Latest Sports Alerts: 09/14/11

Franck Ribery Pictures

0 comments 5:59:00 pm Posted by jawad

Franck Ribery (born April 1 1983 in Boulogne-sur-Mer) is a player who can either play as an attacking midfielder or winger. He has often been touted as the successor to Zinedine Zidane (who will retire after this Sunday's final) due to impressive performances in this World Cup. When he was young he got involved in a car crash which left permanent scars on the right side of his face and forehead.
Ribery converted to Islam upon marrying his wife Wahiba, who is of Moroccan descent. His Muslim name is 'Bilal'. Before the kickoff in their opening match against Switzerland, Ribery could be seen raising his hands and made doa (supplication) to God like any other Muslim.
His first international goal proved to be instrumental in France's success in this World Cup. He scored a goal in the 2nd-round match against Spain, levelling the score at 1-1. This equaliser was the spark that France needed to let them eventually win the game 3-1.
In the quarter final against Brazil, Ribery was substituted in the 75th minute following another impressive performance.

Franck Ribery Pictures

Franck Ribery Picture with wife

Tags: Football, Franck Ribery

Muslim Van Persie and his Wife Pictures

0 comments 5:42:00 pm Posted by jawad

Robin van Persie (born August 6 1983 in Rotterdam) is currently plays for Arsenal as a striker. For his home country, though, he plays mainly on the wings.

van Persie received his first full international cap against Romania in the qualifying stages on 4th June 2005. Even though he was not an automatic first choice striker for Arsenal, he was selected for the Dutch team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup by the national coach, the legendary Marco van Basten. His first World Cup goal was scored in the group match against the Ivory Coast, a well-taken direct free-kick in the 23rd minute. He has now played 12 matches for his nation, scoring 2 goals in the process.

He is married to Bouchra van Persie, who is also Moroccan.

Muslim Van Persie Picture

Muslim Van Persie and his wife Picture

Muslim Van Persies wife Picture

Muslim Van Persie Picture

Muslim Van Persie with wife Picture

Muslim Van Persie kissing to wife Picture

Muslim Van Persie with wife Picture

Muslim Van Persie Picture

Muslim Van Persie with wife Picture

Muslim Van Persie Picture

Muslim Van Persie with wife Picture

Muslim Van Persie Picture

Tags: Football, Van Persie, Wifes

No guarantee of Oz Test spot despite Marsh’s century on debut: Tom Moody

0 comments 5:10:00 pm Posted by jawad

No guarantee of Oz Test spot despite Marsh’s century on debut: Tom Moody

Colombo, Sep 14: Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody reckons that Shaun Marsh could be left out of the Australian squad for the third Test against Sri Lanka despite his century on debut in the Kandy Test last week.
Moody highlighted that with Ricky Ponting set to return in the squad, Marsh will find it difficult to find a place unless the selectors drop Usman Khawaja or Phillip Hughes.
"He's obviously put his hand up and batted very well when he's been given an opportunity, but Ricky is going to come straight back at No. 3," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Moody, Marsh's former coach at Western Australia, as saying.
"It's whether they see that they've given enough opportunity to both Khawaja and Hughes, at the top of the order. Shaun, I suppose, has the benefit that he can bat anywhere really from one to six. He may just have to be patient, I'd say," he added.
Marsh became the 19th Australian to score a Test century on debut during the second Test played at Kandy's Pallekele Stadium.
The 28-year-old scored 141 of 315 balls, which included 18 fours.
He is also the first Australian to make a ton on debut since Marcus North made 117 against South Africa in 2009.

Tags: Colombo, Cricket, Sri Lanka, Tom Moody

‘Djokovic is having the greatest year in the history of tennis,’ says McEnroe

0 comments 5:09:00 pm Posted by jawad

‘Djokovic is having the greatest year in the history of tennis,’ says McEnroe

London, Sep 14: American legend John McEnroe has hailed World No. 1 Novak Djokovic after the Serbian defeated Rafael Nadal to in the US Open men's singles title and become just the sixth in the open era to win three Slams in the same calendar year.
It was also the 24-year-old's 64th win of a remarkable season that has seen him lose just two matches and win 10 titles which includes victories in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Belgrade, Madrid, Rome and Montreal as well as his three Slams.
"Djokovic is having the greatest year in the history of our sport, there's no doubt about it. He bewildered Nadal," the Guardian quoted McEnroe, as saying.
"I've never seen Nadal look as if he doesn't know what to do - and even on clay in Rome Djokovic made him look like that."
"Wimbledon was where he separated himself and took himself to a whole new level. He beat Nadal six times in one year and, considering the year Nadal had in 2010, that's pretty hard to do," he added.
Djokovic also has four wins against just one loss to World No. 3 Roger Federer and two wins and one defeat against World No. 4 Andy Murray.

Tags: John McEnroe, London, Tennis, United Kingdom

Hewitt hails Stosur’s US Open triumph

0 comments 5:09:00 pm Posted by jawad

Sydney, Sep 14: Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt has hailed Samantha Stosur after she produced the match of her life to win the US Open women's singles title.
"It's fantastic for her and, obviously, women's tennis at the moment is pretty wide open as well for her to really try and make a stand on it," Fox Sports quoted Hewitt, as saying.
"I think anytime anyone wins a grand slam, you hope that's going to help the growth of that sport as well and the profile of the sport," he added.
Stosur became the first Australian woman to win a grand slam singles title in 31 years when she defeated Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3, in the final at New York's Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday.
The win makes Stosur her country's first female Grand Slam champion since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980 and the first Australian woman to win the US Open women's singles crown since Margaret Court Smith in 1973.
Hewitt, who won the Wimbledon in 2002, was the last Australian to win a grand slam title.

Tags: Australia, Lleyton Hewitt, Sydney, Tennis

Indian players reject Hockey India cash award

0 comments 5:07:00 pm Posted by jawad

Indian players reject Hockey India cash award

New Delhi, Sep 14 : Indian players have rejected the Rs. 25,000 cash award given to them by Hockey India (HI) for winning the inaugural edition of the Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos, China, saying it was inadequate.
Indian captain Rajpal Singh said that it was disappointing and such awards won't attact youngsters to take up the national sport. After rejecting the cash reward, Rajpal Singh had told a TV news channel that his team was disappointed by the hollow claims of Sports Minister Ajay Maken to revive the sport in the country.
"The federation has failed to meet our expectations. This is not the way to treat the national players. The money should be better not just for the motivation of the current crop of players but for the future generations who'd like to take up the national sport," Rajpal said.
A top HI official told IANS on condition of anonymity that the cash-strapped federation did its best to award the players.
"We have no funds. We agree Rs. 25,000 is too small. But what can we do, we have no funds. We don't have enough sponsors," the official said.
Another senior player, Gurbaz Singh, said that players have outrightly rejected the cash award as it was a pittance.
"We were offered Rs 25,000 each by HI secretary general Narinder Batra as reward for winning the Asian Champions Trophy but we all refused to take it because it a very small reward considering our achievement," he said.
Gurbaz said such awards will not encourage the players.
"We did not expect such a small amount as reward, considering the fact that hockey is our national game. If such things continue, there will be a day when there will be very few youngsters interested in playing hockey. They would rather opt for cricket or any other individual sport," he said.
India won the Asian Champions Trophy by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 via shoot out in the final.

Tags: Hockey, India, New Delhi

Champions League: Barcelona held by Milan, Arsenal by Dortmund

0 comments 5:06:00 pm Posted by jawad

Champions League: Barcelona held by Milan, Arsenal by Dortmund

London, Sep 14: Defending champions Barcelona were stunned by a goal by A. C. Milan within seconds of kick-off and another in stoppage time of their opening Group H Champions League game which ended in a 2-2 draw Tuesday.
Struggling English Premier club Arsenal, too, were surprised by a late goal in their 1-1 split verdict against Borussia Dortmund in Group F while another English side Chelsea won their match against Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in Group E.
Alexandre Pato scored the first Milan goal and as Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa struck a goal each Barcelona looked in control of the game till a Thiago Silva header gave Milan a point.
Robin van Persie's first-half goal for Arsenal looked secure till a Ivan Perisic volley tied the score.
Chelsea's new manager Andre Villas-Boas saw his side win comfortably, his former club Porto rallied to beat nine-man Shaktar Donetsk 2-1 in Group G.
Barcelona have won the Champions League twice in three years, while Porto took the Europa League honours last season.
Barcelona is seen as world soccer's superpower and coach Pep Guardiola's boys are favourites to win Europe's premier club championship for the fifth time.
Injured Zlatan Ibroahimovic and Robinho were missing from the Milan line-up and yet the Italian side fought it out to share points at the Nou Camp. A goal in only 24 seconds as Pato coolly slipped the ball past goalkeeper Victor Valdes put them on top.
Lionel Messi provided the opening for the Spanish champions to tie the score, Pedro Rodriguez scoring in the 36th minute.
Five minutes into the second half, Villa's long-range free kick curled into the net put Barcelona ahead.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said his side could have played better after the lead. "I am happy the team did not collapse until we found the late equaliser," he said.
The equaliser came when Thiago jumped high to meet Clarence Seedorf's corner.
"In the Champions League, teams can create goals out of nothing against you and you can end up with egg on your face as was the case tonight," UEFA website quoted Barcelona winger Daniel Alves as saying.
"We played a great game but we didn't kill it off and we saw the consequences against a great rival," he added.
All four teams in Group H are on one point after BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen tied 1-1.
In Germany, Arsenal went ahead just before halftime when Van Persie seized the ball from Sebastian Kehl and after a one-two with Theo Walcott shot past Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.
In the closing minutes, Marcel Schmelzer's free kick was only partially cleared by Kieran Gibbs and Ivan Perisic charged in to volley home the equaliser.
The draw enabled Marseille to go to the top of the group with Lucho Gonzalez's lone goal against Olympiakos.
The Argentine cashed in on a chink in the Greek defence to reach Jeremy Morel's cross and beat his former River Plate teammate Franco Costanzo in the Olympiakos goal.
At Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres is still searching for a goal, but he set up both the Chelsea goals.
David Luiz latched onto Torres' layoff before beauty found the bottom corner of the net midway through the second session.
Then Torres ran down the left flank and all Juan Mata had to do was to give his effort a finishing touch and with it the game ended.
Chelsea are at the top of Group E after Racing Genk drew 0-0 with Valencia in the other group match.
In Group G both games resulted in 2-1 victories.
Porto goalkeeper Helton gifted Shakhtar the lead in the 12th minute as he could not collect a weak shot from outside the area by Williams and as he dropped the ball, Luiz Adriano was there to tap it in.
By the 30th minute, Hulk equalised for Porto from a free kick, and James Rodriguez's cross saw Kleber slot home the winner six minutes after halftime.
For APOEL Nicosia it was a first-ever Champions League victory. Second-half goals from Gustavo Manduca and Ailton gave them a 2-1 win over Zenit St. Petersburg.

Tags: Football, London, United Kingdom

Sexy lingerie Ladies Football League set to make waves Down Under

0 comments 5:05:00 pm Posted by jawad

Melbourne, Sept 14 : A Ladies Football League with lingerie ladies is being launched in Queensland with the help of X Girl Tala Schultz.
The concept, which is based on the Lingerie Football League in the US, is said to be the first official women's 11-on-11-tackle gridiron football league from Australia.
"It (lingerie) adds femininity to the game and just highlights that even hot athletic chicks can hit as hard and run as fast as some of the guys," the Courier Mail quoted Schultz as saying.
"I'm not about making a statement about gender. I'm making a statement about the possibility for anyone to perform.
"We want to take on the America women when the Lingerie Football League tour in 2013. We will be ready. Bring it on," she stated.
Schultz claimed that more than 30 athletes have already expressed their interest in the "beautiful ladies" league, who will be dressed down in camouflaged lingerie outfits with knee pads, shoulder guards and ice hockey helmets.
"The majority are studying. There are a couple of lawyers, some studying medicine, others are full time athletes and soccer girls.

Tags: Australia, Football, Melbourne

T&T aims to qualify for main stage of CL T20

0 comments 5:03:00 pm Posted by jawad

T&T aims to qualify for main stage of CL T20

Port of Spain, Sep 14 : Trinidad and Tobago's captain Daren Ganga expects his team to qualify for the main draw of the Champions League Twenty20, admitting that "sometimes our best efforts are not good enough".
The team leaves Wednesday for India, where it will contest the qualifying stages of the competition against Sri Lanka's Ruhuna Rhinos and England's Leicester shire.
Three teams will advance from the qualifiers, and T&T, beaten finalist in the inaugural tournament two years ago, felt strongly that they will own one of those spaces.
"As T20 cricket goes, it is very difficult for us to predict results before we play," said Ganga on the eve of his team's departure.
"Sometimes our best efforts are not good enough for the opposition. and that is the nature of sport.
"We try to leave everything on the field, meaning that we give our best effort on the field.
"What I could say is that we have worked very hard as a team to prepare. For the last two months, every single player in this room has dedicated their lives, and their time towards preparing for this challenge. We firmly believe that we will play good cricket," Ganga added.
T&T will fly to Hyderabad - via London and Bangalore - before playing a warm-up against Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders.
They begin the qualifying competition against Ruhuna Monday and take on Leicester shire the following day.
"With just a day to go before we head off to India, the players would not have been focused on training," said T&T Operations Manager Omar Khan.
"I think they are all just anxious to get to India, and get down to business. We gave them the day off (Monday) to attend to their personal business and from (Wednesday) it is serious cricket business.
He said: "We are hoping to settle quickly in India and hit the ground running. We have quality players and once they play intelligent cricket, I see no reason us not doing very well in the tournament.
T&T are without key all-rounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo. They have chosen to play for their respective IPL franchises, Mumbai Indians and reigning IPL champions Chennai Super Kings.
The squad:
Daren Ganga (captain), Samuel Badree, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Rayad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Mohammed, Dave Mohammed, Sunil Narine, William Perkins, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons

Tags: Cricket, Spain