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Canada's Olympic Glory

March 2nd 2010 05:56
: Vancouver a triumph after a very shaky start
Canada Finish On Top
Luongo is flat out but Canada finish on top...

As the Canadian nation was preparing to skate for one last gold in the ice hockey final... the gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympics which most of its citizens would clearly swop for any of the other 13 triumphs... it was hard to disagree with the Canadian PM Stephen Harper's vision of a country finally coming of age at these Games.

There was also a sense of defiance, aimed at those who thought it an impossible dream to win 13 gold medals and equal the most ever won at a single Games by the Soviets in 1976 and Norway in 2002.

Own the Podium had been aimed at putting Canada on top of the table in terms of overall medals won - a target achieved by the USA who won a record 37... and Germany 29... to Canada 26. Yet the rest of the world outside North America has always recognised that the champion nation is that which wins most golds, and in this category there was no contest.

Sidney Crosby
All Canadian Hero... Sidney Crosby

That last gold that Canada craved came down to the dream mens hockey final against a USA team that had taken the spoils during the group phase of the competition.

All tied up at 2-2 and going into overtime Crosby had one wrist shot at sporting immortality and he did not miss.
"You dream of that moment a thousand times growing up. But it could have been anybody else, it could have been any other guy in that team," he protested. Except it couldn't. When history came calling, it had to be Crosby. When a country's greatest sports snapshot beckoned... it could only be "Sid the Kid".

They could have heard the acclamation all the way back home in Cole Harbour, 2,750 miles across this vast land, where not a soul would have been surprised. In that town of only 25,000 population Crosby was always a 'phenom'. Smashing the family clothes drier with slapshots when he was two, skating at three, scoring goals at four. When he came back to the family home as a Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh a reputed 65,000 people lined the streets to see him. This is the boy who was so good, his family had to send him to Minnesota to play when he was 15 to get away from the chronic jealousy of outclassed rivals. Yet through his seemingly preordained path to glory - from being the youngest Stanley Cup-winning captain to an Olympic match-winner - what the country has loved most about Crosby is his self-effacement... for he seems a very Canadian hero; as unassuming and workaholic off the ice as he is rock hard and driven on it. Not the faintest whiff of scandal attaches to him.

So having commenced in tragedy the Vancouver Winter Games end in triumph.
The weather improved, the spectacle was enormous, the drama was breath-taking and the crowds magnificent. As Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee President declared: This is a city that really has embraced the Olympics like no other city before.
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: Rugby League Test Opens New Stadium
Australia v New Zealand to launch Melbourne's new rectangular stadium on 7 May 2010
Melbourne rectangular stadium
10 out of 10 for artistic impression... Melbourne's new rectangular stadium

The inaugural match at the new Melbourne stadium will be an international rugby league test between Australia and New Zealand on 7th May... followed just two days later by a major NRL game as Melbourne Storm take on the Brisbane Broncos in the first match at their new home.

New stadium facts:
* 31,500 seats
* 400sqm Sports Campus
* Public cafe, merchandise and club facilities
* Elite training Centre, Gymnasium
* 4 lane lap pool, ice plunge pools, heated spa


The stadium will be more than popular with four teams and three different football codes playing at the ground:
* Melbourne Storm [Rugby League: NRL]
* Melbourne Heart & Melbourne Victory [Football: A-League]
* Melbourne Rebels [Rugby Union: Super Franchise]

Let's hope the surface is top notch... a skilled groundsman will be required to keep the field in top class order when the fixtures at the ground start to pile up. Nevertheless it's geat to see Melbourne finally get a first class rectangular venue for the followers of the rugby and football codes.
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Who is the Premier League's Best Player?

February 22nd 2010 04:23
: EPL: The stats don't lie?
Cesc Heads The Ratings...
according to Actim


cesc fabregas
Cesc leads the way

Arsenal's midfield dynamo holds off six Chelsea and three Manchester United players that make up the top 20 performers in the EPL.

Premier League Actim Index Ratings
@ February 9, 2010

1 Cesc Fabregas: Arsenal: Midfield: 483.00
2 Didier Drogba: Chelsea: Striker: 454.00
3 Nicolas Anelka: Chelsea: Striker: 444.00
4 Wayne Rooney: Manchester Utd: Striker: 443.00
5 Gabriel Agbonlahor: Aston Villa: Striker: 430.00
6 Dirk Kuyt: Liverpool: Striker: 406.00
7 Frank Lampard: Chelsea: Midfield: 401.00
8 Patrice Evra: Manchester Utd: Defence: 387.00
9 Jermain Defoe: Spurs: Striker: 370.00
10 Antonio Valencia: Manchester Utd: Midfield: 370.00
11 Carlos Tevez: Manchester City: Striker: 368.00
12 Thomas Vermaelen: Arsenal: Defence: 363.00
13 Stephen Hunt: Hull City: Midfielder: 362.00
14 Richard Dunne: Aston Villa: Defence: 361.00
15 Petr Cech: Chelsea: Goal Keeper: 354.00
16 John Terry: Chelsea: Defence: 347.00
17 Ashley Cole: Chelsea: Defence: 343.00
18 William Gallas: Arsenal: Defence: 342.00
19 James Milner: Aston Villa: Midfield: 336.00
20 Ashley Young: Aston Villa: Midfield: 336.00
21 Carlos Cuellar: Aston Villa: Defence: 333.00
22 Andrei Arshavin: Arsenal: Midfield: 332.00
23 Aaron Lennon: Spurs: Midfield: 331.00
24 Dimitar Berbatov: Manchester Utd: Striker: 325.00
25 Darren Bent: Sunderland: Striker: 316.00


How the results are calculated

The Actim Index ranks players according to their performance on a weekly basis throughout the season with the total ranking based on the player's aggregate score for all matches played.
Each players contribution during matches is examined and includes goals, shots, passes, dribbles, tackles, crosses, saves, clearances, blocks, interceptions, time on the pitch and number of points gained by their team.

The six calculations which generate the Actim Index are:

1 - assesses a player's contribution to a winning team, based on points won by the team when he has appeared

2 - assesses a player's performance in each game by allocating points for actions that positively contribute to a winning performance such as shots, tackles, clearances and saves. It also takes points away from players for negative actions such as yellow/red cards and shots off target

3 - allocates points based on time on the pitch

4- allocates points for goal scorers

5 - allocates points for assists

6 - allocates points for clean sheets

Calculated using a mathematical formula developed by PA Sport alongside statisticians from Salford University, the Actim Index is the official ratings system of the English Premier League.




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European Champions League Fixtures

February 22nd 2010 03:07
: Fixtures: February 2010
This weeks European Champions League Fixtures

Champions Trophy
Whose Trophy in 2010?


Last 16 Knock-out phase - First Leg matches

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Olympiakos v Bordeaux
19:45 GMT Karaiskaki Stadium
Greece

VfB Stuttgart v Barcelona
19:45 GMT Mercedes-Benz Arena
Germany

Wednesday 24 February 2010

CSKA Moscow v Sevilla
19:45 GMT Luzhniki Stadium
Russia

Inter Milan v Chelsea
19:45 GMT Giuseppe Meazza
Italy

Last weeks results: Round of 16 Knock-out phase - First Leg matches

Tuesday 16 February 2010

AC Milan 2 - 3 Manchester United
Ronaldinho (3) ACM
Paul Scholes (36) MU
Wayne Rooney (66) MU
Wayne Rooney (74) MU
Clarence Seedorf (85) ACM

@ Giuseppe Meazza, Milan (80,000)

Lyon 1 - 0 Real Madrid
Jean Makoun (47)
@ Stade de Gerland, Lyon (40,500)

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Bayern Munich 2 - 1 Fiorentina
Arjen Robben (pen 45) BM
Per Kroldrup (50) FI
Miroslav Klose (89) BM

@ Allianz Arena, Munich (64,500)

FC Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal
Varela (11) POR
Sol Campbell (18) ARS
Radamel Falcao (51) POR

@ Estadio do Dragao, Porto (45,600)
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Major Sports Events: March 2010

February 22nd 2010 00:49
: Major Sports Events: March 2010
2010
2010

Upcoming Events: March 2010

Motor Racing: F1 Grand Prix

Sunday 14 March 2010
Round 1 - Bahrain Grand Prix
Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain, Bahrain

Sunday 28 March 2010
Round 2 - Australian Grand Prix
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia

Horse Racing

Tuesday 16 March - Friday 19 March 2010
Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Saturday 27 March 2010
Dubai World Cup
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Rugby Union Internationals: 6 Nations

Saturday 13 March 2010
Ireland v Wales
14:30 GMT Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
Scotland v England
17:00 GMT Murrayfield, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Sunday 14 March 2010
France v Italy
14:30 GMT Stade de France, Paris, France

Saturday 20 March 2010
Wales v Italy
14:30 GMT Millenium Stadium, Wales, United Kingdom
Ireland v Scotland
17:00 GMT Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
France v England
19:45 GMT Stade de France, Paris, France

Football: Internationals

World Cup warm up fixtures

Tuesday 2 March 2010
Republic of Ireland v Brazil
20:05 GMT Emirates Stadium

Wednesday 3 March 2010
Albania v Northern Ireland
19:45 GMT Qemal Stafa

Germany v Argentina
19:45 GMT Allianz Arena

England v Egypt
20:00 GMT Wembley

France v Spain
20:00 GMT Stade De France

Scotland v Czech Republic
20:00 GMT Hampden Park

Wales v Sweden
20:00 GMT Millennium Stadium
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: Cricket: England in South Africa
An Unexpected Series Victory in South Africa Beckons

SA v England logo
England in South Africa

[ Click here to read more ]
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FA Cup: Liverpool Out

January 14th 2010 01:56
: FA Cup
Liverpool follow Manchester United out of the competition

Liverpool 1 Reading 2 [aet] @ Anfield
[ Click here to read more ]
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: NFL Finals: Cardinals in record win
NFL: Cardinals take out highest scoring game in playoff hiistory

Arizona
Arizona cellebrate

[ Click here to read more ]
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African Nations Cup is under way

January 11th 2010 05:56
: Mali Storm Back...
Mali Storm Back...

Africa
African Nations Cup

[ Click here to read more ]
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Major Sports Events January 2010

January 7th 2010 06:11
: Major Sports Events January 2010
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