Flash Results, Inc. 
                    Reebok Grand Prix - 5/31/2008                    
                            Icahn Stadium                            
                      Randalls Island, NYC, NY                      

Event 21  Men 100 Meter Dash
=====================================================================
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals  Wind
=====================================================================
Finals                                                               
  1 Usain Bolt                   JAM                       9.72   1.7
  2 Tyson Gay                    USA                       9.85   1.7
  3 Darvis Patton                USA                      10.07   1.7
  4 Mike Rodgers                 USA                      10.11   1.7
  5 Daniel Bailey                ANT                      10.12   1.7
  6 Shawn Crawford               USA                      10.13   1.7
  7 Leroy Dixon                  USA                      10.24   1.7
  8 Rae Edwards                  USA                      10.33   1.7

PPL ME A TRY SOURCE D RACE.....JAMAICANS TO THE BLUDCLAW WORLD!!!!

Spanish media reports put the price of the Brazil defender's transfer between 29 and 32 million (US$46-51 million) with up to 6 million (US$9.5 million) more to come in incentives. The 25-year-old was ready to sign a five-year deal.

Sevilla reportedly acquired 30 percent of the rights to Mallorca left-back Fernando Navarro, who is at Euro 2008 with Spain.

It is Barcelona's fourth defensive signing and second this week since it finished third in the Spanish league 18 points behind champion Real Madrid. It paid Villarreal 16.5 million (US$25.5 million) on Wednesday for Uruguay Under-21 defender Martin Caceres.

The Catalans had already acquired defender Gerard Pique from Manchester United and Mali midfielder Seydou Keita of Sevilla.

New coach Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract to replace Frank Rijkaard after the club's worst finish in five years

DAY 3 GROUP C FRANCE 0 ROMANIA 0 ITALY 0 NETHERLANDS 3                

http://www.justin.tv/luisquiroz

NO DOWNLOADS NEEDED...WATCH IN YOUR BROWSER...FIREFOX TO D WORLD

GO CELTICSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Jamaica's Ricardo Fuller (right) heads the ball as he is challenged by St Vincent and the Grenadines' Cornelius Huggins, during their international friendly victory (5-1) at the National Stadium on Wednesday night. The Reggae Boyz will tackle Trinidad and Tobago later in Trinidad. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors are set to write what is bound to be another enthralling chapter in one of the Caribbean's fiercest rivalries, when they lock horns in a 5 p.m. encounter at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, in Trinidad today.

When the teams last faced each other two months ago they played their way to a 2-2 draw at the National Stadium in Kingston, a fair result any neutral fan would suppose, but not for a Jamaica vs Trinidad friendly international.

Following the game, many local patrons had hissed and even booed as the Reggae Boyz, playing with a much more experienced team, easily outclassed a young Trinidad and Tobago team in the first half, but went on to concede two goals in the second half after a spate of changes by technical director René Simoes. The Trinidadian's present, on the other hand, celebrated the draw as if it was a victory for their young team.

Today's encounter should be an entirely different affair and with the start of the World Cup qualifiers just days away, both teams will look to field squads as close to full strength as possible.

Experienced player

While Simoes has left for the twin-island republic with 16 overseas-based players and is not likely to experiment as much ahead of the qualifier, Trinidad and Tobago's head coach, Francisco Maturana, has made sure to have a full contingent of experienced players at his disposal this time around.

However, both teams will suffer from key absences. Jamaica have to do without midfielder Andrew Williams, who returned to the United States for club duties with Major League soccer team Real Salt Lake. For Trinidad and Tobago, striker Kenwyne Jones, who plies his trade for English Premier League team Sunderland, has returned to England with a knee injury, while Southampton striker Stern John is also an unlikely inclusion after sustaining an injury in a 0-3 loss to England. Jason Scotland of Swansea City has been called in as a replacement for Jones.

While Simoes is disappointed to not have Williams - who recently came out of retirement - available for the game, he hopes other players will step up for the encounter.

New players

"It would have been nice to have Andy, but it is a chance to look at other players in the midfield, with the qualifiers coming up," Simoes said.

"We have new players in the team, we are still trying to build chemistry and that is what we will be hoping to see," he said.

The Jamaicans are coming off a 5-1 victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines and will tackle Grenada on Tuesday. Trinidad and Tobago beat Grenada 2-0 a little over a month ago and then beat Guyana 3-0 in a 'closed door' match on Wednesday. The Guyana team is currently having a camp in Trinidad and both teams utilised the opportunity, during which Kevaughn Connell, Jason Scotland and Khaleem Hyland scored for the homesters.

Jamaica squad: Donovan Ricketts, Shawn Sawyers, Jermaine Taylor, Rudolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Omar Daley, Ricardo Fuller, Luton Shelton, Oneil Thompson, Demar Stewart, O'Brian Woodbine, Tyrone Marshall, Adrian Reid, Ian Goodison, Ricardo Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Deon Burton, Marlon King, Richard Langley, Simon Ford, Lee Williamson, Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

The Portuguese winger dropped his b****shell on the eve of the European championships.

He will be offered incredible wages of £75million AFTER TAX over five years and the Spaniards are also prepared to pay a £75m transfer fee.

Ronaldo, 23, told respected Brazilian website Terra: I would like to play for Real Madrid but only if it is true they are ready to pay what Manchester United ask of them. However, it does not depend on me.

The loss of Ronaldo would be a huge blow to United and defender Rio Ferdinand immediately pleaded with him to stay at Old Trafford.

He said: This team can get better but we need it to stay together. Rio, in Nigeria promoting Education in Football, added: We have worked hard to get to the position we are in and want to build on the success we have had.

''That means keeping all the players at the club.

Boss Alex Ferguson has maintained United would never sell their superstar.

But Ronaldo has always said he wanted to play for Real one day and the astonishing £300,000-a- week wages on offer could clinch the deal.

Ronaldo, who was withdrawn from a scheduled Euro 2008 Press conference in Geneva today, added: From today Im not going to talk about this topic with anyone.

Ill only talk about this again after the European Championships.

Julio Gomes Filho, the journalist who interviewed him at Portugals training camp in Switzerland, has known Ronaldo since he was 17. He revealed: Ronaldo wanted me to send his message out. He didnt want to do it at a Press conference.

But United are adamant they will not sell. A spokesman said: Our position remains unchanged.

We made our position clear last week that Cristiano Ronaldo has a contract with this club and is not going to be sold.

Ronaldo, who hit 42 goals last season, had been on the verge of agreeing a new United deal but a source close to him admitted: The amount of money Real are bandying around is staggering. Theres no doubt it has caused him to have a rethink.

Relations between the two clubs are at rock bottom and United may report the Spaniards for making their pursuit of Ronaldo public.

Bernabeu president Ramon Calderon had conceded on Wednesday the signing of Ronaldo seems impossible.

But Ronaldos b****shell is sure to encourage them to step up the hunt.

Reggae Boyz-5 St.Vincent-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytU1O7ZeNCA

-- Edited by zortec at 17:42, 2008-05-30

The 200m world record is within striking distance of Usain 'Lightning' Bolt, said his coach Glen Mills.

Bolt has been in impeccable form this year, capped by a 100m world record run of 9.72 seconds in New York on Saturday, and Mills believes the 19.32 seconds held by American Michael Johnson is attainable by his athlete.

"If he was running a 200m on Saturday the time could have been as spectacular like the 100," said Mills.

Responding to "19.32?" by a member of the media, Mills stated, "When he runs the 200 it might not be that far away."

Mills was speaking at The Courtleigh Hotel in St Andrew yesterday where Bolt was being honoured by sponsors Digicel for his record run. Bolt, who has a personal contract with Digicel, received a bonus cheque for $1.8 million to add to the US$100,000 (approx. Ja$7.2m) he will receive from the IAAF for establishing a world record.

Bolt will next race in Ostrava, Czech Republic on June 12 in the 200m as he tries to balance his preparation between the two sprint events for the Beijing Olympics this summer.

Specific speed endurance

"We will be doing specific speed endurance and other biomechanical preparations in terms of his turns and starts," said Mills. "One of the things we have to master is how to distribute his speed over 200 metres. Last season he used most of it on the turn and we want to redistribute it so that he will be harder to run down (it will be more difficult to catch him) in the straight."

Equally impressive as Bolt's talent, said Mills, is his confidence and desire to compete. And that bodes well for Bolt's chances of capturing Johnson's 200m record.

"Usain is a very good competitor; he's not afraid of challenges. One of the decisions I took when we started is that we would race against the best. If you look at his races, 90 per cent of them we have run against the best because we want to measure ourselves against them to see what we need to do, and we also want to let them know that we can beat them - they need to be afraid of us."

"Usain has done that over the past two years and has acquitted himself very well. So we have no fear of anybody or any finals and we are ready to run."

NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Celtics (Game 1 Tonight, Who Will Take An L?)


This should be one of the more exciting NBA Finals compared to the last few years. Kobe seeks his first ring without Shaq, while Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, & Ray Allen play for their first ever NBA championship. Kobe went from rumors of leaving the team, to winning his first regular season MVP and reaching the finals. The Celtics management put together a monster squad with the three headed beast consisting of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett. Anything less than the finals would of been a disappointment with that lineup in the East. Who do you think will take the throne as the 2008 NBA Champions?

Game 1 Thursday 9p.m. et

CAPTAIN Ricardo Gardner said it all with his celebrations after netting Jamaica's fifth goal against St Vincent and the Grenadines at the National Stadium last night - the 5-1 friendly international win was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

Gardner ran in at the back post in the 88th minute to tap home a ball played across goal by substitute Deon Burton to give René Simoes his first international win in three games since taking charge of the Reggae Boyz.

The Bolton defender's goal was icing on the cake after Demar Phillips opened the scoring in the 17th, followed by two goals from Marlon King, the first a 26th-minute penalty before producing a striker's half-volley in the 42nd.

Burton chested in a goalmouth chance in the 74th before Gardner tapped in easily and ran towards the bench two minutes from the final whistle, rocking an imaginative baby to sleep as the Reggae Boyz avenged a 2-1 loss the Vincentians inflicted on them two years ago at The Office.

A victory for Jamaica was never in doubt after the lively Phillips, pushed into midfield by Simoes, opened the scoring from the top of the box, dribbling to make space before firing a low shot past Melvin Andrews.

King afterwards netted a double, his first being a pinpoint penalty after Gardner was brought down. His second strike was a cool one, an almost effortless half-volley off a cross from the right to send the Boyz in 3-0 up at the break.

Unbelievably missed

Reggae Boy Marlon King (right) going past Cornealius Huggins of St Vincent and the Grenadines during last night's friendly match at the National Stadium. King scored twice as Jamaica whipped the visitors 5-1. - Ian Allen

King should have netted a first-half hat-trick but unbelievably missed from six yards on the stroke of half-time, stretching for a ball played back inside from the touchline by Ricardo Fuller.

Jamaica came out flat for the second half while St Vincent began playing with more cohesion and it was hardly any surprise when they got their lone goal of the match in the 57th.

Their classiest player on the pitch, Kendal Velox, lobbed a pass into Jamaica's area from the right flank for his unmarked strike partner, Marlon James, to head past Donovan Ricketts.

Realising his team had gone flat, Simoes went for his star-studded bench and pulled the static Rudolph Austin and summoned creative playmaker Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who came on in the 65th minute to run riot in midfield with his mazy dribbling.

Simoes also called off Fuller, who again failed to spark, replacing him in the 70th minute with Luton Shelton.

Ranking	Team	Pts May 08	+/- Ranking Apr 08		+/- Pts Apr 08
1	Argentina	1520	0		1
2	Brazil	1518	0		9
3	Italy	1396	0		5
4	Spain	1323	0		4
5	Germany	1264	0		3
6	Czech Republic	1244	0		10
7	France	1205	0		0
8	Greece	1196	0		9
9	Portugal	1131	0		6
10	Netherlands	1123	0		-1
11	England	1098	0		0
12	Romania	1082	0		-3
13	Croatia	1044	0		3
14	Ghana	1010	0		4
15	Scotland	1007	0		3
16	Cameroon	1005	1		9
17	Mexico	988	-1		-9
18	Bulgaria	948	0		-5
19	Col****ia	909	0		-2
20	Israel	905	0		7
21	USA	889	0		0
22	Côte d'Ivoire	870	0		2
23	Sweden	862	1		4
24	Paraguay	857	2		13
25	Turkey	856	-2		-4
25	Russia	856	0		5
27	Poland	848	1		9
28	Uruguay	840	-1		0
29	Norway	836	-1		-3
30	Egypt	822	0		0
31	Serbia	813	0		6
32	Ukraine	774	0		11
33	Denmark	761	0		-1
34	Finland	704	1		4
34	Northern Ireland	704	0		0
36	Honduras	691	2		23
37	Japan	684	-1		3
38	Moldova	670	-1		1
39	Nigeria	660	0		1
40	Guinea	656	1		7
41	Chile	641	-1		-12
41	Republic of Ireland	641	1		4
43	Australia	634	0		0
44	Mali	632	0		3
45	Morocco	630	1		9
46	Senegal	627	-1		0
46	Belgium	627	2		7
48	Switzerland	617	-2		-4
49	Lithuania	616	-1		-4
50	Korea Republic	612	0		2

105

Jamaica

313

-2

-8

Event 3 Women 400 Meter Dash
===============================================================
Name Year Team Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Sanya Richards USA 50.04
2 Novlene Williams JAM 50.70
3 Mary Wineberg USA 50.93
4 Shereefa Lloyd JAM 51.49
5 Monique Henderson USA 51.61
6 Natasha Hastings USA 51.98
7 Sonita Sutherland JAM 52.89
8 Dee Dee Trotter USA 53.31

Ricardo Gardner has dropped the biggest hint yet he could sign a contract extension at The Reebok.

 

The long-serving Jamaica international has been with Bolton since 1998 after impressing in the World Cup finals in France.

 

Although Gardner is out of contract this summer, he has issued a rallying cry to his team-mates to carry their impressive end of season form into the 2008/09 campaign.

 

Gary Megson's Trotters were all but certain of relegation with the end of the season approaching, but a superb burst of form saw them move clear of the drop zone.

 

"It was a hard year for us, but we dug deep and showed our spirit and fight in the end," he told the Bolton News.

 

"In the last four games everyone showed what they were made of and ground out the results we needed. It was a huge relief.

 

"Next season we'll just need to start fresh and get back to the things that we do well as a team."

Bolt sets world record in 100 meters

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer
Article Launched: 05/31/2008 08:20:22 PM PDT

NEW YORKLike a bolt out of nowhere, Usain Bolt is now the world's fastest man.
The Jamaican sprinter, who doesn't even consider the 100 meters his best race, set the world record Saturday night with a time of 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix, .02 seconds faster than the old record held by his countryman, Asafa Powell.
Bolt was using the 100 for "speed work" and to avoid having to run the more grueling 400, when, suddenly, he ran the world's second-fastest time last month at 9.76. Even then, he said he wasn't sure if he would give up the 400 meters for the 100 for the Beijing Olympics.
Hard to imagine he has any choice now.
Unfurling his lanky framelisted at 6-foot-4, but probably more like 6-5 and, either way, considered too tall for this kind of speed workhe created a big-time gap between himself and Tyson Gay at about the halfway point, then routed him to the finish line.
Gay, the best sprinter in America, finished in 9.85.
Within moments of crossing the finish line, the 21-year-old from Kingston was hoisting the Jamaican flag and a crowd with hundreds of Jamaican fans was going wild.
"Just coming here, knowing a lot of Jamaicans were here giving me their support, it meant a lot," Bolt said. "I just wanted to give them what they wanted."
But who could have expected this?
Bolt has long been considered one of his country's top, up-and-coming sprinters, but his height and running style
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seemed to make him much more fit for the 200 and 400.
Like so many who compete in the 100, Bolt had lots of work to do with his push out of the blocks. He doesn't consider himself a true pro at that. And after a bad false start by the fieldthe second gun didn't go off until the runners were 20 meters down the trackthis simply didn't seem like a night for world records.
But it was.
"He ran a perfect race," Gay said. "I've got to take my hat off to him."
"An awesome athlete," said Shawn Crawford, who finished sixth and witnessed history from two lanes inside of Bolt. "The time shows it."
This marked the first time the record had been set in the United States since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, when Donovan Bailey ran a 9.84.
A lot is often said about Olympic trials in the United Statesthat given the depth of the roster, it can be an even better meet than the actual Olympics. But face it, the highlight of the pre-Olympic calendar could now be Jamaican nationals at the end of June, when Bolt and Powell should square off. Powell, who set the mark of 9.74 last September in Italy, is overcoming a chest injury but is expected to be healthy soon.
Also at Jamaican nationals will be Veronica Campbell-Brown, who won the women's 100 on Saturday in 10.91, the fastest time of 2008.

-- Edited by sub0 at 23:57, 2008-05-31

Date	Away	Home	Time	National TV	Local TV	Tickets
Thu, Jun 05	L.A. Lakers	Boston	9:00 PM ET	ABC	--
Sun, Jun 08	L.A. Lakers	Boston	9:00 PM ET	ABC	--
Tue, Jun 10	Boston	L.A. Lakers	9:00 PM ET	ABC	--
Thu, Jun 12	Boston	L.A. Lakers	9:00 PM ET	ABC	--
Sun, Jun 15 (if necessary)	Boston	L.A. Lakers	9:00 PM ET	ABC	--
Tue, Jun 17 (if necessary)	L.A. Lakers	Boston	9:00 PM ET	ABC	--
Thu, Jun 19 (if necessary)	L.A. Lakers	Boston	9:00 PM ET	ABC

Event 1 Women 100 Meter Dash
=====================================================================
Name Year Team Finals Wind
=====================================================================
Finals
1 Veronica Campbell-Brown JAM           10.91                 0.9
2 Marshevet Hooker          USA             10.94                 0.9
3 Muna Lee                      USA             10.97                 0.9
4 Lauryn Williams              USA             11.13                 0.9
5 Allyson Felix                   USA            11.13                   0.9
6 Carmelita Jeter                USA            11.16                  0.9
7 Torri Edwards                 USA            11.18                   0.9
8 Sheri-Ann Brooks            JAM             11.19                  0.9
9 Bianca Knight                  USA            11.20                  0.9

-- Edited by ***DK*** at 23:45, 2008-05-31

Hleb is already thought to have agreed terms for his move to the Nou Camp and Barcelona officials are now deep in talks with Arsenal to decide on a fee for the 27-year-old.

The Gunners value the Belarus midfielder at around the £15million mark but Barca are keen on a player-plus-cash deal and have offered Wenger the chance to team up the Toure brothers at Emirates Stadium, according to the Daily Star.

Wenger is in the market for a defensive midfielder following Mathieu Flamini's switch to AC Milan and has long been inked with a move for the younger Toure brother.

The Frenchman actually passed up the opportunity to sign Yaya after taking him on trial three years ago, but the 25-year-old has had an impressive season with Barca and Wenger is keen to get him on board.

And the player himself would jump at the chance of a move with new Catalans boss Josep Guardiola signing Sevilla's Seydou Keita to play in his role.

Yaya said previously: "I am conscious of interest from certain Premier League clubs.

"I can't say anything for the moment, but it's true that it would be great to play for a big club with my brother. That would be fantastic, but you never know."

Barca will still need to pay a sizeable chunk of cash to land Hleb as the Gunners are lining up a big-money swoop for Marseille wonderkid Samir Nasri. But the deal to take Hleb to Spain could be completed within the next seven days.

Liverpool seek Jones? published: Saturday | May 31, 2008 LONDON, England (CMC): Media reports here say Liver-pool are on the threshold of making a £12 million bid for Sunderland's Trinidadian striker Kenwyne Jones. Liverpool had been rumoured in the past to be interested in the 23-year-old frontman. Reports say Liverpool are likely to attempt a swap deal which will see England striker Peter Crouch heading to Sunderland. Keane, the former Manchester United star, has indicated Jones is not for sale and put him off limits at the close of the season. "Sometimes a club might think they might get £20 million or £30 million and invest it and it's a good deal for everyone but it certainly wouldn't be a good deal for us to let Kenwyne go," Keane said earlier this year. "It would set us back a hell of a lot." He has also valued the player at £40 million, describing him as one of the finest strikers in the Premiership. Jones is expected to line up for T&T in tomorrow's international friendly against England in Port of Spain.

Fabregas wants to stay a Gunnerby RivalsDM

Updated: May 29, 2008, 6:42 AM EST 27 comments add this RSS blog email print Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has pledged his future to the Gunners because he would 'love' to win the Premier League title.

The Spanish midfielder starred for Arsenal last season as Arsene Wenger's young side narrowly missed out on domestic and European glory.

And that form is believed to have made Fabregas a top summer target of the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Milan.

However, the 21-year-old is adamant that he will not be following Milan-bound Mathieu Flamini or Alexander Hleb, who looks set to move to Internazionale, out of Emirates Stadium.

"I will stay at Arsenal," Fabregas said in The Sun. "My coach asked me and I told him he had my confidence.

"I'd love to win the Premier League and I am one of those players who fight for what they want until they achieve it."

Meanwhile, forward Robin van Persie believes Arsenal's wage structure is a reason why players are considering their future in North London.

The Gunners' top earners reportedly pocket £80,000 a week, while star players at Manchester United and Chelsea are contracted to £130,000, and Van Persie feels Arsenal must scrap their salary limit.

"Arsenal won't pay enormous amounts but should go to a higher level," added Van Persie.

"If a player can earn four times as much at another club, I can understand why he'd go elsewhere."

Capello lets seven go for T&T clashby RivalsDM

Updated: May 29, 2008, 5:09 AM EST 26 comments add this RSS blog email print England coach Fabio Capello has cut seven players, all from Manchester United and Chelsea, from his squad for the Trinidad and Tobago friendly.

Capello confirmed that of the men involved in the Champions League final in Moscow last week, only Rio Ferdinand, who has links with the Caribbean, and Chelsea full-back Wayne Bridge, who did not get onto the pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium, will be part of his 20-man squad for the final game of the season.
John Terry, who opened the scoring in Wednesday night's 2-0 win over the United States at Wembley, is one of those given an early holiday along with Wayne Rooney, Owen Hargreaves, Wes Brown, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

England Squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), David Bentley (Blackburn), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).

Forwards: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth).

Pistons 102 at Celtics 106

Refresh: 30 | 60 | 90 | off Game Stats Pistons (2-3) Playoff Stats | Roster Starters Name Min Reb Ast PF Pts C Billups, G 35 5 6 4 26 R Hamilton, G 44 4 6 3 25 R Wallace, C 38 4 0 5 18 T Prince, F 33 4 5 2 8 A McDyess, F 27 5 1 6 4 Bench Name Min Reb Ast PF Pts R Stuckey 23 0 3 2 13 J Maxiell 11 1 0 3 6 T Ratliff 13 2 0 1 2 L Hunter 11 0 2 4 0 W Herrmann 0 0 0 0 0 A Afflalo 0 0 0 0 0 J Hayes 0 0 0 0 0 A Johnson 0 0 0 0 0 C Samb 0 0 0 0 0 J Dixon 0 0 0 0 0 Celtics (3-2) Playoff Stats | Roster Starters Name Min Reb Ast PF Pts K Garnett, F 41 7 2 3 33 R Allen, G 39 3 2 2 29 K Perkins, C 38 16 0 4 18 P Pierce, F 44 5 6 3 16 R Rondo, G 45 6 13 5 7 Bench Name Min Reb Ast PF Pts J Posey 14 2 1 2 3 P Brown 13 3 1 2 0 S Cassell 2 0 0 0 0 E House 0 0 0 0 0 G Pruitt 0 0 0 0 0 L Powe 0 0 0 0 0 T Allen 0 0 0 0 0 B Scalabrine 0 0 0 0 0 S Pollard 0 0 0 0 0 G Davis 0 0 0 0 0

Daily Leaders

Playoff Series

Date	Home	Score
Tue 5/20	Bos	79 - 88
Thu 5/22	Bos	103 - 97
Sat 5/24	Det	94 - 80
Mon 5/26	Det	75 - 94
Date	Home	Time (ET)
Wed 5/28	Bos	8:30 pm
Fri 5/30	Det	8:30 pm
Sun 6/1	Bos	8:30 pm

Player News

Pistons Antonio McDyess (DET - Power Forward) News: McDyess had his best game of the playoffs, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to lift Detroit to a 94-75 series-evening win Monday night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.  (STATS - Mon. May 26, 2008) Tayshaun Prince (DET - Small Forward) News: Prince's shooting struggles continued on Monday night when he went 3-for-12 in the Pistons' 94-75 series-evening win over the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.  (STATS - Mon. May 26, 2008) Richard Hamilton (DET - Shooting Guard) News: Hamilton's strong postseason continued on Monday night when he had 20 points and went 8-for-10 from the field in the Pistons' 94-75 series-evening win over the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.  (STATS - Mon. May 26, 2008)

Celtics Tony Allen (BOS - Guard) News: Allen was inactive Wednesday night for the Celtics' playoff game against the Pistons after hurting his Achilles' tendon during practice.  (STATS - Wed. May 28, 2008) Paul Pierce (BOS - Guard-Forward) News: Pierce had 16 points and eight rebounds but was held to 3-for-14 shooting as the Celtics dropped Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pistons 94-75 on Monday night.  (STATS - Mon. May 26, 2008) Kevin Garnett (BOS - Forward) News: Garnett had 16 points and 10 rebounds but was held to 6-for-16 shooting from the field as the Celtics dropped Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Pistons 94-75 on Monday night.  (STATS - Mon. May 26, 2008)

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He kept his promise on Sunday night. And nobody on either team was surprised.

"He is such a competitor," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after Ginobili scored 30 points to lead the Spurs to a 103-84 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. "He puts so much on his shoulders, he fights through a lot of things. ... He's got a lot of confidence in what HE CAN DO

"And so when he has these games, it is really not a surprise anymore."

Ginobili hit five of the Spurs' 10 3-pointers and got to the rim a few times to keep the defending champions from falling into an 0-3 hole, which no NBA team has ever overcome.

"I was too stagnant in the first two games," said Ginobili, the league's top sixth man who came off the bench on Sunday. "I didn't feel like I was being me. ... I made the first shots. I felt good. And then it was easier for me."

The Lakers lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Tuesday in San Antonio.

Tim Duncan had 22 points, 21 rebounds and five assists, and Tony Parker added 20 points and five assists for the Spurs, who remained unbeaten at home this postseason.

Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 30 points and Pau Gasol scored 15.

"It's a good experience for us to play against the defending champs and have them kick our butts the way they did," Bryant said. "I think we grew up a lot tonight."

Lamar Odom struggled all night, finishing 2-of-11 from the field for seven points. But he had six of the Lakers' 13 assists and 11 rebounds.

"On me personally it definitely snowballed," Odom said. "That happens, but sometimes I'd rather go out swinging than being passive. It was just one of those nights."

The Lakers also struggled at the free throw line, going just f-17. Bryant went to the line only once.

On Sunday, the Spurs got a lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back, despite a late surge from Bryant.

The Spurs had squandered a 20-point lead to lose Game 1 in Los Angeles and the Lakers routed them in Game 2.

"They were energized and they played with a lot more emotion, a lot more energy than we did," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They were quicker to the ball. And it was quite obvious at times."

Up 69-57 entering the fourth, the Spurs opened with a 12-4 run, and Parker's layup gave them a 20-point lead with a little over 8 minutes to play.

Then Bryant did what Bryant does: almost single-handedly pulled his team out of the hole. He hit four 3-pointers over the course of less than 2 1/2 minutes and his last one brought the Lakers within 88-76 with 5 minutes to play.

But the Lakers would get no closer, not when the Spurs' title defense would be all but ruined with a Game 3 loss.

Duncan answered with a three-point play to put the Spurs back up by 15 and not long after Brent Barry's steal that resulted in a three-point play for Ginobili made it 97-78 with 3:26 to go.

Reserve Jordan Farmar scored 10 points for the Lakers.

In the first half, Parker was penetrating the paint, but Ginobili was the big key for the Spurs. He had 22 points at the break - more than the 17 he scored in Games 1 and 2 c****ined. And whether or not his injured left ankle was bothering him, he didn't need it to explode to the basket because he hit 3 after 3.

After Bryant's driving dunk past Duncan with 4:57 left in the first quarter put the Lakers up 15-8, Ginobili hit back-to-back 3s from the same spot on the wing to get the Spurs within a point.

"He bounced back the way I thought he would," Bryant said. "He is a phenomenal player and he had a spectacular first half."

He didn't stop in the second quarter.

His second of back-to-back 3s 4 1/2 minutes in put the Spurs up 33-30, giving his team the lead for good. Then he got to the rim about 30 seconds later and was fouled. His free throw made it 36-32.

The Lakers struggled in the second quarter - turning the ball over early in the period on a shot-clock violation, missing free throws and shooting 7-of-17 from the field - and the Spurs pulled away.

Ginobili hit his fifth 3 of the night as the shot clock expired with less than a minute left in the first half. The Spurs outscored the Lakers 28-15 in the second quarter for a 49-39 lead at the break.

Odom was 1-of-7 from the field in the first half and guard Derek Fisher was scoreless.

Odom didn't fare any better in the third, and Gasol and Bryant c****ined for just 10 points as Spurs' defender Bruce Bowen continued to hound this year's league MVP.

Ginobili cooled in the third quarter - when the Spurs went up by as many as 13 - just as Duncan got hot. Duncan's two jump shots with less than two minutes to play, plus Ginobili's drive that showed he can still get to the rim, gave the Spurs a 12-point lead heading into the fourth.

"I don't feel like my last step is as strong as probably a couple months ago, but it's not a big issue," Ginobili said. "I mean, I think I can still finish."

Notes

The Spurs last lost at home on April 9 to Phoenix . San Antonio eliminated the Suns in the first round in five games. ... Fisher got a technical foul with 4:45 left in the third quarter just after teammate Vladimir Radmanovic hit a layup to bring the Lakers within eight. ... In a dig at Bryant, the crowd chanted "M-V-P" when Duncan went to the line late in the fourth quarter. ... Ginobili got a standing ovation from the crowd when he went to the bench with 2:56 to play. ... Fisher finished with two points on 1-of-4 shooting. ... The Spurs hit 10 3s, the Lakers hit six.

Hands-off Torres, warns Benitez

The Blues captain, who missed the penalty that could have won the trophy, has denied any wrongdoing and action over an alleged spitting incident appears to rest heavily on whether or not reference to it was included in reports from the referee and the UEFA delegate.

A UEFA spokesman confirmed they had received the referee's report but were still waiting for the delegate to supply his.
 

If the incident is not included in either report, then UEFA may resort to examining television footage of the alleged incident before deciding on what action, if any, to take.

"The delegate's report should be in later today (Friday). We have received the referee's report but I cannot tell you what was mentioned in it," said the spokesman.

"At the moment there is nothing further to add."

Meanwhile, speculation continues to surround the future of coach Avram Grant. The 52-year-old Israeli is expected to move back upstairs at Stamford Bridge after guiding the club to its first Champions League final and pushing Manchester United all the way in the Premier title race.

Grant's future is likely to be finalised in the next few days with Gus Hiddink and Frank Rijkaard just two of the names being heavily linked as possible replacements.

Chelsea are already working on rebuilding their squad - which began with the £16.2million signing of Porto right-back Jose Bosingwa -

but chief executive Peter Kenyon insists there will not be major surgery and the intention is to keep the core of the side English and build around them.

"What this season has proved is that we have got a great squad in depth and that the club is capable of competing on all fronts," said Kenyon.

"I think it is more about tweaking that a complete rebuild. We have bought one player in Bosingwa so that was good to get that one done. We will take our time to look at what else is needed but it is two rather than 20.

"What you have got to look at is if one of top players goes, where do you get the replacement of that quality?

"We have the unenviable task, and this is where it is tough, that every player we bring in has to be better than what we've got.

"I think retaining our top players is a key component of the club. The strategy is clear: homegrown for obvious reasons, core being English - again we think that is a strength - and having players on long-term contracts so we are not going through constant change.

"We are pretty confident the players we want to keep we will. Most of the big players want to come to England so why would big players want to leave here?

"The training facilities are better than anywhere else in Europe and we've proved we can compete at that high level by reaching the final of the Champions League.

"We take great heart from that and the spirit we showed in the final. That proves we are close to achieving that next stage for the club and winning the Champions League.

"Losing the final will not change our direction. We will regroup and come back better next season."

Midfielder Frank Lampard wants to sit down and talk to the club about a new long-term deal after the England international friendlies at the end of the month.

Kenyon is ready to meet him after labelling him one of the best in the world.

"Frank is one of the top in the world in his position. At no time have we thought a replacement for Frank was on the cards," he added.

"That is certainly one of the ones where we would like to get rid of the speculation."

World Cup-winning Italian full-back Gianluca Zambrotta could soon be joining the ranks of giants AC Milan, if the club can agree terms with Barcelona.

'The difference is two million euros. The player hopes to come to Milan and the Barcelona management is aware of it,' said a spokesman from an Italian football association.

'But Barca is an extremely expensive 'boutique'. They have no sooner opened the bidding than they are up 30, 40, or 50 million - figures that are not compatible with any budget,' he added.

The Italian club last week signed France's rising star Mathieu Flamini, after the 24-year-old refused to sign a new contract with Arsenal.

AC Milan failed to make the cut for next season's Champions League competition after finishing fifth in the Scudetto, and will now compete in the UEFA Cup.

Madrid has admitted that it wants to buy the Portugal winger, whose 42 goals for the Red Devils this season helped United win the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

Although Ronaldo is only 13 months into a five-year deal, Madrid is reported as saying it is willing to pay a world-record transfer of about 60 million pounds (US$118.8 million; 75.6 million) for the winger with the dazzling footwork and a powerful shot.

Tired of seeing headlines on a daily basis about Ronaldo's future, United issued a statement on Tuesday threatening to take action against the Spanish club.

"Manchester United has watched with growing irritation the comments attributed to Real Madrid over their alleged desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo," the club said on its Web site. "The facts are: the player is on a long-term contract and his registration is held by Manchester United. The player is not for sale.

"The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to the world governing body, FIFA, if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion. These public attempts to unsettle the player are completely against the regulations and the club will not tolerate them any longer."

United said Madrid's attempts to buy Ronaldo are also a distraction for the Portuguese national squad as it prepares for next month's European Championship.

"No one should be in any doubt that Manchester United will do everything in its power to keep its best players," the club said.

Arsenal look set to complete their first summer signing by securing a deal for Marseille's Samir Nasri.

 

The Gunners have been tracking the French international for some time and are believed to be closing in on a £13million transfer.

 

The 20-year-old has long been regarded as one of the hottest properties in Ligue 1 and it will come as no surprise that he is set to test himself at one of Europe's top clubs.

 

The youngster is seen as the rightful heir to Zinedine Zidane's crown for his country and is expected to make a major impact at this summer's European Championship. The youngster is seen as the rightful heir to Zinedine Zidane's crown for his country and is expected to make a major impact at this summer's European Championship.   

 

 

-- Edited by Ricky at 22:24, 2008-05-29

The Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed Chelsea's interest in manager Luis Felipe Scolari.

Chelsea are in the hunt for a new boss after parting company with Avram Grant last Saturday and a host of bosses from across Europe are believed to be contenders for the Stamford Bridge hot-seat.

The likes of unsettled Inter chief Roberto Mancini, ex-Barca boss Frank Rijkaard, Blackburn manager Mark Hughes and Russia coach Guus Hiddink are all understood to be targets.

And, according to the Portuguese Football Federation's vice-president Amandio De Carvalho, Portugal manager Scolari - who is out of contract after Euro 2008 - is also on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's short-list.

"I already know that Chelsea are interested in Scolari," Carvalho said in The Independent .

Gilardino scored 36 goals over three seasons at Milan, but never fully lived up to his hype as the next great Italian forward.

Gilardino started several games during Italy's World Cup victory in 2006, but has since been dropped from the team and will not play in the European Championship next month.

Fiorentina reportedly paid a 14 million ($21.8 million) transfer fee, and has signed Gilardino to a five-year deal worth 1.65 million per season, plus bonuses and incentives.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli previously guided Gilardino when the pair were with Parma.

Fiorentina will play Champions League qualifying matches in August. Milan will have to settle for the UEFA Cup for next season.

Grant had his contracted terminated by the Stamford Bridge club on Saturday after just eight months in charge.

The Israeli took over from Jose Mourinho at Chelsea last September with the club fifth in the table at the time.

Grant went on to push Manchester United all the way for the title, only to miss out by two points on the final day of the season.

And he has insisted that Chelsea would be have been crowned 2007/08 champions had he taken the reins sooner.

"I tell you this: If Chelsea had played at the beginning of the season like they did at the end then they would definitely have been champions of England ahead of Manchester United," Grant told The Sun.

"Over the last three months of the season with me working as manager, we were never called boring Chelsea.

"No-one expected Chelsea to win things because when I took over, the team were fifth and had just been held to a Champions League draw by Rosenborg.

"No-one believed we would have finished second and reached the Champions League final in Moscow."

The Milan club have kept tight-lipped about transfers since completing the signing of Mathieu Flamini from Arsenal at the end of the season.

But Galliani insists his club are not talking because as yet they have nothing to report.

"It's not that I'm not talking to the press, it's just we've got nothing to say," he told Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

He continued by explaining that the Rossoneri are also attempting to land Barcelona defender Gianluca Zambrotta, but are finding negotiations with the Catalan club hard going.

"The difference is the same today as yesterday: two million euros," he explained.

"The player wants to come to Milan, the Barcelona directors know it too and I hope that the deal will be done.

"But Barca is an expensive place to shop: you go near them and they start asking for 30, 40, 50 million which are figures which just aren't compatible with anyone's budget."

Galliani went on to reveal Milan are still in pursuit of former player Shevchenko, who they see as a replacement for Alberto Gilardino should he move to Fiorentina.

"We're looking for an attacker. If Gilardino goes, we'll be looking for two," he said.

"Today I'll meet with the administrator delegate of Fiorentina about Gilardino."

On Shevchenko he added: "We are in constant talks with Chelsea and also with Shevchenko, but it also depends on them.

"If they let him go on terms we're willing to accept then we'll take him, otherwise we won't."

Spurs tipped to land Giovani

Lakers 93 at Spurs 91

Game 4 | FINAL	1	2	3	4	T
Lakers	28	25	24	16	93
Spurs	23	24	23	21	91

AT&T Center - San Antonio, Texas

Game Stats

-- Edited by IWALLACE12 at 00:16, 2008-05-28

-- Edited by IWALLACE12 at 00:18, 2008-05-28

NEW YORK -- A jog around the racetrack was all trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. needed to see before declaring Big Brown back -- and maybe better than before.

"He looks like an absolute picture," a delighted Dutrow said Tuesday morning after his Triple Crown hopeful resumed training while continuing to heal from a slight crack on the inside of his left front hoof.

"You would never think that he would look this good after what he's been through -- running so often and shipping, flying. He just looks unbelievable."

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner now appears set for his attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.

With Dutrow re-energized after watching Big Brown move around the track for the first time since Friday, he was asked if the rest of the field, including top threat Casino Drive, is in trouble.

"As we are right now, I'd have to say yes, because I know our horse will be fixed, if not tomorrow, the next day," he said, his confident air back for the first time in several days. "It's not a big deal. And we will be able to put our breeze in one time and that's all that I think that we really should have to do."

Dutrow said unbeaten Big Brown could have his final serious workout before the 1½-mile Belmont as early as Sunday and as late as Wednesday, depending on the weather.

The big bay colt threw a scare into Dutrow and the rest of team Big Brown when a quarter crack -- about three-quarters of an inch long -- was discovered Friday. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay stitched up the crack with stainless steel wire Monday, and the injury apparently is healing rapidly.

So much so that when Dutrow and McKinlay spoke Monday night, it was decided if the trainer thought the hoof looked good in the morning, a trip around Belmont Park would be in order.

"I was very happy with this move," Dutrow said outside Barn 2 as Big Brown was being walked inside by exercise rider Michelle Nevin. At one point, the colt pulled Nevin to a stop at the end of the barn to pose for photographs until Dutrow shooed Big Brown away.

Asked how he looks now compared to the days before the Preakness, Dutrow said: "He might look better. He's eating everything we throw at him."

Notice any weaknesses, even with the crack in the hoof?

"Not that I can see," Dutrow said. "I can't see a weakness in his game right now."

Dutrow could have waited a day before sending out Big Brown, but knew the sooner the better for several reasons.

"I felt him going to the track was not only good for his conditioning, but also good for his mind," he said. "He's been kind of aggravated. He don't know why he's not going to the track. He just doesn't understand why he's not doing it. And we can't explain it to him. So we let him go out there today and take the edge off of him. He's just getting too rough around the barn."

Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, Big Brown's majority owner, said there were no concerns that the colt went to the track even after overnight and early morning rain.

"The track wasn't that bad, and quite frankly, as aggressive as he's been, it was safer for him to be on the track than in the barn," Iavarone said. "He needed to go to the track."

McKinlay was not at Belmont on Tuesday, but will examine Big Brown as planned Wednesday to make sure the healing process is on schedule.

Big Brown has won all five of his races by a c****ined 39 lengths, including the Derby by 4 3/4 lengths and the Preakness by 5 1/4 lengths. Big Brown was so dominant, both margins could have been wider but jockey Kent Desormeaux didn't need to ask his horse to run any harder than necessary in the stretch.

"That was by design," Dutrow said. "If you have the overwhelming horse, why go out there and show everybody? Get the job done and let's get them next time. You got to save horse."

And what about the Belmont, which could be the final race of Big Brown's career? Will Dutrow allow Desormeaux to let Big Brown pour it on if he's got the race locked up? "There's no reason to put on a show. What's the reason?" Dutrow said. "Big Brown is a fragile horse. He's already had major issues with his feet, and we're dealing with another one now. And the more pressure you put on your horse in the afternoon, the more things are going to come apart."

For now, Big Brown seems to have it all together.

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's long anticipated return to coaching looked set to be confirmed later on Tuesday as it was reported that Serie A champions Inter Milan were to let coach Roberto Mancini go.

Italian national press agency ANSA reported 43-year-old Mancini had held talks for 25 minutes with club president Massimo Moratti where the former Italy international striker had been told he was no longer wanted at the club, despite three successive titles.

According to the Italian media Mourinho, who has been kicking his heels in Portugal since he was sacked by Chelsea last September, would be quickly named as his replacement.

However, Mancini's agent, Giorgio De Giorgis, said while he was pretty much certain Mancini's hugely successful spell at a domestic level was over, he could not confirm it definitively.

'I don't know anything,' he told ANSA.

'I have not been able to sit down and talk calmly with Roberto.

'Is it finished? It appears more or less. But I cannot confirm that.'

While Mourinho, nicknamed 'The Special One' for his guiding Porto to the Champions League title in 2004 and then Chelsea albeit an expensively assembled side to two Premiership titles, would not come cheap nor will the exit of Mancini, whose contract runs till 2012.

However, Mancini was unable to make Inter into viable Champions League contenders despite the three Serie A titles, one on the back of the match fixing scandal, the second because of either the heavy points deductions or demotion of their main rivals and the third was really the only one won on the back of real opposition.

De Giorgis said that it would come as a huge surprise if Mancini had been sacked.

'This if it is true will purely be a decision taken by the club as he (Mancini) was not going anywhere (he has been linked to the Chelsea manager's job after Avram Grant was sacked at the weekend),' said De Giorgis.

'Mancini was very calm up till this morning (Tuesday). Then he read the newspapers, and when he read certain things about Mourinho arriving in his place we began to pose questions.'

Mancini, who understudied Sven-Goran Eriksson when Lazio won the title in 2000, had announced after being knocked out by Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League that he was going to leave at the end of the season, though, he rescinded those words the next day.

Inter have not won the former European Cup/Champions League since 1965.

Gunners won't break bankby

Updated: May 27, 2008, 2:06 AM EST 31 comments add this RSS blog email print Arsenal will not adopt the Chelsea model of pursuing success on the pitch regardless off the cost, according to director Danny Fiszman.

The Gunners failed to win a trophy last season but are determined not to seek a Chelsea-style benefactor such as billionaire Roman Abramovich in search of silverware.

Arsenal ran out of steam in both the Premier League and Champions League as Chelsea pushed Manchester United all the way.

But Fiszman has signalled Arsenal's determination not to go down the same route as Chelsea, whose pursuit of the Premier League and Champions League saw them ultimately come second best to United in both competitions.

Fiszman told Arsenal TV: "We don't believe in the benefactor model."

Arsenal's financial strategy is linked to revenue generation from Emirates Stadium and also involvement in emerging markets for the football club.

Fiszman added: "It is not a question of a one-time infusion of cash to buy player x or player y. You actually then have salaries that are connected to the players."

There are associated dangers of spending big on players, something Fiszman and the Arsenal board of directors are wary of.

He said of big-name players: "What if they don't work out? Do you go and buy another two or three players? Is there any end to it?

"So I think everybody, including Chelsea, knows there are limits. Chelsea were not big spenders last summer certainly - they got our old player Steven Sidwell on a free transfer.

"We believe in the end the self-sustaining model is the right one, the one we have adopted and will continue adopting."

The Gunners followed a similar strategy when it came to contract talks with French midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who eventually decided to leave in favour of Italian giants AC Milan.


And Fiszman believes the club were right to stick to their policy over player wages.

He continued: "We made a substantial offer to Mathieu. It was considerable and in line with our wage structure but he chose to go elsewhere.

"We wish him luck, thank him for what he has done for the club and wish him all the best."

Fiszman also believes Arsenal's wage structure is not out of line with the others in the big four Premier League clubs, with the exception of Chelsea.

"If you look at our total wage costs you will see they are virtually the same as Manchester United and substantially more than Liverpool," he said.

"Of course we are all a little less than Chelsea who are in a world of their own. But compared to Manchester United and Liverpool we are good payers.

"We believe it is a team sport and we do well but we don't want the disparity between the top and bottom earner being too big. It takes 11 people on the pitch to deliver."

Fiszman claims the future of the club lies with identifying new markets and also different uses, such as staging rock concerts, for Emirates Stadium which has now been operating for two seasons.

He explained: "I think our expansion abroad is where we'll see the main increase. That is with sponsorships, affiliations that we have made in Thailand and Vietnam.

"We are looking for a variety of sponsors in the Far East that want to align themselves with Arsenal."

But despite his optimism for the future Fiszman admitted the Gunners were disappointed they surrendered the lead in the Premier League title race to United last season.

He said: "The football we played through the year created expectations, and the fact we had a five-point lead (over United in the Premier League) created even greater expectations so I think everybody is sad and deflated."

Fiszman also admitted the failure to win a trophy had been a big disappointment for the Gunners.

"In the end that is what we all strive for. We can't win every year and hopefully it will be our turn next year and for many years to come."

Surprised Schuster to move for Hleb

Australia first inn=431
West Indies first inn=312
Australia sec inn=157
West Indies sec inn=191
West Indies lost by 95 runs
-- Edited by Chabee at 17:29, 2008-05-25

-- Edited by Chabee at 16:48, 2008-05-26

Wenger's Gunner get Nasri soon

In an open letter to fans on the club's official website published soon after the club terminated the contract of manager Avram Grant, Terry reveals how he has hardly slept since the end of the game and still hopes his penalty miss was a bad dream.

Terry, currently with the England squad, slipped as he went to take what would have been the winning penalty and when Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea's dreams were shattered.

Addressing the club's fans, players and employees, Terry wrote: "I am so sorry for missing the penalty and denying you the fans, my team-mates, family and friends the chance to become European champions.

"Many people have told me I don't need to say that but I feel I need to, that's just me. I have relived that moment every minute since it happened. I have only slept a few hours and wake up every time hoping its all been a bad dream.

"I have had some amazing support from fans, current and ex-players, family and friends and I need to thank everyone for that. But I am a big man and I take responsibility for us not winning.

"I am and always will be Chelsea through and through. I will give my all on and off the pitch to win this trophy as a player and one day as a manager. And I am sure we will win it.

"That night in Moscow will haunt me forever and I feel I have let everybody down and this hurts me more than anything. I am not ashamed about crying.

"This is a trophy I have tried so hard year after year to win and it was just an uncontrollable reaction, I wear my heart on my sleeve, everybody knows that.

"The road to Rome starts here, we have to try and turn this experience to our advantage. I am very proud of how far we have come this season with everything that has gone on. Thank you for all your support for the season."

Grant's four-year contract was terminated after just eight months on Saturday night following the club's first trophyless season since 2004.

"Everyone is different and they get results in different ways."

Docherty also believes Grant should take credit for maintaining the standards set by Mourinho.

He said: "Inheriting a squad is one thing. Keeping it up to the standard required is another thing.

"He made one or two bad signings but I don't know whether he made them or the club made them."

Guus Hiddink is the favourite to replace Grant, and Docherty is convinced the Dutch coach has already been lined up by Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

"I think Guus Hiddink is the next manager of Chelsea," he said.

"Because he's in charge of the Russian national team and the moment.

"I think he's just keeping warm for the Chelsea job."

Sir Alex to retire from Man Utd within three years

Terry slipped as he took the penalty that would have given them the coveted European crown but Manchester United went on to clinch a hat-trick of titles when Edwin van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka in Moscow.

It was a dramatic end to an emotion-filled evening in the Luzhniki Stadium but defeat was particularly hard to take for a Chelsea side that had dominated the game after the first half-hour.

Cristiano Ronaldo had put United in front in the 26th minute but Lampard levelled on the stroke of half-time.

Chelsea then twice hit the woodwork through Lampard and Didier Drogba before the game went into extra-time and then penalties.

Petr Cech denied Ronaldo from the spot to give Chelsea the advantage but Terry could not hit the target from 12 yards and United stole the initiative to win the trophy for a third time.

But Lampard, whose mother Pat died last month from pneumonia, tried to console a tearful Terry by telling him there were more important things in life than a game of football.

"John cares as much, if not more, as anyone at the club," said Lampard. "He is Mr Chelsea through and through.

"He is the sort of character you want in the team next to you and I like to see someone care like that. I have been through it in the World Cup and I know how much it hurts.

"I just tried to tell John that it is a game of football. I can probably speak better than anyone about that at the moment. It is a game of football and there are more important things. That's what I said to him."

Lampard is convinced Terry will bounce back from his penalty setback just as he himself did after missing a penalty for England in the shoot-out against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final.

"I know from my own experience when you are in that position what people say to you doesn't quite go in," said Lampard.

"But he is a strong man. It will be a frustrating summer for him because he cares so much. That is how it should be because he wants to win and he is strong. He will come back even stronger.

"It is disappointing because it was within our grasp and then John slipped.

"But take nothing away from John because he had the balls to stand up and take it. As a centre-half, not many would take the last penalty.

"We picked the penalty takers off the cuff. People were asked the question whether they were happy or not. John was happy to take the fifth because that is the sort of man he is.

"It was all working fine until he slipped. I would have put my house on John normally because he is a character. If he hadn't slipped he would have scored.

"It is frustrating because you work so hard to get to a Champions League final, you are the better team and then a slip like that and it all turns."

Lampard was adamant the better side lost and is frustrated that people will forget their performance when they look in the history books.

"We hit the woodwork twice and it is very frustrating because that won't be remembered too much," said Lampard. "After the first half-hour, we were the better team.

"You have to hold your hands up and say credit to Manchester United because they've won it and that is what everyone will remember.

"When you sit back and assess everything we will have pride in our performance.

"I think we will be back. We are a strong unit and we showed that. When we believe in ourselves and play the football we can, I don't think many can live with us - even Manchester United.

"When we played our football after half-an-hour I thought only one team was going to win it. We take pride in that but they have got the medals, so that is a frustration."

Now Lampard says Chelsea will acknowledge their achievements this season but still look improve the squad.

"This season, even though we have come away with nothing, has not been a failure," he insisted. "We've come within an inch of winning the Champions League and pushed all the way in the league.

"It has been a difficult season, as the season before was. Now it is very important that Chelsea, as a club, realise what we have done and improve that little bit more to get back to winning ways."

According to the News Of The World, the Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has authorised the blockbusting swoop for Barcelona's Argentine superstar.

Messi showed his brilliance off to English fans by performing superbly in Barca's Champions League semi-final clashes with Manchester United.

And his bewitching talents could lead to a Chelsea bid that would shatter the world transfer record - the £48million that took Zinedine Zidane from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001.

Barca are desperate to keep Messi, the darling of the Nou Camp crowd, but a world-record bid could force their hand.

A source close to the proposed deal told the News Of the World: "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him.

"He has always wanted that type of player. Under Jose Mourinho he accepted the football because it was bringing in the trophies but he got bored. Grant wants to change things but has explained it takes time and a lot of money to alter the style.

"Now is the time for Roman to finance that change. Chelsea are attractive because of the wages on offer and they are in the Champions League final."

Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants reportedly set to make an offer for the 23-year-old.

The Portugal winger has dealt with such speculation before, when there were serious doubts whether he would return to United such was the public loathing thanks to his part in Wayne Rooney's sending-off during the 2006 World Cup.

And Ronaldo, who has now joined up with the rest of the Portugal squad at their training camp in Viseu where they are preparing for Euro 2008, claims he will take it in his stride once again.

"What the press speculate about goes over my head," Ronaldo said. "I have already been used to it for the past two years.

"I am calm. Everything's clear and I will repeat it once again so that the whole world understands: there will be news in two or three weeks.

"At the moment I am here, I am going to give my best and do the best possible in the European Championships."

Ronaldo was still full of smiles following United's Champions League success on Wednesday, which saw them triumph 6-5 on penalties over Chelsea - who they also beat to the Barclays Premier League title.

The winger, United's regular penalty-taker, saw his spot-kick saved to leave his side on the brink of defeat, but heartbreak turned to sheer relief as John Terry and Nicolas Anelka missed to see United emerge triumphant.

"Football is like that, goalscorers can miss," he added. "I have already scored decisive goals and this time it was my team-mates who marked their card and scored.

"But the trophy is in the bag and it doesn't interest me to speak about what happened."

Ronaldo scored United's only goal of the final, bringing his tally to 42 this season in what has been spectacular campaign for him personally - which also saw him take George Best's mantle as the most prolific midfielder in the club's history.

The youngster also won the PFA and Football Writers' player of the year awards, but fell short in the World and European accolades, coming third behind Kaka and Lionel Messi.

The winger feels he is not far off from being officially declared the best in the world but rejected the suggestion that a good Euro 2008 would be the decisive factor.

"I had a great season," Ronaldo continued. "I was the top goalscorer in England, Europe and the Champions League.

"I think that I have nothing left to prove, but I always want to do well and do my best for myself.

"I am going to try to do things well and give my best, to do everything for a good European Championships.

"Now it depends on all of us. Our unity is going to make the difference. If we remain united I think we will go far.

"We'll have to see if I manage to score as much as I have done for Manchester United.

"I hope so. I can't promise anything apart from that I will work for this."