Sports Notes EXTRA - CAPELLO SHOWS MIGHT - January 2008

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Former Mexican National Team goalkeeper Jorge Campos the TV Commentator - Harlem Globetrotters Retire Curly Neal's Number - FIFA TOP 10

Saturday January 19, 2008

THE MIGHTY CAPELLO

Though we felt that Jose Mourinho was the right man for the England managers position Fabio Capello is showing his might and perhaps is bringing to the England side just what they need….. BALLS.

Shortly after officially taking on the job Capello got together with U-21 England manager Stuart Pearce and wanted to know what was going on with the players under Pearce's watch. Capello is counting on Pearce being a part of Capello's management team that is dominated with Italians whom Capello has a previous working relationship with. They include his assistant Franco Baldini, Italo Galbiati, goal keeping coach Franco Tancredi and fitness coach Masimo Neri.

Capello showed his strength when he reportedly called FIFA chief Seth Blatter and complained about the crowded international colander and letting clubs rather than countries dominate the game. It's a strong position to take for a manager who has been managing clubs throughout his career and is now taking on his first national team position.

Capello is in the same million dollar a month salary league as Blatter. For those who believe that money is power Capello has that. Most importantly Capello is bringing a fighting strength to and England side that needs it. England plays a pretty boy candy @$$ style of football. If the team adopts his assertive aggressive shoot from the hip attitude, they will have the will to win factor that they seem to be so badly lacking.

Capello is known to be a no nonsense type of guy and that's a good thing BUT will he permit 32-year-old David Beckham to get his 100th national cap against Switzerland in a match at Wembley Stadium on February 6th?

For hat matter given their previous history and encounters while together at Real Madrid will Beckham ever play for a Capello managed England national side? Capello has let it be known that he won't be influenced by sentiment.

Beckham is doing his part to be ready by working out in England with Arsenal. The point being is Capello ready for Beckham?

Jorge Campos Former Mexican National Team Goalie and Coach Joins Fox Sports En Español’s InterligaTM Telecasts as Special Guest Commentator

Fox Sports en Español announced that former Mexican National Team goalkeeper and assistant coach Jorge Campos was a special guest commentator during the networks’ exclusive telecasts of the InterLigaTM tournament,

Campos joined FSE studio hosts Troy Santiago and Samuel Jacobo for the live pre-game, halftime and post-game shows surrounding each of the tournament’s 14 matches, while on-site match commentary was handled by Jorge Ramos and Hernán Pereira.

“Jorge Campos is truly a Mexican soccer legend,” said David Sternberg, executive vice president and general manager of Fox Sports en Español. “Given his vast knowledge of the game, unique style and first-hand experience playing for or against the eight participating teams, it’s only fitting Jorge join us as a guest commentator..”

Most recently an assistant under head coach Ricardo Lavolpe during the Mexican National Team’s 2006 FIFA World Cup appearance, Campos retired from club and international competition in 2004. Easily one of the most eccentric, versatile and immensely popular players on the world stage, the goalie and sometimes striker helped Pumas UNAM win the Mexican League championship in 1991, a feat he would achieve again with Cruz Azul in 1997.

Over the years, Campos also played for Mexican First Division teams Atlante, Tigres and Puebla. Earning 130 caps for his country as a member of Mexico’s 1994 and 1998 World Cup squads, Campos went on to play in the United States for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire during Major League Soccer’s first three seasons.

(BUSINESS WIRE)

Harlem Globetrotters to Retire the Jersey of the Legendary Curly Neal

Still sporting the trademark shaved head, wide smile and infectious laugh that made him a pop culture icon for decades, basketball legend Curly Neal will have his number 22 retired by the world renowned Harlem Globetrotters at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. This historic event will take place as part of the Globetrotters’ current “Magic As Ever” World Tour, during the team’s performance in New York on Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Curly will be just the fifth Globetrotter in the team’s illustrious 82-year history to have his jersey number retired, joining some of the biggest names in basketball lore: Wilt Chamberlain (13), Meadowlark Lemon (36), Marques Haynes (20) and Goose Tatum (50). One of the truly magical dribblers and shooters ever to pick up a ball, Curly captured the imagination of fans worldwide, playing in more than 6,000 games in 97 countries with the Globetrotters. Number 22 played for 22 seasons in the red, white and blue, from 1963 to 1985.

Curly was part of one of the most extraordinary eras in the team’s history, appearing on several popular television programs and specials, including “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” “The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine,” and “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island.” He was also immortalized in animation on “The Harlem Globetrotters” cartoon series and on episodes of “Scooby Doo.”

“Curly Neal represents the purity of sport and everything that is great about the Globetrotters and the game of basketball,” said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “He helped build this organization into a worldwide phenomenon, and we are proud to bestow this honor upon him. He truly personifies wholesome family entertainment and elicits fond memories for millions of fans around the world.”

This special “Curly Neal Weekend” also features games at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Monday, Feb. 18, and at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., on Sunday, Feb. 17.

Sponsored by Campbell Soup Company, the Harlem Globetrotters are celebrating their 82nd consecutive season of touring the world. The Globetrotters have played in 118 countries on six continents, entertaining over 125 million fans and crossing barriers between cultures, societies and people from all walks of life. The Globetrotters are one of only six teams to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

(BUSINESS WIRE)

FIFA TOP 10 - African Teams On The March

No changes at the top

Wednesday January 16, 2008

Since world football’s big guns have not been in action over the past few weeks, it is a case of “as you were” at the top of January’s FIFA World Ranking, with leading trio Argentina, Brazil and Italy and the next 15 positions below them all unchanged.

The first movers to be found are Nigeria (19th, up 1), who recently defeated Sudan in a friendly match. They, together with other African teams who have been active in the past few weeks, are this month’s most notable climbers. Particularly worthy of mention is the progress made by Egypt (35th, up 4) and Tunisia (46th, up 1), while outside the top 50, Ethiopia (90th, up 15) and Mauritania (112th, up 18) have taken significant strides.

Armenia (85th, up 8) are also among this month’s gainers thanks to the devaluation of some poor results from last year. Due to the low level of movement up and down the ranking, the composition of the top 50 also remains unchanged compared to last month.

Europe has the most teams in the top 50 (28), followed by Africa (10), South America (6), Asia (4) and North and Central America and the Caribbean (2).

Meanwhile, New Zealand (94th, up 1) remain Oceania’s top-ranked team. Forty international “A” matches were taken into account in compiling the first FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for 2008, all friendly matches, of which 28 were played in the second half of December 2007.

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on 13 February 2008.

FIFA TOP 10 for Jnuary 2008

Rank -- Team -- Points

1. Argentina - 1523

2. Brazil - 1502

3. Italy - 1498

4. Spain - 1349

5. Germany - 1305

6. Czech Republic - 1290

7. France - 1243

8. Portugal - 1241

9. Netherlands - 1170

10. Croatia - 1129

FIFA