Sports News – Newsletter for January 25, 2011

Mark Sanchez Picks Nose, In Public View

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com)- Mark Sanchez managed to gain a huge lot of publicity during the game of the New York Jets against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The strangest part was, he had not even stepped into the game yet; all that he was doing was stand on the sidelines and watching, along with his …. Original article  : Mark Sanchez Picks Nose, In Public View.

Caroline Wozniacki Defeats Francesca Schiavone

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Despite losing the first set at the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Caroline Wozniacki made her way back into the game at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday. The Danish tennis star registered a well-deserved place for herself at the semi-finals of the tournament by beating Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 3-6 6-3 … Read more >>.

Anderson played Ashes in Australia with back pain

ADELAIDE – England strike bowler James Anderson has revealed that he played the victorious Ashes series Down Under with a back injury, and added that at times, he feared he might ruin his Ashes campaign.

Anderson said that felt stiffness in his back during the third Test at Perth. Now, he says that the pain had … Read more »»».

Newcastle FC owner gambles away 970K quid at a casino

LONDON – Newcastle United football club owner Mike Ashley blew up a staggering 970,000 pounds in just a couple of hours gambling at a casino, the Daily Mail has reported.

Ashley and team manager Alan Pardew, who initially hit a winning streak and scooped up 130,000 pounds, then went on to lose a huge amount on …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Newcastle FC owner gambles away 970K quid at a casino.

Suspended Aamer features in practice match

KARACHI – Suspended fast bowler Mohammed Aamer created another stir by featuring in a practice match at Rawalpindis international cricket stadium Monday and that too under a coach employed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The provisional ban imposed on the 18-year-old fast bowler by the International Cricket Council (ICC) barred him from taking part … Read : Suspended Aamer features in practice match.

Inzamam blasts PCB for dividing Pak team into Afridi and Misbah camps

LAHORE – Former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamamul Haq has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board for creating factions within the national side by delaying the naming of a captain for next month’s World Cup.

Inzamam, who played 120 Test matches for Pakistan scoring 25 centuries, said the delay had disrupted the team’s preparations for the showpiece …. Source  : Inzamam blasts PCB for dividing Pak team into Afridi and Misbah camps.

Oz eves reclaim Ashes on one-off Sydney Test

SYDNEY – Australia have restored some much needed cricketing pride with the women’s team wrestling the Ashes back from England.

A match-winning knock from Sarah Elliott, 81 not out, led Australia to an emotion-charged seven-wicket victory in the one-off Test at Bankstown Oval in Sydney today.

The match was in the balance at the start of the …. Original source  : Oz eves reclaim Ashes on one-off Sydney Test.

Committee deciding on Olympic Stadium bid says it needs more time

LONDON – The Olympic Park Legacy Company has decided it needs more time to reach a decision on a preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium.

It is due to consider rival bids from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

According to The Guardian, both clubs have been forced to recalibrate their lobbying strategies after being asked for …. Read the original article  : here.

Jharkhand swimmers practise on the ground!

RANCHI – With less than a month to go before Jharkhand hosts the 34th National Games, the state’s swimming team still does not have a swimming pool to practice in. Instead, the swimmers are ‘practicing’ inside a flat here, where they lie on the ground and thrash about as if in water!

Not only that, …. Original article  : Jharkhand swimmers practise on the ground!.

Australian Open: Federer rolls Stan as Wozniacki survives scare

MELBOURNE – Roger Federer put impeccable championship form on display as Tuesday’s highly touted all-Swiss Australian Open quarter-final evolved into just another winning walkabout for the world number two in 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 drilling of Stanislas Wawrinka.

Women’s top seed Caroline Wozniacki kept a tenuous grip on her number one ranking as she preyed on … Original source on Gaea Times at : Australian Open: Federer rolls Stan as Wozniacki survives scare.

Sky Sports presenter apologises for UK soccer sexism row

LONDON – Sky Sports presenter Richards Keys has apologised to assistant soccer referee Sian Massey for the sexist comments he made about her.

Keys and co-presenter Andy Gray were dropped from Monday night’s program after the off-camera comments about Massey were captured on their microphones.

A Professional Game Match Officials spokesperson confirmed that Keys had telephoned the …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Sky Sports presenter apologises for UK soccer sexism row.

Barca ready to sell full back Alves to Man City, says Cruyff

LONDON – Barcelona’s honorary president and former Dutch international Johan Cruyff believes the Spanish club is ready to sell 25-million-pound-rated Dani Alves to Manchester City.

Attacking fullback Alves is nearing the end of his Barca contract, and Cruyff thinks Barcelona might cash in on the Brazil star while they can.

The Sun quoted the Dutch legend, … Original article on : Barca ready to sell full back Alves to Man City, says Cruyff.

Rocking Roo will strike for Man U against Blackpool: Veteran Giggs

LONDON – Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs has warned Blackpool, which is Indian owned, that goal-shy striker Wayne Rooney is ready to rock.

Though Rooney has just scored once from open play – three in total – for his club this season, Giggs believes it is only a matter of time before the floodgates open again.

The … Read more >>.

Ratings prove one-day international cricket isn’t dead yet

MELBOURNE – If fresh ratings are anything to go by, one-day international cricket has been given the “kiss of life”.

Figures released by industry body Free TV show the opening one-day international between Australia and England at the MCG attracted a staggering 2.57 million viewers.

Channel Nine’s cricket coverage has also consistently out rated Channel Seven’s Australian [..] Read the original article: here.

Oz selectors delighted with Lee’s form going into World Cup

ADELAIDE – Australian fast bowler Brett Lee could be just as invaluable to Australia’s World Cup campaign in the Indian subcontinent as current golden boy Shane Watson, given his form in the ongoing one-day series against England.

According to The Age, the reversal in Australia’s fortunes this summer has coincided with Lee’s return to national colours.

The … Original article on : Oz selectors delighted with Lee’s form going into World Cup.

Clarke has till end of World Cup to regain form: Greg Chappell

ADELAIDE – Australia’s full-time selector Greg Chappell has guaranteed vice-captain Michael Clarke’s spot in the national squad until after the World Cup that is being played in the Indian subcontinent, despite the latter struggling both on and off the field.

Clarke, 29, has contributed a solitary half-century in 12 test and one-day digs this summer … Original source on Gaea Times at : Clarke has till end of World Cup to regain form: Greg Chappell.

Farrel’s hattrick helps Oz eves close in on the Ashes

SYDNEY – The Australian women’s cricket team is 169 runs away from achieving what their male counterparts failed so dismally to do this summer – win back the Ashes on home soil.

Australia was 1-29 at stumps on day three chasing 198 for victory in the one-off Test against England at Bankstown Oval with one day …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Federer crushes Wawrinka, enters Oz Open semi-final for eighth time

MELBOURNE – Swiss Grand Slam champion Roger Federer crushed countryman Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets to reach the Australian Open semi finals on Tuesday.

Federer won 6-1 6-3 6-3 in a match lasting an hour and 47 minutes.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Federer is now through to his eighth consecutive Australian Open semi final.

Wawrinka, who … Read : Federer crushes Wawrinka, enters Oz Open semi-final for eighth time.

Twitter posts not helping Clarke’s public image

MELBOURNE – Australian cricket vice-captain Michael Clarke continues to alienate himself from the nation’s public with his off-field actions.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Clarke’s comments on the social network site Twitter have left his fans dissatisfied. The responses to his Twitter comments show that he is mostly unloved by cricket fans and the sporting …. Source article  : Twitter posts not helping Clarke’s public image.

China’s Li Na ousts Germany’s Petkovic to enter Oz Open semi-finals

MELBOURNE – Chinese ninth seed Li Na entered her second consecutive Australian Open semi-final after comprehensively defeating Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-4 in just 80 minutes.

Li moved well, keeping Petkovic on the defensive for most points despite a taped right knee, which she had surgery on in 2008.

Li joins Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki as … Original source on Gaea Times at : China’s Li Na ousts Germany’s Petkovic to enter Oz Open semi-finals.