SPORTS NOTES - BRETT FAVRE & RONALDO DO THE DEALS - AUGUST, 2008

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

When you think about sports in terms of loyalty who has done more than Brett Favre and who has done less than Christian Ronaldo? - The Top of The Hills Grant and Calvin - FIFA TOP 10

Tuesday August 12, 2008

BRETT FARVE GAVE HIS ALL & THAT WASN'T ENOUGH

When you think about sports in terms of loyalty who has done more than Brett Favre and who has done less than Christian Ronaldo? Ronaldo wants to quit a team that won the English Premiere league and Europe's elite Champions League title. Yet Favre who has spent all but one year with the Packers during his entire NFL year career that began in 1991 has racked up record setting numbers yet he was no longer wanted by the Green Bay Packers the club that he gave his blood, sweat and tears for.

The Favre trade to the New York Jets gives him a chance to improve his all-time NFL best statistics which include being the NFL's leader touchdowns (442), yards (61,655), completions (5,377) and attempts (8,758). He has started a record 253 straight regular-season games. They're saying that Favre is equally the most recognized Jet player ever along with Broadway Joe Namath. The difference being almost a half and century and Namath was signed for a then record $400,000 a meager amount by today's standards with Favre's $12.8-million base pay this year.

During his career Favre has achieved big time: He has been: A nine time Pro Bowl selection (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007). A seven time All-Pro selection (1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007) and led the Packers to a Super Bowl championship (XXXI).

Favre holds the record for consecutive starts by a quarterback with 253. His streak ranks behind only defensive end Jim Marshall, who started 270 straight games, and punter Jeff Feagles who started and played in his 320th game at the end of the 2007 NFL season and is slated to continue his streak in 2008.

Now that Ronaldo has finally come to his senses and will honor his at least a year of his five year contract which he signed with Man U only a few months ago on 13 April 2007, he signed a five-year, £120,000-a-week deal. The question remains how long will he honor the four years remaining an the agreement? Will he serve out the length of his five year agreement with the Red Devils.

Manager Alex Ferguson says the dispute is over with and Ronaldo enjoys playing for the squad and that he has a good relationship with the Portuguese player. In Ronaldo's case there is more behind his story than Real Madrid's attempt to pirate him and Man U's trying to hold on to a player that they've developed into one of the best players in the world.

The confusion exploded when FIFA president Sepp Blatter was reported as saying that Ronaldo was a slave. This past week Blatter said he never made such a statement and that he was referring to clubs signing youngsters aged 13-15. It begs the question why it took Blatter so long to contest the discrepancy in what he said. His actions or lack of it still remains on record that he refused to assist Man U when they asked him to deal with Real Madrid in what amounts to in sports in the USA as tampering. Blatter refused to assist Man U.

Ronaldo has more on his plate when it comes to maneuvering deals and who does the talking begins with his agents who negotiate the agreements he signs. In his case there is a David Beckham like Hollywood influence and decision maker that represents him. That being his agency who are also involved with Beckham, Filipe Scolari, Jose Mourinho and indirectly associated with American Idol. That's right I said American Idol.

While the controversy was at its peak Ronaldo was in Hollywood attending the ESPY Awards. Being a much sought after personality for commercial endorsements the question is are his agents grooming him to be a movie star, a football player or a contestant on American Idol. Being 23 he meets the Idol shows age requirements. Bottom line is the deals are done and it's time to play football both in the NFL and the English Premiere League.

TRIVIA QUESTION: WHAT TEAM DRAFTED BRETT FAVRE?

NFL RANKS HIGH

In our National Radio Top 10 poll we are surprised to find the interest in the NFL which is a league that we have very little coverage on. In recent years we've found the Manning family an interesting subject but could their story be what is driving the interest in our NFL coverage.

In digging further into our ratings two old NFL stories leaped out which are our features on NFL Hall of Fame players Walter Payton and Howie Long. Since there is a tremendous interest in the league we are committed to generating more coverage of the NFL for this coming season.

DID YOU KNOW

The NBA's and Phoenix Suns Grant Hill's father Calvin was a top notch player in the NFL. With Grant's athletic ability I was shocked to find out he's not fond of football after growing up in a football family. "I hate football," he energetically replied when I asked the question prior to an NBA game 10 years ago when he was a member of the Detroit Pistons.

Hill's father had a 12-year NFL career from 1969 to 1981. He played for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns. In 1975 he moved to the World Football League to play for The Hawaiians. Hill was named to the Pro Bowl team 4 times (1969, 1972, 1973 and 1974). In 1972, he became the first Dallas Cowboy running back to have a 1,000 yard rushing season (with 1036 yards rushing); he repeated the feat in the following season with 1142 yards rushing.

Prior to attending Yale University he attended Riverdale High School in the Bronx, New York City where he was an extremely accomplished athlete in football, basketball, baseball and in track and field. The now 61-year-old Hill currently works for the Dallas Cowboys organization as a consultant who specializes in working with troubled players.

But also did you know that Grant Hill was a member of the Gold medal winning USA Olympic basketball team in 1996. He also was a member of two NCAA title winning teams at Duke University for the 1991 and 1992 seasons.

He also won an award last season as the is the recipient of the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the 2007-08 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner. Hill, a 12-year veteran and the recipient of the 2004-05 Sportsmanship Award, was one of six divisional winners which included Detroit’s Antonio McDyess, Houston’s Shane Battier, Portland’s Brandon Roy, Toronto’s Chris Bosh and Washington’s Antawn Jamison.

It marked the first time that a player has received the award more than once. The NBA donated $25,000 on behalf of Grant Hill to HopeKids, a nonprofit organization based out of Phoenix which provides ongoing events and activities along with a support community for children with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions to send the message that hope can be a powerful medicine.

The NBA will donate $10,000 each to the divisional winners’ charities of choice: America Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts on behalf of McDyess; The Giving Fund on behalf of Battier; the Lenny Wilkens Foundation, which believes that every child deserves access to quality healthcare and the opportunity to receive a competitive education, on Roy’s behalf; The Toronto Raptors Foundation on behalf of Bosh; and Washington Sports and Entertainment Charities, Inc. to benefit local initiatives in the Washington, D.C. area on Jamison’s behalf.

For the fourth consecutive year, NBA players voted on this award, with eleven points given for each first-place vote, nine points for each second-place vote, seven points for third, five points for fourth, three points for fifth and one point for each sixth place vote received. Each team nominated one of its own players for this award, then former NBA players Mike Bantom, Eddie Johnson, Tom “Satch” Sanders, Kenny Smith and Steve Smith, the 2000-2001 Sportsmanship Award recipient, selected the six divisional winners.

The annual award reflects the ideals of sportsmanship – ethical behavior, fair play and integrity – in amateur and professional basketball, a key focus of the leagues Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA grassroots youth basketball program. The trophy is named for former Detroit Pistons guard and Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, the award’s first recipient.

TRIVIA ANSWER: The Atlanta Falcons where Favre played one season.

FIFA TOP 10 - Spain consolidate their lead

Germany overtake Italy. Russia (10th, up 1), on the other hand, have penetrated the top ten for the first time in over ten years thanks to their successful performance at EURO 2008 and the devaluation of results from previous years.

The current edition of the FIFA World Ranking differs only slightly from last month’s. After a busy month of June, featuring the European Championship and a large number of qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, many national teams have taken a break over the last five weeks. Nonetheless, there have been a few noteworthy changes to the ranking as a result of the devaluation of some results from last year. Thus, Germany (2nd, up 1) have bumped Italy out of second place behind leaders Spain . Croatia (5th, up 2) have achieved their best position since 1999 and South American rivals Brazil (6th, down 2) and Argentina (7th, down 1) have moved down accordingly. In sixth place, top-five stalwarts Brazil have recorded their second-worst placing since the ranking was introduced; the selecção’s worst ranking was eighth place in 1993.

Russia (10th, up 1), on the other hand, have penetrated the top ten for the first time in over ten years thanks to their successful performance at EURO 2008 and the devaluation of results from previous years. European champions Spain remain unchallenged at the top, and have extended their lead to more than 200 points.

There has been little change in the regional composition of the top 50 compared to last month. With 29 and ten teams, respectively, Europe and Africa (each up one team) have slightly increased representation. South America still has six teams in the top 50, while Asia now has three (down 1) and CONCACAF has two (down 1).

The results of 30 international “A” matches have been taken into account in compiling the current edition of the ranking. In addition to three qualifying matches for the CONCACAF continental championship, 27 friendly matches were played, 15 of which in Africa .

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on September 3, 2008

· Leader: Spain (1, plus 0)

· Moves into top 10: Russia (10, plus 1)

· Moves out of top 10: France (12, minus 2)

· Matches played in total: 30 matches

· Most matches played: Madagascar : 4 matches

· Biggest move by points: New Caledonia , plus 50 points

· Biggest move by ranks: New Caledonia , plus 10 ranks, Trinidad and Tobago , plus 10 ranks

· Trinidad and Tobago, plus 10 ranks

· Biggest drop by points: Mexico , minus 156 points

· Biggest drop by ranks: Vietnam , minus 41 ranks

· Newly ranked teams: none

· Teams that are no longer ranked: none

FIFA TOP 10 for AUGUST, 2008

Rank -- Team -- Points

1. Spain - 1557

2. Germany - 1343

3. Italy - 1320

4. Netherlands - 1299

5. Croatia 1282

6. Brazil - 1242

7. Argentina - 1219

8. Czech Republic 1146

9. Portugal - 1122

10. Russia - 1023

FIFA