Javed Miandad

Javed Miandad is the greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced. There was little doubt in the mind of Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan's first Test captain and influential administrator, when he first laid eyes on him as a youngster in the early 70s and famously predicted Miandad "the find of the decade." He wasn't wrong, as a stupendous debut series against New Zealand in 1976 started to prove.
Miandad was not of the classical school of batting, though he possessed a beautiful square cut and most shots in and outside the book: he was a fine early reverse-sweeper. But he worked the angles and spaces equally well; he knew above all how to score runs in almost any situation. These qualities presented themselves through his entire career and uniquely, not once did his career average fall below fifty. No Pakistani has scored more Test runs than him and, Inzamam-ul-Haq aside, probably no batsman has won as many matches for Pakistan.
There was often a touch of genie or genius about his finest innings, like his two hundreds in successive Tests in the West Indies in 1987-88 or the big double hundreds against India and England. Problems on the bouncy pitches of Australia or the swinging ones of England were overcome with time and, if people questioned his record against the West Indies, they never did after that 1987-88 series.
He was versatile as well, as evidenced by a marvellous ODI career. Here his supreme running - it is said that he was one of the early pioneers of aggressive ODI running - shot placement and mental strength produced outstanding results. All qualities came together in a near-miraculous ODI century against India in Sharjah which won the Australasia Cup for Pakistan in 1986. He often saved his best for India, never more so than when he smote Chetan Sharma for a last-ball six to win that final. The match led to years of Pakistani domination over India, particularly in the deserts of Sharjah. In 1992, battling age and back problems, Miandad played a lead role in Pakistan's only World Cup triumph, with six half-centuries.
He was also Pakistan's youngest captain and always considered to be the most tactically astute. Imran Khan often acknowledges the role Miandad played as vice-captain with key on-field decisions, though the two were chalk to the other's cheese. But as captain possibly he was too abrasive to get on with all of his players, as at least two player revolts against his leadership suggest. And coinciding with the leadership of Imran, he never captained in as many Tests as he might have done. As with most subcontinent greats, he possibly lingered for longer than might have been advised, finally bowing out in 1996 after, ironically, a loss to India in the World Cup.
The problems of captaincy re-emerged when he became Pakistan's coach, where he had his ups and downs. Results were mostly positive but constant bickering from players about his excessively hands-on approach wasn't so good. After three stints in charge, he parted company with the team in 2004 to make way for Bob Woolmer after being blamed for Pakistan's one-day and Test losses to India. In October 2008, Miandad declined an offer to become Pakistan's coach again, but he was soon appointed the PCB's director-general, possibly a role of even greater influence. The move was hailed by many Pakistanis but it didn't last long - Miandad quit the job in January 2009, after differences with the board over the exact scope of his role.

The Ronaldo Famous Football Player

Former Brazil striker Ronaldo is still unsure whether he will return to professional football, and his 22-minute appearance in a charity match - where he was replaced by a girl - hasn't helped him decide.
After a brief appearance in the Match Against Poverty, a charity game sponsored by the United Nations on Monday in Fez, Morocco, 32-year-old Ronaldo said he felt 'very tired.'
But that was not the extent of Ronaldo's worries, as the best female player in the world, Brazilian Marta, replaced the ailing star.

The Equestrian

The United States Equestrian Federation [USEF] is scheduled to host a para-dressage test competition next month which will be attended by riders with disabilities from all over.
The ParaEquestrian Dressage Training Session will take place at the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano, California on September 13, 2009 (Sunday). The riders will get to learn more about taking part in National or International dressage test competitions and at the same time compete with each other for fun.
Each of the participating riders will have about 45 minutes of training sessions. They will undergo “Ride Your Dressage Test Critiques” as well.
Just like in paralympic competitions, ParaEquestrian gives riders with various disabilities a great chance to show their talent despite having physical obstacles. To emphasize how important this undertaking is, a ParaEquestrian Dressage test competition will be included at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This prestigious competition will take place in September 2010 at Lexington, Kentucky.
Sharon Schneidman, a USDF Gold Medalist, will spearhead the training sessions. She had been a certified instructor who had produced some of the world’s best equestrian players. She also owns a dressage training facility in Colorado.
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Casino players’ clubs are the fastest road to free stuff

The pursuit of “comps” — that is, complimentary benefits such as free rooms, meals, casino play, show tickets, and so on — are a major engine driving casino gaming. Maybe you know a gambler who loves to tell tales of the comps he’s enjoyed — how a car and driver met him at the airport, or the opulent suite he was given gratis, or the excellent steak dinner that was “on the house.” Maybe, in years gone by, there were gamblers who excelled at bluffing their way into all kinds of freebies, and maybe there are even a few Ocean’s 11 con artists still out there, playing the angles and living high and well.
But for most people, even high rollers, the days of just talking your way into casino comps are long gone. Nowadays, big casinos can track your spending to the penny and the second, and they know exactly how likely you are to put your money where your mouth is. If you call up a modern casino-hotel and start asking for comps, you’ll be grilled on what games you play, how many hours a day you play, how much you bet, what casinos you have frequented in the past, and would you mind applying for a line of credit as a condition of your comps, if any? And if you don’t give the casino the amount of action you boast about, be prepared to get charged full price for everything when you try to check out.
Still, if you can put aside the fantasy of getting something for nothing — a wise policy before any casino vacation — there are easy ways to step into the comps game without relying on charm and subterfuge. Almost all casinos offer frequent-players’ clubs, which in principle are exactly like frequent-flyer programs. You sign up and are issued a membership card, which you use to log the money and time you spend on casino games. The casino isn’t worried as much about whether you win or lose — though they make a note of that too — but rather how much you play, and if you “reinvest” your winnings in more casino play. That’s the kind of customer they want to keep coming back, and that’s the customer who is offered comps.

Pakistan beat Russia 7-2 in Junior Hockey World Cup

Pakistan outplayed Russia 7-2 in the opening match of Junior Men’s World Cup Hockey Tournament at Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Sunday.
Pakistan Hockey Federation, in a statement issued here on Sunday, said that Pakistan was leading at the end of the first half by 2-1. Vice Captain Abdul Haseem Khan scored a hat trick, while Kashif Ali scored two goals on penalty corners. Captain Shafqat Rasool and Muhammad Zubair scored one goal each. The goal scorer from Russia was Denis Shchipachev.

ICC T20 World Cup 2009 Winners – Pakistan

The team beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets with 8 balls remaining. Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik steer the team to victory with 8 balls remaining. Earlier Sri Lanka made 138/6 thanks to some wonderful batting by Kumara Sangakkara after the top guns failed to fire. Much hyped Tilshan went out for a duck and so Jayawardene after scoring 1. Although Jayasuriya scored 17, he looked uncomfortable against Pakistani attack and all credit to Abdul Razzak who took 3 wickets in a match that is so important.
As Pakistan started to chase things never looked good for Sri Lanka. Kamran Akmal went firing and scored quick fire 30+ and he laid the pillars for Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi to take forward. Afridi scored a 54 from 40 deliveries 2 fours and 2 sixes in his score. At no point in their innings the two batsmen looked defocused and they went on to give victory for the team. Afridi scores the winning shot and sported we-done-it-this-time expression.

International polo players ride to Horse Guards Parade

Now Horse Guards Parade is to hold London's first international polo championship.
Teams of three players from England, South Africa, Dubai and the Commonwealth will battle it out in a series of matches to be held on 17 and 18 June.
Organisers believe the event will attract polo stars including the model Jodie Kidd and her sister Jemma.
Their brother Jack Kidd, a professional player, is in the running to be picked for the England team. Other names mooted include England's best arena polo player Tim Brown and music promoter Bryan Morrison's son Jamie.
Jane Blore from organisers Sandpolo, said she expected hundreds to flock to the temporary arena to watch the games.
"It will be a gladiatorial spectacle," she said. "The parade was originally King Henry VIII's tournament ground so it is an ideal setting for this event."
Arena polo is faster and more aggressive than grass polo because the horses are enclosed in a smaller space.
Miss Blore said the parade would be covered with a temporary surface of fibres, sand and wax to form a track five inches thick. A barrier will then be built separating spectators from the action.
The event, which has the backing of the Royal Parks and the Hurlingham Polo Association which is picking the teams, will be followed by a party at the venue. Tickets will cost between £50 and £250, with proceeds going to charity. Horse Guards Parade was built as a tournament ground but became the venue for the birthday celebrations of Elizabeth I in the 16th century.
Throughout the 17th century it was used for reviews, parades and other ceremonies. For much of the late 20th century it was put to a rather less dignified purpose - as a car park for senior civil servants.
Then in 1991 the IRA carried out a mortar attack on 10 Downing Street from a vehicle parked nearby in Horse Guards Avenue.
Vehicles were then banned from parking anywhere in the area. Today it is the site of the Trooping the Colour, which commemorates the Queen's official birthday.
In the 2012 London Olympics the ground will host the beach volleyball competition.
Temporary courts and seating will be installed with capacities of 12,000 and 5,000 spectators but test games have already been played.
Miss Blore said: "Jodie and Jemma Kidd are invited and I expect they will attend as they love polo, especially arena polo. A lot of other celebrities are on the invitation list but at this stage I can't name names.
"As part of the event there is also the celebrity charity race, where a well-known celebrity will be racing against a polo professional."

Chess Players

In the gymnasium at Duniway Elementary School, 80 kids sit at tables and play games on a Saturday morning. But this cavernous room isn't ringing with playful outbursts or giggles; there is no whirl of youthful exuberance.
Instead, forty pairs of young people are sitting across from one another at tables on March 1, nearly motionless, gazing at a chess board.
Just outside the gym's doorway, Julie Young, executive director for "Chess for Success", whispers to us in the hushed tones of a TV golfing commentator, "We're holding our regional tournaments today."
In the hallway, Young explains this event is one of 25 regional tournaments being put on by their organization. "Kids are competing for titles within their age category. The winners will go on to the final playoffs."

In the gymnasium at Duniway Elementary School, 80 kids sit at tables and play games on a Saturday morning. But this cavernous room isn't ringing with playful outbursts or giggles; there is no whirl of youthful exuberance.
Instead, forty pairs of young people are sitting across from one another at tables on March 1, nearly motionless, gazing at a chess board.
Just outside the gym's doorway, Julie Young, executive director for "Chess for Success", whispers to us in the hushed tones of a TV golfing commentator, "We're holding our regional tournaments today."
In the hallway, Young explains this event is one of 25 regional tournaments being put on by their organization. "Kids are competing for titles within their age category. The winners will go on to the final playoffs."

Dead Wrestlers

Anybody that knows me knows that I’m a total wrestling mark. Actually, I’m a smart mark, so that makes me a smark. Anyway, you’re probably reading this wondering why is he writing about wrestling on a skateboard site? Well why not? I started this zine with Randy 20 years ago, and what made S&A unique was that we wrote about whatever we wanted, not worrying about what was “cool” in the skateboard world. Anyway, back to wrestling. Here’s a list of wrestlers from the last 20 years who are dead now. It’s actually pretty amazing that a “fake” sport has so many dead stars, most of whom were younger than me. Owen Hart (the Blue Blazer), Chris Candido, Eddie Guerrero, Davie Boy Smith (the British Bulldog), Crash Holly, John “Earthquake” Tenta, Miss Elizabeth, Curt “Mr Perfect” Hennig, David Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich (the texas tornado), Michael von Erich, Chris Von Erich, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, Chris Adams, “Flyin” Brian Pillman, Joey Maggs, Hercules Hernandez, Big Boss Man, Classy Freddy Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, Andre the Giant, Big John Studd, Yokozuna, Gorilla Monsoon, Junkyard Dog, Dino Bravo. All dead. Pretty sad.

Sania Mirza action girl

Sania Mirza is hot tennis player from India. Sania is special girl at tennis courts because she has this irresistible combination of exotics and good look which really makes her unique. If only she could play half as good as she looks she would definitely be among top ten female tennis players. Unfortunately, despite her hot look her game looks rather cold most of the time. But hey we're here to watch her, and not to judge her, and who knows maybe her game is about to improve in years to come. Here are some nice hot photos featuring beautiful Indian tennis player Sania Mirza. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

An introduction to Judo

Judo is a fascinating Olympic sport. More than that, it is an art form. It is an ideal sport for all ages, males or females and attracts very many disability groups. Confidence and self-esteem are enhanced as a player progresses through the ranks and the very nature of the grading system ensures that the next goal is always realistic and achievable with effort. The grading system also ensures that regardless of their skill level all Judo players can actively compete with players of similar ability and hence they have a reasonable chance of emerging victorious.Judo training is an ideal form of physical exercise and it serves as a great cardiovascular workout, which improves stamina, general health and overall fitness. Physical strength is also improved as a direct result of trying to control and dictate the movement of the opponent and as well as enhanced power; a Judo player will also improve their flexibility. For the same reasons the balance and posture of a player will also be enhanced. Physical co-ordination can be seen to develop dramatically from participation in Judo and reflexes are also improved together with mental reaction time.

Dribble Drive

Dribbling is one of the most important skills in handball. It is used to advance the ball and maneuver into scoring position. Players are allowed to take three steps in between dribbles, and they can use both hands to catch the ball. A player in possession of the ball cannot stand stationary for more than three seconds. He must either pass, shoot or dribble to maintain possession. Offensive players are also not allowed to dribble aimlessly for indefinite periods. There's no shot clock like there is in basketball, but officials do watch for stalling. If a team is deemed guilty of passive play, possession is awarded to the defensive team. It is illegal for offensive players to use any part of the body below the knee to handle the ball.

Chatham baseball team is Cooperstown bound

A group of Chatham baseball players are set to live the dream of anyone who has laced up a ball glove, slapped pine tar on a new maple bat or bragged about a big scrape on their leg after sliding safely into home - they’re heading to Cooperstown.
No, the kids are not being inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, which is housed in Cooperstown, but 12 of the 13 players on the Chatham Minor PeeWee travel team will be taking part in a week-long tournament in the small New York State town.
“The kids are really excited and ready to go,” Terry Oulds, head coach for the team, told the Chatham-Kent Daily Post.
Oulds said after an application process, the Chatham team got accepted into the tournament, which will include 96 teams from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Oulds said the tournament is a part of 13 different tournaments taking place at the Cooperstown Dreams Park throughout the summer, each with 96 teams taking part.
He said the complex features 22 ball diamonds and the kids and coaches get the chance to sleep in “army-style barracks” during their stay.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Oulds said.
The team is going to be taking a trip the National Baseball Hall of Fame during their stay as well, Oulds said.
“We’re planning on getting a team picture in front of Fergie’s (Jenkins) plaque,” he said. “(Jenkins) came down and participated in our golf tournament, so we thought this might be a gift to give back to him.”
Friends and family of the team, which consists of players who are or will be turning 12 this year, will have the opportunity to stay up to date with all the games the boys will be playing, Oulds said.
“They have webcams behind home plate at every park,” he said. “They film each game and stream it on to their website. So everyone’s family will be able to check out the games.”
Check out the Cooperstown Dreams Park website for more information and to check out the live streaming feature.
Watch for updates on the CKDP from the tournament, as the team heads out on August 7 and stays in NY for a week.

Watson Lake players dominate championships

Good coaching and facilities will only get you so far, say Watson Lake junior badminton players.
Dedication and practice are equally important, they said.
“Hard work and training,” said Watson Lake’s Jason Carlson, 16, when asked for the source of his success. “We all come to the gym and work out together—it’s a team thing.
“We usually do more training right before a big tournament, but we’re always training at least twice a week, if not more.”
Only four Watson Lakers were among the more than 80 players competing in the Yukon Junior Badminton Championships at Porter Creek Secondary over the weekend.
But their names could be found atop many of the results.
Carlson’s weekend could not have gone better, finishing first in the under-19 boys’ singles and doubles, as well as in the mixed doubles.
For the singles title, Carlson produced a win over Richard Fulop of Whitehorse, a player who’s had his number in the past.
“He’s a very strong player that I’ve never been able to beat in a tournament,” said Carlson. “This time I finally got him. That’s the one that stands out the most.”

Hockey players in action

Services picked up gold in the men’s hockey in the 31st National Games, defeating Karnataka by a solitary goal scored in the first half at the Surjit Hockey Stadium here today. Earlier, Punjab, the gold medallists of the last Games, took the bronze medal. They defeated West Bengal 3-0.

Basket Ball players in action

Basketball Secondary - Dexter Caminse (left) squeezed through a big man of ComVal Gold during their championship match while Stann Apurada (left) skywalked his way to the basket overpassing a forward from Del Norte Pioneers during their elimination round. Both players are from EMAR Learning Center.
Durians first showed their supremacy by dumping the Pioneers with 113 - 58 in the elimination and finally shamed the big men of ComVal Gold to 113-64 during their championship match.
The Durian cagers headed by their coach, Mr. Arturo Montalban of Emar Learning Center defended its title in DAVRAA 2008 Meet held in Mati City, Davao Oriental and will be going to Palaraong Pambasa which will be held in Palawan in April.

Lights, camera, action: pink ball push for day-night Tests gains pace

A PINK cricket ball used at Lord's could help Australia realise its revolutionary ambition to stage Test matches at night.
The ball had previously been shot out of a cannon onto hard surfaces in a laboratory at the Imperial College in London to test its durability, but this week was employed in a game between the Marylebone Cricket Club and Scotland.
The luminous pink orb is likely to be discussed when Cricket Australia's manager of cricket operations, Michael Brown, meets scientists from the CSIRO and Australian Institute of Sport next week to kick-start the search for a ball that can be seen by batsmen at night and behaves in a manner suitable for Test cricket.

Golf Action Photography

Rather than the standard rather uninspiring photo of your four ball prior to the round, why not hire a professional golf photographer to take high-resolution pictures of your players in action on the day?

These high quality action shots are taken by professional sports photographers who know how, and importantly when, to take the right shot.

The high-resolution photos can be produced on DVD, uploaded to a website (see below) or printed after the event to give your customers and staff a lasting memory of the occasi

Revolution 23 Track Open

Thrills and spills dominated Revolution 23, with big crashes in the Future Stars events and a heavy fall for Andy Tennant comprehensively ticking the 'spills' box. Thrills were supplied by an electric 1km Madison Time Trial, with Burke and Clancy edging ever closer to Hoy and Tournant's record, while in the Women's Sprint Omnium, freshly honoured Victoria Pendleton MBE showed just why she's earned the nickname Queen of the sprint. To say she entertained the crowd was an understatement. We were definitely amused. Even prior to any racing taking place, it was clear that she was a crowd favourite, with a roof-raising standing ovation for Pendleton during the opening ceremony.

Canoe World Cup 2008(Adam Van Koeverden)

Tim Brabants of Great Britain (R) is congratulated by Adam van Koeverden of Canada after finishing first at the K1 1000m men's final during the ICF Flatwater Racing World Cup at the Duisburg Regattabahn on June 14, 2008 in Duisburg, Germany.

Thin Beast’ stands tall in the sand

NEAR a strip of sand known more for auto racing, far from the California coastline where the best beach volleyball players are usually bred, Phil Dalhausser would sit on the couch watching baseball on TV, sound-lessly practicing his setting until his shoulders ached or his mother told him to stop chipping the popcorn paint up above.
Over and over the teenager would flick the ball straight into the air, aiming toward the peak of the cathedral ceiling that gave him room to stretch despite his basketball player’s body. When the ball came down, he would cradle it ever-so-gently in the spread of his fingertips, striving for perfect silence, and send it back up, repeating as often as he could, then taking a break, then starting again.
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“What sets himapart fromother big guysis his ability tocontrol the ball.His setting, fora guy 6-9, is offthe charts.”
Todd Rogers
on his beachvolleyballteammate, PhilDalhausser
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At 6-foot-9, the blocking and spiking that earned Dalhausser the nickname “The Thin Beast”

Horse farce dominates modern pentathlon

Russia's Andrey Moiseev became only the second man in Olympic history to retain the men's modern pentathlon, his victory helped to some extent by a riding phase in treacherous conditions at the Olympic Sports Centre, which proved the undoing of his closest challenger, the Czech Republic's David Svoboda.
Klaus Schormann, the president of the UIPM, defended the competition. "I saw the horse tests [before competition] and therefore I can say that the horses performed excellently. Because the strong rain made the ground very, very heavy, very deep and very slippery some of the athletes who are not so strong in riding were very afraid on the ground and when they were jumping."
"We will have a meeting now with the management about the competition tomorrow. If there is some more rain we may have to do something about reducing the height of the obstacles," he said.
Not all the riders thought the horses were good enough, though. "When I saw them [the horses] in the preliminaries, I knew it was going to be difficult. I feel really sorry for Svoboda who deserved a medal. To be honest the horses weren't good enough for the Olympic Games," said Britain's Nick Woodbridge, who finished down the field in 25th.
Woodbridge himself had no axe to grind for his undoing had come early on. In the shooting - the first phase - he had scored 856 points and was second-last of the 36 competitors. His swimming, in which he was second, and his riding, in which he was ninth, pulled him up the rankings.
Svoboda was by no means the only competitor undone by the riding phase. The conditions could hardly have been worse: the rain was unrelenting, and the horses were clearly unsettled by a noisy crowd of around 30,000, causing most of the riders, who drew their horses from a pool of 23, to struggle.
Sam Weale's mount, Diandian, didn't like the look of the third fence and there were any number of refusals. Weale, who eventually finished a very respectable 10th, racked up 164 penalty points, yet still finished 18th in the riding, so high were everyone else's penalties.
Five riders as well as Svoboda were thrown from their horses. The Frenchman John Zakrzewski suffered most when his mount threw him, dragged him through the wall one way and then took him back through it in reverse. Zakrzewski, to his credit, still completed the run.
Dominic Mahoney, Britain's team leader, who was an Olympic bronze medallist in Seoul, was less critical. "There are three factors, the quality of the course, the quality of the horses and the quality of the riders. Ideally, you would want one or two to go clear. I think the crowd might have spooked one or two, but our two riders handled the horses very well," he said.
The same horses will be used in the women's final on Friday, by which time they may be a little more used to the roar of the crowd. It could also play to Britain's advantage. Heather Fell, who goes into that competition with a real chance of a medal, is a superb horsewoman. If the animals play up again she will be one of the riders best equipped to deal with them.

Five Bath judo players head for World University Games

Five University of Bath students will make up more than half of the British judo team at the World University Games this summer.
The eight-strong GB team for the Games, which take place in Bangkok, Thailand, features five judo players who are students at the University of Bath.
It follows a series of outstanding performances by University of Bath judo players at the British Universities (BUSA) Championships in March.
The University of Bath will supply three of the four-strong men’s team and half of the contingent of four women for the multi-sports Games.
Sports Performance student Hannah Sinfield contests the women’s under-63kg division in Bangkok – she won the silver medal in the dan grade competitions at that weight at the BUSA Championships. Fellow Sports Performance students Gemma Gibbons and Sian Wilson go in the under-70kg and under-78kg classes respectively – the categories in which they both struck gold at the BUSA Championships. Gibbons and Wilson just missed out on the medals at last year’s World University Judo Championships in Korea – they both finished fifth. Wilson also finished seventh at the 2004 championships in Moscow. Sports Performance student Marcus Bascombe will represent Great Britain in the men’s under-66kg division in Bangkok. He won gold in that division at the BUSA Championships in March. Coach Education and Sports Development student Andrew Burns contests the under-100kg division. He missed the BUSA Championships this year as he was on a placement in Japan. Juergen Klinger, head judo coach at the University of Bath, said: “This shows that we’re the strongest training centre at the moment and that we’ve developed the right sort of framework. “We have a really professional team here. I think this generation of judo players will be capable of winning medals at London 2012.” Sian Wilson said she’s looking forward to the competition. “I just missed bronze last time,” she said. “I’ve got a couple of months now where I’ve only got this competition to prepare for, so I’m looking forward to it.” The 2007 World University Games run from 8th to 18th August. University of Bath judo players dominated the BUSA Championships this year. The women’s team won their fifth successive team title, while the men won their third in a row. Bath players also captured eight individual dan grade titles. The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its TeamBath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike

Olympics: Sanchez clinches road race gold for Spain

Spain's incredible sporting summer took another surprising step when Samuel Sanchez added the Olympic road race gold medal to the country's trophy cabinet, already overflowing after Carlos Sastre's Tour de France victory, Alberto Contador's win in the Giro d'Italia, Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and the European title for their football players.
A solid rather than spectacular talent, Sanchez has played second fiddle to Alejandro Valverde in recent years, and the national champion was expected to be Spain's leader here. However, Valverde did not figure in the decisive attack on the final lap, and instead it was the 30-year-old from the Asturian town of Oviedo who crossed the finish line in the shadow of the Great Wall ahead of five men who came together only in the final metres.
Sanchez had the pedigree of a man just waiting for a truly major win: seventh overall in this year's Tour de France, a raft of stage wins in the Vuelta a Espana, and a significant one-day victory in the Championship of Zurich in 2006. His impressive win cannot, however, overcome the suspicions that have surrounded Spanish cycling in recent years. Sanchez has not been linked to any scandals, but like the rest of his country's road race team he had been tested eight times since his arrival here, although the IOC president Jacques Rogge said last Thursday that there were no particular suspicions about the Spanish.
The bulk of the race was merely a wearing down process, but a truly gripping final lap made up for the initial lack of fireworks. As the race climbed to the Badaling fortress for the final time, the Luxembourgeois Andy Schleck put in a searing, prolonged acceleration, and by the top the only men with him were Sanchez and the aging Italian one-day specialist Davide Rebellin.
The trio looked to be clean away, but they were joined before the finish by Michael Rogers of Australia and the Russian Michael Kolobnev – who had initially formed part of the Shleck-led breakaway – and Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who put in a truly electrifying descent to sweep up Rogers and Kolobnev before dragging them up to the leading trio within the final kilometre. The world time-trial champion was unable to follow through in the finish sprint, but he will now be the clear favourite in his speciality on Wednesday.
As road races go, this was visually sumptuous, beginning with the stately run through the capital, under the glaring portrait of Chairman Mao on the great mausoleum in the vast expanse of Tiananmen Square, past the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube and so eventually into the countryside, a reminder with its rural gardens of maize and runner-beans of the China that much of the Olympic family will never see during this Games.
Soon the first foothills beckoned greenly through the morning mist, and finally came the great snaking mass of the Wall itself, clinging in unlikely style to one ridge, then the next. First came the brief pull up to the finish line, in a cleft in the hills, then a gateway through the wall that led to the long drag to the fortress, followed in turn by a swoop back down to the valley – including a lengthy tunnel - before the whole heartbreaking process began again.
In the first significant move, initially at least, was one of the British quartet, the Manxman Jonny Bellis, bronze medallist in last year's Under-23 world title race and the youngest rider in the race. His presence in a group of 30 that escaped on the run-out from Beijing showed tactical nous, but he lacked the horsepower to hold on once the Tour de France winner Sastre began setting the pace up the hill to Badaling.
He soon became the first of many to hit the wall at the Wall, and was followed by his team-mates Steve Cummings and Roger Hammond. Ben Swift lasted the longest of Britain's quartet, but not surprisingly for a 20-year-old the distance got to him and he faded in the final two laps before quitting. However, he had never raced over this distance before, and the experience will prove invaluable in London in four years' time.
It was the Italians who did the initial work to bring the group of early escapees into the fold before the Spaniards took over, with first Sastre and then Contador keeping the pace high in the final laps. The two Tour winners wore themselves out well before the bell, but their efforts were rewarded by a canny final lap from Sanchez.

FIBA U19 Basketball World Championships

Howard Thompkins of the USA looks for the basket during a practice session ahead of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Championships at the AUTI Akoranga campus on June 28, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Obama Welcomes Baseball Champion Philadelphia Phillies To White House

U.S. President Barack Obama jokes with Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (L) at the White House May 15, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama welcomed Major League Baseball's 2009 World Champions to the White House and jokingly asked Rollins if he could have his championship ring too after Rollins presented him with a jersey.

Robin Szolkowy Wins Gold Medal in World Figure Skating Championship

German figure skaters Robin Szolkowy and Aliona Savchenko won their second pairs world crown in a rout Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Even an unexpected fall didn't keep Szolkowy, who mother is German and father Tanzanian, and his partner from winning the gold at the World Figure Skating Championships, reports the Los Angeles Times. "The Germans, dancing to music from the movie Schindler's List, had completed their difficult opening jump combinations and throws before Szolkowy lost his footing, but when they ended their program with a difficult throw triple salchow the crowd was appreciative."

World champ Katsidis a lightweight in name only

MICHAEL Katsidis has become the first Australian lightweight world boxing champion after a punishing five-round win over Briton Graham Earl at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.
In an action-packed affair in which both fighters were downed and the towel thrown in — and quickly out — of the ring by Earl's corner, Katsidis took the WBO interim lightweight world title when his opponent retired after the fifth round.
Katsidis also became the first Australian to win a WBO title and the first Greek citizen to win a world boxing title of any kind.
"This is a dream come true, everything I've ever hoped for," Katsidis said. "I said I wasn't going to come home without becoming a world champion, and now I've done it. I left Australia to go and train in the cold in America and then come to England
"I've changed a lot, and now everyone can see that a guy from Toowoomba can win a world title and everyone knows they can change their life too. If I die tomorrow, I'll die a happy man."
Katsidis dominated the fight from the opening bell, dropping Earl twice late in a furious first round. There was no respite for Earl, who was put down again by a right cross early in the second.
It was then that Earl's corner threw the towel into the ring, signalling a retirement, but referee Micky Vann ordered that the fight continue.
Earl's corner would have been red-faced at their early concession when the hometown fighter rallied to put the Queenslander on his knees for a count in the third.
Katsidis continued to land telling punches in the fourth and fifth, and at the end of the round, Earl's corner decided he could take no more and did not answer the bell for the sixth.
Katsidis, a 2000 Olympian, can now look forward to some big-money bouts, having taken his professional record to 22-0 (20 by knockout) against Earl, who fell to 25-2 (12 KO).

Declan Is 2008 Co. Down Open 9Ball Champion

Congratulations once again to Declan Hughes for winning his, and the tours fourth official ranking tournament of the 2008 playing season.
Declan Hughes 2008 Co. Down Open 9Ball Champion
The former snooker professional was once again in tremendous form claiming the 2008 Co. Down Open 9Ball Championship by topping his group with four wins out of four in the round robin format to progress to the knockout stages and then overcame the challenges of Gary Johnson (Antrim, last-16, 7-4), Paul Tierney (Meath, 1/4-finals, 7-3), Ronnie Boyle (Tyrone, semi-finals, 7-6) before out classing the tours official number one ranked 9ball player Paddy Mc Loughlin in the final on a 8-2 score-line. Results: Last-16: Paddy Mc Loughlin 7-0 Phil Mc Conomy Martin Savage 7-4 Tristan Byrne Manny Byrne 7-0 Declan Mc Conville Stephen Johnson 7-4 Stephen Kelly Ronnie Boyle 7-2 Nigel Rennicks Paul Strawbridge 7-6 Damien Corrigan Paul Tierney 7-6 Paul Bonner Declan Hughes 7-4 Gary Johnson 1/4-Finals: Paddy Mc Loughlin 7-2 Martin Savage Manny Byrne 7-3 Stephen Johnson Ronnie Boyle 7-5 Paul Strawbridge Declan Hughes 7-3 Paul Tierney Semi-Finals: Paddy Mc Loughlin 7-2 Manny Byrne Declan Hughes 7-6 Ronnie Boyle Final: Declan Hughes 8-2 Paddy Mc Loughlin

Hall of Fame Jansher Khan

Jansher Khan also of Noakili, Peshawar, represents the very best the world of squash has to offer. He is one of the many world squash champions the small village of Noakili, close to the Pakistan Air Force Base in Peshawar, has produced. Jansher Khan is not related to 'the Khans' directly, but comes from the same village. His family was also much poorer. His brother Mohibullah was a dominant force in squash between 1974-¹80, rising as high as World's No. 2. Mohib was an excellent player, his backhand down the line (parallel-shot as in squash) was one of the most explosive I have ever seen, but he was confronted with Geoff Hunt, Qamar Zaman, Jonah Barrington, Gogi Alauddin and was therefore faced with players who had greater claims to recognition. Jansher's challenge to Jahangir in 1985-86 was dismissed as the precociousness of an upstart and disdainfully rejected. The man was only 16 and a half. Jansher was true to his word, he beat Jahangir six successive times and then started a rivalry which contributed in no small measure to the acceptance of squash as a true international sport. These two were supported by Ross Norman (New Zealand), and the mighty Australian quartet of Chris Dittmar, Chris Robertson, Rodney Martin and Brett Martin. Jansher's record of domination speaks for itself - eight World Championships, Seven Hong Kong Opens, six British Opens, ten Pakistan Opens - so far. Such is Jansher's domination that his occasional defeat merits a headline, his wins are taken for granted. Comparisons between Jahangir and Jansher are inevitable. Jahangir had a merry first five years because his opposition was provided by an ageing generation who had seen their best in the early and late 1970's. Jansher was confronted by a most formidable array of younger players all in their prime led by Jahangir, and it was through them he had to make this presence known. His training regimen simply had to be many notches higher. The manner in which he gradually but firmly established his superiority is now a part of history. Initially, Jansher had to fight many a tenacious opponent in long drawn out battles. It led to classic confrontations and some of the matches would rate as the greatest games of all time. The Pakistan Open final in 1986 when he roared back to beat Jahangir two games down and the World Open final in Malaysia 1988 against Chris Dittmar are classic examples. They also led to renewed interest in squash because Jahangir's domination had ironically led to a loss of spectator interest. Rivalries are integral to interest. In tennis we had Hoad/Rosewall; Laver/Emerson; Borg/McEnroe/Connors/Lendl; and now Agassi/Sampras; football is nurtured by the Europe/South American rivalry ; golf has had Nicklaus/Palmer/Player; Trevino/Johnny Miller; in squash the rivalry between Jansher/Jehangir/Dittmar/Robertson/Rodney Martin proved very good for the game. Jansher is like any typical world beater. He is cocky, brash and colourful. His run ins with the authorities add to his personality. He has ignored authority, he has been extremely critical of them. But his squash is excellent, he has worked himself into a position of invincibility and the margins of his wins becomes increasingly one sided. His on court behaviour is exemplary and has led to the great Irishman, the now Jonah Barrington to say "He is the role model for any sportsman, he is a complete Squash Player". He takes the ball early, his balance, direction and control is phenomenal and his T-domination is fantastic. Jansher is gifted with uncanny anticipation and therefore never seems to be hurried. A World Champion makes his sport look simple, Jansher typifies that as does Pete Sampras in tennis. Jansher is a truly international figure. He needs to accept his stature and contribute his share to giving back some of the affection millions of his fans have given him by identifying with worthwhile causes. He is the world's undisputed champion and surely must rate along with Imran Khan and Jahangir Khan as the three most recognised personalities in their country and abroad.

Shahid Afridi Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team

Shahid Afridi is one of the greatest cricket player of Pakistan Cricket Team. Afridi was named as the most popular Cricketer in Pakistan. He is a right handed batsman and a right arm medium pace bowler. He has recently gained the ‘Man of the Match series award’ at the second T20 world cup 2009. Pakistan have good bowling attack and powerful batting lineup with players like Shahid Afridi which is best for T20 cricket. Shahid Afridi was hit an unbeaten 54 runs from 40 balls in this match.In broadly speaking, He is one of the strong positive minded cricketer and a powerful hitter of the ball.BIOGRAPY
Afridi was born on 1st March, 1980 in Khyber Agency. Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi was his original name and popularly known as Shahid Afridi.He was started playing cricket from the age of 11-12 and playing cricket seriously in 1993 -94. He has represented Pakistan since 1996 in international cricket. His batting ability is very popular and he has regularly achieved a highest score in ODI series, Test cricket and Twenty 20 Match. He made his ODI debut on 2 October 1996 against Kenya in Nairobi and his Test debut on 22 October 1998 against Australia at Karachi. He made his T 20 debut on 28 August 2006 against England. He is a great gift of his country.He is known for his aggressive batting style, and holds the highest career strike rate in the history of international cricket. In 1996, he had bought into the ODI team as a leg spinner as a replacement for the injured Mashtag Ahmen and then he had gained notability as a hitter and became opening with Saeed Anwar.He had earned the record for scoring the fastest century in one-day internationals, scored in only his second match and his first ODI innings. He also shares with Brian Lara the record for the third-fastest century in ODIs In 2007, he has an ODI strike rate of 109.38 runs per 100 balls,the highest in the game’s history. He has scored over 4500 ODI runs at a strike rate of more than 107 runs per 100 balls and has taken over 160 ODI wickets. Afridi was also known as Pakistan’s very aggressive batsman and he has earned him the nick name ‘Boom Boom Afridi’ for his fastest one day International century just in 37 balls. In March 2005, he made a half-century from 26 balls and took 3 second-innings wickets in Pakistan’s series-drawing Test victory against India.In the 2007 World Twenty 20,he performed very bad with bat but brilliantly with the ball and earned the ‘Man of the Series’ award, though he failed to take a wicket in the final and was out for a golden duck.He had represented the Deccan Chargers team under the captaincy of VVS Lakshman,an Indian Cricket Player in the Indian Premier League of 2008. He has singed in the price was $675,000 and played thirty matches for the DC team.Shahid Afridi scored 367 runs, which included 32 boundaries and 21 sixes with a strike rate of 171.49. By taking 35 wickets, the bowling average of Shahid Afridi was 20.05 at an economy rate of 6.81. Afridi was only third player in ODI history to achieve the combination of 5000 runs and 200 wickets. The other players being Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and South African Jacques Kallis. Afridi has recently gained the ‘ Man of the Match series award’ at the second T20 world cup 2009 .In broadly speaking, he is the best all rounder in the Pakistani team as he is an aggressive and like to attack whether be bowling or batting.
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 26 277 109 367
Runs scored 1,683 5,669 5,598 8,317
Batting average 37.40 23.32 31.80 25.43
100s/50s 5/8 4/29 12/30 6/48
Top score 156 109 164 114
Balls bowled 3,092 11,506 13,391 15,541
Wickets 47 254 257 356
Bowling average 34.89 34.86 27.05 33.61
5 wickets in innings 1 3 8 5
10 wickets in match 0 n/a 0 n/a
Best bowling 5/52 6/38 6/101 6/38
Catches/stumpings 10/– 95/– 75/– 116/–

World sports palyer of week

Our Player Of The Week goes to none other than Usain Bolt. The Olympic champion stamped his mark in athletics history by becoming the greatest sprinter ever, in winning the 100m sprint in a new world record. He saw off competition from former world champions Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay. Bolt lit up the track and set a new world record of 9.58secs which will surely stand for decades to come, unless he does something about it.

1958 Football Championship

The reason that this 1958 Championship NFL Game was so great was because of when it took place during the year. It was late winter and nationally aired, not only that but it was based in New York City. The Championship Game, NFL, was also the first game to go into sudden death overtime in history. New York’s media and advertising companies had a field day with this event. Back then, New York was the center of advertising throughout the entire USA, however, the TV industry was still in its fledgling stage.With the Championship Game NFL not only took off but so did the ratings. Networks then knew that forever will they have to keep airing any major sports event thanks to the “Greatest Football Game Ever Played.” Not only did the ratings shoot through the roof, but many people learned that they could sit in the comfort of their own home and watch a major event as it happened, needless to say the many sports enthusiasts had their jaws on the floor due to the intensity of the Championship Game NFL had so diligently brought to them