SPORTS NOTES - WHO's THE BEST JOSE MOURINHO OR PEP GUARDIOLA?

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

The question is who is worthy and will take over Ferguson's best club manager's throne? - LAKERS THE BEST? GO FIGURE

Monday April 26, 2010

A GAME OF FOX & HOUNDS

Prior to Inter Milan's 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League last week one could argue that the new kid on the block Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola could challenge Inters Jose Mourinho as being the one of the best club managers at this time along with the masterful one Manchester United's Alex Ferguson.

The main difference being Ferguson's track record covering two decades is unmatched thus he's out of this equation as he has the record to be deemed the best club manager of this era and possible ever. Ferguson's Man U squad is going for its fourth straight English Premier League title. The question is who is worthy and will take over Ferguson's best club manager's throne?

On 28 July 2009, Mourinho was reported to have shown interest in taking over at Manchester United when Alex Ferguson retired. He was quoted as saying, "I would consider going to Manchester United but United have to consider if they want me to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson. If they do, then of course."

The word is the Mourinho is favored to take over the aging Ferguson's position when he retires but Mourinho the self proclaimed Special One has more immediate fish to fry as he is itching to get away from Italy because as he puts it, "I am very happy at Inter. I'm not happy in Italian football because I don't like it and they don't like me."

Mourinho also caused immediate ripples in Italian football through his controversial relationships with the Italian press and media, and feuds with major Serie A coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti then of Milan, Luciano Spalletti of Roma and Claudio Ranieri of Juventus. At a press conference in March 2009, he insulted the first two rivals by claiming they would end the season with no honors—and accused the Italian sport journalists of "intellectual prostitution" on their behalf.

This rant promptly became very popular in Italy, especially regarding the "zero titles" quote used by Mourinho, and incorrectly pronounced by him as zeru tituli (in correct Italian it would have been "zero titoli"), which was later extensively referred to by football journalists in Italy. It also became the title's catchphrase used by fans to celebrate Inter's 17th scudetto later that season. The catchphrase was even used by Nike to present the celebration shirts for Inter's Serie A title. After the Coppa Italia final in May, fans of Roma's cross-town rivals Lazio, the new Coppa Italia winners, wore shirts with Io campione, tu zero titoli ("I'm a champion, you have no honors") on it, quoting Mourinho's "zeru tituli" statement.

Given that the Italian media have been abusive to him and he wants out. The more immediate possible move is rumored to be Real Madrid or Liverpool. Manchester City has been mentioned but not as strongly. The Special One has an attachment to the English Premiere League where he experienced two titles with Chelsea before falling out with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Chelsea's fortunes have diminished since Mourinho's departure while he continues to have success. Mourinho gained some revenge by defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the Champions League game away at Chelsea. One British publication had a clever headline Chelsea 0 Special One.

Mourinho is also credited with being a master tactician after the Champions League win over Barcelona. The game was controversial due to the Iceland volcano ash forcing Barcelona to take a 450 mile bus trip to Milan. They looked weary throughout the match and it is believed that a 3-1 deficit is too much to overcome. Inter, seeking to become Europe's champion for the first time since consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965.

In defeating Barcelona last week Mourinho is credited with the pitch being in such bad shape and not watered resulting in a disruption of Barca's fast paced style whereas he made a game plan to counter the conditions. Mourinho is now three games away from obtaining his second Champions League title to add to his trophy case. He is currently on a run of over 132 home league matches unbeaten as of April 1 (38 with Porto, 60 with Chelsea and 34 with Inter). His last and only home league defeat came when Porto were defeated 3–2 by Beira-Mar on 23 February 2002. His individual honors include being named the UEFA Manager of the Year in 2003 and UEFA Team of the Year Coach of the Year 2003, 2004, 2005.

Guardiola was the crown prince of football last season. Barça were La Liga champions securing their first league title since 2006. The league title was the second piece of silverware in Guardiola's first season at the Camp Nou. On 13 May 2009, Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, defeating Athletic Bilbao 4-1.

Guardiola finished the season by leading Barça to the final of the Champions League, where they beat Manchester United 2-0. In doing so, they became the first Spanish club to win the domestic cup, league, and European club titles (the treble) in the same season. Furthermore, Guardiola became the youngest coach ever to coach a Champions League winning team. His all competition record was in 49 games played Barcelona registered a record of 37 W - 9 D - 3 L for 81.63%.

Who's the best? It's up to you...:)

LAKERS THE BEST? GO FIGURE

With the young Oklahoma City Thunder having evened the first round NBA playoff series 2-2 with the defending champion LA Lakers it begs the questions are the Lakers overrated and are the odds against them to repeat? How much will youth play a part in deciding this season's NBA champion?

Kobe Bryant 31 is the NBA's highest paid player at $24 million a year. His former Batman & Robin partner Shaquille O'Neal 38 is still commanding a substantial salary of $21 million a year. At this point O'Neal is closer to that achievement than Bryant but who is hungrier and which team wants the NBA title most. O'Neal was the first to get his fourth ring after his departure from the Lakers when he was a force in the Miami Heat's winning the 2006 NBA title.

The argument is that with O'Neal or not Cleveland has a younger better team. With O'Neal it's about match-ups since Shaq is not quick enough for a fast paced game.

Former NBA star and current NBA television analyst Reggie Miller said the other NBA teams are not afraid of the purple and gold (the Lakers). Miller 44 should know since his pedigree as a player and being relatively young he continues to have a link of communication with current NBA players that other NBA sports broadcaster and analysts don't have. Additionally he is from the LA area of Riverside, California and is hooked up (has connections) as they say.

This Lakers team lacks the chemistry of great Lakers teams of the past most notably the Lakers of the 80's led by Magic Johnson that won 5 titles during that decade. They're nowhere near the talent of the Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Gail Goodrich Lakers teams who were unfortunate enough to come up shorthanded against arguably the best teams of all time the Boston Celtics of the 60's.

The Lakers who won three titles in a row (2000, 2001 & 2002) record is tainted by the NBA fixed games scandal that the Lakers apparently benefited from since many of the games in question involved them including playoff contests. It's been swept under the rug but common sense dictates otherwise.

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