The Roundup; Roberts, the Cubs Deal & The Orioles...

Based on all of the chatter I've been reading, the Cubs have anted up the deal and it's now up to the Orioles to bite.

I've wondered what it's been like for Brian Roberts, as although he's a professional athlete, as he's surely not a robot and all the talk must wear on him.

Read this little excerpt from USA Today:

"The way things are going right now, it may sound funny, but I even looked at opening day. I haven't given a thought of what it would be like in another place or here," he said. "I've always tried to live for today. I'm here right now f! or a reason and I'm going to make the best of every day I have here."

also...

"If this is the first time, it's probably more difficult. I had two or three years with the Cubs that every time it got near the trading deadline, or even in spring training, I was getting traded to Cleveland or Cincinnati," Orioles right-hander Steve Trachsel said. "The first year it kind of shook me up a little bit, but the more it happens, the more you get used to it."

and...

Before the Orioles committed to this rebuilding project, Roberts was considered the cornerstone of the team's future. Now, it appears several other clubs want him to be a key component of their present. Every time he plays an exhibition game, Roberts does so in front of a handful of scouts surveying his every move.

"We joke with him, like when he steals a base, 'The Cubs are watching!"' Millar said. "You don't know what's going on behind the scenes or who they're askin! g for, but you know it's out there."

Roberts insist! s that o nce he walks onto the field, his lone purpose is to get ready for opening day. Impressing the scouts doesn't enter into the equation.

"I have a baseball card. They can go look at it if they want to know what I can do," he said. "I'm pretty sure the scouts have seen me before. I've had scouts watching me since I was 16 years old, so I'm not all that concerned about a scout in the stands. That's just too much to worry about."

I think he might have told us more than he wanted to; alas, although he tries to ignore the talk, it's on his mind. Whatever happens, despite the Mitchell report, he'll be seen as a class act amongst fans and anyone who's run across him.

I think Brian is being as honest as he possibly can be without telling the masses how he really feels.

If he does get a chance with the Cubs, he'll be on a winning team and play for a chance at the World Series -- a goal of anybody who was ever gotten a chance to wear a u! niform in the pros.

MASN's Anita Marks has kept a log of her thoughts on the Baltimore Orioles down in Ft. Lauderdale while she's been down there this week. I will admit, I have been a little hard on her at times, but she's done good work down there and has allowed fans to hear a few things from the players that most would not have gotten otherwise.

Yes, baseball was played today and the Orioles lost to the powerful Red Sox, 7-4.

It looks like Garrett Olson has had a good camp based on his results so far and he's hoping for the fifth spot in the rotation; the young pitchers have had help in camp from former Oriole legends, Mike Cuellar, Scott McGregor, BJ Surho! ff and Rick Dempsey.

Seeing the old-school legends ! out ther e is real nice to see, especially with such a young staff. Roch Kubatko has a story on this in today's Sun. On that front, Dave Trembley is trying to also woo back former Orioles Brooks Robinson and Cal Ripken; however, Robinson has more or less declined at this time, while Cal is open to the idea.

Meanwhile, with the injuries to some members of the team and a thin pitching staff to begin with, there's cause for a little concern with the status of Loewen and the season-ending drama with Troy Patton.

Jamie Walker is touting his vintage ride in camp, Randor Beird is heating it up in camp, & Mores is playing like a man with a renewed sense of optimism; Finally, Nestor Aparicio has a few stories on Rick Sutcliffe, former Oriole and currently battling cancer.

Win A Trip To The 2008 MLB® All-Star Week Through State Farm & Perhaps Make History With David Ortiz Before the Home Run Derby!

Babe Ruth's mythical "called shot" in the World Series many generations ago added to the folklore and history of this wonderful game & you can perhaps become part of legend as slugger David "Big Papi" Ortiz hopes to do the same!

You could win a dream trip to the 2008 MLB^® All-Star Week^TM, then stand at home plate and Call Big Papi's shot before the State Farm Home Run Derby^® for a chance at a Chevy Tahoe hybrid.

Fans can enter the promotion daily through June! 24 at www.sfCallYourShot.com/2008. The grand prize winner of Call Your Shot will stand beside famed baseball slugger David "Big Papi" Ortiz during the State Farm Home Run Derby and call the home run location of a single delivery for Ortiz. The winner will also receive:

* All-expense paid trip for four to the All-Star Game and State Farm Home Run Derby
* First class hotel accommodations in New York
* Tickets to a Broadway show
* $1,000 MasterCard gift card

Additionally, 10 fans will win first place prizes consisting of a $300 MLB.com gift card and 25 second prize ! winners will receive $100 MLB.com gift cards.

Photo Gallery: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, Game Two; Sep. 24th, 2008

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles, Game Two; Sep. 24, 2008

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The Juice -- O.J. Simpson -- Squeezed, Pathetic and Broken...

After he was found not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, why did not lay low at all? He was not a childhood hero of mine growing up, but I remember he sort of was the All-American male -- however, in reality, it might have been anything but the case.

Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nevada, O.J. Simpson was sentenced to a minimum of 9 years -- a maximum of 33 -- for his role in a September 2007 incident that took place in a Las Vegas hotel room in which he robbed a pair of memorabilia dealers of merchandise that belonged to him at one time.

From MSNBC: Mom! ents before, Simpson made a rambling, five-minute plea for leniency, simultaneously apologizing for the holdup as a foolish mistake and trying to justify his actions.

He choked back tears as he told her: "I didn't want to steal anything from anyone. ... I'm sorry, sorry."

The judge said several times that her sentence in the Las Vegas case had nothing to do with Simpson's 1995 acquittal in the slaying of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

"I'm not here to try and cause any retribution or any payback for anything else," Glass said.

Was this justice delayed? Payback? Who knows? I won't miss him, and nor will lot of lot Americans. I still remember the day he was accused of the murder, and the infamous chase down the L.A. Freeway. Just to think -- he could be potentially spending his twilight years in a jail cell.

It's just pathetic that this man had it all, a family, riches, fame, adulation ! -- many felt he got away with murder -- and pissed it all away! .
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Uehera & The Orioles, Ravens/Steelers and Barack Obama...

The big news out of Birdland yesterday was the introduction of Koji Uehara to the masses. Again, it lookes to be quite a scene and here's a rundown of all the media reports from the big event yesterday...

• The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec pens a lengthy piece on the press conference yesterday.
• Dan Connolly thinks that the Orioles have made a good initial attempt in breaking into Japan by acquiring Uehara, but will need to do! more...
• Meanwhile, George Sherrill gives his thoughts on the Japanese media and Uehara.
• Sun columnist Peter Schmuck gives his thoughts on yesterday, and the Orioles.com Spencer Fordin also has a report. He also reports that the signing of Uehara might be the last arm the Orioles get on the market, and they may trot out all other pitchers on the roster to patch together a rotation.
  
• MASN's Steve Melewski also comm! ents on the press conference, as does Kate Wheeler, and Roch Kubatko.
  
• Tony Pente of the Orioles Hangout likes the move for Uehara.

>>> Read More

The A-Rod Tale Gets More Bizzare: He Calls Up Serena Roberts to Apologize...

I can only imagine what Tuesday will be like in Tampa -- the home of the Yankees' Spring Training Camp -- however, today it was released that Alex Rodriguez decided to apologize to Selena Roberts last week.

For those of you who may have already forgot, Ms. Roberts was the reporter who outed A-Rod on his positive drug test in 2003. Now, I know America appreciates apologies -- but then again, what made Rodriguez go after Roberts in the first place during his interview with Peter Gammons, accusing her of misdeeds and stalking, only to be disproven by the authorities. Well, I am sensing A-Rod has a problem with the truth...

>>> Read More

Opening Day and Mark Teixiera

As we all know, Opening Day is Monday afternoon at Camden Yards against the Evil Empire, aka the New York Yankees. Well, I am in the camp that Opening Day seems a tad over-rated, and perhaps corny, but it makes the official start of Spring in my eyes, and also lets me know that warmer days are ahead. In addition, there's nearly six month plus worth of baseball to watch, and I'll be there -- god-willing -- through the good, the bad and perhaps the ugly in 2009.

Yes, Baltimore will more than likely have their 12th losing season in a row in 2009, but I'm looking to seeing mainstays Brian Roberts, Jeremy Guthrie, Melvin Mora and Nick Markakis in the lineup, but also the return of Chris Ray, and also the development of Adam Jones and Felix Pie. I'll probably catch some minor leagues at Bowie, and may take the ride up I-270 to Frederick to catch a game or two.

>>> Read More

Talking Baseball and the O's on Capitol Hill...

The Baltimore Orioles may have not have gotten a lot of respect in the past decade because of their win-loss record; however, the team and their immaculate home -- Oriole Park at Camden Yards -- became a topic of conversation during the sometimes-heated-but-done-for-show Sonia Sotomayor hearings in Washington D.C. to become the nect Supreme Court justice.

A transcript:

Cardin: "You are a hero to the Baltimore baseball fans. Let me explain. [During] the Major League Baseball strike [of 1994-95], you allowed the season to continue [without the use of replacement players] so Cal Ripken could become the Iron Man of baseall in September 1995. We just want to invite you, as a baseball fan, to an Oriole game, and we promise it will not be when the Yankees are playing, so you can root for the Baltimore Orioles."

>>> Read More

Avery's 2nd AHL Game & Other News

Here's a little reporting by Bruce Berlet of the Hartford Wolf Pack website regarding Sean Avery's second game in the AHL, in which Hartford played Bridgeport last night:

Avery said he felt better than in his Wolf Pack debut Saturday night.

"As far as battles go and getting hits, it was better on the lungs than in the first game, so I'm happy about that," said Avery, who had two shots and was on the ice for the only goal. "They were coming at me from the start of the game, and I was a little quiet, which takes a little away from my game. Then I started to give back a little of what I was getting, which makes me play better.

"I'm targeted, but I know I did it eight years ago. They're all trying to get to the next level, so they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't go after me. I'm not too happy about the loss, but I feel better for sure."

Sounds like the 'old' Sean is already back – good to hear!

In other news:

• The NHL today announced! that th e Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers will open the 2009-2010 NHL regular season in Europe. The Blackhawks and Panthers will play home-and-home games Friday, Oct. 2, and Saturday, Oct. 3, in Helsinki, Finland, at Hartwall Areena. On those same dates, the Red Wings and Blues will play a home-and-home series at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
  
  
• Lots of rumors coming out of Montreal that Alexei Kovalev will be traded by Bob Gainey before the trade deadline. Kovalev who didn't travel with the team last night to Washington and will not be in the lineup against the Penguins was told by Gainey to stay away from the team for a few days.

Ray Emery's Hummer Impounded, Death Threats in Columbus & More!

• Great story out of Columbus, where the Blue Jackets 'signed' a one-day contract with a 19 year old former hockey player who is terminally ill with cancer. Real classy thing for Scott Howson and the Blue Jacket organization to do. [Link]
  
  
• Ray Emery is back in Ottawa and terrorizing the streets again! This time, his Hummer was impounded and he's had his license suspended for a whole week. [Link]
  
  
• Anyone who is interested in college hockey should check out the TV schedule that was released. All games are being played exclusively on ESPN (mostly on a subsidiary called ESPNU -- that I have never even heard of). [Link]
  
  
• USA Today ranked their top 30 UFAs that will be available this summer. I think that some of the rankings are a little strange (like Tim Thomas being ranked #20). But, I think the writer was basing it more so on what players will actually leave their current teams and get a lot of hype on the open market. [Link] For a list of all of the top UFAs this summer check out the articles that I did a few weeks ago, listing the top UFAs by position. [Link]
  
  
• A Flames fan was arrested last night after their game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets because he had made several terroristic threats aimed at Columbus players, in particualr Steve Mason (who got a shutout....again!) [Link]
  
  
• Ryan Miller returns to the Sabres lineup tonight when they take on the Leafs. Unfortunately for Buffalo fans, it's probably a little too late. [Link]
  

Bobby Holik Retires

Bobby Holik today announced that he's retiring from the NHL. Holik known mostly for his time with the New Jersey Devils, also spent parts of his career playing for the Atlanta Thrashers, the New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers.

TSN announced this afternoon:

After 18 seasons in the National Hockey League, Bobby Holik's career has come to an end.

''I'm done. I'm retiring,'' he told the New York Post on Friday. ''I miss being with my family every day. I knew when the season ended, but I wanted to leave and get home first, and not make a big deal of it.

''A player is what I was. Now I'm a husband and a father.''

Short Stay In Phoenix For Nigel Dawes

Nigel Dawes goes from the desert to the freezer (when I think of Calgary I can't help but think of the movie Cool Runnings when they arrive at the airport in Calgary for the Olympics). I think that the addition of Korpikoski this week made Dawes expendable as both are left wingers. But, if the report by TSN is true that Dawes was seeking a contract for less than $1 million per year then I'm a little surprised that they didn't re-sign him.


According to TSN:

Nigel Dawes' brief stay in Phoenix has come to an end.

The 24-year old was claimed off of waivers by the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Dawes, who is a restricted free agent, was one of 20 players that filed for salary arbitration earlier this month. He was reportedly looking for a one-way deal for less than $1 million, but was instead put on waivers by the Coyotes.

Video Highlights of Rangers Win In Home Opener

Sponsors: Stubhub | RazorGator! | TicketsNow | TickCo

The ratings game.

Clunker of a start for NFL.

Overnight for Game 2 among lowest in history.

NBA to let RSNs control local digital rights.

Emrick to miss Winter Classic.

NBC sells some Super Bowl ads at a discount.

NASCAR ratings hit the skids.

Longtime Tigers broadcaster Kell dead at 86.

NHL viewership rises on Versus.

The ratings game.

The ratings game.

FOX sees bump for Week 5 NFL coverage

Big names

UN VERO UOMO...GUTI !!!!

Jelang Uruguay vs Argentina | Sepakbola Pragmatis

Jika berhasil meraih kemenangan atas Uruguay, Argentina akan memastikan tiket ke Piala Dunia tahun depan. Begitu pentingnya tiga angka dari laga tersebut sampai-sampai 'Tango' siap menerapkan sepakbola pragmatis.

Argentina akan melawat ke kandang Uruguay pada Rabu (14/10/09) waktu setempat. Ini adalah! laga penting untuk kedua tim yang sama-sama sedang berusaha meraih tiket lolos ke Afrika Selatan.

Argentina saat ini tengah berada di posisi empat, dengan poin 25, hanya unggul satu angka dari Uruguay yang berada tepat di bawahnya. Bagi Argentina jika gagal meraih kemenangan, maka situasinya akan menjadi cukup rumit karena mereka harus menggantungkan nasib pada pertandingan lain.

Sedangkan jika tim besutan Diego Maradona cs ini sampai kalah, akan membuat mereka tergeser ke zona playoff, atau malah gagal tampil di Piala Dunia.

Oleh karenanya Argentina akan berjuang mati-matian untuk meraih kemenangan di laga tersebut. Strategi apa pun siap mereka terapkan guna meraup tiga angka, termasuk memainkan sepakbola negatif.

Menurut Marti! n Palermo dalam kondisi 'darurat' seperti ini timnya tidak per! lu lagi berlama-lama membawa bola sembari melakukan atraksi-atraksi, melainkan yang paling penting adalah meraih kemenangan.

"Kami harus berpikir sederhana saja untuk memastikan kemenangan, dan tidak perlu lagi memikirkan soal gaya," tuturnya di Fifa.

"Kami harus memberikan segalanya di laga itu dan memberi Argentina kebahagiaan dengan melaju ke Piala Dunia," sambungnya.

Sedangkan untuk peluangnya bermain di laga tersebut, pemain yang menjadi penyelamat pada saat Argentina menekuk Peru 2-1 secara dramatis itu mengatakan bahwa dirinya rela menjadi cadangan demi kepentungan tim.

"Saya memimpikan kami dapat lolos, tak masalah jika saya harus berada di bangku cadangan," tuntasnya.

SPANISH CUP 2008/09: LAST 32 TEAMS - FC BARCELONA THANKS TO BOJAN

ALBERT RIERA: ANOTHER SPANIARD AT LIVERPOOL FC

FERNANDO TORRES - VIDEO AGAINST AC MILAN WITH 12 YEARS OF AGE

SPAIN EURO 2008 NEWS: ARAGONES STAYS WITH TRUSTED 11 AGAINST RUSSIA

SPANISH FOOTBALL - LA LIGA - ROUND 37/ 2008 GAMES RESULTS

SKY SPORT ASKS ENGLAND TO SUPPORT THE SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM IN EURO 2008 (SEE VIDEO)

FC BARCELONA : JOHAN CRUYFF SLAMS BARÇAs MIDFIELD

SPANISH CUP: THURSDAY MATCH RESULTS

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS WILLING TO PAY 40M FOR IKER CASILLAS

SPANISH FOOTBALL. ROUND 5 TUESDAY MID -WEEK CLASH: SEVILLA FC 2 - RCD ESPANYOL 3

REAL MADRID & FC BARCELONA TRANSFER BRIEFS

SPANISH FOOTBALL NEWS. SEVILLE FC & LUCCIN

SPANISH FOOTBALL NEWS. DAY FOR COACHES

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2008 / 2009 TUESDAY NIGHT RESULTS: REAL MADRID IS CRUSHED & VILLAREAL GO THROUGH TO QUARTERS

SPANISH FOOTBALL - LA LIGA 2008/ 09 - ROUND 31 SUNDAY GAMES RESULTS

SFS TRIBUTE TO FC BARCELONA - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, LIGA & SPANISH CUP 2008-2009

REAL MADRID: FRANCK RIBERY IS NOT ON SALE & IS IRREPLACEABLE

LIVERPOOL FC ANNOUNCE ARBELOA TRANSFER TO REAL MADRID

REAL MADRID: WHAT´S BETTER 4-2-4, 4-2-2-2 or 4-3-3?

Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-3 Real Mallorca

Barcelona Chase Gomis

Torres Desperate For Kop Glory

Madrid Internationals Back In Training

Casillas Invites Cristiano Ronaldo, Defends Ranieri

UEFA Cup Preview: Deportivo La Coruña - Feyenoord

Renan: Valencia Must Keep The Pace With Barcelona

Valencia Comeback Shocks Sevilla In Copa Del Rey

Oliveira's Debut Goal Helps Real Betis Beat Ten Man Sevilla

State may not boost healthcare premiums

Person at USTA: Clijsters sought Open wild card

14-year-old Keys makes WTA debut with win

Sharapova to play singles in Warsaw next week

Wimbledon Show Court Schedules

Puyol close to new deal

La Liga round-Up

Barcelona VS Chelsea

Barcelona VS Chelsea

Barcelona FC a! gain and again must face Chelsea FC in semi final UEFA Champions League. Two teams had been played the first leg in Nou Camp few adays and the score was 0 - 0. second leg will be held in Stamford Bridge, 3-4 days laters. Which team will be the winner, just wait ang see!

£8 million or Bridge

By Jaymes Payten-Marsh
For THBN

The new ultimatum given by the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, to Chelsea apparently says that they either pay in excess of £8 million or swap their left-back, Wayne Bridge, according to Jon Brodkin of Guardian Unlimited.

This is the first I have heard of it. I will collaborate my reports with my sources so as to give you the full terms of the ultimatum.

PSV say no to Tottenham's offer

PSV have knocked back Tottenham Hotspur in their bid to sign the Brazilian keeper, Gomes. It has been reported in several Dutch newspapers that Tottenham have bid €9 million, which equates to about £7 million.

The Eredivisie champions are said to be holding out for around €12 million (approximately £9.5 million).

Let's just hope that they can either drop their asking fee for Gomes; or we can pay what they're asking.

In our last post relating to Gomes, Spurs fans had mixed feelings about him. 50% said that they would want him to sign while the other 50% said that he was deeply over-rated as a keeper and not worth the £10 million that was being mooted at the time.

Arsenal, who are also on the lookout for a new keeper, are showing some signs of interest in him and are apparently ready to make a bid. Whether they can match the fee that PSV want, is another story.

What is most definitely true, is that Gomes will not be at! PSV next season.

First Impressions

Spurs have launched a few preliminary images of our new stadium design. What do you make of them?

Here's what our chairman had to say;

"The brief I gave the architects was to design an iconic stadium that would be one of the best in Europe.

My over-riding priority is to re-create the terrific atmosphere we have at the current stadium, within a world class stadium that offers state-of-the-art facilities.

Our fans will find themselves c! loser to the pitch than at any other comparable stadium in the UK. This design puts fan experience first."

Have your say!

Porto Pastikan Cissokho Batal Ke Milan

MILAN - Kepastian mengenai jadi tidaknya bek Aly Cissokho pindah dari Porto ke AC Milan akhirnya mendapatkan konfirmasi dari klub Portugal itu. Porto kini resmi mengumumkan kalau Cissokho gagal menjadi milik Rossoneri setelah pemain itu gagal melewati tes medis akibat adanya masalah dengan giginya.
Tadinya proses transfer pemain yang akan senilai €15 juta itu masih ditunda untuk sementara sambil menunggu diadakannya tes medis lanjutan. Sang pemain sendiri sempat menginformasikan kepada media Portugal kalau ia masih akan menandatangani kontrak dengan Milan setelah hasil! tes medis kedua menunjukkan kalau masalah giginya dapat diatasi dengan mudah.
Milan kemudian menempuh cara lain dengan berupaya meminjam pemain asal Perancis tersebut. Namun, Porto mengajukan harga yang terlalu tinggi sehingga pilihan terakhir Milan adalah menolak transfer. "Sayangnya, permintaan mereka untuk peminjaman terlalu tinggi, transfer sudah berakhir," ungkap Wakil Presiden Milan, Adriano Galliani.
Namun semuanya kini harus dilupakan setelah Porto menyatakan kalau Rossoneri memutuskan untuk membatalkan transfer tersebut yang alasannya masih berkaitan dengan tes medis.

Dengan pupusnya transfer Cissokho, Milan harus mencari pemain lain untuk posisi pertahanan mereka. Milan berencana membentuk skuad baru musim depan dengan mendatangkan pemain-pemain muda usia.

Berikut adalah pernyataan resmi Porto yang dikeluarkan kepada pasar modal Portugal:

"Porto ingin memberitahu bursa kalau perset! ujuan prinsip dengan AC Milan bagi transfer Aly Cissokho tidak! berlaku lagi, karena pemain itu tidak bisa memenuhi persyaratan dari tim medis AC Milan."

Seedorf Tolak Tawaran Mudik ke Ajax

MILAN - Clarence Seedorf nampaknya belum siap memutuskan hubungan kerjasamanya dengan AC Milan. Ini dibuktikan lewat kabar yang menyebut gelandang gaek tersebut telah menolak tawaran mantan klubnya Ajax Amsterdam yang berencana membawanya mudik ke Liga Belanda.
Dalam usia yang mencapai 33 tahun, Seedorf memang terus digosipkan bakal kembali ke Belanda untuk bermain bersama Ajax sebelum memutuskan karir sebagai pesepakbola profesional. Kubu Ajax sendiri memang tak lagi menutupi keinginannya mem! boyong Seedorf ke Amsterdam Arena, musim depan.
Sebagaimana dilaporkan Sky, Jumat (3/7/2009), kubu Rossoneri dikabarkan telah mempelajari dan menerima proposal dari Ajax untuk kemudian memberi hak penuh kepada Seedorf untuk memutuskan masa depannya. Sayang, gelandang yang sempat berkostum Inter Milan dan Real Madrid itu menolak dengan alasan ingin mengabiskan sisa dua tahun kontraknya dan mengakhiri karir bersama Rossoneri.
Loyalitas Seedorf di San Siro memang tak perlu diragukan. Beberapa waktu lalu, gelandang berdarah Suriname itu sempat dilirik Chelsea yang kini dilatih mantan allenatorenya di Milan Carlo Ancelotti. Namun, Seedorf menolak tawaran tersebut dan memilih melanjutkan karirnya di Milan. Kebebasan mengambil keputusan yang dilakukan kubu Milan memang tak lepas demi menghormati jasa Seedorf sejak berkostum Il Diavolo pada 2002 lalu.
Dalam kurun waktu tujuh tahun mengenakan kostum Merah-Hitam khas Milan, Seedorf sukses mengantar Rossoneri mengukir b! erbagai prestasi seperti trofi Liga Champions 2003 & 2007 ! serta ge lar scudetto di musim 2004 lalu.

Dinilai Kecewakan Fans Galaxy, Beckham Tolak Minta Maaf

L . A - Keputusan David Beckham untuk memperpanjang masa edarnya di Serie A Italia bersama Milan musim lalu memantik reaksi keras dari fans Los Angeles Galaxy. Oleh sebagian besar fans, Beckham tidak loyal terhadap Galaxy.
Ancaman memberikan sambutan negatif pun dilayangkan fans Galaxy atas sikapnya itu. Namun demikian, Beckham hanya memberi tanggapan dingin atas niat suporter setia LA Galaxy itu. Beckham juga menolak untuk meminta maaf atas keputusannya bertahan lebih lama di Milan yang membuat fans k! ecewa.
"Tidak, saya tidak akan melakukannya," ujar Beckham ketika ditanya mengenai kemungkinan untuk mengungkapkan permohonan maaf. "Saya rasa, seperti yang sudah kamu lihat, saya tetap berdedikasi kepada Galaxy, juga kepada fans. Saya selalu menunjukkan sikap positif dan selalu jujur dengan cara bermain saya dan ketika saya bergabung dengan Milan, saya menjelaskan kepada semua orang alasan saya melakukannya."
"Saya selalu mengatakan kepada manajer dan pemain, saya akan kembali dan mungkin satu atau dua orang tidak percaya saya, tapi pada akhirnya saya berada di sini. Saya tetap setia kepada klub dan kita lihat saja nanti di pertandingan pertama Galaxy ketika melawan Milan, apa jadinya nanti." "Tapi, saya tidak merasa harus meminta maaf, tapi saya sendiri tak tahu," tutup Beckham.

Leonardo Tuntut Tambahan Pemain

MILAN - Milan menuai lima kekalahan secara beruntun di ujicoba pra-musim mereka. Hasilnya, tak sedikit yang kemudian pesimis bisa melihat Milan sukses musim depan. Masalah ini juga menjadi perhatian tersendiri bagi Leonardo.

Pelatih Milan itu mengakui jika skuadnya butuh tambahan pemain yang lebih berkualitas untuk bisa bersaing melawan tim lain. "Skuad kami belum cukup baik untuk memenuhi komitmen yang kami punya.
Kami butuh tambahan pemain baru," tegas Leonardo seperti dikutip AFP. Sejak ditinggalkan Kaka, David Beckham, Andrei! Shevchenko dan Paolo Maldini, belum ada pemain yang cukup memiliki pengaruh untuk membuat Milan sukses. Oguchi Onyewu, Thiago Silva dan Massimo Oddo yang kembali ke Milan belum cukup memiliki pengaruh di performa skuad sekarang ini.

Huntelaar Absen Di Laga Perdana Lawan Siena

MILAN - Striker Klaas-Jan Huntelar harus menunda keinginan untuk melakukan debut di Serie A Italia bersama AC Milan. Huntelaar yang direkrut dari Real Madrid ini masih menjalani larangan bermain untuk satu pertandingan.
Dengan demikian, mantan striker Ajax Amsterdam ini terpaksa absen saat Milan menghadapi Siena di Stadion Artemio Franchi, Sabtu mendatang. Larangan itu diberikan saat Huntelaar masih bermain di Primera Liga Spanyol.
Lega Calcio telah mengirim surat kepada Milan yang menyampaikan lar! angan bermain bagi Huntelaar. "Berdasarkan Artikel 12 dari Peraturan FIFA mengenai status transfer pemain, Federasi Spanyol, yang disampaikan kepada Federasi Italia, mengumumkan, pemain Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, yang bergabung dengan AC Milan SpA sejak 11 Agustus 2009, harus menjalani larangan bermain untuk satu pertandingan dengan mengacu pada aturan kedisiplinan di Spanyol."
Demikian penjelasan dari surat tersebut. Dengan keputusan itu, Huntelaar yang direkrut dengan harga €15 juta untuk kontrak empat tahun ini harus menunda keinginan memperkuat Milan.

Juventus & Milan Kembali Kejar Kjaer

SISILIA - Sempat berhenti melakukan pengejaran terhadap bek muda Palermo Simon Kjaer, kini dua klub Serie A Juventus dan AC Milan yang pernah menyatakan ketertarikanya kembali bersaing ketat untuk meminang pemain asal Denmark itu.
Kjaer yang bergabung dengan Palermo sejak awal musim lalu, langsung membuat mata publik sepakbola Italia terbelalak melihat bakat besarnya sejak pertama kali tampil. Tak ayal dia pun beberapa klub besar diantaranya Juve dan Milan berbondong-bondong menyatakan minat u! ntuk meminangnya.
Pada bursa transfer awal musim nama Kjaer sendiri tidak terlalu digadang-gadang menjadi incaran utama oleh dua klub tersebut. Ya, ternyata itu semua disebabkan karena kubu Il Aquile telah menyatakan tidak akan melepas pemainnya itu. Musim baru dibuka, Kjaer kembali mampu membuktikan ketangguhannya menjagaa sektor pertahanan Palermo.
Seiring hal tersebut, kini Bianconeri dan Rossoneri kembali ke trek perburuannya dan siap mengajukan tawaran besar, seperti disitat TuttoPalermo, Senin (7/9/2009). Meskipun tidak disebutkan nominal pastinya, namun beberapa kalangan meyakini bahwa Palermo tidak bakalan sanggup menolak hasrat besar Juve dan Milan untuk meminang Kjaer. Kemungkinan dia segera berganti seragam mulai musim depan.

Ronaldinho Bakal Susul Ronaldo dan Adriano

RIO DE JANEIRO - Gelandang AC Milan, Ronaldinho, mungkin akan mengikuti jejak rekan senegaranya, Ronaldo dan Adriano, meninggalkan Serie-A dan kembali ke Liga Brasil sebelum akhir tahun 2009 ini.
Menurut Folha de Sao Paolo, Presiden Corinthians, Andres Sanchez, sedang berada di Italia untuk menjajaki peluang membeli Ronaldinho. Masa depan dan karier Ronaldinho memang sedang tidak jelas di Milan.
Sempat didaulat sebagai suksesor Ricardo Kaka, ia malah tak kunjung menemukan sihirnya. Selain ketika menghadapi Siena di pekan perdana Seri! e-A musim ini, tak ada pujian atas performa Ronaldinho.
Kenyataan bahwa Milan malah mampu menang ketika tidak menurunkan Ronaldinho (versus Marseille dan Bologna) dan kalah ketika menurunkannya (Inter Milan dan Udinese) semakin menguatkan rumor yang menyebut karier Ronaldinho berada di ujung tanduk.
Pasalnya, semakin besarnya tekanan yang dirasakan Milan, bisa berujung kursi cadangan bagi Ronaldinho. Hal itu dilihat Corinthians sebagai kesempatan untuk memancing minat Ronaldinho pulang kampung.
Meski tak bisa menjanjikan gaji besar atau gempita Liga Champions, Corinthians bisa menjamin jam terbang reguler dan ini bisa membawa Ronaldinho masuk Tim Nasional Brasil untuk Piala Dunia 2010 Afrika Selatan. Selain itu, sekalipun performa Ronaldinho tak bisa pulih seperti sediakala, mereka akan mendapatkan keuntungan finansial.
Ini sudah terbukti ketika mereka mendatangkan Ronaldo dari AC Milan pada 2007 silam dan mendapat untung besar dari penjualan replika kos! tum Ronaldo.

sumber : kompas.com

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Fiorentina v Liverpool preview

The Reds go into the game in good form having won their last six games in all competitions and victory at the Artemio Franchi would leave them well-placed to reach the next phase.

Fiorentina themselves are in fine fettle having lost just two of their opening nine games and they currently sit fourth in Serie A.

Liverpool will be without key midfielder Javier Mascherano for the game after he picked up a hamstring problem in training.

It means Reds skipper Steven Gerrard will continue in central midfield alongside Lucas Levia with Dirk Kuyt supporting Fernando Torres in attack.

Yossi Benayoun is expected to play after shaking off a leg injury picked up the 6-1 win over Hull City last weekend.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez is not expected to make many changes from the win over Hull with Albert Riera set to keep his place in midfield.

Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani misses out on a return to his homeland as he continu! es his recovery from an ankle problem and the game has come too soon for Daniel Agger, who is set to feature for the reserves on Tuesday night, after a back problem.

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli, who played against Liverpool for Juventus in the 1985 European Cup final, is missing top scorer Alberto Gilardino through suspension.

Gilardino begins a two-match ban following his sending off against Lyon in the opening group game earlier this month.

Stevan Jovetic is set to replace Gilardino and will partner former Chelsea man Adrian Mutu up front.

Midfielder Cristiano Zanetti is available for the Viola after serving a one-match ban.

Mario Santana is ruled out for the home side with a thigh problem, while Gianluca Comotto faces a late fitness test with a thigh injury.

CR9: 7 Pertandingan 9 Gol

Madrid,-

Real Madrid sejauh ini telah mendapatkan apa yang mereka mau dengan membeli Cristiano Ronaldo. Tim sedang berada di atas dan si pemain termahal dunia itu produktif sekali.

Ronaldo, yang dihargai 94 juta euro oleh Madrid saat mengangkutnya dari Manchester United tiga bulan lalu, memberi bukti awal bahwa dirinya bisa sukses pula di Spanyol tepatnya di Santiago Bernabeu.

Sudah tujuh pertandingan kompetitif di musim ini yang dilakoni pemain berusia 24 tahun itu, dan hanya di satu laga ia tidak mencetak gol, yakni saat El Real menang 3-0 atas Tenerife di La Liga akhir pekan lalu. Kecuali itu, Ronaldo adalah bomber maut.

Di Liga Spanyol ia top skorer timnya saat ini dengan lima gol. Di level kompetisi, ia hanya kalah satu gol dari David Villa (Valencia) dan sejajar dengan dua striker Barcelona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic dan Lionel Messi.

Terkait Ibrahimovic, polling detiksport menghasilkan prediksi bahwa Ronaldo akan menceta! k gol lebih banyak dibanding pemain internasional Swedia itu di musim ini, dalam status mereka sebagai debutan di Spanyol. 'CR9? mendapat 60,9% suara, sedangkan 'Ibrakabadra' sisanya.

Di interen Madrid, Ronaldo masih lebih produktif ketimbang striker murni asal Prancis, Karim Benzema, yang baru menghasilkan tiga gol, atau dua gelandang serang Guti dan Kaka yang telah membuat dua gol.

Dari torehan sembilan gol dari tujuh pertandingan, empat gol dibuat Ronaldo di Liga Champions, dan itu membuatnya top skorer sementara. Ia mengukir dua gol berturut-turut saat Madrid menekuk FC Zurich 5-2 dan menekuk Marseille 3-0 di Bernabeu Kamis (1/10/2009) dinihari WIB tadi.

Madrid saat ini memimpin klasemen La Liga dan Grup C Liga Champions. Dan Ronaldo berperan sangat besar di sana. (*)

FINALE INDEDITA E INASPETTATA: A MANCHESTER C'E' ZENIT-RANGERS

MANCHESTER (Ing), 14 maggio 2008 - Quando la Gazprom, padrona del gas russo che nutre mezza Europa, a fine 2005 incorporò lo Zenit, il club iniziò un ambizioso shopping planetario per trasformare San Pietroburgo nella capitale del calcio, oscurando Mosca. La disponibilità del colosso statale, secondo l'allora capo del Cremlino Vladimir Putin, superava i 300 miliardi di euro, quindi anche la sezione calcio puntò subito a merce preziosa. David Beckham non condivise il progetto, per non venir sepolto nella neve mentre pubblicizza mutande; allora venne sondato Ze' Roberto, con tanto di invito nella città degli zar (e pure di Putin). "Sua moglie non salì nemmeno sull'aereo, oppose un inflessibile rifiuto", ha spiegato Kostantin Sarsania,! d.s. dello Zenit. La versione di Dick Advocaat è stata diversa: "Se vengono proposti giocatori di colore, ha raccontato al Telegraph", la tifoseria ci minaccia, per questioni di razzismo. Qui possiamo prendere soltanto bianchi". Ieri l'allenatore olandese ha smentito tre volte di aver parlato in quel modo, e alla quarta domanda sul tema si è arrabbiato. In ogni caso, Ze' Roberto è rimasto al Bayern: il primo maggio, dopo il 4-0 che ha tolto brutalmente ai tedeschi la finale Uefa, la gente di San Pietroburgo ha salutato il brasiliano con irritanti bye bye. Dedicati alla signora.

fonte: www.gazzetta.it

ECCO 2 REGALI PER MOURINHO:LAMPARD & MANCINI

Iniziano i giorni fondamentali per il futuro prossimo dell'Inter. Dopo avere molto seminato nelle ultime settimane, Marco Branca si prepara a raccogliere frutti importanti, pregiatissimi quali Frank Lampard e Amantino Mancini. E comincia un'altra coltura che spera dia gli stessi risultati, vale a dire quella relativa ad Alberto Aquilani.Andiamo con ordine. E' previsto per giovedì l'incontro tra Daniele Pradè e il direttore dell'area tecnica nerazzurra, summit che dovrebbe portare alla stretta definitiva dell'accordo che consentirà all'Inter di ingaggiare Mancini: tra domanda e offerta balla ancora qualcosa, una cifra nell'ordine di circa un milione e mezzo di euro, ma in realtà la società campione d'Italia cercherà di formulare una proposta ben più congrua che coinvolge Aquilani, promosso anche da Josè Mourinho come possibile regista della nuova Inter. I 13 milioni messi sul piatto dai nerazzurri per l'esterno potrebbero diventare almeno 30 con allegati uno-due giocatori ner! azzurri tra Suazo, Andreolli, Pelè e lo stesso Hernan Crespo. La Roma non intende cedere il suo gioiello, ma c'è da tenere in alta considerazione nel quadro dei possibili sviluppi il fatto che l'Inter ha pronto per il giocatore un contratto che a Trigoria è davvero fuori budget: 4 milioni per cinque anni. Un'occasione unica che potrebbe stimolare in maniera decisiva la volontà del giovane centrocampista e, conseguentemente, la disponibilità della Roma a intavolare la trattativa.A Londra, invece, Lampard è pronto ad affrontare i dirigenti del Chelsea e a comunicare loro che il rinnovo biennale messo a disposizione non basta più. L'Inter ha deciso di investire una cifra davvero stratosferica, capace di pareggiare quella di Abramovich e, anzi, di raddoppiarla visto che l'ingaggio annuo di Frank sarebbe pari a 8,7 milioni: il contratto, però, avrebbe scadenza 2012 con un'opzione per il quinto. I "blues", pronti ad annunciare l'ingaggio di Deco e pronti a stanziare una delle sol! ite, iperboliche cifre per Eto'o, non intendono ingaggiare gue! rre di r eligione per trattenere la loro bandiera. Sarà Lampard, salvo colpi di scena, il "colpo del centenario interista"

RANGERS-LIVERPOOL SU TVCALCIO

La stagione dei Reds sta per cominciare, quella dei Rangers è già partita: Rangers-Liverpool rappresenta un importantissimo banco di prova per entrambe le squadre. Gli scozzesi hanno pareggiato 0-0 nel secondo turno preliminare di Champions e attendono la gara di ritorno contro il Kaunas. Benitez, dal suo canto, deve prepararsi per la gara con lo Standard liegi e affrontare una squadra così avanti nella preparazione è un ottimo banco di prova. Segui alle 16.00 sul n! ostro sito LA DIFFERITA DI RANGERS-LIVERPOOL.