Sports Notes - SEA Games $#!T Hits The Fan - January 2006

James Loving NR Vietnam striker Pham Van Quyen arrested for SEA Games match fixing

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Wednesday January 11, 2006 - Update Sunday January 15, 2006

Thai vs Cambodia Celebrity Football Game - 2005 SEA Games = PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS - Singapore & Thai coach rewarded for success - Cambodia's former national team has new identity & plays in Indonesia - MLB Players Help Children - NR Mail & Top 10 According To Google

CELEBRITY FOOTBALL

Cambodia celebrities defeated a Thailand celebrity football team 4-0 Saturday, January 14 before an estimated crowd of 7,000 at Olympic stadium in Phnom Penh.

The teams played two 30-minute halves. After taking a 1-0 lead in the first half the Khmer TV, recording and movie stars overwhelmed their opponents with three goals in the second for the final result.

Prince Norodom Ranariddh Sihanouk, perhaps Cambodia's biggest football fan was in attendance. Full story coming.

2005 SEA GAMES AFTERMATH

The 2005 SEA Games was marred in controversy that is not over till its over. Prior to the start of the games the Cambodian national ream was informed on a weeks notice by the Cambodia Olympic Committee that they would not participate in the event leaving players and coaches stunned.

"They (players) were in shock," said Scott O'Donell after coaching the squad for five months in preparation for the games.

The committee sent Khemara, a club team owned by Olympic committee chief Prince Norodom Ranariddh Sihanouk. They were deemed the national team and the players and coaches that prepared the national team for several months were a team without a country. (FULL STORY BELOW)

Khemara BECAME the national team. They took four of the original national team players with them to to the SEA Games in Bacalod, Philippines. The change didn't make a difference. The results were the same zero wins and three losses.

Cambodia did experience a good outing losing to Thailand's second team 1-0 in Cambodia/Khemara's final match. The squad also lost to the host Philippines 4-2 and Malaysia 5-0.

During the games Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra questioned the integrity of the event.

Thailand went on to become the champion but there was more controversy to follow.

Vietnam lost to Thailand 3-0 in the finals. The major controversy erupted after the completion of the competitions when Vietnam's star striker Pham Van Quyen and midfielder Le Quoc Vuong were taken into police custody and charged with gambling and organizing gambling.

According to the Associated Press (AP) five players were also under suspicion of fixing games with Burma and Malaysia. They defeated Burma 1-0 and Malaysia 3-0. The players were reported to have received a total of $82,000 for throwing games.

Last month we reported that Van Quyen was a rising star.

WHO IS THE CAMBODIAN NATIONAL TEAM???

Following the SEA Games the Cambodian Football Federation (CFF) sent their former national team players to Indonesia to participate in the Bang Yos Gold Cup 2005 that took place in Jakarta, December 06-17.

Their identity became the Cambodia SELECTION team.

The participants included Indonesian club squads PERSIJA FC, PERSIK, PSMS, PSIS and OSOTSPA of Thailand.

The results were the same… zero wins and five losses.

RESULTS:

1. CAMBODIA SELECTION 0-1 PSIS (IND)

2. CAMBODIA SELECTION 2-3 PERSIK(IND)

3. CAMBODIA SELECTION 0-3 PERSIJA FC (IND)

4. CAMBODIA SELECTION 2-8 OSOTSPA (THAI)

5. CAMBODIA SELECTION 0-9 PSMS (IND)

CHAMPION: PSMS defeated : PERSIK PSMS 2-1 in the final. It is the second time they have won the title.:

GOOD POST SEA Games News

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) doubled coach Chanvit Polchivin's salary to 100,000 baht a month (US$2,500) after he led his squad to the SEA Games championship.

***

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) signed Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic to a two-year deal extension on his contract that will now run through the end of 2007 with a two-year option that would keep him in charge through 2009.

The 56-year-old Serbo-Montenegrin and former Oman coach and Yugoslavia national goalkeeper led Singapore to the Tiger Cup championship.

He will lead Singapore in a bid for the Asian Cup for the first time since 1984

Singapore is currently ranked 14th in Asia and was the top South East Asian team in the December 2005 according to the FIFA World Ranking.

Avramovic took charge of Singapore in 2003

STRANGE THING - WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

The saying goes What goes around comes around and it did this week after I was reviewing a story I wrote almost eight years ago about the Major League Baseball's (MLB) California Angels 'Angels With Dirty Faces.' It was a story that I haven't read since I wrote it.

Strange enough that same day we received a press release about one of the players in that story Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer.

The following release is about Moyer who remains in the league throwing a benefit with teammate Ichero Suzuki. We will post 'Angels With Dirty Faces' at a later date.

Ichiro Serves up His Favorite Meal to Benefit the Moyer Foundation's Dream Catchers Event

The Moyer Foundation, founded by Seattle Mariner's All-Star pitcher Jamie Moyer and wife Karen, announced one of the feature "dreams" to be auctioned off at the inaugural Dream Catchers event is the extremely rare opportunity to enjoy a special dining experience with internationally-recognized sports icon, Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners.

Known for his privacy, Ichiro is sharing not only his time, but also one of his favorite world-class chefs, Hiro Yoshida, who will be flown in from Toronto, Canada. Fourteen guests will enjoy a specially prepared meal with Ichiro and his wife, along with Karen and Jamie Moyer.

The dinner will be served in a sukiya, an authentic Japanese house, on the Norcliffe estate in Seattle.

"It is my pleasure to help The Moyer Foundation and their mission to help children," said Ichiro. "My wife and I look forward to hosting this with the Moyers, and to enjoying the delicious meal prepared by Chef Hiro."

This opportunity is just one of the numerous once-in-a-lifetimes "dreams" to be auctioned at Dream Catchers. A first-of-its-kind event, Dream Catchers will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2006, and simulcast from three cities - Seattle, Wash., Palm Springs, Calif. and Sun Valley, Idaho.

The program will l feature a live auction including the following "dreams": a trip to India to meet the Dalai Lama; VIP treatment at one of NASCAR's hottest races with young legend Kasey Kahne; and a VIP Manhattan experience for kids including the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and VIP passes to two Broadway shows and Rockefeller Center's Tree Lighting.

"The Moyer Foundation is dedicated to helping children in distress," said Jamie Moyer. "Dream Catchers is an exciting new event full of amazing dream experiences to be auctioned. We are very fortunate to have Ichiro's contribution, which will help us to help more kids." Proceeds from Dream Catchers will enable the Moyer Foundation to expand their Camp Erin bereavement camps, as well as help fund programs for children in adversity.

Dream Catchers auction will be a Sotheby's-style event with hors d'oeuvres, fine wine, and famous comedic entertainment. Space will be limited to 200 people per venue, and tickets are $500 per person.

For more information about becoming a Dream Catchers sponsor or to purchase tickets, call (206) 298-1217 or visit www.dreamcatchersinfo.org.

According to Google National Radio's Top 10 stories are:

(1) Jim Murray,

(2) Royal Palace

(3) NBA Trivia,

(4) Michael Jordan

(5) Jerry West Builds Memphis

(6) Freshie Boy & Girl Contest

(7) OOPS FAT Did It Again

(8) ASEAN Games

(9) Cambodian Football

(10) Angkor Wat

Past Most Mentioned:

(1) Walter Payton,

(2) Marshall Faulk

(3) Barry Bonds

(4) Digital Divide Data.

Rank/Team/Points

1. Brazil - 840

2. Czech Republic - 796

3. Netherlands - 791

4. Argentina - 772

5. Mexico - 768

5. Spain - 768

5. France - 768

8. USA - 767

9. England - 757

10. Portugal - 754

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 18 January 2006.

© Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com All rights reserved.