersey to a public function.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h20
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O Indiana Pacers não poderá contar com o ala Jermaine O'Neal pelo resto de sua pré-temporada. O jogador ficará de fora da equipe para cuidar de uma lesão no pé direito.
O departamento médico do time, comandado pelo técnico Rick Carlisle, espera que o ala esteja totalmente recuperado para o início da temporada regular, no dia 3 de novembro, na partida contra o Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Ele não participará do restante dos amistosos", afirmou Carlisle, em entrevista ao site da NBA, após os treinos de quinta-fera. "Não é que o seu problema tenha piorado. É apenas uma situação em que os médicos decidiram que, a partir de agora, um descanso irá acelerar o processo de recuperação".
O'Neal sofreu a lesão em um jogo informal, a menos de um mês do início da pré-temporada. O ala perdeu o primeiro amistoso da equipe, mas entrou contra o Memphis Grizzlies, no dia 16 de outubro, e marcou 22 pontos.
Contra o Minnesota Timberwolves, na última terça-feira, deixou a quadra no terceiro quarto com dores nas costas -problema que, segundo os médicos do time, não preocupa.
Em nova partida contra o Minnesota neste sábado, o Indiana não poderá contar com outros dois jogadores. O pivô David Harrison, com dores no ombro direito, e o ala Jonathan Bender, com lesão no joelho esquerdo, são os desfalques certos. >makeFooter('');

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h17
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English Premiership leaders Arsenal FC have the chance to extend their remarkable unbeaten league run to 50 games this weekend, but Arsène Wenger's side face a stern task as they travel to arch-rivals Manchester United FC on Sunday.

Lead lost
The champions, who hold a five-point advantage over Chelsea FC at the head of the standings, twice lost the lead in drawing 2-2 at Greek side Panathinaikos FC in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, slipping to second place in Group E.

Ankle problem
However, Wenger's team could welcome back captain Patrick Vieira, sent off in this fixture last season, who sustained an ankle injury in last weekend's victory against Aston Villa FC and sat out the trip to Athens. Striker Thierry Henry should overcome an ankle knock, but midfielders Robert Pires and Edu are doubts while Gilberto is still sidelined with a back problem.

Rooney threat
In contrast to Arsenal's fluent start to the campaign, Manchester United have struggled to find their form and occupy sixth place, eleven points behind Arsenal. However, Sir Alex Ferguson's men could have a psychological edge as summer signing Wayne Rooney, who turns 19 on Sunday, scored a dramatic last-minute winner the last time a long Arsenal unbeaten sequence came to a halt. The English international – then only 16 – struck in October 2002 as Everton FC ended Arsenal's 30-match undefeated record.

Scoring problems
Despite a squad including Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooij, Alan Smith and Louis Saha, Sir Alex's side have failed to reproduce their usual flowing football and have struggled in front of goal, scoring just nine times in nine league games, compared with Arsenal's 29. United were held to a stalemate at AC Sparta Praha on Tuesday, and are second in Champions League Group D.

Chelsea chance
Chelsea have the opportunity to cut Arsenal's lead on Saturday when Blackburn Rovers FC visit Stamford Bridge, although José Mourinho still has a striker shortage with Didier Drogba and Adrian Mutu missing. Liverpool FC, meanwhile, will hope for better fortune in front of goal at home to Charlton Athletic FC, having dominated RC Deportivo La Coruña at Anfield on Tuesday but only managed a goalless draw.

Everton challenge
Everton have begun the season impressively and lie third, David Moyes's team travelling to Norwich City FC on Saturday. Saturday's other matches pit fourth-placed Bolton Wanderers FC against Tottenham Hostpur FC, Aston Villa FC against Fulham FC, and Crystal Palace FC against West Bromwich Albion FC.

Sunday action
On Sunday, north-east pair Middlesbrough FC and Newcastle United FC will seek to build on 1-0 away wins in Athens in Thursday's UEFA Cup group games, with fifth-placed Middlesbrough at home to Portsmouth FC and Manchester City FC visiting St. James' Park. The weekend programme is completed by Southampton FC's meeting with Birmingham City FC.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h11
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O meio-campista do PSG Jerome Rothen ficará afastado dos campos pelos próximos dois meses. O jogador quebrou um osso do joelho direito na última quarta-feira.
A previsão do período de recuperação foi anunciada nesta sexta no site do clube francês. Rothen se machucou ainda no primeiro tempo da vitória sobre o Porto por 2 a 0, pela Liga dos Campeões.
O afastamento forçado do jogador é uma grande perda para o PSG em sua atual fase no Campeonato Francês. A equipe amarga a 16ª posição, com dez pontos em dez jogos, e a 12 pontos do líder Lyon.
Na Liga dos Campeões, a equipe tampouco faz uma boa campanha, e está no terceiro lugar do grupo H, com três pontos em três jogos -seis abaixo do líder Chelsea. Rothen vestiu a braçadeira de capitão da seleção francesa em sete oportunidades e estava no elenco que disputou a última Eurocopa, em Portugal.

Escrito por fraja8 às 11h02
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Pela primeira vez uma etapa da Copa do Mundo de Mountain Bike será realizada na América Latina. Nos dias 2 e 3 de julho de 2005, o Balneário Camboriú, em Santa Catarina, vai receber a principal competição da modalidade olímpica.
O evento reunirá cerca de 500 atletas de mais de 20 países nas especialidades Down Hill, Cross Country, e Four X. As outras etapas do Mundial são na América do Norte e na Europa.
O lançamento do principal campeonato da modalidade será nesta terça-feira, dia 26, na Casa de Santa Catarina, em São Paulo. Estarão na apresentação os bikers brasileiros Markolf Bercthold e Márcio Ravelli, o presidente da Federação Catarinense de Ciclismo João Carlos Andrade, o secretário de organização do lazer de Santa Catarina, Gilmar Knaesel e o presidente da Santur, Jorge Meira.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h59
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Depois de Xangai, o skatista Sandro Dias e a patinadora Fabíola da Silva partem neste fim de semana para a segunda parada da turnê asiática de esportes radicais, em Pequim, na China. Os brasileiros fazem parte de um grupo de trinta atletas, dez de cada modalidade (skate, patins e bike), que se apresentam na China e na Coréia do Sul até o dia 1º de novembro.
Bicampeão mundial de skate vertical e vencedor da primeira etapa do Asian Tour, Sandro Dias está animado para o segundo evento, que mais uma vez terá formato distinto das competições do circuito - haverá uma demonstração dos dez atletas no sábado, para definir a ordem de entrada, e uma final no domingo.
"Estou adorando conhecer a China. Já visitamos alguns dos principais pontos turísticos e estamos tendo a oportunidade de entender um pouco mais os hábitos das pessoas. Aqui é tudo muito diferente", diz Sandro Dias, que se surpreendeu com a reação do público na primeira competição.
"Eles ficam muito quietos durante todo o evento e só se manifestam quando alguém está na pista. Aqui em Pequim ainda não vi ninguém andando de skate na rua. Estou muito ansioso para ver a reação do público local, espero contar com o apoio da galera para conquistar mais um bom resultado", conta o bicampeão mundial de skate vertical.

Fabíola, que em Xangai ficou com o décimo lugar, competindo entre os homens, diz que tem andado bem nos treinos e espera um resultado melhor em Pequim.
"Não fiquei satisfeita com o décimo lugar, então neste fim de semana vou me esforçar ainda mais para fazer uma boa apresentação. As competições aqui têm sido muito bacanas, não só em função do público mas também por causa da descontração, estamos em fim de temporada e todos estão querendo se divertir", afirma Fabíola.
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Escrito por fraja8 às 10h57
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Já completei 58 anos (hoje); já comi pastel na feira do Pacaembu; já morei com o doutor Sócrates em Florença; já fui braço-direito de Darcy Ribeiro; já li "O Apanhador no Campo de Centeio"; já vi Pelé jogar na Copa de 70; já comi empada do Salete, na Tijuca, e os quitutes da Alaíde no Bracarense; já vi o América ser campeão carioca; já fiz imprensa alternativa (EX, Mais Um, Canja); já morei na Lagoa do Abaeté, Salvador; já fui a Paris nas quatro estações do ano; já conquistei a amizade de ídolos antigos, como Wlamir Marques e Tostão; já vi Olimpíada in loco; já fui vice-campeão de chope no Lamas; já vi shows no Blue Note e no Village Vanguard, em Nova York; já comprei todos os CDs do Chet Baker; já dei entrevista no Jô Soares; já vi jogos em Roland Garros; já vi o Festival de Montreux; já vi Maradona jogar no Napoli; já dei tapinha no ombro do Hollyfield; já jantei num inesquecível chinês com Reali Jr, em Paris; já dancei com Romina Power em Roma; já fui e voltei para a Europa de navio; já fiz três filhos; já tomei café, feito por ele, no apartamento do Chico Buarque em Paris; já vi jogos no antigo estádio de Wembley; já vi Edson Machado e Do Um tocarem ao vivo; já trabalhei com Cláudio Abramo, Tarso de Castro, Zuenir, Jânio de Freitas e Mino Carta; já morei com Sá, Rodrix e Guarabyra; já morei na fazenda da Forquilha em Rio das Flores; já fui companheiro de boêmia do Aldir; já fui sócio do mestre Sérgio de Sousa de um filho de Quartier Latin; já comi rabada com Luis Carlos Prestes no Jacarezinho; já vi o famoso show de Caetano, Gil, Rita Lee e Mutantes na Sucata nos anos 60, já vi muito Fellini, Visconti, Antonioni, Godard, Truffaut, Glauber, Nelson Pereira, Orson Welles, John Ford, Capra ; já comi Bauru no Ponto Chic; já lancei muita gente de talento; já vi Garrincha jogar de pertinho; já vi do gramado, atrás do gol, o milésimo gol de Pelé; já criei uma emissora de televisão, a ESPN Brasil. Já fiz tudo isso e muito mais, e sei que tudo está apenas começando.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h48
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A Hungria teve projeção internacional na Copa de 1954 e nas Olimpíadas

Duas vezes campeão olímpico na década de 60, Dezso Novak confessou nesta semana que espionava seus companheiros de time e de seleção para a polícia da Hungria.
Em entrevista ao jornal esportivo "Nemzeti Sport", disse que foi forçado a se tornar informante após ser pego entrando no país, então comunista, com vários relógios quando voltava de um amistoso na vizinha Áustria.
Os policiais ameaçaram incriminá-lo por contrabando e ofereceram como única opção à prisão que ele passasse informes sobre as atividades dos outros jogadores nas excursões ao exterior da seleção húngara e do lendário time do Ferencvaros
"Eles falaram que iam acabar com minha carreira. Perderia meu passaporte e iria para a cadeia. O único que tinha na cabeça é jogar futebol. Concordei", afirmou o atual técnico, com passagem pelo agora modesto Ferencvaros.
A Hungria teve uma geração dourada nas décadas de 50 e 60. Sua maior figura foi Puskas, que jogou até no Real Madrid. Surpreendeu o mundo com seu time na Copa de 1954 e só foi derrotada na final pelos alemães.
O país europeu também levou os ouros nas Olimpíadas de 1964 e 1968. Atualmente, porém, o país não está nem entre as potências medianas do continente europeu.
Toda essa projeção internacional na época preocupava os governantes, principalmente após 1956, quando tropas russas invadiram o país que tentava maior liberalidade em seu regime socialista. Os dirigentes húngaros pró-Moscou se preocupavam com as deserções de jogadores e os contatos deles no exterior com oposicionistas.
"Como atleta, eu não ligava muito para política. Fui membro do partido comunista por um par de anos, mas fui excluído por falta do pagamento anual de minha filiação. Eu só queria jogar futebol", declarou o ex-lateral-direito.

Novak ficou tão célebre que até apareceu com Puskas em uma recente edição especial de latas de cerveja na Hungria

Novak disse que seus relatos foram poucos e curtos. "Eles me interrogaram umas três vezes. Não fala tudo que sabia. Depois assinava os papéis e tchau", afirmou.
A Hungria vive neste ano uma febre de confissões sobre atividade de espionagem durante o regime comunista (1945-1989).

Tudo começou quando o ex-primeiro-ministro Peter Medgyessy teve de confessar esse seu passado. Ele coletava informações sigilosas junto ao FMI (Fundo Monetário Internacional).
O curioso é que no Brasil também acontecia coisa parecida. Pelé, por exemplo, foi espionado pelo regime militar (1964-1985), com informes secretos, revelados só recentemente, sobre sua movimentação nas excursões do Santos ao exterior.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h44
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www.surfasu.com.br

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h40
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Havana (Cuba) - O torcedor argentino, fã de Maradona, pode ficar despreocupado. Segundo o embaixador da Argentina em Cuba, Raúl Taleb, o ex-craque está “muito bem”, com uma grande demonstração de otimismo por sua recuperação. Em entrevista à Rádio Del Prata de Buenos Aires, o diplomata diz que Don Diego recebeu a visita dos pais para comemorar o aniversário de um mÊs do seu retorno ao país de Fidel Castro.

'Vejo nele um ânimo e uma predisposição muito boas. Acho que está no lugar adequado para sua recuperação', disse Taleb, que teve a oportunidade de conhecer o seu ídolo pessoalmente. “Me pareceu uma pessoa de muita humildade e um grande coração”, completou o diplomata. O Campeão Mundial de 1986 está internado no Centro de Saúde Mental (Censam) de Havana há um mês para se tratar de seu vício em cocaína, que quase o matou no último mês, quando sofreu uma crise cardíaca e respiratória. O maior ídolo argentino completará 43 anos no próximo dia 30.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h27
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El Deportivo de La Coruña y el Tottenham inglés están interesados en la contratación del defensa central del Benfica Luisao, según aseguró al diario portugués 'A Bola' su representante, Giulliano Bertolucci.
"Después del Real Madrid, con (José Antonio) Camacho, también preguntó por el jugador el Inter de Milán. Ahora surgieron el Deportivo y el Tottenham", declaró el represente.
Cuestionado sobre la posibilidad de que el jugador salga del club lisboeta en el mercado de invierno, el representante señaló que es poco probable debido a la confianza que tiene puesta en él su entrenador, el italiano Giovanni Trapattoni.
"Tendría que ser una propuesta muy, muy buena. Es posible que las cosas sólo se concreten en junio (de 2005). Depende también del Benfica, aunque hasta ahora no hablé con el presidente", afirmó Bertulucci, que agregó que el jugador "está muy feliz en Portugal".
Luisao, de 23 años y 1,92 metros de estatura, contribuyó a conquistar un campeonato brasileño con el Cruzeiro y obtuvo la Copa de Portugal con el Benfica y la Copa América con la selección brasileña

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h24
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As homenagens a Ayrton Senna não param. Além da exposição sobre o maior ídolo do automobilismo brasileiro, um evento especial marcará os torcedores que acompanharem o GP Brasil de F-1 neste final de semana. A histórica Lotus preta, pilotada por Senna no Mundial de 1986, dará uma volta simbólica no traçado de Interlagos pilotada por Bruno Senna, piloto de Fórmula BMW Inglesa e sobrinho do tricampeão. A sugestão da homenagem foi de Bernie Ecclestone, presidente da FOM, organizadora da F-1. Ecclestone quer fazer no Brasil, casa de Senna, o mesmo que fez em Ímola, quando Gerhard Berger desfilou com a Lotus antes do GP de San Marino. O carro pertencia ao banqueiro italiano Gian Cláudio Giovannone e foi doado ao sobrinho de Senna. As homenagens a Senna não vão se restringir ao GP Brasil. Na segunda-feira a Lotus será transportada em carro aberto pelas ruas de São Paulo e passará a integrar a exposição sobre a vida do piloto. Confira abaixo o trajeto do histórico carro de Ayrton Senna:

Avenida Interlagos, Av. Washington Luis, Av. Moreira Guimarães, Av. Rubem Berta, Av. 23 de Maio, Rua Estela, Av. Bernardino de Campos, Av. Paulista, Complexo Viário Rebouças, Av. Rebouças, Av. Brig. Faria Lima, Rua Diogo Moreira, Av Eusébio Matoso, Ponte Eusébio Matoso, Rua Ibiapinópolis e Shopping Eldorado (Exposição Senna Experience). A saída de Interlagos entre 9h40 e 10h, passando pela Av. Paulista por volta das 12h, com chegada prevista na exposição entre 13h30 e 14h.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h21
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NBA informa: um jogo no Brasil de pré-temporada está sendo programado para 2006. A informação, transmitida diretamente do escritório da liga em Miami, confirma o que este próprio LANCE! publicou meses atrás. Mas ainda não é algo definitivo ou que possa fazer os amantes do basquete iniciarem a contagem regressiva.
Nos últimos anos, a NBA anunciou diversas datas para possíveis jogos-exibição no Brasil, como são os da pré-temporada, como já acontece no México, China, Japão e na Europa. Mas nunca foi divulgada uma data exata. É sempre daqui a dois ou três anos e assim por diante.
No contato com a coluna, a NBA procurou esclarecer que a previsão de um jogo aqui não foi feita por dirigentes de “baixo escalão”, como me referi na semana passada. A liga listou nomes e cargos dos dirigentes que estiveram no país recentemente e falaram da possível data de 2006: Andrew Messick (vice-presidente sênior internacional), Arturo Nunez (vice-presidente e General Manager da NBA na América Latina), Peter Fink (vice-presidente de eventos e atrações) e Mark Ellison (da divisão mundial de merchandising).

Mas falta um nome importantíssimo: David Stern, o todo-poderoso presidente da NBA, responsável por transformar a liga num dos negócios mais lucrativos do mundo a partir da década de 80. Eu ainda espero por uma palavra dele sobre este tão sonhado jogo no Brasil. Quando “Mister” Stern disser, pode acreditar e começar a reservar o seu lugar. Mas, por enquanto, ele ainda não se pronunciou oficialmente.
Até lá, ainda estaremos sujeitos a novos adiamentos, a novas marcações de datas. Mas há motivos para, ao menos, ser otimista: a liga está investindo no Brasil, fechando negócios de parcerias comerciais e institucionais. A tendência é que o processo seja incrementado a cada ano, também impulsionado pela participação cada vez maior de brasileiros na NBA.
Neste ritmo, é bem provável que logo seja possível assistir a um jogo ao vivo aqui, e não será pela TV. Será sentado na arquibancada! Um sonho que irá se realizar. E também será capaz de alavancar o desenvolvimento do basquete brasileiro, que está numa fase anterior à pré-história da própria NBA. Mas, um dia, ainda chegamos lá. Ou pelo menos perto. Não custa nada acreditar.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h19
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MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is backing his players to rise to the challenge against Arsenal on Sunday in a match he admits his side must win to stay in the Premier League title race. "Everyone is looking forward to it. Over the years my experience of situations like this is that we seem to revel in occasions like Manchester United-Arsenal games," Ferguson told a news conference on Friday."Every game is important to this club, but these are the special games, the ones you feel you're challenged in and your players are looking forward to. There's a general good buzz about the place.

Ferguson thinks United, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, need victory to retain realistic hopes of winning their ninth title in 13 seasons. "For us to win the league I think winning is a very important issue for us on Sunday," he said. "Arsenal could come and get a draw and still be 11 points clear of us and they would be delighted with that at this stage of the season. "But leagues can turn very easily. We were 12 points behind Newcastle once and won the league, so it can change. What we need is for Manchester United to win the game on Sunday and see how that affects the whole thing."

Arsenal go to Old Trafford looking to extend their unbeaten league record to 50 matches but Ferguson is not worried about that milestone. "We don't concern ourselves about what a team has done in previous games," he said. "What we are going to be building on is that it's a game at Old Trafford and I've got a group of players who are well and truly capable of winning this match and that's what I expect us to do."

EXPENSIVE FRONTLINE

Arsenal have scored 29 league goals compared to United's nine, and Ferguson's expensively assembled frontline has scored only once in the last three games. Ferguson, however, believes his strikers will soon be back among the goals. "Ruud van Nistelrooy's record tells you that," he said. "Young (Wayne) Rooney's record tells you that also. We have others like (Louis) Saha and (Alan) Smith, who are proven goal scorers."

Last season's goalless draw at Old Trafford was marred by unsavoury incidents following the dismissal of Patrick Vieira and a late penalty miss by Van Nistelrooy, with four Arsenal players suspended for their parts in the fracas. Sunday's match will again be highly charged, but Ferguson has faith in his players to maintain their discipline. "It's a game, an important game and we know how to handle it," he said. United captain Roy Keane remains doubtful with a virus, while fullback Quinton Fortune is ruled out with a calf strain.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h10
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O arqui-rival São Paulo é um exemplo a ser seguido pelo Corinthians. Esta é a opinião de Jô, componente do terceiro pior ataque do Campeonato Brasileiro. O jogador é o favorito para assumir a vaga de Alberto no confronto deste domingo, contra o Paraná.

'O São Paulo serve de exemplo, sim. Desde que o Luís Fabiano saiu, eles receberam muitas críticas', disse o atleta. Sempre citando o adversário, Jô pretende aumentar o poder de fogo do ataque alvinegro. 'Eles conseguiram mudar a situação com trabalho e persistência. A sorte está lançada e eu espero ter sucesso'.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h04
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O heptacampeão mundial Michael Schumacher elogiou bastante o companheiro de equipe Rubens Barrichello e fez questão de afirmar que os dois estarão livres para disputar a vitória no GP do Brasil, em Interlagos. Schumacher tentará a sua quinta vitória na etapa brasileira do Mundial - as outras foram em 1994, 1995, 2000 e 2002.

- Cada um fará a sua própria corrida e veremos como as coisas vão ficar no final. Rubens é um piloto muito forte, não há nenhuma dúvida disso. Ele não precisa de nenhuma ajuda e estou certo de que ele preferiria vencer por seus próprios méritos do que ganhar com a ajuda de alguém - disse Schumi.

Escrito por fraja8 às 10h02
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El FC Barcelona no deberá cumplir los dos partidos de clausura que pesan sobre su estadio a raíz de los incidentes ocurridos en el partido de Liga ante el Real Madrid del 23 de noviembre del 2002.
Según publica hoy 'El Periódico de Catalunya', el club azulgrana se beneficiará de las medidas de gracia que concederá el candidato que salga elegido como presidente de la Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) en las elecciones que se celebrarán en dicho organismo el próximo 26 de noviembre.
La directiva barcelonista comunicará al bufete de abogados de Roca Junyent, una vez sea levantada la sanción, que retire el recurso contencioso-administrativo que había interpuesto en abril del 2003, y que sirvió para que el juez concediera la suspensión cautelar del cierre hasta que no exista una sentencia en firme.
Tanto Angel María Villar, actual presidente de la RFEF, como Gerardo González y Gerardo Martínez, los dos candidatos que se han unido bajo la candidatura 'Por el cambio', reconocieron a 'El Periódico' que aplicarán medidas de gracia para todo el fútbol español, excepto en los casos de agresiones a los árbitros y dopaje.
El tercer aspirante a la presidencia, Sebastián Losada, también sería partidario del perdón, pero sus opciones de ganar parecen escasas.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h58
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Placas na avenida Interlagos informando que o GP do Brasil acontecerá de 23 a 25 de outubro (a prova em uma segunda-feira?). O site da prefeitura de São Paulo marcando para as 15h a largada da corrida.
As confusões estão marcando esse Grande Prêmio de F-1. A marca de pneus Bridgestone distribuiu propagandas nas avenidas próximas ao autódromo com as datas erradas.
A empresa, porém, se comprometeu a trocar todos os banners até esta sexta-feira, o primeiro dia de treinos.
Já o página da prefeitura na Internet dava como as 15h como o começo da prova, quando ela foi antecipada para as 14h faz tempo para contentar as televisões européias para um horário melhor para seus espectadores.
Quem não errou na propaganda foi a boate Café Photo, que colocou um outdoor bem em frente ao hotel Transamérica, que nesses dias vira o quartel-general do automobilismo na cidade. O slogan é "Quem conhece, sabe a diferença". Outro boate tem um lema mais ligado à F-1: "Venha conhecer nossas máquinas".

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h56
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The NFL Europe has discontinued operations of the Scottish Claymores, leaving the UK market without a team.

The Claymores were shutdown after several seasons of declining crowds, and the desire to add a further team to the league roster. Said NFL Europe managing director Jim Connelly: “This is the toughest decision this league has ever had to make. “The Claymores have achieved considerable success over the past decade and for any sports team to average close to 11,000 fans per game in this market is commendable. “But the economics of our league and the interest shown by other cities have forced us to look at whether there are other markets that give us a greater opportunity of improving our business. We believe at this time that such an opportunity exists.” The Claymores have been part of the NFL Europe League since 1995, posting an average attendance of 10,799 during their 10 seasons. They achieved a franchise-record average attendance of 13,904 in 2001, but have seen crowds fall for the past three seasons. The NFLEL will announce details of a new franchise in the near future. The NFL will retain a football development team in Scotland to continue the grassroots programmes that the Claymores have successfully introduced in local schools and will continue to identify and develop young Scottish talent as part of NFL Europe’s National Player Development Programme. The London Monarchs – the only other NFL Europe team – shut down operations in 1998.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h53
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José imperdible. De chico era de Boca y fana de Rojitas. Su primera vez en la cancha fue un escándalo. Cuenta que jamás llevó autógrafos a sus hijas y que su mujer sabe más de offside que de táctica. Recuerda a Diego como "recoge bolas" y revela que vio a Enzo antes que River.
—¿Es cierto que el DT de la Selección empezó a trabajar vendiendo helados en su pueblo?
—Sí (asiente con una sonrisa). Para mí era una diversión, pero también lo ayudaba a mi papá con los mangos que ganaba. Yo vivía en un pueblito ferroviario, Holt Ibicuy, y todo dependía del ferrocarril. Un típico pueblo de los 50... Ahora creció por el puente Zárate-Brazo Largo y el Mercosur. Por eso el tren es sólo para llevar carga, ahora llegan los micros. Antes era lo único, ¡se tardaba 8 horas! Y eso que está a 80 kilómetros

—¿Hace mucho que no vas?
—Bastante. A partir de que me empezó a ir bien, yo iba y todos los pueblos me querían agasajar... Unos dicen que soy de Villaguay, de Gualeguay, (risas). A mí me da lástima decir algo porque la gente quiere mucho a su pueblo. Pero yo nací en un hospital de Domínguez y me crié en Holt Ibicuy, ése es mi lugar. Después, la mano venía mal en Entre Ríos, mi papá se dedicaba a la agricultura, y nos vinimos para Buenos Aires.

—¿La primera vez que viniste a Bs. As. fue en ese ferrocarril?
—Noo. La primera vez, cuando yo era muy chiquitito, fue por una desgracia. Había muerto la hermana de mi papá, y no nos coincidían los horarios de los trenes. Por eso vinimos en una lanchita por el Paraná. Me acuerdo de que tenía un julepe... Porque esa lancha era muy chiquita. Y tardamos cuatro horas hasta el Tigre.

—¿Y tu primer partido?
—Una casualidad, fue el último partido que Boca jugó en la vieja cancha de Argentinos, en el 60. Y qué día: le tiraron un cuchillo al 3 de Argentinos, se vino abajo la tribuna visitante y corrieron al referí dentro de la cancha, que logró escaparse... No hay hincha de Boca o Argentinos que se olvide de eso... Era la primera vez que Argentinos peleó un campeonato, pero al final lo ganó Independiente. Yo tenía 11 años, soy del 49...

—¿En qué popular estabas?
—En el medio de la de Boca. Pero mi viejo no sabía, gente de campo, inocente... El siempre fue de Boca. Fuimos temprano, quedamos ahí, y después llegaron todos, ja... Quedamos apretaditos. Y al final ganó Argentinos 2 a 0.

—¿Te fuiste triste o feliz?
—Y, yo de chico era hincha de Boca. Ese día le echaron a Valentim y ahí arrancó el quilombo. La hinchada estaba cabrera, y después Argentinos lo superó bien. No terminó el partido. Así fue mi debut en una cancha de fútbol, terrible.

—¿De Boca hasta qué año?
—Cuando entré a las Inferiores de Argentinos fui dejando de ir a otras canchas... Iba a ver la Primera, como todos los chicos.

—¿Cuando vos relatabas tus propios partidos quién eras?
—Rojitas... Había jugadores excelentes en todos los equipos, pero él era una cosa de locos.

—¿Y de los de tu posición?
—El Beto Menéndez, Alberto González... Gonzalito, un zurdo de Boca, fue de los primeros que empezó a ser el cuarto volante, y de calidad. Un tipo Basualdo, Bassedas. Como Boca tenía a Rattin siempre solo en el medio, entonces Gonzalito empezó a venir para atrás y dio una mano bárbara. Y Boca ganó tres campeonatos. Yo vi los equipos del 62, 64 y 65... El marcó una tendencia, y ésos me gustan porque son adelantados.

—¿Te gustaba Pekerman?
—Me tocó una época buenísima, competí con jugadores importantes. Y estuve en una terna para ir a la Selección, eh. En la primera lista de Sívori. Pero competía con JJ López y Miguel Brindisi...

—¿Después tuviste otra chance en la Selección Argentina?
—No. Yo tuve dos años buenos: 72 y 73, en un cuadro chico... Y cuando me nombraron para la Selección, ya empecé a tener problemas con la rodilla. Aparecieron algunas ofertas de afuera y en el club, como ya me habían anticipado que una lesión me podía marginar, me anunciaron que me iban a vender. Y a los 25 años me fui a Millonarios de Colombia, donde me fue muy bien. Yo ya estaba casado cuando me fui, y mi hija más grande nació allí.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h50
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Europe's top clubs and their players joined UEFA this week in spreading the message that racism has no place in football.

Action week
All 16 UEFA Champions League matches saw children wearing Unite Against Racism t-shirts accompanying players on to the pitch, and special announcements before each match emphasising the anti-racism message.

Special announcement
The UEFA announcement urged fans, players, directors and staff of home clubs "to tackle racism in all it's forms, and to make football stadia across Europe welcoming places for all fans regardless of their colour of skin, ethnic origin or culture".

Racism message
The action was part of the Action Week against racism organised by the pan-European Football Against racism in Europe (FARE) network. FARE used the Champions League platform to communicate the philosophy of the Action Week to the entire European football family, including countries and leagues where racist behaviour and harassment still pose serious problems for football and for society at large.

UEFA support
Earlier this week, UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson underlined UEFA's commitment to the cause, saying: "UEFA is genuinely committed to tackling racism in football. We have seen the damage prejudice and exclusion can cause and will not sit back and watch it spread.

FARE partnership
"Through our close partnership with FARE we believe we have the right mechanism to educate supporters, administrators and players at every level of the game," he added.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h36
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England captain David Beckham looks dejected as he leaves Real Madrid's training ground in Las Rozas in Madrid, Spain. Beckham did not train as a result of a rib injury sustained during a World Cup qualifying game for England against Wales

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h35
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Freddy Adu advances the ball during a possession drill at his first practice with D.C. United Monday, Feb. 9, 2004 at IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla.

Freddy Adu shows he is willing to learn and is keen to soak up all the knowledge he can as he gets intructions from D.C. United coach Peter Nowak.

D.C. United's Freddy Adu makes his way out to the pitch prior to the game against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday. Adu played the entire second half as D.C. United and the L.A. Galaxy played to a thrilling 1-1 draw in Major League Soccer action.

D.C. United's Freddy Adu shares a laugh with Los Angeles Galaxy's Cobi Jones after their game ended in a 1-1 draw on April 10, 2004 in Carson, California.

D.C United's Freddy Adu is held back by Troy Dayak of the San Jose Earthquakes. Adu's youthful presence helped to attract a San Jose crowd of nearly 18,000.

Freddy Adu played in 29 of D.C. United's 30 games this season, scoring five goals and three assists.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h32
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There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than playing football - Ronaldinho

Having won both of their opening UEFA Champions League games, Wednesday's 1-0 Group F defeat by AC Milan at the San Siro was hardly a disaster for FC Barcelona. Indeed, with Frank Rijkaard's side having been in unstoppable form so far this season, maybe in retrospect it will be seen as a timely reality check.

Footballing trickery
For with a player of the calibre of 24-year-old Brazilian forward Ronaldinho on their hands, it would be easy for Barça to lose sight of footballing reality. His trickery and mischievous smile speak of a genuine joy which almost seems to have nothing to do with the ugly business of winning games.

There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than playing football Ronaldinho

'Football is happiness'
"For me football is happiness," Ronaldinho said. "There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than playing football. I am generally a contented person anyway, but I gain extra joy from being able to do what I love most - playing football."

Cool head
However, while that gentle philosophy may be what makes Ronaldinho special on the pitch, there is little doubt that his smiling face masks a more result-orientated mindset. "My objective is always to win," he added. "In everything I take part, I do so to win."

	The Brazilian looks awkward but plays with grace

Unlucky 13
He has been successful in that sense this season. Wednesday's game was his 13th with Barça and Brazil this season and his first defeat. And while the goals have not been flowing freely, Ronaldinho's trickery has made a massive contribution to his side's charge to the top of the Spanish table.

Natural ability
"The tricks just come out naturally," he said. "I am a player that likes to dribble with the ball and thankfully these tricks just emerge naturally. I'm always one that hopes my individual qualities will help the team achieve success. I'm really happy with my current form."

Good decision
He can also be happy with his decision-making skills. Back when he left Paris Saint-Germain FC in 2003 - his first club in Europe after leaving Grêmio FBPA - he was set to join Manchester United FC. However, while the Premiership beckoned, he plumped for a €30m move to Barça.

Brazilian idols
"There were lots of reasons," he explained. "One was that Barcelona will always be Barcelona and I've always dreamed of playing here. This is where all my idols have played - Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldo - and I wanted to continue in this line. But I also thought that the climate, the city and the language would be better for me and my family."

Massive upturn
Ronaldinho joined the club when they were at a low ebb, but his arrival prompted a massive upturn fortunes. A late surge last season saw Barça claim second place in the Primera División and a berth in the Champions League after a season in the UEFA Cup.

Winning intentions
"For me, the Champions League is the biggest competition in football," said Ronaldinho. "I've always wanted to take part in the tournament and I'm now delighted to have this chance with Barcelona." And of course, in line with his philosophy, now he is in the competition, Ronaldinho wants to win it.

'A great side'
"There are other really strong teams in the tournament, but I have faith in my team," he said. "I think we've got a great side. We've started the season very well and that's given us the confidence to believe that we can come out of this as champions."

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h22
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Olympique Lyonnais took command at the top of UEFA Champions League Group D on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahçe SK in Istanbul.

Superb season
The French champions, who reached the quarter-finals last season, made wholesale changes to their squad in the summer but the new-look team has settled quickly to its task. Friday's 4-0 win over SM Caen saw Lyon surge to the top of Ligue 1 and extend their unbeaten run to ten matches, while a second consecutive away win in Europe has moved them to the brink of qualification with seven points from three games.

	Cris has been impressive at the centre of defence

Five departures
After losing six internationals at the end of last season - Eric Carrière, Vikash Dhorasoo, Eric Deflandre, Edmílson, Peguy Luyindula and Patrick Müller - many experts felt Lyon would struggle to match last year's achievements, but coach Paul Le Guen has bought shrewdly. "I feel we have a stronger squad and I believe we can improve on last season's achievements," he said ahead of the 2-2 home draw against Manchester United FC.

’Important result’
If Le Guen was disappointed to see his side surrender a two-goal advantage against United, he could have few complaints after a 2-1 win away at AC Sparta Praha on Matchday 2 was followed by Tuesday's assured performance at the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium. "I'm satisfied because my players played exactly the way I wanted," Le Guen said. "It's an important result because it means if we win our next game we're through."

Defensive pairing
The result was built around another solid display from Lyon's Brazilian centre-halves Claudio Caçapa and Cris, who restricted Fenerbahçe to one clear chance. Caçapa, who has taken over the captaincy from Müller, missed much of last season with a knee injury but is thriving this term. "It's great to be back and captaining this side is a pure pleasure," he said.

Work ethic
Caçapa continued: "Winning away from home in such a hot atmosphere isn't easy. But we have a super team and everyone works hard for each other." Eric Abidal, who arrived from LOSC Lille Métropole and has slotted in seamlessly at left-back, added: "The first 20 minutes were hard - we couldn't hear ourselves speak the crowd were so noisy. But we quickly got to grips with their system."

Excellent display
Lyon grew in confidence as the game wore on, with the attacking trio of Sylvain Wiltord, Florent Malouda and Sidney Govou posing a significant threat. Wiltord, Le Guen's one experienced signing, laid on the first goal for Juninho Pernambucano after 55 minutes before Cris lobbed a header over Rüstü Reçber for the second. The home side pulled one back through Marcio Nobre but summer-signing Pierre-Alain Frau came off the bench to seal the win three minutes before full time.

Even a point would have been good. This win is a big step towards qualification Pierre-Alain Frau

'Big step'
"We missed a lot of chances in the second half and when they scored we were worried," Juninho said. "I was delighted when Pierre-Alain got the third. It's great to have a player come on and score like that." Frau, who now has two goals in Europe, said: "Even a point would have been good. This win is a big step towards qualification."

Continental respect
Indeed Lyon will book their place in the last 16 if they beat Fenerbahçe at the Stade Gerland on Matchday 4, and goalkeeper Grégory Coupet summed up the situation by saying: "Tonight we've gained the respect of Europe. Lyon are no longer regarded as a soft touch and we can see that in the faces of our opponents."

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h20
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	Roberto Mancini: "I've never seen a striker as talented"

Compared to the two he put past Udinese Calcio at the weekend, Adriano's goal for FC Internazionale Milano in their 5-1 UEFA Champions League win at Valencia CF was a little on the restrained side. A simple piece of control was all that was necessary before drilling the ball past Santiago Cañizares to make it 4-1.

Table topper
However, the goal helped keep the 22-year-old - nicknamed 'L'imperatore' ('The Emperor') by Inter fans - at the top of the competition's scoring tables for the season, with three goals from the third qualifying round win against FC Basel 1893 to add to the four he has scored since the start of the group stage.

	'L'Imperatore' has scored 12 goals in eleven games

'Exceptional player'
Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri singled out the Brazilian as "an exceptional player" after watching Roberto Mancini's men demolish his side at the Mestalla. Few would disagree. Mancini is clearly a fan, saying recently: "He has the power of [Luigi] Riva, the agility of [Marco] van Basten and the opportunism of Romario. I've never seen a striker as talented."

Big billing
That is a big billing but one that, with 12 goals in eleven games for Inter this season, Adriano is living up to. The goals in the 3-1 win against Udinese were a prime example of his class: the first a thunderous 30-metre free-kick, the second a jaw-dropping individual effort. He then set up Christian Vieri for Inter's third to cap an incredible display.

Pelé comparisons
"His [second] against Udinese reminded me a certain player named Pelé," said Inter president Giacinto Facchetti. "In the same move he used power, technique, courage, great skill in controlling the ball and a cool finish as only great champions can do. Now to reach Pelé's level he needs to win trophies."

Jet lag
Adriano's exertions were all the more remarkable considering that he was suffering from jet lag after returning from international duty with Brazil. "I'm tired, but my desire to play is the most important thing," he said after the Valencia game. "I like nice goals, but the most important thing is to try and win the [Italian] championship and the Champions League."

Good decision
For a side that have been going through a long lean spell in terms of titles, such determination has to be good news. Certainly, few have had any reason to question Inter's decision to pay €20m to buy him outright from Parma FC at the start of the year, having previously only earned a share in him.

Shared ownership
When the tall, agile striker arrived in Italy from CR Flamengo in 2001, he cost Inter €5m. However, after a brief spell at AC Fiorentina, Parma were prepared to pay €17.3m for a two-year half-share in the player, who would go on to score 23 goals in 37 games in an 18-month spell at the club.

Phenomenal form
As Parma's financial problems worsened, Inter stepped in to buy back the player's registration in full, and the player has not looked back. Since joining Inter in January he has been wonderful and could yet be the star of this weekend's Milan derby.

Staying still
Inevitably, such skill brings attention, but the left-footed striker is not looking elsewhere. "I know a lot of other teams want me, but my heart is at Inter," he told the club's official website. "I'm hoping to play here for many, many years and win a lot with the Nerazzurri shirt." At the rate that Adriano is scoring, it is hard to see how Inter can fail.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h19
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When Manchester United FC captain Roy Keane famously denounced the "prawn sandwich" brigade at Old Trafford, he may have been making a valid point as far as vocal support for the team. However, even though corporate hospitality clients are not be the most vocal supporters, the revenue they bring in can be a major slat of a club's income.

Catering facilities
Keane may not approve but United, like most major European clubs, are going to great lengths to improve their catering facilities in order to keep pace with modern trends and entice more cultured palates. For who ate all the pies, read who ate all the smoked salmon.

	Barcelona have made food a major pre-match event

Service first
"A couple of years ago, we identified there was a lot more we could do in order to improve not only the service but also the volume of value of our sales," said Nick Humby, United's group finance director. "It begins with service."

Improved technique
As a result, United took on Chicago-based catering group Levy Restaurants - which operates at several leading sports stadiums and convention centres throughout the United States - to help them improve service techniques at Old Trafford.

American approach
"A lot of the American stadiums have a very good reputation for high levels of service," said Humby. "It was in our interests to bring their expertise across and provide input into our own team. Our customers tell us that the offering in suites and boxes is much better than it used to be.

Pukka cuisine
”Many of those who come to our suites work for large corporations. The chances of them bringing their customers back on non-match days to attend conferences and other events is improved if they think the dining experience is on a par with any hotel in the area."

Common supporters
However, it is not all about corporate catering. Selling food and drink to supporters is also a lucrative business, and Ben Veenbrink, general manager of Amsterdam ArenA Advisory, the body which runs AFC Ajax's state-of-the-art stadium, knows that does not mean haute cuisine.

Space factor
"Basically, you have the 15 minutes at half-time to sell as much as you can," he said. “In the old days, we used to sell salmon sandwiches but these proved to be a bit too posh for your average football audiences so we threw them out and went back to basics: good quality products with not too much variety. If people can't get what they want quickly, they won't buy."

Barça policy
That fast food philosophy is being challenged at FC Barcelona's amp Nou, where every effort is being made to draw in the crowds at least an hour before kick-off and keep them there. Last season, Barcelona carried out what must be one of the most innovative initiatives, selling food from the region of visiting Primera División teams with waiters dressed in regional costumes to add colour to the occasion. For UEFA Cup games, Barça provided Swedish culinary specialities to mark the fact that the final was to be held in Gothenberg.

Meeting point'
"It's important in terms of revenue to try and attract people to come before the game starts, to develop the stadium as a kind of meeting point," said Laurent Collette, facilities manager at Barcelona. "The local habit is to come just before kick-off but if they come an hour before, they spend more money on food and beverages. One person coming one hour early equals €1. If we can attract 20,000 people, that's €20,000."

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h17
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Liverpool competition
Signed by Gérard Houllier on the same day as Polish international stopper Jerzy Dudek, Kirkland knew that he faced a battle to become Liverpool's number one. His dazzling displays for Coventry City FC had marked out the 1.91m-tall player as a future England goalkeeper – perhaps the long-term successor to the retired David Seaman and the ageing David James. Kirkland has played for England Under-21s six times but injuries have prevented him challenging new incumbent Paul Robinson for the senior spot.

	The goalkeeper was a teenage sensation at Coventry

uefa.com How do you rate Liverpool's chances of qualifying after the draw with Deportivo?

Chris Kirkland: It was a frustrating night for us and we had enough chances to win. The group is very tight; there is one team on six points and two of us on four so it is really wide open still, anything can happen. But we do need a couple of wins, certainly one away win from the two trips we have left.

uefa.com: Liverpool were well on top in the match. Is it difficult for a goalkeeper to keep focussed in games like this?

Kirkland: You always have to stay alert and it is important to keep your concentration and they had one chance in the second half.

uefa.com: How does it feel to be getting a regular run of games in the side?

Kirkland: It is great to be playing regularly. I've been unlucky with injuries: I've had a broken finger, a broken wrist, a serious knee injury and a back problem. Being out has made me appreciate football even more. Now that I'm in the team I'm not going to give up my place easily. I want to show people what I can do and to be successful at Liverpool.

uefa.com: Famously, your parents bet €15 between them in 1997 that their son would represent England one day and stand to win €13,500 should you do so. Do you feel under pressure to perform and get back into England contention?

Kirkland: Ha, I have a tenner (€15) on that as well. Seriously, at the minute I'm concentrating on playing for Liverpool regularly and then we'll see what happens. I want prove that I have the ability to achieve my ambitions. It gets hard reading about what I can do for Liverpool and England because I still haven't done it yet.

uefa.com: You are working with a new goalkeeping coach in Jose Ochotorena. What differences have you noticed?

Kirkland: There is more emphasis but on technique and movement than the traditional approach of saving lots of shots. But at the end of the day he knows that I'm an English-style keeper and he understands that.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h16
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The list was read via satellite by Red Sox P Curt Schilling, wearing a Larry Bird jersey. Letterman asked Schilling about the Red Sox’s ALCS victory, “That was really something, wasn’t it?” Schilling: “It didn’t suck” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/21).

10) “Unlike the first three games, we didn’t leave early to beat the traffic.”

9) “We put flu virus in Jeter’s Gatorade.”

8) “Let’s just say Pete Rose made some phone calls for us.”

7) “We asked Pokey Reese to be a little less Pokey.”

6) “It’s not like we haven’t won a big game before – it’s just been 86 years.”

5) “Honestly, I think we were tired of hearing about the Patriots.”

4) “The messages of encouragement Martha sent on prison napkins.”

3) “We pretended the baseball was Letterman’s head.”

2) “What’d you expect – we have a guy who looks like Jesus!”

1) “We got Babe Ruth’s ghost a hooker and now everything’s cool.”

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h14
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The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that sports economist Mark Rosentraub today will formally release his study that says Arlington can expect to lose $290-325M over the first 30 years of a new Cowboys stadium. The study is “in direct contrast to one by Economics Research Associates commissioned by the city of Arlington that said the city would gain $7.14[B] over 30 years.” Rosentraub’s study was commissioned by a “low-tax, anti-subsidy group”

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France's UEFA Champions League representatives may have all won in midweek, but their fortunes differ vastly in Ligue 1, where AS Monaco FC take on AJ Auxerre this Sunday needing to gain lost ground on leaders Olympique Lyonnais, and Paris Saint-Germain FC face fellow strugglers AC Ajaccio.

Lyon unbeaten
Lyon travel to FC Istres on Saturday and the contrast between the two clubs could hardly be greater. Paul Le Guen's French champions remain unbeaten and took over at the top last weekend ahead of LOSC Lille Métropole on goal difference. Meanwhile, it is the latter differential that is keeping Istres above RC Strasbourg at the bottom, as Farouk Bazdarevic's side search for their first-ever win in the top flight.

Homeless Istres
Moreover, Istres have managed just one point at 'home' so far - home being nearby Nimes while a new stadium is under construction. With former team-mate Florian Maurice poised to line up against him in attack, though, Lyon goalkeeper Grégory Coupet is taking nothing for granted. "On paper there's no contest, but on the pitch they are capable of beating us," he said.

Monaco trouble
Monaco lead their Champions League group, yet a domestic run of three games without victory has seen them slip to fourth place, a point behind Sunday's visitors Auxerre. Midfield player Akis Zikos admitted there was room for improvement at the principality club. "We have to find a solution quickly because we keep getting ourselves into trouble," he said.

Lille loss
The goal for Guy Roux's Auxerre is to close the three-point gap on the front two, with Lille making the trip to Toulouse FC after suffering their first defeat since August yesterday, a UEFA Cup loss to TSV Alemannia Aachen in which defender Grégory Tafforeau was carried off. FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, who beat FC Dinamo Tbilisi in the same competition, are away to SC Bastia, three spots below them in 12th.

PSG confidence
For PSG, who lie down in 16th place, the switch from the high of overcoming FC Porto to scrapping for a crucial home win against lowly Ajaccio will be extreme, but the capital club ought to be buoyed by Wednesday's excellent result. That fixture is on Saturday, together with AS Saint-Etienne-Girondins de Bordeaux, SM Caen-FC Nantes Atlantique, Stade Rennais FC-FC Metz and RC Strasbourg-OGC Nice. In Sunday's late game, RC Lens entertain Olympique de Marseille and September's player of the month, Fabien Barthez.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h07
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Germany's two UEFA Champions League challengers, FC Bayern München and Werder Bremen, are looking to close in on the unbeaten leaders VfB Stuttgart when the Bundesliga resumes on Saturday.

Rostock welcome Bayern
Bayern, who lie fourth, six points behind Stuttgart, travel to FC Hansa Rostock, not the most intimidating of places right now given Rostock have lost all four of their home games. The visitors will have to do without Sebastian Deisler and Michael Ballack is also in doubt for a match where Bayern are hoping to bounce back after successive 1-0 defeats against FC Schalke 04 and Juventus FC.

Rummenigge warning
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, head of the club's board of directors, warned that: "A Bayern team must not get used to losing." As for Rostock, their coach Juri Schlünz described his side as "big outsiders". However, striker Antonio Di Salvo, who had a short spell at Bayern, said this could work in their favour: "We can play without any pressure. In such a case a win can happen."

Confident Bremen
Bremen are a place behind Bayern but should not be short of confidence when 1. FC Nürnberg visit the Weserstadion after their 2-1 win over RSC Anderlecht on Wednesday. After a poor performance in the 2-0 defeat at 1. FSV Mainz 05, playmaker Johan Micoud rediscovered his form and striker Ivan Klasnic his scoring abilities in Brussels, although coach Thomas Schaaf will be missing several regulars this weekend because of injury.

Freiburg problems
On Sunday, VfB Stuttgart travel to struggling SC Freiburg in a a south-west derby. Stuttgart are still unbeaten and their excellent start was underlined by a 5-1 win at KSK Beveren in the UEFA Cup last night. Freiburg's prospects are not helped by the absence of 14 players due to injury. Goalkeeper Richard Golz summed up the problems at the club when he said: "I would be glad if we found 18 players for the squad for a change. That would be a good start." Sunday's other game sees FC Schalke 04 take on Mainz.

Leverkusen hopeful
Also on Saturday, second-placed VfL Wolfsburg are at home to VfL Bochum, seeking their seventh win in ten matches at home to VfL Bochum, while Bayer 04 Leverkusen hope to reproduce their midweek Champions League form against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The other matches are BV Borussia Dortmund-Hamburger SV, DSC Arminia Bielefeld-Hertha BSC Berlin, and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach-Hannover 96.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h05
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AC Milan and FC Internazionale Milano maintained their 100 per cent records in the UEFA Champions League in midweek - yet arguably face an even tougher assignment with Sunday's 'Derby della Madonnina' at the San Siro.

Glory night
While Milan defeated FC Barcelona on Wednesday night, Inter claimed a stunning 5-1 victory at Valencia CF. Confidence should therefore be high in both camps, although Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic insists it is the Nerazzurri - nominally the away side - who are the team to beat.

Change of fortune
"The 5-1 win against Valencia has really boosted our self-belief, we are becoming a real team," he told uefa.com. "Traditionally, Inter would start the season well and then slowly lose form - it is clear that we have broken with this and our three Champions League wins are the proof."

Inter are not playing classic Italian football but a very attacking game Dejan Stankovic

'Attacking game'
Other evidence is that Roberto Mancini's Inter lie unbeaten in Serie A after six games; and they are the division's top scorers with 14 goals alongside US Lecce. "Inter are not playing classic Italian football but a very attacking game that is hard to counter," said Stankovic.

Goalscoring form
However, they sit in sixth position, three points behind second-placed Milan and six adrift of leaders Juventus FC, and if they are to improve on that, Brazilian striker Adriano may have to continue his impressive scoring form. Adriano has 12 goals already this season, while his Milan counterpart, Andriy Shevchenko, has seven from nine matches.

'Trying to win'
The Ukrainian said of Sunday's shootout: "We are both scoring goals only because our teams are playing well and creating chances. It will be a great match with both sides going forward and trying everything to win." Christian Vieri should join Adriano in attack, while Filippo Inzaghi is favourite to partner Shevchenko with Kaká deployed just behind the Milan front two.

Sound defence
Like the Milanese clubs, Juventus also have maximum points in the Champions League, their success being built on a defence that has conceded just two goals all term - both in Serie A. On Saturday, AC Siena become the latest team to attempt to breach their back line. Marcelo Zalayeta should feature alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the visitors.

Surprise, surprise
AC Chievo Verona, the surprise package in third place, will try to stay in touch with Juventus and Milan when they host Reggina Calcio on Sunday. Two other high-fliers, FC Messina Peloro and Lecce, fifth and fourth respectively, go head to head in Sicily.

Without a victory
Elsewhere, US Città di Palermo visit Luigi Del Neri's AS Roma, while Parma FC look for their first league win when they entertain fellow UEFA Cup contenders S.S. Lazio. Two other clubs without victories, Atalanta BC and AS Livorno Calcio, welcome Cagliari Calcio and Bologna FC respectively. UC Sampdoria seek to extend their three-game winning streak at home to Brescia Calcio, while Udinese Calcio tackle ACF Fiorentina.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h04
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TV do Timão-Na minuta de contrato de parceria entre Corinthians e MSI (Media Sports Investments), enviada nesta quinta-feira a Londres, consta a criação de um canal de TV com programação 100% alvinegra. O conteúdo deverá ser produzido por uma ramificação da "Novo Corinthians", denominação do novo departamento de futebol a ser criado com a parceria.

Bico fechado-Assim como no pré–contrato, a minuta enviada pelo Corinthians tem cláusula de sigilo (cuja quebra significa multa de milhares de dólares).

Aliado forte -Defensor da intervenção na Federação de Futebol do Rio, o Flamengo acha vital o apoio do vascaíno Eurico Miranda. O presidente do Vasco é influente entre os dirigentes dos clubes pequenos por causa de favores já prestados. Mas Eurico, amigo de Eduardo Viana, só entrará na briga da Ferj se o dirigente não voltar mais.

Estréia marcada -Responsáveis pelo projeto da Flamengo S.A. já marcaram data para o início da empresa: janeiro de 2006. Em 2005, vão estabelecer sua estrutura e negociar sua viabilidade política.

Agrado ao chefe -Gilberto pediu ao técnico do Hertha Berlim, Falko Gözt, para jogar na lateral esquerda – hoje, ele atua como meia. Motivo: quer aumentar suas chances de ser convocado para a Seleção Brasileira por Parreira.

Mudança vetada -O Procon–SP pedirá explicações à FPF sobre as mudanças no regulamento do Paulista-05 (turno único). Isso porque o Estatuto do Torcedor indica que um regulamento precisa ser repetido por dois anos e que qualquer mudança no calendário precisa ser autorizada pelo Conselho Nacional do Esporte (órgão do Ministério do Esporte).

Outro lado -O presidente da FPF, Marco Polo del Nero, disse que já protocolou as suas justificativas para a mudança nas regras, mas que ainda não recebeu resposta oficial do ministério.

MÍNIMO- A Comissão de Desporto da Câmara aprovou o salário mínimo para jogador: R$ 480 para a Série A; R$ 360 para a Série B; e R$ 240 para a Série C. Agora o projeto irá para a Comissão de Justiça.

AJUDA -O deputado Ronaldo Vasconcelos (PTB-MG) propôs projeto para amenizar o artigo do Estatuto do Torcedor que prevê responsabilização de dirigentes.

ALVO- A ação do PP contra o Estatuto (endossada por clubes) está parada há cinco meses no STF.

Escrito por fraja8 às 09h02
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Reebok today reported Q3 ’04 net income of $81.8M, a 30.5% increase from the $62.7M profit in the same period a year ago. Revenue for the quarter jumped 12% to $1.165B, compared to $1.041B. Worldwide sales for the Reebok brand were $1.003B, a 12% increase over the $892M in Q3 ’03. Sales for the company’s other brands – Rockport, Ralph Lauren Footwear and The Greg Norman Collection – jumped 9% to $162M, compared to $149M in the year earlier period

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El holandés explicó que "ahora los jugadores podrán jugar a su nivel, porque perder también es parte del fútbol y eso viene bien para que no haya demasiada presión"

Johann Cruyff, ex jugador y ex entrenador del FC Barcelona, aseguró que la derrota del conjunto azulgrana en el partido del pasado martes correspondiente a la Liga de Campeones ante el Milán (1-0) "dará tranquilidad a los jugadores".El holandés señaló que le gustó como jugó el Barcelona ante el equipo milanista, a pesar del resultado final. Cruyff comentó que "en la Liga de Campeones lo han hecho muy bien. Pero para el club y los jugadores es una tranquilidad haber perdido. Les dará mucha tranquilidad". El entrendor holandés explicó que "ahora los jugadores podrán jugar a su nivel, porque perder también es parte del fútbol y eso viene bien para que no haya demasiada presión". Cruyff aseguró que es "mejor perder así, en un partido en el que tampoco te juegas mucho". El ex jugador y entrenador del Barcelona negó que se pueda establecer una comparación entre el juego desplegado por el actual equipo azulgrana con el del que él dirigió en los años noventa, conocido como 'Dream Team'. "La comparación es exagerada. Es muy pronto. Los jugadores actuales tienen que marcar otra época, que es distinta a la nuestra. Además, eso sólo supone una carga más de presión".

Cruyff explicó, además el tipo de relación que tiene con Joan Laporta, presidente del club catalán: "Soy su amigo y consejero. Soy amigo suyo e intento ayudarle al máximo si lo necesita, pero eso no quiere decir que yo esté ahí metido". El entrenador holandés se refirió a la situación que atraviesa el Real Madrid y aseguró que el partido del sábado contra el Valencia "puede marcar la temporada para unos y otros". "Si el Madrid pierde, la distancia de puntos con el Barcelona aumentará previsiblemente y puede suponer una presión insoportable para ellos", explicó. "Como el Valencia también es un rival del Barcelona, lo mejor para el Barça es que empaten», añadió.

La prensa italiana no vio lento a Ronaldinho y elogia su rol de líder

Pese a ser rival de Shevchenko por el Balón de Oro, destaca cómo se echó el equipo a la espalda con su estilo

Algunos le vieron lento y espeso en San Siro y también se asegura que no es el jugador decisivo de la temporada pasada. Bien es cierto que la actuación de Ronaldinho en Milán no pasará a los anales del fútbol pero si alguien destacó en las filas azulgrana por echarse el equipo a la espalda cuando iban mal dadas fue él.Incluso le alabó la crítica prensa italiana, que en las últimas semanas está liderando una fuerte campaña para empujar un poco más que los goles de Shevchenko para que el ucraniano del Milan se lleve el Balón de Oro. Y eso que 'Ronnie' es uno de sus más directos rivales.

Frank Rijkaard, consciente de la dificultad para maniobrar en la zona de los centrales locales (Stam y Nesta), sacó al brasileño del puesto de falso ariete y le ubicó inicialmente en la izquierda. 'Ronnie' ya había expresado el lunes su preferencia por actuar en la banda. Le costó entrar en juego, como al resto del equipo, pero su incidencia en el marcador pudo haber sido directamente vital de no haber sido por una madera que ya le negó al Barça una Copa de Europa en 1961 en la infausta final de Berna ante el Benfica.

Rebobinando la jugada del poste de Larsson en el minuto 19 se observa cómo Ronaldinho intuye el pase de Eto'o al sueco y se lleva a Stam hacia el área para dejar libre de marca a 'Henke', que tras botarle el balón en el irregular césped de San Siro, chutó al larguero. Después llegó el mazazo del gol de Shevchenko tras la salida en falso de Valdés, lo que obligó al Barça a mostrarse mucho más ambicioso. Y ahí se vio a Ronaldinho ejerciendo el rol de líder.

Deco, muy cansado, no estuvo tan brillante como en otros partidos y Xavi, más lúcido, tuvo que bajar más de lo habitual para crear el juego obligado por la retrasada posición de Márquez. Ante tal panorama, Ronaldinho tomó el mando de las operaciones. Dejó la banda y se unió a Iniesta en la elaboración del juego. Sus cambios de ritmo desarbolaron por momentos a la defensa italiana. Sin caer en la anarquía, su actuación recordó al Rivaldo que tiraba del carro cuando había que remontar. Y casi lo logró. Dida sacó su fuerte disparo lejano y luego gestó la jugada en que Iniesta, a pase de Xavi, acarició el 1-1 en el minuto 90. Pero otra vez se fue al larguero.Una muestra más de que Ronaldinho no ha perdido peso es que las Federaciones suramericanas se han puesto de acuerdo para reconocer su gran temporada y votarle antes que cualquier otro crack para el FIFA World Player. El galardón, a diferencia del tradicional de la revista France Football (eligen sus corresponsales), se decide por la opinión de todos los seleccionadores del mundo

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h52
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El Real Madrid, undécimo en la clasificación con diez puntos, recibirá en el estadio Santiago Bernabéu al Valencia con la necesidad de sumar tres puntos vitales para no quedar decolgado definitivamente de los puestos altos de la clasificación, aunque enfrente estará un rival herido en su orgullo por las dos últimas derrotas sufridas en Mestalla. El equipo de Mariano García Remón tomó algo de aire el pasado sábado tras empatar contra el Betis y el pasado martes en la Liga de Campeones al vencer al Dinamo de Kiev. Por eso, este encuentro ha sido remarcado en el calendario del técnico blanco como decisivo para alejar fantasmas y, de paso, reducir distancias con el conjunto de Claudio Ranieri.
Para este encuentro, García Remón sigue teniendo las bajas de Beckham y Woodgate, pero Figo será titular tras ser sustituido tras recibir un fuerte golpe en el partido de Champions. De este modo, Guti jugaría en el centro del campo junto a Zidane, mientras que Solari ocuparía la banda izquierda en detrimento de Owen. Por tanto, Raúl y Ronaldo serán la pareja titular en ataque. En defensa, Samuel volverá al centro de la zaga junto a Iván Helguera, todo encaminado a potenciar defensivamente el equipo ante uno de los rivales más difíciles del campeonato. La otra opción situaría a Helguera en el centro del campo con Zidane y a Pavón en el centro de la defensa.
El Santiago Bernabéu, que en los últimos encuentros no se ha llenado, volverá a lucir sus mejores galas y completará su aforo en busca de apoyar al equipo en uno de los partidos más esperados de la temporada. Junto a los doce jugadores que cuentan con opciones de estar en el presumible once titular, César, Celades, Arbeloa, Raúl Bravo, Morientes y Owen completan la convocatoria. El equipo quedará concentrado, como es habitual con García Remón en el banquillo, a las 11:00 horas de mañana en el Santiago Bernabéu.

El Valencia, a reencontrarse con el triunfo
El Valencia confía en que la visita al Santiago Bernabéu signifique romper la racha negativa de cuatro partidos sin ganar que se inició en Europa ante el Werder Bremen (2-1), que se prolongó en la Liga española ante el Real Betis (1-1) y el Sevilla (2-1), y que alcanzó el mayor grado de dramatismo el pasado miércoles con la goleada recibida ante el Inter de Milán (1-5).
A la espera de que el Comité Español de Disciplina Deportiva conceda la suspensión cautelar de la sanción impuesta a Baraja, el Valencia recupera para enfrentarse al Real Madrid a Marchena, ausente ante el Inter por sanción. Por contra, Ayala yRodríguez, ambos lesionados, no han podido recuperarse a tiempo para este trascendental partido que estaba marcado en rojo en sus respectivos calendarios de rehabilitación. Estas bajas confirmadas y las molestias físicas que arrastran otros jugadores desde el choque europeo del miércoles han provocado que Ranieri convoque a veinte futbolistas para viajar a Madrid, con la presencia destacada en la lista de Caneira, con una luxación de muñeca, y de Mista, que superó un proceso gripal.
Del sonoro traspiés europeo el entrenador italiano extrajo como conclusión positiva el concurso de Aimar, autor del único gol del Valencia, por su esfuerzo físico tras una lesión muscular y por su buen entendimiento con Di Vaio, de forma que esta pareja podría ser la punta de lanza del vigente campeón en el Santiago Bernabéu.

Ficha técnica Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Walter Samuel, Helguera (Pavón), Roberto Carlos; Guti (Helguera), Zidane; Solari, Figo, Raúl; Ronaldo. Valencia: Cañizares; Curro Torres, Navarro, Marchena, Carboni; Rufete, Albelda, Baraja, Xisco; Aimra y Di Vaio. Árbitro: Pérez Lasa (Comité Vasco). Estadio: Santiago Bernabéu. Hora: 21.30.

Ronaldo asegura que los goles "volverán pronto"

Ronaldo Nazario, delantero brasileño del Real Madrid, declaró que la mala racha por la que atraviesa el conjunto blanco en ataque pasará pronto y que confía en la pronta llegada de los goles. "Estamos en una mala racha que pronto pasará. Llegarán los goles. Todo será como antes. Me interesa poco lo del Valencia y mucho mi equipo. La última victoria fue importante. Creamos muchas ocasiones durante el partido. Estamos mejorando en el juego y en los resultados. Por eso estoy contento".
En el último encuentro contra el Dinamo de Kiev (1-0), el conjunto blanco actuó con muchos futbolistas de ataque, algo que es del agrado del ariete. "Cuanto más juguemos al ataque, mejor. Los rivales se defienden hasta con nueve o diez futbolistas. En el Real Madrid siempre hemos atacado con mucha gente, aunque no podemos atacar todos y dejar atrás la defensa vendida. Es un riesgo, pero para ganar hay que arriesgar".
Ronaldo dijo que "es pronto para pensar que se va a llevar la Liga el Barcelona. Seguro que no lo gana todo, así que tendremos ocasiones para recuperar puntos. Hay que ir partido a partido. Nunca nos daremos por vencidos. Eso sí, hay que reconocer que están realizando un gran fútbol. Llegan muchos al ataque y defienden bien. Creo que es el equipo más en forma en estos momentos. Ahora hay que ver cómo terminan".

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h49
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Chico Buarque de Hollanda promoveu há alguns dias um jogo de futebol com a comunidade do Terreirão, vizinha do campo de futebol de seu time, o Polytheama. Na ocasião o compositor lançou a pedra fundamental de um centro cultural que vai construir, com o próprio dinheiro, para uso dos moradores do lugar.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h35
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PAINEL FC

Participativo
Luiz Zveiter, presidente do STJD, que hoje julga o Atlético-PR por objetos atirados pela torcida no gramado no jogo com o Atlético-MG, não só ignora os críticos que dizem que assim o tribunal pode levar a disputa do Brasileiro para fora dos gramados como também conclama os clubes que passaram pelo mesmo a fazer denúncias.

Ação e reação
Ao tomar conhecimento de que o Corinthians espera que o Santos seja punido por eventos semelhantes no clássico entre os times, Zveiter argumentou que "os clubes não devem apenas ficar esperando uma ação do STJD; se recebermos fitas de outras ocorrências, vamos julgar".

Guerra aberta
Zveiter até corrige quem se refere às pessoas que jogam objetos no campo como torcedores. Chega a interromper diálogos para "ensinar" seus interlocutores que essas pessoas são "vândalos" ou "recalcados".

Folga
O médico Jorge Kalil, conselheiro e porta-voz do Corinthians para a negociação do clube com a MSI, vai se ausentar a partir de hoje dos trabalhos, retornando só na segunda. Ele será o responsável pela equipe de cirurgia vascular do Hospital Santa Cruz, que presta serviços há quatro anos ao GP Brasil.

Retorno à MSI
Kalil espera que, ao voltar ao clube, os detalhes finais do contrato com a MSI estejam oficializados. O documento com o valor da multa contratual proposto pelo clube está em Londres. Os dirigentes que apóiam a transação dizem esperar só o OK dos ingleses. A previsão da resposta é para segunda ou terça.

Meio vazio
Já Roque Citadini, que já deu no passado declarações contrárias ao acordo, não é tão otimista. Afirma que o processo segue na fase das negociações.

Tábua de salvação
A Prefeitura do Rio assegurou a participação do Flamengo no Brasileiro juvenil e pré-infantil ginástica, em novembro. Irá investir R$ 18.642 para levar 13 atletas e quatro técnicos a Santa Catarina. A iniciativa ocorre logo após publicação no ""Diário Oficial" da cessão ao clube de conjunto novo de aparelhos que está em depósito do COB.

Na fé
Porém a ginástica do clube irá manter a venda de 500 rifas de duas camisas do time de futebol autografadas pelos jogadores. A R$ 20 cada número, atletas e técnicos esperam fazer um caixa com os R$ 10 mil que pretendem arrecadar até 13 de novembro, dia do sorteio.

Sem o louro
Já virou tradição: nos últimos anos, após fracassar no GP Brasil, Rubens Barrichello foi ao programa de Ana Maria Braga e chorou com o Louro José. Ontem foi a apresentadora que o visitou no autódromo. Sem o papagaio. Não houve choro.

Pichado
A BAR inovou, e Anthony Davidson, seu piloto de testes, usará hoje em Interlagos um carro com um layout diferente: a pintura simula uma pichação com a inscrição "Beats And Rhythm", ou "Batidas e Ritmo".

Na intimidade 1
Pela enésima vez na semana, Barrichello foi questionado em entrevista ontem sobre um eventual favor de Michael Schumacher na corrida. Inovou na resposta: "Acho que, no íntimo, ele quer que eu vença em casa".

Na intimidade 2
Na mesma entrevista, um repórter perguntou ao alemão qual sua maior crítica em relação a Interlagos. Não, não são as ondulações na pista. "Espero que tenham melhorado as condições dos banheiros."

E-mail: painelfc.folha@uol.com.br

DIVIDIDA

Do flamenguista Márcio Braga, ao alfinetar o Vasco, rival no domingo pelo Brasileiro:
- Estamos sendo campeões em tudo sobre o Vasco neste ano. Fomos no Estadual do Rio e domingo seremos no Estadual de remo. E encaramos o jogo de domingo como uma decisão.

CONTRA-ATAQUE
O alvo

Juiz de futebol ser xingado pelos torcedores não é nada perto do que a torcida inglesa tem feito com o suíço Urs Meier.
Dizendo que ele errou ao anular um gol da Inglaterra contra Portugal na Eurocopa, jornais ingleses publicaram foto da casa, da família e do carro de Meier e despertaram a ira da torcida.
Os maiores ataques ao árbitro foram pela internet. Primeiro, ele recebeu 16 mil e-mails de queixas sobre sua atuação no jogo em que a Inglaterra perdeu nos pênaltis. Agora, além de ameaças de morte, viu hackers invadirem seu site e publicarem:
- Cometi erros em Portugal. Recebi dinheiro de um funcionário da Uefa para que o anfitrião do torneio pudesse seguir nele. Por isso, renuncio à profissão. Revelarei o nome do funcionário da Uefa para que isso não volte a ocorrer.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h28
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O atacante santista Robinho, mais badalado jogador que atua no futebol brasileiro, recebeu proposta oficial que equivale a 1/5 do valor de sua rescisão contratual.
Ele teve duas ofertas no valor de US$ 10 milhões. Ambas o levariam para a Holanda, uma para o PSV e a outra para o Ajax. O contrato do atleta com o Santos termina em janeiro de 2008, e a multa para quebrar esse contrato está estipulada em US$ 50 milhões.
"Se fosse qualquer outro clube do futebol brasileiro, o Robinho já teria sido vendido por esse valor [US$ 10 milhões]. Mas o presidente Marcelo Teixeira, do Santos, é um torcedor, que põe dinheiro do bolso no clube. Ele quer títulos, e não manter o clube bem financeiramente", declarou Wagner Ribeiro, empresário do atleta.
Segundo a Folha apurou, a diretoria do PSV reagiu com sarcasmo ao saber dos rumores sobre uma possível oferta de 20 milhões pelo atleta. O clube, na verdade, bancou uma oferta inicial feita pelo futebol italiano.
"A Juventus ofereceu há uns 40 dias US$ 7,5 milhões pelo Robinho. Como já conheço o Marcelo Teixeira, achei melhor nem levar a oferta para o Santos, pois ela é subestimada", afirmou Ribeiro.
A proposta que levaria Robinho ao Ajax seria bancada pelo magnata russo Roman Abramovich -o Chelsea, da Inglaterra, pagaria pelo atacante e o deixaria uma temporada no clube holandês.
Robinho está cada vez mais determinado a jogar na Europa. Logo que despontou no time da Vila Belmiro, manifestou desejo de defender o Barcelona. Romário e Ronaldo foram para a Holanda antes de jogar no time catalão.
"O Robinho vai jogar na Europa, eu garanto. Ele confia em mim, e uma transferência vai ser muito melhor para ele. Mas o Robinho não quer chegar à Europa em um time que só dispute a Champions League. Ele quer um clube que lute pelo título. Hoje, os times holandeses não têm essa força", declarou Ribeiro.
O empresário ganhou fama mundial ao negociar por Kaká, embora a transferência do ex-atleta são-paulino para o Milan tenha sido feita sem intermediários, segundo o time paulista -Kaká saiu por US$ 8,2 milhões.
Ele entende que Robinho e Santos devem aproveitar logo o interesse dos europeus pelo atleta de 20 anos. "O Lyon ofereceu US$ 5,5 milhões pelo Dagoberto [do Atlético-PR], mas agora ninguém vai oferecer nada por ele até pelo menos julho de 2005 [o jogador sofreu grave lesão]. Se sair, será só para 2006", afirmou Ribeiro.
O Santos confirmou o recebimento de proposta do PSV, mas a rechaçou veementemente.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h27
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Antonio Pizzonia viveu ontem um dia de pop star em Interlagos.
Favorito na lista de candidatos à Williams para o ano que vem, o amazonense, 24, foi perseguido por jornalistas desde que pisou no paddock. Animado, falou sobre sua expectativa em português, inglês e até em espanhol.
"Estou esperando o celular tocar", declarou. "Sei que estou no topo da lista, mas nenhuma decisão será tomada nestes dias. Talvez só na semana que vem."
Piloto de testes da Williams, ele deve assumir a vaga que estava destinada a Jenson Button. Anteontem, a FIA vetou a transferência do inglês para a equipe.
Além de Pizzonia, Anthony Davidson, piloto de testes da BAR, e Nick Heidfeld, hoje na Jordan, são candidatos. Pizzonia, ontem, ainda acrescentou outro nome: David Coulthard, da McLaren, que já pilotou um Williams em 94 e 95.
O escocês, por sua vez, fez quase um apelo ao time. "Há uma vaga na Williams, e acho que ninguém é tão bem credenciado como eu. Já fiz poles, já venci corridas, tenho experiência", disse o piloto, dispensado pela McLaren e sem emprego em 2005.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h26
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LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Disgraced striker Adrian Mutu says Chelsea will not sack him for failing a drugs test in training, although he acknowledges he is unlikely to have a future with the London club.

Adrian Mutu: Career in tatters

'I am almost certain Chelsea will not pay my contract during any suspension period I might get,' the Romanian international told British newspapers on Friday. 'But they will not sack me. 'In the meantime I will just have to wait for the decisions which the (English) FA and my club will take. 'Even I find it hard to believe that I might have a future at Chelsea so, most probably, I will have to go back and play in Italy again.'

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h22
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BRUXELAS (Reuters) - O romance da belga Kim Clijsters com o australiano Lleyton Hewitt terminou e eles não se casarão como haviam planejado, disse a tenista na sexta-feira.

"Kim Clijsters e Lleyton Hewitt decidiram juntos finalizar seu relacionamento por motivos pessoais," disse Clijsters em seu site oficial.

A dupla ficou noiva em dezembro de 2003 e no mês passado Clijsters afirmou que planejava um casamento de conto de fada em uma capela belga.A tenista número 10 do mundo disse que ela e Hewitt, de 23 anos, não desejavam especificar suas razões para o fim do compromisso.Clijsters, 21, tem sofrido com lesões no último ano e não jogará até o final desta temporada por causa de uma contusão no pulso no início deste mês.

O número três do mundo Hewitt se retirou do Masters de Madri desta semana antes do início do torneio.Hewitt saiu com Clijsters pela primeira vez em 2000."É triste porque o tênis australiano ama Kim e acho que continuaremos gostando dela, assim como gostamos de Lleyton," disse o ex-jogador da Austrália na Copa Davis John Alexander na sexta-feira.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h19
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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony, who missed Denver's previous game after being cited for marijuana possession, scored 23 points for the Nuggets in a 100-88 preseason victory Thursday night over the Los Angeles Clippers. Anthony, who fouled out in the fourth quarter, reiterated his innocence before the game. He was charged with possessing less than an ounce of pot, discovered in a backpack Friday night as he was boarding a team flight at Denver International Airport. He said an out-of-town friend had borrowed the backpack from him.

``I did not use or intentionally possess marijuana,'' said Anthony, who read a statement to reporters but did not field questions. ``I had no idea that there was marijuana in my backpack. ``I sincerely regret any embarrassment this unfortunate incident has had on my family, supporters and the Denver Nuggets' organization. They have always stood by me, and that means the world to me.''

Anthony's friend, James Cunningham, has admitted to the Denver city attorney's office that the marijuana belonged to him. ``I made a big mistake,'' Cunningham said. ``It was real stupid and foolish. I hope the press that accused him of this crime will put the same effort toward reporting him being innocent.''

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h16
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Q: How did you know you would succeed here?

Owens: I knew playing with Donovan and in this offense ... You know, George Stewart used to tell me ...

Q: Your old receivers coach with the 49ers ...

Owens: Yeah. Two or three years back, he normally tells me, like if I play a good game and have a hundred yards or whatever, sometimes he'll tell me that I left some yards on the table. And that's because I'm not getting up-field, or I'm trying to do too much with the ball once I get it. But I knew there were opportunities where I had guys beat, and Jeff [Garcia] didn't see me. He threw the ball behind me, out of bounds. I left a lot -- a lot -- of touchdowns on the field throughout the last two or three years. I knew if I could play with a guy like this, I could take my talents through the roof.

Q: Was there a moment the last couple of years at a Pro Bowl where you looked McNabb in the eye and said, 'I've just go to play with you?'

Owens: It's funny. I was at a party over there [in Honolulu] and saw [ex-49er mate] Jeff Ulbrich and I was joking with him. I was hugging on Donovan like: 'You're going to see us two. We're going to be playing against you. I was very confident of the possibility of that happening. A lot of other people didn't think so. I remember all the commentary like John Clayton, Sean Salisbury, all those guys, just saying I was an idiot, and I might as well just shut up because I'm a Baltimore Raven. And I'm going to be a Baltimore Raven. But I never wavered from my thought process of where I was really going to go.

Q: As you've watched the first month of the NFL season, McNabb has been one of the top three quarterbacks in football, and Kyle Boller has been awful in Baltimore. You've got to be happy with the fight you put up to get here.

Owens: Yeah, in a way. But it's silently done. I don't have to say much. I knew I was going to have success here. Even when I was in San Fran, I was really trying to get out of there. I mean not only from the standpoint of me justifying the fact that I'm not with Baltimore, but if you look at what Garcia's doing [in Cleveland] ... I mean, I know my ability. That's what I've been trying to get people to understand all along.

Q: A year ago, I came out and said I thought you were everything that was wrong with pro football. This year, you come in and you're doing the community service, and all the stuff PR wants you to do. Is this a honeymoon, or is it your feeling you were misunderstood before?

Owens: All I can tell everybody is, I'm the same guy, just on a different team.

Q: You say in your book, Catch This, that you're not thrilled with the NFL routine. You write, 'Just think how much happier and fresher we'd be if we didn't spend all that time indoors.' You think your time would be better spent doing other things during the week?

Owens: I think so. Sometimes, what we do can be redundant. We should be professionals to handle it. You should know how to do your job.

Q: Do you sometimes find yourself napping here?

Owens: Yeah, I do. (Laughing.) Quite a bit. I mean, I've had my share. My thing is, 'Why keep going over the same thing, over and over?'

Q: You broke your collarbone last season in two places, and not many people knew about it. What happened?

Owens: I broke it in two places. I broke it when we played here [in Philadelphia]. I knew when I hit the ground it was broken. I heard it break.

Q: Intense pain?

Owens: Nah. ... We got back to San Fran, and the next day we had a consultation with the team doctor, and they explained to me it'll heal, just let it heal on its own. You'll be in a sling for a while and I just really wasn't comfortable with it.

Q: So you got a second opinion ... and then surgery. They put a plate in, and a couple of screws to stabilize that. Is that still in?

Owens: Still in ... I was told it would be no more than eight weeks and I'd be completely healed.

Q: Why did nobody ever find out about this surgery? You're an NFL star.

Owens: They can hide whatever they want to hide. I mean, it's tricky ... The 49ers just wanted me -- I guess they wanted me not to heal up and be damaged goods going to somebody else's ballclub.

Q: I don't want to put words in your mouth, but you think a lot of us in the media have made you out to be a monster, don't you?

Owens: In a way. I wrote the book not to prove people wrong but just to get the insight on who I am as a person. I took a different path. Growing up as a little kid, I wasn't always this size. I got picked on a lot. We never went on family vacations. We weren't fortunate enough to have the money or the transportation. I've only been on one vacation ever. I just went to Acapulco before training camp.

Q: You're not a big football fan, are you?

Owens: I'll watch the highlights every now and then but, as far as watching the game, I feel like I am the game. When I go out there and play I just play. I feel like I'm a basketball player in a football uniform.

Q: Have you ever told your friend Mike Vick to be careful out there, so his career lasts?

Owens: Nah. He's like Steve Young was. Later in his career, he'll probably take more caution, but right now he has the speed to outrun guys.

Q: What is it that America doesn't know about you?

Owens: Probably that I'm down to earth. A lot of people think I'm stuck up. Pretty much that I'm arrogant. I only do that when I'm on the field. Off the field I'm down to earth. I'm a very caring person. I'm a very giving person. That's what people don't understand. But they don't go home with me every day. As you get to know me, you kind of figure me out, that I'm not as probably as bad of a guy that I've been reported to be. I'm not that jerk.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h13
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Alonzo Mourning on Thursday went through his first full-contact practice with the New Jersey Nets since undergoing a kidney transplant surgery 10 months ago. Mourning, 34, is attempting to be the second pro athlete to return from a kidney transplant. The first was former San Antonio Spurs swingman Sean Elliott, who played 71 games over two seasons after undergoing a transplant in 1999.

Until Thursday, Mourning had mixed occasional contact drills with strength-training, shooting and weightlifting. ``It is progress,'' Mourning said. ``Every time I think about where I was and where I am today, I don't see too many transplant patients doing what I am doing now in less than a year whether it be kidney, heart, liver, any kind of transplant.''

Mourning, who received the kidney from his cousin and underwent the surgery on Dec. 19, said he was winded after the practice. He wore a temporary kidney protective pad that he broke in himself. The well-defined Mourning punched the prototype plastic pad a few times and broke it. But he said it did the job and will continue to until he gets his permanent one by next week. Mourning said the new pad will be fiberglass, and it won't crack or break. He also said it will be lighter and more flexible.

``Just wearing the prototype with the fragile material on it is doing its job,'' he said. ``So I can imagine what the other stuff is going to do.'' Mourning plays a more physically demanding position than the perimeter-oriented Elliott, so there is a greater risk involved. His attempted comeback would not take place without the pad, which is being made by Nike.

The Nets have been very cautious with Mourning, who was diagnosed in 2000 with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Coach Lawrence Frank has let the 13-year veteran go at his own pace. ``This is uncharted territory, so to speak,'' Frank said. ``But he's got both feet in. It's going to be a process, a little bit each day.''

Mourning, who played only 12 games for the Nets last season, is in no rush to return. The Nets have four preseason games left, and Mourning said he doesn't plan to play in any of them. His goal is not to miss a regular-season game. ``My main objective is to play for the long haul, play 82 games,'' Mourning said. ``That's my main objective. My main objective isn't trying to win a preseason championship.'' The Nets open the season against Miami on Nov. 3.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h09
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CANTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- Legendary quarterback Dan Marino headlines the list of nine first-time nominees for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (chart below).Quarterback Steve Young and wide receiver Michael Irvin were among the other first-time nominees announced Thursday. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue also is among the 89 nominees on the preliminary ballot.

Although he never won a Super Bowl, Marino rewrote the NFL record book in his 16-year career with the Miami Dolphins. The nine-time Pro Bowler holds records for passing yards (61,361), completions (4,967) and touchdown passes (420). He set the single-season mark with 48 touchdown passes in 1984.

Young began his career in the USFL, then entered the NFL in 1985 with Tampa Bay, where he played for two seasons. He eventually replaced Hall of Famer Joe Montana in San Francisco, where he spent the final 13 years of his career.With San Francisco, Young made seven Pro Bowls and led the 49ers to a victory in Super Bowl XXIX, when he threw a record six touchdown passes in a 49-26 victory over San Diego.One of the NFL's best scrambling quarterbacks of all time, Young was forced to retire following the 1999 season due to concussions. He threw for 33,124 yards and 232 touchdowns and added 4,239 rushing yards and 43 TDs in his career.

The brash Irvin was the primary receiver on three Super Bowl-winning teams for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s. He was forced to retire following the 1999 season due to a neck injury.A five-time Pro Bowler, Irvin finished his career with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.

From this preliminary list, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 semifinalists will be announced later next month.The actual voting for induction to the Hall of Fame will be held Feb. 5, the day before Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla. A maximum of six new members will be selected.

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h05
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 David Cornwell, attorney for former Miami Dolphins football player Ricky Williams

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) -- Ricky Williams abruptly retired from the Miami Dolphins last summer because he disagreed with the NFL over a disputed drug test. Williams now wants to play again.Attorney David Cornwell said Thursday the league "took a position regarding that test that we thought was inappropriate."

"What we challenged was the testing and the specimen from last December's testing," Cornwell said after a 90-minute meeting with two NFL officials and a union representative aimed at resuming the star running back's career."It was important to have us all in the same room," Cornwell said. "In the course of the last 10 months, there have been various discussions between the parties. I'm going to make a formal proposal for Ricky to resume his career as soon as possible."My preference is that he was able to play last week."

Williams did not attend the meeting. Cornwell said his client is taking classes in Northern California and refused to elaborate."He had a class today -- I spoke to him right after the meeting," Cornwell said.

An arbitrator ruled last month that Williams, 27, must repay more than $8.6 million to the Dolphins for breaching his contract. Cornwell said as far as he's concerned, that has nothing to do with Williams' desire to return."My assessment is he wants to play football," Cornwell said.The Miami Herald has quoted Williams as saying he has failed three drug tests -- in May 2002, last December, and sometime last spring.

A second positive test calls for a player to be fined his salary for four games and a third results in a four-game suspension without pay.A first or second failed test is not made public.At issue is whether Williams decided to retire as a result of learning he was facing a four-game suspension."I'm not going to go into the specifics of our rationale," Cornwell said. "We had a point of view; the NFL had a different point of view."

That being the case, Cornwell said he didn't believe Williams should face a suspension upon returning."Ricky made the decision to retire. Clearly, Ricky overreacted as things unfolded," Cornwell said. "But for that misunderstanding, he would not have retired. This was a human who had a particularly emotional reaction to a set of circumstances."I've seen hundreds of reports concerning what this was about. None of them are right. As far as I know, he never wanted to stop playing football. The issue was not whether he wanted to play football. The issue was the implications of his continuing to play football."After announcing his retirement, Williams told the Herald his desire to continue smoking marijuana played a role in his decision to stop playing after five NFL seasons -- three with New Orleans and two with the Dolphins.

Williams rushed for 3,225 yards in two seasons with the Dolphins, currently the NFL's only winless team with an 0-6 record.

Cornwell said he wasn't qualified to say if Williams was in playing shape, but added: "I think he looks great. I think his mood is excellent. I view him as being in great spirits, very engaged in this process, anxious to get back at it."Asked if Williams wanted to return to the Dolphins, Cornwell replied: "He's under contract with the Dolphins and wants to play football."Regarding the anger some Miami players have expressed over Williams' abrupt retirement, Cornwell said: "I think that he realizes there is some reaching out to do. He also recognizes that has to be done privately."

Escrito por fraja8 às 08h02
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ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Faced with a 1-2 count, Albert Pujols had Roger Clemens just where he wanted him. The Cardinals' star came through just as he had so many times in his career, driving a game-tying RBI double in the sixth inning of St. Louis' NL championship series-clinching 5-2 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 7 on Thursday night.

It was pretty much the pitch Clemens wanted, too, a fastball up and in. ``He should have jammed 90 percent of the hitters,'' Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. ``Albert was able to stay inside and hit it hard, hit it fair. I mean, that's just great hitting.

``Not many guys have that type of stroke.'' Pujols does. He won a batting title last year with a .359 average, he's one of only three players to drive in 100 runs in his first four years and he is the only player to hit 30 homers in his first four years. And in the NLCS, he had a gaudy .500 average, four homers and nine RBIs.

Pujols, the NL MVP runner-up the last two seasons, was an obvious choice as the MVP of the NLCS after leading the Cardinals to their first World Series in 17 years. They'll play the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 on Saturday night. ``It's every little boy's dream,'' Pujols said. ``I'm glad to have won the MVP, but that trophy is going to stay right in this room. Because everybody here is MVP.''

In the first five innings, the 42-year-old Clemens, the Astros' ace, stymied the NL's best offense, limiting them to one run on three hits. In the sixth, Pujols' double punctured Clemens' mystique and erased Houston's 2-1 lead. ``The last at-bat against Clemens is one of the best,'' Pujols said. ``I think I'm going to keep dreaming about it for the next couple of weeks. ``He didn't make a bad pitch. Just thank the Lord my hands came through.''

Scott Rolen drove the next pitch from the rattled Clemens over the left-field wall for a 4-2 lead. ``I don't know if I was rolling but I sure was trying to make two runs hold up,'' Clemens said. ``I thought we would add on if I could keep them at bay there, but they got a couple of big hits.''

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ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The rollicking sea of red certainly helped.More than the hometown hootin' and hollerin', what really sent the St. Louis Cardinals charging into the World Series were the booming bats of MVP Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen.

Desperate for a big hit against Roger Clemens, they delivered. Pujols lined a tying double, Rolen followed with a home run and the Cardinals suddenly erupted to startle the Houston Astros 5-2 Thursday night in Game 7 of the NL championship series.

"It's every little boy's dream. I'm glad to have won the MVP, but that trophy is going to stay right in this room because everybody here is MVP," Pujols said.

In the only best-of-seven LCS matchup where the home team won each time, the Cardinals broke through in the sixth inning. Surrounded by a swell of fans wearing red from head to toe, St. Louis took the lead in a span of only two pitches.

"There's no doubt that the enthusiasm of the crowds in both places was a factor in the games. Adrenaline starts kicking in and you get stronger and faster," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Jeff Suppan overcame a leadoff home run by Craig Biggio to win an apparent mismatch against Clemens, helped by a stunning catch from center fielder Jim Edmonds. The bullpen combined for three scoreless innings, shutting down Carlos Beltran and Co., with Jason Isringhausen working the ninth for his third save.

"You know there are so many people depending on this right arm to get it done," Clemens said. "I really felt good about our chances tonight. It just didn't work out."After posting 105 wins and running away with the NL Central, the Cardinals advanced to their first World Series under La Russa, and first overall since 1987.

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GENEVA (Reuters) - U.S. soccer's most expensive player, teenage prodigy Freddy Adu, has won his cybersquatting case against a man who claimed to be preparing a fan-based Web Site, an international arbitrator ruled on Thursday.

Adu, a Ghanaian-born 15-year-old who plays for Washington's DC United, filed a complaint against Frank Fushille, a soccer fan who registered the domain name freddyadu.com in 2002. Richard Lyon, an arbitrator appointed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ordered the domain name transferred to Adu after ruling that Fushille had acted in bad faith.

Fushille had contacted Adu's agent seeking majority ownernship of the disputed site, participation in corporate advertising negotiations and admission to all matches. Italy's Francesco Totti, Dutch defender Jaap Stam and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole are among other soccer players to have won decisions at WIPO, a United Nations agency offering a fast-track, low-cost procedure to resolve domain name disputes.

Adu -- the highest paid player in professional U.S. soccer after being the first pick in Major League Soccer's superdraft -- also successfully claimed his name had trademark protection even if it was not formally registered, the ruling said. A domain name is automatically transferred within 10 days unless the loser launches a court case challenging the decision.

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Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Mexico plans to host its first Grand Prix for 14 years in 2006 after more than 12 months of talks yielded an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One's commercial rights manager. Unidentified businessmen will invest $100 million in a new circuit at Cancun under a five-year contract between the Quintana Roo state government and Ecclestone's Formula One Management Ltd., state tourism minister Artemio Santos said. Ecclestone didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

``This is very good news for Mexico and the state of Quintana Roo,'' Santos said in a telephone interview from Cancun. ``Formula One will promote both.''

Quintana Roo is betting that hosting the most-watched motor sport will boost tourism revenue in Cancun, a coastal resort in southeast Mexico. Last year's Canadian Grand Prix generated more than C$50 million ($40.1 million) for Montreal, the city's tourism board said. As many as 60,000 tourists may come to the Mexico race, Santos said. The indentities of the local businessmen funding the 100,000- seat stadium will be revealed at a news conference in Mexico City on Monday, he added. Mexico hosted the last of its 15 Formula One races at a circuit in Mexico City in 1992. The Cancun track will need approval from the sport's ruling body, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, before joining the roster.

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Ten reasons why fans at Old Trafford should back the entrepreneur

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Roma (Itália) - O presidente do Comitê Olímpico Internacional está pressionando o premiê italiano Silvio Berlusconi a incentivar o apoio das empresas e do público às Olimpíadas de Inverno de Turim-2006. Em uma reunião nesta quinta-feira, Jacques Rogge pediu melhora na divulgação dos Jogos em toda a Itália e mais acesso ao mundo empresarial, o que atrairia patrocínios. Também pediu mais integração entre os vários comitês envolvidos na preparação do evento. Mesmo assim, o presidente do COI garante que sua entidade 'confia plenamente que os Jogos de Turim serão um grande sucesso.' O Comitê demonstra pr