The England ace was feted by VIPs including actor SAMUEL L JACKSON, High School Musical heart-throb ZAC EFRON, Victorias Secret model ADRIANA LIMA, Heroes beauty HAYDEN PANETTIERE, 24 star KIEFER SUTHERLAND and singer FERGIE.

Meanwhile Portuguese poser Ronaldo, who inherited Becks famous No7 shirt at Manchester United, hobbled away to the after-show party and rested up on a sofa.

Becks, 33, and wife VICTORIA, 34, had already wowed red carpet crowds at the ESPY sports awards in Hollywood.

He wore a dark suit while Posh shone in a pale yellow Roland Mouret dress, AUDREY HEPBURN-style hairdo and sunglasses.

But Ronaldo, recovering from ankle surgery, scored a style own-goal in a Miami Vice-style cream suit with white shirt and belt.

Inside the Nokia Theatre, Becks now playing for Los Angeles Galaxy was named Best Major League Soccer Player. That prompted good-natured teasing by host JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE.

The singer held his thumb and index finger an inch apart and joked: Single-handedly you made soccer in America this much more popular. I call it soccer because in America we already have a game dudes play called football.

Posh fell into fits of giggles as Justin bent down and kissed heavily-sponsored Becks foot, and announced: Thats what $250million dollars tastes like.

 

Timberlake, 26, also donned a blonde wig to lark about behind a cardboard cut-out of actress JESSICA SIMPSON.

Meanwhile Becks, 5ft 11ins, posed for pictures with fellow award-winner CANDACE PARKER a towering 6ft 4ins.

The basketball star said later: Im just excited I got to meet David Beckham. I love him.

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.

A fellow guest at trendy club Vibiana said: He looked pretty pleased with himself. Girls were feeding him vodka c**ktails and nibbles as he rested his ankle.

It was Ronaldos SECOND night on the tiles since jetting to LA. He is likely to be out of football until October.

Amazing Ottey aiming for Beijing

OKLAHOMA CITY An American Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles was diverted to Oklahoma City on Friday after a passenger stripped nude and later tried to open an emergency exit door before being subdued by members of a professional soccer team and others, the FBI said.

Members of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer were among those who grabbed the passenger near an exit door, FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said. Tie wraps were placed on the man, whose name was not immediately released. He was taken into custody in Oklahoma City and placed under psychiatric evaluation, Johnson said.

American Flight 725, a Boeing 757, arrived in Oklahoma City at 1:35 p.m. CDT and was back in the air an hour later, said American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith. It landed without further incident at Los Angeles International Airport at 3:13 p.m. PDT.

Craig Tornberg, the soccer teams general manager, said he confronted the man as soon as he saw him emerge naked from one of the planes restrooms.

I said he should get back into the bathroom and put on his clothes, Tornberg said after the plane landed in Los Angeles. He said something strange to me. He said, I dont hear you. I dont see you. 

Tornberg said the man complied and got dressed but a few minutes later made a beeline for the emergency door.

Tornberg said he, assistant coach Gwynne Williams and Michael Burns, the teams vice president for player personnel, grabbed the man and forced him into a seat while a flight attendant tied him up.

It was strange, but when he put his hands on the exit door that brought it to another level, Burns said. Clearly, he wasnt thinking straight.

The pilot diverted the flight to Will Rogers World Airport where the man was removed.

He was taken into custody by the Oklahoma City Police Department and taken to a crisis center for a mental evaluation, Johnson said.

Shortly before the incident, Tornberg said he saw the man, described as clean-cut and in his early 20s, crying and talking a lot of gibberish.

The soccer team was on its way to Southern California for a game on Sunday against Chivas USA at California State University, Fullerton. Its members were among 151 passengers and seven crew members on the flight.

As passengers left the plane in Los Angeles, several indicated they had taken the incident in stride.

Gillian Callaghan, who was traveling with her 12-year-old son, said she never panicked because the flight crew seemed to keep things well under control. She said she felt sorry for the man.

He was just having some troubles, confused, not a scary guy, she said.

HARRY REDKNAPP persuaded Peter Crouch to rejoin him at Portsmouth then roared: Ive got my Dream Team strike force.

The Liverpool hitman, 27, will complete his £11million return to the South Coast today after undergoing a medical at Fratton Park.

Redknapp, who has managed Crouch twice before at Pompey and Southampton, cannot wait to pair 6ft 7in Crouch with his 5ft 7in England pal Jermain Defoe.

Portsmouth boss Redknapp explained: Ive always said I wanted four or five strikers to choose from. We didnt have that last year.

Crouchie is a quality player and will be a fantastic signing. Hes a good lad as well.

Peter and Jermain together can be exciting.

Redknapp insists he still wants David Nugent to stay despite Crouchs arrival.

Nugent failed to score a Premier League goal in 15 appearances for Pompey following his £6m transfer from Preston 12 months ago. Redknapp added: I dont want any of them to leave now. Im not looking to sign any more strikers.

I would like to keep Nuge if possible. Ill need all of my hitmen.

If you are competing in the UEFA Cup, there are a lot of matches. We need strength in depth and these players give that.

Its up to Nuge now Im looking for him to push on. If he gets the opportunity, its up to him to take it.

''He needs to come good and show what he can do.

The first year was a big step up for him but he knows whats expected now. Hes got the ability to do it no doubt about that.

.JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was not chosen Friday to be on South Africa's Olympic team for the Beijing Games.
Besides failing to meet the qualifying standard to run in the 400 meters, Pistorius was left off the 1,600-meter relay team. Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said four other South Africans had faster times, and two others were chosen as alternates.
Pistorius has battled with authorities for months, ultimately winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May that allowed him to compete against able-bodied athletes and more recently facing concerns that he could pose a danger to other athletes.

-- Edited by alligcold at 19:13, 2008-07-19

The Old Trafford boss flew to Lisbon last Monday for face-to-face talks with his unhappy winger.

And Fergie was in uncompromising mood at the secret meeting, dismissing Ronaldos pleas to join Real Madrid.

Ferguson revealed: He will be a Manchester United player next year. Thats our stance he wont be sold.

The Old Trafford chief is confident he has done enough to keep Ronaldo out of Madrids cl**tches.

He said: The simple reason is that the boy is under contract. The strengths and the rights are with Manchester United.

I went out to see him in Portugal and it was very amicable.

''There were no problems so, therefore, we carry on.

Ronaldo, who is recovering from an ankle operation, had publicly welcomed Madrids interest.

Fergusons response, after returning from his holiday, was to jet to Lisbon to see what Ronaldo had to say.

The manager, in South Africa for a pre-season tour, added: The meeting went well.

''We both made our points of view about where we stand and where the player stands. Its not a difficult position for us.

I was on my holiday and I was not going to interrupt my holiday believe me!

What we have done well is to keep our position private. And what I said to Cristiano will remain private.

''There is no problem for us.

Ferguson was always going to travel to South Africa for the three-match tour without his young star because of Ronaldos Euro 2008 campaign.

Much like Mike Tyson, who went through a stretch of bizarre events and face ink, Knicks guard Stephon Marbury appears to have reached the point of no sane return by tattooing a Starbury logo on his freakin' head. Here's a shot of the chrome-domed billboard, via the good folks at Posting and Toasting:

Nervous wait Rudolph awaits work permit after Portmore agree £1m transfer to Stoke City

By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Portmore United's Rudolph Austin looks all set to join English Premier League club Stoke City after both clubs agree on a fee worth approximately £1m.

AUSTIN. has all the attributes to become an excellent signing for the club says manager Tony Pulis

But just like last year, Austin, 22, will have to wait nervously on a work permit to join fellow Reggae Boyz Ricardo Fuller and Demar Phillips at the newly promoted club.

Howard McIntosh, a director at Portmore United, confirmed to the Observer that Austin passed his medical and the deal has been finalised, but the sticky issue of work permit will have to be solved.

Said McIntosh: "There is a deal that we have with Stoke and we are anxiously awaiting to see what happens in terms of his work permit situation."

He added: "That's the critical thing that we are all waiting to hear of. We have every confidence that it will be done. But we do have a deal and an excellent relationship with Stoke."

Reports emanating out of England suggest that a fee of just over £1m has been agreed on, but McIntosh refused to divulge any financial information at this time.

"Not commenting on the figure, but we hope it will be close to that. The deal is a multi-year deal," he said.

Tony Scholes, Stoke City's chief executive, told BBC Radio that the deal is completed and they are waiting on the work permit to bring Austin to the Britannia Stadium.

"It wasn't a straight forward negotiation with Portmore because we had some competition," Scholes told BBC Radio. "We've done the deal to sign him. We now need to get the work permit."

Last year the deal fell through after the British Home Office denied Austin a work permit because he did not have the required number of international experience games under his belt.

Meanwhile, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis in an earlier interview was full of praises for Austin, who he has been tracking for well over a year.

"Rudolph Austin has all the attributes to become an excellent signing for the club. He's got everything in his locker," Pulis told BBC Radio.

"Rudolph's happy playing anywhere. Full back, centre half, attacking midfield. The crucial thing is getting him here," he said.

Austin has now made the required number of appearances for Jamaica, but the Reggae Boyz have since dropped out of FIFA's top 70 ranking of international teams - another stipulation for a player to gain a UK work permit.

"I really like him. He's very quick, has got two good feet and he's good in the air. Rudolph is only a young lad and so if he does well then we will make sure that they (Portmore United) are rewarded."

Pulis also believes that the current Jamaicans at Stoke would help Austin settle at the club.

"He's got Ricardo (Fuller) and Demar (Phillips) here, so knowing those two you would think he will settle a bit quicker than most."

Tottenham last night reported Manchester United and boss Fergie to the Premier League for tapping up their star striker Dimitar Berbatov.

And a furious Levy also let Liverpool have it by reporting them for their attempts to lure Robbie Keane to Anfield.

Levy said: It is unbelievably hypocritical given Fergusons recent comments about Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.

It is also one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date.

''As a result, weve made an official complaint about the conduct of Manchester United.

Comments made by their manager, announcing he is confident a deal will go through, is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players.

Levy had remained tight-lipped on Uniteds interest in Berbatov but exploded in anger when he read Fergies admission in yesterdays SunSport that he had made a £22million offer for Berba.

Ferguson said he was convinced Berba, 27, would be moving to Old Trafford even though he tried to get Real Madrid punished by FIFA for going public with their desire to sign United winger Ronaldo.

Levy raged: This comes after a series of events dating back to last summer which have shown Manchester United to be in breach of Premier League rules.

Liverpool are already in the dock after comments from their boss Rafa Benitez about Berbatovs strike partner Robbie Keane, 28.

Levy added: Benitez made similar comments in respect of Robbie and we made an official complaint about the conduct of Liverpool earlier this week.

The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful.

''We told them very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar and they should refrain from chasing the players.

Both arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we have evidence both have worked outside league rules.

Indeed both clubs made contact with the players and their agents without the Tottenhams permission.

Levy insists United and Liverpools interest has caused unrest in the Spurs dressing room during pre-season.

He said: When a players head is turned and their commitment is absent, they become a negative influence.

Dimitar and Robbie have made it clear they wish to leave for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.

THE 12TH IAAF World Junior Champio-ships, held in the city of Bydgoszcz, Poland, concluded at the Zawiska Stadium last Sunday and Jamaica, again, were among the top medal winners.

Of the 166 countries represented at the meet, Jamaica were right in the mix, finishing ninth with a total of six medals (one gold, four silver and one bronze) - behind the United States.

The US finished with 17 medals (11G, 4S, 2B) followed by Germany (6G, 1S, 3B), Kenya (4G, 5S, 2B), Russia (4G, 3S), Ethiopia (2G, 3S, 5B), the Ukraine (2G, 1S, 1B), France (2G) and Romania (2G) finished ahead of Jamaica.

At the six-day Championships which featured 1,520 athletes, Dexter Lee was Jamaica's star with gold in the men's 100m but, overall, the competition was highlighted by Ukrainian Vira Rebryk's world junior record in the women's javelin.

There were also 10 championships record, six area junior records and 74 national junior records set on the brand new track in Bydgoszcz.

Apart from Lee's 10.40 seconds for victory in the men's 100m, Nickel Ashmeade and Shermaine Williams' silver medals in the men's 200m and women's 100m hurdles, Jamaica's other highlights included Keiron Stewart's bronze medal run in the men's 110m hurdles.

Jerry Holness, technical leader of the team, agreed: "All the medalists, I think they dug very hard - the conditions did not favour Jamaica nor the Caribbean athletes.

The men's (Oshane Bailey, Lee, Ashmeade and Yohan Blake) and women's (Shawna Anderson, Kaycea Jones, Gayon Evans and Jura Levy) sprint relay teams also won silver medals.

disappointments

A major disappointment, as far as the Jamaicans were concerned, came in the mile relay where the women's team failed to reach the final while the men finished fourth. "Traditionally, we would have love to be in all relay finals," Holness said. "The fact that we did not get into the women's 4x400m final, that's a little bit of a disappointment and the fact we did not get a medal in the men's 4x400m, that too was disappointing," he said.

Another disappointment was that several athletes suffered injuries.

Vaughn McKenzie and Andre Peart, who hurt his hamstring on the eve of his race, along with Misha-Gaye DaCosta, who fainted during a training session, did not take any part in the six-day Championships, which had an average attendance of 9,000 daily.

Shana-Gaye Tracey stopped in the women's 400m hurdles semi-final; Natasha Ruddock fought hard to complete the women's 100m hurdles final with a hamstring injury; Trish-Ann Hawthorne did not show up for the women's 200m semi-finals; Antonique Campbell, winner of the 400m at trials, was missing in the 4x400m relay, while Kayon Robinson fractured her left tibia in the 1600m relay.

Ramone McKenzie, who suffered a hairline fracture at the Penn Relays in April, said he was not fit enough.

 

SOUTH AFRICA finished the opening day of the second Test on 101 for three yesterday, leaving them 102 runs behind England.

On a pulsating day of cricket that saw a welcome return for Andrew Flintoff, South Africa bowled England out for 203 after captain Graeme Smith won the toss and put the home side in to bat.

In the evening session, Neil McKenzie and Smith put on 51 for the first wicket. McKenzie was the first to fall, caught by Flintoff off James Anderson at second slip.

Smith hit a confident 44 before Flintoff picked up his first Test wicket in 19 months when he had the opener caught by Andrew Strauss.

Television replay

Hashim Amla seemed to have chipped a catch to Michael Vaughan and Amla walked off, only to be told to stay put by his teammates on the boundary, who had seen a television replay of the catch. Amla was reprieved by the umpires and survived to the close.

Earlier, England had resumed at 70 for three after lunch.

Kevin Pietersen got over confident and was caught at first slip by Smith off Dale Steyn, for 45 from 46 balls.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose played a couple of confident shots before edging a delivery from Makhaya Ntini to Mark Boucher for 12. That brought Flintoff to the crease and the allrounder, playing his first Test after ankle and side strain injuries, received a warm welcome from the crowd.

However, Ian Bell was bowled by Jacques Kallis for 31 to make it 150-6 and Steyn then had Flintoff caught behind for 17.

Stuart Broad was caught by A.B. de Villiers off Morkel to leave England 181 for eight and Monty Panesar became Morkel's fourth victim when he edged a ball to de Villiers and departed without scoring.

That brought newcomer Darren Pattinson to the crease. After a brief flurry of runs, Pattinson was caught behind by Boucher - his fifth catch of the innings - off Steyn as South Africa wrapped up the innings.

In the rain-delayed morning session, England's openers, Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook put on 26 before Cook was unluckily given out for 18 by umpire Billy Bowden.

ALIA ATKINSON and Breanna Roman last night won Jamaica's first gold medals at the 17th Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships at the National Stadium Pool in Kingston.

Atkinson, a 19-year-old University of Texas student,who will be competing at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing next month, won the girls' 18 and over 100m freestyle.

She registered a winning time of 57.81 seconds, bettering the previous meet record of 57.96. Cuba's Heysi Villarreal was second in 58.41 and Trinidad and Tobago's (T&T) Sharntell McLean was third in 58.51.

Roman, competing in the girls' 11-12 100m freestyle, followed with another gold medal performance, winning in 1:01.86. Puerto Rico's Barbara Caraballo was second in 1:02.33 and Aruba's Ally Ponson was third 1:04.50

Earlier, Jonathan Wong won silver and Julian Wynter-Anderson bronze in the boys' 18 and over 400m individual medley (IM). Grenada's Martin Renrick won gold. Wong was second in 5:08.70 and Wynter-Anderson timed 5:20.55.

Ahead of the field

Jamaica's Danielle Boothe won bronze in the girls' 11-12 200m in in 2:37.39. Caraballo was way ahead of the field as she won gold in 2:31.78 while Barbados' Zebrina Holder took the silver in 2:37.07.

Local Octivia Gray was seventh in 2:51.12. Caraballo had earlier set a meet record of 2:31.20 in her heat. Boothe (1:16.37) was also fifth in the 11-12 100m backstroke, which was won by Barbados' Deandre Small (1:14.22). Stefani Webley was seventh in 1:19.08.

Alexia Royal-Eatmon was fifth in the girls' 13-14 400m IM in 5:33.48. Puerto Rico's Emily Ramirez won the event in 5:18.81. Matthew Chen finished back of the field in the boys' 13-14 400m IM in 5:24.40 behind winner Jourdy Martis of the Netherland Antilles in 4:53.33.

In other results, Nicole Chin (5:50.96) was seventh in the girls' 15-17 400m IM which was won by the Bahamas' McKayla Lighbourn (5:06.52).

The Dominican Republic's Jean Luis Gomez won gold in the boys' 15-17 400m IM in 4:44.59 with Jamaica's Ramon Walton (4:53.76) and Dominic Walter (5:07.54) finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

In the girls' 18 and over 400m IM, Tiffany Walton (6:32.05) was fourth and finished more than a minute behind the winner, Maria Zenoni (5:20.01) of the Dominican Republic.

Timothy Wynter just missed bronze in the boys' 11-12 100m backstroke after finishing fourth in 1:10.61. T&T's Joshua Romany won the event in 1:07.94.

Why is this man happy? Because in the time it takes you to read this sentence, hes just made $20. And again. And again. A torrential flood of money, pouring straight into the bank account of one Tiger Woods.

A new Forbes report reveals that Woods is on track to become the worlds first billionaire athlete by 2010. That, friends, is nothing short of astonishing. We all know about billionaires whove made their money through skyrocketing IPOs or entrepreneurial sellouts shoot, Im one, arent you? but for Woods to make his billion through nothing but paychecks is pretty damn amazing.

But a billion is such an abstract number. Lets break that down. Tiger is on pace to make about $100 million this year between endorsements and winnings, even considering the fact that he wont play in another tourney. $100 million a year equals $273,972 a day. $11,415.53 an hour. $190 a minute. He earns three dollars and seventeen cents per second. That means, hypothetically speaking, if Tiger was walking up the fairway in a tournament and saw a $10 bill lying there, hed make more money by walking right past it.

Real Madrid forward Robinho has reiterated he has no intention of being involved in a swap deal for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports have suggested Real will use Robinho in part exchange in their bid to sign Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Ronaldo is still to announce his future plans following weeks of speculation regarding a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

United have insisted that the Portuguese winger is not for sale, with Ronaldo now out for up to 12 weeks after an ankle operation.

Spanish champions Real have been quiet in recent days, but there remain rumours the club will look to offer cash-plus-players in a bid for Ronaldo.

Not prepared

However, Brazil international Robinho is determined not to be involved in any deal after returning to Madrid for pre-season training.

"Now, I only have in my head Madrid," Robinho told AS.

"I am not prepared to be involved in any operation for a move for Cristiano Ronaldo."

Robinho has also been linked with a move to Chelsea following his compatriot Luiz Felipe Scolari's appointment as manager.

But he is not looking to move to the Premier League, saying: "I hope to stay at Real Madrid this year."

Ronaldinho transfers to AC Milan

U-17 Reggae Girlz takes aim at history

BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer staff reporter hancela@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The Under-17 Reggae Girlz leave the island this afternoon for Trinidad and Tobago where they'll be seeking to qualify for the inaugural FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand.

The young Reggae Girlz, coached by Brazilian Luciano Gama, enter the final round of the CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championships with a top-three finish guaranteeing them a historic berth.

Gama's assistant, Junior Francis, spoke about the girls being high on confidence heading into this final stage.

"They think that they are the ones who are going to create history for Jamaica. They are a confident bunch that is willing and will try their endeavour best to qualify," Francis said.

Francis, however, was quick to note that the girls will not be taking their opponents lightly.

All Jamaica national women's teams have failed in previous attempts to qualify for global FIFA championships with the final stages proving to be a major obstacle.

Despite talks that this present crop of girls is the country's best chance of playing on the world stage, the Jamaicans will be listed as underdogs to beat CONCACAF powerhouses Canada and Mexico drawn in the same group that also includes little known Puerto Rico. The other group consists of hosts Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Costa Rica and El Salvador.

The top-two finishers from each of the two groups advance to the semi-finals.

Three players, who were members of that failed Under-20 team in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's championships in Mexico, have been included in the 20-member squad.

The trio includes captain Monique Pryce and the Canadian-based pair of Zovel Hyre and Cathryn Rogers.

Sixteen-year-old Pryce is also a regular starter in the national senior team and is expected to play a key role along with Hyre and Rogers, both of whom came off the bench in Mexico.

Venessa Ramsay, the leading goalscorer in the preliminary round of the qualifiers in Antigua with six goals, will lead the attack possibly alongside Trudi Carter.

Jamaica's campaign begins on Thursday as the feature match at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, where they'll tackle Mexico (6:00 pm Jamaica time) two hours after Canada and Puerto Rico officially kick-start the final round.

Two days later the Reggae Girlz square-off against Canada (5:00 pm Jamaica time) in the day's feature. The Girlz then play their final group stage match against the Puerto Ricans on July 21 (4:00 pm Jamaica time).

Travelling with the team are Raymond Anderson, head of delegation; Gama and Francis, coaches; Mark Sanderson, team doctor and Elaine Walker-Brown, team manager.

Squad - (Goalkeepers) Keeley Williams, Shena Wint; (Defenders) Zovel Hyre, Melissa Madden, Jodian Morris, Nugene Negent, Kession Walker, Ornella Gray, Monique Pryce (cpt); (Midfielders) Sasalee Cooper, Cathryn Rogers, Sashana Campbell, Carla Daniels, Shanise Foster, Shenika Williams, Davia Smith; (Forwards) Trudi Carter, Elise Procope, Toni Cowan, Vanessa Ramsay.

Ronaldinho is set to bid farewell to Barcelona

Manchester City have lost out to Italian side AC Milan in the race to sign Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho.

"AC Milan and Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Ronaldinho," the Serie A club said on their website.

"The player will be in Milan on Wednesday to undergo a medical and sign a contract that will keep him at Milan until 30 June 2011."

City had reportedly bid £25.5m for the 28-year-old Brazilian.

But Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported on its website that Milan will pay Spanish side Barcelona just £14.6m for his services, with the figure likely to be increased by performance-related bonuses.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has been in Barcelona for talks with the club and the player for two days.

The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year's time at Barcelona effectively came to an end in June when new manager Pep Guardiola announced the playmaker was surplus to requirements.

Nevertheless, the Catalans were not prepared to release Ronaldinho to join Dunga's Brazil squad for next month's Beijing Olympics.

Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win back-to-back Spanish league titles (2004-05, 2005-06) and the Champions League in 2006, but failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI last season because of injury and fitness issues.

http://soccerlens.com/real-madrid-promise-100m-for-cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united-cash-in/6907/


Pree if u nuh beleive me

In the most expensive transfer in the history of professional sports, Real Madrid have committed to paying 100m for Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a move that David Gill described as the textbook definition of too-good-to-refuse, Manchester United will net £100m upfront and take off around £6m / year from their bloated wage bill. If there was ever a profit to be made, the American owners have made it here.

This is all part of Manchester Uniteds plan to pay off their debt by 21 December 2012, and along with selling Ronaldo to Real Madrid they are also poised to sell several other players to leading European clubs.

Ronaldo will move to Real Madrid in July after the Euro 2008 championship in the summer, signing a mind-boggling deal that:

• gets him £200k / week, in basic pay
• £100k for every goal scored
• £50k for every penalty won
• £20k for every prostitute he shags that the press finds out about
• £50k for every celebrity he shags - that the press
• Free condoms for life (Durex have jumped at the chance of sponsoring the most expensive sportsmans shorts)

Frank Rijkaard, the next Real Madrid manager, was quick to downplay the expenses:

Ronaldo is the ultimate Galactico - the way he struts after scoring, the sheer audacity of his goals and the quality of his dribbling makes him a joy to watch, both for male and female fans.

Cristiano Ronaldo will - how do you say it - bring the sexy back to Real Madrid.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, the dutch scoring machine and former teammate of Ronaldo at Manchester United and now at Real Madrid, wasnt worried about reigniting their feud:

Im not too worried about Ronaldo - everyone knows that hes here to score goals, shag the women of Spain and earn the club more money than ever. More goals and more money means bonuses for all of us, and my wife left me a long time ago, so I have nothing to be afraid of from Ronaldo.

I look forward to playing with him and hopefully we can compete together for all sorts of records at Real Madrid.

No one from Manchester United was available for official comments, although an insider had this to say:

I am happy to see Ronaldo go - back in Korea they always compare me with Cristiano, now I will be in the starting XI and show my family back home who the real star is at Manchester United. More playing time will help me find where the goal is as well, fingers crossed.

Pundits are predicting an unexpected sweep of all trophies next season for Real Madrid - surely they will be able to win the coveted Champions League trophy with Ronaldo on their side?

-- Edited by xxXMightyXxx at 16:06, 2008-07-14

-- Edited by xxXMightyXxx at 16:19, 2008-07-14

-- Edited by xxXMightyXxx at 17:32, 2008-07-16

Hleb wants Barca return to glory

-- Edited by xxXMightyXxx at 13:47, 2008-07-14

Regardless of where their team winds up in the MLS standings, Toronto FC's duo of John Carver and Mo Johnston has set the pace regarding recent transactions. Filing discovery claims on strikers Paul Dickov and Darren Huckerby before anyone else yielded a contract with Dickov and a trade with San Jose for the rights to Huckerby, for which TFC received allocation money and an international player slot.

According to a source, Dickov has signed an 18-month deal that will pay him approximately $500,000, which means he'll earn the maximum salary or close to it next year, and about half of that for the remainder of this season. His acquisition is expected to be announced Tuesday, or as soon as there is a roster slot available. TFC waived Andrea L****ardo last week but still needs to trim a player to make room for Dickov.

Toronto also still holds the rights via allocation to Brian McBride and has yet to conclude a deal by which it will trade him to Chicago, which is where he wants to play. He will be eligible to play Tuesday, when the U.S. secondary transfer window opens, and no one would be surprised if, sooner or later, MLS instructs TFC to either put McBride on its 18-man roster, trade him, or lose its allocation claim to him. This is a single-entity league, remember.

In the allocation process, teams are ranked in reverse order of results in the past 30 games -- when the allocation claim is filed -- and have the option of claiming an available player, or passing. Toronto moved into the top spot when San Jose, at the top of the list as an expansion team, recklessly chased former Rapids striker Peguero Jean-Philippe, who arrived from Scandanavia with bad knees, suffered internal knee derangement, and is on season-ending IR.

Though he's 35, Dickov is a pesky, relentless forward who adds yet another dimension to a TFC attack that already features speed (Jeff Cunningham) and strength (Danny Dichio) up front, and myriad midfield talents in wingers Rohan Ricketts and Laurent Robert, playmaker Amado Guevara, and central linkmen Maurice Edu and Carl Robinson.

A former Scottish youth international -- he played for Scotland against the U.S. and Claudio Reyna at the FIFA U-16 world championship in 1989 -- Dickov scored 97 goals in 278 league appearances for eight teams, and comes to MLS after being loaned by Manchester City to Crystal Palace and Blackpool.

Huckerby is supposedly on money similar to that of Dickov but the length of his contract isn't known. He scored 85 goals in 352 league appearances for nine clubs, the last of which, Norwich, named him to its all-time team. At 32, he's three years younger than Dickov, and has yet to train with San Jose, which he visited last week after a trip to Toronto and soon afterwards expressed a dislike for the artificial turf at BMO Field.

Sealy has scored 28 goals for Kansas City since it drafted him out of Wake Forest in 2005. The acquisitions of Claudio Lopez and Josh Wolff this season edged him off the Wizards' roster.

To make room for Huckerby and Sealy, the Quakes waived midfielder Joe Vide, who had been left exposed by New York in the expansion draft. He played five games for the Quakes.

TRINIDAD and Tobago and CLICO San Juan Jabloteh midfielder Khaleem Hyland is close to signing a four-year deal with English Premier League club Portsmouth.

"Pompey", as the club is familiarly known by fans, have held a long-term interest in the Jabloteh star and had him over for a trial last year. They were keen on signing Hyland, but were thwarted in their bid to win a work permit for the midfielder.

Manager Harry Redknapp has kept tabs on the highly-rated youngster and is now ready to tie up a move to bring Hyland to Fratton Park.

Hyland impressed in Trinidad and Tobago's recent friendly defeat to England and Pompey have moved to snap him up ahead of a number of other clubs.

The 19-year-old's agent, Steve Davies, has confirmed Portsmouth have tabled an offer for Hyland and the move is subject to a work permit.

"Khaleem has been offered a four-year deal by Portsmouth and we are just waiting for a work permit and we don't envisage any problems with that," Davies told skysports.com.

"There were a host of clubs interested in signing Khaleem, but he is happy to go with Portsmouth. Portsmouth have held a long-term interest in Khaleem and he is looking forward to the chance of playing in England."

JAMAICA'S REGGAE Boyz are set to take on El Salvador in a friendly tentatively scheduled for Houston, Texas, on July 25, ahead of the start of the crucial third round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers which kick off against Canada on August 20.

Finding themselves in the CONCACAF 'Group of Death' alongside Mexico, Honduras and Canada, the region's first, third and fourth ranked teams, the Jamaicans are keen on sharpening up ahead of the tough group.

El Salvador, who are in Group Three alongside Costa Rica, Suriname and Haiti, will also be looking for valuable match practice ahead of the third stage.

Only two teams from each group will advance to the final stage of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

The teams last met at the National Stadium in November of last year and on that occasion it was a 3-0 victory for the Boyz, who have not lost to their Central American rivals in their last three games.

Ahead of the practice match and qualifiers, national technical director Rene Simoes has assembled a 24-man squad of mostly local players. The camp will be held at Grand Lido Braco from July 14-20.

Training squad: Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, Dwayne Miller, Orane Simpson, Obrian Woodbine, Adrian Reid, Keneil Moodie, Jermaine Taylor, Andre Darby, Christopher Jackson, Lance Laing, Nathan Koo-booth, Damion Williams, Hugh Howell, Evan Taylor, Davian Thorpe, Ricardo Cousins, Eric Vernon, Javaughn Watson, Navian Boyd, Keammar Daley, James Thomas, Marcelino Blackburn, Dever Orgill.

The Reds striker smashed home 33 goals for the Merseysiders, the best-ever tally in a debut campaign for a foreign player, and claims it was from manager Benitez and captain Gerrard that he drew his inspiration.

"There are days when you think: 'My God, this guy (Benitez) doesn't let you breathe'," said Torres.

"At times like that, you don't realise that all he wants is for you to improve.

"When you are in a team where things are going mostly well, players tend to relax. But you must always push yourself. Never become complacent; you try to do your best every single day.

"At a club like Liverpool, you can't sit back after scoring 20-odd goals and say: 'Well, that's it.' After you score 20, Benitez is at you during the next training session and stays on top of you all day, all week.

"He tells you to go off on your own and do new exercises. I want to progress in life, not relax, not be complacent, and you need someone close to you telling you to keep at it. It is impossible to do it otherwise.

"We don't always fancy someone that close but, in the long term, I am sure that everybody will thank him for it."

Stoke City have agreed a fee of just over £1m with Jamaican side Portmore United for midfielder Rudolph Austin.

The Potters will now have to apply for a work permit if they are to bring the 22-year-old Jamaican international to the Britannia Stadium.

"It wasn't a straight forward negotiation with Portmore because we had some competition," chief executive Tony Scholes told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We've done the deal to sign him. We now need to get the work permit."

Barcelona have confirmed they have received a £25.5million bid from Manchester City for Ronaldinho. City have been chasing the Brazilian superstar all summer as club owner Thaksin Shinawatra looks to bring the former World Player of the Year to Eastlands. Barcelona are open to offers for Ronaldinho as new coach Pep Guardiola has revealed the classy playmaker is not in his plans for next season. City and Milan have been the two frontrunners in the race to sign Ronaldinho with the player's agent suggesting the World Cup winner would favour a move to Italy. Ronaldinho flew back to Barcelona over the weekend to try and resolve his future and Camp Nou president Joan Laporta has revealed City are leading the race for the former Paris Saint Germain star. "(Ronaldinho and his agent) have two interesting proposals and they are leaning more towards the one from Manchester City," Laporta told Catalunya Radio. "We hope to be able to resolve the situation this week." City are believed to be ready to offer Ronaldinho a lucrative deal to lure him to England, but Milan's chief executive Adriano Galliani is reported to have flown to Barcelona to try and sign the Brazilian for the Serie A club.

AC Milan track Drogba & Adebayor
By Simon Austin

AC Milan are still tracking Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor as they hunt for a striker, says technical director Leonardo.

Milan need a new forward after selling Alberto Gilardino to Fiorentina, while Ronaldo has a serious knee injury.

"It's no secret we're interested in signing a forward and are studying candidates," Leonardo told BBC Sport.

"Drogba is a fine player and Adebayor is a player I really like. We are waiting for the right time to move."

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said in June that Adebayor was his club's "sole transfer target" of the summer, although he later said the 2007 European champions could not afford the Togo striker.

On Friday, Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano suggested the Catalans were close to signing the 24-year-old.

Ivory Coast forward Drogba, who was set to attend Chelsea's first day of pre-season training on Monday, has been linked with Milan's city neighbours Inter as well as Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

However, it has been reported that Chelsea are yet to receive a single offer for the unsettled 30-year-old.

Milan will play in the Uefa Cup next season after missing out on Champions League qualification.

And World Cup-winner Leonardo admits they will struggle to compete financially with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"We have to accept that the incomes of the top English and Spanish teams are greater than they are in Italy and it's very hard for us to compete," said the Brazilian.

"But there are other things we offer. We have a first-class environment for players and a wonderful history." 606: DEBATE
Who should be Chelsea's top targets?

Meanwhile, Leonardo reiterated that there was "no possibility" of Chelsea signing Kaka.

Earlier on Monday, Galliani revealed that Milan had received an "astronomical offer" from the Blues for the Brazilian playmaker, a claim that the London club later denied.

Leonardo stated: "I can only repeat what we keep saying - there is no possibility of Kaka moving away from Milan.

"We have not received an official bid for him. He is very close to AC Milan and has a very, very good relationship with the club."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7493231.stm

Manchester City are favourites to sign Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, according to the Spanish club's president.

City are locked in a battle with AC Milan for the Brazil star and reports state the English side have bid £25.5m.

"Ronaldinho and his agent have two interesting proposals and they are leaning more towards the one from City," Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

A Barca spokesman told BBC Sport they would discuss the 28-year-old's future with his agent later on Monday.

But he did not say whether Barca would meet representatives from either City or Milan.

However, BBC Sport understands that AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is in Barcelona to attempt to convince Ronaldinho to choose the San Siro over the City of Manchester stadium.

The two-time Fifa World Player of the Year was not present on Monday morning to start pre-season fitness tests under new Barca coach Pep Guardiola, leading to speculation that talks about his future were set to take place with Milan.

His time at the Spanish giants effectively came to an end in June when Guardiola announced the playmaker was surplus to requirements.

Nevertheless, the Catalans were not prepared to release Ronaldinho to join Dunga's Brazil squad for next month's Beijing Olympics.

Ronaldinho helped the Nou Camp club win back-to-back Spanish league titles (2004-05, 2005-06) and the Champions League in 2006, but failed to cement a regular place in the starting XI last season because of injury and fitness issues.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani says Chelsea have made an "astronomical" bid for Brazilian Kaka.

The Blues have long been linked with a move for 26-year-old World Player of the Year and their boss is now ex-Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Galliani told Italian newspaper La Stampa: "We received an astronomical offer from Chelsea for Kaka."

Galliani also revealed the club have had interest in 29-year-old Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo.
Pirlo's agent has been reported as saying in the Italian press he wants his client to be given the same wage as Kaka.

But Galliani added: "For Pirlo, there have been many requests. But neither Pirlo nor his agent have come into my office and asked me for an improvement in salary."

Galliani says selling Kaka and Pirlo would immediately stabilise Milan's finances, with the club having missed out on a place in next season's Champions League.

"All we would need to do in order to wipe out our debts is sell Kaka and Pirlo," he said.

AC Milan technical director Leonardo told BBC Sport last month it was "impossible" for Chelsea to sign Kaka.

Kaka himself revealed to BBC Sport in April he would not rule out the possibility of one day playing for one of the big clubs in the Premier League.

bbc sport

Visibly overweight after several months sidelined because of injuries and lack of good performances, Ronaldinho is looking to be fit again before signing a deal for next season. He also is likely to be chosen to play for Brazil in the Beijing Olympics, which is just a month away.

"He has been training already," Ronaldinho's agent and brother, Roberto De Assis, was quoted by the O Dia newspaper on Sunday. "But on (July) 10 we will begin his preparation in Porto Alegre."

Ronaldinho will be supervised in the southern Brazilian city by former national team trainer Paulo Paixao, who currently is with Russia's CSKA Moscow.

Assis said it was "natural" for Ronaldinho not to be at his best because he "hasn't played in four months."

The Brazilian star, who last played on March 9, still has a contract with FC Barcelona, but he has been linked with transfers to Manchester City and AC Milan. Assis said earlier this week that Ronaldinho had a 90 percent chance of signing with Milan, where he would join countryman Kaka.

Brazilian football confederation president Ricardo Teixeira said last month that Ronaldinho was expected to be summoned by coach Dunga for the Olympics, the only competition Brazil is yet to win in football.

"He is upbeat, but first we have to know if the club will release him," Assis said. "We will have to wait."

Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain said last month that the club will do all it can to keep Ronaldinho from playing in Beijing.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola earlier said that Ronaldinho - along with striker Samuel Eto'o and Portugal midfielder Deco - would play no part in his plans next season.

Ronaldinho helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Carlos Queiroz has left Manchester United to become the new manager of Portugal. The Portuguese football federation has announced the appointment of Queiroz on a four-year deal. They have been on the lookout for a replacement for Luiz Felipe Scolari since the Brazilian took charge of Chelsea. Scolari was named as Avram Grant's successor during Euro 2008 before Portugal bowed out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage. Manchester United assistant boss Queiroz was immediately installed as the favourite for the Portugal job but he has had to wait for the outcome of talks between club and country. There had been some speculation that Queiroz might want to stay at Old Trafford, with Sir Alex Ferguson viewing him as potentially the next United manager. However, Queiroz has now answered his country's call and will look to guide Portugal to glory at the next World Cup in South Africa. "I am very proud and honoured to be able to go back and serve my country," Queiroz was quoted as saying in a statement from the FPF. "This is a very special position that any professional would want." United, meanwhile, must turn their attention to finding a new right-hand man for Ferguson

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/399388/best_football_skills_2007/

RANK	CLUB	PTS	+/-
1	Manchester United (ENG)	246	--
2	Chelsea (ENG)	236	+2
3	Real Madrid (ESP)	229	--
4	Inter Milan (ITA)	221	-2
5	Bayern Munich (GER)	208	--
6	AS Roma (ITA)	195	+1
7	Arsenal (ENG)	149	+4
8	Olympique Lyon (FRA)	148	+2
9	FC Barcelona (ESP)	145	-1
10	Liverpool (ENG)	141	-5
11	Villarreal (ESP)	139	+4
12	AC Milan (ITA)	134	+7
13	PSV Eindhoven (HOL)	124	+1
14	Juventus (ITA)	115	-5
15	Rangers (SCO)	111	+1
16	FC Porto (POR)	110	-3
17	Werder Bremen (GER)	106	+1
18	Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)	76	NR
19	Fiorentina (ITA)	65	-7
20	Atletico Madrid (ESP)	55	+2
21	Schalke (GER)	45	-1
22	Celtic (SCO)	39	+2
23	Fenerbahce (TUR)	38	-6
24	Ajax Amsterdam (HOL)	28	-3
25	Boca Juniors (ARG)	23	NR
The next ten clubs were: Galatasaray (TUR) Girondins Bordeaux (FRA) Everton (ENG) Hamburg (GER) River Plate (ARG) Cruzeiro (BRA) Atlas (MEX) Olympiakos (GRE) Santos (BRA) Bayer Leverkusen (GER) THIS IS FROM MAY 8 2008

While Ronaldo has stoked up the possibility of moving to the Spanish champion, no transfer request has been submitted and United has vowed to retain the player who scored 42 goals last season.

"Theoretically there is still time as there are two months before the end of August if Manchester United gets in touch with Real Madrid and makes an offer," Calderon told reporters Sunday before watching Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. "But we don't know if it would be feasible once a sale is proposed."

Calderon is ready to begin transfer talks if United consents, but he is prepared for Ronaldo remaining with the defending English and European champion.

"It depends on what Manchester wants. Once Manchester decides whom it wants to sell and communicates with us in a concrete manner and makes a petition, we will be able to say we have been in talks of a transfer," Calderon said. "But at this point in time that is not happening and, as a result, it is a situation likely to end as it is now, that is in nothing, and Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to play at Manchester next year.

"At this moment it is the most probable outcome."

Calderon risked enraging United by repeating to reporters the comments that sparked last month's complaint to FIFA about Madrid's conduct.

"(Ronaldo) has said - although he hasn't talked any more about this - that he would like, that it was a dream, that he would be delighted to come and play for Real Madrid," Calderon said. "But it's the player's opinion, or the player's desire, but it cannot go forward without the agreement of Manchester."

Ronaldo is likely to miss the start of the season after surgery on his right ankle.

United's owning Glazer family is determined not to let Ronaldo leave with just under four years remaining on his Old Trafford contract.

"Their position is to not sell ... we can't do anything," Calderon said.

It is likely that Zinedine Zidane's world record US$65 million (now 41.6 million) move to Madrid from Juventus in 2001 would have to be beaten if Ronaldo moved to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

"We have not got to the point of talking amounts because Manchester has not given us an opportunity to talk about money," Calderon said.

Jamaica's Yohan Blake (left) and Shawna Anderson are Jamaica's flag bearers in the 100 metres. BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - The creme of the crop of Jamaica's top junior athletes (ages 17 to 19 years old) will join a record 182 other countries as the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships gets underway here today in Bydgoszcz, Poland at the newly refurbished Stadion Zdzislaw. Jamaicans will take part in seven events on the opening day that will see just two finals scheduled, the men's shot put and women's 5,000m, and the heats and semi-finals of the men's and women's 100m races are likely to highlight today's opening day. The meet will run through to next Sunday, spanning six days and 10 sessions - two sessions on each of the first four and one each on the last two days. Jamaican athletes have won a total of 63 medals at the event, which had its first instalment in 1986 in Athens, Greece, including 16 gold medals, 22 silver and 25 bronze medals. Shawna Anderson Jamaica's best medal tally of 11 came in 2002 when the meet was hosted in Kingston, while nine medals were won in Seoul, South Korea in 1992 and Grosseto, Italy in 2004 and eight were won twice, in Santiago de Chile in 2000 and 2006 in Beijing, China. Despite being disqualified from the boys' 17-20 100m final at last month's National Junior Trials (NJT), national junior record holder Yohan Blake will join IAAF World Youth Championships gold medallist Dexter Lee in the men's 100m heats which run off at midday (5:00 am Jamaica time). Lee, who was third in the Class One Boys Champs 100m and second to Blake in the Under-20 event at CARIFTA Games, won the final at NJT in 10.36 seconds and said then his focus was on taking the gold here in Poland. Blake, the bronze medal winner in 2006 in Beijing, China, who made the team after being second to St Jago teammate Nickel Ashmeade in the 200m, has a season best 10.20 seconds done in the semi-finals at CARIFTA Games and said after the 100m disqualification he hoped to get the chance to redeem himself. GOULE. will be the only Jamaican contestant in the 800m and should make it to the semi-finals Blake, who told a pre-competition press conference yesterday he was aiming to lower his own personal best 10.11 seconds, will run in the eighth and penultimate heat where he should easily get one of the two automatic qualifying places to the quarter-finals. Lee runs earlier in heat five where he is the only athlete with a sub-10.40 seconds time coming into the event. The Edwin Allen High pair of Kaycea Jones and Shawna Anderson will carry the Jamaican flag in the women's 100m as Girls Champs Class Two record breaker and CARIFTA Games finalist Jura Levy of Vere Technical was passed over. Jones, who will contest the sixth of eight qualifying heats, has improved steadily towards the end of the season to win the event at NJR, running 11.69 in a driving rain storm, while Anderson, who was drawn in the earlier heat, has a season best 11.58 seconds done while winning Class One at Champs. The final of both events will be run tomorrow. The heats of the women's 400m will be the first event for the Jamaicans and Herbert Morrison Girls' Champs Class Two and NJT winner Antonique Campbell is expected to accompany Latoya McDermott as the two Jamaican representatives. Campbell won at NJT with a season best 53.99 seconds, ahead of McDermott's 54.90 seconds. The St Andrew High athlete is the more seasoned, however, and will be seeking to at least equal her silver medal in the one lap event at last year's World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Campbell will run in the first heat from lane three where she is expected to advance along with the Ukraine's Yuliya Baraley, who has personal best and season best 52.40 seconds and the United States' Laine Whittaker, who ran 53.25 seconds. McDermott is in a much tougher heat where she will go up against Cuba's Susana Clement (42.24 seconds) and Zambia's world number three rated Rachel Nachula who has a season best 51.39 seconds. The top four form each of the five heats and the next four fastest will advance to the next round. Florida State University (FSU) freshman Kevin Williams and Akino Ming are the duo who will be seeking to be the first Jamaican men to win the gold in the quarter mile since Michael McDonald did in 1994 and the first medallist since Jermaine Gonzales' bronze in 2002 in Kingston. Williams has a personal best 46.83 seconds this season and is the inform Jamaican, while Ming, who transferred to Kingston College last September, was second at the trials behind schoolmate Rolando Berch at Trials. Williams is drawn in lane five of the second heat, next to the only sub-46.00 seconds runner in the competition, the USA's Oneil Wilder, who has a personal best 45.54-second run earlier this year. Ming appears to have his work cut out for him as his 47.60-second is the slowest in heat four in the event which will see the first three in each heat automatically advancing with the fastest losers joining them. Misha-Gaye DaCosta, Jamaica's only female medallist in the high jump at a global competition when she took the silver in Ostrava last year, will hope to build on this when she takes part in the high jump qualifying. Since jumping 1.84m last year at the World Juniors, DaCosta's best effort this season was 1.70m at Champs which saw her taking second in Class One on the count back and was fourth at Trials with only 1.65m. CARIFTA Games Under-20 record holder Natoya Goule with 2:05.90 minutes will be the only Jamaican contestant in the 800m and should make it to the semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon. Goule, of Manchester High, failed to get out of the first round of the World Youth Championships last year, despite running a then personal best 2:08.37 seconds, but has been unbeaten all season. After making it to the final of the World Youths last year, Tarick Batchelor is hoping to be the first Jamaican to medal in the long jump at the World Juniors and the 18-year-old Kingston College sixth former is confident he can pull it off. Having worked out what he says were "technical flaws" in his form, the 2007 Penn Relays and 2008 Boys' Champs winner says he is ready to finish his junior career in style.

World Junior Bronze medallist Yohan Blake (centre) poses with IAAF Senior Vice-President Sergey Bubka and Sudan's Abubakar Kaki at the pre-WJC press conference in Bydgoszcz yesterday. (Photo: Dania Bogle) BYDGOSZCZ, Poland - Yohan Blake will aim to lower his 100m national junior record 10.11 seconds when he takes the track at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships which begins here today. A visibly nervous Blake, who spoke to reporters at a pre-event press conference yesterday, said after a three-month down period due to injury, he was back to full fitness, training well, and ready to eclipse the mark he set at the Carifta Games in the Turks & Caicos last year where he bettered Raymond Stewart's 23-year-old record 10.19 seconds. "I've seen the track, it feels fast...I've been down for three months, but now I'll be looking on lowering my personal best," the 2006 WJC 100m bronze medallist said. Blake will be joined by national junior champion Dexter Lee in the first round of the 100m at the newly renovated Stadion Zdzislaw in this city. Meanwhile, the St Jago High School athlete said he had been receiving words of motivation from former world record holder Asafa Powell, whom he said talks to him on a regular basis. "From the start Asafa has been talking to me...he told me anything is possible once you put your mind to it, so I'm definitely going for it (the record)," Blake told the Observer. The Jamaican was one of five athletes who headlined the press conference, whom International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Communications Director, Nick Davies, said were the top five athletes at this year's Championships. The others included Great Britain's 1,500m runner Stephanie Twell, pole vaulter Vicky Parnov of Australia, and world indoor 800m champion Abubakar Kaki. Over 1,000 athletes from 183 countries will compete at the WJC from today to Sunday.

Dexter Lee flies the Jamaica flag after winning the 100m at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland yesterday. - Photo by Anthony Foster

WESTERN BUREAU:

BROAD SMILES ruled supreme at the Herbert Morrison High School in Montego Bay, St James, yesterday, as the school family reacted to news that Dexter Lee had won the 100m gold medal at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

"He told me that he was going to take home the gold medal," said a smiling principal, Paul Adams, as he savoured the good news with fellow staff members, vice-principal Claudette Keith and teacher/journalist Nodley Wright.

"He has not only done well for Herbert Morrison, but for all Jamaica, and for that we are extremely proud."

For Wright, who has had strong ties with the Herbert Morrison track programme since he joined the staff five years ago, the 17-year-old Lee's success was not surprising, and has brought him satisfaction.

"Dexter is just one of many outstanding athletes who I believe can make it with the right system in place to harness their talent," said Wright. "I am also very happy for coach Claude Grant because of the work he has put into this Herbert Morrison track programme."

Brother, father very happy

The joy on the Herbert Morrison campus was replicated when The Gleaner contacted Lee's home by telephone. His older brother Keniel - a promising athlete, as well - and his father, Devon, could hardly contain their joy as they reflected on Dexter's gold medal run.

"As the bigger brother and an athlete myself, I was a little bit nervous for him," said Keniel. "However, I also believe in his ability and now that it is over, I am very happy - this is a very happy time for my family."

Dad Devon basically struggled to come up with the right words when asked what was his first reaction when he got the news that his son had won gold for Jamaica.

"When I walked through the door a short while ago, his brother told me that he had won and I had to just thank God for him," said the elder Lee. "He has made me happy and proud and I just hope God will continue to protect him so that he can continue to move from strength to strength and achieve more for Jamaica."

In crediting Dexter's success to the discipline he put into his preparation and the school's track programme, which has been flourishing under coach Grant, Keith said she was not surprised by his winning run.

Talking spikes

"I am overjoyed, but I can't say I am surprised," she said. "Dexter is not one to talk too much - he is a youngster who lets his spikes do the talking."

Satisfied that the track programme at Herbert Morrison is having the desired impact on his students, principal Adams said he would like to see Government investing in the sports programme in schools as a way of creating more opportunities to develop young athletes.

"Sports is very costly and I hope that Government would give serious thought to having special budgetary allocation for sports in high school," said Adams. "That will help us to do even more in developing the young talent around us."

Fifa president Sepp Blatter believes that Cristiano Ronaldo should not be held against his will at Manchester United.

Ronaldo has been linked with a record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid following publicised courting from the Primera Division giants.

Real's open pursuit of the two-time PFA Players' Player of the Year saw United report the club to Fifa; however football's world governing body decided against taking any formal action.

On the subject of the Portugal international's future, Blatter expressed his belief that a want-away player should be allowed to leave his club if he so desires, while he also hit out at what he describes as 'modern slavery' in football.

Solution

"The important thing is, we should also protect the player," he told Sky Sports News.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

"I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave.

"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contacts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

Forget '39th game'

Meanwhile, Blatter has reiterated his stance over the Premier League's proposal to play a '39th game' overseas.

He said: "The 39th game as presented will never happen. To my knowledge what they (the Premier League) want to do is perhaps to play some of the League Cup matches somewhere outside of England. That's the last information I got.

"They should just forget about that."

Juniors look to conquer world - Blake ready to claim 100m crown
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

Frank Lampard remains determined to leave Chelsea unless the club agrees to his demand for a five-year, £140,000-a-week contract and is even prepared to exploit the Webster rule and risk walking away from the final year of his current deal, according to reports. Chelsea remain adamant that Lampard will not leave, rejecting a £7.95m bid from Inter Milan for the midfielder yesterday. "The situation is ongoing," declared chief executive Peter Kenyon. "We have always maintained that we want Frank to stay and an offer was made to that effect. That offer is still on the table. "Frank is under contract and he still has one year to run on that. We'd like to hope we can reach an agreement but if we can't we have always worked on the basis that Frank sees out the terms of his contract." Yet their refusal to offer the 30-year-old Lampard a five-year deal has apparently opened up an irreparable breach, with The Times reporting that he is 'so disillusioned with his employers' reluctance to bend to his will that he has decided to follow Jose Mourinho to Inter Milan before the transfer window closes at the end of next month.' While it has been previously speculated that Lampard would demand a move, the twist in the tale is the claim that he has received legal advice about the possibility of walking out of Stamford Bridge this summer. According to The Independent, Lampard has been told by his lawyers that 'it would be impossible for the club to hold him to the final year of his contract. It would then be up to Chelsea to try to recoup compensation for him from football's world governing body, Fifa. In what has turned into a bitter dispute over his future, Lampard's lawyers have investigated whether he should invoke the so-called "Webster Clause" - Article 17 of Fifa's rules - which effectively allows certain players to unilaterally terminate their contract with their present club.'

Seven U-21s in senior squad, but captain still optimistic
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Simone Forbes, captain of Jamaica's 12-member squad to this month's Americas Federation of Netball Association's (AFNA) Caribbean championships, is very optimistic of their chances despite the level of inexperience in the team.

The team selected for the tournament to be held in St Vincent and the Grenadines from July 18-26, includes seven members of the Under-21 team which recently lost a three-Test series 3-0 to their Australia Institute of Sports (AIS) age-group counterparts.

Team members

The seven are: Goal shooter Christina Solmon, who also represented the country at last year's World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, Crystal Gordon, Vanessa Walker, Malysha Kelly, Sabrina Spence, Sateva Taylor and Tracey-Ann Robinson.

"I definitely think that we are going to win this championship despite the number of inexperienced players in our squad," Forbes said in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

"Even though most of them will be representing the senior team for first time, I believe that they are very good players because they did extremely well against the Australians," she noted.

Forbes added: "They are young players, but I think that they are mature enough to handle themselves for this kind of competition, with the guidance of the senior players."

The other senior members are: vice-captain Nadine Bryan, Nichala Gibson, Nicole Aiken and Samantha Mundle. The team's coach is Connie Francis, whose assistant is Antonette Daley.

Veteran striker Andy Cole on Monday completed his move to Championship side Nottingham Forest following his release by Sunderland.

The 36-year-old signed a 12-month contract and is looking forward to playing for his hometown club.

'One of my mates asked me whether I would join Forest if they got promoted to the Championship. I told him I would do my best and here I am,' Cole told the club's website.

'It's a dream come true for me. I always said that one day I would play for Forest - I didn't think it would take this long but I'm delighted it's actually happened.

'It's special for me because my grandfather, who is no longer with us, was a big Forest fan and always said he wanted me to play for the club. Hopefully he's up there now looking down on me.

'It's not about money. I had far more lucrative offers elsewhere but wanted to join Forest and make myself and a lot of other people happy.'

According to latest reports emanating from Italy, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has agreed to join Inter Milan this summer. This implies that he has now be reunited with his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. Inside sources from Italy suggest that the Ivory Coast international striker has agreed to join the Nerazzurri after losing faith in the Chelsea management. Drogba was a huge favourite of Mourinho at Chelsea and hinted that he might leave when Mourinho was sacked by the club in September last season. It now appears that the highly rated former Marseille striker indeed has left the club.

Waterhouse, Rivoli seek Stewart
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

'I did not expect to be beaten 5-0'
published: Tuesday | July 8, 2008

West Indies coach John Dyson - Photo by LeVaughn Flynn

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

West Indies coach John Dyson never expected the regional team to slump to a series whitewash against Australia, but he paid tribute to the opponents after the hosts suffered a big defeat in the final Digicel One-Day International at Warner Park on Sunday.

The regional side suffered a massive loss by 169 runs after Australia, on the back of whirlwind half-centuries from Luke Ronchi and David Hussey, blasted 341 for eight from 50 overs.

Fifth successive victory

It paved the way for a fifth successive victory in the series by the reigning world champions.

"I expected this one-day series to be more closely fought," Dyson told reporters.

"If everything went in our favour and fell into place, we might have walked away with a 3-2 win. I was expecting it to be a 3-2 scoreline or at worst 4-1. I did not expect to be beaten 5-0."

Ronchi, sent in as a pinch-hitter at No. 3, slammed 64 off 28 balls, while Hussey belted 52 from 28 balls as Australia enjoyed a run spree.

When West Indies batted, they were undermined by a five-wicket haul from left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson and were dismissed for 172 in 39.5 overs.

Good game

"You've got to hand it to the opposition. Luke Ronchi came out and played a gem of a 50-over innings. He hit the ball magnificently. I don't think we bowled as well to him as well as we could have, but he could only hit what we give him, and he hit them darn well," Dyson said.

"That probably knocked a bit of the stuffing out of us for the rest of the day. We fought back after he made that start. If we hadn't fought back and he continued on, who knows what would have happened?

"We didn't bat well enough when we got our chance to bat. Mitchell Johnson bowled well. It's not just our fault. The opposition actually did some good things out there."