Saturday, December 19, 2009
Rising Rondo
I was watching the Suns Celtics game and couldn't get over how well Rajon Rondo was playing. In a game that featured Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Shaquille O'Neal and Ray Allen; Rajon Rondo was the best player on the court. He dominated the game by driving for layups, knocking down jumpers and his rebounding. He knew when to push the ball for a fastbreak and when to pull the ball back out to set up the half court offense. Rondo's game has gotten much better from his 1st year as a starter last season. He is another weapon that the Celtics have when the playoffs come around. When Kevin Garnett is healthy, the Celtics don't need Rondo to score much just to facilitate the offense. With Garnett out for the next 2-3 weeks the Celtics will need Rondo to be more of a scorer. As today's game showed he is more than up to the challenge.
The Ryan Blunder
All that's left now is the consolation game against Norway, so the best the Americans can be is the Third Greatest Team You've Never Heard Of.
Their coach, meanwhile, has a scarred legacy that may cost him the job in the Olympics. The world sometimes does not remember victories. But it never forgets a gamble that goes wrong.
Stone to coach Texas Tech
The Texas Tech Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Tom Stone as head women's soccer coach. Stone comes to Tech from Clemson where he was an assistant coach for one season.
U.S. WNT Arrives in Chicago
The U.S. Women's National Team arrived in Chicago on the afternoon of Tues., Aug. 22, and quickly got to work Wednesday morning with a 90 minute training session. The team faces longtime rival China on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 12 p.m. CT at the brand new Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Unhappy Rossi calls for rule changes
Valentino Rossi has again hit out at this year's tyre regulations, claiming only Ducati are enjoying this year's rules.
The Yamaha rider has been unable to match the pace of the Ducati-Bridgestone package used by Australian Casey Stoner, who now leads the championship by a massive 85 points with five races to go.
Rossi, whose bike runs on Michelins, has been unhappy with the rules since the start of the season, with the new regulations forcing tyre manufacturers to select a limited amount of tyres for the weekend ahead of the event.
The Italian has again called for a change.
"The technical conditions are not favorable so something has to be changed," Rossi told Italia1.
"We must work hard and Yamaha must put in a big effort, and most of all there's a tyre situation I think nobody likes except Ducati, because the races are very ugly to watch and there's no fighting anymore.
"The good thing of our sport has disappeared, so! it's not a nice situation. But besides these general views I must think about myself, and I prefer doing something else than racing like this.
"There's no question they deserve the title, both Stoner and everyone at Ducati, especially (technical director Filippo) Preziosi, who's done an incredible job as have the guys at Bridgestone.
"Unfortunately in doing that our sport has changed a bit. We are edging closer to looking like Formula One: there's less room for the rider to make the difference. But this is a world championship, so since they have been better hats off to them."
The seven-time world champion, who has won only three races this year compared to Stoner's eight, said he is sad to see the results of the new regulations, and not only on the tyres front.
"What needs to be changed are technical things, because I'm not in a position to win like this, so I don't accept that," Rossi added.
"At the moment there's a Bridgestone super-po! wer. We are not used to a sole tyre supplier in our sport, and! even th ough there's never been such a regulation (as in F1) it was effectively like that. Everyone had the same tyres, except in the last two years.
"But if Bridgestone and Michelin managed to be at the same level it would be great. The problem is that Bridgestone's superiority is incredible under all conditions so something will need to be done.
"In my opinion everything went very well, because the MotoGP show was incredible, and when things go well someone will always try to ruin it.
"Going from 990cc to 800cc, then the fuel allowance resulting in everyone getting back to the pits by foot meaning you can't even have a burn-out because they wanted to take away one litre and who knows why.
"This is something a bit sad and the result is watching races like these, where to see an overtaking move you have to be content with seeing Elias passing West."
Rossi's teammate Colin Edwards echoed the Italian's comments about the tyre rules, which he reckons ! were introduced at the wrong moment.
"The tyre rule I think really came in at the wrong time," Edwards told BBC. "We went from 990s down to 800s so we're running a lot more heat on a different part of the tyre - it's no so much acceleration as side grip.
"You look at the bigger picture - you've got Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, all these factories that are spending 30, 40, 50 million dollars a year and they go to a racetrack expecting to have the best equipment, and they're relying on two black round things."
James says penalty was harsh
England put in an ineffectual performance in losing 1-0 in their friendly in France last night.
It's Fabio Capello's first defeat as manager.
The goal came when England goalkeeper David James brought down Nicolas Anelka in the penalty area, with Franck Ribery converting the resulting spot-kick.
James tells Sky Sports News, it was slightly harsh on him.
Listen to audio...
Brazillians Advance to Nedbank Final
Mamelodi Sundowns have booked their place in the final of the lucrative Nedbank Cup thanks to a 1 - 0 win over Amazulu in the second semi-final yesterday. By their own admission, it wasn't their most clinical display, but they did get the desired reslult thanks to a 66th minute goal by Esrom Nyandoro. The Brazillians join the Mpumalanga Black Aces in the final.
SA swimmers on fire!
Two-time Olympian Mandy Loots joined in on SA's record-breaking spree as she bettered her own African 200 metres butterfly record, on the second day of swimming action at the Mare Nostrum gala in Barcelona, Spain.Loots, who is set to be a part of the SA team that will compete in the Beijing Olympics in August this year, clocked 2 min 10.49 secs to finish second, ending inside of her previous mark of 2:10.58 set at the Sydney Olympics eight years back.
Wendy Trott continued to show fine form in winning the 400 metres freestyle in 4:08.98.
Pretoria-based Cameron van der Burgh took second place in the 50 metres breaststroke in! 25.02.
Butch Needs to Fire - Chester
Former Springbok wing, Chester Williams, says Butch James needs to be on song if the Boks are to have any chance of dominating Saturday's second test against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
James didn't dominate the match as he usually does and many of his kicks were badly directed. Also his backline didn't get much front-foot ball. Williams is confident however that James' game will be much-improved this weekend and that his performance in the first test was just a once-off occurrence.
Williams also says Jean de Villiers and Adi Jacobs hold the key to a Bok victory on Saturday. The two of them didn't get much of a chance on a! ttack but they did combine well in the lead-up to Bryan Habana's try. Jacobs pulled in two defenders and slipped his pass to de Villiers who ran into space and put Habana away for a 50 metre sprint.
Williams believes more front-foot ball for the midfield could lead to a few more tries from the likes of Habana and Conrad Jantjes.
Meanwhile, it looks like coach Peter de Villiers will make at least two changes to his starting fifteen for the match. JP Pietersen could replace Odwa Ndungane on the right wing while Brian Mujati or Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira could bolster their struggling scrum.
Breakfast Headlines
The Proteas will be hoping to stay second on the one day world rankings today - whether they deserve to, is another question. If England win the fifth and final match in Cardiff today they'll get a series whitewash and overtake South Africa. Former Proteas batsman, Adrian Kuiper, says the team is missing Graeme Smith, who's back in Cape Town for treatment for tennis elbow. The day night match could be affected by rain. Heavy rain has already left a very wet outfield. Kuiper says perhaps there was too much focus on winning the test series.
***
Australia hammered Bangladesh by eight wickets to take a 2-0 series lead.
***
Benni McCarthy's English club, Blackburn, says he's overweight and unfit, not injured. The striker has joined Bafana Bafana in PE and will undergo a fitness test ahead of Saturday's crucial Nations Cup qualifier against Nigeria. According to reports, Blackburn says McCarthy is being overlooked because he's not matc! h-fit.
***
Meanwhile, Bafana goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs, says the team is into Joel Santana's philosophy.
***
In the English Premier League, Kevin Keegan's future is unclear after his shock exit as Newcastle United manager yesterday.
***
Paralympic star, Oscar Pistorious, says the situation in Beijing ahead of the Paralympic Games is unacceptable and unprofessional. Team South Africa is still awaiting kit and equipment with only days before the Games get underway on Saturday. The Blade Runner is fuming.
***
Excitement's building ahead of golf's Ryder Cup in two weeks time, as US captain Paul Azinger named his wildcard picks. They are Steve Stricker, Chad Campbell, JB Holmes and Hunter Mahan.
***
Tennis from the US Open, Roger Federer is through to the quarter-finals after a big fight-back against Igor Andreev. Third seed Novak Djokovic overcame hip, ankle and stomach problems to beat Tommy Robredo. Olympic champion Elena ! Dementieva is into the women's semi's and is still chasing the! number one ranking and her first Grand Slam title.
Paralympic Heroes
Team South Africa has received a hero's welcome when they returned home after the country's most successful Paralympic Games ever. Our athletes grabbed 21 gold medals to finish sixth on the medals table. We also secured 3 silver and 6 bronze medals.
There were many highlights for South Africa. Flag-bearer Natalie du Toit made history as she became the first athlete to compete in both the Olympics and the Paralympics. She was also the first person to carry the country's flag in both events. Du Toit's achievements in the pool were also celebrated as she took 5 gold medals in the 5 events she competed in. The Capetonian was also honoured with a special individual achievement award at the closing ceremony.
Oscar Pistorius was another highlight for Team SA, as he clinched a rare sprint treble, winning the 100, 200 and 400 metres. The Blade Runner thrilled fans with a come-from-behind victory in the 100 metres, but dominated the 200 and 40! 0 metres, where he bettered his own world record.
For many fans, the story of the Games was Hilton Langenhoven's three gold medals in three different events. He won one of the 200 metres categories, a long-jump gold and the men's pentathlon. The Somerset West athlete surprised many with his achievements and has been tipped as a future paralympic superstar.
Another outstanding achievement has been Fanie Lombard becoming the country's most decorated paralympian with 12 medals, which include 8 golds. The former rugby player actually retired after Athens, but was convinced to return by his daughter. At Beijing he won bronze in the shot-put and gold in the discus.
Friday, December 18, 2009
United and Arsenal attempt to progress
Arsenal and Manchester United will be looking to progress to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League tonight. United are in a better position to qualify than their Premiership rivals. The Gunners need a win against Dynamo Kiev whereas the Red Devils need only a point to get to the next round. Cesc Fabregas will lead the side, after William Gallas reportedly made comments about his team mates and was stripped of his captaincy. However Gallas will be part of the team for tonight's fixtur! e. Arsenal will not only need a win to advance, a victory will be great for their confidence after they lost their last two Premier League games.
United travel to Villareal, the Spanish team is enjoying some good form in La Liga despite their recent loss to Valladolid. This was the first time the Madrid side where beaten since April. Sir Alex Ferguson has nothing but respect for them and he says with the little resources the team has they have done very well.
There is uncertainty over the inclusion of Cristiano Ronaldo. The winger was injured in the draw against Aston Villa over the weekend and Ferguson is not sure whether he will feature in the team.
Presenting: SA's next fielding master
Herschelle Gibbs took over from Jonty Rhodes as the leading fielder in SA cricket and many people now feel that Sybrandt Englebregt is being groomed to take the torch from Hersch.
Ajax Axe Rosslee
Ajax Cape Town have sacked Craig Rosslee as coach after a lengthy meeting at Ikamva this morning.
According to the club's website Ajax CEO, George Comitis, says they reached an amicable agreement.
According to www.ajaxct.co.za:
"As his first job in top fight football we believe that Craig has acquitted himself in a professional manner at this level and delivered good results. He has performed well and was able to win a major trophy in his ! 2 year tenure."
"We have over the last 2 seasons twice turned the halfway mark at the top of the table, but unfortunately were unable to sustain our early season success, and twice faultered in the second stanza."
"The mandate and policy of the club has always been to compete for the league and finish within the top 6 positions."
"We are pleased that we have been able to develop an up and coming coach through our youth ranks as per our policy of Youth development. We have produced a coach that has the ability to compete at the highest level."
"However, in line with the new vision of our club going forward and World Cup 2010, Ajax CT requires a more experienced coach that will steer this club in the future."
"We are confident that Craig will succeed in his next venture and will always be regarded us part of the Ajax family."
Ferrari & Toyota strike back against standardization
Yesterday there were some bombs tossed in the direction of the FIA with Ferrari and Toyota making threats that they would quit Formula One if the standard engine proposal laid out last week by Max Mosley and the FIA goes through as planned.
There has been speculation that Toyota would forgo F1 in favor of running at LeMans and presumably in a sportscar series ala American LeMans Series or the European based Endurance LeMans Series where the technical rules are far less restrictive if the plan goes through.
Also, after Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo backed radical calls for cost reduction (as did Toyota chief John Howett) Ferrari drew their line in the sand that they might pull out of F1 altogether if the standardization plan continues. "Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula One, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to ! standardize engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire reason of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d'etre based principally on competition and technological development. The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport."
As John Howett has professed to autosport.com, "I think you will see manufacturers potentially leaving F1 if there is a standard engine. I don't think any of the manufacturers want a homogenized engine."
Given that Honda is the largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines probably means they will be next to make a threat.
I had feared that the FOTA was laying down at the feet of Mosley in the name of cost reduction. Although they like cost reduction as it will improve the bottom line, I am bolstered by the no! tion that the manufacturers are looking to strike a balance of! cost re duction and preserving the very reason why they are in Formula One...advertise their brand and technological capabilities. All of the manufacturers in Formula One already participate, in one form or another, a standardized series. The question is, even with the cost reductions already set to come on line, will Mosley back down from the standard engines given the manufacturers threats.
Carra Vows To Find Form
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has conceded he has not been playing to his best so far this season, but has vowed to recapture his peak form.
Carragher has come under fire from some critics following some below-par performances by the normally reliable defender.
The Reds have struggled to keep clean sheets this season and have conceded 12 goals in eight Premier League games this term.
Carragher is determined to get back to his best and help Liverpool rediscover their defensive strength in the next few weeks
"We aren't playing well as a back four and I'm not playing well personally," Car! ragher told the club's official website. "I need to hit better form and hopefully that will come in the next few games.
"Over the last five or six years we have been renowned as a team who have kept a lot of clean sheets and for keeping it tight. I think that's why we get a bit more criticism because people don't expect it of Liverpool - and rightly so.
"We take the plaudits when things are going well so you have to take the criticism when it's not going well.
"I know I need to improve myself and we also need to improve as a team."
Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the season, losing three of their opening eight games and Carragher admits it has made their bid to win the Premier League title even tougher.
No side has won the championship after losing three of the first eight league games since Manchester United in 1967, but Carragher is refusing to be pessimistic about Liverpool's chances of finally ending the! ir long wait for the title.
"You can shape statisti! cs to ma ke them look however you want them to," added Carragher.
"We've now got the same points as Manchester United had at this point last season. That's another statistic you could look at because they went on to win the league with 90-odd points.
"Whatever statistic you throw at us, we know we haven't made a good start. We don't need to look at them because we know ourselves that we haven't performed as well as we would have liked in certain games. We now have to put that right.
"Points are what matter and how many you end up with at the end of the season. We've lost six games in our previous two Premier League seasons.
"To lose that many in 76 games - that's some achievement and yet we still haven't won the league. Man United have lost more than us and won the league for the past two years.
"So as far as we are concerned it's now all about getting points on the board."
Carragher has come under fire from some critics following some below-par performances by the normally reliable defender.
The Reds have struggled to keep clean sheets this season and have conceded 12 goals in eight Premier League games this term.
Carragher is determined to get back to his best and help Liverpool rediscover their defensive strength in the next few weeks
"We aren't playing well as a back four and I'm not playing well personally," Car! ragher told the club's official website. "I need to hit better form and hopefully that will come in the next few games.
"Over the last five or six years we have been renowned as a team who have kept a lot of clean sheets and for keeping it tight. I think that's why we get a bit more criticism because people don't expect it of Liverpool - and rightly so.
"We take the plaudits when things are going well so you have to take the criticism when it's not going well.
"I know I need to improve myself and we also need to improve as a team."
Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the season, losing three of their opening eight games and Carragher admits it has made their bid to win the Premier League title even tougher.
No side has won the championship after losing three of the first eight league games since Manchester United in 1967, but Carragher is refusing to be pessimistic about Liverpool's chances of finally ending the! ir long wait for the title.
"You can shape statisti! cs to ma ke them look however you want them to," added Carragher.
"We've now got the same points as Manchester United had at this point last season. That's another statistic you could look at because they went on to win the league with 90-odd points.
"Whatever statistic you throw at us, we know we haven't made a good start. We don't need to look at them because we know ourselves that we haven't performed as well as we would have liked in certain games. We now have to put that right.
"Points are what matter and how many you end up with at the end of the season. We've lost six games in our previous two Premier League seasons.
"To lose that many in 76 games - that's some achievement and yet we still haven't won the league. Man United have lost more than us and won the league for the past two years.
"So as far as we are concerned it's now all about getting points on the board."
Financial Fears Grow For Struggling Liverpool
City insiders close to attempted takeover bids for Liverpool have told ESPN Soccernet that failure to qualify for the Champions League could result in meltdown at Anfield.
The disturbing analysis emphasises the enormous importance of Liverpool's forthcoming double-header at Anfield, starting on Tuesday night against Champions League Group E leaders Lyon, followed by the visit on Sunday of Premier League champions Manchester United.
Liverpool have slipped down to eighth in the Premier League and are keen to win against Lyon to restore their credibility within their group and increase their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
A City source said: "The Champions League has become so important to all the top clubs, notably those with big debts, and that includes Manchester United and Arsenal as well as Liverpool, but at the moment, the focus is very much on ! Liverpool as it looks as though Manchester United and Arsenal will continue in the Champions League next season. The same cannot be guaranteed with Liverpool. The stakes really couldn't be higher for them.
"The Champions League generates £30 million for clubs like Liverpool, and that can account for virtually the amount of interest that they need to pay back to the banks each year. The bottom line for a club like Liverpool is that they need to be in the Champions League each season. It's as simple as that, and no-one at the club is going to sleep easy with the team slipping down to eighth place in the table."
Liverpool's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks refinanced their debts with the Royal Bank of Scotland in July for another year, but would never have envisaged their team sliding down the league so early in the season.
The repercussions for Liverpool failing to qualify for next season's Champions League are thought-provoking, t! o say the least. At worst the consequences are catastrophic.
Would it mean selling prize assets like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to pay for the shortfall in Champions League revenue??
Would it mean the end of Rafa Benitez?
Would it mean the Royal Bank of Scotland taking control of the club?
Would it leave the club wide open to a quick takeover bid?
At the moment, a possible takeover of Liverpool has been laboriously slow, with three near misses from a variety of Middle Eastern Sheikhs, Princes and investors. But there seems little doubt that the most testing and turbulent times are rapidly approaching.
The search has been relentless to bring new investment into Anfield. Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett has denied, though, that Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah is close to purchasing a stake in the Anfield club.
The American pair of Gillett and Tom Hicks recently issued a joint statement, which read: "The owners have jointly retained Bank of America Merrill! Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into LFC. However, the process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."
The next six days will fashion much of what happens both on and off the field at Anfield. Two games at Anfield, against Lyon in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League could point to a troubled rest of the season, and even a die-hard Liverpool man such as Alan Hansen has conceded as much. The stakes couldn't be higher for the players, manager Benitez, and their dedicated supporters.
The disturbing analysis emphasises the enormous importance of Liverpool's forthcoming double-header at Anfield, starting on Tuesday night against Champions League Group E leaders Lyon, followed by the visit on Sunday of Premier League champions Manchester United.
Liverpool have slipped down to eighth in the Premier League and are keen to win against Lyon to restore their credibility within their group and increase their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
A City source said: "The Champions League has become so important to all the top clubs, notably those with big debts, and that includes Manchester United and Arsenal as well as Liverpool, but at the moment, the focus is very much on ! Liverpool as it looks as though Manchester United and Arsenal will continue in the Champions League next season. The same cannot be guaranteed with Liverpool. The stakes really couldn't be higher for them.
"The Champions League generates £30 million for clubs like Liverpool, and that can account for virtually the amount of interest that they need to pay back to the banks each year. The bottom line for a club like Liverpool is that they need to be in the Champions League each season. It's as simple as that, and no-one at the club is going to sleep easy with the team slipping down to eighth place in the table."
Liverpool's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks refinanced their debts with the Royal Bank of Scotland in July for another year, but would never have envisaged their team sliding down the league so early in the season.
The repercussions for Liverpool failing to qualify for next season's Champions League are thought-provoking, t! o say the least. At worst the consequences are catastrophic.
Would it mean selling prize assets like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to pay for the shortfall in Champions League revenue??
Would it mean the end of Rafa Benitez?
Would it mean the Royal Bank of Scotland taking control of the club?
Would it leave the club wide open to a quick takeover bid?
At the moment, a possible takeover of Liverpool has been laboriously slow, with three near misses from a variety of Middle Eastern Sheikhs, Princes and investors. But there seems little doubt that the most testing and turbulent times are rapidly approaching.
The search has been relentless to bring new investment into Anfield. Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett has denied, though, that Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah is close to purchasing a stake in the Anfield club.
The American pair of Gillett and Tom Hicks recently issued a joint statement, which read: "The owners have jointly retained Bank of America Merrill! Lynch and Rothschild to evaluate the possibility of new investors injecting equity into LFC. However, the process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."
The next six days will fashion much of what happens both on and off the field at Anfield. Two games at Anfield, against Lyon in the Champions League and Manchester United in the Premier League could point to a troubled rest of the season, and even a die-hard Liverpool man such as Alan Hansen has conceded as much. The stakes couldn't be higher for the players, manager Benitez, and their dedicated supporters.
Rafa Benitez Fears Skipper May Go Under The Knife To Solve Groin Problem
Liverpool fear Steven Gerrard may require an operation to solve his troublesome groin injury.
Gerrard will be absent for Liverpool again on Saturday as he struggles to recover from the problem he suffered in England's World Cup qualifying defeat by Ukraine almost three weeks ago.
The 29-year-old has managed only 25 minutes of action since then — in last week's Champions League loss to Lyon at Anfield, when he aggravated the injury and limped off.
Liverpool are perplexed by Gerrard's slow recovery. They are reluctant to opt for surgery but it may be an option if th! e injury fails to respond to treatment.
Manager Rafa Benitez had hoped his captain would be back for Saturday's Premier League trip to Fulham, but has accepted defeat.
Top scorer Fernando Torres, who has been affected by a similar injury, is expected to start at Craven Cottage, though, and Benitez said: 'Both have to keep going. Gerrard is still working with the physio so we will see. Hopefully, Torres will be OK, but for Gerrard maybe it is more difficult.'
Gerrard will be absent for Liverpool again on Saturday as he struggles to recover from the problem he suffered in England's World Cup qualifying defeat by Ukraine almost three weeks ago.
The 29-year-old has managed only 25 minutes of action since then — in last week's Champions League loss to Lyon at Anfield, when he aggravated the injury and limped off.
Liverpool are perplexed by Gerrard's slow recovery. They are reluctant to opt for surgery but it may be an option if th! e injury fails to respond to treatment.
Manager Rafa Benitez had hoped his captain would be back for Saturday's Premier League trip to Fulham, but has accepted defeat.
Top scorer Fernando Torres, who has been affected by a similar injury, is expected to start at Craven Cottage, though, and Benitez said: 'Both have to keep going. Gerrard is still working with the physio so we will see. Hopefully, Torres will be OK, but for Gerrard maybe it is more difficult.'
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Young Girl Photo with Maria Ozawa
What which I must tell about a model photo girl so called Maria Ozawa? she is beautiful, sexy and clever interacted. Maria chooses friend which able to be invited together in liking and sorrowful.
Big Shades Young Girls
Girls in dark glasses looks sweet and happy with the white bikini that is sexy in the pool
Jennings belongs to Picotte
From cdnsuperbike.com
JENNINGS, FL -- The first official Parts Canada Superbike Championship pre-season test session at Jennings GP in North Florida belonged to Pascal Picotte.
After setting the fastest overall time on Monday afternoon, and the top 600 and Superbike times this morning, the Picotte Performance Yamaha rider was once again on fire during the last leg of the two-day test. Mid-afternoon, Picotte turned a lap a mere 0.4 seconds off the outright track lap record. The Dunlop slick equipped Picotte set the overall fastest lap of one minute 15.959 seconds, as timed by the official series Yamaha dBcom Timing System, halfway through this afternoon's session on his brand new 2005 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike.
The official Jennings GP lap record, a 1:15.5, was set in January by Robert Jensen on a Michelin shod Yamaha. With a busy two days of chassis set up for four Yamahas, Picotte wasn't inclined to h! unt for the Jennings outright marker, even though he got oh-so-close.
The fastest Hindle 600 Sport Bike time of the afternoon (1:16.704) also went to Picotte's R6. The reigning quadruple National Champ was sporting his new "race replica" leathers that will be available - with the Picotte Jester on the back - through both American Yamaha and Yamaha Canada.
Second fastest this afternoon was DXS Diablo Suzuki rider Francis Martin, knocking more than a second off his best time from this morning with a 1:16.764 on the brand-new GSX-R1000. Coming off a rough outing at Daytona, Martin looked re-energized following a productive two days aboard the third generation, new for 2005 "Gixxer." Martin rode for Suzuki Canada on the Parts Canada tour from 2001 through 2003.
Popular un-retired American veteran Tom Kipp was able to work out some of the "chatter" issues with the immaculate Canadian Kawasaki ZX-10R to end the day with the third fastest Superbike! time of 1:17.586.
Diablo rider Steve Crevier rode his st! reet sto ck Honda CBR1000RR to the fourth quickest time of 1:18.202. This was slightly slower than the 1:18.200 set by the six-time Canadian Superbike champion on his CBR600RR - the same bike he will race at the AMA round at Barber Motorsport Park this weekend. Crevier had both AMA Xtreme spec and Supersport CBR600RRs at his disposal during the Jennings sessions.
Canadian Kawasaki's Matt McBride dropped his Superbike time to a 1:20.187 from this morning's 1:20.240 on the ZX-10R, but didn't better his 600 Sport Bike time from the morning session.
It was another scorcher of a day at Jennings, with outside temperature in the low 80's (ºF) and a track temperature again hovering around the 118ºF (48ºC) mark.
CMA firms up MX schedule
From the Canadian Motorcycle Association
HAMILTON, ON -- Following the announcement on Feb. 7, arrangements have been completed for the location of the third and final round of the Expert Class Motocross Championships.
After several years of absence, the CMA will return to Coaticook, QC for the Grand Finale of the 2006 Championship Series.
Each round will pay a purse of $10,000 and a $10,000 series purse will be distributed as well.
The schedule is as follows: June 30, July 1-2, St-Apollinaire, QC; Aug. 5-6, Agassiz, BC; Sept. 1-3, Coaticook, QC.
Entry forms will be available by the end of April.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Recruit Xavier Henry Chooses Kansas
As I speculated in a previous post, reports have been confirmed that star SG recruit Xavier Henry and his brother CJ Henry will attend the Kansas to play for Bill Self. Wildcat fans were optimistic that Henry would choose Kentucky to follow Coach Calipari. They still have top 50 recruit Jon Hood at SG for next season.
Bengals Training Camp
The Bengals are in the first week of their traning camp and with Hard Knocks and position battles I am getting very excited for football season. To get the rest of you excited I wanted to post this video to get you ready for football season.
Check it out.
Survival Football
Okay boys, lets keep this rolling. The Raiders hurt most of us last week. Many are on the brink of elimination. I need to get this up early since I will be out for the rest of the week.
Adam
Passer
Reciever
(Players used: Cedric Benson, Brett Favre, Steve Smith (NYG)Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Aaron Rodgers, Hines Ward)
Redleg2420
Team
(Teams used: Green Bay, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)
SHU
TD Catch
(Players used: Brandon Jacobs, Carson Palmer, Reggie Wayne, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Matt Hasselbeck)
Matt
Passer
(Players used: Matt Forte, Matt Shaub, Andre Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, Tony Romo, Kurt Warner)
Firing of Randolph another gaffe by Mets' GM Minaya
What bothers me about the Willie Randolph firing isn't that it came now instead of after last season, but rather that it was done with absolutely no class by a GM who doesn't belong in a MLB front office. Omar Minaya has made a plethora of questionable moves during his tenure as GM of the New York Mets, and this one was clearly his worst. Sure, you can argue that the Mets' collapse at the end of last season warranted a firing – I tend to disagree but that's for an article nine months ago. You can also argue that the rather pedestrian start to the season by a team loaded with big names (sound familiar, Yankees fans?) warranted a firing of Randolph, as well. Either way, it didn't need to happen like this.
I'm most disturbed by the timing and logistics of the situation. While the 34-35 record for the Mets thus far is unacceptable with its current payroll, I didn't feel the blame should point solely at Randolph. The Mets were reeling last week, caught in the midst of ! a 5-game losing streak and having lost 6 of its last 7 games. But two of those games were blown by closer Billy Wagner, and the team lost three consecutive games to the Padres by a score of 2-1. Perhaps Willy could have made a move here or a move there to generate an extra run or two along the way, but when your offense scores 3 runs in 3 games, the onus needs to fall on the hitters and not the manager.
But nonetheless, if you're going to fire a manager, the right time to do it might be during a losing a streak or at the tail end of it. Instead, Minaya chose to do after a 9-6 win last night and the Mets' second win in a row. Not only that, but the team had won four of its last six and just received a boost in the return of Pedro Martinez who had been out since early April. To me, however, that's not the worst part. The Mets' 4-2 win over Texas on Sunday split a doubleheader as the team took two of three from a high powered offense. And they did it at home, in She! a Stadium, in New York, where the team plays its home games, w! here the players, coaches, and organizational employees all call home and lay their heads. Again, if you're going to fire a manager, do him a favor and fire him at home before a long road trip out West. Yet again, instead, Minaya decided to let Randolph lead his troops over 3,000 miles across the country to LA for a 3-game set against the AL-West leading Angels. And after that aforementioned 9-6 victory over said division leading Angels, Minaya then decided to fire his manager. On the road. On the other side of the country. After two consecutive wins. At 3:15 in the morning. When the rest of the country is sleeping. Ridiculous.
So let me get this straight, Omar. You have your manager pack up his things and travel across the country so he can win a game and then you can fire him so that he can again pack up his things and fly back across the country and go home without a job. Way to show some class. The fact that he fired him after winning two straight games indicates this! was pre-meditated. Which makes the situation even worse. If the intention of Omar Minaya was to fire Randolph, why didn't he do it after Sunday's doubleheader at home? Or at least wait until another uninspired effort from his ball club led to another disappointing loss? Or, as I mentioned earlier, why didn't he drop the axe last week after the five-game losing streak? Minaya doesn't seem like the type of guy whose forte is good timing. You know the kind. The guy who tells his wife he's leaving her the same day she gets fired from her job. Or the friend who reminds you at a relative's funeral that you owe him $20 from that bet you guys made last week on who could chug a beer faster.
The bottom line is that Minaya made the move that everyone has been clamoring for since last September, but he couldn't have screwed it up any worse. And I think he should follow his former manager right out the door for his transgressions as GM, this latest incident being his most of! fensive gaffe.
And I feel the situation sheds light! on the question as to who should ultimately be held responsible for the poor performance of a baseball franchise: the manager or the GM? The GM and front office builds the roster with which the manager must work with. Unless the manager makes a seriously glaring error or serious of blunders, why should he be held responsible for poor signings? As a family friend so aptly stated this morning, it is the manager's job to make chicken salad out of chicken $hit.
So let's revisit the Omar Minaya track record as GM. During his time in Montreal, he traded away a trio of prospects for hard-throwing right-hander Bartolo Colon. Not bad, right? Well, those prospects were Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips. He also dealt away Jason Bay, Orlando Cabrera and Chris Young during his time there. Sure, the Expos were always positioned for an annual yard sale out front, but that doesn't excuse Minaya.
Flash forward to 2004 when he came on board with the Mets and promp! tly signed free agents Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran to overpriced contracts. Martinez is making $11.8M this season while Beltran is collecting $18.6M. Minaya then acquired Carlos Delgado in 2005 in exchange for Yusmeiro Petit and Mike Jacobs, who is now the slugging first basemen for the Florida Marlins. Jacobs is making $345,000 while producing a stat line of .245/16/43 while Delgado rakes in $16M for a pedestrian .242/9/43.
Minaya made a flurry of transactions between 2005 and 2007 that saw the likes of Xavier Nady (.314/10/49 in '08 for the Pirates), Brian Bannister (17-15, 4.26 ERA, 41 starts in '07 and '08 for the Royals), and Padres' setup man Heath Bell (10-7, 2.00 ERA, 2 saves and 46 holds in 117 appearances in '07 and '08) all depart New York and flourish. And he's overpaying other players, as well. Moises Alou ($7.5M), Orland Hernandez ($7M), Oliver Perez ($6.5M), and Luis Castillo ($6.25M) are all cashing big checks with little production. Like hi! s counterpart in the Bronx, Minaya has turned the Mets into an! overpri ced retirement home for ball players. He brings in big name players at a high cost to drive revenue, yet his teams aren't winning ballgames because of injury, age and lack of talent. He certainly needs to be credited for brining in players like David Wright, Jose Reyes, John Maine and Ryan Church, and his work as GM certainly played a role in the Mets winning the NL East in 2006 and coming within a game of the World Series. But let's face it, Minaya's percentage of success is 50/50 at best and he never really gave Randolph a World Series caliber team.
That's why I like what they did in Seattle. A month ago I listed John McLaren's name on the chopping block, and rightfully so. The woeful Mariners are 24-46, worst in major league baseball. But the team recognized that it may not entirely be McLaren's fault. The team is littered with low talent hitters, does not have viable arms in the bullpen and the rotation has two potential aces and three no talent losers. How is! a manager supposed to win under those conditions? He's not. So by ridding itself of the GM, it allows a new guy to come in, try and correct the issues at hand and give a guy they believe in an opportunity to win under new terms. Perhaps that's what the Mets should have considered first before disgracefully dismissing its manager in the wee hours of the morning after the team's second consecutive win, 3,000 miles from home. There was a better way and another way to do it, and the Mets and Omar Minaya chose neither.
-Bess
2009 MLB Pre-season Predictions
Keefe's picks
AL East
1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Yankees
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Twins
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. White Sox
5. Tigers
AL West
1. Angels
2. A's
3. Mariners
4. Rangers
NL East
1. Mets
2. Phillies
3. Marlins
4. Braves
5. Nationals
NL Central
1. Cubs
2. Brewers
3. Astros
4. Cardinals
5. Reds
6. Pirates
NL West
1. Dodgers
2. D-Backs
3. Rockies
4. Giants
5. Padres
Playoffs
AL:
Rays over Twins
Red Sox over Angels
Rays over Red Sox
NL:
Cubs over D-Backs
Dodgers over Mets
Dodgers over Cubs
RAYS over Dodgers in World Series
AWARDS:
AL MVP: Grady Sizemore, Indians
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Dodgers or David Wright, Mets
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester, Red Sox
NL Cy Young: Dan Haren, D-Backs
AL ROY: Travis Snider, Blue Jays
NL ROY: Cameron Maybin, Marlins
AL Manager: Trey Hillman, Royals
NL Manager: Joe Torre, Dodgers
Besse's picks
AL East
1. Red Sox
2. Rays
3. Yankees
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Indians
2. Twins
3. Royals
4. Tigers
5. White Sox
AL West
1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. A's
4. Mariners
1. Phillies
2. Mets
3. Marlins
4. Braves
5. Nationals
NL Central
1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Astros
4. Reds
5. Brewers
6. Pirates
NL West
1. Dodgers
2. D-Backs
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Padres
Playoffs
AL:
Red Sox over Indians
Rays over Angels
Red Sox over Rays
NL:
Mets over Dodgers
Cubs over Phillies
Mets over Cubs
RED SOX over Mets in World Series
AWARDS:
AL MVP: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Josh Beckett, Red Sox
NL Cy Young: Ricky Nolasco, Marli! ns
AL ROY: Matt Wieters, Orioles
NL ROY: Tommy Hanson, Braves
AL Manager: Eric Wedge, Indians
NL Manager: Jerry Manuel, Mets
There you have it. The 2009 picks from Keefe and Besse at The Sports Brief. What do you think? Although we do have some picks that are similar, I like that we both have different World Series matchups and, for the most part, different award winners. I believe Manny as NL MVP is the only pick that's the same for us. Should be interesting to see how it all unfolds. The AL East is going to be brutal, but fun to watch. Enjoy the season!
-Bess
BJal's Lock du Jour - Friday, October 16
Is anybody watching Pedro's masterpiece right now? Why do I feel like we are heading for a Grady Little remake of '03 in an inning or two? Is it because Charlie Manuel kind of looks like Little? Or because it's a 1-0 game right now? Either way, this is going to be fun to watch for the next hour or so.
Anyway, BJal is heading for another losing streak (surprisingly) after USF dropped the ball and forgot it was ranked against Cincy last night. Oh well. Tonight he looks to rebound with Rutgers getting 4 against Pitt. I don't like it. You don't bet against a coach with a mustache like DW. You're just asking for trouble.
BJal's Lock du Jour: Rutgers +4 over Pitt
Overall: 4-6
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Monfils ends Gasquet run in Metz
Richard Gasquet's run at the Open de Moselle in Metz was ended at the semi-final stage by fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Gasquet, a former top-10 star, is attempting to climb back up the rankings after missing four months of the season successfully fighting a suspension following a positive test for cocaine.
The 23-year-old, now down at 47 in the world, registered his first ATP Tour wins since April in reaching the last four but found top seed Monfils too strong to! day, going down 6-4 6-3.
Monfils, who is looking for his first title of the season, will face German second seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the final after he prevented Paul-Henri Mathieu making it an all-French affair.
Kohlschreiber took the first set on the tie-break against the third seed before claiming the only break of serve in the second to edge a tight match 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
Monfils and Kohlschreiber have met once before, with the Frenchman coming out on top in a deciding tie-break in Vienna last year.
Monfils tees up Davydenko meeting
Gael Monfils swept past Martin Vassallo Arguello to book himself a quarter-final tie against top seed Nikolay Davydenko.
Fifth-seeded Monfils made light work of his match against the Argentinian, dismissing him 6-4 6-2 to move into the last eight of the ATP Proton Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
Fernando Verdasco's second-round tie was even easier as the second seed took just 69 minutes to crush Slovakian Karol Beck 6-4 6-0
Joachim Johansson's fairytale retu! rn to the tour came to a disappointing end as Richard Gasquet triumphed 4-6 7-6(1) 6-2 in the battle of the big servers.
The Swede, who had defeated Lleyton Hewitt in his first match back in nearly a year, started well and fired in 24 aces but could not match Gasquet who stuck 26 aces.
Number four seed Fernando Gonzalez had a battle to reach the quarter-finals, eventually prevailing 6-4 3-6 6-4 to Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna.
Tomas Berdych is the other name in the final eight after the number six seed fought past Simon Greul 6-3 4-6 6-3.
Beth Tweddle wins World Championship gold on floor
Just days after she sobbed with despair after her fall from the asymmetric bars, Beth Tweddle experienced the opposite emotional extreme on Sunday as she produced the performance of her life in the floor exercise final to win the second world title of her career.
If this is the kind of human drama that lies in store when the London Olympics are staged in the same O2 Arena in three years' time, then we are all going to need a lot of handkerchiefs. Rarely can the lows and highs of sport have come in such quick succession.
Drawn first to go in! the eight-woman final, Tweddle put aside the trauma of her bars meltdown on Wednesday with a flawless tumbling routine, bristling with difficulty, which drew a roar of approval from the near-capacity crowd.
But the 24 year-old and her adoring fans then had to endure an agonising wait to see whether her score of 14.650 points would be enough to secure the gold, and the tension was heightened further when a neck injury to the second gymnast, Colombia's Jessica Gil Ortiz, brought a 10-minute delay to the competition.
But, one by one, her rivals came up short. Finally, with Tweddle pacing nervously up and down and staring up at the electronic scoreboard, the score of the last competitor, China's Deng Linlin, confirmed that the City of Liverpool gymnast had won, with Australia's Lauren Mitchell in second place and Sui Lu third. Tweddle raced towards her coach, Amanda Kirby, for a celebratory hug.
! Her triumph came three years after she first announced herself! as the greatest British gymnast of all time when she won the asymmetric bars world title in Aarhus, Denmark.
But, if anything, Sunday's win was an even greater achievement. The bars have always been considered her speciality, despite winning the European floor title in April, and she was delighted to prove that she was no just a "one-piece gymnast".
"Obviously winning the bars title in 2006 was really good but, with it being on home ground and not in my signature event, it is probably my best ever achievement," she said.
Her victory also says much about her mental resilience after her tearful exit from the bars qualification round when she failed to execute her trademark 'Tweddle' skill and was sent crashing to the mat.
She said it was the reaction of the London fans that helped her psychological recovery and made her realise that there was still everything to play for.
"On Wednesday I went out into the exit! and there were little kids just swarming around asking for autographs and it was them who really pulled me up and made me realise I still had that floor final to look forward to," she said.
Tweddle's win meant Britain finished the World Championships with two medals following the all-around silver won by Daniel Keatings on Thursday.
Louis Smith, the Olympic bronze medallist, failed to add to the GB tally after he fell from the pommel horse in Saturday's final and finished eighth.
Tweddle has yet to commit herself to competing at the London Olympics, when she will be a grand old lady in gymnastic terms, though the "fantastic" experience of competing in front of a home crowd on Sunday could well persuade her to put aside thoughts of retirement.
She said: "Normally when you go away there are a couple of GB flags, and that will me my mum and dad or someone else's mum and dad, so to hear the whole arena shouting ! for you is just the best feeling."
J-League review
Kashima Antlers got their first win in seven matches with a 3-0 victory over JEF United Chiba to move to the J. League summit.
Shinzo Koroki put the hosts ahead in the ninth minute when he latched onto a fine through ball from Mitsuo Ogasawara and slotted home from close range.
Marquinhos then added a second for Kashima 10 minutes later, volleying home a cross from Koroki.
Substitute Yuzo Tashiro completed the scoring just two minutes after coming off the be! nch as the former Japan international broke down the left flank, beat his marker then advanced on goal before firing a shot beyond the goalkeeper.
"It is always important to collect three points, and we always aim to win every game," said Kashima coach Oswaldo Oliveira.
"I hope today's win can be a good influence for us in the remaining four matches."
Meanwhile, Gamba Osaka were held to a potentially costly goalless draw by Yokohama F. Marinos to remain in third with 51 points.
Takahiro Futagawa returned for Gamba after missing the last game through injury but the hosts struggled to break down Yokohama's solid defence.
Brazilian forwards Lucas and Pedro Junior both had chances while Yokohama came close through Daisuke Sakata and Kazuma Watanabe.
Elsewhere, Oita Trinita were relegated to Division Two after being held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Kyoto Sanga.
Oita took an early lead when Daisuke Takahashi scored in the seventh minut! e and things looked good for them when Kyoto defender Lee Jung! -soo was sent off in the 15th minute after being shown his second yellow card.
However, Takenori Hayashi scored an equaliser in the 22nd minute for Kyoto.
Oita have just 20 points and are unable to make up the 16 points needed for safety in the remaining games.
Finally, Yamagata edged hosts Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 with Katsuyuki Miyazawa's 58th-minute strike, while Vissel Kobe ended to a run of five games without victory with a 1-0 win over visiting Albirex Niigata thanks to a second-half goal from Ryosuke Matsuoka.
Belgian Jupiler League Fri Review
Standard Liege missed the chance to close the gap on the Jupiler League leaders as they were held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Excelsior Mouscron.
The draw leaves Standard five points adrift of leaders Club Brugge, who can pull further clear when they play St Truiden tomorrow. Second-placed Anderlecht, a point behind Brugge, host Lokeren.
The point sees Excelsior move five clear of basement club Roeselare.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The UEFA Euro 2008 Football Championship
by George Burnitt
0
plugs
plug it
The ultimate soccer event of 2008 is without doubt the European Football Championships also referred to as Euro 2008 which will take place this summer in both Austria and Switzerland from 7th to 29th June.
A total of 16 European teams will participate in the tournament. Austria and Switzerland qualified automatically as hosts but the remaining 14 teams have made it to the finals through qualifying matches which started way back in August 2006. Austria and Poland will be competing in the tournament for the first time.
Europe will be the envy of world soccer this year as a massive global television audience is expected to tune in to watch the best players in europe compete over three weeks and 31 matches to decide which country will be crowned the champions of Europe.
A record amount of soccer betting interest is also predicted on an ev! ent that is second only to the football world cup in terms of the amount of money that is wagered on it.
The European championships was first held in 1960 as the European Nations Cup and like the world cup the tournament is held every four years.
Previous winners include Germany (1972, 1980, 1996), France (1984, 2000), Soviet Union (1960), Spain (1964), Italy (1968), Czechoslovakia (1976), Netherlands (1988), Denmark (1992) and Greece (2004).
The teams are divided into four groups with four teams in each group. The group of death as it has been labelled is Group C as it is by far the strongest containing no less than three of the tournament favourites in Holland, Italy and France.
Apart from the aforementioned teams from the group of death Germany and Portugal are also expected to feature prominently.
Group A - Switzerland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Turkey
Group B - Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland
Group C - Holland, Italy, Romania, France
Group D! - Greec e, Sweden, Spain, Russia
Millions of football fans all over the world will tune in on 29th June to watch the Euro 2008 final at Vienna's 53,000 capacity Ernst Happel Stadium to witness the best team in Europe presented with the brand new European Football Championships trophy.
Keep up to date with all the latest football news by visiting http://pieandbovril.blogspot.com
About the Author
The author is a respected journalist with an interest in sports betting you can see some of his work at http://www.footballbettingprofits.com
Colantuono: «Toro, la crisi è di risultati e non di gioco»
fonte: Tuttosport
«Il Modena era blindato dietro, la partita va in salita senza gol»
Stefano Colantuono non ammette, o meglio ammette solo in parte. A lui mezzo Toro, quello del primo tempo, è persino piaciuto. Mal si concilia il tutto con quanto capita fuori dallo spogliatoio dell'Olimpico dove la gente ha a lungo gridato: «Vegognatevi», a quelli del Toro. Perché due ko e un pari rimediato all'ultmo respiro contro l'Ancona in casa vogliono dire crisi per la gente. «Crisi di risultati sì, di g! ioco no – dice Colantuono – Nel primo tempo contro il Modena disponevamo del gioco: abbiamo avuto occasioni importanti ed è mancato solo il gol che avrebbe cambiato il senso di questa partita. Non è semplice attaccare contro dieci uomini schierati negli ultimi trenta metri, come ha fatto il Modena, come hanno fatto altri. Se non arriva il gol, in partite così la strada va in salita».
Del Neri: "Se capitasse, andrei con i tifosi nella Sud e salterei come uno di loro"
di Rocco Fortunato
fonte:sampdorianews.net
Mister Del Neri, intervistato dal Secolo XIX, ha esternato la voglia di vedere le partite della Sampdoria direttamente dalla Gradinata Sud, il tempio del tifo blucerchiato:
"I sostenitori della Samp ci stanno dando u! na grossa mano. Il loro apporto è evidente, lo è stato sempre ! anche a Firenze. Per non parlare dei 30 mila di Marassi. L'abbinamento squadra-tifosi qui è fantastico. In realtà quando sono in campo mi sembra di essere uno di loro. Nella mia vita non sono mai stato un tifoso, piuttosto ho sempre lavorato per renderli felici, i tifosi. Da un lato mi piacerebbe andare nella Sud, dall'altro significherebbe che sono squalificato, chissà. Nella vita mai dire mai. Se capitasse, sì, ci andrei. E so anche che cosa farei, salterei come uno di loro".
Ancona: questione stadio
di Massimo Scavello
Fonte:corriereadriatico.itSulla questione stadio e campi di allenamento il Comune dorico apre all'Ancona con il sindaco Gramillano che ha intenzione di convocare a Palazzo del Popolo l'Ad biancorosso Petocchi per un chiarimento definitivo. «Sulla gestione o meno all'Ancona dello stadio del Conero non ci sono preclusioni - ha detto il sindaco - e siamo d'accordo sulla creazione di un campo per gli allenamenti dei dorici davanti al PalaRossini.
PARLA IL DG DEL GALLIPOLI
Di Pasquale CampanellaL'EX DIRIGENTE
Fonte: forum triestina
Fioretti: «Con Somma questa Triestina può arrivare in alto»
TRIESTE «La Triestina la mette a posto Somma, ve lo dico io». La perentoria assicurazione arriva da Vittorio Fioretti, dirigente alabardato nei roventi anni a cavallo del 2000, che il nuovo tecnico dell'Unione lo conosce molto bene avendolo avuto con sé ad Arezzo nella trionfale stagione dei toscani 2003/04. Fioretti, che al «R! occo» si è visto spesso negli ultimi anni, sabato ci arriverà da avversario, visto che adesso ricopre la carica di direttore generale del Gallipoli. Un incarico che Fioretti ha assunto a dieci giorni dal via del campionato, quando la società pugliese è passata nelle mani di un gruppo di imprenditori friulani con a capo Daniele D'Odorico. Ma Fioretti, da grande conoscitore del mondo del calcio, è riuscito a mettere su una squadra in pochissimo tempo.Fioretti, è rimasto sorpreso dalla crisi della Triestina?«Anche se era partita bene poi ha avuto una serie di risultati negativi, ma in B sono cose che possono capitare. In realtà io continuo a ritenerla una buona squadra, anzi una compagine forte che può ambire in alto. A mio parere ci sono le qualità tecniche per arrivare anche ai play off. E poi adesso ha cambiato anche allenatore».A proposito, lei Somma lo conosce bene, vero?«Certo, l'avevo portato io ad Arezzo per quel campionato di serie C che dominammo battendo tanti recor! d. E' un tecnico bravo, ricco di grinta e di temperamento, che! può dar e sicuramente slancio a tutto l'ambiente».Quindi crede che con lui la Triestina potrà risalire?«Certo. Guardate, se c'è qualche problema, la squadra ve la mette a posto lui e ve la porta in alto».Ma è vero che c'è anche il suo zampino nell'approdo di Somma a Trieste?«Semplicemente mi hanno chiesto un parere visto che lo conoscevo bene, e io ho dato un parere positivo molto convinto. Ripeto, secondo me è un allenatore molto bravo che a Trieste farà bene».Come ha fatto a costruire in poco tempo questo Gallipoli?«In pratica è stata costruito in tre giorni, e con questo presupposto va detto che se quest'anno ci salviamo sarà davvero un miracolo. E' stato difficile, basti pensare che quando siamo andati in ritiro i giocatori della rosa erano soltanto tre».Però la squadra non è partita male nelle prime giornate.«Sì, ma poteva andare molto meglio, in realtà abbiamo buttato via qualche punto di troppo. Per ora stiamo andando avanti con la poca preparazione che si è potuta fare prima! del via, ma il campionato è lungo e difficile. Siamo ancora una squadra da registrare, ma il mister Giannini è molto bravo e poi c'è soprattutto un bel gruppo di giocatori molto unito. Speriamo bene, cerchiamo di fare del nostro meglio».
IL TECNICO ALABARDATO È SODDISFATTO MA AMMETTE LE DIFFICOLTÀ
Di Pasquale Campanella
Fonte: forum triestina
Somma: «Vittoria che porta serenità»
«I pugliesi nel secondo tempo hanno giocato bene. Per il futuro possiamo contare su Hottor»
TRIESTE La missione è compiuta, anche se non è stata proprio una passeggiata.Ma il nuovo tecnico della Triestina Mario Somma è uomo troppo navigato di calcio per non sapere che in certi momenti contano soprattutto i risultati, e che contro il Gallipoli la cosa fondamentale era trova! re i tre punti.«In serie B non esistono partite o avversari facili - afferma il tecnico - basta guardare i risultati delle altre partite. Il Gallipoli è una squadra che sa giocare a calcio, è nella cultura del suo mister, per cui sapevamo che non sarebbe stato facile. Ci hanno messo un po' in difficoltà a metà ripresa, poi l'inserimento di Gorgone ha dato equilibrio alla squadra. Ma in generale direi che abbiamo rischiato il giusto, e abbiamo anche avuto occasioni nella ripresa per chiudere la partita».Certamente l'inizio match ha subito riservato un brutto scherzetto al nuovo tecnico alabardato, che si è visto subito privato di Princivalli in un settore già falcidiato dagli infortuni: «Perdere subito il capitano non è stato facile, soprattutto considerando il fatto che avevo due o tre giocatori che non sapevo se avrebbero retto come intensità fino alla fine, cosa che mi ha anche bloccato sui cambi. Magari, potendo inserire prima qualche giocatore più adatto al contropiede,! avremmo potuto sfruttare meglio gli spazi a disposizione».All! o stesso tempo, l'infortunio di Princivalli ha dato spazio a Hottor. E Somma è rimasto più che soddisfatto della prova del sedicenne ghanese: «Sono sicuro che questo giocatore ha un grande futuro davanti a sé, in Italia un 1993 così non c'è. Ha giocato come un veterano, vedendo la partita nessuno avrebbe detto che è così giovane. E' vero che il suo utilizzo è frutto di una serie di coincidenze, ovvero gli infortuni di Princivalli, Pani e Gissi e la condizione ancora precaria di Gorgone, ma di certo per il futuro possiamo contare anche su di lui. Ha recuperato una marea di palloni, e se ha commesso qualche errore è solo per inesperienza. Davvero un grande in bocca al lupo per la sua carriera». Sul momento di difficoltà vissuto nella ripresa, Somma rende onore anche al Gallipoli: «Loro a un certo punto hanno rischiato, hanno alzato il baricentro e scoperto un po' la difesa. E in effetti qualcosa abbiamo rischiato. Poi inserendo Gorgone ho scelto un assetto ad albero di Natale, con Hot! tor, Gorgone e Cossu davanti alla difesa e Tabbiani e Sedivec dietro a Godeas. Questo ci ha protetto maggiormente dalle palle filtranti». Qualche errore di troppo nella manovra c'è stato, ma il tecnico lo spiega anche con i tanti assenti: «I nostri giocatori a gestire il possesso palla erano Cossu, Hottor e Tabbiani, oltre a Volpe e Sedivec. C'era un certo tipo di caratteristiche in campo, ma ovviamente nella padronanza del palleggio con Gorgone, Princivalli e Testini la musica cambia. Comunque è presto, inutile chiedermi adesso quanto siamo ancora lontani dalla Triestina ideale. L'importante è aver vinto, perché sono i risultati a portare serenità».
Juventus, la Champions per uscire dalla crisi
di Dario Rosella
Fonte: eurosport.com
L'ottava giornata di campionato non può che aver lasciato un velo di delusione tra i tifosi bianconeri: questa juventus non gira e la partita con la Fiorentina ha confermato il sentimento espresso qualche giorno fa dall'azionista di riferimento bianconero John Elkann. Il gioco è assente, le ambizioni ridimensionate, l'Inter è più lontana di quanto dicano i quattro punti di distacco. E allora l'appuntamento con la Champions League non può che ridare linfa a una situazione che sta diventando difficile.
CURA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Ora si aspetta il Maccabi Haifa, squadra contro cui la squadra di Ferrara vuole centrare una vittoria che sarebbe fondamentale. Innanzitutto per portare a casa tre punti d'oro per la rincorsa agli ottavi di coppa, ma anche per mettere fine a un periodo particolare, in cui il successo manca da cinque gare ufficiali.
CHIELLO, SERVE LA SVOLTA - Una situazione che, in parte, ricorda quella di un anno fa. Almeno nella testa di Giorgio Chiellini: "Anche allora eravamo in un periodo particolare. In campionato le cose andavano peggio perché avevamo già subito due sconfitte ed eravamo più indietro in classifica. Inoltre eravamo in emergenza a causa dei tanti infortuni. La vittoria sul Real Madrid per noi rappresentò ! la svolt a e subito dopo centrammo una serie di vittorie che ci rilanciarono. Dovrà essere così anche questa volta".
COME CON IL REAL - Dal Real al Maccabi. Gli israeliani non avranno il potenziale degli spagnoli, ma sono avversari da affrontare con la necessaria concentrazione. Chiellini sa quali sono le insidie principali: "Mercoledì dovremo giocare con la stessa intensità messa un anno fa contro il Real. Questa partita e quella successiva a Tel Aviv per noi sono da vincere a tutti i costi per poter arrivare al meglio alle ultime due gare del girone. Del Maccabi non sappiamo molto, personalmente conosco l'attaccante Dvalishvili, perché l'ho affrontato un mese fa in Nazionale contro la Georgia. Si tratta di una squadra da rispettare anche per quello che ha fatto contro Bayern Monaco e Bordeaux, quando è stata battuta solo nel finale".
ARBITRO - Sarà il portoghese Olegario Manuel Bartolo Faustino Benquerenca ad arbitrare la gara Juventus-Maccabi Haifa, v! alida per la terza giornata del girone A di Champions League in programma mercoledì sera. I suoi collaboratori saranno Bertino Cunha Miranda e Joao Ferreira Dos Santos, mentre il quarto uomo è Artur Manuel Ribeiro Soares Dias, tutti portoghesi.
#050 Highlights della 23a di Serie A
Come è cambiata oggi la classifica negli ultimi minuti: quando i tifosi stanno già pensando all'ennesima delusione o sono sicuri del risultato ottenuto, basta un guizzo, una punizione per invertire le sorti del match. Scopriamo allora come è cambiato il volto della giornata attraverso i dieci match in programma nel fine settimana
Lecce - Inter 0-3: La capolista incrementa il suo vantaggio sulle inseguitrici con una prestazione abbastanza convincente al Via del Mare. Il Lecce scende in campo con l'atteggiamento giusto e impensierisce Julio Cesar ripetutamente. Qualche brivido nella difesa salentina porta però il bottino pieno agli uomini di Mourinho che lascia la Puglia con qualche polemica arbitrale di troppo.
Milan - Reggina 1-1: I rossoneri, forse distratti dall'affare Beckham sbattono il volto sul muro calabrese edificato dagli uomini di Orlandi che strappano un punto fondamentale! a San Siro. Serve l'ex Di Gennaro per il vantaggio reggino, serve un rigore di Kakà per un pareggio che denota le debolezze degli uomini di Ancelotti e della sua difesa. E l'infortunio del marcatore brasiliano sembra l'ennesima tegola.
Cagliari - Atalanta 0-1: I bergamaschi non vincevano al Sant'Elia da quando le immagini erano in bianco e nero. Grazie alla giusta convinzione fanno bottino pieno nell'isola grazie a un tiro da fuori di Cigarini deviato dalla difesa. Gli uomini di Allegri fin dall' inizio sembrano arrendevoli e la giornata no di molti rovina il sonno ai tifosi sardi.
Catania - Juventus 1-2: Dopo due sconfitte consecutive, gli uomini di Ranieri riprendono con l'orgoglio il secondo posto della graduatoria a spese di un Catania sfortunato e con qualche torto arbitrale di troppo. Per i bianconeri, in dieci per quasi tutto il match, sono tre punti anti-crisi, per il Catania l'ennesima punizione eccessiva in questa ! fase di forte rallentamento.
Fiorentina - Lazio! 1-0: Una delle migliori partite del campionato. Occasioni da ambo le parti e portieri in grande spolvero. Frey è il migliore in campo a sancire come il finale sia bugiardo. Serve il solito Gilardino di rapina per permettere a Prandelli & co. di riprendersi in zona Cesarini l'ultimo posto Champions.
Roma - Genoa 3-0: Sotto il cupolone la squadra di Spalletti sembra rinata: stende il Genoa e si avvicina alle zone che contano. Vantaggio di uno sfortunato Cicinho che poco dopo la marcatura deve uscire per infortunio. Il Genoa sembra nervoso e in giornata no, ma guai a dichiararlo spacciato per il quarto posto.
Sampdoria - Siena 2-2: La squadra di Mazzarri fa e disfa la vittoria. Vantaggio senese in modalità dubbia, pareggio di Bellucci e vantaggio blucerchiato di Pazzini su magia di Cassano. Dopo il vantaggio la luce si spegne sulla squadra di Genova e il Siena giunge al pareggio e rischia di fare il colpo grosso a Marassi, ! più per demerito sampdoriano che per meriti propri.
Torino - Chievo Vr. 1-1: Partita della disperazione all' Olimpico: primo tempo brutto; nel secondo entra Ventola e i granata cambiano faccia e giungono al vantaggio dell' ex centravanti dell' Inter. Ma la gioia di Novellino dura poco a causa dell'ennesima bomba da fuori di Italiano. Che dire: la nostra squadra sembra aver paura di vincere e la classifica in coda piange sempre di più.
Udinese - Bologna 1-0: Vittoria nel recupero per i friulani che con questi tre punti mettono la parola fine alla lunga crisi grazie al talentino Sanchez. Per i bolognesi una punizione eccessiva rispetto alla prestazione anche se, escluso Di Vaio, la squadra appare troppo sterile davanti.
Palermo - Napoli 2-1: Il Napoli non entra in campo nel primo quarto di partita e con un Miccoli super il Palermo trova il doppio vantaggio. La partita è bruttina e nemmeno Hamsik la rianim! a. Per il Napoli è crisi nera e De Laurentis comincia a pensar! e come m odificare la rotta dei partenopei.
#144 Monografie 9: Carlo Verna
Carlo Verna è nato a Napoli il 16 Marzo 1958.Ha compiuto studi classici, diplomandosi presso il Liceo Classico Genovesi di Napoli con il massimo dei voti.
Nel 1981 si è laureato in Giurisprudenza all'Università Federico II, con la votazione di 110 e lode.
E' giornalista RAI per la sede regionale della Campania.
Si occupa in particolare di sport, ma al tempo stesso è anche conduttore del telegiornale regionale della Campania.
E' una delle voci di "Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto" e segue dagli inizi degli anni '90 per il Giornale Radio Rai anche i Campiona! ti Mondiale ed Europei di nuoto, pallanuoto, tuffi e nuoto sincronizzato.
In televisione nella prima metà degli anni novanta ha condotto la rubrica "C siamo", rotocalco del lunedì pomeriggio di Raitre, dedicato alla Serie C di calcio.
E' attualmente segretario dell'Usigrai, sindacato dei giornalisti Rai.
Cari amici, questa settimana siamo tornati a raccontare la vita di una voce del presente di RadioRai, ma la rubrica "Monografie......" tornerà sabato prossimo con la vita di un altro famoso radicronista del passato. Buon fine settimana a tutti.
Addio o arrivederci?
Questi sono i saluti di Alfredo Provenzali per la fine della stagione.
Con un dubbio. E' un addio o un arrivederci? Il 23 Agosto !
Certo che nella parte finale sembrava commosso!
Rassegna Stampa - Dal Foglio
Nasce oggi una nuova rubrica di TiCB.
O meglio riuniamo in un unica etichetta tutti gli articoli di giornale e trovati on-line, riguardo la nostra trasmissione preferita.
Cominciamo dall' articolo segnalato da Eva Lenti e apparso ieri sul Foglio
Senti chi palla
Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto compie 50 anni e i suoi cronisti ci spiegano perché la trasmissione è diventata la ventunesima squadra della Serie A
Buon pomeriggio gentili ascoltatori, e ben trovati all'appuntamento con Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto". Sulle note dell'ormai celebre "A taste of honey" di Herb Alpert e con l'inconfondibile voce di Alfredo Provenzali domenica scorsa è ricominciato il campionato di calcio di serie A insieme con la trasmissione radiofonica che più di ogni altra lo racconta. Specie quest'anno che festeggia l'edizione numero cinquanta. "Tutto il calcio minuto per minuto" va in onda dagli studi di Saxa Rubra della Rai qualche minuto prima del fischio d'inizio delle partite e anche quest'anno a raccontarla saranno le voci dei radiocronisti che accompagnano i pomeriggi degli italiani. Impossibile dimenticare le radioline attaccate all'orecchio durante le domeniche pomeriggio con quelle voci che descrivevano le azioni in campo. In mezzo secolo è cambiata l'Italia, "Tutto il calcio" è rimasto pressoché lo stesso. La f! ormula creata da Sergio Zavoli Guglielmo Moretti e Roberto Bor! toluzzi resta ancora attuale. A dimostrazione che la radio moderna è capace ancora oggi di rispondere all'attento pubblico sportivo.Quando è andata in onda per la prima volta il 10 gennaio 1960, la trasmissione commentava solo i secondi tempo delle partite perché la Lega calcio temeva che la trasmissione rubasse troppi spettatori agli stadi. Addirittura nelle ultime quattro o cinque giornate di campionato, la radio ammutoliva proprio per non raccontare gli ultimi concitati momenti di gioco in campo. Erano gli anni d'oro di Roberto Bortoluzzi, Sandro Ciotti e Enrico Ameri che da dietro i microfoni facevano trattenere il fiato agli spettatori. La radio era l'unico mezzo alternativo alla presenza nello stadio e Radio Uno faceva ascolto pazzeschi, forse ora inimmaginabili. "Era il mezzo più importante per comunicare con i tifosi", racconta Riccardo Cucchi, caporedattore dello sport del Giornale Radio Rai e prima voce della trasmissione che ha preso il testimone di Ameri, Ciotti e ! di tutti i grandi radiocronisti che lo hanno preceduto.
Già, Ameri e Ciotti. Erano le voci simbolo della trasmissione. Leggendarie le loro partite infinite a scopone scientifico. "Erano giocatori appassionati – ricorda Cucchi – e capitava che si ritrovassero a sfidare alcuni giocatori la sera prima delle partite, mentre si stava tutti insieme al ritiro delle squadre". Magari battibeccavano tra di loro, non mancava la rivalità soprattutto quando c'era di mezzo un mazzo con 40 carte, ma sempre nel rispetto delle loro professionalità.
Quel 10 gennaio 1960 Cucchi era davanti a una radio e come molti ascoltava rapito le radiocronache: "Ho assistito alla prima puntata e ne ero incantato. La radio per me è stata una scoperta da bambino, racconta più della tivù, era magica. Tutta la mia gioventù è trascorsa con accanto una radio". Così quando per Natale gli è stato regalato un registratore a nastro, come non se ne fanno più, ha iniziato a inventare le sue personali ! radiocronache: "Registravo, mi riascoltavo, cronometravo e cer! cavo di rispettare i tempi. Insomma, imitavo quello che sentivo fare dai radiocronisti veri". Sei anni dopo l'esordio, la trasmissione era già molto popolare. Alfredo Provenzali era uno studente d'Ingegneria navale a Genova, sua città natale. Il suo approdo al mondo della radio è stato meno scontato di quanto s'immagini: "Un giorno ho incontrato un amico che faceva il collaboratore a Radio Rai che mi chiese se volevo provare anch'io. Ho accettato e da quel momento è cambiata la mia vita". Così è diventato prima un radiocronista, con una predilezione per la sua squadra, la Sampdoria, poi è passato alla conduzione della trasmissione. Un ruolo, il suo, determinante per organizzare la scaletta degli interventi dai campi e gestire i radiocronisti. Accompagna i pomeriggi degli italiani che ancora scelgono la radio, il genovese di Sampierdarena che da quarant'anni è al microfono della trasmissione. Come lui stesso spiega "è necessario avere sempre paura durante la diretta, non solo per i c! olleghi ma soprattutto perché ci sono migliaia di ascoltatori che meritano il meglio".
La parte più complicata senza dubbio nel raccontare una partita è riuscire a ricostruire le azioni in diretta. "Raccontiamo dov'è il pallone, cosa che in tv non è necessaria – spiega Cucchi –. La radio ha i tempi serrati, l'importante è non prevenire, limitarsi ad osservare attentamente e descrivere il gioco in campo. Altrimenti si perde la bellezza del momento". "Raccontiamo in diretta lo sport più imprevedibile con una formula di successo" gli fa eco Provenzali.
Il linguaggio della radio, si sa, è fondamentale. Il "noi" con il quale i radiocronisti si rivolgono ancora oggi agli ascoltatori è stato usato dai grandi e si mantiene tutt'ora perché aiuta a fare un passo indietro, essere meno protagonisti e più rispettosi nei confronti dell'ascoltatore. In fondo, come sostiene Cucchi, il radiocronista è "il tramite dell'evento". Alcune espressioni di Ciotti, come "gli spalti a! l limite della capienza" o "giornata calda, ventilazione inapp! rezzabil e, terreno perfettamente agibile", "clamoroso al Cibali!" sono entrate nella storia.
"Per dare un ritmo più serrato alla trasmissione, cerchiamo di attenerci a collegamenti brevi e ben ritmati. Seguiamo sette campi di serie A. Bene, il giro degli aggiornamenti dura al massimo cinque minuti, il che significa anche ciascuno ha a disposizione al massimo 40-60 secondi per descrivere l'azione. Il ritmo della trasmissione è fondamentale, bisogna essere veloci e brevi. Dobbiamo fornire i risultati agli ascoltatori che magari sono distratti da altro o restano sintonizzati solo per poco tempo". Questo è il segreto per Cucchi per rendere tutte le radiocronache diverse, senza sovrastrutture: "Dobbiamo rendere il momento di gioco, non il nostro stile di giornalismo. Poi è naturale che ognuno ne abbia uno, ma eliminare le interpretazioni forzate regala più emozione". Un tempismo, quello radiofonico, fatto di istanti e secondi, dove il tempo è un metro di giudizio inesorabile per i c! alciatori in campo e i radiocronisti in tribuna.
"Ancora oggi ricordo sempre i loro insegnamenti e cerco di trasmetterli. Abbiamo avuto la fortuna di avere una grande scuola alle nostre spalle. In un pezzo di un minuto ho la capacità di sentire il tempo, non so spiegare come funziona ma è come se la mia testa registrasse e contasse i secondi per me".
Un'abitudine particolare che caratterizza la trasmissione è anche quella di descrivere la divisa delle squadre a inizio partita. Cucchi la spiega: "E' una scelta che deriva da una lettera che ho ricevuto tempo fa. Un ascoltatore non vedente mi fece notare che la descrizione dell'abbigliamento era un particolare in più che poteva essere importante per chi non vede la partita". Oggi è ancora più importante perché ogni squadra ha più d'una divisa ufficiale. "Diamo un elemento in più per chi ci ascolta. Serve veramente a tutti, in fondo neppure noi sappiamo mai con quelle maglietta andranno in campo i giocatori".
Dietro ogni radiocronista c'è comunque una appassionato che segue il calcio e com'è naturale ha le proprie simpatie. Cucchi spiega che "il tifo passa in secondo piano, un po' perché è necessario essere imparziali per fare al meglio il nostro lavoro", poi subentra la routine delle partite. "Seguire il calcio è sempre emozionante, il tifo vero ! tende a scemare col tempo. All'inizio di sicuro è difficile camuffare una propensione, anche se è un dovere che è implicito e imposto per il bene di chi ascolta. Poi i colori della squadra del cuore tendono a sbiadire un po' e resta solo l'amore per il calcio. Oltre quello per la Nazionale".
Sono le difficoltà delle prime radiocronache a non affievolirsi nella memoria. "Una delle prime partite che ho seguito è stata a Pisa. Improvvisamente, chissà perché, dissi Livorno invece che Pisa. Errore imperdonabile, le due città e le due tifoserie si odiano da sempre così i tifosi sugli spalti protestarono rumorosamente. Persi completamente il filo e a quel punto continuai imperterrito a chiamare il Pisa Livorno. Questo episodio ha fatto sì che dalla domenica successiva mi presentassi sempre allo stadio con un pezzo di carta dove c'era scritto il nome delle squadre in campo".
Anche Cucchi ricorda l'emozione delle prime radiocronache: "Seguivo muto gli altri e temevo ! di doverli interrompere per dare l'aggiornamento del risultato! . Sapeva mo come essere rapidi perché Moretti e Ciotti ci avevano insegnato come inserirci al momento giusti, ma intervenire sui colleghi più esperti non era mai piacevole". Dopo tanti minuti di gioco raccontati e spiegati nel modo migliore, se si perde il tifo, resta l'emozione. "La partita che ricordo con più affetto – precisa Provenzali – è quella che non ho visto. Durante i campionati di Messico del '70 dopo aver seguito la semifinale Italia Germania, la finalissima Italia Brasile sarebbe stata commentata da Ameri e Ciotti. Guglielmo Moretti aveva ottenuto la possibilità per me e un tecnico di nasconderci negli spogliatoi dell'Italia. Siamo entrati nello stadio Atzeca all'alba, quando era ancora vuoto. Ci eravamo portati dietro qualche libro per ingannare l'attesa e dei panini. Siamo rimasti nascosti fino alla fine della partita. Sentivamo i rumori dal campo i boati ed è stato ancora il ricordo più emozionante".
Per Cucchi il ricordo migliore è invece legato alla notte del 9! luglio all'Olympiastadion di Berlino. Un altro Mondiale, ma soprattutto un altro risultato. "Ho avuto la fortuna di brindare ai campioni del mondo nel 2006, e non finirò mai di dire che è stata la giornata più bella della mia carriera. Innanzitutto perché oltre a me solo Niccolò Carosio ed Enrico Ameri lo avevano fatto. Nei giorni precedenti alla partita, ho pensato spesso a cosa avrei potuto dire, prendevo appunti e cercavo di immaginare quel momento. Poi, ho capito che quella ricerca avrebbe rovinato la bellezza del momento che altri grandi come Ciotti non hanno mai avuto la possibilità di raccontare. Quando Fabio Grosso ha segnato l'ultimo calcio di rigore, nei pochi momenti in cui la lucidità sembrava smarrirsi è stato spontaneo per me ripetere quattro volte "Campioni del mondo" sulla falsa riga di quello che aveva fatto in televisione Nando Martellini".
Dunque a distanza di tempo e parecchie partite dopo "Tutto il calcio" resta il compagno di molti italiani! . "I festeggiamenti – spiega Cucchi – sono iniziati in parte l! 'anno sc orso. Durate 'Zona Cesarini' (altra trasmissione storica della radio) abbiamo chiesto agli ascoltatori cosa pensassero e di scriverci i loro ricordi di tutto il calcio. Le risposte sono state tante, il nostro è un pubblico eterogeneo e giovane". Alcuni appassionati più accaniti di "Tutto il calcio" si sono divertiti ad associare le voci dei radiocronisti preferiti alle immagini della partita e hanno messo l'inedita accoppiata video-radio su YouTube. "Danno alla radio quello che manca, le immagini. La bellezza della radiocronaca si completa con l'estro di questi anonimi tifosi" commenta Cucchi.
Il compleanno vero e proprio di "Tutto il calcio" è fissato quindi per il 10 gennaio 2010, che come mezzo secolo fa cade proprio di domenica e sarà festeggiato nel modo migliore: con le cronache dai campi delle partite. La forza della voce e delle onde medie non è stata scalfita neppure dalle diverse tecnologie che propongono mille modi diversi di seguire il pallone. Mezzo secolo ! di calcio e non dimostrarlo. "C'è anche una 21esima squadra che nel massimo torneo è presente da 50 anni, non ambisce a scudetti ma vuole continuare ad esserci perché ci siete voi, gentili radio ascoltatori con l'attaccamento più da amici che da tifosi della trasmissione". Così ha presentato la trasmissione Provenzali domenica scorsa. Tanto lavoro appassionato e infaticabile non può che conquistare al primo ascolto. E la magia si perpetua di nuovo, giornata dopo giornata.
di Marianna Venturini
© 2009 - FOGLIO QUOTIDIANO
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)