Adversity

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tqsO/~3/XweYaTJ8Xbk/adversity.html

Skiing Skin diving Snow-boarding Snow Boarding

Don't be cautious, Seb, let's celebrate 2012 now

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions

It was great talking to the Olympic Stadium project manager Ian Crockford the other night when the floodlights were switched on for the first time.

Ian is so passionate about the construction work and spoke with such pride about the achievements of all of his team.

As we get closer to the Games, it's important to step back and recognise how well the Olympic Delivery Authority has done in getting these venues ready on time.

Remember Wembley and its delays? And the people I meet regularly at the Olympic Park - not just the top dogs - are so enthusiastic about their work.

What I'd like to see is the same passion and dynamism being shown by the organising committee (LOCOG) in 2011.

Look, I'm not saying 2012 chairman Seb Coe isn't passionate about the Games.

You couldn't meet a more dynamic man, an inspirational athlete who shows the same energy and tactical brilliance in his work as he displayed on the track in the 1970s and 1980s. And his chief executive Paul Deighton is equally as hard-working.

But what I'd like to see in the next 12 months is more risk-taking. I get the impression the cautious lawyers and the accountants have too much power in LOCOG.

And I'm not the only person who believes this. Quite a few of the partners who deal with them, admit privately that they want more risk-taking from 2012 officials.

Maybe it's because they are locked up with bankers and accountants in a Canary Wharf skyscraper. Every day they step into lifts with money men and women.

But why not start celebrating the Games now? Let's tell the world that we really want to stage them. We're being far too reserved and British about all this.

Why can't they put the Olympic rings on Tower Bridge now? Why can't they shine lights of the rings onto the Houses of Parliament now? Why don't they put them on the London Eye? Tell the world, we really care.

Why are there so few 2012 countdown clocks around London?

The BT Tower sometimes displays the number of days left but why not put clocks in Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, a better one in Stratford in east London, at the Albert Hall, at the London Eye and across the country where the football matches are being played.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has a role to play here.

Why do you see so few children wearing Olympic pins? Why don't they make special ones for the east London boroughs and give them away to every child at school?

Why wait? Let's start building the excitement now. And let's ask Londoners and Brits what they want to see at the Games, what they want at the opening ceremony, what sort of merchandise they want?

It's time to engage the whole country in the Games and not just by selling tickets but by tapping into the nation's ideas.

LOCOG needs to stop worrying about whether it's okay to use the rings here or there - or whether somebody will take them to court for financial credit if they come up with a good idea.

Be brave, guys and spread the word big time.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adrianwarner/2010/12/dont_be_cautious_seb_lets_star.html

Gheorghe Hagi Romario Jairzinho Zinedine Zidane

11/9 Southwest Players Update

Here's another news update with local players recently.

*First off, Aberdeen Wings Goalie Frederieck Lesiner was named the League's Goalie of the Week back on November 1 after a huge weekend where he stopped 79 of 83 saves in a pair of victories which included both his first shutout with a 3-0 win and his first shootout of the season (both against the Coluee Region Chill).

He's been a big part of the season's turnaround as well as forwards like Cody Ward who's in a 3 way tie for 3rd in goals scored with 13 along with Rock Einersen (Texas Tornado) and Ft. Worth Native Michael Hill (Topeka Roadrunners).

After the Wings started the season losing 5 of their first 6, the Wings are slowly beginning to turn-around their season as Aberdeen is now in 4th place with 15 points (7-9-1) and is just 3 points back of both the defending Champion Bismarck Bobcats and Owatonna Express.

*Nebraska-Omaha's Johnnie Searfoss ended his five game pointless streak in a big way as he helped blow open a 3-0 lead into a 5-0 victory as he scored 2 goals in just 29 seconds on both sides of a 2 man advantage. He also assisted on the opening goal of the game where the UNO Mavericks continue to be unbeaten in WCHA Play at 4-0 and is 7-1-0 overall through 8 games. They trail by just 1 point to Minnesota-Duluth who's 4-1-1 in conference.

His big weekend didn't end there for the UNO Mavericks, he also scored his scored on Saturday in a 5-2 win in the 2nd game against Minnesota State. This takes his total from 1 point going into the weekend to 5 now, including 4 goals in 8 games played.

*Colin Jacobs had  an assist in the battle where it brought in a lot of Dallas Interest as he went up against Dallas Stars Prospect Scott Glennie and the Brandon Wheat Kings back on Saturday Night. The 2011 NHL Draft Prospect is beginning to find his grove after a lack-luster season last year where the Thunderbirds had one of the youngest teams in the entire WHL last season.

 He also had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels which included one of the best goals of his career as he had a great backhanded goal to make it 2-0 in the 2nd period.

Here's the Video of Colin Jacobs Backhand Goal VS. Red Deer


Here's the Latest Stat Update. Click the Players Name to see their player profile.

WHL/NCAA

Colin Jacobs  (Seattle)   15 GP  12 PTS  (5G 7A),  +1  24 PIM

Austin Smith  (Colgate)    6 GP    6 PTS   (2G 4A), 2 PIM

Armand De Swardt (Cornell)    2 GP   0 PTS   (0G 0A), 2 PIM

Locke Jillson  (Cornell)     4 GP   3 PTS   (1G 2A), 6 PIM

Keir Ross (Cornell)      4 GP   1 PTS   (0G 1A), 0 PIM

Chris Brown (Michigan)   10 GP   6 PTS   (1G 5A), 0 PIM

Jacob Fallon (Michigan)   5 GP   1 PTS    (1G 0A), 6 PIM    

Erik Higby (No. Michigan)   6 GP    2 PTS   (1G 1A),   10 PIM

CJ Ludwig (No. Michigan)    7 GP   0 PTS   (0G  0A),   26 PIM

Johnnie Searfoss (Neb.-Omaha)  8 GP   5 PTS   (4G 1A), 4 PIM

Matt Donovan (Denver)    10 GP   5 PTS  (3G 2A), 24 PIM

Chase Grant (Minn. State)    10 GP   5 PTS   (3G 2A)   2 PIM


USHL

Ian Young  (Chicago)    12 GP    8 PTS   (1G 7A),  +4  15 PIM

Tyler Aumgurgey (Dubuque)    10 GP   0 PTS (0G 0A), +1  14 PIM

Colton Hargrove (Fargo)    12 GP  3 PTS  (2G 1A), -5  36 PIM

Blake Coleman (Indiana)    10 GP   12 PTS  (4G 8A), +4  19 PIM

Josh Berge  (Lincoln)      6 GP  5 PTS  (2G 3A), +1 0 PIM

Cole Martin (Lincoln)     6 GP   3 PTS   (2G 1A), +2  6 PIM

Ryan Daugherty (Omaha)    8 GP  3 PTS   (1G 2A), +2  12 PIM

Greg Johnson  (Sioux City)   6 GP   0 PTS  (0G 0A), -3  0 PIM

Mike Williams (Sioux City)   8 GP   1 PTS  (0G 1A), -4  14 PIM

Seth Jones  (USNTDP)    6 GP     3 PTS  (1G 2A), +1  6 PIM


NAHL

Frederick Leisner (Aberdeen)   15 GP   7-7-1   3.54 GAA   .899 SV%

Tommy Rizzardo (Bismarck)    17 GP   6 PTS  (4G 2A), +5  33 PIM

Nicholas Miglio  (Bismarck)    10 GP   1 PTS  (1G 0A),  -1    8 PIM

Kyle Hughes (Corpus Christi)   16 GP  11 PTS  (1G 10A), -5   45 PIM

Axel Boyer  (Texas)     17 GP  9 PTS  (4G 5A), +9  27 PIM

Sean Hederick (Texas)   9 GP  7 PTS  (4G 3A), +4  2 PIM

Taylor Hendron (Texas)   15 GP   7 PTS  (3G 4A), +6  2 PIM

Marc Biggs  (Texas)    17 GP   10 PTS  (7G 3A),  +12  6 PIM

Jake Stafford (Texas)   9 GP    5-2-2    2.85 GAA   .874 SV%

Jacob Poe  (Topeka)    16 GP   8 PTS  (0G 8A),  E  37 PIM

Michael Hill (Topeka)   16 GP   26 PTS  (13G 13A), -4  34 PIM

Mason Miller  (Topeka)  7 GP   0 PTS  (0G 0A),  E  2 PIM

Cory Ramsay  (Topeka)   16 GP   3 PTS   (1G 2A), -4  25 PIM

Kyle Sharkley (Topeka)   6 GP   2 PTS  (1G 1A), -1  10 PIM

Tyler Hope  (Wenatchee)   16 GP  7 PTS  (3G 4A), E  34 PIM

Source: http://texasicehockeyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/11/119-southwest-players-update.html

Preben Elkjaer Paulo Futre Bebeto Football

San Antonio holds on to slim lead in AHL West Division with 3-2 win

The Rampage continue their strong home ice performance with their 4 win in their last 5 games as all 3 goals in the 2nd period.

Including some very key goals by Mathieu Beaduoin with his team leading 9th of the season and Defensemen Mikkel Boedker who scored twice in just over a minute as the Rampage were able to break open a 1-1 game into a 3-1 game where that Boedker goal turned out to be the game winner.

Early in the 3rd period, a goal by rookie defense Nick Leddy scored and put the Icehogs within 1 at 3-2 just 3:20 into the game as that gave the Icehogs life and put pressure at numerous points in the 3rd period.

But Goaltender Al Montoya wouldn't have any of it as 14 saves in the 3rd period helped keep the Rampage up 3-2 including in the final 45 seconds when Rockford pulled goalie Alec Richards looking to force OT, but a pair of late key saves ended the Icehogs hopes last night.

In addition to the 3-2 win over Rockford, Oklahoma City has been able to keep up the pressure with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Wolves last night as the Rampage lead in the West Division stays at 2 points.

In addition to last night's game, they has been a change in the Broadcast Schedule for Sunday Afternoon when the Rampage take on the Chicago Wolves. It will be on 92.5 KRPT the Patriot instead of the usual Sports Radio 760 The Ticket due to a schedule conflict.

92.5 The Patriot Website

San Antonio Rampage Broadcast Press Release


San Antonio VS. Rockford Game Highlights

Rockford Ice Hogs 2  San Antonio Rampage 3  (0-0, 1-3, 1-0)

Game Story from the San Antonio Rampage Website

From San Antonio, Texas: The San Antonio Rampage swept the Rockford Icehogs in back-to-back games as they claimed a 3-2 victory at the AT&T Center Friday Night and are now tied for first in the league with a 11-4-1 record good for 23 points.

Despite being out-shot 11-10 in the first period, the Rampage were able to get some quality shots on Rockford netminder Alec Richards but unfortunately took some unlucky bounces and the game remained scoreless heading into the 2nd period.

San Antonio claimed the first lead of the game off right wing Brett Maclean's goal 8:06 into the 2nd period. Mikkel Boedker assisted on Maclean's backhanded shot at the left post beating Richards low stick side for a 1-0 lead.

Rockford Right Wing Hugh Jessiman netted an equalizer on the power play just 1:31 later to even the score at 1-1. Nick Leddy's shot from the left faceoff circle was deflected by Jessiman to the upper right corner past Rampage goaltender Al Montoya.

The Rampage took a 2-1 advantage 16:57 into the 2nd period as leading scorer Brett Maclean scored his nineth of the season. Alex Picard sent a cross ice pass to Beaudoin at the left goal line who punched a low stick side past Richards. Vitkor was credited with the second assist.

San Antonio extended their lead to 3-1 as Boedker scored the game winning goal at the 18:04 mark of the 2nd period. Rookie Chris Summers supplied his first assists of his pro career on Boedker snap shot that went high glove side. Boedker's goal marked his fifth multi point game of the season to lead all Rampage attackers.

Icehogs defensemen Nick Leedy made it a 3-2 contest after his goal at 3:20 into the third period. Leddy fired a bullet from the left faceoff circle beating Montoya high stick side. Brian Connelly and Ryan Potunly added the helpers.

Rockford Head Coach Bill Peters pulled Richards with 45 seconds left in the game in favor of a sixth attacker, but the Icehogs could not convert the man advantage and the Rampage finalized the victory 3-2.

Montoya stopped 36 of 38 Icehog Shots while Richards made 26 saves on 29 shots on net.

The Rampage return to the AT&T Center on Sunday Afternoon as they host the Chicago Wolves at 3:00 PM.

Source: http://texasicehockeyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/11/san-antonio-holds-on-to-slim-lead-in.html

Frank Rijkaard Jose Luis Chilavert

What to watch at the London Olympics

The release of the Olympic competition schedule (PDF link) is always a high spot for me in the four-year Olympic cycle.

As BBC Sport's head of major events, I get very excited - as my colleagues will testify - at the prospect of looking for those events and moments that are likely to capture the audience's imagination during the Games.

Since Barcelona in 1992, I've been planning the detailed television sports schedules and my approach has always been to look for the stories each day. Who are likely to be the stars of the Games? Can our heroes of four years before repeat their successes? Where will the dramatic action take place? Will history be made? We'll shape our plans accordingly.

What follows are some first thoughts which inform our plans but are equally relevant when deciding which tickets to try to buy. On which days should you try to get the unique experience of being there? Which are the days to spend 15 hours on your sofa watching all the action, without missing a moment?

It's your choice, of course, but we'll benefit both ways with full stadia and large TV audiences creating a great atmosphere for both spectators and viewers at home.

The Aquatics Centre, seen in a computer-generated image, will be home to much of the early London 2012 action

Wednesday, 25 July (Day minus-two)

The Olympic Games literally kicks off two days before the opening ceremony with the start of the women's football competition. You should expect live network TV coverage of Team GB's first match; one of six being played around the country at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Coventry and Glasgow.

Note that all the matches will be covered and shown live. We have made a public promise to show all the sporting sessions at the Games, ticketed or otherwise (such as those events on the roads of London), across our platforms.

Thursday, 26 July (Day minus-one)

The next day, it's the turn of the men. Once again we will offer live network coverage of Team GB's first game; it will be one of eight matches taking place at Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle.

Friday, 27 July (Day zero)

No agonising to be done here. The focus of the day will be the opening ceremony.

Whatever the creative proposition behind what we expect will be a spectacular event, it will draw a worldwide TV audience measured in billions rather than millions. Tickets will be much sought-after, but there is a potential consolation for those unsuccessful in securing one.

We will be following the progress of the torch right around the country from the moment it arrives on 18 May next year. On this day, it makes its final journey through the streets of London. Good pictures for us and a great opportunity for you to view it first-hand - and it will be free!

Saturday, 28 July (Day one)

The first day proper with the action starting just after eight in the morning and finishing around midnight; 16 hours which sees the first 12 gold medals of the 302 that will be won across the next 16 days.

The actual first gold medal will be in shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich - the women's 10m air rifle. However, the first morning will be dominated by rowing and swimming heats; an early chance to assess the form of British crews at Eton Dorney and a glimpse, perhaps, of the legendary American swimmer Michael Phelps as he begins his campaign to be a multi-medal winner again.

There are free views not just on the streets of London but out as far as Box Hill in Surrey as the six-hour men's cycling road race dominates the middle of the day. Starting at ten, we expect the winner - could it be Britain's Mark Cavendish? - to cross the line in front of Buckingham Palace (that bit is ticketed) between three and four.

The evening will be dominated by the first four swimming finals, but two more sports that I will be looking out for are the start of the tennis and the men's team archery. That's simply because they take place at two of the world's great iconic sports venues: Wimbledon and Lord's Cricket Ground. Let's not forget that Horse Guards Parade stages the start of the beach volleyball, too.

Sunday, 29 July (Day two)

A memorable day four years ago as Britain's Nicole Cooke won the first of Team GB's 19 gold medals in Beijing. Our focus in 2012 will be on her event - the women's road race. Shorter than the men's, it starts at 1200 but finishes around the same time.

There are more rowing and swimming heats in the morning, in which we'll hope that Rebecca Adlington can emulate her success in 2008. The women's 400m freestyle has heats in the morning and the final in the evening.

The hockey competition starts in the Olympic Park with six women's preliminary matches, while Wembley stages its first games of the football tournaments.

We'll also be paying close attention to the sailing, which gets under way at Weymouth. Britain has been the most successful nation at the last three Games and the pressure will be on to make it four in a row. The good news, for spectators and the TV coverage, is that there are good land-based vantage points to watch the action close-up.

Monday, 30 July (Day three)

This is the first of Tom Daley's two dates with destiny. Expect to see him and his partner today in the final of the men's 10m synchronised diving. That starts at 3pm, followed soon after by the first of the artistic gymnastics finals: the men's team, which takes place in the magnificent setting of the O2 Arena (or as it will be known at Games-time, the North Greenwich Arena).

Nearby, Greenwich Park stages the spectacular cross-country phase of the equestrian three-day event. Watch out too for the rowing men's four heats, with the British crew trying to win the event for the fourth Games in succession, and the evening peak-time attraction will again be the action in the swimming pool.

Tuesday, 31 July (Day four)

The spotlight falls again on Greenwich Park with the climax of the three-day event - the show jumping phase. Team and individual medals will be awarded, with Team GB hoping to improve on bronze in both events in 2008.

It's the turn of the women's teams in gymnastics and there's more swimming and rowing too. However, we'll also be watching out for some more dramatic water-based sport. The first canoe slalom medals will be awarded at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Broxbourne.

Finally, Britain's women's football team can secure a quarter-final place today.

Wednesday, 1 August (Day five)

The day starts with attention directed towards the rowing. The first of four days of finals features three gold-medal events, including the prestigious men's eight and the women's quadruple sculls, in which Team GB have had to settle for silver in the last three Games.

There's more cycling action when the women's and men's time trials are staged at yet another iconic venue, Hampton Court Palace.The men's all-around gymnastics champion will be crowned in the early evening, followed by four more swimming finals. We'll also find out if Britain's men's football team have reached the quarter-finals.

Thursday, 2 August (Day six)

Team GB won a grand total of seven track cycling gold medals in Beijing, alongside another three silvers and two bronze. No wonder we, you and the team itself will look forward to the first day of events in the Velodrome.

Medals will be won in the women's and men's team sprints. Also in the late afternoon/early evening slot is the women's all-around gymnastics. There are three more rowing and four more swimming finals, along with the final day of canoe slalom.

Heptathlete Jessica Ennis will be the focus of British aspirations within the Olympic Stadium at London 2012

Friday, 3 August (Day seven)

The Games go up a gear today with the start of the athletics. Just think of the pressure Jessica Ennis will feel - she is the current world champion and favourite for the heptathlon; 100m hurdles and high jump in the morning, followed by the shot put and the 200m in the evening.

It's a big day too for Rebecca Adlington, who will be hoping to defend her 800m freestyle title this evening during the penultimate night of swimming.

There's only one more day of rowing to go, while the first badminton final - the mixed doubles - takes place at Wembley Arena. Lord's stages the final day of Archery, in the shape of the men's individual event. Meanwhile, semi-final places are at stake in the latest round of women's football matches.

Saturday, 4 August (Day eight)

We'll probably call this a 'super Saturday' with 25 gold medals to be won and the action relentless from morning through to night.

The women's triathlon, based around Hyde Park and beyond, kicks the day off. Jessica Ennis is back in action in the long jump and javelin in the morning athletics session, with the gruelling climax - the 800m - to come at the end of the night. It's also the day you can catch a first look at the sensational sprinter Usain Bolt.

The rowing ends with the men's four and lightweight men's double sculls finals - both British gold medals in 2008. It's the last day of swimming, day three of the track cycling, the women's singles tennis final and the men's football quarter-finals.

This is simply an outstanding day's sport from beginning to end, with a great day to follow tomorrow. If you can't get a ticket, this might well be the weekend to stay at home and let us offer you the best seat at the Games!

Sunday, 5 August (Day nine)

After super Saturday, this could be sensational Sunday. Just imagine the scenes in the Mall if Paula Radcliffe wins that elusive Olympic marathon title. The race is off at 11am with a finish after 1pm.

What if Ben Ainslie can take a fourth successive sailing gold medal at Weymouth? The first sailing finals get under way at 1pm, as does the men's singles final at Wimbledon; a date with destiny for Andy Murray perhaps?

Can Usain Bolt repeat his Beijing success at 100m and break the world record in the process? The evening's athletics finishes shortly before 10pm with that final. Earlier that evening it's the women's 400m final, which Christine Ohuruogu won in style four years ago.

Twenty-three gold medals are at stake today, including the final two in the badminton competition at Wembley Arena. There's only one gold medal to be won at the track cycling but it will require a superhuman effort to win it, as today is the climax of a new event, the men's omnium: six disciplines over two days. Watch out, too, as history is made with the Olympic debut of women's boxing in the afternoon session.

Monday, 6 August (Day 10)

A quieter day after the weekend's excitement, but this is one with plenty of potential to create headlines. Keep an eye on the sailing at Weymouth - the Lasers are decided today.

By this stage, matches in team competitions are becoming ever-more crucial. For instance, today sees the final round of women's preliminary hockey with semi-final places at stake. Hopefully Team GB's women's football squad will have already secured a semi-final berth; the games are at Wembley and Old Trafford.

In track cycling, the women's omnium gets under way in the morning session and in the late afternoon the highlight will be the men's sprint final. Could Sir Chris Hoy repeat his Beijing triumph? Earlier in the afternoon, Greenwich Park stages the team show jumping final and we hope Beth Tweddle will feature on the second day of the gymnastics apparatus finals, on the uneven bars.

It's a busy night in the Olympic Stadium, ending with the men's 400m. Meanwhile, the second night of men's boxing quarter-finals follows the afternoon's women's quarter-finals; all winners at this stage are guaranteed a bronze medal at least.

Tuesday, 7 August (Day 11)

It will be an early morning start for Usain Bolt as he begins the defence of his 200m title. Watch out, too, for a first sight of Beijing silver medallist Phillips Idowu in men's triple jump qualification.

The men's triathlon gets under way at 11.30am in Hyde Park. The finish is followed by the final artistic gymnastics session of the Games, ending with the women's floor. It's also the final day of track cycling with the women's omnium decided ahead of the men's keirin and women's sprint - titles won four years ago by Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton.

This is also the third day of sailing finals, with the windsurfers competing for gold - remember that Team GB won four golds, one silver and one bronze last time and have a proud record to defend.

The men take to the semi-final football stage at Wembley and Old Trafford and there's a full programme of athletics in the evening, as well as the men's and women's semi-finals of the beach volleyball on Horse Guards Parade.

Wednesday, 8 August (Day 12)

The first medal of the day will be won at Eton Dorney. This time, it's the sprint canoeing and the K1 1000 metres - an event won by Britain's Tim Brabants in Beijing.

It's a crowded afternoon: women's boxing semi-finals feature in the Excel Arena; basketball action has transferred from the Olympic Park to the North Greenwich Arena, where it's men's quarter-finals day; the individual show jumping final take place at Greenwich Park; and women's hockey has reached the semi-final stage.

In the evening, it's the women's beach volleyball finals; the last night of men's boxing quarter-finals; and four more athletics titles are decided in the Olympic Stadium. Finally, it's the last chance to see any table tennis - the finals of the men's team competition - and a first opportunity to savour BMX, with the seeding runs.

Thursday, 9 August (Day 13)

No doubt that worldwide attention this evening will be on Usain Bolt in the men's 200m final, while British hearts will be willing on Phillips Idowu to men's triple jump gold. However, there's much more quality sport to savour today.

The women's 10km open water swim is the lunchtime attraction in Hyde Park while Coventry stages the women's football bronze-medal match. There's also more BMX and the men's hockey semi-finals.

The first-ever women's boxing finals will be fought over in the late afternoon followed by the women's football final at Wembley. Once again, but for the final time, beach volleyball - the men's finals - ends the day.

The temporary Basketball Arena hosts basketball preliminaries and handball finals during the Games (computer-generated image)

Friday, 10 August (Day 14)

There'll be no shortage of drama today as the relays are the focus of the evening athletics session, and there are bound to be thrills and spills at the BMX as Britain's Shanaze Reade goes for gold.

It's the turn of the men to have that lunchtime open-water swim in the Serpentine and there's plenty of team competition to savour. As well as the women's hockey medal matches, there are men's basketball semi-finals to enjoy and the men's football bronze-medal match is staged at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

It's a crucial day at Excel with all the men's boxing semi-finals, and it's the third of four days of taekwondo action. However, all eyes in the evening will be on teenage diver Tom Daley as he competes in the men's platform preliminaries.

Saturday, 11 August (Day 15)

It should be a terrific evening at the last night of the athletics, featuring all the excitement of the sprint relays followed by the men's 10m diving final - that second date with destiny for Tom Daley.

He must first come through the morning's semi-finals, which share top billing with the last day of canoeing, where all the finals feature the new 200m sprint distance. It's the final day of sailing, too, with the new women's match racing class.

The early afternoon is taken up with the women's mountain biking at Hadleigh Farm, but the centrepiece of the day is the men's football final at Wembley. A 3pm kick off, and defending champions Argentina will be unable to make it three in a row as they have failed to qualify.

In other team action, there are the men's hockey and women's basketball and volleyball finals. A total of 32 gold medals will be won today. Five of those will be won in the first boxing finals session, which starts at 8.30pm, including the middleweight division won by Britain's James Degale in 2008.

Sunday, 12 August (Day 16)

Before the end-of-Games party can begin, after tonight's closing ceremony, there are still a further 15 gold medals to be won.

The first event to start and the last to finish will be the women's modern pentathlon, in which Team GB has done so well at the last three Games; 8am for the fencing, followed by swimming and riding, and ending with the combined running and shooting phase which starts at 5pm.

In between there's the men's marathon, which gets under way at 11am. Wouldn't it be a fairytale finish if the legendary Haile Gebrselassie could crown his career with a victory today?

That's followed by five more boxing finals, the men's mountain biking and team finals in men's basketball, handball, volleyball and water polo.

All that remains is a closing ceremony to celebrate a feast of sporting achievement and draw the XXX Olympiad to a close. The flame will be extinguished and the Olympic flag passed on to Rio. There'll be many memories to treasure, with some eight million people having had the chance to experience the Games at first hand.

For those who can't, the BBC plans to offer the next best thing with our most comprehensive Games coverage ever across TV, radio and online. Plans are well under way so there's no need to panic. Suddenly, though, the Games seem a lot, lot closer!

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2011/02/olympic_schedule_released.html

Gymnastics Hand gliding Hockey Horse racing

Ferrari feel pressure to unseat Red Bull

Pressure comes with the job when you work for Ferrari, and there was no hiding from expectation on Friday when they became the first Formula 1 team to unveil their 2011 car.

Asked if he felt an "obligation" to win, technical director Aldo Costa replied simply: "Yes."

Chief designer Nikolas Tombazis said he was "quite optimistic about this car and how it will go during the season".

And team principal Stefano Domenicali, always cautious about his public proclamations, said: "F150 was created with a simple aim. Our goal is to win the championships. We know it won't be easy, but that is definitely what we are aiming for."

It is normal for F1 teams to sound optimistic when they launch their new cars. One gets used to a seemingly endless series of wildly confident predictions about what each team will achieve in the coming year, to the point that at the first race of each season you can almost hear the whistling of air from a series of burst balloons.

Ferrari are different, though. Such a fixture are they at the top of F1, so successful have they been over the last decade, that the big surprise is if they do not turn out to be title contenders.

They certainly were last year, only to lose out in the most agonising fashion at the final race of the season when a catastrophic decision to call in Fernando Alonso for an early pit stop left him stuck behind Vitaly Petrov's Renault and let in Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel to win the race and snatch the title from under the Spaniard's nose.

However, while Alonso went into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix leading the championship and hot favourite to win it, Ferrari know they were somewhat fortunate to be in that position.

Ferrari have worked hard to make the rear of their new car as low and narrow as possible. Photo: AP

The Red Bull was comfortably the fastest car last season and it was only a series of mistakes and failures by that car and its drivers that allowed Alonso to capitalise on a quite superb run of form in the second half of the season and take the championship lead.

In many ways, 2010 was a success for Ferrari. Their decision to drop Kimi Raikkonen in favour of Alonso paid off in spades, and they proved that a poor 2009, when they won only one race, was an aberration not the start of a trend.

But second place is not good enough for this team that carries the hopes of an entire nation, and millions of other fans around the world. And the pressure is on to at least match Red Bull for pace in 2011.

Ferrari are the only team to have been in F1 since the world championship started in 1950. And while they have been through their ups and downs, they exist to win.

When they do not, questions are asked, and Ferrari are painfully aware of how they let the championship slip through their fingers.

Yes, there was the error in Abu Dhabi - for which chief engineer Chris Dyer has paid by being relieved of his position and moved to a factory-based role.

But there was also the slow decline in competitiveness from winning the first race to a dreadful Turkish Grand Prix in May, when Alonso finished eighth having not even made the top-10 qualifying shoot-out.

This period coincided with a series of uncharacteristic mistakes made by Alonso himself that cost him a hatful of points in the first few races of the season.

In that context, their rise back to competitiveness in the second half of the season, and Alonso's near-miss in the championship, served only to remind them what might have been.

The frustration of lost opportunity, and the determination to make amends, ran through the Ferrari launch on Friday.

As Domenicali put it: "Last season we had difficult and beautiful moments, and we want to build on those beautiful moments."

So expectation is high, both within Ferrari and without, and a lot rests on the sleek new F150 that Alonso and team-mate Felipe Massa unveiled in Maranello.

To the untrained eye, the car looks similar to the F10 with which Alonso came close in 2010. But the detail hides some significant changes - and some surprising revelations.

Chief among these is the decision to retain push-rod rear suspension, rather than the pull-rod that has been used by Red Bull since 2009 and which is expected to feature on the majority of the grid in 2011.

Pull-rods had been out of fashion since the late 1980s, but were brought back by Red Bull's design head Adrian Newey - widely regarded in F1 as a genius - as a response to the major technical changes that were introduced for 2009.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions. If you're reading via RSS, you'll need to visit the blog to access this content.

These included severe restrictions on the design of diffuser, the part of the car where the floor sweeps upwards under the rear wing and which is so important in creating downforce.

Newey's pull-rod design actually proved a handicap in 2009 following the controversial adoption by some teams of the so-called double-diffuser, around which a pull-rod was difficult to package.

But with the ban on this item, 2011 effectively marks a return to the intended diffuser regulations of 2009, and Newey's design is expected to come into its own as a way of lowering the centre of gravity and improving airflow.

Most teams are expected to follow Red Bull's lead, so it is interesting that Ferrari have chosen not to.

My sources in Italy tell me that instead they have come up with a clever repackaging of the dampers, bringing them forward in the car. This allows them to have a much lower back to the gearbox without the penalties inherent in a pull-rod design, which is very difficult to work on - the mechanics have to take the floor off to adjust the dampers.

Fascinating as these things are, no F1 car's performance is defined by one single aspect of its design - it is about how a complex package works together.

And it is clear that a lot of thought has gone into this car in the context of the rule changes for 2011 - most notably the debut of movable rear wings to aid overtaking and the re-introduction of the Kers energy recovery and power-boost systems, which come with heavy batteries that create a packaging headache.

"We had to rethink quite a lot on the car from the aerodynamic point of view," Costa said.

"The ban on the double diffuser, the introduction of the new rear wing concept and a lot of other detailed clarifications around the back end of the car pushed us to have a complete re-think about the rear of the car.

"(There's) a completely new layout with a completely new concept. Also the introduction of Kers has pushed us to review the central part of the car. Because of all these changes, Kers and then develop the car around new tyres, changes related to the safety of the chassis, it has been quite a different project."

Have they succeeded? Ferrari will begin to get the first indication next Tuesday, when their new car runs against those of Red Bull and Mercedes on the first day of the first pre-season test.

Between then and the first race in Bahrain on 13 March there are a further 15 days of testing for teams to hone their designs. And it is clear where Ferrari's ambitions lie.

"I'm feeling very motivated," Alonso says. "2010 was an interesting year for me. It was my first with Ferrari and I enjoyed the atmosphere. 2011 will be an important year with a new challenge after changes to the rules. We have to commit to everything we do and I think we are up to the challenge."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/01/ferrari_feel_pressure_to_unsea.html

Fencing Bowling Car racing Cycling

Stand by for Match Play magic

The WGC Match Play has become one of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments of the golfing year, a refreshing break from the regular diet of 72-hole strokeplay that brings together the world's top players in head-to-head combat.

Furthermore, the first day of competition is akin to FA Cup third-round Saturday given its scope for upsets and intriguing results.

If there is one criticism of the event, which is being played at the gloriously scenic Dove Mountain resort in Arizona, it is that, on occasion, it can fall a little flat after the excitement of the opening rounds.

That is particularly the case if the 36-hole final is a one-sided affair - and only twice in the 12 runnings of this tournament has the championship match gone the full distance.

This year, the format has been tweaked so the final is only 18 holes. That means a tighter contest is more likely. The move follows last year's all-English final, in which Ian Poulter beat Paul Casey 4&2.
No Americans made the last four either - and that, together with some cold weather, led to poor attendances, a nightmare scenario for the all-important television executives.

This is a risk of matchplay tournaments. But the answer is to stage more rather than fewer head-to-head events. If all of the WGCs used this format, matchplay specialists would emerge and rivalries could develop through a season-long narrative.

There is no slow burn in matchplay. Players cannot ease their way into the week as they tend to do with a card in their back pocket. On the opening day, there are 32 matches, resulting in a relentless flow of sporting drama.

Poulter, practising ahead of the tournament, is the defending champion. Photo: AP

Nine of the 64 starters this week are from the United Kingdom. The field is headed by Englishman and world number one Lee Westwood, who faces Swede Henrik Stenson in the first round. On their day, any player is capable of beating another. And there are few genuine favourites in any of the opening contests.

Casey is one player who can claim to be something of a specialist in this field having reached the last two Accenture finals. The 33-year-old from England faces Australian left-hander Richard Green in the first round.

Sending out Poulter in the first match at 0725 is poor treatment of a charismatic defending champion. His match against American Stewart Cink deserves a far greater audience than the handful of spectators who will be out in the early morning chill.

Poulter is clearly miffed at the thought of having to set his alarm at 0430 but is diplomatic enough not to suggest publicly whether the likes of Tiger Woods would be treated in the same way were he the defending champion.

As for Woods, a three-time champion in this tournament, he continues to tell us that his remodelled swing continues to make progress. He has been saying this for a while but has yet to contend for a title in a full-field tournament.

Ironically, this is the format in which the American can prosper because one bad hole is not as destructive as it can be in strokeplay. And the world number three is still the main man judging by the raucous welcome he got as he stepped on to the practice range.

This time last year, Woods was on the other side of America, hijacking this tournament with his crassly timed re-entry into public life followed his well-documented marital problems. Fined for spitting in his last tournament in Dubai, Woods showed that he still has a way to go to live up to his stated aim of being "more respectful to the game of golf".

Nevertheless, he remains the player most fans want to see and it was refreshing to witness him signing autographs on his way to the range. If he had stayed to sign them all, he would still be there now.

Wood stops to sign autographs - a rare event. Photo: Getty Images

If Woods can beat resurgent Dane Thomas Bjorn in the first round, there is the juicy prospect of him taking on Padraig Harrington in round two. Harrington has a tough opening assignment in Geoff Ogilvy, though.

That is just a snapshot of what is possibly to come. Such ifs, buts and maybes encapsulate the beauty of the WGC Match Play.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/iaincarter/2011/02/stand_by_for_matchplay_magic.html

eric Cantona Gheorghe Hagi Romario Jairzinho

GDT: Mexico vs. Bulgaria from Zocalo, live online at TVC Deportes

Source: http://www.puckworlds.com/2011/1/9/1925574/gdt-mexico-vs-bulgaria-from-zocalo-live-online-at-tvc-deportes

Ryan Giggs Sepp Maier Falcao Jim Baxter

Bobcats Send Gerald Wallace to Blazers, Nazr Mohammed to Thunder

Filed under: Bobcats, Trail Blazers, NBA Rumors, Thunder, NBA Transactions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Charlotte Bobcats have agreed to trade forward Gerald Wallace to the Portland Trail Blazers for a package that includes two first-round picks as owner Michael Jordan cuts payroll and eyes the future.

Coach Paul Silas confirmed Thursday the deal made just before the deadline would also give the Bobcats little-used center Joel Przybilla and reserve forward Dante Cunningham.

The Bobcats also sent backup center Nazr Mohammed to Oklahoma City for reserve forward D.J. White and the expiring contract of guard Morris Peterson.

Wallace, averaging 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds, was the last original member of the expansion team and the franchise's only All-Star.

Portland gets another athletic scorer and rebounder just as Brandon Roy returned from knee surgery.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/bobcats-send-gerald-wallace-to-blazers-nazr-mohammed-to-thunder/

Jurgen Klinsmann Dennis Bergkamp Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Gary Lineker

News and Notes: Early Afternoon Edition

A few mid-day news and notes...

• The Ivy League office reports on Chris Wroblewski's selection to the Academic All America team. The office writes:

Brown's Leffelman, Cornell's Wroblewski Named Academic All-America in Men's Basketball

Complete 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-America Men's Basketball Teams

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Brown senior guard Garrett Leffelman and Cornell junior guard Chris Wroblewski were named to the 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-America� Men's Basketball Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Leffelman was named to the second team while Wroblewski was selected to the third team. The two brings the Ivy League all-time total to 35 men's basketball student-athletes who have been named Academic All-America. This marks the third consecutive year and the fifth time in six seasons the Ivy League has had at least one student-athlete named Academic All-America. Columbia's Patrick Foley was named to the third team following the 2008-09 season and to the first team following the 2009-10 season.

...Wroblewski, a preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard, was named to the all-district team for the second straight year in January. He is averaging 14.7 points, 5.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals while playing 32.6 minutes per game in 22 contests (20 starts). Wroblewski is hitting on 43 percent of his 3-point attempts (45-of-106). He ranks 13th in career 3-pointers for the Big Red (140), second in 3-point percentage (.440), 10th in free throw percentage (.815) and seventh in assists (304). He joins Jeff Gaca (third team in 1993), Lenny Collins (third team in 2006) and Graham Dow (first team in 2007) as Cornellians named to the men's basketball Academic All-America team. Off the court, Wroblewski has posted a 3.61 grade point average in Applied Economics and Management.

• From the Daily Pennsylvanian's Ivy Hoops Roundup:

A little pitchy on the C-note.

Cornell fans celebrated a thumping of Dartmouth like no one else would ? after all, the Big Red were just four points shy of the century mark in their 96-76 win Saturday night.

Had it been the Red and Blue, fans could have tasted the free Abner?s cheesesteaks ? the nearly forgotten reward for a 100-point Penn performance ? in the air. But we?re not quite sure what they give away in Ithaca. Free dairy for all!

Moooovin? on up. Harvard is technically at the top of the Ivy pop charts with one more win than Princeton, and the Crimson held that spot with a weekend sweep over the Big Red (who only scored 60 on Friday night) and Columbia, who fell 61-42.

• The Ivy Gate blog recaps the weekend Ivy action...
  

Harvard (20-4, 9-1)capitalized on the opening, cruising in both their weekend contests to improve to 9-1 in the league. A surprising backcourt scoring boost fueled the Crimson, who got 20 points from Christian Webster and 18 from Brandyn Curry in Friday?s 73-60win over Cornell and another 15 points from Oliver McNally in Saturday?s snoozer in New York City. Tommy Amaker?s squad now occupies sole possession of first place in the Ivy League, and all signs point to their season-ending contest against Princeton at home as the likely championship-deciding game.

...

Cornell (7-17, 3-7) and Brown both split again, with Cornell beating (guess who?) Dartmouth 96-76on Saturday night behind a career-best 22 points from Errick Peck. Both teams will have the chance to play spoiler this Friday night, as Brown gets Harvard at home and Cornell travels to Princeton. The Big Green, however, are still struggling to turn a corner. They?ve now lost seven straight and are out of easy home games, with just Princeton and Penn left on the Leede Arena schedule. It looks as though their home win over Cornell will be the only thing that separates Dartmouth (5-19, 1-9) from a defeated season in the league this year.

Source: http://cornellbasketball.blogspot.com/2011/02/news-and-notes-early-afternoon-edition.html

Ronaldo Bobby Moore Gerd Muller Roberto Baggio

Fuel Caches: Making Remote Heliskiing Possible

The behind the scenes aspect of CMH Heliskiing is as fascinating as the ski terrain surrounding it.  Maximizing helicopter efficiency is a big part of heliskiing and ski guides are always considering how to get the most skiing with the least amount of flying.  To this end, one of the CMH heliski program's most valuable, and least visible, assets is the remote fuel caches that allow efficient heliskiing far from the base lodges. 

For some insights into the logistics of the remote fuel caches I tracked down heliski logistics mastermind Rob Whelan, the Assistant Manager of CMH Kootenay.

TD: How do the caches get filled?

RW: Most of the caches are filled in the summer.  We take a tanker truck with an escort and drive up logging roads to the site.  We regularly have to perform road maintenance and bridge repairs prior to deliveries. We have a core team of experienced drivers who are comfortable on the steep and narrow roads.  They really look forward to our deliveries and a change of scenery from the regular highway jobs.

My favourite quote from this summer came from Dougie – an experienced trucker, but on his first trip to a CMH Fuel cache in the Cariboos.  Dougie is from Newfoundland, and has been working in the oil patch in Alberta for a few years.  When we finally arrived at the Blackstone fuel cache, 47 kilometres up a rugged forest service road, Dougie announced in his classic Newfie accent, "By T'underin' Jaysus bayz, D'ya call dat a friggin'road?"

We also have a few sites that are inaccessible by road.  At these locations, we sling the fuel into the site by helicopter using special transfer barrels, and pump the fuel from the transfer barrel into the storage tank.

TD: How much fuel does each cache hold?

RW: The biggest locations, one in Kootenay and one in the Cariboos, have two 50,000 litre tanks for a total of 100,000 litres (20,000 gallons).  Our smaller tanks are about 10,000 litres.

TD: Can a pilot fuel up at a remote cache alone or do they need help?

RW: Pilots can and do re-fuel themselves quickly at the fuel cache.  If there is any concern about the cache being snowed in or not ready, the snow safety guide in the support helicopter will arrive in advance of the 212 to get the pump started and re-fuel the machine when it arrives. 

TD: How does using the remote caches reduce fuel consumption compared to running a heli-ski operation without them?

RW: There is no question that remote fuel caches are essential for efficient flying and to reduce wait times.  I would not hesitate to say that without the remote fuel, many of the operations would cease to be viable.
The benefits of remote fuel are huge:

• Reduced flying times = reduced cost ( both $$ and carbon cost)
• Reduced flights over wildlife habitat
• Reduced waiting times for skiers
• Access to dramatically more terrain
• Increased safety margins - pilot can operate with reduced fuel weight because he knows that fuel is nearby.

TD: How do you monitor the amount of fuel remaining in the remote caches?

RW: CMH has a satellite telemetry system that sends tank level data daily via the internet.

• The telemetry system can issue a warning in the event of unexpected level change in a tank.

• Sensors in the pump house can detect unauthorized access and pump activity.

TD: How do you prevent spillage at the remote caches?

RW:

• Every tank is double walled enviro-tank.

• All tanks have Anti-Siphon valves with top draw so the only way to get the fuel out of the tank is with a pump and there is no possibility of a broken hose or pipe resulting in a big spill.
• On many of our sites, we go over and beyond the government requirements for such installations by adding extra precautions.  These include adding special liners below the tanks which contain and send any spills through fuel/water separators, instead of into the environment.

• Standard operating procedures and regular maintenance are a key part as well.

Remote fuel installations are common in British Columbia in supporting a variety of industries besides heliskiing.  All operators must obtain government approval before building and must follow a wide range of provincial and federal laws to operate such an installation.

Photos by Rob Whelan, CMH Kootenay.

Source: http://blog.canadianmountainholidays.com/heli-ski-blog/bid/58989/Fuel-Caches-Making-Remote-Heliskiing-Possible

Johan Neeskens Mario Kempes Luigi Riva Jose Nasazzi

Time for Londoners to be heard on 2012 stadium

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions

Londoners seem to have been forgotten in the intense debate about the 2012 Olympic Stadium. And that's not fair.

Lamine Diack, the boss of world athletics who is very critical of Tottenham's plans to scrap the track, won't have to pay extra tax in Monaco if the Olympic Park doesn't work.

The finances of Lord Coe, the chairman of 2012, won't be devastated if the Park is full of white elephants.

The rich football world, including Tottenham and West Ham bosses Daniel Levy and Karren Brady, will carry on making money, whatever happens.

But, make no mistake, the council taxpayers of London will end up paying for decades if the Olympic Park goes wrong.

It's the Mayor Boris Johnson and his about-to-be-formed Development Corporation which will have to find extra cash if the venues don't make enough money. And that is likely to mean cuts to other areas of the Corporation's projects.

So, you may be a Londoner with no interest in sport at all but this decision could affect you. Of course all taxpayers across the UK have paid towards the �500 million stadium but Londoners will pay a lot more - and for a lot longer - if it all goes wrong.

Apart from Lord Coe, who spoke to BBC London about his support for the West Ham plans earlier this month, the rest of the key figures don't seem very interested in talking to Londoners about this. They want the debate to be focused on the sport's world and the national sport's media.

I've asked for interviews with Brady and with Levy and their spindoctors clearly think it's not important to speak directly to London.

We are not going to follow their agenda at BBC London. This week our reports on TV, radio and Online will focus on the people who live, work and pay tax in the capital, regardless of whether they like the Olympics and football or not.

Today, we will report on what the future holds for Leyton Orient if a Premiership club moves into their "manor".

Tonight BBC London 94.9fm will be hosting a phone-in about how all this affects Leyton Orient.

This week we will also report on what the decision means for both Tottenham and West Ham fans. And importantly, we will also report on what will happen to the area around White Hart Lane if Spurs move away.

We have also commissioned the first poll on what Londoners - and not just sports fans - think about the stadium. Later this week, we will publish its findings.

I'm not a Londoner, I wasn't born in London, I didn't grow up there and I don't even pay London council tax. But I believe Londoners must have a big say in all of this - people in Bolton or Liverpool won't be paying for this Park in the future.

And I also think people who have no interest in the Olympics or sport have a right to be heard.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adrianwarner/2011/01/time_for_londoners_to_be_heard.html

Ian Rush Peter Schmeichel Paolo Rossi George Weah

Santa Pola parapente

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/paragliding-doyouwanna/~3/8N7hn6bRo34/santa-pola-parapente.html

Frank Rijkaard Jose Luis Chilavert Kevin Keegan Paul Gascoigne

He Is Legend

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tqsO/~3/jfd-YI1jrgc/he-is-legend.html

Michel Platini Alfredo di Stefano Ferenc Puskas George Best

The CMH Safety Net ? A Firsthand Experience

We’d been heliskiing with CMH Revelstoke all day long deep in the Monashee Range of the Columbia Mountains.  The day was winding down, everyone was a little tired, our clothes were a little damp from equal parts sweat and powder snow, and the already low winter sun had just dropped below a cloud band when we heard on the radio that the helicopter had been forced to return to Revelstoke for a repair.

Although it appeared that the buttery-smooth world of CMH heliskiing had just come to a grinding halt - it was really just revving up.

The ski guides reassured us that we would not have to wait long for another helicopter, but that we should keep moving to stay warm.  At the end of the day, in the heart of Canadian winter, the cold moves quickly into a tired body.  One of the guides built a fire and some skiers huddled around it for warmth.  Some of us with a little more energy to spare sidestepped up the hill and made a few more powder turns to keep the blood flowing. 

It was hard not to imagine worst-case scenarios and the group good-naturedly shared our inner fears.  
“Do you think we’ll have to stay out all night?” one skier asked.
“Do you think they’ll bill us for the extra vertical of sidestepping up the hill?” another joked.
“Where are they going to get an extra helicopter?” a third asked.

It didn’t take long for the skiers with extra energy to tire from sidestepping, and everyone snuggled around the fire while CMH went into evacuation mode.  Surprisingly, evacuation mode while heliskiing with CMH also included a 1000-metre powder run. 

Using the smaller jet ranger support helicopter, four or five skiers at a time were shuttled to a ridge high above the valley where the group was stranded.  There, the first skiers would wait until the rest of their group and the guide arrived.  Once a full group was gathered on the ridge, they put their skis on and dropped into a huge bowl that drained towards Revelstoke. 

I was part of the last group to fly out, and by the time we began the final ski run, the familiar rhythm of a Bell 212 echoed out of the clouds below.  Since Alpine Helicopters keeps a backup 212 always ready for CMH in Revelstoke, the delay had cost us about an hour and we still enjoyed a final ski run – and a really good one at that.

We shredded the town-sized bowl before traversing right to a long ridge dotted with trees and filled with over-the-head powder that disappeared into the mist rising from the Columbia Valley below.  
We waited no more than 10 minutes at the bottom of the run before the backup 212 returned for the last group.  On the ride out, I marveled at the system that is CMH Heliskiing. 

Without the extra 212 stationed in Revelstoke, a helicopter repair could shut down a day of skiing.  With the extra 212, and three other CMH Lodges - the Gothics, Adamants, and Monashees - operating nearby, there are multiple layers of support in case of a real emergency, and very little lost skiing in case of a minor mechanical delay. 

The other CMH areas have backup as well, with the Cariboos, McBride, and Valemount watching each other’s backs to the north, and the Bugaboos, Bobbie Burns, Kootenay and Galena ready to help out in the south.  No other heliski operation in the world has this kind of backup. 

For example, another time when a weather delay left multiple groups in danger of being benighted far from the Bobbie Burns Lodge, the helicopter from the nearby Bugaboos was recruited to join the Bobbie Burns helicopter in shuttling skiers home; and turned a potentially desperate night of shivering into a quick flight back to the lodge for a gourmet meal, a massage, a few stories in the hot tub, and a deep sleep in a warm bed.

Heliskiing with CMH is sort of like flying with a reliable airline.  If one plane has technical issues, another can take its place almost seamlessly.  If a delay causes you to miss a flight, it is usually not a long wait until the next one.  But unlike a big airline, CMH will not leave you in the woods if you’re a minute late to the pickup!

You heliskiers out there, do you have any stories of the CMH safety net working for you?

Photo of the CMH system at work in Revelstoke by Topher Donahue.

Source: http://blog.canadianmountainholidays.com/heli-ski-blog/bid/59497/The-CMH-Safety-Net-A-Firsthand-Experience

Kevin Keegan Paul Gascoigne Roger Milla Michael Laudrup

What can football learn from rugby?

I have a confession to make: I am a football lover who enjoys watching rugby!

If I am being completely honest, I really mean the Six Nations but there is still a common perception that the enjoyment of football and rugby must be mutually exclusive.

I am by no means an expert on the oval ball sport but understand enough to enjoy the intensity of matches at International level.

It is interesting to observe another sport and question whether there is anything that is done within it that would benefit football or that is unsurprisingly overlooked by either players, managers or those who administer our game.

Scotland coach Andy Robinson looks on in despair from his vantage point in the Murrayfield stand. Photo: Getty.

One of the differences that I found relevant was the way in which the head coaches of the international sides and their support coaching staff observe the match.

It appears to be done from a position up in the stands where their vision is supported by the match action being seen on small television monitors.

This would appear to be a sensible vantage point to take and yet is one we rarely see replicated in football.

There are managers that choose to watch from a better position than pitch-side with Sam Allardyce and Walter Smith at times being amongst them but, given the advantages in seeing the game more clearly from higher up, why do more coaches not do it in football?

One possible answer is the ease with which you can communicate with your players from the dugout areas and managers may view this as essential in terms of getting the best from their players, and also feel it places them in a position where they are better equipped to make quick changes to their side.

It must be noted that as the vast majority of football managers spend the game at pitch level they must develop a strong skill in assessing the game from that viewpoint.

I have undertaken my coaching certificates and must confess that observing a team's shape from the touchline is more troublesome than from sitting in the stand.

Perhaps the advances in technology mean that more football managers, especially at the top level where the facilities are available, will follow the lead of rugby in this respect.

Or could it be that the technical area will long remain the treasured domain of a football coach?

There are other areas where I believe football could follow rugby's lead, with the use of sin bins for cautionable offences being one definitely worth considering.

I think there is an argument for the red card that a player receives for denying a goal-scoring opportunity in the box to be changed to 10 or 15 minutes in a sin bin.

The reason I say this is because in this instance a team concedes a penalty, more often than not a goal from the award and then is punished again by going a man down.

Even from a spectator's perspective, it makes sense: the recent Aberdeen against Celtic match surely suffered as a spectacle from Andrew Considine being dismissed in the opening minute.

Furthermore, the numerical advantage with a time limit on it would then almost force the team with the man extra to try to make the most of the situation and consequently open a match up.

Of course, there will be counter arguments for the introduction of such a radical change to the laws of the game but there is definitely scope for football to widen its eyes, come down from its pedestal as the world's greatest game and perhaps learn from some other sports.

I must finish by saying that I also think that there are aspects of football that I would suggest rugby could embrace, such as a greater flow to the game, fewer stoppages and why not throw in some proper celebrations of tries?

Also, as much as I enjoy the Six Nations, I was in Paisley watching St Mirren playing Hibs and still would not swap it for a ticket for Murrayfield - once a football man, always a football man, it seems!

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jackross/2011/02/what_can_football_learn_from_r.html

Ryan Giggs Sepp Maier Falcao Jim Baxter

Mexico wins IIHF U20 Division 3 Tournament in Front of Packed House

Source: http://www.puckworlds.com/2011/1/19/1943430/mexico-wins-iihf-u20-division-3-tournament-in-front-of-packed-house

Baseball Basketball Soccer Ice Hockey

Jerry Sloan: Deron Williams Trade Won't Affect Retirement

Filed under: Jazz, Nets, NBA Rumors, NBA Coaches

Just in case anybody in Utah is getting any wild ideas Jerry Sloan might return as coach now that Deron Williams has been traded, that's not going to happen.

"No,'' Sloan said in a phone interview with FanHouse on Wednesday. "That didn't have anything to do with it. I left on my own terms.''

There has been plenty of talk that Williams, due to having a run-in with Sloan, played a role in the legendary coach resigning Feb. 10 after 23 seasons on the Jazz bench. Williams, Utah's star point guard, was traded Wednesday to New Jersey in a deal that included the Jazz getting point guard Devin Harris and promising young big man Derrick Favors from the Nets.

Sloan said he didn't "have any reaction'' to Williams being traded. He was asked if it might be unfair that Williams will get a rap about Sloan's exit due to his departure coming 13 days after Sloan left.

"That's not for me to say,'' Sloan said. "You guys are the ones who write the articles.''

Regardless of whether the Sloan situation factored into Williams' exit, he can opt out of his contract and become a free agent in the summer of 2012. Williams had said Sunday during All-Star Weekend he was wary of being in a situation next season similar to that of Carmelo Anthony, who was on the trading block all season due to his ability to opt out this summer and finally was moved Tuesday from Denver to New York. And no doubt Utah officials also were concerned about a similar situation.

After his resignation, Sloan spent a week in Salt Lake City and then left for the Midwest, where he has been working on his farm outside McLeansboro, Ill., and has visited relatives in Indianapolis. He wouldn't completely rule out one day returning to coaching.

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/jerry-sloan-deron-williams-trade-wont-affect-retirement/

Johan Neeskens Mario Kempes Luigi Riva Jose Nasazzi