At the risk of sounding like an insensitive clod, I have absolutely no sympathy for Toronto Blue Jays fans.
True, the Jays are wrapping up a season that will mark the 17th NFL jerseys straight year of missing the playoffs. But there's no excuse for the embarrassingly low crowd counts at Rogers Centre in September and as the Jays wrap up their home schedule this weekend, there are plenty of good reasons to head to the ballpark one more time before the snow flies and the Leafs begin to break your heart.
1. Friday night, Jays fans who profess their love for Roy Halladay get the chance to see the Doc operate for (where have we heard this before?) what could be the final time at home in a Jays uniform.
I know, I know...that card was already tossed around like an over-ripe salad at the trade deadline. However, a deal for Doc could go down over the winter and if you miss Halladay's start against the Mariners on Friday, you'll be kicking yourself when he reports for spring training in February wearing Cardinals colours...or Red Sox...or White Sox.
You know the drill.
2. With the Mariners in town, Halladay won't be the only future Hall-of-Famer on the field this weekend.
The Mighty Ichiro brings his magical bat to Toronto having just set a Major League record by chalking up 200 hits for the ninth consecutive season; and he's put up those impressive numbers with a highly unorthodox swing.
"If you were teaching a kid how to hit, you'd never ask them to copy Ichiro," said Rogers Sportsnet analyst Pat Tabler. "But he's got the best hand-eye co-ordination of any hitter you're ever going to see."
Like Halladay, unfortunately, Ichiro has had the misfortune of playing for a mediocre ball club over the years. In fact, the only time he's been to the post-season was during his 2001 rookie campaign.
And how did Ichiro do?
He played 10 games and hit a cool .421; just another routine performance for one of the true legends of the game.
3. There was a time when Blue Jays fans believed that Vernon Wells was on his way to becoming a living legend. Then, he put his name on a certain seven-year, $126 -million dollar contract, and the rest (along with his bat) was history.
But just when you thought you'd have one final opportunity this season to bash V-Dub for his big bucks and small production, he goes on a sudden tear and has been the hottest hitter in the majors since September 6th.
So, with that in mind, be prepared to give Vernon his due when you heckle him this weekend.
"You suck, Wells! Except, of course, when the games are meaningless and we're 30 games out of first place!"
4. While you wonder where Wells has been all season, you can also play a rousing rendition of "Where's Waldo?" during the Jays-Mariners series.
For the purposes of this exercise, we'll call it "Where's the Beest?" as people keep their eyes peeled for Jays interim CEO Paul Beeston.
There is a catch, however.
Beeston, you see, is said to be on vacation.
Geesh!
Even the team’s CEO doesn't want to stick around and watch these guys play.
In Beeston's defence, there are reports that he's finally found someone willing to become the fulltime president and let's hope he's spending some of his holiday time finalizing a deal with the poor sap...uh, make that saviour.
Still, interim boss or not, it's a lousy message to skip town for the final home stand of the year while asking fans to come out and support a club going nowhere.
5. Finally, the best reason of all to head to Rogers Centre this weekend.
With the Jays at home for the final time this year, Toronto fans can at least be thankful that they don't have to watch the Argos.
2010年5月15日星期六
2010年5月14日星期五
Injecting some truth
No need to cry, big guy. We’re betting it did not come as a huge surprise to her or anyone else.
Mark McGwire admits to steroid and Human Growth Hormone use.
In other news, fire is hot. NHL jerseys
"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids," he said in … (wait for it) … a statement to A.P. "I had good years when I didn’t take any and I had bad years when I didn’t take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn’t have done it and for that I’m truly sorry."
Mark McGwire’s voice "cracked with emotion" when he relayed to respected Associated Press reporter Ronald Blum how he had to tell his wife and family that, yes, he had used steroids.
"It's the first time they’ve ever heard me, you know, talk about this," McGwire said. "I hid it from everybody."
"I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off-season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the nineties, including during the 1998 season."
McGwire’s hope is to undo all the lies that he has lived with since he sat down in front of that U.S. congressional committee in 2005 and refused to admit then what he is admitting to now.
Who among us wouldn’t have bet that McGwire had gone needle for needle with all of those guys from his era: Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, A-Rod, Roger Clemens …?
It was the worst-kept secret in sports. But today, McGwire felt the need to come clean -- with the AP statement, a follow-up interview with Blum, and a further interview set for Monday evening on the player-friendly MLB TV.
"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago," is how McGwire began his statement -- which in this business is a way to get your version of the news out there without having to face any media scrutiny, or verify any facts.
But is he telling the truth even now? Do you get that big, that powerful by using steroids "on occasion through the nineties?"
Not even close, pal. You get the results that McGwire got by sticking to a rigorous drug program administered by a physician with expertise in the field.
Ben Johnson had Dr. Jamie Astaphan. Bonds had BALCO’s Victor Conte.
And you’re telling us, Mark, that you did it all yourself? "Occasionally" pulling out the steroids and firing up a syringe?
Personally, too many athletes made the steroid "mistake" to carry a grudge. We forgive all of them.
It is the ones like Bonds, Clemens and McGwire who we just do not like. Not because of the steroids, but because of the lies.
Watch McGwire on TV Monday night. We’re betting that, even in his moment of truth and great revelation, he won’t let the facts get in the way of a great apology.
He also goes down that well travelled road, claiming that after a laundry list of injuries that occurred during the mid-90s, McGwire turned to steroids "to help me recover faster." The greater likelihood is that all the steroids he consumed in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s were at the root of all of those injuries.
But, in the end, he has come clean. And we’re all supposed to begin the process of falling over ourselves to commend his courage, and forgive his mistakes.
Mark McGwire admits to steroid and Human Growth Hormone use.
In other news, fire is hot. NHL jerseys
"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids," he said in … (wait for it) … a statement to A.P. "I had good years when I didn’t take any and I had bad years when I didn’t take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn’t have done it and for that I’m truly sorry."
Mark McGwire’s voice "cracked with emotion" when he relayed to respected Associated Press reporter Ronald Blum how he had to tell his wife and family that, yes, he had used steroids.
"It's the first time they’ve ever heard me, you know, talk about this," McGwire said. "I hid it from everybody."
"I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off-season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the nineties, including during the 1998 season."
McGwire’s hope is to undo all the lies that he has lived with since he sat down in front of that U.S. congressional committee in 2005 and refused to admit then what he is admitting to now.
Who among us wouldn’t have bet that McGwire had gone needle for needle with all of those guys from his era: Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, A-Rod, Roger Clemens …?
It was the worst-kept secret in sports. But today, McGwire felt the need to come clean -- with the AP statement, a follow-up interview with Blum, and a further interview set for Monday evening on the player-friendly MLB TV.
"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago," is how McGwire began his statement -- which in this business is a way to get your version of the news out there without having to face any media scrutiny, or verify any facts.
But is he telling the truth even now? Do you get that big, that powerful by using steroids "on occasion through the nineties?"
Not even close, pal. You get the results that McGwire got by sticking to a rigorous drug program administered by a physician with expertise in the field.
Ben Johnson had Dr. Jamie Astaphan. Bonds had BALCO’s Victor Conte.
And you’re telling us, Mark, that you did it all yourself? "Occasionally" pulling out the steroids and firing up a syringe?
Personally, too many athletes made the steroid "mistake" to carry a grudge. We forgive all of them.
It is the ones like Bonds, Clemens and McGwire who we just do not like. Not because of the steroids, but because of the lies.
Watch McGwire on TV Monday night. We’re betting that, even in his moment of truth and great revelation, he won’t let the facts get in the way of a great apology.
He also goes down that well travelled road, claiming that after a laundry list of injuries that occurred during the mid-90s, McGwire turned to steroids "to help me recover faster." The greater likelihood is that all the steroids he consumed in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s were at the root of all of those injuries.
But, in the end, he has come clean. And we’re all supposed to begin the process of falling over ourselves to commend his courage, and forgive his mistakes.
2010年5月11日星期二
The Mendes Diaries
On the surface, a day-trip to Manhattan to rub elbows with the most powerful men in hockey sounds like a glamorous job.
I'll let you be the judge, as I chronicle my trip from Ottawa to New York and back within 19 hours.
4:25am - Wake up fresh as a daisy, after getting four hours of sleep. Would someone remind me why it wise to stay up until midnight watching Seinfeld re-runs I've seen 12 times before? My iPod alarm clock randomly chooses a Wiggles song to wake me up. No matter how cool I might try to seem on the surface, I have "Hot Potato" on my iPod.
5:25am - Check into U.S. customs and try not to laugh when I tell the agent I'm going to Manhattan to sit in a hotel lobby for 8 hours and then I'll be flying back to Ottawa this evening.
8:05am - Roll into the Westin Times Square in Manhattan. One by one, the league execs, team presidents and owners roll in. Given the demographic and combined earnings of these guys walking by, I better make sure this is the NHL board of governors meeting and not a Republican fundraiser.
9:44am - Brian Burke, David Poile and Glen Sather all walk together down the hall and disappear around a corner. This can only mean a three-way trade amongst the clubs is imminent. You heard it here first: Shea Weber-for-Corey Perry-for-Stephen Valiquette. (The No. 1 rule for starting a three-way trade rumour is to make sure one of the teams is totally getting screwed.)
10:02am - The meeting is now underway. I think it would be funny if we had a hidden microphone in the room, so we could hear everything going on inside. I even had the plan all set up. I would hug Flyers majority owner Ed Snider (because he seems so huggable) when he walked into the hotel. I would say, "Come here you big lug, I haven't seen you since Roman Cechmanek melted down." Then, when we were in the middle of an awkward embrace, I would slip the mic inside his jacket pocket. I will definitely try this tactic at the next board of governors meeting I attend.
10:22am - I notice Cam Neely is one of the attendees at the meeting. I wonder how many of the old guard NHL guys know they are sitting at a table with a guy who was in Dumb and Dumber.
11:45am - The lunch carts roll outside the meeting room. I can't tell what they are having for lunch, but until I see the board of governors eating flatbread sammies from Quizno's, I'm going to just assume the league is on solid financial ground and the cap is going up next year.
1:05pm - When you spend the day at an upscale Manhattan hotel, you can expect to rub elbows with some celebrities. Last time I was here, Catherine Zeta-Jones was filming a movie at my hotel. No such luck today with the celebrities. Although I'm pretty sure one of the hotel bellhops is Wesley from Mr. Belvedere.
3:55pm - After spending two hours aimlessly surfing the web (you don't want to know what my Google search engine has in its memory cache now), we get word the meeting is over. But as the doors open to the room, various GMs, owners and presidents transform from stiff office types into swift and graceful athletes as they push past us to the exit. "Sorry - got a plane to catch," is the number one slogan of anyone who doesn't want to speak with the media. I don't think I would win a foot race with Pierre Lacroix if he had a plane to catch.
4:18pm - I give Brian Burke a ton of credit for not making me eat my microphone after I had to ask him his obligatory Leaf-related conspiracy qestion of the day.
4:33pm - I shoot a one-on-one interview with Gary Bettman. But I actually screw up 15 seconds into the interview and have to restart. Bettman grabs the mic and says, "Maybe I should be asking the questions." Now Bettman takes a lot of heat from hockey fans, but I will say this about him: He's the most down-to-earth and approachable commissioner of a major sport in North America. (BTW: There is no sarcastic punch line here. I actually really enjoy dealing with Bettman.)
6:22pm - Pull into Air Canada check-in line at LaGuardia and find out my flight home has been cancelled. I'm advised to book a new flight for the morning and book an overnight hotel. Now I'm generally a lazy person by nature. I struggle to take out the garbage every Sunday night. But for some strange reason, I love a good airport challenge. I don't intend to go quietly tonight.
8:21pm - After convincing them to make me a standby passenger on the last flight out to Toronto, I watch as the plane gets loaded up and they don't call my name. In a last ditch effort, I go up to the counter and ask if there is one more seat open by chance after everyone is on board. And for some bizarre reason - there is one seat left. So I grab my boarding pass and resist the urge to look back at the other 50 standby passengers and do a sneak preview of my Lotto 6/49 dance.
9:55pm - I land in Toronto and have exactly 23 minutes to clear customs, security and make my connection to Ottawa. Suddenly, I'm the one running through a crowded hallway at full speed yelling, "Sorry - got a plane to catch." It really is empowering. You should try it sometime.
11:17pm - Plane safely touches down in Ottawa, thus concluding my 19-hour day. I can't wait for the NHL Draft festivities to start here in Ottawa on Thursday, so I can camp out in a hotel lobby NHL Jerseys
and rub elbows with NHL executives.
I'll let you be the judge, as I chronicle my trip from Ottawa to New York and back within 19 hours.
4:25am - Wake up fresh as a daisy, after getting four hours of sleep. Would someone remind me why it wise to stay up until midnight watching Seinfeld re-runs I've seen 12 times before? My iPod alarm clock randomly chooses a Wiggles song to wake me up. No matter how cool I might try to seem on the surface, I have "Hot Potato" on my iPod.
5:25am - Check into U.S. customs and try not to laugh when I tell the agent I'm going to Manhattan to sit in a hotel lobby for 8 hours and then I'll be flying back to Ottawa this evening.
8:05am - Roll into the Westin Times Square in Manhattan. One by one, the league execs, team presidents and owners roll in. Given the demographic and combined earnings of these guys walking by, I better make sure this is the NHL board of governors meeting and not a Republican fundraiser.
9:44am - Brian Burke, David Poile and Glen Sather all walk together down the hall and disappear around a corner. This can only mean a three-way trade amongst the clubs is imminent. You heard it here first: Shea Weber-for-Corey Perry-for-Stephen Valiquette. (The No. 1 rule for starting a three-way trade rumour is to make sure one of the teams is totally getting screwed.)
10:02am - The meeting is now underway. I think it would be funny if we had a hidden microphone in the room, so we could hear everything going on inside. I even had the plan all set up. I would hug Flyers majority owner Ed Snider (because he seems so huggable) when he walked into the hotel. I would say, "Come here you big lug, I haven't seen you since Roman Cechmanek melted down." Then, when we were in the middle of an awkward embrace, I would slip the mic inside his jacket pocket. I will definitely try this tactic at the next board of governors meeting I attend.
10:22am - I notice Cam Neely is one of the attendees at the meeting. I wonder how many of the old guard NHL guys know they are sitting at a table with a guy who was in Dumb and Dumber.
11:45am - The lunch carts roll outside the meeting room. I can't tell what they are having for lunch, but until I see the board of governors eating flatbread sammies from Quizno's, I'm going to just assume the league is on solid financial ground and the cap is going up next year.
1:05pm - When you spend the day at an upscale Manhattan hotel, you can expect to rub elbows with some celebrities. Last time I was here, Catherine Zeta-Jones was filming a movie at my hotel. No such luck today with the celebrities. Although I'm pretty sure one of the hotel bellhops is Wesley from Mr. Belvedere.
3:55pm - After spending two hours aimlessly surfing the web (you don't want to know what my Google search engine has in its memory cache now), we get word the meeting is over. But as the doors open to the room, various GMs, owners and presidents transform from stiff office types into swift and graceful athletes as they push past us to the exit. "Sorry - got a plane to catch," is the number one slogan of anyone who doesn't want to speak with the media. I don't think I would win a foot race with Pierre Lacroix if he had a plane to catch.
4:18pm - I give Brian Burke a ton of credit for not making me eat my microphone after I had to ask him his obligatory Leaf-related conspiracy qestion of the day.
4:33pm - I shoot a one-on-one interview with Gary Bettman. But I actually screw up 15 seconds into the interview and have to restart. Bettman grabs the mic and says, "Maybe I should be asking the questions." Now Bettman takes a lot of heat from hockey fans, but I will say this about him: He's the most down-to-earth and approachable commissioner of a major sport in North America. (BTW: There is no sarcastic punch line here. I actually really enjoy dealing with Bettman.)
6:22pm - Pull into Air Canada check-in line at LaGuardia and find out my flight home has been cancelled. I'm advised to book a new flight for the morning and book an overnight hotel. Now I'm generally a lazy person by nature. I struggle to take out the garbage every Sunday night. But for some strange reason, I love a good airport challenge. I don't intend to go quietly tonight.
8:21pm - After convincing them to make me a standby passenger on the last flight out to Toronto, I watch as the plane gets loaded up and they don't call my name. In a last ditch effort, I go up to the counter and ask if there is one more seat open by chance after everyone is on board. And for some bizarre reason - there is one seat left. So I grab my boarding pass and resist the urge to look back at the other 50 standby passengers and do a sneak preview of my Lotto 6/49 dance.
9:55pm - I land in Toronto and have exactly 23 minutes to clear customs, security and make my connection to Ottawa. Suddenly, I'm the one running through a crowded hallway at full speed yelling, "Sorry - got a plane to catch." It really is empowering. You should try it sometime.
11:17pm - Plane safely touches down in Ottawa, thus concluding my 19-hour day. I can't wait for the NHL Draft festivities to start here in Ottawa on Thursday, so I can camp out in a hotel lobby NHL Jerseys
and rub elbows with NHL executives.
2010年5月10日星期一
Not my Cup of tea
As I'm on my way to Soccer jerseys San Jose, I was going to write about Dany Heatley. But sitting in the Toronto airport waiting for my connection to the west coast on Sunday night, I was struck by something as I ate my chicken fingers inside the pub: Not a single TV was tuned into the Grey Cup.
All the sets were showing a variety of football games, including everyone's favourite: Tennessee and Arizona. But even as the clock passed 6:30 p.m. ET, not a single person in the bar made a noise to change the channel.
And then it dawned on me: I wouldn't switch an NFL game for the Grey Cup either.
You would think I would be the perfect candidate for the CFL. I'm a huge sports fan inside that coveted 18-34 demographic that makes marketing wizards drool.
But quite frankly, I've never really watched the CFL and I probably never will.
The thing is, there is an alarming number of young men in the same situation as me. They are huge football fans, but have no time for the CFL or the Grey Cup.
Why is that?
I can't speak for everyone else, but here are my top 10 reasons why I don't make an effort to watch the Grey Cup every year.
I've had a hard time writing a blog since I came home from the World Series.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I was talking to Kurt Russell in a room where Derek Jeter was spraying his teammates with champagne.
Coming back to cover the Senators and Devils was a cold slap in the face. But I've now mentally recovered and I'm ready to re-enter the blogosphere.
I've yet to do the hard research or get someone to crunch the numbers, but if your dad wasn't a CFL fan, there is a less than three per cent chance that you will grow up following the game. Factor in that we didn't grow up with any family members in the Prairies and it's pretty much a recipe for a non-CFL household.
I can usually convince my wife to watch some of the Super Bowl by enticing her with the potential for a vast array of witty commercials. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Grey Cup. In the past, I could at least get worked up and angry about the Canadian Tire guy.
But ever since he's left the picture, the advertising scene in Canada has been relegated to a series of lame commercials about windshield replacements, mixed in with the latest offering from Tim Hortons.
I wonder what the new soup of the month will be - French Onion or Creamy Broccoli? The suspense is killing me.
7 - Wrong network.
The game is on TSN and I'm contractually obliged to not watch anything that airs on that network. In fact, just by mentioning their name in this blog, I now have to do Rogers a favour and upgrade my cable package and subscribe to Chatelaine.
6 - The memory test.
The other day, someone was trying to remember who was in last year's Grey Cup. I said I couldn't remember and they were asking the wrong guy. After a few moments, someone said it was the Stampeders and Alouettes and the game was played in Montreal.
Here's the crazy thing: I COVERED the game and completely forgot about it. The games have no staying power in my mind.
CFL fans will always tell you that the Grey Cup game is closer and more exciting than the Super Bowl. That used to be true when the 49ers were blowing out shady Stan Humphries and the Chargers, but it's not the case any more.
The last six Grey Cups have been decided by an average of eight points. The last six Super Bowls have been even tighter - decided by six points on average. And recent Super Bowls have come down to the last two minutes, making household names out of David Tyree, Santonio Holmes and Adam Viniteri.
CFL fans have lost their top argument as to why the Grey Cup is better than the Super Bowl.
CFL fans will tell you that the greatest Grey Cup game ever played was the 1989 tilt between Hamilton and Saskatchewan. Dave Ridgeway kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to give his team a 43-40 win.
But here's what CFL supporters tend to forget: If Ridgeway misses that kick and puts it thru the end zone, his team still would have won 41-40. And how weird would that celebration have been? One of these years, a Grey Cup will be decided by a single-point missed field goal and all hell will break loose.
Every year, my buddy Sean has a Super Bowl party and it's become pretty much an annual tradition. But I've never been invited to a Grey Cup party in my life. Am I hanging around the wrong people? Are my friends secretly having Grey Cup parties behind my back?
Doubtful on both counts.
Why don't the majority of sports fans my age throw Grey Cup parties?
Somebody please answer.
My most vivid Grey Cup memory involves a beer can being thrown at Rocket Ismail when he was returning a kick for a TD back in 1991. I'm not sure
All the sets were showing a variety of football games, including everyone's favourite: Tennessee and Arizona. But even as the clock passed 6:30 p.m. ET, not a single person in the bar made a noise to change the channel.
And then it dawned on me: I wouldn't switch an NFL game for the Grey Cup either.
You would think I would be the perfect candidate for the CFL. I'm a huge sports fan inside that coveted 18-34 demographic that makes marketing wizards drool.
But quite frankly, I've never really watched the CFL and I probably never will.
The thing is, there is an alarming number of young men in the same situation as me. They are huge football fans, but have no time for the CFL or the Grey Cup.
Why is that?
I can't speak for everyone else, but here are my top 10 reasons why I don't make an effort to watch the Grey Cup every year.
I've had a hard time writing a blog since I came home from the World Series.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I was talking to Kurt Russell in a room where Derek Jeter was spraying his teammates with champagne.
Coming back to cover the Senators and Devils was a cold slap in the face. But I've now mentally recovered and I'm ready to re-enter the blogosphere.
I've yet to do the hard research or get someone to crunch the numbers, but if your dad wasn't a CFL fan, there is a less than three per cent chance that you will grow up following the game. Factor in that we didn't grow up with any family members in the Prairies and it's pretty much a recipe for a non-CFL household.
I can usually convince my wife to watch some of the Super Bowl by enticing her with the potential for a vast array of witty commercials. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Grey Cup. In the past, I could at least get worked up and angry about the Canadian Tire guy.
But ever since he's left the picture, the advertising scene in Canada has been relegated to a series of lame commercials about windshield replacements, mixed in with the latest offering from Tim Hortons.
I wonder what the new soup of the month will be - French Onion or Creamy Broccoli? The suspense is killing me.
7 - Wrong network.
The game is on TSN and I'm contractually obliged to not watch anything that airs on that network. In fact, just by mentioning their name in this blog, I now have to do Rogers a favour and upgrade my cable package and subscribe to Chatelaine.
6 - The memory test.
The other day, someone was trying to remember who was in last year's Grey Cup. I said I couldn't remember and they were asking the wrong guy. After a few moments, someone said it was the Stampeders and Alouettes and the game was played in Montreal.
Here's the crazy thing: I COVERED the game and completely forgot about it. The games have no staying power in my mind.
CFL fans will always tell you that the Grey Cup game is closer and more exciting than the Super Bowl. That used to be true when the 49ers were blowing out shady Stan Humphries and the Chargers, but it's not the case any more.
The last six Grey Cups have been decided by an average of eight points. The last six Super Bowls have been even tighter - decided by six points on average. And recent Super Bowls have come down to the last two minutes, making household names out of David Tyree, Santonio Holmes and Adam Viniteri.
CFL fans have lost their top argument as to why the Grey Cup is better than the Super Bowl.
CFL fans will tell you that the greatest Grey Cup game ever played was the 1989 tilt between Hamilton and Saskatchewan. Dave Ridgeway kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired to give his team a 43-40 win.
But here's what CFL supporters tend to forget: If Ridgeway misses that kick and puts it thru the end zone, his team still would have won 41-40. And how weird would that celebration have been? One of these years, a Grey Cup will be decided by a single-point missed field goal and all hell will break loose.
Every year, my buddy Sean has a Super Bowl party and it's become pretty much an annual tradition. But I've never been invited to a Grey Cup party in my life. Am I hanging around the wrong people? Are my friends secretly having Grey Cup parties behind my back?
Doubtful on both counts.
Why don't the majority of sports fans my age throw Grey Cup parties?
Somebody please answer.
My most vivid Grey Cup memory involves a beer can being thrown at Rocket Ismail when he was returning a kick for a TD back in 1991. I'm not sure
2010年5月9日星期日
Carolina to host 2011 NHL All-Star game
Next year's game originally was to be played in World Cup Soccer Jersey Phoenix, but when the Coyotes filed for bankruptcy, the league re-opened its options. Bettman estimated that 14 teams applied either to host All-Star games from 2011-13 or upcoming NHL drafts.
Telling the other franchises that "your time will come," Bettman said awarding the game to Carolina "is a testimony to the strength of this franchise."
Bettman credited the metropolitan Raleigh area for making the improvements to the infrastructure and taking care of several other questions the league had. He cited a renovated airport terminal, a new 500,000-square-foot convention center that opened in September 2008, and the addition of nearly 800 four- and five-star hotel rooms in the past three years.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The NHL awarded the 2011 All-Star game to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, coming through on a pledge commissioner Gary Bettman once made to the franchise.
"You have all been asking me for years when the All-Star game was coming to Raleigh," Bettman told a crowd of about 1,000 Hurricanes fans who packed the RBC Center's lawn. "I did make a promise a number of years ago. So, today, I will fulfill that promise."
The commissioner also downplayed concerns about the relatively quick turnaround time between the announcement and the game. The area won't have the luxury of a few years of lead time to prepare for the game, which is set for Jan. 30, 2011.
Staging it in Raleigh "was never far from our radar screen, and we didn't have to, if you will, tax ourselves with an All-Star game this past February, for obvious reasons," said Bettman, alluding to the Vancouver Olympics. "We're ready to go. ... It was just a question of lining it up and saying, 'Now's the time.' We think the time was right, the bid was right, the promise needed to be fulfilled."
In their 11 seasons since moving from Hartford, the Hurricanes have been no strangers to some of the league's marquee events.
They played host to the 2004 NHL draft, won the Stanley Cup in 2006, reached the Cup final in 2002 and last year made their third appearance in the Eastern Conference final. The rabid "Caniac" fan base has become famous for staging college football-style tailgate parties before games, then making the arena one of the loudest in the NHL.
"You're known for doing your tailgating, and I'm pleased to give you an excuse to do some more," Bettman said.
"There has never been a time when we didn't need an All-Star game, and I think almost every other sports team owner would tell you the same thing," he said. "It's very important to us to build our season-ticket base, and this will help us do it. But the franchise was doing very well without the All-Star game."
Count three-time All-Star Eric Staal among those hoping to skate along with Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and the rest of the league's best players in a familiar environment.
"I want to make sure I'm having a great start next season so I can be a part of it and get a loud ovation in our building," Staal said.
Scott Dupree, vice president for sports marketing for the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, estimated that the game will have an economic impact of $10 million to $20 million for the area. Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. expects it to provide a jolt to the franchise's season-ticket numbers.
Carolina plays Montreal on Thursday night in its home finale. Through 40 home games, the Hurricanes are averaging 15,154 fans _ on pace for their worst regular-season average since the lockout _ during a disappointing, injury-riddled season in which the Hurricanes spent a few weeks as the NHL's worst team and have been eliminated from the playoff race.
Telling the other franchises that "your time will come," Bettman said awarding the game to Carolina "is a testimony to the strength of this franchise."
Bettman credited the metropolitan Raleigh area for making the improvements to the infrastructure and taking care of several other questions the league had. He cited a renovated airport terminal, a new 500,000-square-foot convention center that opened in September 2008, and the addition of nearly 800 four- and five-star hotel rooms in the past three years.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The NHL awarded the 2011 All-Star game to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, coming through on a pledge commissioner Gary Bettman once made to the franchise.
"You have all been asking me for years when the All-Star game was coming to Raleigh," Bettman told a crowd of about 1,000 Hurricanes fans who packed the RBC Center's lawn. "I did make a promise a number of years ago. So, today, I will fulfill that promise."
The commissioner also downplayed concerns about the relatively quick turnaround time between the announcement and the game. The area won't have the luxury of a few years of lead time to prepare for the game, which is set for Jan. 30, 2011.
Staging it in Raleigh "was never far from our radar screen, and we didn't have to, if you will, tax ourselves with an All-Star game this past February, for obvious reasons," said Bettman, alluding to the Vancouver Olympics. "We're ready to go. ... It was just a question of lining it up and saying, 'Now's the time.' We think the time was right, the bid was right, the promise needed to be fulfilled."
In their 11 seasons since moving from Hartford, the Hurricanes have been no strangers to some of the league's marquee events.
They played host to the 2004 NHL draft, won the Stanley Cup in 2006, reached the Cup final in 2002 and last year made their third appearance in the Eastern Conference final. The rabid "Caniac" fan base has become famous for staging college football-style tailgate parties before games, then making the arena one of the loudest in the NHL.
"You're known for doing your tailgating, and I'm pleased to give you an excuse to do some more," Bettman said.
"There has never been a time when we didn't need an All-Star game, and I think almost every other sports team owner would tell you the same thing," he said. "It's very important to us to build our season-ticket base, and this will help us do it. But the franchise was doing very well without the All-Star game."
Count three-time All-Star Eric Staal among those hoping to skate along with Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and the rest of the league's best players in a familiar environment.
"I want to make sure I'm having a great start next season so I can be a part of it and get a loud ovation in our building," Staal said.
Scott Dupree, vice president for sports marketing for the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, estimated that the game will have an economic impact of $10 million to $20 million for the area. Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. expects it to provide a jolt to the franchise's season-ticket numbers.
Carolina plays Montreal on Thursday night in its home finale. Through 40 home games, the Hurricanes are averaging 15,154 fans _ on pace for their worst regular-season average since the lockout _ during a disappointing, injury-riddled season in which the Hurricanes spent a few weeks as the NHL's worst team and have been eliminated from the playoff race.
2010年5月8日星期六
Thrashers fire coach as part of management shakeup
Dudley, who joined the Thrashers as associate general manager last summer, will run the hockey operations, looking to bolster a roster that dealt its top player, Ilya Kovalchuck, at this season's trade deadline when it couldn't come to World Cup Soccer Jersey terms on a new contract.
"We have a lot of important pieces in place, and I look forward to building this organization even further and working closely with Don, the owners and our staff towards achieving our goals," Dudley said in a statement. "I've been in this situation before and we will accomplish our objectives. I appreciate Don and the owners giving me this opportunity to build on Anderson served only two years as the Thrashers' coach after being promoted from the same job with the team's top minor-league affiliate in Chicago. He was 70-75-19 and had a nasty falling-out with one of the team's leading offensive players, Slava Kozlov, who said the team had the talent to make the playoffs but was poorly coached.
The team also fired Anderson's three assistant coaches: Randy Cunneyworth, Todd Nelson and Steve Weeks.
what has already been put in place."
The 61-year-old Dudley served as general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 1998-99 before moving to the same role in Tampa Bay, where he spent three years and was credited with putting together much of the nucleus for a team that won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
Waddell had been the only general manager in Thrashers' history. While responsible for drafting future stars like Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley, he never put together a consistent winner and became the most visible target of fans upset about the Thrashers' direction.
ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Thrashers made a major shakeup Wednesday after again missing the playoffs, firing coach John Anderson and appointing Rick Dudley to replace Don Waddell as the general manager.
te.
"My role within the company has evolved and grown the last few years, and the owners and I agree that it's the appropriate time to have Rick assume all hockey-related responsibilities while I shift my primary focus to the business side of the Thrashers," Waddell said.
"I will be less involved with the team on a daily basis, but will continue to make myself available to Rick and to lend my experience in any way that allows him to succeed and for us to build this club into a perennial contender."
Waddell was bumped upstairs to team president, where he will responsible mainly for the business aspects of a franchise that has made the postseason only once since entering the NHL in 1999 and ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance.
There have also been numerous reports speculating that the team could leave Atlanta unless the situation improves, both on the ice and at the ga
"We have a lot of important pieces in place, and I look forward to building this organization even further and working closely with Don, the owners and our staff towards achieving our goals," Dudley said in a statement. "I've been in this situation before and we will accomplish our objectives. I appreciate Don and the owners giving me this opportunity to build on Anderson served only two years as the Thrashers' coach after being promoted from the same job with the team's top minor-league affiliate in Chicago. He was 70-75-19 and had a nasty falling-out with one of the team's leading offensive players, Slava Kozlov, who said the team had the talent to make the playoffs but was poorly coached.
The team also fired Anderson's three assistant coaches: Randy Cunneyworth, Todd Nelson and Steve Weeks.
what has already been put in place."
The 61-year-old Dudley served as general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 1998-99 before moving to the same role in Tampa Bay, where he spent three years and was credited with putting together much of the nucleus for a team that won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
Waddell had been the only general manager in Thrashers' history. While responsible for drafting future stars like Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley, he never put together a consistent winner and became the most visible target of fans upset about the Thrashers' direction.
ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Thrashers made a major shakeup Wednesday after again missing the playoffs, firing coach John Anderson and appointing Rick Dudley to replace Don Waddell as the general manager.
te.
"My role within the company has evolved and grown the last few years, and the owners and I agree that it's the appropriate time to have Rick assume all hockey-related responsibilities while I shift my primary focus to the business side of the Thrashers," Waddell said.
"I will be less involved with the team on a daily basis, but will continue to make myself available to Rick and to lend my experience in any way that allows him to succeed and for us to build this club into a perennial contender."
Waddell was bumped upstairs to team president, where he will responsible mainly for the business aspects of a franchise that has made the postseason only once since entering the NHL in 1999 and ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance.
There have also been numerous reports speculating that the team could leave Atlanta unless the situation improves, both on the ice and at the ga
2010年5月7日星期五
Ovechkin scores in return; Caps beat Lightning 3-1
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Alex Ovechkin scored a goal in his return following a two-game NHL suspension and Jose Theodore made 33 saves as the Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1 on Saturday night. soccer jerseys
The two-time defending MVP took a long pass off the boards from Nicklas Backstrom, skated in on a breakaway and easily scored on Antero Niittymaki to give Washington a 2-1 lead.
It was Ovechkin's 45th goal of the season and his NHL-leading 97th point.
Tomas Fleischmann and Alexander Semin also scored for Washington (48-14-10). Vincent Lecavalier had the Lightning's only goal.
Ovechkin was suspended two games for shoving Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell from behind and sending him into the boards last Sunday. Campbell broke his collarbone and ribs, and is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season.
Fleischmann scored the first goal for the Capitals just 2:40 into the game when he took a pass in the slot from Dan Steckel and caught Niittymaki out of position.
Tampa Bay stormed back when Lecavalier took a feed from Teddy Purcell and pushed a shot past Theodore.
That was all that Theodore would allow. He turned aside several odd-man rushes, including a point-blank shot by Lecavalier midway through the first period. Martin St. Louis was denied during a 2-on-1 rush in the second period.
Semin scored in the third period, scoring off a rebound of Brooks Laich's slap shot.
NOTES: The Lightning lost all four games on their homestand and dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference Standings, six points behind eighth-place Boston. ... Tampa Bay was 0 for 5 on the power play. ... Washington coach Bruce Boudreau remains undecided on whether Theodore or Semyon Varlamov will be the Capitals' starting goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The two-time defending MVP took a long pass off the boards from Nicklas Backstrom, skated in on a breakaway and easily scored on Antero Niittymaki to give Washington a 2-1 lead.
It was Ovechkin's 45th goal of the season and his NHL-leading 97th point.
Tomas Fleischmann and Alexander Semin also scored for Washington (48-14-10). Vincent Lecavalier had the Lightning's only goal.
Ovechkin was suspended two games for shoving Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell from behind and sending him into the boards last Sunday. Campbell broke his collarbone and ribs, and is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season.
Fleischmann scored the first goal for the Capitals just 2:40 into the game when he took a pass in the slot from Dan Steckel and caught Niittymaki out of position.
Tampa Bay stormed back when Lecavalier took a feed from Teddy Purcell and pushed a shot past Theodore.
That was all that Theodore would allow. He turned aside several odd-man rushes, including a point-blank shot by Lecavalier midway through the first period. Martin St. Louis was denied during a 2-on-1 rush in the second period.
Semin scored in the third period, scoring off a rebound of Brooks Laich's slap shot.
NOTES: The Lightning lost all four games on their homestand and dropped to 11th in the Eastern Conference Standings, six points behind eighth-place Boston. ... Tampa Bay was 0 for 5 on the power play. ... Washington coach Bruce Boudreau remains undecided on whether Theodore or Semyon Varlamov will be the Capitals' starting goalie in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
2010年5月6日星期四
Sharks clinch playoff berth with shutout of Stars
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Although Evgeni Nabokov gets visibly uncomfortable in the spotlight, soccer jerseys the San Jose goalie allowed himself to enjoy it for a moment after his 50th career shutout.
Nabokov just hopes his fellow Sharks will keep taking the attention away from him over the next few weeks as they build toward a sixth straight playoff run.
Nabokov made 27 saves for his third shutout of the season, and the Sharks clinched a playoff berth while climbing back atop the Western Conference standings with a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
"I wanted to get this one out of the (way), but I think it's more important for the way we played," Nabokov said with a shrug. "Maybe the shutout will help, I don't know."
Defensemen Dan Boyle and Rob Blake scored power-play goals in the second period for San Jose, which has won two straight after an 0-5-1 skid over the previous 10 days. Nabokov took each of the Sharks' five regulation losses during the skid, giving up 19 goals and worrying fans about his playoff readiness.
"It's a building process, getting ready for the playoffs," Nabokov said. "I think that's more important, and that's what we wanted to do. ... We can play this way, where we don't have many turnovers and we don't give up too many odd-man rushes, if any."
Just as he's done in previous seasons, Nabokov is pulling himself out of a late-season funk while lifting his teammates. He has 39 victories to tie Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick and Phoenix's Ilya Bryzgalov for the second-most in the league behind New Jersey's Martin Brodeur (40).
This shutout wasn't the toughest of his career, but it included a handful of stunning saves, including a sprawling breakaway stop in the final minute.
With sturdy defense and 41 shots on Dallas goalie Marty Turco, the Sharks formally clinched their another postseason trip while earning their 100th point in the first of three games at the Shark Tank in four days. San Jose, which has four straight 100-point seasons, also jumped one point ahead of Chicago, which has a game in hand on the Sharks.
"As much as it's about us coming out of the forest, it's great to see Nabby only giving up one goal in the last two games," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said.
Logan Couture scored his second NHL goal in the third period for the Sharks, whose power play had managed just one goal during the just-completed six-game trip before connecting twice against Dallas, which has one of the NHL's worst penalty-killing units.
"Yeah, (penalty-killing) is a concern," Dallas coach Marc Crawford said. "We couldn't win a draw tonight, which was significant. At least we had lots of opportunities to work on it tonight. ... The players have to get a feel for what is being called, and that was very tough tonight, very tough."
Turco stopped 38 shots for the 10th-place Stars, who are nine points behind Detroit for the West's final playoff spot with eight games to play _ and the Red Wings have a game in hand. Dallas' near-.500 play over the past two weeks simply hasn't been enough to keep up with the surging Wings.
"Marty played well," Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman said. "He made a lot of saves for us. We have to help him out a little bit. ... We had a few penalties called against us and they took advantage and we had to start chasing the game. Their goalie played extremely well."
San Jose's skid started with an overtime home loss to lowly Florida and went on to include losses to four more teams likely to miss the playoffs: Anaheim, Dallas, Calgary and Edmonton. The slump ended with a win at Minnesota earlier this week, and McLellan stuck with the same reconfigured lines from that game.
"Obviously, we learned something there," McLellan said of Minnesota. "We used that same recipe again tonight, and now it's (about) how long can we hold on to that recipe and continue playing this way, because it is the right way to play."
Dallas annually is among the Sharks' toughest opponents, winning nine of its previous 12 games in San Jose _ but without Mike Modano, who had an appendectomy 10 days ago, the Stars weren't as intimidating.
After Boyle scored his 400th point early in the second period, Blake added another power-play goal less than 3 minutes later when a rebound of Patrick Marleau's shot ricocheted right to him in the slot. The San Jose captain's goal was his first in 16 games since Feb. 6 _ and the 135th power-play goal of his career, tying him with Paul Coffey for the career NHL lead.
Nabokov just hopes his fellow Sharks will keep taking the attention away from him over the next few weeks as they build toward a sixth straight playoff run.
Nabokov made 27 saves for his third shutout of the season, and the Sharks clinched a playoff berth while climbing back atop the Western Conference standings with a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
"I wanted to get this one out of the (way), but I think it's more important for the way we played," Nabokov said with a shrug. "Maybe the shutout will help, I don't know."
Defensemen Dan Boyle and Rob Blake scored power-play goals in the second period for San Jose, which has won two straight after an 0-5-1 skid over the previous 10 days. Nabokov took each of the Sharks' five regulation losses during the skid, giving up 19 goals and worrying fans about his playoff readiness.
"It's a building process, getting ready for the playoffs," Nabokov said. "I think that's more important, and that's what we wanted to do. ... We can play this way, where we don't have many turnovers and we don't give up too many odd-man rushes, if any."
Just as he's done in previous seasons, Nabokov is pulling himself out of a late-season funk while lifting his teammates. He has 39 victories to tie Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick and Phoenix's Ilya Bryzgalov for the second-most in the league behind New Jersey's Martin Brodeur (40).
This shutout wasn't the toughest of his career, but it included a handful of stunning saves, including a sprawling breakaway stop in the final minute.
With sturdy defense and 41 shots on Dallas goalie Marty Turco, the Sharks formally clinched their another postseason trip while earning their 100th point in the first of three games at the Shark Tank in four days. San Jose, which has four straight 100-point seasons, also jumped one point ahead of Chicago, which has a game in hand on the Sharks.
"As much as it's about us coming out of the forest, it's great to see Nabby only giving up one goal in the last two games," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said.
Logan Couture scored his second NHL goal in the third period for the Sharks, whose power play had managed just one goal during the just-completed six-game trip before connecting twice against Dallas, which has one of the NHL's worst penalty-killing units.
"Yeah, (penalty-killing) is a concern," Dallas coach Marc Crawford said. "We couldn't win a draw tonight, which was significant. At least we had lots of opportunities to work on it tonight. ... The players have to get a feel for what is being called, and that was very tough tonight, very tough."
Turco stopped 38 shots for the 10th-place Stars, who are nine points behind Detroit for the West's final playoff spot with eight games to play _ and the Red Wings have a game in hand. Dallas' near-.500 play over the past two weeks simply hasn't been enough to keep up with the surging Wings.
"Marty played well," Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman said. "He made a lot of saves for us. We have to help him out a little bit. ... We had a few penalties called against us and they took advantage and we had to start chasing the game. Their goalie played extremely well."
San Jose's skid started with an overtime home loss to lowly Florida and went on to include losses to four more teams likely to miss the playoffs: Anaheim, Dallas, Calgary and Edmonton. The slump ended with a win at Minnesota earlier this week, and McLellan stuck with the same reconfigured lines from that game.
"Obviously, we learned something there," McLellan said of Minnesota. "We used that same recipe again tonight, and now it's (about) how long can we hold on to that recipe and continue playing this way, because it is the right way to play."
Dallas annually is among the Sharks' toughest opponents, winning nine of its previous 12 games in San Jose _ but without Mike Modano, who had an appendectomy 10 days ago, the Stars weren't as intimidating.
After Boyle scored his 400th point early in the second period, Blake added another power-play goal less than 3 minutes later when a rebound of Patrick Marleau's shot ricocheted right to him in the slot. The San Jose captain's goal was his first in 16 games since Feb. 6 _ and the 135th power-play goal of his career, tying him with Paul Coffey for the career NHL lead.
2010年5月5日星期三
Colaiacovo nets winner for Blues against Stars
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Carlo Colaiacovo's 26th NHL goal, scored midway through the third period, was the difference in the St. Louis Blues' 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night.
Colaiacovo's goal, soccer jerseys scored 8:14 into the third during a scramble in the crease, was his first in eight career games against the Stars and his first game-winner this season. The defenseman backhanded the puck into the near side past goalie Kari Lehtonen.
T.J. Oshie also scored his 17th goal for the Blues, who kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They moved within four points of Colorado and Calgary at the Western Conference's postseason cutoff. Chris Mason, who has won 11 of his last 16 starts, stopped 24 shots.
The Stars. clinging to fleeting postseason chances, got a power-play goal from Brenden Morrow. Lehtonen made 21 saves.
Oshie gave the Blues a 1-0 lead 4:19 into the game when he hammered in Roman Polak's shot from the point that Lehtonen couldn't handle. Andy McDonald forced a turnover along the wall to get the puck back to the point.
Morrow tied it 1-1 with 1:49 left in the second. He won a battle in the slot with defenseman Mike Weaver and banged a shot past Mason.
NOTES: Dallas C Brad Richards had six assists in four games against the Blues this season. ... Oshie has points in six straight games against the Stars. ... Blues C Keith Tkachuk and Stars C Mike Modano, who have hinted this season might be their last, have played in a combined 2,655 games, scored 1,094 goals, earned 1,326 assists and totaled 2,420 points. Tkachuk is in his 18th season. Modano is in his 19th. ... Blues LW Paul Kariya (lower body) and Colaiacovo (upper body) returned to the lineup after missing one game. D Barret Jackman (upper body) sat out. ... The Blues honored Kariya in a pregame ceremony for his recently scored 400th NHL goal.
Colaiacovo's goal, soccer jerseys scored 8:14 into the third during a scramble in the crease, was his first in eight career games against the Stars and his first game-winner this season. The defenseman backhanded the puck into the near side past goalie Kari Lehtonen.
T.J. Oshie also scored his 17th goal for the Blues, who kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They moved within four points of Colorado and Calgary at the Western Conference's postseason cutoff. Chris Mason, who has won 11 of his last 16 starts, stopped 24 shots.
The Stars. clinging to fleeting postseason chances, got a power-play goal from Brenden Morrow. Lehtonen made 21 saves.
Oshie gave the Blues a 1-0 lead 4:19 into the game when he hammered in Roman Polak's shot from the point that Lehtonen couldn't handle. Andy McDonald forced a turnover along the wall to get the puck back to the point.
Morrow tied it 1-1 with 1:49 left in the second. He won a battle in the slot with defenseman Mike Weaver and banged a shot past Mason.
NOTES: Dallas C Brad Richards had six assists in four games against the Blues this season. ... Oshie has points in six straight games against the Stars. ... Blues C Keith Tkachuk and Stars C Mike Modano, who have hinted this season might be their last, have played in a combined 2,655 games, scored 1,094 goals, earned 1,326 assists and totaled 2,420 points. Tkachuk is in his 18th season. Modano is in his 19th. ... Blues LW Paul Kariya (lower body) and Colaiacovo (upper body) returned to the lineup after missing one game. D Barret Jackman (upper body) sat out. ... The Blues honored Kariya in a pregame ceremony for his recently scored 400th NHL goal.
2010年5月4日星期二
Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin
Name Andrei Arshavin shot during Euro 2008 tournament. However, it does not mean he necessarily changed the nature. He was known as a very cool player.
There is one story. When playing in the Russian League, he's way through the mixed-zone, chewing an apple, do not heed the journalists who gathered there, which was certainly waiting for word two words from him. Arshavin away from it all.
But he could not repeat in court the next day. He tried to escape but the press officer and then forced him to face the journalists.
Yet not much is said Arshavin. He only took one and two words. Likewise, when finished practice. With haste, Arshavin headed to the team bus.
Similarly, when in the national team handed the task of talking to colleagues and team to Russia coach, Guus Hiddink, who never lost for words and language as well, because Hiddink could speak nine languages.
Arshavin known as Paul Scholes and/or Pele version of Russia or Russian versions. But actually he is a silent assassin. Without a word to give evidence in court that he was a very effective killer.
Soccer player the most sought after during Euro 2008 it had a bad experience with the dentist when the age of 5 years. Arshavin had her teeth checked again 15 years later.
While he liked the small mushroom picking. He was expelled from school for misbehaving and was transferred to a school close to where her mother worked, so she can check it at any time.
He has a diploma in fashion designing after completing the thesis entitled "The Development of the Sportswear Production Process". In fact, the reason he went in that direction is because he thought there would be a lot of girls. He was very quiet and did not hesitate to leave Zenit St Petersburg paid him 50 thousand pounds a week to play in England or Spain. During Euro 2008 run, Arsenal is one of the clubs linked with Arshavin. "In the match against the Netherlands, Arshavin showed how good he is" Arsene Wenger said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Team-mate, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, was asked whether the owner of Chelsea who is also the Russian people also interested in Arshavin. Bilyaletdinov laughed: "Not only Abramovich. Now, all the clubs interested in Arshavin. Big clubs glance. Arshavin could choose. He's very relaxed, not much talking but he is a leader and when he speaks, people will listen."
Arshavin was born in St Petersburg - formerly Leningrad - on May 29, 1981. Family Arshavin is a working class family. Her father, Sergey, is an amateur soccer player. At the age of 10 years, the parents divorced and Arshavin was forcing him to live in a small apartment with his mother, Tatiana. At the age of 7 years, Arshavin enrolled in school football, Smena, in St. Petersburg. People remember as children who have red cheeks and was slender, with the ability to read the game and feed the ball. Arshavin is not at all a dominant player but if he receives the ball so greatly changed his appearance. Arshavin good at reading the ball. Very rarely a soccer player like his ability.
In 1999, Arshavin began playing in the reserve team Zenit St Petersburg. Senior team debut in 2000 doing the Intertoto Cup, the stadium owned by Bradford City. Zenit won 3-0. In Zenit, Arshavin exclusive form a triangle with two other players Vladimir Bystrov and Alexander Kerzhakov. All three players were known as Les Enfants Terribles. Triangle is difficult in approaching other players. Arshavin is also known as 'Shava' means a small dog. Because the problem with Zenit coach, Vlastimil Petrzela, making Bystrov moved to FC Spartak Moscow and FC Kerzhakov to Dynamo Kiev. Arshavin in Zenit and settled in the Russian national team. He just did not go into the 2002 World Cup squad. Then the Russians did not qualify for the Euro 2004 Arshavin delay the opportunity to perform in the international arena.
Many say confidence Arshavin - which leads to arrogance - does not benefit him. Critics call it a lazy player and did not reach the level of fitness for each game. They also said Arshavin rarely helps the players to survive. Sometimes he's just a small run of the opponent's goal, while at the same time his team was attacked. In 2006, Dick Advocaat, Zenit coach of Dutch origin, gave him a position as a reserve player because they (along with two other players) to go clubbing at night before an important game against FC Spartak Moscow. Arshavin acting like a child on punishment so bad game in 2006 until early 2007. Advocaat and Hiddink is the key to open the door Arshavin talent. After realizing that the coach-style Soviet model does not work, the Russian Football Association - Roman Abramovich was behind him - bring Hiddink, just as Peter the Great sent shipbuilders from the Netherlands in the 17th century, that Russia has the power of the sea.
The Dutch coach was serious and professionally since 2006. Advocaat at Zenit, sponsored by the giant Russian gas company, Gazprom. While Hiddink revolution in the national team. In 2007, Arshavin became Zenit captain. Arshavin maturing process in the field can also be influenced by his personal life. He married his girlfriend, Julia, in 2003 and now has two children, Artyom (or Artem in English, four years) and Alina (one year).
In fact, Russian journalists have called Arshavin as a world-class players since 2004. But several factors conspired to prevent developing Arshavin today. Coupled with the fact the Russians failed to qualify for the big tournament. One factor that is Arshavin often acting like a spoiled child. Arshavin began to adorn the sports newspapers in Russia since he was 23 years old. Exceptional ability and also the feeder telling. Another problem, Arshavin had a temperament that can not be estimated and temperament make him lose sometimes as a red card incident in the European Cup qualifier in 2008.
Next Arshavin began to shine. He brought Zenit won the UEFA Cup in 2008 beating Glasgow Rangers in the final. He also took part to ensure the escape of Russia to Euro 2008, by defeating the British team. In Austria and Switzerland, Hiddink brought Arshavin into the perfect stage, whereas before Hiddink had said that could be Arshavin will not play. After the disaster against Spain, Hiddink Russia to open training session for the public. The Russians are angry supporters have the opportunity to directly scold the players. Hiddink successful trick. Russian players direct heat. Hiddink also makes his players an hour early on the day when they have to face Greece.
When finished Euro 2008, Arshavin - who have become icons of the Russian football team - making the world attracted giants like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Juventus. However, Arshavin finally signed a contract with Arsenal.
Before officially belongs to Arsenal, Arshavin had mentioned that he wanted to play in Barcelona or any other La Liga clubs. Arshavin friend recalled that during adolescence, when he was playing Football Manager on the computer, then Arshavin will start as a fourth division club manager England and ended up as manager of Barcelona.
The process of emigration Arshavin to Arsenal to be polemic, because the transfer deadline had passed January 2009 transfer window. Transfer deadline is February 2 at 5 pm London time and the Gunners agreed to the deal with Zenit just a few minutes before the deadline. After that Arsenal had to wait until a day later so that the transfer was approved by the Premier League. Arsenal forced to call Arshavin as one of their players until February 3 afternoon. Transfer is one pending transfer of the Premier League because the paperwork was delayed due to snow storm that paralyzed the transportation of London at the time. Arsenal have never issued a statement of how much money transfer Arshavin. In a report published official site mentions his club Zenit received 16.5 million pounds - 15 million for the transfer and 1.5 million to compensate for long-term contracts to stop Arsenal Arshavin in Zenit.
Zenit will receive an additional 450 thousand pounds. That is the total amount of the actual bonus received Arshavin if he continued to play with Zenit. This amount is also part of the money transfer. If that's true, then it will be a transfer record for the purchase of Arsenal players. However, even though he already had made 4 goals to Liverpool goalkeeper, Arshavin still surprised by the fact of how hard and difficult to play in the Premier League. During still in Russia, he watched a lot of Premier League matches on television and it is different from reality.
Arshavin has said it will continue to NBA Jerseys play at Arsenal until the next shoe pendant.
There is one story. When playing in the Russian League, he's way through the mixed-zone, chewing an apple, do not heed the journalists who gathered there, which was certainly waiting for word two words from him. Arshavin away from it all.
But he could not repeat in court the next day. He tried to escape but the press officer and then forced him to face the journalists.
Yet not much is said Arshavin. He only took one and two words. Likewise, when finished practice. With haste, Arshavin headed to the team bus.
Similarly, when in the national team handed the task of talking to colleagues and team to Russia coach, Guus Hiddink, who never lost for words and language as well, because Hiddink could speak nine languages.
Arshavin known as Paul Scholes and/or Pele version of Russia or Russian versions. But actually he is a silent assassin. Without a word to give evidence in court that he was a very effective killer.
Soccer player the most sought after during Euro 2008 it had a bad experience with the dentist when the age of 5 years. Arshavin had her teeth checked again 15 years later.
While he liked the small mushroom picking. He was expelled from school for misbehaving and was transferred to a school close to where her mother worked, so she can check it at any time.
He has a diploma in fashion designing after completing the thesis entitled "The Development of the Sportswear Production Process". In fact, the reason he went in that direction is because he thought there would be a lot of girls. He was very quiet and did not hesitate to leave Zenit St Petersburg paid him 50 thousand pounds a week to play in England or Spain. During Euro 2008 run, Arsenal is one of the clubs linked with Arshavin. "In the match against the Netherlands, Arshavin showed how good he is" Arsene Wenger said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Team-mate, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, was asked whether the owner of Chelsea who is also the Russian people also interested in Arshavin. Bilyaletdinov laughed: "Not only Abramovich. Now, all the clubs interested in Arshavin. Big clubs glance. Arshavin could choose. He's very relaxed, not much talking but he is a leader and when he speaks, people will listen."
Arshavin was born in St Petersburg - formerly Leningrad - on May 29, 1981. Family Arshavin is a working class family. Her father, Sergey, is an amateur soccer player. At the age of 10 years, the parents divorced and Arshavin was forcing him to live in a small apartment with his mother, Tatiana. At the age of 7 years, Arshavin enrolled in school football, Smena, in St. Petersburg. People remember as children who have red cheeks and was slender, with the ability to read the game and feed the ball. Arshavin is not at all a dominant player but if he receives the ball so greatly changed his appearance. Arshavin good at reading the ball. Very rarely a soccer player like his ability.
In 1999, Arshavin began playing in the reserve team Zenit St Petersburg. Senior team debut in 2000 doing the Intertoto Cup, the stadium owned by Bradford City. Zenit won 3-0. In Zenit, Arshavin exclusive form a triangle with two other players Vladimir Bystrov and Alexander Kerzhakov. All three players were known as Les Enfants Terribles. Triangle is difficult in approaching other players. Arshavin is also known as 'Shava' means a small dog. Because the problem with Zenit coach, Vlastimil Petrzela, making Bystrov moved to FC Spartak Moscow and FC Kerzhakov to Dynamo Kiev. Arshavin in Zenit and settled in the Russian national team. He just did not go into the 2002 World Cup squad. Then the Russians did not qualify for the Euro 2004 Arshavin delay the opportunity to perform in the international arena.
Many say confidence Arshavin - which leads to arrogance - does not benefit him. Critics call it a lazy player and did not reach the level of fitness for each game. They also said Arshavin rarely helps the players to survive. Sometimes he's just a small run of the opponent's goal, while at the same time his team was attacked. In 2006, Dick Advocaat, Zenit coach of Dutch origin, gave him a position as a reserve player because they (along with two other players) to go clubbing at night before an important game against FC Spartak Moscow. Arshavin acting like a child on punishment so bad game in 2006 until early 2007. Advocaat and Hiddink is the key to open the door Arshavin talent. After realizing that the coach-style Soviet model does not work, the Russian Football Association - Roman Abramovich was behind him - bring Hiddink, just as Peter the Great sent shipbuilders from the Netherlands in the 17th century, that Russia has the power of the sea.
The Dutch coach was serious and professionally since 2006. Advocaat at Zenit, sponsored by the giant Russian gas company, Gazprom. While Hiddink revolution in the national team. In 2007, Arshavin became Zenit captain. Arshavin maturing process in the field can also be influenced by his personal life. He married his girlfriend, Julia, in 2003 and now has two children, Artyom (or Artem in English, four years) and Alina (one year).
In fact, Russian journalists have called Arshavin as a world-class players since 2004. But several factors conspired to prevent developing Arshavin today. Coupled with the fact the Russians failed to qualify for the big tournament. One factor that is Arshavin often acting like a spoiled child. Arshavin began to adorn the sports newspapers in Russia since he was 23 years old. Exceptional ability and also the feeder telling. Another problem, Arshavin had a temperament that can not be estimated and temperament make him lose sometimes as a red card incident in the European Cup qualifier in 2008.
Next Arshavin began to shine. He brought Zenit won the UEFA Cup in 2008 beating Glasgow Rangers in the final. He also took part to ensure the escape of Russia to Euro 2008, by defeating the British team. In Austria and Switzerland, Hiddink brought Arshavin into the perfect stage, whereas before Hiddink had said that could be Arshavin will not play. After the disaster against Spain, Hiddink Russia to open training session for the public. The Russians are angry supporters have the opportunity to directly scold the players. Hiddink successful trick. Russian players direct heat. Hiddink also makes his players an hour early on the day when they have to face Greece.
When finished Euro 2008, Arshavin - who have become icons of the Russian football team - making the world attracted giants like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Juventus. However, Arshavin finally signed a contract with Arsenal.
Before officially belongs to Arsenal, Arshavin had mentioned that he wanted to play in Barcelona or any other La Liga clubs. Arshavin friend recalled that during adolescence, when he was playing Football Manager on the computer, then Arshavin will start as a fourth division club manager England and ended up as manager of Barcelona.
The process of emigration Arshavin to Arsenal to be polemic, because the transfer deadline had passed January 2009 transfer window. Transfer deadline is February 2 at 5 pm London time and the Gunners agreed to the deal with Zenit just a few minutes before the deadline. After that Arsenal had to wait until a day later so that the transfer was approved by the Premier League. Arsenal forced to call Arshavin as one of their players until February 3 afternoon. Transfer is one pending transfer of the Premier League because the paperwork was delayed due to snow storm that paralyzed the transportation of London at the time. Arsenal have never issued a statement of how much money transfer Arshavin. In a report published official site mentions his club Zenit received 16.5 million pounds - 15 million for the transfer and 1.5 million to compensate for long-term contracts to stop Arsenal Arshavin in Zenit.
Zenit will receive an additional 450 thousand pounds. That is the total amount of the actual bonus received Arshavin if he continued to play with Zenit. This amount is also part of the money transfer. If that's true, then it will be a transfer record for the purchase of Arsenal players. However, even though he already had made 4 goals to Liverpool goalkeeper, Arshavin still surprised by the fact of how hard and difficult to play in the Premier League. During still in Russia, he watched a lot of Premier League matches on television and it is different from reality.
Arshavin has said it will continue to NBA Jerseys play at Arsenal until the next shoe pendant.
2010年5月2日星期日
Bolton vs. Fulham: Premier League Betting Preview
Fulham were 1-0 winners against Portsmouth in the Premier League on Wednesday but their form prior to that had been awful and they are readily opposed the The Reebok on Saturday. NFL jerseys
While there is very little danger of Fulham being dragged into a relegation battle, they have 30 points in the bag already, Roy Hodgson must be worried by his side’s complete lack of quality in recent weeks and they are one of few teams with little left to play for in the top flight even at this stage of the campaign.
A 3-1 victory in the FA Cup at Accrington Stanley at the end of January brought the Cottagers a step closer to Wembley and with the Europa League knockout phase also looming large Fulham are probably guilty of taking their eyes off the ball in the Premier League.
The London club were notoriously poor travellers last term but an opening day success this time around at Fratton Park suggested things were about to change under the excellent Hodgson. They've not triumphed away from Craven Cottage since however, picking up just four points in the process, and a trip to the north-west won’t be fancied by the majority of the playing staff.
Fulham face a Bolton Wanderers side on Saturday in much better form than the league table suggests and under new boss Owen Coyle they should have no trouble avoiding the drop. There was no disgrace in a 2-0 loss at Anfield last time out and prior to that Wanderers had seen-off both Burnley and Sheffield United on home soil.
Consecutive back-to-back defeats to Arsenal were not unexpected but you have to go back to the start of December to find the last time Bolton were beaten by a team outside of the so-called ‘Big Four’, a run of 10 matches, and as a squad will continue to want to make a good impression under Coyle.
While Bolton have only three top flight wins to their name all season in front of their own fans I think they are on the upgrade and the front pairing of Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic should cause Fulham problems. Matt Taylor remains a goalscoring threat in midfield while they possess genuine quality at the back too with the likes of Gary Cahill protecting the ever dependable Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The 2.30 on offer about a home win is only just on the big side, taking anything less about a team in the bottom five would be questionable, but everything looks in place for a Bolton win as they try to pull clear of those below them and I’m very confident they’ll get the job done.
While there is very little danger of Fulham being dragged into a relegation battle, they have 30 points in the bag already, Roy Hodgson must be worried by his side’s complete lack of quality in recent weeks and they are one of few teams with little left to play for in the top flight even at this stage of the campaign.
A 3-1 victory in the FA Cup at Accrington Stanley at the end of January brought the Cottagers a step closer to Wembley and with the Europa League knockout phase also looming large Fulham are probably guilty of taking their eyes off the ball in the Premier League.
The London club were notoriously poor travellers last term but an opening day success this time around at Fratton Park suggested things were about to change under the excellent Hodgson. They've not triumphed away from Craven Cottage since however, picking up just four points in the process, and a trip to the north-west won’t be fancied by the majority of the playing staff.
Fulham face a Bolton Wanderers side on Saturday in much better form than the league table suggests and under new boss Owen Coyle they should have no trouble avoiding the drop. There was no disgrace in a 2-0 loss at Anfield last time out and prior to that Wanderers had seen-off both Burnley and Sheffield United on home soil.
Consecutive back-to-back defeats to Arsenal were not unexpected but you have to go back to the start of December to find the last time Bolton were beaten by a team outside of the so-called ‘Big Four’, a run of 10 matches, and as a squad will continue to want to make a good impression under Coyle.
While Bolton have only three top flight wins to their name all season in front of their own fans I think they are on the upgrade and the front pairing of Kevin Davies and Ivan Klasnic should cause Fulham problems. Matt Taylor remains a goalscoring threat in midfield while they possess genuine quality at the back too with the likes of Gary Cahill protecting the ever dependable Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The 2.30 on offer about a home win is only just on the big side, taking anything less about a team in the bottom five would be questionable, but everything looks in place for a Bolton win as they try to pull clear of those below them and I’m very confident they’ll get the job done.
Five Must-See Football Matches This Xmas Season
It is time for a special Christmas edition of the NBA Jerseys weekly round-up of which football matches to keep an eye out for over the extended festive season.
Indeed, with the winter break halting plenty of Europe’s top leagues there’s an emphasis this week on the British game.
But with the holiday season, we’re not restricted to just the weekend, so there’s a fair bit of football to be watched over the next few days.
Sports Pundit’s Game of the Festive Season
Aston Villa v Liverpool
English Premier League
Tuesday, 8.45pm (CET)
Despite Manchester City’s big-spending or Tottenham’s improvements, Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa seem to be the team most likely to gatecrash the party dominated by the big four. Liverpool, currently sitting 8th following a loss to bottom club Portsmouth, are clearly the most likely of the top four to lose their status.
Indeed, when Villa host the Reds in Birmingham on Tuesday, a lot will be at stake for both these clubs. The Villains got the choccies at Anfield early in the season too, so there’s a good case for them to be favourites here, especially with their improved home form this term.
Rafa Benitez has plenty of work to do to get Liverpool back on track after just four wins in their last 17 matches and he’s reportedly held talks with several players to try and re-invigorate them. Villa do face Arsenal on Sunday, so maybe that’ll help Rafa’s case. But eight points behind Villa in the final Champions League spot in fourth, Liverpool need all 3 points on Tuesday.
Manchester City v Stoke City
English Premier League
Saturday, 4pm (CET)
While the focus of the last week has been mostly on Mark Hughes’s sacking, new Sky Blues boss Roberto Mancini will take centre stage on Saturday as he takes the reigns at City for the first time.
Mancini must know he’s got a tough gig ahead of him but getting the side winning is the obvious immediate aim after an incredible recent run of draws. The new boss retains the belief City can claim a top four berth this term, but Stoke will be a tricky first-up test for Mancini.
Hibernian v Rangers
Scottish Premier League
Sunday, 2pm (CET)
This year’s SPL has wavered from the norm with the Old Firm struggling to regularly take three points, while plucky Edinburgh club Hibernian hang in there. Third-placed Hibs host leaders Rangers this Sunday, with just five points separating the two.
Hibernian have lost just once at Easter Road this term, while Rangers haven’t been able to consistently find the net on their travels with just 10 goals in 7 away trips so far. Both sides are solid defensively, so some individual brilliance from respective topscorers Anthony Stokes or Kris Boyd could be the difference.
AA Gent v Anderlecht
Belgian Jupiler League
Sunday, 6pm (CET)
Belgium’s top flight offers a clash of two sides in wonderful form as third-placed Gent (who’ve won 7 on the trot domestically) host leaders Anderlecht (who’ve won 8 in a row in the league).
Still eight points separates the two clubs, with Anderlecht having a game in hand, but Gent are the real movers in Belgium right now and could be set for an upset which may help second-placed Club Brugge, who face Cercle in a local derby this weekend. If not, Anderlecht’s hotshot 16-year-old sensation Romelu Lukaku is worth a look.
Chelsea v Fulham
English Premier League
Monday, 4pm (CET)
Christmas brings with it another London derby, between a shaky Chelsea side and a Fulham team fresh from defeating champions Manchester United. Still, despite their recent wobbly form, the Blues hold a four-point league lead from United, thanks largely to the Cottagers’ heroics.
But with the African Cup of Nations robbing Chelsea of key men Didier Drogba and Michael Essien during January, the Blues need to keep collecting maximum points before their departure. And Fulham won’t be easybeats, as they have the best defensive record outside the top four. And Bobby Zamora’s in some goalscoring form too.
Indeed, with the winter break halting plenty of Europe’s top leagues there’s an emphasis this week on the British game.
But with the holiday season, we’re not restricted to just the weekend, so there’s a fair bit of football to be watched over the next few days.
Sports Pundit’s Game of the Festive Season
Aston Villa v Liverpool
English Premier League
Tuesday, 8.45pm (CET)
Despite Manchester City’s big-spending or Tottenham’s improvements, Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa seem to be the team most likely to gatecrash the party dominated by the big four. Liverpool, currently sitting 8th following a loss to bottom club Portsmouth, are clearly the most likely of the top four to lose their status.
Indeed, when Villa host the Reds in Birmingham on Tuesday, a lot will be at stake for both these clubs. The Villains got the choccies at Anfield early in the season too, so there’s a good case for them to be favourites here, especially with their improved home form this term.
Rafa Benitez has plenty of work to do to get Liverpool back on track after just four wins in their last 17 matches and he’s reportedly held talks with several players to try and re-invigorate them. Villa do face Arsenal on Sunday, so maybe that’ll help Rafa’s case. But eight points behind Villa in the final Champions League spot in fourth, Liverpool need all 3 points on Tuesday.
Manchester City v Stoke City
English Premier League
Saturday, 4pm (CET)
While the focus of the last week has been mostly on Mark Hughes’s sacking, new Sky Blues boss Roberto Mancini will take centre stage on Saturday as he takes the reigns at City for the first time.
Mancini must know he’s got a tough gig ahead of him but getting the side winning is the obvious immediate aim after an incredible recent run of draws. The new boss retains the belief City can claim a top four berth this term, but Stoke will be a tricky first-up test for Mancini.
Hibernian v Rangers
Scottish Premier League
Sunday, 2pm (CET)
This year’s SPL has wavered from the norm with the Old Firm struggling to regularly take three points, while plucky Edinburgh club Hibernian hang in there. Third-placed Hibs host leaders Rangers this Sunday, with just five points separating the two.
Hibernian have lost just once at Easter Road this term, while Rangers haven’t been able to consistently find the net on their travels with just 10 goals in 7 away trips so far. Both sides are solid defensively, so some individual brilliance from respective topscorers Anthony Stokes or Kris Boyd could be the difference.
AA Gent v Anderlecht
Belgian Jupiler League
Sunday, 6pm (CET)
Belgium’s top flight offers a clash of two sides in wonderful form as third-placed Gent (who’ve won 7 on the trot domestically) host leaders Anderlecht (who’ve won 8 in a row in the league).
Still eight points separates the two clubs, with Anderlecht having a game in hand, but Gent are the real movers in Belgium right now and could be set for an upset which may help second-placed Club Brugge, who face Cercle in a local derby this weekend. If not, Anderlecht’s hotshot 16-year-old sensation Romelu Lukaku is worth a look.
Chelsea v Fulham
English Premier League
Monday, 4pm (CET)
Christmas brings with it another London derby, between a shaky Chelsea side and a Fulham team fresh from defeating champions Manchester United. Still, despite their recent wobbly form, the Blues hold a four-point league lead from United, thanks largely to the Cottagers’ heroics.
But with the African Cup of Nations robbing Chelsea of key men Didier Drogba and Michael Essien during January, the Blues need to keep collecting maximum points before their departure. And Fulham won’t be easybeats, as they have the best defensive record outside the top four. And Bobby Zamora’s in some goalscoring form too.
2010年5月1日星期六
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
NFL jerseys
The German Bundesliga title race is becoming one of Europe's most fascinating battles with Leverkusen and Bayern trading blows, while Felix Magath's Schalke hang in there. Bayern won 3-1 over Dortmund, while Leverkusen beat champions Wolfsburg 2-1 this weekend.
The top two are separated only on goal difference and Louis van Gaal's Bayern have chopped that down to just plus-one difference now. Meanwhile, Dortmund have now lost 3 in a row and Wolfsburg, who haven't won in 10, are down to 12th.
Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt, who both won, are closing in on 5th Dortmund while down the wrong end Hannover and Nurnberg continue to struggle with losses, but Freiburg are also battling meaning there's four clubs (including bottom-club Hertha) locked in a battle to avoid the drop.
The German Bundesliga title race is becoming one of Europe's most fascinating battles with Leverkusen and Bayern trading blows, while Felix Magath's Schalke hang in there. Bayern won 3-1 over Dortmund, while Leverkusen beat champions Wolfsburg 2-1 this weekend.
The top two are separated only on goal difference and Louis van Gaal's Bayern have chopped that down to just plus-one difference now. Meanwhile, Dortmund have now lost 3 in a row and Wolfsburg, who haven't won in 10, are down to 12th.
Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt, who both won, are closing in on 5th Dortmund while down the wrong end Hannover and Nurnberg continue to struggle with losses, but Freiburg are also battling meaning there's four clubs (including bottom-club Hertha) locked in a battle to avoid the drop.
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