Stanford women's basketball rolls to 82-35 rout of Arizona State

Dymond Simon led the way with seven points for the cold-shooting Sun Devils (10-4, 2-2), who were never in this game on the way to being swept in their annual Bay Area trip after a 67-55 loss on Thursday night at California.

Kayla Pedersen added 10 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes and freshman Chiney Ogwumike scored 10 in the Cardinal's sixth straight victory since dropping two in a row - at DePaul and Tennessee - last month. The run includes a thrilling 71-59 win over then-top-ranked Connecticut on Dec. 30 to snap the Huskies' record 90-game winning streak.

Tara VanDerveer, honored after the game in an on-court ceremony for reaching the elite 800-win mark Dec. 22 at San Francisco, got to go to her bench early in this one, with the starters sitting most of the second half.

"Well, 800 was a lot of fun but how about 802?" athletic director Bob Bowlsby said, referencing the UConn win before presenting VanDerveer with a bouquet of flowers.

Pohlen scored 11 points and Pedersen six during a 22-4 run to end the first half and put Stanford ahead 42-14 at the break. The Cardinal had three reserves on the floor to end the opening 20 minutes and coasted the rest of the way, thoroughly outhustling and outplaying the usually scrappy Sun Devils.

Nneka Ogwumike shot 7 for 11 and Pohlen 7 of 10, while Pedersen went 5 for 8 and Chiney Ogwumike made all five of her field-goal attempts. Stanford finished 64.8 percent from the floor.

Arizona State trailed from tipoff to final buzzer for the second straight game. That after the Sun Devils had won seven straight before this trip and hadn't lost since a 65-55 loss to then-No. 14 Florida State on Nov. 27.

Stanford has won 40 straight games against Pac-10 opponents, 34 in a row during the regular-season conference schedule since a loss to Cal in January 2009.

The Cardinal followed up a season-best 70.4 percent in the second half of their 87-54 rout of Arizona on Thursday night by shooting 64.3 percent in the first half Saturday. Arizona State was held to 20 percent (5 for 25) in the first half, 22.8 percent overall and committed 21 turnovers.

The Cardinal led 11-0 just 5:25 into the game and made five of its initial six shots - three of those baskets by Ogwumike. Stanford scored 26 points in the paint in the first half and 48 in all, while also holding a 40-28 rebounding advantage.

Arizona State missed its first 10 shots, including five 3-point tries, before Markisha Patterson connected from long range at 13:13. The Sun Devils' 35 points were one more than Stanford's lowest total allowed - 34 to Washington State on Feb. 8, 2007 - to a conference opponent.

Stanford is 29-1 all time at home against Arizona State, the Cardinal's lone loss coming on March 3, 1984.

Saturday marked a relatively quiet day on campus after Orange Bowl-winning football coach Jim Harbaugh left for a five-year deal with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers on Friday - though an Orange Bowl victory parade was planned for later in the afternoon on a popular street nearby in Palo Alto.

The Works: Donnie Walsh Is Keeping Wilson Chandler

Today in The Works: What to make of Stephon Marbury's China odyssey; some proposed Hall of Famer fashion lines; and previewing the third season of "Merlin".

But first, what's ahead for Wilson Chandler and the Knicks?.

Wilson Chandler Can't Lose

Yesterday, Knicks president Donnie Walsh proclaimed loudly for all the media to hear that Wilson Chandler was here to stay: "Wilson's a restricted free agent and I'm going to sign him. He's a helluva player." It's curious that Walsh added the "restricted" detail, since it either amounts to boasting (whatever it takes, they'll match) or stands as a kind of caveat. As in, "He's a restricted free agent, so don't get too excited about what I'm about to say".

Restricted free agency is one of basketball's great mysteries, along with frozen pizza and DeJuan Blair's knees. In a perfect, crystal-clear world, it works as part of the following model: A team locks up its essential young players the summer before they're eligible for any kind of anything. A year later -- where Chandler is headed -- they make a decision on guys who either weren't done growing yet, or they may only be willing to pay a certain price for. The only players who get past that either stink or are Ben Gordon, whose contributions to basketball will never be forgotten.

Chandler wasn't offered an extension last summer; now, headed into restricted free agency, he's considered indispensable by Walsh. That's the language you use for someone now viewed as a big part of the Knicks going forward, a player the team simply can't live without out and takes into account when mapping out future plans.

Not someone you are willing to keep if the price is right (like Jeff Green on the Thunder). Chandler will be matched. Walsh basically just played his hand, but it feels so good, because -- as is always the case with the Knicks -- he had to speak up while the news cycle was ripe.

It's unclear who restricted free agency -- it has to help someone to restrict it -- works for. It's supposed to give an advantage to teams, since even if it brings in other parties in a way that extension negotiations don't, it's still better than the all-out freedom of the unrestricted variety. Then again, In the negotiations that can precede this period, players feel wanted and can have a number in mind, as opposing to being at the mercy of the market; if no one else makes an offer, they're stuck with the team's best bid. In a way, all the leverage is going Chandler's way if Walsh is even remotely telling the truth. Then again, maybe now no one makes a decent offer, since they know Walsh will just match, which means it would be a waste of their time -- unless the point is just to mess with the Knicks. In theory, though, Walsh isn't going to be able to get a bargain or name his price with Chandler. Not after he made it clear that Chandler's availability is an accident of time, not a spatial consideration.

Everything comes down to time and space, but especially the run-up to restricted free agency. Space is the hierarchy of a team; again, if a player developed without a hitch, and a team understood its destiny, then it would be possible to tell who mattered and how much they mattered. The future All-Stars, or young starters who make key contributions every game, get locked up before anyone gets a shot at them in a good old-fashioned negotiation. Everyone else, well, you decide if you can afford them or really need them later on. Except sometimes, time plays a part, as with Chandler. Simply put, Wilson Chandler wasn't this good a year ago, and as recently as a month ago seemed like someone the Knicks would part with to get Carmelo Anthony. Things change over time, in ways you simply can't anticipate.

So now, heading into this summer, the Knicks will match any offer for Chandler, unless another team -- as wowed by him as Walsh is -- really breaks the bank. Basically, Chandler goes into restricted free agency (unless he slumps big time) with his market value sky-high, higher than it ever would have been if New York had deigned to extend him then. Oops. Then again, these have been some weird years recently for RFA. Most famously, Josh Smith ended up with an unremarkable deal when there just wasn't money or need there to force a bidding war. Then, you had Rajon Rondo accepting a contract extension that now seems like a bargain and a half, all because he was afraid of going the way of Josh Smith. Even though he makes a little less than Smith.

Wilson Chandler, though, has had the opposite experience. He didn't seem that important, or that good, when it would have been time to talk extension, not even to the point where a Rondo-style low-ball offer would have been worth it. By waiting to show his true colors, or for the team to realize they needed him, he has turned into a desirable commodity, one who isn't facing the same economic circumstances (or, let's be honest, supposed red flags) as Smith. So congrats, Wilson Chandler. You have showed that beating the system is proof that it works. Unless, of course, Walsh is an evil genius who has started loudly making his point exactly so no one else even bothers. Then, all this praise might be the worst thing that's ever happened to Chandler. (BS)

Marbury In China

Stephon Marbury's reputation in America is about as low as possible right now.

Plying his trade in China, Marbury is a pariah in his homeland, commonly thought of as a weirdo who ate vaseline, embraced God, and then fell of the face of the pop culture landscape. Above all, he's a cautionary tale about the perils of basketball selfishness and gluttony.

But what if this sojourn to China is a conscious decision for the future rather than the last resort of an athlete on his last legs?

As Ben Sin found out while covering Marbury in China for NYMag.com, there might be a method to Starbury's madness:

Many see Marbury's China stint as a result of karma for a selfish athlete who burned one too many bridges with NBA ballclubs. It's easy to assume he's in basketball purgatory: playing for a salary that, by NBA standards, is a mere pittance (reportedly $25,000 a month) and living a detached existence, speaking through translators and eating hotel food on a daily basis. But Marbury argues that his journey east is less a last resort than a choice. [...]

He says he simply wanted to go to China because he sees playing there as a smarter financial decision. "Why go someplace if it's not going to put you in a situation where you can continue to grow?" he says. "There's definitely going to be a lockout in the NBA after this season. The owners do not want to pay older players, and the players will cave, because they're only focused on now. The owners, they're looking at this long term, like a fifteen-year business investment."

There's a common misconception that foreign fans parrot North American fans when choosing favorites, but that's not entirely the case; for proof, see their near-universal love for Kobe Bryant even as he remains quite divisive among fans here. To Chinese basketball fans, Marbury's bizarre behavior is less of a concern, especially now that he's embraced the country and, in his own special way, become an important figure in the development of the CBA.

Marbury hasn't been entirely successful so far. With Steve & Barry's folded in America, he is still trying to find a distributor for his cheap Marbury basketball shoes in China's $6 billion sneaker market. If Marbury can gain some traction in a new market, then his time in China will have been worth it. He will have made himself a successful long-term business by taking advantage of a promising emerging market, which incidentally is the kind of move that also gains one a reputation as a businessman and opens up more opportunities down the road.

This is not to say that Marbury will be entirely successful and find himself on the cover of Forbes in ten years. But it is becoming clearer that he is not just some whackadoodle deviant with a penchant for broadcasting his odder tendencies to a captive audience on uStream. Instead, Marbury has some sort of plan for his future that makes him, if not some kind of genius, then at least an athlete who thinks more than five minutes ahead of time. His methods might not be normal, but the general approach is a positive example for other athletes as they inch towards retirement.

When Marbury embraced most bizarre habits two summers ago, many predicted he'd end life in an institution. But it's becoming more obvious by the day that those actions were a performance in their own right, no matter how ill-advised they were. His choices haven't always been great, but there is clearly a larger plan here. That doesn't necessarily validate anything the man does, but it casts his actions in a more charitable light. Marbury can no longer be dismissed as a mental case -- he deserves our reasoned attention like any other aging basketball player attempting to keep himself relevant after his playing days are over. (EF)

Hall Of Fame Fashion

A special guest shot from our style correspondent, AA, of the world famous Tumblr Serious Ladies.

The heritage line craze has hit full swing for 2011, and with Hakeem Olajuwon launching his own collection, NBA legends are eager to get in on the action. Said one anonymous clothing executive, "It's easy to sell white guys on a heritage line, but urban customers want a different message. Old basketball players dress well and show up on time."

Bill Russell for REI: Bill Russell, a Seattle resident, loves golf and camping and is generally nuts about the outdoors. He's been an REI Coop member since 1983, and was eager to collaborate on a capsule line for the no-nonsense outdoor company. Cornerstone pieces include longjohns with leather elbow patches, waterproof ankle boots, and a headlamp that benefits noble international causes.

"The Glide" for Justin: Clyde Drexler is the man to know during Houston Rodeo -- he's invited to every event, backstage at every rodeo concert, and his BBQ restaurant does really swift catering business during the busy springtime rodeo season. Last year, the enterprising new creative director of the boot and western wear powerhouse approached Drexler to collaborate on a boots and hats line. Details include tooled and pebbled leather, sharp metal fixtures on decorative holsters, and a line of lassos that will be sure to move fast.

Bill Bradley for Brooks Brothers: An icon of preppy style, Bill Bradley has had a credit account at Brooks since 1965. For his initial capsule line "Territorial Picks," Bradley combed through the Brooks archives for his favorite corduroy blazers, shetland sweaters, turtlenecks, and twill trousers of his ball years. Fun fact: Bradley was late to the third game of the 1973 playoffs because he left his Princeton scarf behind at a suit fitting and had to retrieve it!

Roy Tarpley for ProWings: In 1989, the still-promising Tarpley signed an endorsement deal with ProWings, a budget sneaker line sold at Payless Shoes. However, due to his increasingly erratic behavior, ProWings fired him as their spokesman soon after. Those close to Tarpley saw the loss of the endorsement as a particularly tragic development, as Tarpley had received a case of ProWings at the signing of the contract and had since become an evangelist for the brand, swearing by their comfort and durability. Tarpley can be seen wearing an all-black pair to a 1991 court date. In 2009, after running into a Payless executive at a men's prayer group in Grand Prairie, Texas, clean and sober Tarpley was re-signed as a spokesman for the brand's re-launch. Manufacturing and legal constraints have held up the line's premiere, but those inside the deal promise we'll see something in 2011.

Dennis Rodman for Betsey Johnson: Dennis Rodman and Betsey Johnson met at a Kundalini Yoga retreat in Bali, and have been inseparable buds since. Johnson's made a mint lately licensing her brand of tacky-wacky for department stores, and is eager to repackage it with Rodman for more fun and profit. Those who've seen the sketches can't stop talking about the male jeggings and skull bolo ties.

It's Merlin Time!

Bethlehem Shoals: The one thing the Works loves more than Monta Ellis is "Merlin," the BBC show that aired briefly on NBC, only to find a home on SyFy. Despite being on a channel that's misspelled and embarrassing to type and catering mainly to pre-teens and people who like wizards, "Merlin" is a quality program. The third season begins tonight and, as part of the time-honored tradition of unnecessarily mixing up pop culture and sports, we have decided to conduct our own "Merlin" draft. Or at least discuss what it would be like to do so.

Eric Freeman: So, who is the point guard? My first choice would be Arthur, who is growing into his role as a leader, kind of like John Wall or Rajon Rondo. Plus he's dreamy.

BS: Arthur is totally like one of those college players who everyone falls in love with but then it turns out they're limited as pros. Obviously, you take the dragon, including the voice of John Hurt. It's a freaking dragon. I just don't see what's so hard about that. He's like DeMarcus Cousins, but a million years older, and with even more size and yes, wingspan, and an even worse attitude.

EF: Wait, are we drafting or choosing positions? Obviously the dragon is the first choice in the draft!

BS: Oh, I thought we were doing a draft. But you're right, it's pointless, the dragon is tops, and then anyone who knows magic. That's why the Uther is so against magic -- it makes games unfair. So yeah, we should focus on positions. Doesn't the point guard have to be someone who, um, knows magic? Get it? Isn't the moral of the show that Merlin should be the point guard?

EF: If it's a draft, the Dragon is first also because there was a period when he was in chains, just like college. As for the point guard, Merlin is growing into his role as a leader, too, but he eventually becomes an adviser to King Arthur more than anything. Can the point guard be an adviser rather than the face of the kingdom/franchise? I agree that the PG must have magic, though. So maybe it is Merlin, except he's not necessarily a dominant point. Or they play one of those combo backcourts where the guards share roles.

BS: We also don't know anyone's size. Arthur looks more like a small forward to me. But the dragon is bigger than anyone. And the giant rats are pretty big, too. Merlin could be like Rajon Rondo -- infinitely crafty and confusing, and somehow both the more important player on the team and one who sees himself as having a very clear role. That's in line with his awesome destiny. Arthur would be like if Carmelo Anthony played with Chris Paul. He wouldn't realize that Paul was capable of making him even better. There could be some major chemistry issues between Arthur and Lancelot, who will be back this season. Aren't they both after Guenivere? Isn't Merlin, too? I am so confused. It's like Toni Braxton all over again. PS Lest you think I'm being sexist, Morgana is totally in my starting five.

EF: I am pretty sure that Merlin is after Morgana and Arthur is firmly for Guen. Speaking of Morgana, she is clearly the X-factor in the group. She doesn't even really understand her own capacity for magic yet, like one of those tweener swingmen who comes into the league with little knowledge of the game other than that he can jump really high. Given the Dragon's dominance, I think you can put her at the four and let her find her way.

BS: She is a lot more attractive than Thaddeus Young, but I see what you're saying. It's also strange that she is so raw, yet bound by such a strong sense of honor ... one that will ultimately drive her to evil! How many players come into the league with an unfocused game but a really good sense of how to play with others? Maybe Serge Ibaka makes more sense. Incidentally, can we trade Anthony Randolph from the NBA to "Merlin"? It might be his truest calling.

EF: Especially because "Merlin" allows black people to hold jobs in medieval England. Is there a place for King Uther on this team? Or is he the malcontent veteran with a huge expiring contract?

BS: I just assumed he was the coach. Well, he's one of those blowhard coaches, but Gaius is the genius assistant behind the whole thing. Or wait, that sounds an awful lot like Merlin and Arthur. Actually, Merlin is supposed to be great in his own right, even if he will only ever have a supporting role in the kingdom. That's his part in human history, but when it comes to dragon and magic and stuff, it goes deeper and he is transcendent or something. Gaius is a lot more like Eddie Jordan or John Kuester. You can't really see him mattering much on his own. Sidebar: Who in the NBA, other than Tim Duncan, might watch Merlin?

EF: Gaius is the brains of the operation. He has the best scouting reports on all the opposing monsters, even if those scouting reports are just basic drawings in books. In terms of NBA fans of the show, we are looking for a fan of teen romance who isn't ashamed of looking like a dork. Al-Farouq Aminu wears funny glasses, but I don't think he counts. Dwight Howard? He sings for kids.

BS: Oh, good call on the scouting reports. So, you haven't told me: what do you want to do with the giant rats?

EF: The giant rats seem fearsome in theory but I think they might be limited. Remember, they're blind and have giant teeth that get in the way of their limbs. I see them as Mahorn-like enforcers and little more.

BS: Well, maybe there will be a basketball scene this season and we'll learn the answer to all these questions. See you then!

***

The Works is written by Bethlehem Shoals (@freedarko) and Eric Freeman (@freemaneric), who also contributes regularly to Ball Don't Lie. Their Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History is now available.

Boivin: Accident gives Dion Jordan new perspective

"Oh, God," he thought. "I just want to get back to the night before."

The night before, Oct. 5, 2007, was a good one. The Chandler High receiver had caught six passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in a one-point victory over Gilbert Highland. It was the kind of play that had college recruiters circling the 6-foot-6 senior like vultures, the kind of performance that helped him land on a team playing for the BCS National Championship on Monday.

After his performance against Highland, Jordan was feeling good about himself. The next day, following a morning practice, he visited a friend. One of the cars at the house ran out of gas and Jordan watched as his friends tried to siphon some from another car using a vacuum cleaner.

They stopped for a while but left the vacuum on and walked out of the garage. Jordon looked over. Someone should turn that off, he thought.

He walked into the garage, alone, and flipped the vacuum's "off" switch. It released a spark, which triggered a flash fire that leaped onto Jordan.

He stumbled outside, not realizing the severity of his injuries until he looked at his arms and legs. Everyone else understood. He needed an air-evac unit immediately.

Reality hit at the hospital. The pain was excruciating. He had suffered second- and third-degree burns on 40 percent of his body. His arms, hands, fingers, shoulder and lower legs had been affected. He endured painful skin grafts and treatment to monitor infection for three weeks.

"I had never been in a hospital," he said. "That was the worst part."

When it became clear to him that he wasn't going to die, that football could still be in his future, he looked at the hospital differently. It wasn't a scary place anymore. It was a symbol for new-found perspective.

He looked at other patients in the burn unit and many were worse off. His own pity felt selfish.

"I started thinking how fortunate I was," he said. "I felt blessed. Even after everything that happened, I thought, 'I'm really lucky.' "

He left the hospital with a rejuvenated spirit. He was more determined to excel in sports and more determined to remain grateful for the gifts given to him: the size and athleticism to play the sport he loved and a family that supported him.

His injuries didn't discourage coaches from courting one of the most coveted recruits in the state that year. Two months after the accident, then-Ducks coach Mike Bellotti and receivers coach Robin Pflugrad were in Chandler speaking with Jordan and his aunt and legal guardian, Yative Tiger.

Two days later, he flew to Eugene, Ore., on an official recruiting trip. He was hooked. He enjoyed the family atmosphere and was excited to "experience another part of the country and see new things."

He did, including the departure of Bellotti after Jordan's redshirt season. He didn't panic. He had connected with Ducks coach Chip Kelly, who was offensive coordinator at the time. Oregon had recruited Jordan as a wide receiver.

"He just kept getting bigger and bigger," Kelly said. "So we moved him into tight end, then we moved him from tight end to defensive end, and he has really flourished on the defensive side of the ball this year."

At 6-7, 231 pounds, Jordan definitely looks the part. The sophomore is on the depth chart as a backup but because Oregon's defense substitutes so frequently, he typically rotates in every fourth or fifth play.

"If I were to go down," starting defensive end Terrell Turner said, "we wouldn't miss a beat because of Dion. He's a fast learner. And very talented."

Jordan is not only the Ducks' top reserve on the defensive line, he is one of their best special teams players, too.

On Monday, the sophomore will be playing for the national title.

"It's amazing," he said. "Here I am. I'm not taking anything for granted anymore."

Reach Boivin at paola.boivin@arizonarepublic.com and follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/PaolaBoivin.

Northampton Saints forward Tom Wood primed to help his side produce a Heineken Cup clean sweep

It is a regime that enables the Saints to travel to Castres on Saturday as England’s prime contenders for Heineken Cup honours.

English representation again looks to be minimal with Leicester the only Premiership side likely to join Northampton in the knockout stages.

Wasps have an outside chance of redemption on this final weekend of Heineken Cup pool stages but they are clinging to fragile hopes.

Northampton, meanwhile, head to France in buoyant mood, one of only two unbeaten sides in the tournament, pipped for the moment as the front-runners for top seeding in the knockout phase by Toulouse, who have a marginal advantage (14-13) in the try count.

The quarter-final line-up will be clear by Sunday evening, with the top seeds playing the eighth qualifier and so on. The semi-final draw will also be made.

There is not a splinter of complacency in the Northampton make-up, no sense that they have already completed a fine job.

As they know from last year’s shell-shocked experience of playing a quarter-final in Limerick, when they were beaten 33-19 by Munster, home advantage is crucial if a side are to progress further.

“We don’t want to throw it all away now,” said Wood, one of their surprise packages this season, a forceful presence in the back row after his close-season move from relegated Worcester.

“We’ve put a focus on not switching off, on not letting our subconscious tell us that we’ve done all the hard work.

"We’ve no intention of choking at this stage. The motivation has to be to win every game.”

Wood, 24, is a fine prospect. He is on the verge of the senior England squad after several outstanding displays for Northampton but is set to miss out on a call-up to the training camp in Portugal unless there are more injuries this weekend.

Wood is likely to feature for the Saxons against Italy A next Saturday at his old stamping ground in Worcester.

Leicester were also interested in signing Wood but that deal did not come off and the player has prospered under Northampton’s guidance.

It did not take long for Wood to realise that some serious graft lay ahead.

“The very first day I was blowing hard as we had to pull sleds and flip tyres in training and [coach] Dorian West was just looking at me, laughing, saying, ‘That’s what you’re here for son, we’ll soon sort you out’,” recalls Wood.

“Dorian and Northampton have been brilliant for me. Those grappling sessions with shirts off in the snow were a real eye-opener.

"I think if I’d ended up at Leicester I might have just become a better version of what I already was whereas Northampton have brought out new things in my game.

"The fitness work has been very back-row specific and that’s helped me, too.”

Wood has proved invaluable as a line-out jumper and recognises that he now needs to get his hands on the ball more often.

“I think I’ve got a good running game but I need to show it more, get into the right spaces and demand the ball,” said Wood.

“My work at re-starts could be better and that’s taken time to get used to new responsibilities. I know I need to keep grafting, keep adding bits to my game.

“If England happens, it happens. I just want to keep taking steps. There’s a lot to learn but I’m loving it.”

Wood, a product of the same club, Barkers’ Butts in Coventry, as Neil Back and Danny Grewcock, played through youth levels as a No 8 or openside flanker.

He has interchanged with Phil Dowson in the Saints’ back row, comfortable either on the open or blind.

“We don’t have an out-and-out No 7,” said West.

“We play a different system. We want everyone to carry the ball, to get into space.

"Woody has brought balance to our back row. He’s got good skills and a great personality. He’s a fast learner.”

So too are Northampton. Last season they were streaky in Europe, capable of high-octane performances such as they showed against Munster in the pool stage only to hit the doldrums seven days later in Perpignan.

“Yes, consistency is what it’s all about in the Heineken Cup, about playing for every minute and for every point,” said West.

“That’s the attitude we’re taking down to Castres, who are unbeaten at home this season.

"We’re taking nothing for granted. We’re going all guns blazing to get a home tie.”

No English side have managed a clean sweep of six pool victories since Bath in 2002. Northampton have that mark firmly in their sights.

Sir Frank Williams announces possibility of Williams flotation

“We have to think about the long-term future of the team. You can’t do it overnight and you can’t do it in a rush, better to plan now to prepare for the future.

“At this stage, all we have concluded is that it is the best way to secure the future of the team and its 450 employees.”

Parr added that the proposal was not motivated out of a desire to seek an injection of funds, nor had it anything to do with the health of Sir Frank Williams, the co-founder, co-owner and team principal.

Williams, 68, has used a wheelchair since suffering a spinal cord injury in a car accident en route to Nice airport from the Paul Ricard Circuit in France in 1986.

The decision to hand over his chairmanship to Parr during the British Grand Prix weekend last year was seen by many as the first step towards his retirement.

Having achieved huge success in the 1980s and 1990s, when cars designed by Williams’ co-founder and co-owner, Patrick Head, won a succession of constructors’ and drivers’ titles, the Grove-based team have struggled on the track.

Their last win came in 2004 and last year’s pole for Nico Hulkenberg in Brazil came out of nowhere.

Sir Frank said in a statement: “For some years I’ve been considering how to secure the long-term future of Williams.

"I have concluded that the option which will best achieve this is to broaden our shareholder base with public shareholders, while having a stable core of long-term investors closely involved in the running of the team.

"This will ensure stability, good governance and will, I believe, enable us to attract and retain the best people and partners.

“Patrick, Toto [Wolff, a fellow shareholder] and I are therefore examining this option closely and if the environment is propitious, we may well act in the near future.

“Whatever action we take, I shall remain the majority shareholder and the team principal.”

Parr added: “It is very important to state we are not as a company seeking to raise funds. This would not involve any new equity or funding for the company.

“In spite of the economic environment in recent years, we have turned a profit and generated positive cash-flow from operating activities in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and we have a fully contracted budget for 2011.”

And he denied that the action was motivated by a desire from Williams to retire: “Absolutely not. It is not anywhere near his agenda.”

He said that the team had made the announcement to avoid the news leaking out and leading to damaging speculation about their plans.

Williams have come under criticism in recent months for releasing Hulkenberg and taking on Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who comes with plenty of sponsorship backing, to drive alongside Rubens Barrichello in 2011.

Meanwhile, Rome has officially given up on plans to host a Formula One grand prix and switched its attentions instead to bidding for the Olympic Games in 2020.

Phoenix man aces par 4 hole at TPC Scottsdale

The only par 4 ace in a PGA Tour event happened on the same hole in 2001 when Andrew Magee drove the green. His ball was redirected off the putter of Tom Byrum, who was waiting his turn to putt. There is a plaque near the 17th tee box commemorating Magee's feat.

Poulter's clothing contest

Ian Poulter, known for unique golf attire, is asking fans to choose his apparel for his opening match at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana.

Poulter, who is from England, is the defending champion of the event. It was his first tournament victory in the U.S.

The "Dress Ian" Facebook campaign gives fans the chance to pick one of three outfits to wear on Wed., Feb. 23 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what fans choose for me to wear as I set out to defend my World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship title," Poulter said in a statement.

Two of the options will incorporate the colors of the University of Arizona and Arizona State.

"Ian Poulter has been an international ambassador to the game of golf and we are excited that he will be partnering with us for this unique promotion," said the tournament's executive director, Wade Dunagan. "As I attended the University of Arizona, I have a feeling I know which outfit I'll be voting for."

Poulter defeated ASU alum Paul Casey, also of England, in last year's event.

This year's match play concludes with an 18-hole final.

TPC Scottsdale honored

Twelve TPC golf courses won top honors in the annual Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards for 2010.

Among the Chapter Award honors/resort division winners is Jeff Plotts, Golf Course Superintendent at TPC Scottsdale.

Judging was based on course management in areas of resource conservation, water quality management, integrated pest management, wildlife/habitat management and education/outreach.

All the winners will recognized at the Golf Industry Show in Orlando on Feb. 8.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas denies rift with team-mate Denilson after claims that Spaniard 'is not a leader'

In an interview with Brazilian television, Denilson, 22, said the team "lacks leadership", claiming "Fabregas is the captain, but he is not a leader to me".

He said: "I think that we lack leadership and without leadership we can’t move forward. You can walk forward a bit but then the same thing that’s happened will happen again.

"These things make us very sad but I don’t see a player at Arsenal who is a real leader. I can’t see a single one. Even if Fabregas is the captain, but he is not a leader to me."

This has sparked headlines suggesting cracks are appearing within the Arsenal squad. However, Fabregas, a World Cup winner with Spain, has insisted there is no such disharmony.

Speaking on his official Twitter account, Fabregas wrote: "Abt (sic) what Deni said. I've been in his situation before, just a misunderstanding. Now lets win tonite! (sic)."

Fabregas also attached a picture of himself and Denilson as they travelled on the train up to Leeds for tonight's FA Cup third-round replay.

Denilson is expected to feature again at Leeds, as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rotates his squad.

And Wenger has warned that his players must be "switched on" from the moment they step out in front of 40,000 fans at Elland Road.

"The speed of our display, the speed of thought, the sharpness of our game has to improve," he said.

"We want to be sharper and more positive, we started the game a little bit off our usual level. That means first, mentally, of all you want to switch on much quicker."

Arsenal have a fine away record this season, and can certainly expect a testing atmosphere at Elland Road, a venue which not so long ago hosted such clashes on a regular basis.

Wenger, though, feels his squad will not suffer from stage fight.

"No matter what they do, the fans will be behind the team at Leeds. On the other hand, we are used to that and that would not be any excuse for us," he said.

"We have played all over the world, everywhere, in vociferous stadiums. I don't think that will be any excuse for us, it's natural and normal.

"What's important is that you show your quality no matter in what kind of environment you play."

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson says fans should back him not boo him after Wolves defeat

Since taking over from Rafael Benítez in July, the 63-year-old has failed to win over the Anfield faithful and in last night's 1-0 home defeat to Wolves there were chants for Kenny Dalglish and also "Hodgson for England".

The Liverpool manager believes the negativity directed at him is impacting on his team and called for more backing from the terraces.

"We've had to live that with quite a long time now as ever since I came here the famous Anfield support has not really been there," he said.

"I can only hope we do have good supporters and I hope these fans become supporters as well because this is a time when the club needs support.

"We are not deliberately losing these matches or deliberately not playing to the best of their ability. Now is the time for people to really try to help us along because it is not through want of trying.

"My belief that I can turn around is my belief in my own ability," he added. "I know the players are working hard to give me and the club success but at the moment we are not succeeding.

"Maybe we lacked a bit of confidence and the negativity does affect confidence. Players are a little less keen to get on the ball and show what they can do for fear of making a mistake."

Stephen Ward's first Premier League goal in the 56th minute was enough to secure Wolves' first away win since late March and inflict an eighth defeat on Hodgson's side.

It leaves them just three points above the relegation zone.

"It was as bad a team performance as we have given, especially at Anfield," added Hodgson. "We've let the fans down and they made that perfectly clear to us and I can only empathise with them because if I was a supporter I would be disappointed with that.

"It is the Kop's way of showing they are not happy with what the team is doing. As manager you take responsibility for that so I have to take that criticism on the chin as well."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy felt his side, who lifted themselves off the bottom with their first away win since March, were not given enough credit for their performance.

"I think most people's perception of Wolves is that we are going down after being beaten by Wigan and being bottom of the league," he said.

"They probably thought we would come here and sit back and get our backsides slapped and go home with nothing. We decided we weren't going to have that and we were going to come here and have a go.

"I guess fortune favours the brave."

Read more: Sport

Phoenix Coyotes' Brett MacLean has impressive debut

"It was kind of a broken play," MacLean said of his goal. "We usually have a set break out, and it didn't really work out. I was just kind of going wide, and I saw Uppy had a little bit of speed and I just tried to drive to the net and luckily he found me. I just had my stick on the ice, and he made a perfect pass."

MacLean's welcome party to the NHL was a no-invitation required affair as his teammates also got in on the scoring, tallying five goals in addition to MacLean's marker to boost the Coyotes to a 6-3 win over division rival Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

"We had just a full-on attack mentality," said forward Scottie Upshall, who added a goal and two assists. "Right from the get-go we won pucks. We went to the net. We shot the net. We finished bodies. We made plays, and that was the difference."

With the Coyotes offense impotent in its previous four games, credit MacLean's presence in the lineup as the spark plug the forwards corps needed.

"It's funny how guys' injuries aren't as bad," coach Dave Tippett deadpanned. "You got some guys getting healthy in a hurry here when you score six goals."

All kidding aside, MacLean's call-up from San Antonio was two-fold: add a bonafide scorer and heighten the competition among the forwards.

"Your young players come in and push the players you have, and some cases they push them out and in some cases they need more seasoning," Tippett said. "The best organizations in the league that's what they do. They have young players that can contribute when they're ready, and we saw a good indication of that."

MacLean received a call at 11 p.m. Tuesday night that his services would be required in Phoenix. He left the team's AHL affiliate in San Antonio Wednesday morning and arrived in town at 3 p.m.

"The best thing was I was so busy I didn't have time to be nervous," MacLean said. "I didn't really have any time to do anything but get here."

Upon arrival, MacLean was slotted on a line with Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker-familiar faces from his time with the Rampage.

"We've all played together and that makes it a lot easier, especially in the first game," MacLean said.

That line was responsible for two goals, with Turris' unassisted marker in the second period sealing the scoring.

"My main goal is just to come in and try and fit in with the team and prove I belong in the NHL," MacLean said. "I never expected to score. Obviously it's exciting to score and for the team to win, six goals, it's a great accomplishment."

Read more: Sport

Ricardo Mayorga trashes Miguel Cotto at press conference

Haven’t we been here before?  Former welterweight champion and junior middleweight titlist Ricardo Mayorga (29-7-1, with 23 KOs) is matched with an A+ level opponent, talks a lot of crap before the fight and gets wiped out come fight night.  He never goes down without a fight and always entertains, but outside of his two victories over the late Vernon Forrest, Mayorga has fallen as the entertaining B side against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley.

So do not be surprised to see the same thing happen to him again come March 12 when the Nicaraguan faces off against junior middleweight titleholder Miguel Cotto (35-2-2, with 28 KOs) in Las Vegas, NV, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

But of course, the master of trash talking was on full display earlier today when the two principals came together at a press conference to officially announce their bout in New York City.  Below are some highlights of what he had to say.

RICARDO MAYORGA:

“I made a promise to Don that I will never fail him.  Don is the best promoter in the world and Bob (Arum) is a close second.  I will prove to everyone on March 12 that I am the man and you are the woman. 

 “That belt you are holding, polish it up for me because I will be taking it on March 12.  I will make a promise here today that I will knock him out in four rounds.

 “I have been watching all of your fights for the past two months, you are punch drunk – you can't take a punch anymore and I will retire him.  You and your trainer will fail.

 “Like Margarito after the Pacquiao fight, you will be thinking about retiring when I am done with you.  I will make you think twice about getting in the ring again.  Don't let your mom or your family suffer anymore by watching you get in the ring.  I will knock him out and prove to the people in Nicaragua and here that I am better than you in that ring.

 “This is the first time I will fight someone that is as small as a kid.  I think my pants are taller than you.

 “Buy the pay-per-view so you can watch the retirement party for Miguel.  Your hands are like a woman's.  Look at my hands – they are man's hands.  You came to Nicaragua and talked smack and told everyone I was a nobody.  On March 12, all the Puerto Ricans are going to be wearing black for your wake.  You will pay for what you said.

 “I see fear in your eyes.  We have never crossed paths but I have to tell you I have never liked you as a fighter.”

As for Miguel Cotto, he certainly could not match Ricardo Mayorga word for word, so he kept his comments brief while sneaking in a few verbal jabs here and there.  Below is a snippet of what the champion had to say about his opponent.

MIGUEL COTTO:

“Welcome to the first press conference where Ricardo Mayorga talks.  I am a professional fighter and I know what my job is.  My job is to fight in the ring and make good fights because nobody wins a fight with their mouth. 

“Yesterday I was with him and he was playful and serene but today I guess he gets excited with all the lights and cameras on.  When we get to the fight there will be lots of cameras on there also, but you will have to fight to back up your words. 

“I didn't interrupt you so don't interrupt me – the door is over there if you want to leave.  With those little pants I beat Shane Mosley.  Do you remember him?  Shane Mosley?”

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for undoubtedly more verbal abuse from both men as fight time nears.

Hardy, St. John's confident as road test at Louisville looms

St. John's is halfway through perhaps the most intimidating stretch on any college basketball team's schedule, eight straight games against teams in the Top 25. The Red Storm has won two and lost two. And after beating then-No. 9 Notre Dame on Sunday, the Johnnies are emboldened heading into Wednesday night's Big East road game against No. 19 Louisville.

As recently as a year ago, the idea of running such a gauntlet would have been daunting. Not this time around.

"Now it's like we know we can beat any team on every given night as long as we play our style of basketball," senior guard Dwight Hardy said. "Last year our minds were set like, 'Uh oh, we have another (big) game - let's see how it plays out,' instead of compared to this year when we go into the game knowing we can win the game."

St. John's (11-5, 4-2) is yet to play a team such as Louisville (14-3, 3-1), which uses a full-court press for essentially the entire game. The Cardinals are forcing 17.6 turnovers per game, which places them among the 10 best in Division I. The strategy fuels an offense that shoots 38% on three-pointers and averages 80.7 points.

Hardy began the season as the shooting guard but now starts at the point, in part because senior Malik Boothe was slowed by a hamstring injury. Asked if this could be his first big test, Hardy responded, "It could be."

"I know teams haven't been pressing us so far this season so it will be a big test for me but I think I can handle it well," said Hardy, who is averaging a team-high 15.5 points to go with 2.5 assists. "I'll just take my time and find the open player when they set up their press and I'll be fine."

Coach Steve Lavin said it wouldn't be fair to frame this game as a test of Hardy's point-guard abilities. He expects Boothe, who is close to full strength, senior forwards D.J. Kennedy and Justin Brownlee and sophomore guard Malik Stith to be involved.

"Hardy won't even have the ball the majority of the time," Lavin said. "The way we attack the press, he's someone we get it to later in the press offense and not right away. It will be a collective approach."

Hardy said he has embraced the idea of being a floor leader. Freshman Dwayne Polee II even said he plans to emulate Hardy when the 10 Storm seniors are gone.

"Communication has been the big adjustment for me, just being vocal at all times on the court," Hardy said. "I figure if I get through making it to the next level, (point guard is) going to be my natural position. So now is like preparing me.

"Also when things are going well or going bad, I know my teammates look forward to me getting them up and get them prepared to move on to the next battle."

Brett Favre: Packers Will Win Super Bowl

Brett Favre's third retirement appears to be one that will last, and as the gunslinger walks off into the sunset, he's got some kind words for the team he made his legend with.

Favre e-mailed ESPN's Ed Werder, saying he thinks the Packers will "win it all," and that he hopes they do.

"[Packers QB] Aaron [Rodgers] is the best QB and the receiving corps is the best ever, maybe," Favre said in the e-mail. "But [defensive coordinator] Dom [Capers] and the defense gets the MVP award at this stage.

Favre filed his retirement papers with the league, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's done; in 2008, Favre filed the same papers upon his retirement with the Packers.

Still, it seems this time Favre is really done. Meanwhile, the quarterback who waited on the bench for him to depart Green Bay, Rodgers, is excelling.

"There is no bitterness. I'm happy for them and very happy and content with my legacy." More from NFL.com:

Arizona-Stanford Postponed Following Gabrielle Giffords Shooting

In the wake of a mass shooting that wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed six people, Saturday's scheduled Pac-10 matchup between Arizona and Stanford was postponed until Sunday at 12:30 p.m. MT (2:30 p.m. ET)

"The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy," Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne said in a statement released by Arizona at 2 p.m. local time.

Byrne made a brief media statement later in the afternoon, reiterating that University police, who would normally be providing game security, were needed elsewhere "to focus on the issues at hand." He also lauded Stanford officials for "fully cooperating" in rescheduling the game.

"We know that sports often brings people together and we're looking forward to providing that opportunity tomorrow as a community," Byrne said.

The incident at a Tucson shopping center critically injured Giffords, killed six, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old bystander, and wounded 12 others.

Byrne read a statement from Wildcats coach Sean Miller.

"Basketball should be the last thing on anyone's mind right now. Our thoughts are with the families in our community touched by this tragedy. As a husband, father and member of the community, today's events have affected me deeply."

The game will be televised live on Fox Sports Arizona.

Derrick Williams scores 31, leads Arizona Wildcats past California 73-71

Williams was 7 for 12 from the field and made 16 of 22 free throws. He had originally set the free-throw attempt record with 21 against Wisconsin in the Maui Invitational last season, but made only 13 of those free throws.

"I didn't know that," Williams said of his record. "I'm glad that I made more than last time. I don't know what to say. Broke another record, I guess. I'm glad we got the win."

Williams was similarly almost bashful when discussing the way he took the game over.

"Today, I had to be a little selfish and put everybody on my back," Williams said. "We had big shots as well. Jamelle (Horne) hit two big threes and (Kyle) Fogg hit one three. Without those shots we don't win."

Indeed, it was Horne who hit a three-pointer to cut what was a nine-point Cal lead to just 57-55 with 7:28 to go, while UA tied the game at 60 two minutes later when Williams tied his career-high of 28 points with two free throws.

Horne, who lost his starting job to Jesse Perry last month, earlier hit a three-pointer that cut Cal's lead to three points midway through the second half.

"It was just teammates finding me and believing in me to put me in that position to make those shots," Horne said. "I know they have my back. Last year we wouldn't have been able to pull out a game like that."

UA coach Sean Miller seconded that motion after a game in which the Wildcats blew a 10-point first-half lead to trail by one at halftime and up to nine in the second half. Cal initially stymied with a zone defense in the first half that normally man-to-man-oriented coach Mike Montgomery pulled out.

"There were also some times we did not play well and yet we were able to make some game-winning plays down the stretch and fight hard," Miller said. "This was a game we could not have come close to winning a year ago."

After Horne's shots, it was Fogg who popped up with a minute left.

Arizona entered the final minute with a 70-67 lead after Fogg hit a three-pointer. Cal intercepted a pass from Kevin Parrom to Fogg and the Wildcats fouled Allen Crabbe behind the line, but Crabbe hit only 2 of 3 to keep UA ahead 70-69.

MoMo Jones then hit two free throws to make it 72-69 before Richard Solomon was fouled on the other end by Williams and hit both of his attempts to cut UA's lead to one point.

But Solomon Hill hit the first of two free throws, and after Cal rebounded his miss with two seconds to go, Jorge Gutierrez took an inbounds pass to shoot an 18-footer that missed at the buzzer.

Cal's Markhuri Sanders-Frison, who had 12 points and five rebounds while hurting the Wildcats particularly in the second half, fouled out with 2:52 to go.

Williams tied the game at 60 with five minutes to go and then added two free throws to put UA in 62-62 tie.

The win moved Arizona to 13-3 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-10 entering a Saturday afternoon game with Stanford.

The Bears dropped to 7-7 and 0-2.

Having taken over the lead just before halftime, Cal expanded it to 41-32 with an 8-0 run early in the second half. The Bears kept Arizona scoreless for over three minutes, with Williams scoring the Wildcats' first bucket of the second half with 16:43 to go.

Sanders-Frison kept the Bears ahead in the middle of the half with three inside scores in a row, getting the Bears' lead up to 55-48.

Arizona led nearly all of the first half, by up to 10 points, but lost the lead just before halftime when Gutierrez hit a pair of free throws with one second left.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 15-5 lead but began sputtering after Cal started playing zone defense.
Cal went on a 9-3 run to cut UA's lead to 18-13 and eventually tied the game at 27 after a Jones turnover led to an Crabbe three.

The Bears had four free throws and an inside basket from Solomon in the final minutes to take the lead.

Crabbe led Cal in scoring with 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting while Williams had 12 for Arizona.

The Wildcats shot just 35.3 percent from the field, and made only 3 of 10 three-pointers. Cal shot 42.9 percent from the field and made 4 of 7 three-pointers.

Crabbe first brought the Bears within a point, 23-22, with 6:05 left in the first half.

Arizona went up 9-2 at the first media timeout, having held Cal scoreless for the first three minutes, and eventually took a 15-5 lead on a three-pointer from Williams.

Duck! Oregon has become a football power

Though fans today find it common to watch the Ducks play in January, when I grew up in Oregon, by the late fall you could count on only two things: rain and another disappointing season.

Since I was born in 1967 to the day I graduated in June 1989 with a journalism degree from the University of Oregon, my beloved Ducks had:

- Fifteen losing seasons.

- Two .500 seasons.

- Five winning seasons.

- Zero bowl appearances.

That's right, no bowl games, and in seven of those seasons the Ducks won just two games.

To keep the athletic program financially afloat, the Ducks would take road-game pastings against the likes of Nebraska in exchange for a big paycheck.

Television appearances were rare, and during my four years at Oregon, the now-raucous, sold-out Autzen Stadium, the home of the Ducks, had thousands and sometimes more than 10,000 empty seats.

College kids, who now storm the field after big wins, usually were nowhere to be found after halftime back then; heading to a frat house was more enticing than watching another loss.

As I was leaving college, the bowl drought exceeded a quarter-century - the previous time to that point that the Ducks played beyond the regular season was in the 1963 Sun Bowl. During those years in college football exile, six presidents were in the Oval Office, and the music scene had shifted from an emerging British band called the Beatles to the B-52's.

Success at Oregon was measured by a six-win season, which happened just a half-dozen times from my birth until I graduated.

Getting seven wins was considered a milestone, and former Oregon coach Rich Brooks said as much when I took a football-coaching class from him during my last term in school. (It never hurts to pad your grade-point average.)

On the first day of that class, Brooks wrote the number seven on the chalk board and gave a lecture on what it would mean for Oregon to achieve that win total.

Incredibly, after I graduated that fall, Brooks led the Ducks to a seven-win season, and the team was invited to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

But that accomplishment was ridiculed. Oregon was accused of buying its way into the postseason as the school agreed to purchase 14,000 tickets to a game more than 2,200 miles from Eugene. Oregon beat Tulsa 27-24, but Oregon took a financial hit, as at least 5,000 tickets weren't sold.

That gamble, however, impressed bowl organizers and the next year the Ducks went to the now-defunct Freedom Bowl. On Jan. 1, 1995, the Ducks did the unthinkable: They went to the Rose Bowl.

Though we had little money, my wife, Pam, who was eight months pregnant, and I went to Pasadena, Calif., hoping for an upset of mighty Penn State. We went home disappointed, as the second-ranked Nittany Lions won 38-20.

Since then, Oregon has had just one losing season and missed the postseason only twice.

Now, in my adopted home state of Arizona, my falls are consumed with praying for some rain and watching Oregon play on TV nearly every week.

And, after Monday night, I will be praying to show some humility when Oregon wins its first football national championship.

Reach The Heat Index at craig.harris@arizonarepublic.com or 604-444-8478.

Read more: Sport

Roman Abramovich thwarted in attempt to fly African porters to London for a Chelsea game

Roman Abramovich, the oligarch and owner of Chelsea football club, is not best known for his acts of kindness.

But after attempting – and failing – to climb Kilimanjaro last year, he was so grateful to the team of African porters who helped him down from the mountain, he offered to pay them back in style.

As well as the usual tips, Mr Abramovich vowed to fly ten local men to London to see a Chelsea match at Stamford Bridge.

What the Russian billionaire did not count on were the sticklers at the British High Commission in Tanzania. After a year-long battle, UK authorities have refused to grant the porters with visas.

Fed up with the red tape, Mr Abramovich flew the men to Moscow instead to see a game there.

Last September, Mr Abramovich and six friends attempted to climb Kilimanjaro, which at 19,330ft is the highest mountain in Africa. But at 15,100ft and with Mr Abramovich, 44, suffering breathing problems because of the altitude, the party turned back.

They struck up a bond with their porters however and with English football in common, Mr Abramovich pledged to bring the men to London to see a Chelsea game.

A month after the failed exhibition, Mr Abramovich's right hand man Eugene Tenenbaum wrote to British officials in Tanzania, requesting the men be granted visas for a trip last December to London.

Mr Tenenbaum wrote: "Chelsea Football Club is writing to ask for your assistance in issuing UK visas for a group of Tanzanian nationals to visit the United Kingdom ... Chelsea Football Club will pay for the return air tickets and accommodation for the listed persons as well as provide a chaperone for them for the whole duration of their stay."

The High Commission in Dar es Salaam would not issue them visas, prompting Abramovich to try again in August.

This time Mr Abramovich requested the men be given permission to see the game played against Sunderland on November 14 this season - which the Londoners lost 3-0.

Again the High Commission turned down the application fearing the men would disappear in the UK and not return home.

Alexander Lemunge, the owner of East African Voyages Ltd and the lead porter on Mr Abramovich's expedition, told how pleased the guides were with the Russian's offer and how disappointed they had been by the refusal of the British to let them in.

Mr Lemunge said: "I received this invitation with a happy heart. It is unbelievable to see one of the most famous people on earth inviting us to the UK.

"He is very appreciative. It was so generous of Mr Abramovich. The men were so disappointed we couldn't come to London.

"They filled out all the forms, waited patiently and then were told they couldn't have visas."

Mr Abramovich was unavailable for comment. The Foreign Office did not comment.

Read more: Sport

Jets fans show true colors in bagels

A Brooklyn bagel factory is dishing out free bagels to honor the Jets, but there's a catch: They're green.

Bagel-loving Jets fans can pick up the green treats Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the renowned Bagels by Bell factory at 10013 Foster Ave. in Canarsie.

The bagels will be available from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"I'm a Jets fan. My son's a Jets fan," said factory owner Warren Bell, who has season tickets. "We said, 'Hey, let's have some fun.'"

Bell insisted that the moss-colored bagels - thanks to food coloring - taste the same as regular ones.

He vowed to give away up to a million free bagels to his distributors, which deliver his handmade creations to supermarkets and delis in New York City and Long Island.

"To be honest, I'm not sure if they're really going to want them," Bell said. "A supermarket won't want to sell green bagels."

The bagels are free only at the factory - not at the stores.

Granderson promotes baseball in New Zealand

Curtis Granderson has eaten duck brain in China - "It had the consistency of a lima bean and really didn't have much flavor," he says - and once felt like his taste buds were seared when he sampled an uber-spicy Indonesian dish on a trip to Amsterdam.

Granderson enjoys traveling and he immerses himself in local culture - and cuisine. This week, he's got something even more adventurous in mind when he goes to New Zealand as part of Major League Baseball's International Ambassador program: "I want to see the sharks," Granderson said. "If they can throw me in a cage ..."

If that makes the Yankees uneasy - Granderson laughed when he was asked what GM Brian Cashman would say about that particular bit of eco-tourism - they can at least be assured that much of Granderson's trip will be about promoting baseball, a sport that is gaining a following in New Zealand.

"I like to show, hey, it's another sport that you can learn," Granderson said in a telephone interview. "It's not as complicated as it seems. Me not being the tallest or biggest or strongest guy in baseball - physically, kids can relate and say, 'Hey, I can do this. I don't have to be seven feet tall or 300 pounds like a strong rugby player.'

"Also, I was able to graduate college (Illinois-Chicago) with a double major and pursue my baseball career. I try to illustrate that you can do both and be successful at both of them. You can do both. I hope I can open up some eyes. I'm excited to get a chance to get to see another part of the world and spread the word about baseball."

Granderson - who has been to England, the Netherlands and Italy in 2006, South Africa in 2007 and Beijing and Shanghai, China, in 2008 for MLB - will conduct clinics and make appearances, including one at a big youth tournament. He will be in New Zealand from Thursday through Jan. 28. He's eager to check out rugby and cricket.

While there, Granderson will continue his day job, too - getting ready for spring training. The Yankees have their first full-squad workout on Feb. 20.

"The good thing about this trip is that it's closer to spring training and it'll be summertime there," Granderson said. "As (the kids) are getting ready to play, I can join in. I'll demonstrate more. In the past, I was in my pure rest mode, because it was earlier in the offseason."

He added, "I'll be able to keep up with my workouts."

Granderson said he was thrilled by his strong finish to his first year as a Yankee, but noted that "everything resets."

"The good thing about this spring is, the what if, the question marks (about his first season as a Yankee) are gone," he said.

Nevertheless, he might face some questions about whether he actually did swim with the sharks. Seriously, it seems like he'll sit that one out.

"I've heard it's the adventure capital of the world," Granderson said. "If I can't do some of it, my friends will. (On other trips), I've never experienced some of the stuff, but it's exciting to be around it."

Lawrence: Dumars could assist Nets' 'Melo chase

Let me see if we've got this straight: The Detroit Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony in the 2003 draft, they've been paying dearly for what seems like an eternity for taking the long-departed Darko Milicic instead of Anthony, and now they're going to help the Nets land 'Melo?

Has Joe Dumars lost his mind?

That doesn't sound like a wise move by Dumars, Detroit's long-standing president, who has been hearing non-stop about his "Melo Mistake" since the Pistons have fallen on hard times in recent seasons.

"But if Joe thinks it's a fair deal, he'll do it," said an Eastern Conference GM Saturday. "He's had so much success in Detroit, winning a championship and getting to the conference finals six straight seasons, the 'Melo thing isn't going to affect what he does. And even with their ownership in a little bit of flux, he can do what he needs to do."

Even if Dumars is going to help the Nets get Anthony, the latest incarnation of a Denver-New Jersey deal is far from complete. In fact, it's taking on water. Chauncey Billups, who has been mentioned in the deal, wants to come to New Jersey about as much as Kobe Bryant once did.

The Nuggets' veteran playmaker would rather take a buyout, so that could potentially kill the deal since Anthony doesn't want to arrive in Newark and see he's playing with a bunch of backups on a lottery team.

Over the past few days, Dumars has had to deal with the unexpected death of a second brother, in a period of only a few weeks, with this brother being the closest of his five. He's devastated, as one would expect.

But he still has been working with the Nets to help facilitate the Anthony deal. What's in it for the Pistons? Dumars wants to get rid of Richard Hamilton's contract, which has two years left at $25 million, so he'll gladly take on Troy Murphy's expiring deal.

Even with the Billups hangup, a second Eastern Conference executive was asked to asses the Nets' chances of getting Anthony.

"Good," he said. "They've got the most to offer and they're being very aggressive."

Which is exactly what the Nets need to be here.

Have you seen them lately?

They can't score for Avery Johnson any better than they did for Kiki Vandeweghe. Their two best players, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, prove on an almost nightly basis that they can't carry a team. Saturday night they didn't have Harris against the equally talent-starved Bucks, as he sat out with a leg injury. And it showed as the Nets were anemic in a 115-92 defeat. Lopez scored only five points in 19 minutes, despite not playing against Andrew Bogut, who was out with a virus.

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No bail for Oriole in fatal D.R. shooting

Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon will be held without bail in a Dominican prison for one year pending a trial on involuntary manslaughter charges, according to The Associated Press.

The stunning development occurred late Monday night, when a judge rejected bail for the Dominican righthander. Simon surrendered to Dominican authorities in Santo Domingo earlier Monday. The 29-year-old was sought in connection with a fatal shooting of one man and wounding of another on New Year's Eve in the Dominican resort town of Luperon.

Accompanied by his attorney, Carlos Olivares, Simon surrendered to authorities in Santo Domingo and was arraigned in Puerto Plata, on the island's northern coast. Olivares will appeal the judge's decision.

Olivares told The AP that the dead man, 25-year-old Michael Castillo Almonte, was Simon's cousin. Almonte died from a gunshot wound to his chest. Castillo Almonte's 17-year-old half brother, Starlin Castillo Hernandez, was injured and remains hospitalized in Santiago, D.R.

Olivares said the weapon his client fired had been turned over to authorities so ballistics tests could be completed. He added that his client fired the weapon into the air during the New Year's celebration.

At the Santo Domingo police station Monday, Simon told reporters, "It wasn't a thing like we began arguing and I started shooting. It was some accident. That's why I came here, to open my soul." He faces up to two years in prison if convicted.

Dominican public prosecutor Victor Mueses told The AP that eyewitness accounts supported a manslaughter charge.

"The version that we have is that there was a dispute between two women and (Simon) tried to dissolve it, fired a shot that ended up wounding a young person in the arm and that same bullet lodged in the chest of the deceased," Mueses told The AP.

The Baltimore Sun reported that former Oriole Miguel Tejada was helping pay for Simon's legal costs, and that team executive John Stockstill was traveling to the D.R. to meet with Simon.

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Ex-mate: Amar'e in no 'Melo mood

LOS ANGELES - Amar'e Stoudemire has said publicly that he'd love to see the Knicks acquire Carmelo Anthony, but not everyone who has played with Stoudemire believes him.

"Amar'e will embrace any teammate, but if it were up to him, I know he'd rather just see the Knicks stay the way they are," says a former Suns teammate, who requested anonymity.

"Amar'e likes being the guy. He likes the players that are around him. I know he's thinking, 'Why would we want to change this?'

"I don't think he's going to be that upset if the Knicks don't get Carmelo, I'll tell you that."

On Friday, Stoudemire said of the Knicks, "We don't really need much." That doesn't sound like a franchise player pleading with the front office to make a move.

The Nets are in serious talks with the Nuggets to acquire Anthony, who would first have to agree to a contract extension with New Jersey before a deal would be finalized.

Fab five Jet moments from Wild Card win

What began with a flurry of punts in the opening quarter sped to up to breakneck pace by game's end Saturday night, ending with kicks. Here's a look at the five moments that defined the Jets' 17-16 win over the Colts.

The volunteer
When Brad Smith, the usual kickoff returner, went down with a quadriceps injury in the first half, cornerback Antonio Cromartie approached special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff about returning kickoffs. His first went for 41 yards, but the Colts made his task easy at the end, choosing to kick deep and directly at him. He turned it into a 47-yard explosion that sparked the Jets' game-winning march up field.

The near fumble
On the initial play following the kickoff, Mark Sanchez found Braylon Edwards for a nine-yard connection. Edwards, haunted by a past of lost fumbles while with the Cleveland Browns, lost the ball, but it fell underneath him and he grabbed it in time to maintain possession and extend the drive.

The timeout
Colts coach Jim Caldwell called a timeout with 29 seconds left, allowing the Jets to regroup and play for better field position rather than relying on a 50-yard field goal attempt. Asked for an explanation afterward, Caldwell said, "We wanted to try to make them snap the ball as many times as they possibly could." Peyton Manning, forever emoting, looked puzzled by the decision on the sideline.

The kick
Instead of running on third-and-6 from the Jets' 32, which would have kept the clock moving, Manning tried to find wideout Blair White, but could not connect with him on a toss. With 53 seconds left, Adam Vinatieri, the clutch kicker who had nailed attempts from 32 and 47 yards earlier in the game, hit from 50 yards to give the Colts a 16-14 edge. The one mistake? Too much time left.

The winner
Edwards broke away from cornerback Jacob Lacey, spun and hauled in an 18-yard pass from Sanchez to set up the Jets at the 14. Nick Folk, once derided as the Achilles heel of the team, made his final seven attempts since missing one against the Patriots on Dec. 5. Though he said he was prepared for a 51-yard attempt, if necessary, in the final minute, he hit from 32, giving his team another showdown in Foxborough.

Fab Five Jet Moments

Drag the photo to the right to let us know what you think was the game's biggest play

The Volunteer

The Near Fumble

The Timeout

The Kick

The Winner

SUBMIT

John Elway clarifies comments made about Broncos QB Tim Tebow

On Saturday, reports surfaced regarding Denver Broncos new executive V.P. of operations John Elway and his comments made to S.I.'s Peter King about quarterback Tim Tebow.

According to King, Elway stated how didn't think Tebow was a very good quarterback at the moment--which is hard to say considering how the former Florida standout played over the last three weeks of the season. However, Elway took the time to clarify his comments on his Twitter account.

"To clarify my thoughts on Tim Tebow... I think he's a very good football player, and if anyone can turn themselves into a great QB, Tim can."

"Myself and our entire organization think very highly of him. We are pleased with his first year as a Bronco."

"Any speculation that the Denver Broncos are considering moving Tim is completely false."

The Broncos hired Elway last week to help turn around a team that has recorded just 10 wins over the last two seasons. As for Tebow, he started the final three games of the season for Denver and with the rumors of Kyle Orton being on the market--there's chance he will be the starter for 2011 as well. Of course, with all of the comments made over the last 24 hours, it should be interesting to see what type of relationship Elway and Tebow establish during the offseason.

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Gallo: Honoring the heroes to us all

These are the people who crossed our path during the past year, giving us, and the group we call Gallo's Geezers, something of themselves. They are my year-end heroes.

1. Ray Kelly
The police commissioner is a friend but that doesn't interfere with my sincere take on the man. This Marine who fought in Vietnam stands erect in a blue serge suit with a colorful tie and spit-polish shoes. He is definite of purpose and given any assignment he will successfully carry it out. He is a man with vast capacity for leadership. He is a Harvard Law graduate and has passed the bar. Here I will describe the commissioner's character, solid as it is. But there is more to this gift to the city: he is also defined by his integrity. Just my opinion, but I feel that if he so aspires, he could run the FBI. Ray is also a great sports fan and let me tell you this little story to show you his humbleness and never-forgetting-his-beginnings persona. I once interviewed him for my column on the subject of sports. We were going across town in his car with his driver when suddenly he told the driver to stop.

"Stop right here," he said.

The car stopped and Kelly said, "See that corner there," pointing near Broadway and 38th St. "When I was a rookie cop I was directing traffic there and on the other side of the street stood my mother, watching me direct. She spent the afternoon watching me direct traffic."

The name "Prince of the City" hasn't been used since the days of Mayor Jimmy Walker, so Ray, my friend, today (don't laugh) I dub you Prince of the City.

2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
This skyhook phenom addressed the Geezers this year at Gallagher's restaurant and he told one of the stories of a team called the Harlem Rens, known during the 1940s as one of the greatest basketball ensembles to play on a wooden floor. The problem was that old menace our country had of not allowing black players to play on the same court with whites. The Rens struggled through it all, and Kareem told their story so eloquently that he is now making a documentary about the Rens. Of course, the Rens triumphed when they finally got to play - and beat - every white team that opposed them. That day, Kareem gave New York a wondeful afternoon.

3. Tom Brokaw
The television newsman also addressed our Geezers. He spoke on the Greatest Generation, for which he is now roundly noted. The Greatest Generation was defined by those three powerful words that Brokaw put into the American lexicon. They fit America as much as God Bless America fits America. His stories of the Greatest Generation were concise and powerful and told in Hemingway fashion. And we thank Tom for that this year.

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Favre still could face civil suit

Don't expect Brett Favre to do an end zone dance when he leaves pro football next week having escaped meaningful punishment from the NFL for his role in an X-rated controversy that has embarrassed the NFL and the Jets.

There are too many unanswered questions about his communication with former Jets sideline reporter Jenn Sterger, according to attorneys the Daily News quizzed about the matter. What's clear is that Favre remains vulnerable to legal trouble related to the text messages, voicemails and graphic photographs that Sterger received in 2008 - allegedly from Favre.

"It's an ambiguous, messy case," said Richard Emery of the New York firm Emery, Celli, Brinckerhoff and Abady, whose practice includes civil rights litigation. "Favre clearly played hardball and is willing to let what's come out stand on its own."

But Emery pointed out that neither Sterger nor the league had the power to compel testimony, and that a sexual harassment litigation or some other claim could give her more opportunities to get information from Favre, Jets employees and executives, the league and its investigators.

The NFL's two-month investigation, led by the league's vice president for security, Milt Ahlerich, involved interviews with Sterger, Favre, Deadspin editor A.J. Daulerio and others. In the event of a civil suit, a plaintiff could demand all of that material in the discovery phase of the suit.

"If she were to engage in litigation, and were to request these documents, the NFL and/or the Jets would have the opportunity to object to those requests," said David Gottlieb, an associate at the New York firm of Thompson Wigdor & Gilly.

Because much of the conduct that has been disclosed publicly in the case occurred two years ago, statutes of limitations may block Sterger from bringing a complaint. But those statutes vary depending on whether a complaint involves federal, state or city laws.

Kathleen Peratis, a partner at Outten & Golden specializing in employment discrimination cases, said the NFL seemed conscious of its own potential liability in the matter. Peratis said the $50,000 fine the league applied to Favre for not cooperating with its probe was "trivial," and that the NFL was conflicted from the beginning of its investigation.

"The league could certainly use leverage that was stronger and would be more likely to get his cooperation," Peratis said. "It appears they didn't want him to give them all the information."

Emery said he thought it was doubtful that Favre would challenge the fine, which is a minuscule amount of money for the quarterback.

"To me, there's no winner here," Emery said. "Favre looks foolish. The woman looks foolish. And Goodell looks foolish. There's a bunch of losers in this."

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Pryor among Ohio St. players suspended by NCAA

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has been suspended along with four other football players for the first five games of the 2011 season, the NCAA said Thursday, following an investigation based on reports that several of the team's players traded signed memorabilia for tattoos and possible other favors at a Columbus tattoo parlor.

The NCAA rules prohibits student-athletes from benefitting from their status as an athlete to receive gifts not accessible to the general public.

The Columbus Dispatch reported on Wednesday night that the school was investigating the issue and several prominent players could face suspensions.

On Thursday, the NCAA handed down five-game suspensions to five players, including Pryor and star wide receiver Devier Posey. In addition, Mike Adams, Daniel Herron and Solomon Thomas received bans.

The players will remain eligible for the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4, when the Buckeyes take on the Arkansas Razorbacks, but must repay money and benefits ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,5000.

According to reports, the players were found to have been selling awards, gifts and university apparel in exchange for discounted services.

According to the Dispatch, Athletic director Gene Smith had not issued a comment. However Smith and head coach Jim Tressel were scheduled to meet with reporters to discuss the university's investigation of players trading autographs for tattoos, but the NCAA announced its decision before the meeting took place.

Pryor was hit hardest by the sanctions, which state that he must repay $2,500 for selling his 2008 Big Ten championship ring along with several gifts given to him by the university.

Solomon must pay back $1,505 for also selling his championship ring for $1,000, his 2008 Gold Pants for $350 and receiving discounted services worth $155.

According to the Dispatch, all the players must make their payments to a selected charity as a part of their reinstatement into the NCAA.

In addition to the five players suspended, student-athlete Jordan Whiting must sit out the first game of next season and pay $150 to charity for the value of services that were discounted because of his student-athlete status.

Tressel said the university plans to appeal the sanction.

Smith added that the team needed to educate its players better about the rules.

"We were not as explicit with our student-athlete education as we should have been in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years regarding the sale of apparel, awards and gifts issued by the athletics department," Smith said. "We began to significantly improve our education in November of 2009 to address these issues. After going through this experience, we will further enhance our education for all our student-athletes as we move forward."

While the Buckeyes had their final pre-Christmas practice on Tuesday in preparation for Arkansas, all prominent players were in attendance and all performed in team drills, according to several sources.

The team will leave for New Orleans on Dec. 29.

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Johnnies advance to Holiday Festival final

Justin Burrell attacked the defensive glass like his pride depended on it Monday night. Paris Horne clawed his way through every screen. And D.J. Kennedy willed his way to the basket. St. John's has found urgency.

Sparked by a pair of upset losses, the Red Storm staged what coach Steve Lavin called a "grind-it-out slugfest" against Davidson. They were tenacious on defense and rebounded with passion to score an important 62-57 victory in the Holiday Festival semifinals before 6,956 at the Garden.

The Johnnies' aggression after getting upset by St. Bonaventure and Fordham was evident in their physical play from the outset.

Lavin was called for a technical foul 3:17 into the game and before it was over St. John's Dele Coker and Davidson's Jake Cohen were called for unsportsmanlike technicals and St. John's Justin Brownlee and Davidson's Clint Mann were called for intentional hard fouls. Brownlee even opened a gash over Cohen's left eye.

"That's how games are played in the Big East, it's how they're played at the Garden and it's how they're played in the neighborhood," said Davidson coach Bob McKillop, a Queens native who knows.

But in the end it was the Johnnies' high intensity level on defense that brought the win. They held the Wildcats without a point over the final 5:15. Burrell made both ends of a one-and-one with 5:04 to play to break a 57-57 tie. The only other points scored the rest of the way were Dwight Hardy free throws. He made one of two with 16.8 seconds left after Brownlee pulled down a key offensive rebound. And he made two to ice it with 3.4 seconds left.

" It took us a while to get over that game. We felt we should have won that (Fordham) game, being up 21," said Kennedy, who had 10 of his 17 points in the second half after St. John's trailed 27-24 at the half. "Late in the game and down the stretch the mindset was 'not again.' We just refused to lose.

"Games like those (losses) hurt, but they help you in the end."

Lavin called the triumph "an example of a group of kids that really had the . . . resolve to find a way to get a victory. That's what impressed me most."

St. John's (6-3) will meet unbeaten Northwestern (8-0) in Tuesday night's 9:30 p.m. championship game. Davidson will face St. Francis (N.Y.) in the 7 p.m. consolation game.

Down three, Davidson was able to get Brendan McKillop a three-point look with about five seconds left that rimmed out. McKillop said "it felt good out of my hands. . . . it just didn't fall."

Hardy had12 points, Brownlee had 11 points and Burrell seven rebounds for the Johnnies. McKillop finished with 17 points and Cohen 14 points for Davidson (5-5).

No play embodied the Johnnies' defensive intensity more than the final play of the first half. St. John's committed a turnover and Da'Mon Brooks was driving for an uncontested dunk in the final seconds. Horne came out of nowhere and got way above the rim to swat it as the buzzer sounded.

"It was a big play," Lavin said. "We'd thrown the interception. . . . that really charged the Garden up."

NORTHWESTERN 92, ST. FRANCIS 61
Northwestern put on a three-point shooting clinic to defeat St. Francis (N.Y.), 92-61, in the first Holiday Festival semifinal and advance to Tuesday night's 9:30 p.m. championship game. The Wildcats (8-0) shot 46% from behind the arc including 8-for-14 as they built a 45-31 halftime lead. NU is 8-0 for the first time since 1993-94.

Drew Crawford had seven of his 25 points and John Shurna had six of his 26 points in a 19-2 run that put the 'Cats up 36-19 with 3:49 before halftime. Crawford also had nine rebounds and eight assists. Michael Thompson added 14 points for NU.

The Terriers (6-4) scored the first seven points of the second half, but got not closer than 45-38. Travis Nichols had 17 points for St. Francis, which rode the subway to the game from its Brooklyn Heights campus. The Terriers will play in Tuesday night's 7 p.m. consolation.

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Roy Hodgson leaves Liverpool as Kenny Dalglish takes temporary charge ahead of Manchester United clash

Liverpool’s American owner, the Fenway Sports Group, decided Hodgson’s time was up after a dismal run of results and Dalglish, under whom Liverpool won their last league title in 1990, has been called on to revive a club just four points above the relegation zone.

Liverpool’s principal owner, John W Henry, issued a statement yesterday morning to formally announce the changes. “We are grateful for Roy’s efforts over the past six months, but both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down from his position as team manager,” Henry said. “We wish him all the best for the future.

“We are delighted that Kenny Dalglish has agreed to step in and manage the team for Sunday’s FA Cup tie at Old Trafford and for the remainder of the season. Kenny was not just a legendary footballer, he was the third of our three most successful managers – three giants. We are extraordinarily fortunate and grateful that he has decided to step in during the middle of this season.”

Hodgson’s sacking — officially he leaves by “mutual consent” — is far from a surprise. The owners had decided to replace him 10 days ago but were delayed in doing while they sought a permanent appointment, before deciding on a caretaker.

Damien Comolli, the Director of Football Strategy, I has been charged with finding the right man to take the job in the summer.

The club are determined to identify the best manager in Europe to deliver their ambitious plans to reform the club and foster a coherent philosophy, from academy to first team, in the style of Ajax and Barcelona.

Representatives of Martin O’Neill have made clear his interest, but he does not fit the profile of what Liverpool are looking for. The club have been inundated with requests by managers’ agents from around Europe. Didier Deschamps of Marseille and Jurgen Klopp of Borussia Dortmund are the sort of coaches under consideration.

Appointing a coach mid-season has proved too complicated, however, and the owners have decided that Dalglish is the best option to get them to the end of the season.

It is understood that, should his time in charge prove a success, Dalglish would like to be considered for the post on a full-time basis. Apparently, that scenario was not discussed when he was appointed and it is unlikely that he would be appointed as it would require the new owners to rethink their long-term strategy.

Hodgson’s departure was criticised by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger yesterday. “I’m shocked,” said Wenger. “I rate Roy Hodgson as a great manager. He was Manager of the Year in July and that shows how quickly we can lose our qualities. Our job suffers today.”

Hodgson, 63, signed a three-year deal in the summer (it cost them £2 million in compensation to get him from Fulham) and will be due substantial compensation, with one source suggesting he was due a year’s wages if he was sacked during his first season.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott sorry for diving in Leeds United FA Cup stalemate

With Arsène Wenger’s team trailing 1-0 in the closing minutes at the Emirates Stadium, England winger Walcott tumbled to the turf after a challenge from Alex Bruce in the penalty area.

Referee Phil Dowd initially awarded the penalty but, after consulting with his assistant, he changed his mind.

Walcott, who then won the penalty from which Cesc Fabregas equalised for Arsenal in stoppage time, later apologised for his actions.

“I want to apologise because I actually dived. I was trying to win the penalty,” Walcott said.

“I am not the sort of player to do it, but I own up to it and apologise. It is something I don’t want to see in my game.

“It was one of those things. I am not happy with myself, but I am happy with the draw. I even had a joke with the referee saying 'that was my first dive, can you tell?’

“I don’t have to own up to it and I can’t speak for other players, but I have just expressed how I feel. I hope people respect that.”

Disney World Marathon Results 2011 - Pics

Over 50,000 people are expected to run in the The Disney World Marathons.

The main marathon will be held on Sunday January 9th at the Epcot Center At Walt Disney World, Florida.

The Disney World Half Marathon was run on Saturday, January 8th.

Start times: 5:35 am for both races.

Sponsor: CIGNA

Special race is Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge: Run in the Disney World Half Marathon on Saturday and run the Disney World Marathon on Sunday.  This race has a special competitor. Army Captain Ivan Castro hailing from Hoboken, NJ will run a total of 39.3 miles.  The remarkable thing is he is the only blind member of the Army’s Green Berets (Special Forces. A Disney press release tells us: Yet after 17 months of rehab, he has recovered enough to run 13 previous marathons, two triathlons, an ultra triathlon, plus several bike races and other endurance events. 

Team AllEars expects to raise $30,000 this year for breast cancer.  

Check for the Disney World Marathon results here. 

Remember that it takes a while for the results to update.

Click here for the Disney World Marathon web site. 

Click here to see photo gallery.

You may also be interested in this:

Three steps to beginning marathon training – rulk, ruddle and run

Pro Wrestling Examiner's Top 5 Matches of 2010

2010 is almost over, and it's time for everyone to chime in with their
'best of 2010' list. This Examiner watched hundreds, if not thousands of hours of Pro Wrestling action and drama this year. With all the bodyslams, big pops from the live crowds, and the shocking moments, it really comes down to who had stand out performances of the year with the best matches of the year.

Of course these matches are what this humble Examiner thinks. What is your pick for the best matches of 2010? Post them in the comment below. Think my Top  5 list is way off the mark, then let me know why with your comments below.

5. Daniel Bryan vs. Chris Jericho- NXT

On the first episode of NXT Season 1, the highly acclaimed Daniel Bryam (Bryan Danielson) made his mark in WWE right away with this hard-hitting match. Bryan went the distance and took risks like the show-stealing suicide dive through the ropes, colliding with the announcer's table, and regaining his strength only to be forced to submit to Jericho's back-wrenching Walls of Jericho submission hold. It was easily one of the most exciting televised matches that WWE has produced with two phenomional wrestlers upping the anty to give this new show some buzz.

4. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk - "Hair vs. S.E.S Pledge Match" WWE Over the Limit

This match properly brought to a close to one of the best feuds of the year, with Mysterio and Punk going back and forth with two big stipulations on the line. Rey won to the joy of his fans and the people who were sick of Punk's 'straight edge' preaching. Mysterio beat off Punk's Straight Edge Society interference, and finally got revenge on the Second City Saint.  Punk got shaved bald after getting handcuffed to the ropes. It was a brutal match with a fun scene afterwards.

3. Davey Richards vs. Tylar Black - Ring of Honor Championship Match at Death Before Dishnor VII

Fans in Toronto got a real classic when ROH World Champion Tylar Black (who would soon exit the company for WWE) and the wrestling machine that is Davey Richards collided in this main event. With the title on the line, these two stars duked it out with bone-jarring strikes, powerbombs into turn buckles, and physical sacrifice. The final sequence of near falls had the ROH faithful gasping, but Black squeezed out of this fight.

2. Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler - WWE Bragging Rights

This Pay Per View was littered with letdown matches and little fanfare, except for this show-stealing last minute addition to the show. United States Champion Daniel Bryan and Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler proved they are worthy of their individual championships in this epic match up that earned the two young up and comers a standing ovation. The match impressed WWE management so much that they awarded this match the honor of being tied for #1 on it's official Top matches of 2010. The match it tied with...

1. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels - 'career vs. Streak' Match at Wrestlemania 26

In a breath-taking performance from two of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time, one legendary career came to an end and one marched on with a unmatched streak. Undertaker's intriguing 'Wrestlemania undefeated' streak rolled on to 19-0. While a universally loved star, Shawn Michael's career came to a heart-breaking ending. The match was so important that it was positioned as the last match above two World title matches and had the intense pressure of outdoing the previous Michaels vs. Undertaker match from Wrestlemania 25. It was a really dramatic moment to see Michael's make the 'throat-cutting' taunt on his knees, beaten and battered, and fighting to the end. Undertaker tombstoned him one more time, and it was over. Nothing was better in 2010, nothing.

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