Sibal assures Vishwanathan Anand on citizenship issue

NEW DELHI – Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal Tuesday called up chess champion Vishwanathan Anand and assured him that the controversy over his citizenship will be resolved.

“He (Sibal) personally called him up and assured that the issue would be resolved,” Anand’s wife Aruna told Times Now news channel.
She said they will be …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sibal assures Vishwanathan Anand on citizenship issue.

Cricket Australia retains Nielsen as coach

MELBOURNE – Cricket Australia (CA) Tuesday renewed Australian coach Tim Nielsen’s contract until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013.
Nielsen, a former South Australian wicketkeeper, and former head coach at the Centre of Excellence in Queensland, has been coach of the national men’s team since February 2007.
CA chief … Read : Cricket Australia retains Nielsen as coach.

Hamilton fined, told to atone for dangerous driving

SYDNEY – Australian authorities have demanded an apology from British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton after he was fined for dangerous driving while in Melbourne for this year’s Australian Grand Prix.

“Lewis Hamilton set a bad example,” Victoria state Premier John Brumby told reporters Tuesday.
The former world champion fishtailed his saloon car, making the tyres …. Source article  : Hamilton fined, told to atone for dangerous driving.

USOC says scheduling conflicts keep some top American athletes from Youth Olympics

Missing top talent hurts US team at Youth Olympics

SINGAPORE – The head of the U.S. Olympic Committee on Tuesday blamed scheduling conflicts for the Americans’ woeful performance in the inaugural Youth Olympics, where their gold medal tally is less than Hungary and Azerbaijan.
The U.S. team, which traditionally is a dominant force at Olympic games, has … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : USOC says scheduling conflicts keep some top American athletes from Youth Olympics.

Hyderabad varsity denies chess champ Anand doctorate over citizenship doubts

NEW DELHI – The University of Hyderabad has denied world chess champion Viswanathan Anand an honorary doctorate after the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) said that it is confused about whether he is an Indian or a Spanish citizen.

The university had decided to award Anand an honorary doctorate in 2009 and had formally forwarded … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Hyderabad varsity denies chess champ Anand doctorate over citizenship doubts.

Tiger Woods’ Divorce Settlement Speculations On

PANAMA CITY (GaeaTimes.com)- After their personal life was completely ripped apart by the media following tawdry stories of marital infidelity, disgraced golfer Tiger Woods officially got divorced from his wife Elin Nordegren at the Bay County Circuit court based in Florida’s Panama City on Monday. After the hearing in the courtroom that went …. Read the original article  : Tiger Woods’ Divorce Settlement Speculations On.

Will Chappell do a Ganguly with Ponting as part of his ‘tough calls’?

SYDNEY – Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is likely to be the primary target of the tough calls that Cricket Australia (CA)’s first full-time selector Greg Chappell is poised to make.

Chappell, who was held responsible for ending Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy stint during his time as Team India coach, will now become the dominant [..] Read the original article: here.

Test cut, more ODIs for Pak in New Zealand for World Cup preparations

WELLINGTON – Pakistan’s cricket tour of New Zealand this summer will feature just two tests and an expanded schedule of six one-day internationals and three Twenty20 contests.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the Pakistanis were due to play a three-match test series, but now officials from both countries have decided to reduce that to …. Original article  : Test cut, more ODIs for Pak in New Zealand for World Cup preparations.

Ponting insists on retaining No. 3 slot to push average back up again

SYDNEY – Australian skipper Ricky Ponting insists that he would not relinquish the No. 3 slot despite his slump in form.

Ponting has scored only one century in his last 18 innings at that spot, bringing down his average from a career-high 60 at the end of 2006 to 54.66.

The 35-year-old however said … Original article on : Ponting insists on retaining No. 3 slot to push average back up again.

Not easy to adopt basketball in Youth Olympics: Rogge

SINGAPORE – Jacques Rogge announced himself as a fan of the new three-on-three basketball format featured in the current Singapore inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president said it was not easy to adopt for real Olympic Games due to the limitations of the event.
“Three-on-three is definitely an exciting format but … Read more »»».

Mourinho – the ego has landed, in Madrid

MADRID – Real Madrid changed the course of their history in June, in their latest attempt to challenge the domination of Barcelona.

At the Estadio Bernabeu, the main men have always been the club president and the sporting director, rarely the coach.
The white tradition has always been that the president gives wide powers to the …. Source  : Mourinho – the ego has landed, in Madrid.

Army aims for bowl game in second year of rebuilding under coach Rich Ellerson

Army’s next goal is a bowl game
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Rich Ellerson’s first season at Army was successful in several ways. The Cadets won five games and were more competitive than they had been in years.

The goal now for Ellerson will be building on the accomplishments of the first year.
Ellerson installed a triple-option attack similar … Original article on : Army aims for bowl game in second year of rebuilding under coach Rich Ellerson.

Chappell ready to make big calls as Cricket Australia’s first ‘fulltime selector’

SYDNEY – Former Australian Test skipper Greg Chappell has said that he is ready to make the big calls after being appointed the country’s first full-time selector by Cricket Australia (CA) on Monday.

Chappell will vacate his current position as the head coach of the Centre of Excellence to take on the official role …. Read the original article  : Chappell ready to make big calls as Cricket Australia’s first ‘fulltime selector’.

A calmer, mellower Buck Showalter drops the taskmaster approach and shows Orioles how to win

Showalter tries new approach with downtrodden O’s

BALTIMORE – Corey Patterson had just been doubled off first base on a short fly to center. When he reached the top step of the Baltimore Orioles dugout, manager Buck Showalter was waiting for him.
Given Showalter’s reputation, a scowl and a scolding were surely upcoming.
Instead, Showalter asked Patterson to … Original article on : A calmer, mellower Buck Showalter drops the taskmaster approach and shows Orioles how to win.

Former Missouri star Danario Alexander playing catch-up after signing with Rams

Alexander gets NFL job, plays catch-up with Rams

ST. LOUIS – Four months after the draft when he was injured and ignored, former Missouri star Danario Alexander finally signed with an NFL team.
Now, he’s got a new challenge: learning the playbook.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Alexander has the size the St. Louis Rams lack at wide receiver to … Read : Former Missouri star Danario Alexander playing catch-up after signing with Rams.

Gazza ticked off after street kick about with nephew

LONDON – Former England star, Paul Gascoigne a.k.a. Gazza played football in the street with his eight-year-old nephew Cameron and had the neighbours giving him an ear bashing.

The 43-year-old decided to show off his ball skills to Cameron, who plays for Newcastle United schoolboys.

But when the ball clattered into a neighbour’s car, they rushed … Read more : Gazza ticked off after street kick about with nephew.

Watson singles out ‘rookie’ Finn as Australia’s No.1 Ashes target

SYDNEY – Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has stepped up the pre-Ashes mudslinging with an attack on England fast bowler Steve Finn.

Watson identified Finn as the England team’s weak link, saying that the 21-year-old has never played in or against Australia.

Finn has 28 wickets at an average of 24 runs from seven Tests, but … Read more >>>.

England can kiss Ashes goodbye if they don’t tighten technique: Boycott

SYDNEY – Former opener Geoffrey Boycott has said England can kiss the Ashes Down Under goodbye if they continue to put up a batting performance like they did against Pakistan at The Oval.

It maybe recalled that England lost the test match to Pakistan by four wickets after scoring a little over 200 in both their … Original source on Gaea Times at : England can kiss Ashes goodbye if they don’t tighten technique: Boycott.

Ex-football star Linekar furious with posh school after son flops

LONDON – Ex-England football star Gary Linekar was involved in a furious row with his son’s school, Charterhouse, Monday after the 18-year-old failed to get enough A-levels to go to university.

Linekar, The Match Of The Day host, accused the 25,000-pound a-year school of making his party-loving son a “guinea pig” by introducing tougher Pre-U exams …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ex-football star Linekar furious with posh school after son flops.

Australia reappoints coach Nielsen until 2013 Ashes

SYDNEY – Cricket Australia (CA) has renewed Australian coach Tim Nielsen’s contract until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013.

Nielsen, who took over from John Buchanan in 2007, had helped Australia manage the ‘challenging transition’ following the retirements of experienced players including Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath. …. Original source  : Australia reappoints coach Nielsen until 2013 Ashes.