SPORTS NOTES - RONALDINHO AVOIDS THAKSIN TO SIGN WITH AC MILAN - THE RONALDO BLATTER MATTER - JULY, 2008

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Ronaldinho to sign with AC Milan for roughly US $18 million less a reported to be US $33.5 million compared to Man City's offer of US $51 million - What in the world is wrong with FIFA boss Sepp Blatter? After his Cristiano Ronaldo is a slave comment it raises the question if Blatter needs a health checkup - FIXED GAMES SCANDAL - FIFA TOP 10

Thursday July 17, 2008

MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING

In a previous column we recommended that Ronaldinho avoid signing with Thaksin Shinawatra's Manchester City FC at any cost in our June column. Well the power of suggestion worked and the Brazilian is set to sign with AC Milan for roughly US $18 million less a reported to be US $33.5 million 3-year deal compared to Man City's offer of US $51 million. When you put it into perspective Ronaldinho made the right choice to join AC Milan for less money for what it really gets down to is that ones health is worth more than money. Under the questionable decision making of Shinawatra in the past Ronaldinho would have gone crazy.

The to be done deal results in the price for Ronaldinho's sanity and the chance to enjoy that game he loves without interference from Man City owner is a positive move. At the end of the day (as everybody seems to now say) the football climate will be more professional in Milan for the two time World Player of the Year than it would be at Manchester City.

But one question remains unanswered, that being why didn't Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari make a move to sign the player he coached for the Brazil national team during the 2002 World Cup when Ronaldinho made that memorable goal over the head of England's keeper David Seaman. Ronaldinho put the word out for Scolari to come and get him but Sclorai's effort wasn't there. Instead Scolari has his eyes on Real Madrid's Robinho 24, who is young and talented but has never been named the best football player in the world two consecutive years as has the now 28-year-old Ronaldinho.

Does Scolari perceive that Ronaldinho is damaged goods? Has Ronaldinho gone too far with his party life and lost that magic touch he once had? Does Scolari have an antsy feeling about dealing with Ronaldinho's now wild side? Remember when they were together it was six years ago and Ronaldinho has had a lot of water go under his bridge since then and a lot of weight put on around his middle. After passing his physical for AC Milan a club official said Ronaldinho was in shape and had "No jelly belly."

The reality is Big Phil won't be coaching him and Thaksin won't be paying him. Ronaldinho is now set to carve a new football life for himself by lining up with another Brazilian and world class player in KaKa. Hopefully the buck toothed Ronaldinho will prove that he is still the world class player that he once was.

NBA FIXED GAMES SCANDAL

Yea, yea, sure, sure NBA Commissioner David Stern continues to insist that nothing is wrong with the refereeing in the league despite allegations of Tim Donaghy's who was to be sentenced this month for fixing games in the past has been delayed again. The most controversial games are the playoff series in 2002 and 2005 most notably the Sacramento Kings verses the Los Angeles Lakers game 6 and 7. Stern claims that only Donaghy is to blame but in our archives we noted several stories that questioned the integrity of the officiating and how the Lakers were given favorable treatment.

At the time of the games in question we noted and wrote about those games and asked the question were the Lakers that good or was the NBA that bad. They won three consecutive NBA titles and we pointed out that they were the worst three-peat team in NBA history. Things didn't smell right then and now our concerns have come to fruition.

During the recent playoffs the Lakers Derek Fisher a member of those Laker title teams said he wouldn't give his NBA title rings back. The question is WHY NOT? Marion Jones and other Olympic athletes had to return their gold medals when it was found that their medals were tainted by steroid use. The NBA should take the same position and take a deeper look into a very cloudy past particularly when the Donaghy situation surfaced. It takes more than one to fix that many games. We have suggested that the games in question be televised as a reality show and let the public vote and make an opinion on the integrity of the referee decision making in those games.

Read our coverage at the time and you decide. We pointed out specifically the favorable treatment given to the Lakers in game six of the 2002 series with our column Lakers ELBOW Their Way To Seventh Game: BAP, BAM BOOM.

In the column we noted, The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh game showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh game showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles. The favoritism for the Lakers couldn't be more obvious than in the last minutes of the game.

With 12 seconds left the Lakers Kobe Bryant smashed Sacramento's Mike Bibby in the nose with a flagrant elbow on an inbounds play from the Lakers end line. As Bibby fell backward he reached out and grabbed the onrushing Bryant who was trying to receive the inbounds pass. Bibby appeared to be trying to keep from falling on the back of his head and cracking his skull open, when he reached out and grabbed Bryant. The result was Bibby was called for FOULING BRYANT. BIBBY GOT A BLOODY NOSE.

The ESPN replay showed over and over the referee was looking right at the play during the entire time and IGNORED Bryant's fouling Bibby. The play should have been whistled dead at the time that Bryant smashed Bibby in the nose with his elbow. It was as if Bibby's nose infringed Bryant's elbow.

"The official was looking right at it," ESPN analyst Eric Clemons exclaimed in disbelief regarding the officials non-call.

After the play Bibby was wiping the blood pouring from his nose with a towel. The referees seemed annoyed that he would take time to do this. In boxing when a boxer has a bloody nose he can't breathe properly. Is it any different in basketball or the NBA?

To compound the inequities Lakers coach Phil Jackson wanted a blood control rule called. READ THESE STORIES FOR IN DEPTH INFORMATION.

Sports Notes ARCHIVES - ARE THE LAKERS THAT GOOD or IS THE NBA…THAT BAD? - JUNE, 2000
The Los Angeles Lakers winning the title brought to mind… Is this the WORST team to have ever won an NBA Championship? Well OK there were teams in the early 50's this Lakers team could possibly defeat in a NBA Championship series but who else?

Sports Notes ARCHIVES - Lakers Bludgeon 76ers Win NBA Title - JUNE, 2001
The Los Angles Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers for their second straight NBA title. Shaquille O'Neal was permitted to have his own way.

Sports Notes ARCHIVES - Lakers ELBOW Their Way To Seventh Game - BAP, BAM BOOM - JUNE, 2002
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh game showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles.

Sports Notes ARCHIVES - LAKERS SHAQ-ed UP - January, 2002
The Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal did it again. The Shaq-Man got upset about a flagrant foul and became a Bull in Chicago's china closet... Britney Spears knows how to treat the NBA.

NBA BEAT - NBA'S FIXED GAMES CONTROVERSY With The Los Angeles Lakers - JUNE, 2008
We pointed out specifically the favorable treatment given to the Lakers in game six of the 2002 series with our column: Lakers ELBOW Their Way To Seventh Game - BAP, BAM BOOM - The Los Angeles Lakers continue to receive favoritism from NBA referees as they elbowed their way to a seventh game showdown after their 106-102 game six victory over the Sacramento Kings in Los Angeles. The favoritism for the Lakers couldn't be more obvious than in the last minutes of the game...... - Entertainment - TV

 

Cristiano Ronaldo - Ray Booysen photo FIFA president Sepp Blatter reelected PELE - Reto Stauffer photo

THE RONALDO BLATTER MATTER

What in the world is wrong with FIFA boss Sepp Blatter? After his Cristiano Ronaldo is a slave comment when he said that "Manchester United were effectively indulging in 'modern slavery' by refusing their Portuguese winger a transfer to Real Madrid."

Hold up! This raises the question has Blatter lost the plot or something else? Does Blatter need a health checkup? On 13 April 2007, Ronaldo signed a five-year, £120,000-a-week deal with United, making him the highest-paid player in United's history. He said, "I am very happy at the club and I want to win trophies and hopefully we will do that this season". He's been there ad done that as Man U won the Champions League title. The question is, were those his FAMOUS LAST WORDS?

The bigger question is why Blatter would think it's OK for someone to renege and NOT HONOR THEIR CONTRACT. What does that say to the youth of the world who love as Blatter calls it The Beautiful Game? Does that imply that honor and football do not go together? Is honor and money International football's oil and water?

Hey Sepp… LISTEN UP…. SLAVES DON'T GET PAID THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED SLAVES.

Pele had an opinion on the matter. "Ronaldo should honor his contract, he said in a CNN report." "You are a slave when you don't get paid," he added.

With four years remaining on his agreement for millions of dollars and playing for the best football club in Europe if he leaves what does that say about Ronaldo's integrity and how disrespectful he is towards Alex Ferguson who developed and molded him into the refined player that he is today after his hot dog start at the club.

Ferguson matured him from a 10 goal scorer in 2005 when he was donning gold streaks in his hair to the 42 goal scoring finished product he was this past season. Ferguson mentally got through to him and now Ronaldo understands the value of being a passer and an all around player.

In 2006, a row between Ronaldo and Ruud Nistelrooy at Man U's training ground intensified speculation about their roles at the club. However, Ronaldo signed a new deal with United that would last until 2010 and van Nistelrooy was off to of all places Real Madrid. Ronaldo said of the deal, "United have stood by me and been there for me and I want to repay that".

As the end of each season approached, particularly in 2006 and 2007, rumors were rampant that Ronaldo wasn't happy at Manchester U and wanted to play for Real Madrid - the rumors frequently originated from the board of Real Madrid who were reported in April 2007 to be willing to pay an unprecedented €80 million (£54 million) for Ronaldo. Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon's was also making statements of his "pride" and "honor" that Ronaldo wants to play for Real.

When Man U made a request in June to FIFA to discourage what could be perceived as tampering by Real Blatter blew them off.

The dust won't really settle until a deal is done which Ferguson says Man U will not sell Ronaldo and he can't leave without their approval. Simply put he has a contract with the club.

The issue won't be resolved until Sept. 1 when the European transfer period door closes or as the aforementioned Man U position that it will never happen that a deal will be done.

Other red flags jump up which begs the question what is Blatter's relationship with the management of Real Madrid. It's no secret that cronyism is a major part of FIFA. To get that million dollar a month president's job requires a lot of votes from FIFA members. The question is who is sleeping with whom and why?

The ethics of this matter have been questionable from the start prior to Man U playing Chelsea in Russia for the Champions League title. It was reported that Real officials were sneaking around in Moscow talking to Ronaldo. The situation is now to the point where Man U fans are resigned to letting him go, be done with him and move on.

Should the new special one (Ronaldo) stay at Man U what will it do to the morale of the team? His ankle will heal but what about his soul and his mind? He recently broke up with his girlfriend. Is he trying to cut all ties and run from something? Is he spooking himself out?

Perhaps its time for a change and its not Ronaldo going to Real Madrid but Pele or someone who understands what Blatter often refers to as fair play in business to become the next FIFA president. Obviously…. It's time for a change.

If anything changes need to be made for the sake of the children all over the world who are absorbed in the beautiful game. They should not only be learning how to play the game but also learn the lessons of the value of integrity and honor.

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Sports BIZ Notes - Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho Deal With... - JULY, 2008
CAA Sports and International Soccer Agency Gestifute Create Global Partnership to Represent Top Talent, Including Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and Head Coach José Mourinho. In addition to Ronaldo and Mourinho, clients include Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/Portuguese National team), Anderson (Manchester United/Brazilian National Team), Nani (Manchester United/Portuguese National Team), Deco (Chelsea FC/Portuguese National Team), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto/ Portuguese National Team), 2002 World Cup-winning head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (Chelsea FC). They helped orchestrate the landmark deal that brought David Beckham to the U.S. to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

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