Kamis, 30 Desember 2010

McDowell awarded an MBE

Northern Ireland golfer Graeme McDowell has been awarded an MBE in the
New Year Honours List.

McDowell enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2010, becoming the fir

st
European to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin 40 years ago.

He then cemented his new position in the world's top-10 by clinching
the winning point for Europe in the Ryder Cup, holing a tremendous
putt on the 16th on the way to beating Hunter Mahan.

Europe captain Colin Montgomerie said earlier
this month he had picked McDowell in the last match because he had
nerves of steel.

"Graeme is such a confident figure, it was just in case it all came
down to that last match," said the Scot.

"If we were going to win late, I needed someone of his calibre, of his
stature now, to come through.

"More importantly, believe it or not, it was because of his win in the
Wales Open at Celtic Manor. Forget the US
Open, I know from personal experience that you feel one-up when you
come back to play on a golf course where you've won before."

McDowell, who started the year ranked 50th in the world, finishes it
sixth in the listings.

"It is a huge honour for me to be included on the New Year Honours
List," he said.

"For my achievements as a professional golfer to be recognised in this
way is truly
special. Both myself and my family are very proud of this unique
acknowledgement."

Roy claims players' support

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists he has not lost the Anfield
dressing room following Wednesday's humbling by Wolverhampton
Wanderers.

The 63-year-old was subjected to fans' anger as the Reds crashed to
their eighth defeat of the campaign after Stephen Ward scored Wolves'
goal to secure their first win at Anfield in 26 years.

Hodgson had to put up with chants for Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish
while the Kop also sang ironically "Hodgson for England".

But the Reds boss claims the backing he has had from the players and
within the club itself makes up for the lack of support from outside.

"I have been lucky the support I have had has been from the players
and within the club," said Hodgson, whose side are three points above
the relegation zone.

"I haven't had a lot of support from the fans ever since I came here.

"The fans have not been happy with what they have seen in the whole of
2010 and since I came here we have not won enough games to keep them
happy.
Understandable

"That is understandable in the sense that they were hoping when I came
here the latter part of last season would be forgotten and we would
start flying again.

"That hasn't happened and as a result, as manager, you are the one in
the firing line, but of course it doesn't make the job easier because
it makes the players more nervous.

"I can only say as a manager you have to understand that fans care for
their club and want it to do well and when it is not doing well they
voice their disapproval.

"That is the way of football today. When you take on any job,
especially a big job like this one, and results don't go the way
people want - especially when you lose games at home - you are going
to be a target for disapproval.

"I have to accept that and try to keep doing my job and try to improve
things for the club and hoping that the results turn around.

"It is a vicious circle and in order to break it we have to start
playing well and winning matches because if we don't they are going to
reserve their support until such time as we can do it."

Confidence

Despite the criticism coming his way, Hodgson is
adamant
he is the man to lead the club forward and suggested the players have
to take some responsibility for the latest debacle.

Having had nearly three weeks without competitive action because of
weather
postponements the team could not complain about fatigue.

However, their lack of cohesion against Wolves could well have been
down to that period of inactivity, although the Reds boss pointed out
it was quality which was lacking.

"I think all bad results knock everyone's confidence but I think I can look
[myself] in the mirror," said Hodgson.

"I am trying the best I can do and the group of players I put out
there was probably the best XI, apart from Daniel Agger who has been
injured long term.

"When I think about it had I chosen a different team which did not
have a midfield of Dirk Kuyt, Lucas Leiva, Steven Gerrard and Raul
Meireles, with Fernando Torres and David Ngog up front, I don't think
things would have been different.

"I fear whatever team I chose the performance would have been the same
and
that showed when I made the three substitutions and it didn't alter
the level of performance.

"I don't think there are many players happy with how they played. I
put it down to it being a bad day for us."

Hodgson to keep fighting

Under-pressure manager Roy Hodgson has vowed to ignore the growing
disapproval of the Liverpool fans and push on at Anfield.

The Reds' Premier League woes worsened on Wednesday night as Stephen
Ward fired Wolves to their first away win since late March, marking
Hodgson's side's eighth defeat of the campaign.

The Kop voiced their displeasure during the latter stages of the
clash, chanting the name of Kenny Dalglish, not for the first time
this season, and also, ironically, "Hodgson for England".

But 63-year-old Hodgson, while admitting the negativity emanating from
the stands is affecting his players, has pledged to shrug off the
criticism and work to improve things.
Negativity

"I am getting used to it, that is the way it is," said Hodgson.

"We've had to live with that for quite a long time now as ever since I
came here the famous Anfield support has not really been there.

"There were the problems with the owners, then Kenny being so popular
and not getting the job and it being given to me.

"It is sad and I don't like hearing those things because I am trying
to do the best job I can do.

"I am working as hard as I can so I can't say it is something I really
appreciate.

"At the same time I am not in control of those things and it is the
Kop's way of showing they are not happy with what the team is doing.

"As manager you take responsibility for that so I have to take that
criticism on the chin as well.

"It was as bad a team performance as we have given, especially at Anfield.

"We've let the fans down and they made that perfectly clear to us and
I can only empathise with them because if I was a supporter I would be
disappointed with that."

The result leaves Liverpool just three points above the relegation
zone, but Hodgson remains confident in his competence as a manager.

Ability

"I've seen times like this before. My belief that I can turn this
around is my belief in my own ability," he added.

"I know the players are working hard to give me and the club success
but at the moment we are not succeeding.

"Maybe we lacked a bit of confidence and the negativity does affect confidence.

"Players are a little less keen to get on the ball and show what they
can do for fear of making a mistake."

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Rabu, 29 Desember 2010

So easy for Big Buck's

Tony McCoy was a mere passenger as he steered Big Buck's to an
effortless victory in the race named in his honour, the AP Wins Sports
Personality Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday.

The race was saved over from Ascot's card on December 18, with Big
Buck's' owner Andy Stewart stepping in to sponsor it.

Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2-13 after nine successive wins
over hurdles, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old landed the
honours as expected.

Lough Derg, a former winner of the race, put up his best effort for
some time and despite looking likely to be swamped turning into the
straight, he rallied for pressure to see off Restless Harry for
second.

However, in truth this race was only ever about one horse and he
provided McCoy with a treble and Nicholls a four-timer on the day.
Simply the best

Stewart said: "It's a privilege to own him - he's a horse of a
lifetime. "I thought he (Nicholls) was mad to go over hurdles with him
but on the basis he got that right, I'll always listen to him.

"In 2011 he will go for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

"He's the best horse I've owned."

Nicholls added: "He's getting more assured and is older and stronger.

"You can ride him any way you like now and he was probably a lot
fitter from his last run.

"He'll probably run in the Cleeve Hurdle (Cheltenham, January 29) now
and then we'll go to Cheltenham and Aintree.

"Ability wise, he's as good as I've trained - he's got it all."

Enough said

McCoy said: "You don't even need to say anything about a horse like
that you just have to look at his form.

"I hate admitting defeat but there's no point even trying to follow a
horse like him around Cheltenham as he's just obviously the best."

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Former Liverpool favorite Cohen dies after motorcycle accident

Former Liverpool and Israeli international footballer Avi Cohen has
died following his recent motorcycle crash in Tel Aviv.

Cohen had been in a coma in the city's Ichilov Hospital since the
December 20 accident, with news of his death announced Tuesday by his
son Tamir, who plays for English Premier League Bolton.

"Dad died of brain death. Thanks to all the people of Israel for their
support and assistance," he told gathered reporters.

Cohen, 54, was the first Israeli to play in the top-flight in England,
spending two years at Liverpool from 1979-81.

The full-back was not a regular in the all-conquering Liverpool team
of that era, but scored the goal which secured the 1980 English title.
He certainly left his mark and no-one will forget how he helped us win
the league against Aston Villa
--Kenny Dalglish

Capped 51 times by his country, Cohen had a short spell with Rangers
during the 1987 season, after being brought to the Scottish giants by
his former Liverpool teammate Graeme Souness.

He helped Rangers win the Scottish League Cup that year.

Another former Liverpool star, Kenny Dalglish, paid tribute to Cohen.

"He was well liked by all the lads and although he didn't spend a long
time at the club, he certainly left his mark and no-one will forget
how he helped us win the league against Aston Villa," Dalglish told
the club's official website.

Tamir Cohen rushed home to be at his father's bedside after the
accident, the midfielder missing Bolton's Christmas program.

The club's manager Owen Coyle told their official website: "On behalf
of everyone at Bolton Wanderers football club, our thoughts are with
Tamir and his family with the news that Avi Cohen has passed away.

"We are saddened by this news and we would request the Cohens' privacy
is respected at this time."

Cohen retired from football in 1990 to pursue a career in coaching and
sports broadcasting. He was president of the Israeli Professional
Footballers' Association.

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Selasa, 28 Desember 2010

Man Utd held but regain top spot from neighbors City

Manchester United reclaimed top spot in the English Premier League
from local rivals Manchester City despite being held 1-1 at lowly
Birmingham on Tuesday night.

The draw sees United join City, who have played two games more, on 38
points but with a superior goal difference.

Arsenal occupy third spot, three points adrift, after their 3-1 win at
defending champions Chelsea on Monday.

Dimitar Berbatov put United ahead in the second half and victory
looked assured until Lee Bowyer cropped up with a late equalizer in
the dying moments at St Andrews.

Man City take over at the top after Villa rout
We deserved to win the game, we were the better team
--Alex Ferguson

Chances were few and far between in the first half, with Birmingham
more than matching United, who are unbeaten in the league this season.

Ryan Giggs almost beat his former United teammate Ben Foster, but the
Birmingham goalkeeper was able to touch his shot onto the post.

Berbatov's 15th of the season came in the 58th minute after a fine
pass from Darron Gibson and the Bulgarian clipped the outside of the
post with a sharp effort shortly afterwards.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish rung the changes and brought on
Alexander Hleb and giant Serbian striker Nikola Zigic.

It all looked in vain as United played down the clock, but in a
last-gasp attack Roger Johnson crossed, Zigic got a touch with a
suspicion of handball and Bowyer applied the finish, with United
appealing for offside.

It left United manager Alex Ferguson unhappy after seeing his side
concede another late away goal to deny them victory.

"It was handball, there was a foul on the center half...he went right
through the back of him. If the ref can't see that what chance have
you got?

"We deserved to win the game, we were the better team," he told Sky Sports.

The precious point lifts Birmingham out of the bottom in a tight race
to avoid relegation from the English top-flight this season.

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Balotelli hat-trick as City step up English title bid

Manchester City crushed Aston Villa 4-0 with Mario Balotelli scoring a
hat-trick to go temporarily top of the English Premier League ahead of
city rivals Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Birmingham later Tuesday.

Although City were only at the head of affairs for a few hours, the
manner of their victory suggested they will be a factor in the title
race, but for Gerard Houllier's Villa it was another dispiriting
defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur, who won 2-1 at Villa on Boxing Day, beat Newcastle
2-0 in another afternoon kick-off to leapfrog Chelsea into fourth
place.

Goals from Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale in the second half maintained
Tottenham's impressive recent run and spelt a second straight defeat
for Newcastle under new manager Alan Pardew.

Man Utd regain top spot despite draw

Bale scored the clinching second after a trademark surging run after
Younes Kaboul had been sent off for the home side after tangling with
Cheick Tiote.
"I know that we are top but I think it will only be for three hours.
It is important to be there at the end of the season
--Roberto Mancini

At Eastlands, Balotelli proved a real handful for Villa, winning an
early penalty after being hauled down by Eric Lichaj.

The Italian got up to convert the penalty and City were 2-0 ahead
inside the first 15 minutes as Joleon Lescott headed home Adam
Johnson's corner.

Balotelli scored his second from close range before the break and
completed his hat-trick in the second half with his second successful
penalty after Johnson was fouled by Marc Alrighton.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini took a realistic view of their
hgih placing.

"I know that we are top but I think it will only be for three hours.
It is important to be there at the end of the season," the Italian
told BBC Sport.

Elsewhere, promoted Blackpool continued their remarkable season under
Ian Holloway with a 2-0 win at Sunderland to go eighth, having been
the favorites to go straight back down at the start of the campaign.

Two second half goals from DJ Campbell gave Blackpool three points in
their first match since December 11 after their own Bloomfield Road
ground was unfit to play due to a frozen pitch.

Chris Baird scored two early goals as Fulham relieved some of the
pressure on manager Mark Hughes with a 2-0 win at Stoke, while
Blackburn's fans will be happier after Nikoli Kalinic scored twice in
a 3-1 victory at West Brom.

Kalinic blotted his copybook by being sent off for a wild challenge in
the second half, but it was the first win for new manager Steve Kean,
who took over from the sacked Sam Allardyce.

In Tuesday's evening kickoff, West Ham missed the chance to move out
of the bottom three when they were held 1-1 at home by Everton.

The Hammers took the lead when Tony Hibbert diverted Radoslav Kovac's
overhead kick into his own net.

Everton leveled just before halftime through Seamus Coleman, before
Carlton Cole missed a great opportunity to seal victory for the home
side after the break.

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Snow tears through roof of Schalke's stadium after heavy snowfall

Heavy snowfall in Germany has caused part of the roof to collapse at
the Veltins Arena, which hosts Bundesliga soccer team Schalke 04.

The stadium, in Gelsenkirchen, stages all Schalke's home games and was
also due to hold the annual biathlon World Team Challenge later this
week.

But the event has been cancelled after a deluge of snow over Christmas
created a hole measuring 1,000 square meters in the roof. Three fibre
glass strips that hold the roof in place were destroyed.

"The holes are not going to be closed in time,'' Schalke's chairman
Peter Peters said of the biathlon on the club's official website. "The
safety of the spectators is the utmost priority.''

The Bundesliga is currently on its winter break with Schalke not
scheduled to play at the Veltins Arena until January 15 when they host
Hamburg.

But that match is not thought to be in danger, as it can be played
with the roof open.

Peters added: "I am optimistic that we will be able to start the
second half of the season according to schedule."

Staff had cleared an earlier downfall prior to Christmas but were
unable to get onto the roof after that due to harsh weather
conditions.

The stadium was opened in 2001 and can hold 61,482 spectators. It
played host to the 2004 UEFA Champions League final and staged five
games in the World Cup of 2006

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Senin, 27 Desember 2010

Injury ends Zheng's hopes of repeating Australian Open success

Chinese tennis star Zheng Jie will miss January's Australian Open due
to a persistent wrist injury.

The 27-year-old has not played since she reached the second round of
the U.S. Open in September due to the problem.

"It's a hard decision for me to make," she wrote on social networking
website Twitter. "But I believe there will be more Australian Opens
for me to attend if I can regain my health."

The injury means the world number 26 will not be able to improve on
her impressive showing at the 2010 event, when she was beaten in the
semifinals by Belgium's eventual runner-up Justine Henin.

The tournament has happy memories for Zheng, who won one of her two
grand slam doubles titles there in 2006.

Is Nadal's battered body his biggest threat?

In 2008, Zheng became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals
of a grand slam tournament, losing to Serena Williams in the last four
at Wimbledon.

The following year she became the first woman from her country to be
ranked in the world's top-15.

She has since been overtaken by compatriot Li Na, who ended the 2010
season ranked 11th after also reaching the semifinals in Melbourne
last January -- the first time two Chinese players had done so in the
same grand slam -- and later winning her only final on grass in
England.

The Australian Open is the first major event of the tennis season, and
the outdoor hardcourt tournament begins on January 17 at Melbourne
Park.

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Arsenal Wins

The Gunners were handed a boost before kick off as Spain midfielder
Fabregas was restored to the starting line up, as well as Dutch
striker Robin Van Persie, but Chelsea's French forward Nicolas Anelka
was absent with a knee injury.

The first half was a scrappy affair as Chelsea sat back and invited
their opponents onto them, with neither side creating much in the way
of goal scoring opportunities.

But that all changed five minutes before the break as Samir Nasri
forced Chelsea keeper Petr Cech into a fine save with an effort that
was curling towards the top corner.

And just four minutes later Arsenal were ahead. Song exchanged passes
with Wilshere, before picking up a loose ball in the area and driving
it into the corner of the net.

The home side came roaring out of the traps in the second half, as
Walcott latched onto a loose pass from Michael Essien and drew Cech
before squaring to Fabregas who stroked the ball into an empty net on
51 minutes.

Little more than a minute later the roles were reversed as Fabregas
clipped a ball through to Walcott, who fired low past Cech from the
edge of the area.

Chelsea gave themselves a glimmer of hope on 57 minutes as Ivanovic
glanced Didier Drogba's curling free kick into the net, but despite
committing plenty of men forward the champions couldn't fashion a way
back into the match.

Nasri and Abou Diaby had chances to compound Chelsea's misery but both
squandered presentable opportunities for Arsenal late on.

Chelsea's defeat is bound to heap more pressure on their Italian
manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has presided over a wretched run of form
that has seen them win just once in eight games.

After the game he told Sky Sports: "We have to wake up because we are
asleep. We did not play well but Arsenal did and they deserved to win.
We must stay focused and continue to work hard."

Arsenal boss Wenger said: "We were disciplined, played for each other
and were less nervous and perhaps less adventurous at some stages.

"Let's hope the game has strengthened our belief and that we can
challenge for the championship."

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tes

A three-goal blitz in nine minutes sent Arsenal second in the English Premier League as they finally ended their hoodoo against champions Chelsea by winning 3-1 at Emirates Stadium.

Goals from Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott sent Arsene Wenger's side second in the table, two points behind leaders Manchester United, and ended a run of five successive defeats to Chelsea.

Branislav Ivanovic pulled a goal back for the visitors, but it wasn't enough to end their miserable run of form as they continue to search for their first win since early November.