Sports Category
Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.
Transfer Balls: Spurs sell Bale to Real Madrid £105 this year and £83m the next
THE DAILY BALE: How mich is the Spurs star being sold to Real Madrid for?
Today the Mirror topped the lot: £105m.
In other news today:
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John Henry buys Boston Globe – the paper that blamed ‘grotty’ Liverpool fans for Hillsborough
LIVERPOOL FC owner John Henry is buying the Boston Globe for $70m from the New York Times Co., who bought the newspaper in 993 for $1.1 billion. Says Henry, who also owns the Boston Red Sox:
“The Boston Globe’s award-winning journalism as well as its rich history and tradition of excellence have established it as one of the most well respected media companies in the country.”
Globe editor Brian McGrory assures a lack of owner influence:
“We have no plans whatsoever to change our Red Sox coverage specifically, or our sports coverage in general, nor will we be asked. The Globe’s sports reporting and commentary is the gold standard in the industry.”
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1936: Jess Owens accepts hi Olympic 100m Gold medal
AUGUST 3, 1936:
The ceremony honoring the three winners in the 100 meter Olympic final in Berlin on August 3, 1936, which was won by Jessie Owens, U.S.A, middle, second was Tinus Osendarp, Holland, front, and third Ralph Metcalf, U.S.A. (extreme right).
Transfer balls: Liverpool and Manchester United targets Diego Costa and Geoffrey Kondogbia reprise the Suarez and Evra show
TRANSFER Balls: How’s the summer shaping up for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa and Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia?
These two are paired because if they head to the Premier League they will renew a relationship that made headlines last season. Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia earned a red card for a foul on Costa. He went on Twitter to claim:
“In short Mr Costa, next time keep the monkey noises to yourself. The first red of my entire life playing football and I get four matches 🙁 ?”
Geoffrey Kondogbia is black. Costa is what are now called “white Hispanic”.
It seems that Liverpool want Costa:
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Transfer Balls: Liverpool want £35m for Arsenal target Suarez, and Ian Wright and Steven Gerard remain desperate
TRANSFER Balls: The experts in the media tells us what’s happening with Liverpool’s Luis Suarez in August:
August 1
Daily Mirror: “Liverpool agreed to Luis Suarez transfer if a Champions League club offered £35m claim Arsenal target’s camp”
Luis Suarez is refusing to give up on a £40million transfer to Arsenal after angrily claiming Liverpool AGREED to let him go.
Suarez’s agent, Pere Guardiola, has told the Anfield giants that the striker is frustrated, wants to quit and feels let down over what he thought were promises to sell him if the Reds missed out on the coming season’s Champions League.
Now, the Uruguay international is determined to force the issue as he wants to join Arsenal – while also secretly harbouring hopes that Real Madrid will come in for him.
Looks like that secret harbouring has set sail.
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Posted: 3rd, August 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
The Daily Bale: Spurs transfer news round-up – Morata, Lamela and Real Madrid cash
TRANSFER Balls in association with the Daily Bale: a look at Spurs striker Gareth Bale’s movements in today’s media:
So. Is Bale on his way from Spurs to Real Madrid?
Spy on Ghana: “£87m Tottenham For Gareth Bale Sealed”
Indy: “Real have been heavily linked with Bale throughout the summer, leading to suggestions that they are willing to break the £80m world record transfer fee – set in 2009 when they signed Cristiano from Manchester United.”
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Transfer balls: Bernard snubs no-bid Arsenal and Suarez to Spurs and nowhere?
TRANSFER Balls: a look at what experts in the media are saying today about:
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez:
So. He’s for sale.
ESPN: “Suarez will now cost Arsenal £50m”
For £40m.
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Posted: 31st, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
Liverpool FC wants its fans and staff to be Thought Police narks
LIVERPOOL FC’s widely distributed list of things you cannot say has yet to be handed to all fans entering the Anfield ground. Your moral credentials will not be checked at the gate…yet.
I have said infantile things at football matches, mostly when I was young and thought it funny and possibly liberating to sing things I would never sing at a polite dinner table; belting out abusive lyrics to songs like the First Noel:
Hoddle, Hoddle, Hoddle, Hoddle
Born is the Queen of Golder’s Green
That’s racist! Nowadays it could be. I knew that words cold hurt. Well, that was the idea. You get worked up in support of your own team and say things designed to damage the opposition. You don’t mean it. The song was targeting Spurs’ best player and the fans, many of whom are Jewish (Golder’s Green has a considerable Jewish demographic). It would also be now classed a homophobic. Hoddle is not the King of Israel, as the Spurs fans might have had it. He was the Queen. Was I a homophobic anti-Semite? No. I just thought it was funny. The song did not show me in my true colours. They were just part of the match.
Was Hoddle offended? No. He just smiled and – get this – later became a born again Christian.
(It was he who said: “You and I have been physically given two hands and two legs and half-decent brains. Some people have not been born like that for a reason. The karma is working from another lifetime. I have nothing to hide about that. It is not only people with disabilities. What you sow, you have to reap.”)
Arsenal fans also had this to say about their own Nwankwo Kanu:
He’s big, he’s black, he’s had a heart attack, King Kanu, King Kanuuuuu
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Posted: 31st, July 2013 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comments (2)
Liverpool say Luis Suarez can call black staff a negrito but Yids and poofs are banned
Below the headings race/religion, sexual orientation, gender and disability, we see the list below:
Posted: 31st, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (11)
Farrah v Bolt: The 600 metre Superstars race every sports day needs
IS Mo Farrah going to race Usain Bolt over 600 meters, a distance at which neither of them are champions? Will Joe Hart, the England goalkeeper go head to head with British Lions’s Leigh Halfpenny in a cricket ball catching contest? Is Andy Murray or Olympic squash champion Dan Lin better at table-tennis? Would sports fan tune in to see it?
Yes. Sports fans will watch pretty much anything. Create a school sports day Mums and Dads race channel and many would watch.
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Spurs legends Pleat, Redknapp and Hoddle portray Gareth Bale as an idiot
THE Daily Bale: a look at the Spurs star in the news. Today, former Spurs manager David Pleat says Bale, 24, is too young to work abroad:
“I think he’s a little bit young to go abroad. I doubt he’d find it easy. Many have failed when they have moved overseas. One or two have succeeded, but not many. Most have had a difficult time.”
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Posted: 30th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
Transfer balls news round-up: Spurs sell not-for-sale Gareth Bale for less than Real Madrid offer
TRANSFER Balls: Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid is occupying the back pages. And not a single source has a clue what is going on. Having read that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is and isn’t talking to Bale, the experts in the media bring us more news:
Bale has been targeted by the Spanish giants for a world-record transfer worth potentially £85m and has moved to force the issue by informing Spurs that he is ready to leave, despite Levy’s insistence that he will not be sold at any price.
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Transfer Balls: Spurs chairman Daniel Levy cuts short holiday to shun Gareth Bale
THE Daily Bale, in association with Transfer Balls – a look at what experts in the media are saying about the Spurs star:
Daniel Levy has refused to have talks with Gareth Bale about a supposed gentleman’s agreement that could allow the Welshman to fulfil his desire to move to Real Madrid…Levy is adamant that Bale, who has three years left on his deal, will not be sold
Daniel Levy is giving Gareth Bale the silent treatment over Real Madrid’s world-record bid to sign him. The Spurs chairman is refusing “point-blank” to hold any further talks with Bale on the issue after ruling the Welshman will not be sold this summer regardless of whatever Real may offer…
Levy – set to announce the record-breaking, £26million signing of Roberto Soldado from Valencia this week – is now giving Bale the cold shoulder.
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Posted: 29th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Liverpool: Pepe Reina shows Luis Suarez how loyalty works in an open letter to the fans
LIVERPOOL’S Pepe Reina is now playing for Napoli. He is on loan in southern Italy. In an open letter to Liverpool fans he bemoans the club’s lack of loyalty to a proud servant of the club of eight years standing:
I am disappointed that I will not be part of that and although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it just like I have always accepted any decision that Liverpool have taken for me…
But if I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving. It is only natural that I would be disappointed that the Liverpool management agreed to loan me to Napoli without telling me first, I thought that I deserved better than that…
I was surprised that Liverpool decided it was in the club´s interests to send me to Napoli instead.
On the way out he gives Brendan Rodgers a kick:
None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now I have to look forward to a new challenge with Rafa Benitez, who I consider to be the best manager I have worked with…
Mindful of that, let’s see what Brendan Rodgers said about Luis Suarez wanting to leave the club:
“The support he has received from the supporters and the people of the city of Liverpool has been unrivalled. In this period of time he’s missed a lot of games for the club through various reasons. The people have stood by him, like a son and really looked after him.
“Whatever happens in the coming weeks that will be in his mind because it’s something you can never forget.”
Player are not bought for their loyalty. When the club has finished with them, they are sold or let go. If Suarez stops scoring he will see how a “son” can be disowned.
And, once more, here’s what Rodgers said of Reina:
On June 22, Rodger told one and all what the signing of Simon Mignolet meant for Pepe:
“Pepe Reina and I went out for a meal a couple of months before the end of the season and I told him exactly what we were going to do, which was to provide real competition in that area.”
With Reina now at Napoli, Rodgers now adds:
“It was obviously a difficult decision. From last season I was led to believe that we were going to get an offer for Pepe that would probably see him leave the club…
“It wouldn’t have served any purpose, both for the club and him personally, if he’d been the one missing out.”
What about the competition and loyalty, Brendan?
Posted: 29th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Transfer Balls: Fabregas agrees his ‘absurd’ move to Manchester United
TRANSFER Balls: a look at the Daily Express‘ stella reporting on Manchester United’s moves for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas. These are the headlines:
July 28
Cesc Fabregas says yes to Manchester United move
July 27
BARCELONA have put an end to Manchester United’s chances of signing Cesc Fabregas, with the new boss Gerardo Martino saying there is no chance he will be sold.
And:
Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas won’t be moving to Manchester United
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Transfer balls: Spurs sell Gareth Bale for less than Real Madrid’s failed bid
THE Daily Bale: how much are Real Madrid offering for Spurs stars Gareth Bale? These numbers below are from the past 24 hours:
The People: “Spurs have slapped a mind-boggling £100million price tag on Gareth Bale”
(Or as the Metro reported on July 4: “Florentino Perez: Real Madrid happy to pay £100million for Gareth Bale.”)
The Sun: “Real plan £95m Bale offer”
The Guardian: “Gareth Bale in battle to force through £86m move to Real Madrid”
The Guardian says Real’s bid £86m bid was rejected. The Mail says Real hope to be successful with a, erm, lower bid.
Daily Mirror: “Real Madrid plot world-record £85m Gareth Bale transfer after Tottenham reportedly reject £81m
Daily Mail: “Bale in turmoil after Spurs reject world record £82m bid from Real Madrid”
The Sun: “Wing wizard wants out after £81m bid rejected”
Marca says: “Madrid increased its offer to 80 million pounds”
Such are the facts when you have no idea what’s going on.
Posted: 28th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Transfer balls: Gareth Bale will leave Spurs for Real Madrid after a few friendlies, maybe
THE Daily Bale: a look at the transfer news surrounding Spurs’ star man Gareth Bale in the past 24 hours. The Mail on Sunday leads with the news that Spurs have rejected an £82m bid for their man.
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Former Newcastle United player Nile Ranger gets own name tattooed on his face
FORMER Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger has had his own named tattooed on his face. Of course, ‘Ranger’ could be a sign that he is a diehard QPR fans, loves the new Ford Ranger or has gone completely Tonto…
PS- does it say Ranger or Ranges?
Luis Suarez Transfer balls: Arsenal have history – Liverpool have death threats and deadlines
TRANSFER balls: By now you’ll be wondering what Luis Suarez has been up to. Today’s news round-up follows:
Metro: “Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are not close to signing Liverpool striker Luis Suarez”
Admits?
We recall Wenger saying on Suarez discussions:
“As you know the transfer period demands secrets and confidentiality, so I can’t answer the question.”
And:
“You want me to announce a spectacular signing, but I can’t. We are working behind the scenes to strengthen the squad – but I can’t give you names.”
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Posted: 27th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comment (1)
Adverts tells NASCAR fans to buy hangover-free, lo-cal marijuana not beer
MARIJUANA has gone mainstream. We’ve yet to see weed adverts on the side of F1 vehicles, as we have for cigarettes and booze, but NASCAR fans heading to the 2013 Brickyard 400 races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will get to see a TV advert hailing cannabis.
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Transfer balls: Manchester United and Plymouth offer Fabregas first-team football away from Barcelona
TRANSFER Balls: Why would Cesc Fabregas leaves Barcelona?
Gerardo Martino, Barcelona’s coach, says:
“Considering the club has already rejected two offers [for the player], I would guess it will reject a third. In other words, Fabregas will remain here.”
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Transfer balls: Wayne Rooney heads to the Chelsea that forgot Didier Drogba
TRANSFER balls: Is Wayne Rooney headed to Chelsea?
Jose Mourinho says Fernando Torres should be worried about the impending arrive of Wayne Rooney:
“I think he’ll be pleased because during his time here he was basically the only striker.”
Two words Jose: Didier Drogba…
Transfer balls: Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool don’t need competition
TRANSFER Balls: When not consulting the Neville Chamberlain Bumper Book of Deal Making to negotiate with Luis Suarez, Brendan Rodgers is talking about Pepe Reina:
On June 22, Rodger told one and all what the signing of Simon Mignolet meant for Pepe:
“Pepe Reina and I went out for a meal a couple of months before the end of the season and I told him exactly what we were going to do, which was to provide real competition in that area.”
With Reina now at Napoli, Rodgers now adds:
“It was obviously a difficult decision. From last season I was led to believe that we were going to get an offer for Pepe that would probably see him leave the club…
“It wouldn’t have served any purpose, both for the club and him personally, if he’d been the one missing out.”
What about the competition, Brendan?
Posted: 26th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)
An absurd story on Formula One tax dodges
THIS absurd tax story is brought to you by The Independent:
The standard rate of corporation tax in the UK is 24 per cent of a company’s profit. The F1 teams tend to avoid this because they spend all of the money they receive in a bid to boost their chances on track. Breaking even or making a loss means that they don’t need to pay tax as there is no profit for it to be charged on.
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Lance Armstrong says ‘virtually all of us broke the rules, and lied about it’
AND so it came to pass that Lance Armstrong became a victim. The man stripped of his seven Tour de France titles – who denied others glory as he grew rich and allegedly attempted to destroy a woman’s life – is now the victim:
He shares with Cyclingnews.com his thoughts on the French Senate releasing a list of riders who tested positive for banned EPO during the 1998 race, in which Armstong took no part:
“If we don’t come together, have the conversation and draw a line in the sand and then move on, we’re all screwed…My initial reaction is that I am not surprised. As I have said, it was an unfortunate era for all of us and virtually all of us broke the rules, and lied about it.”
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