SPORTS NOTES - RONALDO, RONALDINHO OH WHERE DO YOU GO? - JULY, 2008

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

The Cristiano Ronaldo saga goes on and on and on yet there remains no definitive decision as to where he will lace up his boots this coming football season - With his Brazilian roots and being an integral member of the Scolari managed 2002 World Cup winning team you would think that he would be highly sought after by his former Brazilian nation team coach to come and join him at Chelsea. News reports have noted that Ronaldinho has said, "Come and get me," yet Scolari had made no attempt to do so - NBA TRIVIA - FIFA TOP 10

Wednesday July 9, 2008

FOOTBALL'S MERRY GO ROUND & MUSICAL CHAIRS

The Cristiano Ronaldo saga goes on and on and on yet there remains no definitive decision as to where he will lace up his boots this coming football season. Will it be Real Madrid or Man U? With his ankle having been operated on in the Netherlands that issue is over and done with but the mystery continues to loom where will thy be this coming season? We're not talking Shakespeare here we're talking football plain and simple.

For certain it's a subject that Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't want to talk about. He precedes interviews with the media that he won't talk about the Ronaldo issue. When a journalist tries to slip a fastball question regarding the matter past the most formidable manager in International football he quickly reminds them tat he wouldn't talk about it.

For certain Ronaldo 23, is not willing to meet with Fergie. For certain Real Madrid has taken the high road with Real's Ramone Calderone stating that Man U should be proud to sell the EPL's top goal scorer to their Spanish club.

On Man U TV a call in talk show 'Extra Time' hosted by Paddy Crerand callers were miffed about the dilemma the club is in. Why would Ronaldo leave a club that is solid and proved by winning the Champions League that they are the best club team in Europe and possibly the world?

Another caller simply dismissed it as Ronaldo being Portuguese who just wants to play in Spain as would any Spanish speaking player from Brazil would.

The other scenario is that Luiz Felipe Scolari's advising Ronaldo about taking advantage of his opportunities in moving on to Real is only to make his job easier as the Chelsea boss in competing against a Ronaldo less Man U for the Premiership title. At his press conference upon official taking over the reigns as the Chelsea manager yesterday in his brave attempt to communicate by speaking in English he dismissed the suggestion that he influences Ronaldo's decisions and pointed out about the league and Ronaldo going to Real Madrid, "If he go or not go the league is very difficult."

On a documentary feature about Ronaldo on the sports NIC channel it was noted that there is a strong influence from Scolari has on the Portuguese scoring machine who registered 42 back of the netters last season. "I've watched him grow up over the past three years," as Portugal's national team manager.

Scolari who has a history with Ronaldo was the person who informed Cristiano that his father, with whom Ronaldo was very close to, passed away while Portugal was in Russia for a World Cup qualifying match. Scolari noted it was hard to tell Ronaldo but shared with him that it was reminiscent of his (Scolari's) own fathers passing.

That same TV special revealed Ronaldo's fondness for modeling as he was seen posing in ads for Nike, Coke and Vogue magazine. "Modeling fascinates me," he said in the documentary. It was also noted that Ronaldo is referred to as The Fashion Kid and Playboy.

The film also revealed Ronaldo's closeness with his family. He bought a shop for his older sister who wants to become a singer. His mother said of her son, "He could be a great coach like Mourinho."

It goes around and around this Ronaldo controversy but one thing is certain, yes Ronaldo was very talented player when he joined Man U but it was Sir Alex Ferguson who refined his raw skills and honed them into his being one of the greatest players in the world. If it's respect and appreciation you're looking for at this point IT IS ABSENT.

TRIVIA QUESTION:

There's always been a big controversy about Michael Jordan being drafted 3rd in the1984 draft. The Celtics All-Star Paul Pierce was the 10th pick in the 1998 draft. But did you know the Celtics had two 1st round draft picks in the 1978 NBA draft. With one they chose Larry Bird considered one of the best NBA players of all time. Who was the other Celtics 1st round draft choice in 1978?

DOES RONALDINHO - THINK TOO MUCH OF HIMSELF?

Another nail biter is the Ronaldinho situation whereas the two time World Player of the Year was a disappointment last season and has noticeable gained a lot of weight. He was notified by Barcelona that he can do what he wants with his talent and go elsewhere if he wishes.

With his Brazilian roots and being an integral member of the Scolari managed 2002 World Cup winning team you would think that he would be highly sought after by his former Brazilian national team manager to join him at Chelsea. ESPN news reports have noted that Ronaldinho has said, "Come and get me," yet Scolari has made no attempt to do so.

In the 2002 World Cup Ronaldinho played a part in Brazil's successful in winning the title. He was one of the famed "3 R's" with Ronaldo and Rivaldo. He scored two goals in the tournament. One of the highlights was an unconventional 30-yard free kick he scored against England in the quarter-finals in Shizuoka. The ball lobbed over the English keeper David Seaman, who was out of position as he expected a pass into the penalty area, to make it 2-1 for Brazil.

The interest from Manchester City is one offer that Ronaldinho who is said to be seeking $400,000 a game, should at all costs avoid. That would be a major mistake for his career to be on a club owned by Thaksin Shinawatra who has credibility problems to deal with from his questionable business dealings in Thailand and who is currently being accused of running the Thai government by pulling the strings of the current Thai Prime Minister who is said to be Thaksin's puppet.

Thaksin's history is very cloudy and controversial and is most certainly not transparent. Why would Ronaldinho get involved with that muddle at any cost? It's a lose, lose situation for his career. How does that song go by the Jefferson Airplane (as I recall) …. Under My Thumb? That's just where Ronaldinho would be under Thaksin's thumb as was Sven-Göran Eriksson who was dealt with in an unfavorable manner after raising the success level of the Man City squad last season. Why would Ronaldinho place himself under the thumb of a no nothing about football former policeman and Prime Minister of Thailand?

Ronaldinho is at a similar point in his career as former Brazilian star Rivaldo was in before his decline as a footballer after the 2002 World Cup. At 28 Ronaldinho is still young enough to have some great years of football ahead of him providing that he makes good choices and joins the right club with the right leadership and Man City is not that club.

Freeman Williams. He was a 1978 first round draft pick (8th overall). Williams never played for the Celtics. He started his NBA career with the San Diego Clippers and was a teammate of Kobe Bryant's father Joe "Jellybean" Bryant and current television basketball analyst and NBA star Bill Walton.

During his college career Williams was the 1978 NCAA Men's Basketball Division I scoring champion, and the Portland State University all-time scoring leader. Williams was the NCAA Division I national men's basketball individual scoring leader in 1977 and 1978. He is second in Division I history in scoring, trailing only Pete Maravich.

With the Clippers he finished in the top 10 for three point field goals in three consecutive seasons, 1980 through 1982. In December 1980, Williams became the first Clippers player to win a Player of the Month award, and the only one in franchise history until Elton Brand did so 25 years later.

In September 1982, Williams was traded by the Atlanta Hawks along with John Drew, and cash to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Dominique Wilkins who was drafted by the Jazz and refused to sign with them. After that season (1982-83), Williams played in only 27 more games: 18 with Utah in 1983 and nine with the Washington Bullets in 1986. Williams registered 51 point game with the Clippers during the 1979-80 season. His 19.3 ppg average during the 1980-81 season was his career best. Freeman had a small part in the 1992 film White Men Can't Jump, playing fictional playground legend Duck Johnson. The Celtics Ray Allen co-stared in the film with Denzell Washington.

FIFA TOP 10 - European champions Spain the new leaders

New European champions Spain (1st, up 3) have claimed top spot for the first time since the ranking was introduced in August 1993, and in doing so, become only sixth team to take that honor together with France, Germany, Brazil, Italy and Argentina

Thursday July 3, 2008

Football has been at the center of attention in recent weeks, which has had a major effect on July’s FIFA World Ranking. New European champions Spain (1st, up 3) have claimed top spot for the first time since the ranking was introduced in August 1993, and in doing so, become only the sixth team to take that honor together with France, Germany, Brazil, Italy and Argentina. Although Italy (2nd, up 1) had a mixed EURO 2008 campaign, their performances were enough to retain a narrow lead over EURO 2008 runners-up Germany (3rd, up 2). Meanwhile, Brazil (4th, down 2) and Argentina (6th, down 5) – who had held the top spot since October 2007 – have lost considerable ground due to recent results in the race to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Netherlands (5th, up 5) have taken advantage of the situation by maneuvering themselves in between the two South American teams, but impressive showings at EURO 2008 have also seen Croatia (7th, up 8) and Portugal (9th, up 2) climb into the top ten, a feat that has narrowly evaded both Russia (11th, up 13) and Turkey (14th, up 6). Two teams – England (15th, down 6) and Greece (18th, down 10) – have slipped down the ranking and are no longer in the top ten.

There are also a number of major movers outside of Europe . Teams to have made striking progress in the top 100 include Nigeria (26th, up 8), Iran (37th, up 11) and Saudi Arabia (49th, up 5), as well as a raft of teams who have climbed 20 or more places: Burkina Faso (64th, up 47), Gabon (74th, up 20), Cuba (78th, up 26), Cape Verde Islands (85th, up 24), Suriname (87th, up 58), Kenya (92nd, up 23) and Korea DPR (94th, up 24). All of these teams have played between two and five 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in recent weeks, winning at least once.

Both of July’s biggest movers ( Suriname and Burkina Faso ) won all of their recent qualifiers. Chad (127th, up 21), Suriname and Rwanda (87th, up 19) are all in their highest-ever position in the world ranking.

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on August 6, 2008

· Leader: Spain (plus 3)

· Moves into top 10: Croatia (7, plus 8), Portugal (9, plus 2)

· Moves out of top 10: England (15, minus 6), Greece (18, minus 10)

· Matches played in total: 226 matches

· Most matches played: Spain : 7 matches

· Biggest move by points: Croatia , plus 265 points

· Biggest move by ranks: Suriname , plus 58 ranks

· Biggest drop by points: Argentina , minus 261 points

· Biggest drop by ranks: New Zealand , minus 24 ranks

· Newly ranked teams: none

· Teams that are no longer ranked: none

FIFA TOP 10 for JULY, 2008

Rank -- Team -- Points

1. Spain - 1557

2. Italy - 1404

3. Germany - 1364

4. Brazil - 1334

5. Netherlands - 1299

6. Argentina - 1298

7. Croatia 1282

8. Czech Republic

9. Portugal - 1104

10. France - 1053

FIFA