Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Walcott's girlfriend slams Wags

Theo Walcott's girlfriend Melanie Slade has slammed fellow Wags as desperate wannabes.

Melanie, 19, said the England and Arsenal ace, also 19, calls her "waggy" as an insult.

And she claimed girls who will sleep with a man just because he is a footballer lack self-respect.

Mel, who starts a degree in physiotherapy later this year, said:

"When we have an argument Theo accuses me of being waggy, a real insult.

"I hate the stereotype - the shopping all day long, the short dresses and massive sunglasses. I would never want to be associated with those women.

"The wannabes who are so desperate to sleep with a footballer have no respect for themselves, no ambition, nothing.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Beckham shirt starts legal squabble

It started with a generous gesture by David Beckham, who handed over his game-used soccer jersey to two young boys after a game at Aloha Stadium.

Now a squabble over the sweaty souvenir has devolved into a nasty fight with threats of legal action

The youngsters from Honolulu used to be close friends and teammates on a soccer team.

Then a shirtless Beckham approached the boys Feb. 20, after the Galaxy's exhibition loss to Japan's Gamba Osaka in the Pan-Pacific Championship, and gave away his white jersey.

Eric and Yoshika Kerr said it was their 10-year-old son who held up a sign all game and eventually lured Beckham over.

The jersey, they say, was intended for their son because the soccer star pointed to him.

Wilfred and Yoshika Ho said their 9-year-old son had possession first and that a police officer stepped in during a scrum for the jersey and resolved the issue by handing it to their son.

On April 10, the Hos received a letter from the Kerrs' attorney, demanding the return of the Beckham jersey or possible legal action.

The Hos' attorney responded in a letter last week, stating that the Hos are the rightful owners.

Swansea to celebrate without a trophy

Defiant Swansea boss Roberto Martinez says the League One champions will celebrate after the last home game of the season despite not having a trophy.

The Swans were crowned champions last weekend after rivals Carlisle lost.

But the Football League has refused to hand over the League One trophy until Leeds United's arbitration hearing over a 15-point deduction has been settled.

"It's the last home game, it's our home and we can do whatever we want," said Martinez.

"The fans and players deserve it and I think we should celebrate what has been a very exciting season and create something special to remember."

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Man Utd players in post-match row

Manchester United players were involved in a post-match scuffle with Chelsea staff after their fiery 2-1 defeat.

Patrice Evra, Gary Neville, Ji-Sung Park and Paul Scholes, none of whom actually played in the game, were warming down at Stamford Bridge when they were asked to move by groundstaff, sparking a row.

Chelsea say they will look at CCTV footage before deciding on any action.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Keane to shadow All Blacks

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is still studying for his UEFA Pro-License coaching qualification, part of which involves shadowing a coach from another sport, and he has chosen the famous New Zealand All Blacks rugby team for their game against England in June.

"What level of involvement I can have, just watching training or whatever, I don't know," Keane said.

"I have the green light to have three or four days with them. I don't know if I will be allowed into any team talks. I'll keep my head down and just watch them, try to plug into what they are always about."

Will there be any funny war dances on the pitch at the Stadium of Light next year? Maybe:

"If the haka didn't inspire you before a game, what could?" he said, ominously.

10,000 mile trip to the FA Cup Final

Craig Winter and Nikki Marden are Portsmouth fans who emigrated to Australia two months ago and are having to fly back next month because they can't bear to miss out on the FA Cup Final.

That'll be a 10,000 mile trip that will cost around £3,000, and they don't even have tickets yet!

Winter said: "We did not expect to be back in England quite so soon. But we may never get to a Wembley final again. I hope we can get tickets otherwise it will be an expensive trip for nothing."

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Keeper escapes ban

Leeds United breathed a sigh of relief last night when goalkeeper Casper Ankergren was let off with a £750 fine by the FA.

Ankergren had pleaded guilty to throwing a cigarette lighter into the crowd after the Swindon match and the club feared a lengthy ban but after a personal hearing, he was fined and warned as to his future conduct.

Riise wants to be alone

Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has been so distraught after his own goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final that he has refused to speak to his family about it.

The Norwegian ignored calls from his brother before finally sending a text saying he wants to be left alone.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Iron Mike offers services to Gazza

Mike Tyson recently offered his services to troubled former Newcastle United star Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne, who suffered a complete mental breakdown a few weeks ago.

Iron Mike said he's effectively pieced back together plenty of fragile, eggshell minds and he feels like this is a situation where he can really be helpful:

"I know all about Gazza and I feel I can help him. A lot of top sportsmen have suffered in their private lives, including me, and that is why I want to help. I still see him as a superstar and would like to meet him if he feels up for it."

Monday, April 21, 2008

Sao Paulo flee dressing-room after spray scare

Brazilian champions Sao Paulo were forced to flee their dressing-room at halftime after it filled with an unidentified spray during their match away to Palmeiras on Sunday.

Sao Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho, who gave his halftime team talk on the pitch, said he and several members of the delegation had come close to vomiting.

'It was impossible to breath, it was extremly irritating for the nostrils and eyes,' team doctor Jose Sanchez told reporters.

Sao Paulo also complained they were unable to take showers after the game.

A police official said the spray, which had not been identified, was a matter for the two clubs and the federation.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Vinnie helps the Royals

Vinnie Jones is helping Reading’s bid to beat relegation.

The footballer-turned-actor, 43, recorded a special motivational video to boost Steve Coppell’s strugglers.

LA-based Jones is pals with Reading coach Wally Downes and sent the message telling Royals’ players they can get out of trouble.

A Reading source said: “The video was very funny and all the players really liked it. It was a nice thing for Vinnie to do.

“He told the players how lucky they are to be playing in the Premier League. He told them it was worth the fight.”

Fish off the menu for Forssell

Mikael Forssell will snub his usual pre-match meal of raw fish this week — because the chef is an Aston Villa fan!

The Birmingham striker, 27, is a regular at a local Japanese restaurant.

But Forssell will give his favourite dish a miss before Sunday’s Second City derby.

He said: “The chef at the sushi place is a Villa fan — I don’t think he’s going to poison me but I might not go this week.

“Villa are playing well at the moment but derby games can go any way.”

Euro 2008 fans at risk of measles

Football supporters travelling to Euro 2008 may be at risk of catching measles, health officials have warned.

Significant outbreaks are occurring in Switzerland and Austria, the two countries hosting the competition this summer, Europe-wide figures show.

A team of vaccine experts is currently conducting a risk assessment in Austria just eight weeks before the tournament.

The experts warned people to make sure they are vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.

In 2007, Switzerland, UK, Romania and Ireland were the countries with the highest number of measles cases per 100,000 population.

"Significant" outbreaks are currently occurring in Austria and Switzerland.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Seniors World Cup

Thanks to an unusual arrangement with the Football Association, an unpaid team whose combined age is more than 500, will take the field for England against Iran next week.

Victory and good results against Taiwan and United Arab Emirates will steer them into the knockout stages of the Seniors World Cup (SWC).

"It's not quite the real thing, but we'll line up to the national anthem and they'll hoist the flag," says Paul Bell, a chocolate company executive and the squad's equivalent of England manager Fabio Capello.

"We haven't got Beckham or Rooney but we're tough and can go the distance."

The vets were picked to fly the red and white flag as one of the country's leading over-40 clubs, who play by a modified version of the game.

Matches are 10 minutes shorter than professional football's, and if a team takes off a 54-year-old, such as Harrogate wine merchant Ian Skinner, they must substitute someone of a similar age.

The series in Bangkok, the third SWC but the first England have entered, is not televised, but England hope holidaymakers and expats will turn up to cheer and chant.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Midfielders who should have played together

In the late 1960s Aston Villa had a trio of midfielders who really should have been given the chance to play together, but never did.

Their names - Jimmy Brown, Oscar Arce and Barrie Hole.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Gerrard threatened

Steven Gerrard's father has said he turned to an underworld "fixer" to stop a gangster from terrorising his son and threatening to shoot him in the legs.

The information was in a letter Mr Gerrard wrote to a court where the fixer, John Kinsella, denies being part of a gang involved in a robbery.

Gerrard's father, Paul, said the Liverpool captain's car had been smashed up and he was chased home from training.

He said it was after he asked Kinsella for help that the trouble stopped.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Beckham back on top of rich list

David Beckham is back on top of football's rich list, according to a survey by France Football magazine.

Beckham's move to LA Galaxy helped earn him a staggering £24.7million to reclaim top spot from Ronaldinho.

The former England skipper's base earnings of £2.8m have been boosted by income from endorsements and profit-sharing.

It is estimated he will earn up to £128m during his five-year contract with Galaxy.

Jose Mourinho's golden handshake from Chelsea helped him top the manager's rich list for the third successive year, with £23.1m.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

All dwarf soccer team

Brazil has an all dwarf soccer team, the Gigantes do Norte.

Even though this squad is not even close to being gigante in physical size, they are so in spirit, apparently.

The team is made up of 11 dwarves (average height: 4ft.) who travel Brazil playing youth teams in an effort to raise awareness for dwarfdom through their soccer prowess.

Weir-Tebily-Scheidt

When Celtic were doing badly under John Barnes, they had Olivier Tebily and Rafael Scheidt on their books.

It was suggested they ought to sign David Weir, then of Hearts, so they would have a three-man defence of Weir-Tebily-Scheidt.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

DIY Bentley

Blackburn and England midfielder David Bentley admits he is obsessed - with DIY.

"I've been taking up tiles and knocking down walls, mending the potholes on my drive. I've got a strict DIY 24-hour ban before a match because it tires you out."

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Man Utd doctor saved Indiana Jones

In the early 80s, Harrison Ford injured his back while filming 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' in Sri Lanka.

Soon after, he returned to Pinewood Studios in England to continue filming, but his back was still bothering him.

He struggled to find anyone in the capital who would risk treating such a big name celebrity, so it ended up being the medical staff at Old Trafford who helped him out.

He explains: "I couldn't find anyone to treat me in London, Harley Street doctors were afraid of the liability issues. I finally got the Manchester United team doctor to treat me. They had to strap me to a trolley with a bottle of nitrous oxide. I had to be carried feet first down the narrow, twisting stairs and was taken by ambulance to Manchester to see the doctor."

Quote of the week

"Gary Neville is the club captain but has been injured for the best part of a year now - and Giggsy's taken on the mantlepiece."

Rio Ferdinand describing the Man Utd captaincy.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Cole not to face assault charges

Former England striker Andy Cole will face no further action over allegations he assaulted his wife.

Cole, who is on loan to Burnley from Sunderland, was arrested on 25 February at his home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, on suspicion of assault.

He was due to answer bail on Tuesday but a Cheshire Police spokesman said he had been told he did not need to and no further action would be taken.

The 36-year-old married his long-term girlfriend Shirley Dewar in July 2002.

Cruyff pays Ronaldo the ultimate compliment

Johan Cruyff last night paid Cristiano Ronaldo the ultimate compliment - by saying he is better than Manchester United legends Denis Law and George Best.

Cruyff, a three-time European Footballer of the Year, says the only player whose goal record can be compared to Ronaldo is Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - but admits the Dutch league is not as strong as the Premier League.

He said: "My favourite for the Golden Boot is Ronaldo.

Huntelaar has scored a lot of goals, but also has the handicap because the value of goals in Holland is different.

"For me, Ronaldo is above the rest and if he keeps scoring in this rhythm and stays in this sort of form then he will prove that he is the best.

"Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United.

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