Jamaican Asafa Powell clocked 9.94 seconds and easily won a competitive men's 100 metres at the Aviva London Super Grand Prix track and field meeting yesterday.

Three weeks away from the start of the athletics competition at the Beijing Olympics, Powell beat Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns (9.97) into second spot, with Jamaican Michael Frater (10.00) third, in a Caribbean sweep of the top places.

The field raced against a headwind of -0.5 metres per second and Powell was fairly satisfied with the outcome.

"The race did not quite go as expected, but felt easy. A bit more work to do and everything should be fine for Beijing," he told reporters.

Jamaica also registered a win in the women's 200 metres, with Sherone Simpson scoring in 22.70 seconds.

Powell, the Commonwealth Games champion and former world record holder, was left as the huge favourite to win after American World Champion Tyson Gay pulled out of the meet Wednesday to avoid risking further injury to a hamstring injury he suffered at the US Olympic Trials.

Only 0.10 seconds separated the first six finishers in the sprint, but Powell clearly had energy in reserve as he coasted across the finish line in front, just three days after he edged new world record holder Usain Bolt in a highly anticipated DN Galan 100-metre sprint in Stockholm.

"The way I am running at the moment, I feel I am in the best shape I have been in," Powell said after his victory.

Powell, whose 100-metre previous world record 9.74 was toppled by Bolt (9.72) in May, was just 0.03 seconds in front of Burns, who had another 0.03 on Frater.

Trinidad and Tobago's reigning US Collegiate champion, Richard Thompson, was just a shade behind Frater in fourth, clocking 10.01 seconds, with Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.04) and Kim Collins (10.17) of St Kitts and Nevis, sixth and seventh, respectively.

Simpson rebounded from her disappointing seventh place finish in Stockholm on Tuesday to register a good win in the half-lap sprint, ahead of American Bianca Knight (22.79) with Bahamian Olympic bronze medallist Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie third in 22.84.

"To get a win so close to the Olympics is very good psychologically," Simpson told reporters after the race.

"My past two races weren't that good at all," she added.

Two-time World Champion Allyson Felix, of the USA, surprisingly missed a top three spot and placed fourth in 23.00.

Another disappointment at the start of the two-day meet was Bahamian world champion Donald Thomas, whose comeback from injury continues to serve up below-par performances.

The 2007 Osaka champion could only manage eighth place in the men's high jump although his 2.25-metre effort equals his best for the season so far.

Russian Andrey Silnov was a comfortable winner at a world-leading 2.38 metres, beating former Jamaica representative Germaine Mason, who cleared a season's best 2.31 metres to take the runner-up spot.

Jamaican Korene Hinds picked up a third-place finish in the women's 3,000-metre steeplechase in nine minutes 40.02 seconds, chasing Irish winner Roisin McGettigan (9:33.76) and Romania's Ancuta Bobocel (9:37.45).

Americans Reesa Hoffa (21.13 metres) and Adam Nelson (21.07m) dominated the men's shot put, in which Jamaican Dorian Scott placed sixth at 20.12 metres

FC Barcelona cruised to victory in the first game of the preseason. Goals from Gudjohnsen (2), Messi, Pedrito, Bojan and Touré Yaya made it 6-0 in a game that saw all five of the new signings make their debuts.

Barças first fixture under Guardiola promised there could be big things ahead of us this season. Barça were clearly the better side for all 90 minutes of their game with Scottish Premier League outfit Hibernian FC. All five of the new signings got their moment, and the team played from start to finish at a frenetic pace, and made it look all too easy as such constant pressure was converted into six goals, scored by Gudjohnsen (2), Messi, Pedrito, Bojan and Touré Yaya.

Gudjohnsen scores first of preseason

Right from the start, it was evident that there was a huge gap between these two sides, and that with this being Barças first game after the summer, while Hibernian are already well into their stride. Barça enclosed the Scots in their area, and were already ahead before the first five minutes were up, all thanks to a powerful drive from Gudjohnsen on the edge of the area.

Total domination

Once Barça had scored, they looked even more superior. Guardiolas side showed that this season they intent to pile the pressure on their opponents and stole ball after ball in the Hibs half. Such superiority soon led to chances for Henry and Messi, and the second goal did not take long in coming, the work of the Argentinian ace, who sent the ball into the home net thanks to a strike from a narrow angle (min 15).

0-3 and 0-4

The third and fourth goals followed soon after. Gudjohnsen took advantage of a deflected clearance from Hogg to catch the keeper out of position (min 18). That was two for the Icelander, and moments later Barça were four up, thanks to an accurately placed long-range effort from Pedro. Hibernian FC failed to cause any serious troubles for Barça in the entire first half, rarely crossing the half way line, and the first forty five minutes ended with things at 4-0.

Six changes and more goals

Guardiola changed half his team for the second half, sending on Pinto, Cáceres, Touré, Abraham, Jeffren and Bojan. Crosas had already come on late in the first half. It may have been a different eleven, but it was more of the same at Murrayfield, and FC Barcelona scored their fifth after an excellent individual run from Jeffren, followed by a cross that Bojan converted into a goal. The former B team player was one of the outstanding players of the second half, making penetrating run after penetrating run down his wing.

The sixth goal was almost a carbon copy of the fifth, with Jeffren making another storming run down the right, this time finding Touré Yaya, who scored. It was Barça all the way, but with Keita, Hleb and Eto'o together on the pitch, the seventh goal just did not want to come.

DONOVAN BAILEY, the 1996 Olympic champion, picks World 100m record holder Usain Bolt to win in Beijing.

Bailey, whose gold medal run in Atlanta was a world-record 9.84 seconds, believes it is going to take something flawless from one of the world's top sprinters - Tyson Gay or Asafa Powell -- to stop Bolt.

The Jamaican-born Bailey, who represented Canada, said the power Bolt displays in the latter part of his race meant Gay or Powell would have to produce something special to hold out to the end.

Flawless start

"For Tyson or Asafa to beat Usain, they would need to have a flawless start and a flawless acceleration phase and still stay relaxed," Bailey was quoted as saying in an article published on the Sport Illustrated website.

"You know he's coming, and even if you get one metre ahead - even two metres ahead - he can make that up in three or four strides."

On Tuesday, Bolt, was beaten by Powell at the DN Galan meet. Powell won in 9.88, while Bolt finished in 9.89.

However, Bailey said: "It almost seemed like Usain had another turbo gear that he hadn't unleashed yet. Like it was a 120m race."

Men's World 100 metres record holder Usain Bolt has again expressed his interest in doubling at the Olympic Games in Beijing next month.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of the two day Aviva London Grand Prix meeting, the lanky Jamaican acknowledged he is targeting the 100 and 200 Olympic gold medals, but understands that his coach knows best.

"I definitely want to double," Bolt said. "This is an Olympic year, and you have to take it seriously. But I don't know what I'll be doing - that's up to my coach."

After breaking compatriot Asafa Powell's World record of 9.74 seconds with his scorching run of 9.72 secs in New York on May 31 this year, Bolt announced that he would definitely go after the double in Beijing.

Match Tracker
07/24 BMO Field
West Ham United vs. MLS All-Stars
West Ham United
2
90:00

Final
MLS All-Stars
3
Scoring:
WHU -- Dean Ashton 1 (Carlton Cole 1) 26
MLS -- Christian Gomez 1 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1, David Beckham 1) 27
MLS -- Cuauhtemoc Blanco 1 (Juan Toja ) 43
WHU -- Dean Ashton 2 (Luis Boa Morte ) 67
MLS -- Dwayne De Rosario 1 (penalty kick) 69
Discipline:
WHU -- Scott Parker (caution; Delaying a Restart) 46+
MLS -- Jonathan Bornstein (caution; Pushing, Holding) 52
MLS -- Frankie Hejduk (caution; Reckless Foul) 56
MLS -- Jimmy Conrad (caution; Reckless Foul) 82
Audio | Video | Play-by-Play

Game Stats
West Ham United MLS All-Stars
Total Shots: 12 11
Shots on Goal: 7 4
Total Saves: 1 5
Fouls: 15 17
Offsides: 2 4
Corner Kicks: 3 7

Play-by-Play Complete Play-by-Play
90:00 -Match Ended @ 9:18 P.M. ET. Match is Official. Time of Match is 1:53.
94:07 -End Half 2 @ 9:18 P.M. ET. 04:07 of Stoppage Time
93:26 WHU -94th Minute. Foul Committed by 22-Tony Stokes, 1st of match. Foul Suffered by 7-Steve Ralston, 1st of match.
93:01 WHU -94th Minute. Direct Free Kick by 31-Jack Collison.
92:44 MLS -93rd Minute. Foul Committed by 7-Steve Ralston, 1st of match. Foul Suffered by 22-Tony Stokes, 1st of match.
92:27 MLS -93rd Minute. Corner Kick by 23-David Beckham.
91:47 MLS -92nd Minute. Shot on Goal by 14-Dwayne De Rosario, 2nd of match. Save by: 1-Robert Green, 1st of match.
91:47 MLS -92nd Minute. Direct Free Kick by 14-Dwayne De Rosario. Kick resulted in a Shot.
91:31 WHU -92nd Minute. Foul Committed by 2-Lucas Neill, 3rd of match. Foul Suffered by 10-Landon Donovan, 1st of match.
90:04 WHU -91st Minute. Substitution: 22-Tony Stokes for 12-Carlton Cole, 89 minutes played.

Referee: Mauricio Navarro
Referee's Assistants: Hector Vergara; Greg Barkey
4th Official: Mark Geiger
Time of Game: 90:00
Weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 72 degrees
Attendance: 20,844

-- Edited by RiddimRyder at 21:33, 2008-07-24

NOW THAT the Boston Celtics are once again NBA champions, American basketball's next great championship hope falls to the men's Olympic team.

"They need it worse than the Celtics needed a championship this year," Paul Pierce said yesterday in an interview with The Associated Press.

"The United States has been a perennial basketball power and they just need to establish that once again. I think this is the team to do it," he added.

The 30-year-old forward, who won the NBA finals MVP after leading the Celtics to their first championship in 22 years, believes the Americans go into next month's Beijing Games having learned from recent failures.

Team building

US basketball changed the selection process and emphasised team building rather than individual skills since going without gold at a major championship since the 2000 Sydney Games.

"We'll see if it works out. I think it's been a great thing so far, but hopefully it carries over to the Olympics," said Pierce, who declined to follow Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and commit to the team three years ago to make the Beijing roster. "It would have been great to be a part of it, especially if they were to win gold. But that wasn't a dream of mine."

Instead, he'll spend the time with his family while preparing for the new season.

"I'll have fun sitting back and watching it," he said.

THE INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) said yesterday that Iraq will not compete at the Beijing Games because of government interference.

The IOC suspended Iraq's national Olympic committee in June after the Iraqi Government dismissed and installed its own group chaired by the sports minister. The IOC told officials in Baghdad that it was upholding the suspension.

The IOC Charter forbids political interference in the Olympic movement.

A stalemate between the two sides meant Iraq missed Wednesday's deadline to submit a team for the August 8-24 Games.

"The deadline for taking up places for Beijing for all sports except athletics has now passed," IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. "The IOC very sadly has now to acknowledge that it is likely there will be no Iraqi presence at the Beijing Olympic Games, despite our best efforts."

Disappointed

Four Iraqi athletes were expected to compete in non track-and-field sports - archery, judo, rowing and weightlifting. Their places will be offered to athletes from other countries.

"Clearly, we'd very much like to have seen Iraq's athletes in Beijing," Davies said. "We are very disappointed that the athletes have been so ill-served by their own government's actions."

The IOC and Olympic Council of Asia jointly sent a letter on Wednesday to Iraq's minister for youth and sport Jassem Mohammed Jaafar confirming Iraq's suspension "despite joint efforts ... over the past few months to find a positive solution with Iraqi authorities".

Iraq's government said after the June 4 suspension that it wanted to meet the IOC "to make its legitimate case".

It said the decision to dissolve the Olympic committee was based on "solid evidence of blatant corruption, lack of legitimate transparent electoral processes and accountability, and absence of ratified legislation".

"We are fully confident that once the Iraqi delegation attends the meeting of the IOC and presents the facts, the provisions for the suspension will be immediately removed and the suspension will be lifted accordingly," it said in June.

USAIN BOLT is ready to go up against Asafa Powell in the 100-metre sprint at the Beijing Olympics, even if he hasn't yet decided to run in both that race and the 200.

Bolt, who took the world record in the 100 from Powell in May, lost to his Jamaican teammate at that distance on Tuesday in Sweden.

"I'm always ready do anything," Bolt said yesterday, a day before the London Grand Prix opens. "Physically, it's going to be hard on my body, but I've been doing the work preseason and I'm ready to do the double."

Targeting 200m

Ahead of the Beijing Games, the 21-year-old Bolt is still looking to add the world record in the 200 - the race he will run in London tomorrow - to the 9.72-second 100 he ran on May 31 in New York.

"It will be a great feeling to get the 200 world record," Bolt said. "It will mean a lot more to me because I've been doing the 200 over the years and I've done a lot of work on it."

Bolt said the decision on whether to run both sprints in Beijing would be made at the last moment.

"I've been doing well in both events, I think I may be doing both," Bolt said. "My coach is trying to figure out the technical aspects if I can keep my mind to get everything right and work under pressure running eight rounds."

Bolt ran the fastest time in the 200 this year, winning a race last month in Athens, Greece, in 19.67 seconds. The Jamaican is now the fifth fastest man of all time over the distance, but knows breaking the world record of 19.32 is a tough challenge.

"Michael Johnson's record has been around pretty much forever and nobody has gotten near it," Bolt said. "It's definitely possible - anything is possible -but it's going to take a lot of work. Hopefully, next year if my coach decides we should go after the world record, we may."

Lone star

Powell will be the lone star today in the 100 at Crystal Palace because world champion Tyson Gay will miss the event while still recovering from the hamstring injury he picked up at the United States trials last month.

But the 25-year-old Powell, who has shaken off injuries earlier in the year, won't be any less competitive as he tries to recapture the 100 record in Beijing and win his first Olympic title.

"I'm the only one who can defeat myself," said Powell, who edged Bolt by one-hundredth of a second on Tuesday, winning in 9.88. "I don't need to think about anyone else's race that I can't control.

"It would have been a lot more exciting if Tyson was here for the fans, but for me it is no different. I'm going out there to compete. The other day in Stockholm I wasn't focusing on Usain, I was thinking about myself."

Genetic research provides answer to Jamaicans' speed
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

Leighton Levy, Freelance Reporter

Professor Errol Morrison, president of the University of Technology (UTech), shares a joke with Olympic sprint relay gold medallist, Sherone Simpson, after athletes from the MVP Track Club met with Gleaner sports editors at the university's Technology Innovation Centre in Papine, St Andrew, last week. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Jamaicans are born to run fast. It's in our *lo**.

At least, so say preliminary findings of research being conducted by the University of Glasgow and the University of the West Indies (UWI) that has been going on for more than two years now.

Over that time, more than 200 Jamaican athletes were tested and found to possess the Actinen component in their fast-twitch muscle fibres - the rapidly contracting muscle fibres that enable sprinters to run really fast.

Early data

"Jamaica (and) Scotland, through the University of Glasgow, have been studying athletes from around the world, those of West African origin, east Africa and elsewhere. The early data is that for the fast-twitch fibres in the muscles, there is a special component called the Actinen A, of which the gene was identified in the fast-twitch fibres has been found in 70 per cent of the athletes from Jamaica," reveals an excited Professor Errol Morrison, president of the University of Technology (UTech).

More to come

"This compared to only 30 per cent in an Australian group that is being tested. What it says to us is what is happening is not a flash in the pan, but there will be many potential Asafa Powells, Sherone Simpsons and Sherikas (Williams), because the genetic predisposition is there."

Professor Morrison was understandably excited when he released the information to The Gleaner recently, because he was partially responsible for initiating the research that unearthed these findings.

He explained that the Univer-sity of Glasgow and a few Japanese universities had for some time been conducting research on athletes in Kenya, apparently trying to unlock the secrets to their prowess at long-distance running. Then, just over two years ago, while he wasemployed by the Department of Biochemistry at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Morrison wrote an article that caught the researchers' eyes.

"I had published an article about what seemed to be the underlying principles behind the high performance in sprint among Jamaican athletes," he said. "And when they saw that article, they contacted me and said they would like to set up a link to look at athletes of a West African origin because that is where Caribbean athletes come from."

The University of Technology became involved when Professor Morrison assumed duties as president and eventually tests were conducted on the athletes there, including those from the MVP track club that has as its members some of the world's best sprinters.

Tests were not only conducted on UTech and MVP athletes, but on some of Jamaica's greats like the late Herb McKenley and Olympic 200 metre silver medallist Grace Jackson, who now runs the sports programme at the UWI, Mona Campus.

Blessed sprinters

The early results, according to Professor Morrison, are not only exciting, but it gives cause to create the environment to nurture this genetic predisposition with which Jamaica's sprinters have been blessed.

"It is quite clear that there are a lot of people with this potential to be good performers who, by nurturing the environment for them, the nutrition, training, focusing the whole psychological competitiveness, we can remain at the forefront for many years to come," Professor Morrison said.

Definitive answer

The results could go a long way in providing a definitive answer as to why Jamaicans continue to compete with the best sprinters in the world and in recent times, take the lead.

"The question is always there. What is it, nature or nurture that makes us so good?" Professor Morrison said in concluding. "The answer seems to be coming that there seems to be a strong underlying genetic or nature predisposition as to why we are able to perform like this."

Toure hospitalized with malaria:-

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has been hospitalised under fears that he has contracted malaria.

The 27-year-old is thought to have contracted the tropical illness after a visit to his native Ivory Coast during the summer break.

The player was complaining of feeling unwell during the Gunners' pre-season tour of Austria. If the suspected illness is confirmed as malaria, he will most likely miss his club's opening Premier League fixture against West Brom at the Emirates on 16 August.

Toure was said to be relaxed before being taken to hospital to undergo medical tests.

Reports have said a source at the London club expressed concern that the player could be sidelined for at least a month, forcing manager Arsene Wenger to look for a replacement in Phillipe Senderos or Johan Djourou to partner William Gallas in defense.

"Kolo was in hospital until the early hours and released into the care of Arsenal medical staff," said the source.

"Malaria is very serious and and this could lay Kolo low for weeks or maybe months.

"He needs more tests back in London to establish exactly what has struck him down but the initial thoughts are that it could be malaria."

Shelton completes move to Norway

Luton Shelton yesterday completed his move to Norwegian side Valerenga for a fee of £1million plus incentives and a sell-on clause. Shelton had failed to hold down a first team place after joining from Swedish side Helsingborgs in January 2007. He scored just 4 goals including the infamous goal against Manchester City which had the help of a blue balloon. 'Luton wasn't exactly what I was looking for, he was a bit of a maverick,' said Blackwell about the Jamaican International. 'This opportunity arose for him to play regularly and is just what he needs at this stage of his career.'

-- Edited by ***DK*** at 23:02, 2008-07-24

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=cHS-lMJUqGQ]

World record holder Usain Bolt is disappointed with his loss to his Jamaican colleague Asafa Powell in the DN Galan 100 metres on Tuesday.

In the highly anticipated clash between the world's two fastest men of all time, Powell registered a narrow victory over Bolt, who lost by 0.01 seconds.

Propelled by a brilliant start, the ex-world record holder Powell took control early and won in 9.88 seconds.

Bolt's rapid acceleration brought him alongside Powell at the finish and the 21-year-old believes he lost the race at the start.

FC Barcelona striker Thierry Henry believes new coach Pep Guardiola's plans to restore him to his favoured centre forward position will bring him more goals this season.

Henry had a relatively disappointing first season in the Spanish league after then coach Frank Rijkaard played him on the left wing, where he often had to cover in defence for left back Eric Abidal.

"Last year, I played on the left side and it was harder to score goals because I had to help Abidal to defend," Henry said Tuesday at a pre-season training camp.

Sprinter Tyson Gay withdrew from the London Grand Prix yesterday, insisting the hamstring he injured at the US Olympic trials won't rule him out of next month's Beijing Games.

Gay was due to race against Jamaica's former world record-holder Asafa Powell in the 100 metres on Friday but said he wasn't taking any risks on the left leg.

"I was really looking forward to getting back on the track again, and training has been going well," said Gay, who was undergoing treatment in Germany. "I held out hope to run in London, but progress has been steady and with the first round of the Olympic 100 meters just three weeks away, I don't want to risk doing anything to set things back."

Doctors yesterday assessed Monday's MRI, which showed a mild strain in the semi tendinosus muscle, and said it was healing well.

"The decision does not affect Gay's plans for Beijing, by which time he is expected to be fully recovered," Gay's agent Mark Wetmore said.

Gay had already qualified for the 100m when he sprained a muscle in the back of his left leg in the 200m at the trials, a tumble that forced him to be carted off the track and ended his chances of winning two individual gold medals in Beijing.

He will also race in the Olympic 400-metres relay

MAKE NO mistake about it, a win for former record holder Asafa Powell against the man of the moment, Usain Bolt, at Tuesday's DN Gala meet was a big one and, with the Olympic Games just about two weeks away, it couldn't have come at a better time.

The big smile on Powell's face at the end of that race said it all. Not only was the time a good one for Powell, who has recently recovered from injury, but the fact that it came against a Usain Bolt who has looked unbeatable recently, must go a long way as far as the sprinter's confidence is concerned.

And confidence will be key for Powell with the deck perhaps more stacked than it has ever been against the fallen sprint king, who is yet to win a major world title.

Say what you want about Bolt and Powell being friends, the fact of the matter is that sport is war. The two won't be the first or the last friends to compete against each other at the highest level. Let's not fool ourselves. Tracks, courts and pitches are battlefields, fierce rivalries will develop and this scenario will be no different.

Unhealthy fear

A great deal of us seem to hold an unhealthy fear of encouraging a competition, which could push both athletes and the nation to new heights where sprinting is concerned.

However, for those of you in denial, let's put the issue in black and white. Out of nowhere, Bolt stripped away most of Powell's sprinting accolades, which include world records and national championships, and perhaps even forced a licence plate change (Powell's read 9.77 WR). It can't be easy to go from the fastest man in the world to not even the fastest man in your country.

Powell wants them back, and if that isn't the start of a rivalry then I don't know what is. Of course, they are both superb athletes and we are glad they are on our side, but sports is about competition.

As far as getting even with Bolt goes, Powell took a key step by showing the world and himself that he can outsprint the world's fastest man. With the emergence of Tyson Gay and Bolt, it had seemed to some that it might have been just possible for the sun to have set on Powell's Olympic dreams.

Think again

However, those of us who had crossed Powell out will certainly need to think again.

Having the world record, as Powell knows, does not win medals and the sprinter will still be very much in contention for the gold in Beijing.

Of course, American Gay, who has had a solid season, having run 9.77 at the US trials, will also have his say. I am aware of the wind-aided 9.68, which Gay also ran, but am not sure when it is that we have started consistently mentioning wind-aided times.

However, Powell's beating of Bolt, a man who decimated Gay when the two met earlier in the season, can't hurt in that respect either.

Jamaican-born sprinter Merlene Ottey saw her dream of appearing at a historic eighth consecutive Olympic games fail to materialise, after falling well short of Solvenia's qualifying mark, at a meet in Maribor, Slovenia, yesterday.

Ottey, who is still the current 100m and 200m national record holder, finished second in the 100m, clocking 11.70. The athlete, who is also the holder of the 200m indoor record of 21.87, had a season's best of 11.60, well short of the 11.42 required for the Olympic B standard.

The A standard is 11.32 seconds. Slovenia's current top sprinter, Pia Tajnikar, has a season-best 11.35 seconds.

Most medals

In seven Olympic Games, with three silver and five bronze, Ottey, now 48, has won more medals in track and field competition than any other woman.

It is possible for Ottey to secure another medal if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decides to upgrade the athletes, who finished in the 2000 games behind USA sprinter Marion Jones. Jones has since been disqualified after admitting to having used performance enhancing drugs earlier this year.

However, Ottey whose first Olympic medal, a bronze in the 200m, came in 1980 in Moscow has still not called it quits.

A day before the race, Ottey's Slovenia coach Srdjan Djordjevic was quoted as saying: "Of course she wants to run at these (Beijing) games because she would be the first ever to participate at eight consecutive Olympics,"

"If there are ideal weather conditions, she could qualify."

However, according to Robert Rudelic of the Athletic Club Poljane, which organised yesterday's meet, the conditions were not ideal.

"Conditions were bad, she had wind in her chest and she missed the qualifying time by 28 hundredths of a second," he said.

Despite the disappointment, Djordjevic said: "She will still train simply because she can still run very fast."

FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter accused clubs yesterday of going against the Olympic spirit in trying to stop their players going to Beijing.

"It would appear to be against the spirit of the Olympic regulations to hinder players under the age of 23, who are actually the core of the squads participating in the men's Olympic football tournament, to take part in the final phase of the event," Blatter said in a letter to the world governing football body's 205 member associations.

Releasing under 23 players

"The release of players below the age of 23 (for the Olympics) has always been mandatory for all clubs. The same principle shall apply for Beijing 2008," he said, urging national associations to inform their clubs of the rule.

Blatter spoke out as German clubs Schalke and Werder Bremen prepare to step up their fight to prevent their Brazilian players - respectively, Rafinha and Diego - playing in Beijing next month.

The clubs say the players didn't have their permission to join up with the Brazil squad in Paris earlier this week to prepare for the August 8-24 Games.

Appeal to sports body

Both clubs have pledged to go to sport's highest appeal body, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

CAS secretary general Matthieu Reeb said in a statement yesterday that "no appeal has been filed and no contact has been made with the CAS by Werder or another club so far".

The clubs say the players are needed for preseason practice, the August 15 start of the Bundesliga season and, for Schalke, a Champions League qualifying match on August 12 or 13.

Their complaint was taken to FIFA by the German national association (DFB) and they won further support yesterday from the European Club Association (ECA), a new body representing Europe's best and wealthiest clubs including Schalke and Werder.

ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said his members have football law on their side against FIFA.

"(We) support all clubs that currently face losing important players," Rummenigge said. "As the Olympics are not included in the harmonised International Match Calendar, the obligation to release players for national team matches according to the FIFA regulations does not apply."

He said this legal point was clarified in meetings with FIFA, which officially recognised the Geneva-based ECA when it was created in January to represent 103 of Europe's top clubs.

Blatter wrote in his letter that the Olympic football tournament had always been treated differently because of its special character.

"This does not mean that there is no release obligation for the relevant clubs," Blatter said.

THE PAKISTAN Cricket Board is adamant it should host the Champions Trophy in September, despite growing concerns from leading international players and officials about security.

On the eve of an International Cricket Council (ICC) vote on the issue, the PCB's senior official said Pakistan's hosting rights should be beyond dispute because it has met all the security needs of competing teams.

The ICC's 10 full member nations will vote today.

In jeopardy

Pakistan's status is in jeopardy because the Australia, New Zealand and England boards and players' representatives have expressed concerns about security in the country. Sri Lanka is among the alternate venues.

"If it's a battle of legality and logic, we have won it," the PCB's chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi, told the Associated Press.

Naghmi said Pakistan had offered foolproof security to all the participating teams of the Champions Trophy and neutral security officials had toured Pakistan during the last two months.

"But if still they say that they have reservations, what can we do?" Naghmi said.

Safety concerns

The reservations do remain, with Australian Cricketers Association chief executive, Paul Marsh, among those urging a change of venue.

"Based on expert reports read and heard during Sunday's meeting, there is no way the ACA can recommend touring Pakistan at this time," Marsh said.

In an interview on Geo News channel widely reported in the Indian media, Marsh said despite the good rating for security when Pakistan hosted the Asian Cup final last month, safety concerns were omnipresent.

"There is a credible threat in all the major cities in Pakistan, including those which are hosting the event, and they expect b****ing in the coming week. So it's what we are concerned about," Marsh said.

An ICC spokesman said that, if required, voting will be held in which a two-thirds majority will be required to shift the Champions Trophy from Pakistan.

Holding the tournament in Pakistan could prompt a partial player boycott among the concerned nations, with Australia's Andrew Symonds having already said he would not travel there.

Australia said such a boycott would undermine a Pakistan-staged tournament, while stopping short of saying how it would vote.

"We've always been of the belief that international cricket is all about the best versus the best, and to do anything else would compromise the brand and the reputation of cricket," Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman Peter Young told the Australian Associated Press.

OVERALL POINTS Jamaica 1048.5T&T981Aruba884.5 

SWIMMING

T&T			917
Jamaica			766.5
Puerto Rico			722

WATER POLO

T&T			64
Jamaica			60
Puerto Rico			26

SYNCHRO

Aruba			544
Puerto Rico			318
Jamaica			222

MEDALS TABLE(Swimming)

	G	S	B Total

Puerto Rico	32	21	9	62
T&T	26	28	33	87
Bahamas	15	17	10	42
Cuba	13	13	8	34
Jamaica	11	15	20	46

Asafa Powell took on the world's fastest man with every intention of beating him to the finish line.

Usain Bolt just couldn't catch up in time.

Powell capitalized on Bolt's weak start and edged the world record-holder by one-hundredth of a second, leading from start to finish in the 100 meters at the DN Galan meet on Tuesday.

Powell, the former world record-holder, won their highly anticipated rematch in 9.88 seconds. Bolt, who was slow out of the blocks, nearly caught his fellow Jamaican at the finish line. Third went to Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure in 10.06.

"I was really happy with the race," Powell said. "My goal was to win. My start was quick and fast. And the speed stayed with me through the finish.

"I'm really looking forward to the Olympics."

The win was a measure of revenge for Powell, after losing to his close friend Bolt at Jamaica's Olympic trials last month.

Bolt set the world record of 9.72 in New York on May 31, breaking Powell's mark of 9.74.

It was Powell's third straight win at Olympic Stadium. Last year, he won in 10.04. In 2006, he set the stadium record of 9.86.

"I needed today's win for my confidence," Powell said. "That is most important in order to get really good times."

Bolt was s****er.

"I'm disappointed," he said. "My start was not good enough. That was the key tonight. I was also disturbed by the false start. I could not focus at 100 percent."

 

-- Edited by postinor at 01:53, 2008-07-24

Will this make you watch the wnba more?

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=3501154

-- Edited by madkidz at 15:03, 2008-07-23

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Candace Parker scored 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 19 before both were ejected after a scuffle in the final minute as the Los Angeles Sparks held on to beat the Detroit Shock 84-81 on Tuesday night.


The game turned ugly in the final seconds as a collision between Parker and Detroit's Plenette Pierson turned into a shoving match that saw players and coaches from both teams leave the bench.


Fast Facts

The Sparks snapped a five-game road losing streak and won for just the fourth time in their last 11 games overall.

Los Angeles led by as many as 21 points and held on for their first win in Detroit since 2004.

Detroit missed 14 straight field goals in the first half and shot just 37.3 percent for the game.

The Shock have lost consecutive games at home after starting the season 10-0 at the Palace.

-- ESPN.com research

Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, who was involved in the Pistons-Pacers brawl on Nov. 19, 2004, as a Detroit broadcaster trying to break up the fight, appeared to shove Lisa Leslie to the floor at one point.

Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson and Mahorn were all ejected, while Detroit's Cheryl Ford left the floor on a wheelchair after getting injured while trying to restrain Pierson.

Detroit rallied from 21 down but missed a chance to win the game in the final two minutes. The Shock have now lost two straight at home after starting the season 10-0 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Leslie finished with 10 points for Los Angeles, which swept the two-game season series.

Olympic teammate Katie Smith led the Shock with 20 points.

Detroit had a chance to go ahead in the final 90 seconds when Alexis Hornbuckle stripped the ball away from Parker, her former college teammate at Tennessee. Deanna Nolan, though, lost control of the ball on what could have been a go-ahead layup and then missed a defended jumper.

Leslie hit a short jumper as the shot clock expired, moving Los Angeles' advantage to 80-77 with 17 seconds left, then knocked a key rebound away from Nolan with eight seconds to go.

After the lengthy delay following the scuffle, Smith hit a 3-pointer to make it 82-81 with 2.3 seconds left, but Keisha Brown clinched the game from the line.

The Shock trailed 42-21 in the second quarter as they struggled to guard Parker. The rookie had 15 points in the half on 6-of-9 shooting despite constant attention from the defense.

Detroit, though, was able to take control of the game on the boards in the third quarter and cut the margin to 57-49 on Smith's 3-pointer late in the period.

The Sparks took a 62-52 lead into the fourth, but the Shock pulled within five on Hornbuckle's 3-pointer with 4:46 to play.






WNBA Scores
Tuesday, July 22nd
Sacramento 79 Final
Atlanta 66

Seattle 76 Final
Minnesota 73

LA Sparks 84 Final
Detroit 81

Indiana 60 Final
Chicago 68

Phoenix 89 0:16
Houston 91 4th Qtr

Portmore United midfielder, Rudolph Austin, has agreed to a £1-million transfer fee with English Premier League outfit Stoke City.

The Reggae Boy, who turned 23 in June, has been hotly sought by American and Brazilian clubs and is now awaiting a work permit. Should this materialise, he will team up with fellow Jamaican teammates Ricardo Fuller and Demar Phillips at the Midlands.

"There is an agreement and we are just waiting anxiously for the work permit," said Portmore United director, Howard McIntosh, yesterday. "We are happy with the developments and we hope this is the start of a long and lasting relationship with Stoke. It is consistent with our strategy to try and expose top talents at our club and, by extension, in the country," he added.

Austin's acquisition by Stoke is the club's ninth overseas signing. The others are Claude Davis and Omar Daley (England); Jason Morrison (Hungary), Demar Stewart (China), Rafe Wolfe (Belgium); Roen Nelson, Woolery Wolfe, Anthony Bennett and Newton Sterling (Trinidad and Tobago).

Confirmed deal

News of Austin's confirmed deal was brokered yesterday on a BBC website, which had the headline 'Stoke agree fee to recruit Austin'.

The report further stated: "Stoke City have agreed a fee of just over £1m with Jamaican side Portmore United for midfielder Rudolph Austin."

It also quoted Stoke City's chief executive, Tony Scholes, saying: "It wasn't a straight-forward negotiation with Portmore because we had some competition. We've done the deal to sign him. We now need to get the work permit."

A player who is capable of using both feet, he is used to playing in either midfield or defence, having done so for his club and country.

His reputation as an outstanding talent was enhanced during Jamaica's training camp in Brazil earlier this year. Back then, a number of Brazilian clubs expressed interest in him and news quickly spread of his talent, eventually reaching North America and Europe.

Austin is a past student of Clarendon College and has been representing Portmore United for the last four seasons.

Stoke, in the meantime gained promotion to the EPL after finishing second in England's second-tier competition, the League Championship. In a bid to remain in the Premiership this season, they are reported to have made a number of acquisitions, including Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson. Austin is the latest.

Ferguson knocks Chelsea squad

Makelele leaves Chelsea for Paris-Saint Germain

Robinho was dropped from the Brazilian Olympic team yesterday after Real Madrid said a medical examination discovered the striker has a groin injury.

The Brazilian football confederation criticised the Spanish club and said the decision was a "disrespect to the entity, to football and to Brazilian fans."

Brazil physiotherapist Luiz Alberto Rosan said he knew of Robinho's injury, but that the player would have had time to heal before the Olympic tournament.

The 24-year-old Robinho was dropped on the day he and his teammates were expected to report for training with Brazil. He was one of the three players over the age of 23 summoned by coach Dunga, and Real Madrid was not obligated to release him.

Replacement

The Brazilian confederation said that in 2007 it helped the Spanish club by allowing Robinho to delay his release for the Copa America, and that it was a surprise that Madrid did not reciprocate now.

"Unhappily, I can't go with Brazil to the games, but it is Real Madrid's decision and I respect it," Robinho said.

Dunga summoned 21-year-old Cruzeiro midfielder Ramires as Robinho's replacement.

"Real Madrid have contacted the Brazilian FA via fax, explaining the injury and requesting the player's absence from the national squad list for the Olympic Games," the club said in a statement on its Web site.

Date

Player

From

To

Type

6/30/2008	Deco	Barcelona	Chelsea		Full Ownership
6/27/2008	Daniel Braaten	Bolton	Toulouse FC		Full Ownership
6/27/2008	J. Elmander	Toulouse FC	Bolton		Full Ownership
6/26/2008	Gomes	PSV	Tottenham		Full Ownership
6/25/2008	C. Bocanegra	Fulham	Stade Rennais FC		Free Transfer
6/20/2008	G. Little	Reading	Portsmouth		Full Ownership
6/20/2008	C. Bocanegra	Fulham	Stade Rennais FC		Free Transfer
6/18/2008	J. Riise	Liverpool	AS Roma		Full Ownership
6/13/2008	Aaron Ramsey	Cardiff City	Arsenal		Full Ownership
6/12/2008	A. Teymourian	Bolton	Fulham		Free Transfer
6/11/2008	M. Bent	Wigan Athletic	Charlton Athletic		End of Loan
6/10/2008	Zoltán Gera	West Bromwich	Fulham		Free Transfer
6/9/2008	D. Rozenhal	Newcastle	Lazio		Full Ownership
6/6/2008	Giovani	Barcelona	Tottenham		Full Ownership
6/3/2008	L. Carsley	Everton	Birmingham		Free Transfer
6/3/2008	Jens Lehmann	Arsenal	VfB Stuttgart		Free Transfer
6/1/2008	B. Emre	Newcastle	Fenerbahçe		Full Ownership
5/29/2008	P. Berger	Aston Villa	Sparta Praha		Free Transfer
5/27/2008	Gerard Piqué	Man Utd.	Barcelona		Full Ownership
5/23/2008	T. Heaton	Man Utd.	Cardiff City		Loan
5/23/2008	Carlos Alberto Vela	Osasuna	Arsenal		End of Loan

Sir Alex Ferguson has met with Cristiano Ronaldo and insists the Manchester United winger will not be sold to Real Madrid. The Portugal international has been targeted by the Spanish giants throughout the summer, and had hinted that he was looking to secure a move away from Old Trafford. But at a press conference in South Africa to mark the start of United's pre-season trip, Ferguson confirmed Ronaldo is going nowhere. No sale The Red Devils boss said: "The meeting went well - I think we both put across our points of view - where we stand and where the player stands. "I can say he'll be a Manchester United player next season. That's our stance - he won't be sold." Asked why he had not commented on the matter until now, Ferguson replied: "It's not a difficult position. I was on my holiday and I was not going to interrupt my holiday, believe me. "I wasn't panicked because the player is under contract so the strength and the rights are with Manchester United. "What we have done well is to say nothing. We've kept quiet on this matter and kept it private and what I said to Cristiano remains private. I did go and see him last week in Portugal and it was very amicable - there were no problems. That's where we are and we carry on." No risks Ronaldo is currently recovering from ankle surgery and Ferguson confirmed he is unlikely to be back in action until October. He said: "He's had an operation and he'll be out for three months. He's on crutches for the first four weeks, he'll be in rehabilitation for the next four and then the following four he'll be back into football training. The time mapped out is three months and we won't bring him back a day earlier than that. "I think when players have operations we have a responsibility that the player comes back 100 per cent and we'll carry that out as we normally do. "There'll be no risk-taking - we never take risks. Our goal is to always make sure that the player gets back 100 per cent and that will be the same in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo."

Campbell-Brown stormed to a 21.98 200m victory on Saturday at the EAA Outdoor Meeting in Barcelona.

"Now all I need to do is stay focused and healthy," said Campbell, who in 2004 captured Olympic gold when she beat out American Allyson Felix with a time of 22.05.

"I know that things are going to be very competitive in Beijing and to accomplish what I want, I know I've got to stay mentally tough, but my morale on the way there will now be sky high," Campbell-Brown was quoted as saying on the IAAF website.

In Saturday's run, Campbell-Brown recorded her second fastest time ever, only behind her 21.94 done to win the National Championships. The time at the championships was the athlete's first sub-22 clocking of her career and came one day after she failed to secure qualification in the flagship event, the 100m. Despite running her second-fastest time ever at 10.88, Campbell finished in fourth spot behind new champion Kerron Stewart (10.80), Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.85) and Sherone Simpson (10.87).

Campbell-Brown, the bronze medal winner in the women's 100m at the Athens Olympic, was pleased with her performance on Saturday.

"It was a good run, I'm happy to come out here for my last 200m before the Olympics and run a very comfortable race," Campbell-Brown continued.

"I executed well and I now feel very confident, that was the whole objective, to end on a good note," said Campbell-Brown.

American teenager Bianca Knight was a distant second in 22.47. Ricardo Chambers won the men's 400m in a season-best 44.80 seconds. Chambers measured his run well to hold off Trinidadian former world junior champion Renny Quow (44.89).

Jamaican champion and former Commonwealth Games champion Michael Blackwood had to settle for fifth in 45.43.

Usain Bolt is worried chilly weather could slow him down in the rematch between the world's two fastest men at the DN Galan athletics meet today.

The weather forecast calls for scattered clouds and temperatures at 14 degrees Celsius (57 F) at the time of the race.

"It's cold for me, I definitely prefer to run in warmer weather,'' Bolt said. "I'm from tropical Jamaica. I hope the weather changes."

A dozen sprinters in the field have personal bests of under 10 seconds in the 100 meters. Bolt set the world record of 9.72 seconds in New York on May 31, breaking Powell's mark of 9.74. They last met at Jamaica's Olympic trials in late June. Both qualified for the Beijing Games.

Third straight victory

Powell is trying for a third straight victory at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium, where 83 world records - more than any other site in the world - have been broken since 1912.

Last year, Powell won the 100 at the DN Galan in 10.04. In 2006, he set the stadium record of 9.86.

Bolt hopes to break that mark.

"It would be nice to get a diamond," he said.

Each athlete that sets a stadium record receives a one-carat diamond worth US$10,000.

Powell thinks he can improve his stadium record and get another diamond.

"I can definitely break that record tomorrow," he said. "But he (Bolt) is very talented. He's the favourite. He's a cool person. We were friends even before the world record. So nothing has changed."

Powell pulled out of a meet in Paris three days ago because of groin cramp, but was able to train on Sunday.

"First, I was worried that it was something serious," he said. "I had some flashbacks because I've been injured before. But it wasn't serious (enough) from stopping me train.''

No complaints

Bolt arrived on Saturday and had no complaints when he worked out for the first time.

"The weather was good," he said. "I did some starts on another track."

The start is something he is trying to improve.

"My start and my first 35 metres, if there are any improvements to make it's there," Bolt said.

South Africa won the second Test by 10 wickets yesterday, after bowling England out for 327 in their second innings and then hitting the nine runs required for victory on the fourth day.

England resumed at 50-2 overnight and needed to bat for at least five more sessions to save the game, but managed less than three. South Africa, who dominated the Test from the first session of day one, took a 1-0 lead in the series.

"We knew if we got things right we could put England under pressure and we have done that over the last few day,'' South Africa captain Graeme Smith said.

"It was our job to outplay England and we did that.''

England started the final session 182-6, still 137 runs short of making South Africa bat again. Andrew Flintoff and wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose briefly threatened to extend the game into the fifth day until Ambrose was caught behind off Dale Steyn for 36.

Caught

Flintoff was then caught by Jacques Kallis at slip off Morne Morkel for 38.

Monty Panesar made 10 before being bowled by Dale Steyn, before Stuart Broad livened up the Headingley crowd with a quick-fire 50 to make South Africa bat again. Broad put on 61 with Darren Pattinson for the last wicket but it was only delaying the inevitable as Pattinson was eventually bowled by Morkel to wrap up the innings.

"The bowling performance was outstanding,'' Smith said. "We created pressure and England played a bit frantically in the first innings and offered our bowlers chances.''

South Africa openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie took just 1.1 overs to knock off the nine runs required to seal victory.

South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher took nine catches in the game, while Ashwell Prince was named man-of-the-match for his first-innings hundred.

"The 203 was not a big enough score in the first innings. As a batting unit we did not bat well enough," England captain Michael Vaughan said. "We played like millionaires on Friday afternoon and that's why we didn't get the runs we needed.''

Lost two wickets

Earlier, England lost two wickets for 52 runs in the afternoon session to add to the two it lost in the morning. Resuming after lunch on 130-4, England lost Ian Bell for 4 when he was brilliantly caught by A.B. de Villiers at gully off the bowling of Morne Morkel with 10 runs added.

Alastair Cook spooned a catch to Hashim Amla off Jacques Kallis to depart for 60, as England slipped to 152-6 midway through the session. England lost night watchman James Anderson (34) and the vital wicket of Kevin Pietersen for the addition of 80 runs in the opening session.

Toronto must beat Montreal to lift the Voyageurs Cup

The Nutrilite Canadian Championship will be decided Tuesday at BMO Field on Tuesday night. (Toronto FC)

Toronto FC must beat the Montreal Impact Tuesday night to win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship and qualify as Canada's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Impact are two points ahead of Toronto in the tournament standings heading into the final game. The winner of the tournament will lift the Voyageurs Cup, and go on to face Nicaraguan Champions Real Esteli in the Preliminary Round of the Champions League next month.

"It's a massive game," said Toronto FC midfielder Carl Robinson. "I catch the train to the stadium for training everyday, and the fans are always talking to me about how important it is to win the Canadian Championship. Derby games are life or death to me. We all know that we need to win the game. We have got to do whatever it takes to win. It's massive for everyone involved with the club, and all of the supporters. We want to bring a trophy back here and hopefully it will be the first of many and we can also progress to the play offs."

"We know how important it is to win the game and get through to the next stage of the Champions League," said goalkeeper Greg Sutton. "We know Montreal's season rests on what happens in this game so they will be up for it. We're excited and just can't wait to get out there."

The Impact only need a point to lift the cup, and the Reds players expect Montreal to put a lot of emphasis on defence. "We have to come in and be professional and take the game to them," said defender Tyrone Marshall. "If they're going to come here and keep men behind the ball, we'll have a go at them and get loads of balls into the box and see how long they can keep us out. If we can score a goal the game will open up."

"They'll probably come here looking for a point," added captain Jim Brennan. "We need three points so we'll be going at them. It's a big game for everyone, but especially for me being Canadian. People from Toronto don't want to lose to Montreal at anything so it's one we have to win.

Toronto FC beat Montreal 1-0 in the opening game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in May, when Marco Velez scored the only goal of the game. Since then the Reds lost at home to Vancouver and drew 2-2 in the return game at the Whitecaps. Montreal won both of their games against Vancouver. The Impact beat Miami FC 3-1 at Stade Saputo on Friday to improve their record in the United Soccer League to 5-8-3.

Kick off is 7:00 p.m. The game is being broadcast live on CBC Bold and TLN.

Nutrilite Canadian Championship:

Team	Record	Points
Montreal Impact	2-0-1	6
Toronto FC	1-1-1	4
Vancouver Whitecaps	1-1-2	4

Date	Player	From	To	Status	Type
7/21/2008	K. Boulahrouz	Chelsea	VfB Stuttgart	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/21/2008	C. Makelele	Chelsea	Paris St. Germain	Confirmed	Free Transfer
7/19/2008	E. Omozusi	Fulham	Norwich	Confirmed	Loan
7/19/2008	D. Stefanovic	Fulham	Norwich	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/18/2008	D. Kitson	Reading	Stoke	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/18/2008	S. Carson	Liverpool	West Bromwich	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/16/2008	T. Warner	Fulham	Hull	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/16/2008	G. Boateng	Middlesbrough	Hull	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/16/2008	Aliaksandr Hleb	Arsenal	Barcelona	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/15/2008	Kapo	Birmingham	Wigan Athletic	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/15/2008	Marek Cech	Porto	West Bromwich	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/15/2008	J. Pantsil	West Ham	Fulham	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/15/2008	B. Zamora	West Ham	Fulham	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/15/2008	Gilberto Silva	Arsenal	Panathinaikos	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/12/2008	P. Crouch	Liverpool	Portsmouth	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/11/2008	D. Guthrie	Liverpool	Newcastle	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/11/2008	S. Nasri	Marseille	Arsenal	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/11/2008	Robbie Fowler	Cardiff City	Blackburn	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/11/2008	Diego Cavalieri	Palmeiras	Liverpool	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/10/2008	K. Gilbert	Arsenal	Leicester	Confirmed	Loan
7/9/2008	S. Sidwell	Chelsea	Aston Villa	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/9/2008	Slobodan Rajkovic	Chelsea	Twente	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/9/2008	A. Granqvist	Wigan Athletic	Groningen	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/9/2008	Kevin Phillips	West Bromwich	Birmingham	Confirmed	Free Transfer
7/4/2008	Graham Dorrans	Livingston FC	West Bromwich	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/4/2008	Toni Kallio	Young Boys	Fulham	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/4/2008	D. Digard	Paris St. Germain	Middlesbrough	In Talks	Full Ownership
7/4/2008	A. Dossena	Udinese	Liverpool	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/3/2008	Curtis Davies	West Bromwich	Aston Villa	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/3/2008	H. Kewell	Liverpool	Galatasaray	Confirmed	Free Transfer
7/2/2008	Greg Halford	Sunderland	Sheffield Utd	Confirmed	Loan
7/2/2008	Jo	CSKA Moscow	Manchester City	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/2/2008	Andreas Isaksson	Manchester City	PSV	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/2/2008	C. Fagan	Derby	Hull	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/2/2008	J. Sun	Manchester City	Sheffield Utd	Confirmed	Free Transfer
7/2/2008	Jonás Gutiérrez	Mallorca	Newcastle	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/2/2008	Gianni Zuiverloon	Heerenveen	West Bromwich	Confirmed	Full Ownership
7/1/2008	Ben Sahar	Chelsea	Portsmouth	Confirmed	Loan
7/1/2008	De Ridder	Birmingham	Wigan Athletic	Confirmed	Free Transfer

-- Edited by postinor at 21:07, 2008-07-21

-- Edited by postinor at 21:08, 2008-07-21

Ok...had a schedule that highlighted the Jamaican events and times but it just would not upload or attach. (Sigh)

Here is a link to the official schedule...




-- Edited by MZJA at 10:38, 2008-07-25

Ronaldo still undecided on United future

Campbell-Brown clocks another sub-22 in Barcelona
published: Monday | July 21, 2008

Stephenson on the move to Norway published: Monday | July 21, 2008 Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter National midfielder Khari Stephenson ... It's a nice contract, but right now it's more about getting playing time. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer Jamaican international Khari Stephenson on Friday successfully completed a lucrative mid-season move away from Swedish first division club AIK Solna to Norwegian top flight club Aalesund FK. The new three-and-a-half year contract is reported to be worth somewhere in the region of US$1 million. The 27-year-old central midfielder, who passed a mandatory medical before putting ink to paper at the weekend, is expected to join up with the 12th place Norwegian club sometime this week in the 14-team league. Good player A long time prospect of coach Sären Åkeby, who took over at the club earlier this year, the burly central midfielder has been identified as the player to drive the club up the league table. Stephenson, who played for AIK for the last season and a half is looking forward to the challenge. "It's a nice contract but right now it's more about getting playing time. I want to be on the pitch as much as possible," Stephenson told The Gleaner. "It's a new environment which will bring new challenges and I am really looking forward to meeting them head on," he added. However, the player will now have a little while to wait as the Norwegian Premier League transfer window will not open until August 1. Major setback In late 2007, Stephenson was signed for four years by AIK for a hefty price tag away from Gais. However, he suffered a major setback after breaking his arm in pre-season training and has received limited playing time since. Along with striker Fabian Taylor and midfielder Oniel Thompson, who represent first division club Notodden FK, Stephenson will be the third Jamaican plying his trade in Norway.

The griping Gunners boss claims the 2007-08 campaign was by far the unluckiest of all his 12 seasons in charge in north London.

Wengers men were third in the Premier League and reached the Champions League last eight.

But the Frenchman claims that his teams dreams were scuppered by injuries to many of their key players and by poor refereeing decisions.

Asked if last season was his unluckiest at Arsenal, Wenger replied: It was by far with the decisions and injuries.

''At some stages you could not believe how bad it was. But you have to deal with that.

Wengers side kick off their pre-season today at near neighbours Barnet.

Ronaldo had been nominated for Best Male International Athlete by the ESPN sports network but left empty-handed.

The prize was picked up by funnyman WILL FERRELL on behalf of injured golfer TIGER WOODS.

Ronaldo, 23, consoled himself at the party by laying back on a sofa, knocking back drinks and flirting with a string of girls.

-- Edited by postinor at 23:23, 2008-07-19