I Proud To Be A Malaysian!!

SEA Games: Malaysia, Vietnam eye rare football win
VIENTIANE - Vietnam and Malaysia will clash in the final of the Southeast Asian Games football tournament Thursday in a surprise match-up that will see a new winner for the first time since 1993.

Malaysia, who reached the final after beating host nation Laos 3-1 in Monday's semi-final, will go into the match full of confidence after earlier knocking out eight-times defending champions Thailand.

But Vietnam, 4-1 winners over Singapore in the other semi-final, will also fancy their chances, having already beaten Malaysia 3-1 during the group stages.

Vietnam topped Group A with 10 points, with Malaysia in second on nine. Vietnam striker Phan Thanh Binh told the Thanh Nien newspaper his side had to be wary as Malaysia had some outstanding individuals.

"I think the rate will be 60-40 in favour" of Vietnam, he said, adding that their earlier win over Malaysia would give the team a psychological edge.

"We can win this match and we have to win at any price," coach Henrique Calisto told the Tien Phong newspaper.

"As I said before, Malaysia are a strong team with good preparation. We should look at how they overcame Thailand and played Laos under pressure."

"We have to prepare well for the match. We are not allowed to look down upon our opponent," he added.

Malaysia coach K. Rajagopal said he hoped the latest chapter in Malaysian football's revival would not turn out to be another false dawn. The country last won the SEA Games football trophy in 1989 in Kuala Lumpur.

"We have gone through a dry spell for quit e some time now - with the same old story and the same old blues," he said, according to The Star newspaper.

"I am sure the boys will give their best in the final. With their never-say-die attitude, urgency and high commitment, we hope they will bring success this time.

"But more important is the revival of Malaysian football." The government announced Tuesday it had approved a football development fund with a budget of up to 60 billion ringgit (S$24.5 billion).

Critics say the national side has fallen a long way since the heady days of the 1970s and 1980s. The steep decline has been blamed on a failure to nurture talent, poor management, cronyism, corruption and a lack of government support.

Lionel Messi v Wayne Rooney v Cristiano Ronaldo v Kaka

The catalyst for Barcelona's Champions League triumph over Manchester United last season, this diminutive genius was always the out and out favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or.

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One of a string of Argentine players to have been compared to the great Diego Maradona - and the first to deserve such comparisons - Messi seemingly dribbles with the ball sewn to his boot as he fillets opposition defences.

Proclaimed to be the best in the world by none other than England manager Fabio Capello, Messi may not be the greatest goal scorer, but he is a scorer of great goals.

Rating: 9/10.

Watch Messi on YouTube

Wayne Rooney
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Club: Manchester United

United's very own Roy of the Rovers, Rooney made his mark in Manchester with a stunning Champions League hat-trick in a 6-2 thrashing of Fenerbahce, which included a beautifully flighted free-kick.

Rooney already has a considerable medal collection having helped the Old Trafford club to three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup - to name but a few.

The former Everton player has the ability to terrorise defences with his speed, strength and vision, and he is equally adept at tackling and tracking back.

Arguably a genius in the making, an incendiary element to his character is the only flaw in his well-rounded game. His kicking of a corner flag at Craven Cottage following his sending off in a 2-0 defeat to Fulham in March merely illustrates this. If he can follow Kipling's advice and keep his head, Rooney will have the world at his feet.

Rating: 7/10.

Watch Rooney on YouTube

Kaká
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Club: Real Madrid.

The Fifa 2007 World Player of the Year had the Midas touch at Milan and helped the Rossoneri win the Champions League in the same season, scoring 10 goals during the tournament. He may not have the blistering pace of a Cristiano Ronaldo, but Kaká can see the game from a bird's eye perspective and is as much a creator of goals as a supreme finisher.

After completing his £68.5 million move to Real Madrid in the summer, the Brazilian has been keen to impress again in a World Cup season.

Rating: 8/10.

Watch Kaká on YouTube

Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 24
Position: Forward
Club: Real Madrid.

A player who is just as fast with or without the ball at his feet, Ronaldo can leave the best defenders with twisted blood.

The Portuguese, who scooped two Football Writer's Player of the Year awards and a brace of PFA accolades during his time in England, helped Manchester United win the Champions League in 2008 with the opening goal in their defeat of Chelsea.

Crowned Fifa World Player of the Year for 2008 with the Ballon d'Or already in his possession, the one remaining trophy that Ronaldo would dearly love to get his hands on is the World Cup.

Rating: 9/10.

Don't call me the new Cristiano Ronaldo

Gabriel Obertan insists he is not looking to become a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo even though he is desperate to fill the same right-wing berth for Manchester United.
The France Under 21 international was handed his first Champions League start by Sir Alex Ferguson last night and was one of the few United players to emerge with any credit from the 1-0 defeat by Besiktas.
Obertan showed some neat touches at Old Trafford, and was not afraid to try a step-over or two either as he tried to put Besiktas on the back foot.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1231242/Dont-new-Cristiano-Ronaldo-Manchester-Uniteds-Gabriel-Obertan-rejects-comparison-despite-skilful-show.html#ixzz0SP5BSYTd

It was something of a throwback to Ronaldo's early days, even if some of the more outrageous tricks were missing.
Yet the £3million summer arrival from Bordeaux has no wish to be bracketed in the same company as Ronaldo, who went on to become the world's best player in 2008, scoring 42 goals as United won a Champions League and Barclays Premier League double, before moving to Real Madrid last summer for £80m.
'I am not Ronaldo's successor,' stated Obertan firmly. 'For now there is no comparison, I am just trying to be Gabriel Obertan. I have only been here for six months and I cannot do what he did in that time.'
Obertan is showing a pleasing willingness to learn. Towards the end of the first half last night his confidence did appear to suffer as a couple of intended moves broke down.

Real Madrid Will Play Better With Cristiano Ronaldo - Kaka

Real Madrid's Kaka has revealed that he is looking forward to playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo again after the Portuguese ace completed his recovery from injury by coming on as a substitute in midweek against FC Zurich.

Ronaldo has spent more than a month on the sidelines with an ankle problem, but Kaka is delighted that his friend is ready to return to the pitch and believes that los Blancos will be better off as a result.

"We will play better with Cristiano Ronaldo, that's certain," he explained to American TV station Gol TV.

"He gives a boost to the team, he will give us more quality and such a complete player will be very useful.

"We're friends off the pitch as well - we like to do the same things and, while the whole world knows that Cristiano Ronaldo is a wonderful player, he is a great friend as well."

'CR9' is expected to line up for los Merengues when they face Barcelona in the Camp Nou, and Kaka cannot wait to take part in el Clasico.

"It will be a beautiful game - I have been told by my team-mates that it will be completely different to any game I've played up until now. It will be very exciting and I hope to do well," he said.

"There are no favourites in these matches. Barcelona are a very strong, dangerous team and have some great players - there is no doubt about that. We have to play our game, we are Real Madrid and we must try and be the dominant team in every match."

Barcelona 0 Real Madrid 3: Cristiano Ronaldo scores hat-trick

Real Madrid romped to a 3-0 win against Barcelona courtesy to a second half Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick.
But the first 'El Clasico' of the season was a mere PlayStation head-to-head between new Galactico Karim Benzema and Catalan star Xavi.
However, victor Benzema warns that the La Liga leaders are itching to repeat the feat for real when the teams meet at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

'Ronaldo is even better in real life than he is in the game,' said the France international. 'I would love to score a goal on Sunday, but I don't care who scores as long as Real Madrid win.
Ronaldo, who has struggled with an ankle injury, has declared himself fit to make his El Clasico debut, which will be his first start since September.
And the £80million summer signing from Manchester United is not worried about the history of the famed match.

Steven Gerard: A Great Captain

Steven George Gerrard, MBE (pronounced /ˈdʒɛrɑ:d/; born 30 May 1980), is an English footballer who plays for English Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team. He played much of his career in a central midfield role, however since the arrival of Fernando Torres he has been used mainly as a second striker for Liverpool[3] and 2006 as a winger for England.

Gerrard, who has spent his entire career at Anfield, made his debut in 1998 and cemented his place in the first team in the 2000-01 season, succeeding Sami Hyypiä as Liverpool team captain in 2003. His honours include two FA Cup wins, two League Cup wins, a UEFA Cup win and a UEFA Champions League win in 2005. As of 13 May 2009, Gerrard is also the current holder of the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award.

Gerrard made his international debut in 2000, and represented England in the UEFA European Championships in 2000 and 2004 as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he was the team's top goalscorer with two goals.

Gerrard placed second in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, a Liverpool F.C. fan poll

International career

Gerrard made his international debut against Ukraine on 31 May 2000.[45] That summer, he was called up for Euro 2000, making only one appearance as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Germany before England were eliminated in the group stage.[46][47] Gerrard scored his first international goal in a 5–1 victory over Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in September 2001, and while England qualified, Gerrard was forced to pull out of the squad due to his ongoing groin problems.[48]

He was a regular starter in Euro 2004, scoring once - against Switzerland - before England were eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals on penalties.[49] He participated in his first World Cup in 2006 and scored a team-leading two goals, both in the group stage, against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden, though his spot kick was one of three saved by goalkeeper Ricardo as England again bowed out to Portugal in the quarter-finals on penalties.[50]

Gerrard was made vice-captain of the England team by coach Steve McClaren,[51] and while he filled in for John Terry as captain, England suffered back-to-back losses to Russia and Croatia that ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes.[52] After new coach Fabio Capello took over the team in early 2008, Gerrard was given a trial run as captain but Capello settled on Terry for the role.[53][54] Gerrard was subsequently replaced as England vice-captain by Rio Ferdinand

Nicol looks ahead

NICOL David had warned for a while now that her apparent invincibility was not something that would last forever.

The world champion has said several times that the gap is closing between her and the rest of the Wispa Tour and her words rang true when Jenny Duncalf stunned Nicol for the second time in as many tournaments at the Qatar Classic semi-finals on Sunday.

England's Jenny, who shocked Nicol for the first time in their 20 career meetings in New York earlier this month, repeated the feat in Doha with an 11-6, 2-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6 win.

Jenny joins Ireland's Madeline Perry and Natalie Grainger of the United States as the only players to have beaten Nicol in the last 24 months.

Still, Nicol has won a tour-leading seven of the 11 Wispa events she played this year while compiling a 37-4 win-loss record, although the four defeats mark the first time she has lost that many matches in a season since 2005.

It was only a day earlier, after her five-game win over England's Laura Massaro in the quarter-finals, that Nicol said every player on tour is seeking her prized scalp.

And now Jenny, the World No 6, has become the first player to beat Nicol in successive meetings since Vanessa Atkinson of the Netherlands in early 2006.

"She came out strong, very confident, whereas I seemed to be more watching what was happening than actually playing," said Nicol, 26.

"I lacked the confidence in my shots. I tried and gave it all I had. That took a lot of energy and at the end, I just hit the wall."

Nicol played with heavy strapping on her right thigh, which could have hindered her movement and gave Jenny the confidence to push for the win.

"I saw the heavy strap on her leg and she had a pretty big match against Laura so I don't think she was at her best there. Still, she picks up more shots than everybody else on the tour," said Jenny, who was seeking her third consecutive title in the final against Australian Rachael Grinham late yesterday.

While Nicol did not finish the season as she had hoped to, she will still consider 2009 a success having regained the World Open title and will return stronger next season.

"Jenny played extremely well and I'll just have to come back next year to try and win the title again," added Nicol.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés Messi (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi]; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for La Liga's Barcelona and the Argentine national team. Messi is considered to be one of the best football players of his generation,[3][4][5] having received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21.[6][7][8] His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to football legend Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor".[9][10]

Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke the La Liga record for the youngest footballer to play a league game, and also the youngest to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and UEFA Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in 2006–07: he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008–09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble winning campaign.

Messi was the top scorer with six goals, including two in the final game of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006 he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team.

EPL 2009-10 season: Record English Premier League wins

2009/11/24
Tottenham’s Peter Crouch heads the ball past Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to score his club’s opening goal in their Premier League match at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Tottenham won 9-1 with Jermain Defoe netting five goals. — AFPpic

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur's 9-1 rout of Wigan Athletic on Sunday was one of the most lopsided Premier League victories.

The greatest winning margins in the EPL are as follows:

March 1995: Manchester United 9 Ipswich Town 0 -- England striker Andy Cole scored five goals and current Manchester City manager Mark Hughes two, with Paul Ince and Roy Keane also netting against an Ipswich side who would finish bottom of the table that season.

November 2009: Tottenham Hotspur 9 Wigan Athletic 1 -- England striker Jermain Defoe scored five goals, all in the second half, including a hat-trick in seven minutes, as Spurs ran riot at White Hart Lane.

Peter Crouch and Aaron Lennon were also on target before Chris Kirkland's own-goal and Niko Kranjcar's last minute effort rounded off victory.

September 1999: Newcastle 8 Sheffield Wednesday 0 -- Newcastle great Alan Shearer scored five times, including two penalties, as relegation-bound Wednesday were walloped at St James' Park. Aaron Hughes opened the scoring while Kieron Dyer and Gary Speed both scored in the second half.

February 1999: Nottingham Forest 1 Manchester United 8 -- Supersub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came off the bench to score four goals in the last 10 minutes against Forest.

Strikers Cole and Dwight Yorke both grabbed two goals apiece, with Forest's Alan Rogers briefly drawing the hosts level.

May 2005: Arsenal 7 Everton 0 -- Dutch maestro Dennis Bergkamp scored one and helped create three others as Everton were swept aside. Robert Pires (2), Robin van Persie, Patrick Vieira, Mathieu Flamini and Edu (penalty) were the Gunners' other goalscorers.

November 1995: Blackburn 7 Nottingham Forest 0 -- Shearer's hat-trick was the centrepiece of this win with Lars Bohinen (two), Mike Newell and Graeme le Saux piling on the agony for Forest.

October 1997: Manchester United 7 Barnsley 0 -- Cole's first half hat-trick helped United go 4-0 up in what was Barnsley's one and only Premier League season to date. Ryan Giggs (2), Paul Scholes and Karel Poborsky also netted.

January 2006: Arsenal 7 Middlesbrough 0 -- Thierry Henry grabbed a hat-trick in a match where Philippe Senderos, Robert Pires, Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb found the back of the net as well. -- AFP

Nadal's nemesis Soderling strikes again

2009/11/24

LONDON: Rafael Nadal was beaten in straight sets by Robin Soderling in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Finals yesterday, the Swede repeating his shock French Open win over the Spaniard.

Soderling saw off defending champion Nadal 6-4, 6-4 inside an hour and 38 minutes at London's O2 Arena in their Group B match at the season-ending tournament of the world's top players.

Four-time French Open defending champion Nadal had had his 31-match winning streak there broken in May by Soderling, who in becoming the only man to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, went on to reach the final.

And the Swede repeated the upset with a tidy performance at the former Millennium Dome, at times giving the Australian Open champion the run-around on the medium-paced court.

"It was so nice. I was very nervous at the start but I got off to a great start," Soderling said.

"I managed to play really well on the important points and I really served well when I needed to.

"Winning against the world number two is not bad."

In-form Soderling, the world No 9, broke into the top 10 just over a month ago and was the first reserve for this tournament. He was called up after US Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick withdrew due to a lingering knee injury.

The 25-year-old Monte Carlo resident has won only one tournament this year, the Bastad clay court title in his native Sweden.

Soderling took the first set within 40 minutes, breaking Nadal twice, including in the crucial final game when the Spaniard's unforced errors handed the Swede the set.

Nadal won the toss and chose to receive but the left-hander found himself 3-0 down within 10 minutes.

Soderling held serve then broke when Nadal sent a shot into the net. The Swede then won the next game to love, sealing it with an ace.

Nadal won his first game to pull it back to 3-1 then broke Soderling back when the Swede fired wide after a rally. The Mallorcan levelled the scores by taking the next game to love, finishing with an ace.

After Soderling held serve, two consecutive line call challenges saw the serving Nadal 0-30 down but he recovered to take the game.

The Swede won the next game to love, leaving Nadal needing to hold serve to stay in the set. Soderling took him to deuce, gained the advantage when Nadal hit the net and took the set when his opponent fired long.


Soderling held serve in the first game of the second set but Nadal held serve to love and broke the Swede with a rare foray to the net to finish a rally.

However, Soderling was in fighting spirit and took a 0-40 lead next game, winning it by challenging a baseline call.

The fifth game went to seven deuces, with Soderling finally converting an advantage at the sixth attempt.

The next three games went with serve to make it 4-4. Soderling then fought off a deuce to leave Nadal serving to stay in the match.

Soderling took the Spaniard to deuce and gained a first match point when Nadal hit a shot narrowly wide. But Soderling shot just long to take it back to deuce.

The Swede went to match point again with a cross-court shot and won the contest when Nadal fired long.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic and Russia's Nikolay Davydenko are also in Group B, from which two go through to the semi-finals. -- AFP

Milan, Juve keep Inter in sight

2009/11/24

ROME: AC Milan edged Cagliari in a 4-3 thriller and Juventus laboured to a 1-0 home win over Udinese on Sunday as both Italian giants kept leaders Inter Milan within their sights.

The champions, who won 3-1 at Bologna on Saturday, lead Juve by five points with Milan a further two behind.

The main excitement of the day came at the San Siro as Milan coach Leonardo's continued gamble in playing an attacking 4-3-3 formation paid off as his increasingly exciting team edged a wonderful game full of free-flowing action.

One of the main protagonists, Ronaldinho, who looked close to the form he showed during his halcyon Barcelona days, said Inter were not on their city rivals' minds.

"We're just thinking about ourselves at the moment, Inter are a great team and they have a big lead," he said.

"I've had some good weeks of work behind me, physically I feel good and what's more I'm playing in my best position (on the left of a three-man attack) where I spent many years playing for Barcelona."
Udinese defender Andrea Coda (left) challenges Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero in their Serie A match on Sunday. Juventus won 1-0. — AFPpic
Udinese defender Andrea Coda (left) challenges Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero in their Serie A match on Sunday. Juventus won 1-0. — AFPpic

Leonardo was delighted with his forwards but dismayed by his team's defending.

"Even if we lacked a bit of balance, this team are amazing. They make things a bit difficult but I'm delighted," said the amiable Brazilian.

"The whole defence played badly but in attack we put on an incredible show. Pato scored a stunner, (Marco) Borriello had a great game, (Clarence) Seedorf was a great help at the beginning and Ronaldinho is getting back to his best."

In Turin chances were at a premium for much of a dull game but Diego stung Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic's hands early on.

Amauri then failed to turn home a ball on the edge of the six yard box as the first half ended goalless.

But six minutes after the break Christian Poulsen lofted the ball into the area and right-back Martin Caceres crossed for left-back Fabio Grosso to stab home from close range.

Moments later both Alessandro Del Piero and Momo Sissoko made their injury returns to boost the Italians ahead of their crucial trip to Bordeaux in the Champions League in midweek.

"We won a very difficult match and these are three very important points and so I'm very satisfied," said Juve coach Ciro Ferrara. "It was good to get Sissoko and Del Piero on."

In other games, Francesco Totti made a welcome injury return for Roma, scoring a hat-trick in the first half hour as the struggling capital-based side beat Bari 3-1.


And Sampdoria moved back into the top four with a 2-1 home win over 10-man Chievo. -- AFP

Irish give up on Cup replay over hand ball Country's appeal is rejected by both FIFA and French soccer federation

DUBLIN - Ireland has given up hope of a World Cup playoff replay against France because of Thierry Henry’s hand ball.

Henry’s deliberate handling set up a goal for William Gallas in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw that sent France to next year’s tournament and knocked out Ireland. The Irish appealed to the French federation to agree to a replay but were turned down Friday.

“We regret that despite our best efforts for a replay, which would have restored the integrity of the game in front of a worldwide audience, our calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears at the French Football Federation,” Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney said Saturday.

“Without doubt, the credibility of fair play has been damaged by this incident in front of a worldwide audience.”

Although FIFA ruled on Friday there would be no replay, the Irish still made an official request to the French to back their case in a bid to get the world governing body to change its mind. The French responded by saying it understood the disappointment and bitterness of the Irish but the result could not be changed.

Delaney said the FAI would urge FIFA to make sure the problem didn’t happen again.

“Despite our deep disappointment, we thank our players, the wonderful Irish fans and the Irish public at large for their support, as well as the solidarity of the French people,” he said.

“We will continue to call on FIFA to take action to ensure that such damaging examples of cheating are not allowed to recur.”

Violent Crime News

* LA jurors noted for anti-police leanings a concern for former transit officer's murder trial
* US prosecutors to drop manslaughter case against Blackwater guard in deadly '07 Iraq shooting
* Warrant: Drug cited in Michael Jackson's death came from Las Vegas pharmacy
* Teen pleads guilty in murder of Border Patrol agent shot 8 times, including 4 shots to head
* Police say NC man raped and killed 5-year-old girl the same day he kidnapped her
* Italian prosecutor: US student 'harbored hatred' for Briton; killed her in sex game
* Attorney seeks psychiatric care for Mo. teen facing murder charge in death of 9-year-old girl
* Attorney seeks mental care for Mo. teen facing murder charge in death of 9-year-old girl


Sports News

* Ohio judge warns Cincinnati QB Collaros to get the ball moving on diversion program
* AP source: Ex-NBA star Jayson Williams to take plea deal in shooting case, will face prison
* Grand jury charges woman in Pitino extortion case with retaliating against him with rape claim
* Former University of California football player sentenced to nearly 5 years for wire fraud
* Madoff's jacket sells for $14,500 in NYC auction, wife's diamond earrings fetch $70,000
* Man charged with killing UConn football player Jasper Howard makes brief court appearance
* Not guilty plea entered for first-round pick DE Erasmus James on disorderly conduct charge
* Ex-Alabama county commissioner gets probation for lying to grand jury about banker's gifts

In Patriots locker room and around the NFL, concussions no longer out of mind

By SHALISE MANZA YOUNG

Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO — From the time most professional football players begin playing the game — and for many, that is at a very young age — they are taught to believe that the sport requires a warrior mentality, and that nearly any injury can and should be played through.

Unfortunately, that includes concussions.

While it is overdue, concussions have been getting more and more attention from the National Football League and the NFL Players’ Association as more and more studies are showing just how damaging concussions, even minor ones, can be in both the long- and short-term.

But not everyone is taking them seriously.

In locker rooms, it’s called getting your bell rung. And from this perspective, that’s where the problem begins. That phrase minimizes the severity of what is a serious brain injury.

Many players believe that a concussion occurs only when a player blacks out from impact, which isn’t the case.

Listen, for instance, to Patriots’ safety Brandon McGowan. One of the surprise performers of the season for New England, he knocks on the dark wood walls of his locker stall when asked if he’s ever had a concussion.

A minute later, however, he admits that there have been times when he’s felt dizzy after a hit and continued to play. Not surprisingly for a player who describes his on-field style as “reckless,” McGowan says he likely would try to get back on the field even if he suffered a major concussion.

“The person I am, I probably would, yeah,” he said. “But that’s just the person I am. If I can play through something, I will.”

This is not meant to knock McGowan, because he is not alone in his thinking.

In 2004, when he was in his first season with the Redskins, Shawn Springs suffered a concussion against the Eagles in Week 13, sat out the next game, but came back for Week 15.

“I probably shouldn’t have come back,” the 13-year veteran said Friday afternoon. “(The effects) lasted for six months. I lost a little vision in my left eye.”

In the years since, Springs says he has noticed that as a season wears on and he delivers more and more hits, his speech starts to slur a bit.

Loss of vision, memory problems, headaches, sensitivity to light, confusion, nausea — all are symptoms of a concussion, and they can last days, weeks or months. Over the long-term, multiple concussion sufferers can develop epilepsy and other significant neurological problems. There are studies that link multiple concussions to the development of Alzheimer’s disease as well.

Not surprisingly, the NFLPA seems to be taking concussions and their effects more seriously than the league itself. Just last week it came out that union executive director DeMaurice Smith and assistant director George Atallah have twice asked NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to replace Dr. Ira Casson, the co-chairman of the league’s committee on concussions, because they feel Casson has tried to discredit studies that show the myriad negative issues associated with post-concussion syndrome.

Casson is leading an ongoing study of retired players to study how the effects impact their day-to-day lives, but the findings aren’t expected to be published for at least three years.

Adalius Thomas, one of New England’s alternate representatives to the Players’ Association, believes that many players are starting to take brain injury more seriously because they’re getting more information.

“Players aren’t doctors, so sometimes we don’t know the signs,” he said. “I’m sure all of us have had one in some shape, form or fashion. You can be hit hard, and suffer a slight (concussion) and not really know it. I got hit a couple of times and when I think back on it, I was dizzy, and that’s what they’d consider slight.

“It’s that fine line of trying to be tough.”

Thomas recalls a game against Pittsburgh when he was with the Ravens, when he collided with fullback Dan Kreider. It wasn’t a particularly hard hit — as Thomas notes, offensive and defensive linemen don’t seem to suffer as many concussions because they play in such close proximity to one another and don’t hit with as much speed and force as special-teams players or safeties and receivers — but Kreider got him right on the temple. It made Thomas woozy, but he finished the game.

“I was young and dumb,” he said.

Thomas believes that the decision of whether a player can return to the field and when he should be taken out of their hands, because most players will opt to strap the pads back on.

The Associated Press interviewed 160 players throughout the league earlier this month, and 30 said they have either hidden or played down the effects of a concussion. Fully half said they have suffered at least one concussion playing football.

Goodell recently suggested that players tell a member of a team’s medical staff if they believe a teammate is showing signs of a concussion. Atallah told the Associated Press that that is not an adequate solution, since players aren’t doctors.

Washington fullback Mike Sellers gave what many see as an utterly ignorant response that players “ain’t snitches” when asked about Goodell’s suggestion. The Patriots’ Kevin Faulk, who missed a game in 2006 due to a concussion, responded by saying Goodell had the players’ best interests in mind.

The bottom line is that players need to continue to be educated on the signs of a concussion, as well as their seriousness, and should be allowed proper time to recover if they have suffered one.

Bones heal and muscles can be mended, but brains don’t bounce back as easily. What good are a player’s glory days if he can’t remember them once his football days are over?

Guus Hiddink in line to join forces with Diego Maradona at World Cup

Guus Hiddink could be set for a surprise move to become the joint coach of the Argentina national team with Diego Maradona. Hiddink's Russia failed to reach the 2010 World Cup finals last week but the Dutch coach has been told to expect an approach from the Argentinian federation to work alongside Maradona.

"That would not be a bad idea, would it?" Hiddink was quoted as saying in the Sunday Mirror. "We know each other well. It even makes me smile thinking about it. But I do have a contract with Russia, which covers the period of the World Cup.''

The former Argentina coach Carlos Bilardo was appointed as Maradona's No2 but the pair reportedly do not get on. Hiddink's pedigree at World Cup finals is impressive. He has enjoyed success with Holland, South Korea and Australia at the last three tournaments.

However, he could instead return to Chelsea next season as a technical director. The 63-year-old said: "I love my job and I like working at the highest level. But right now I don't feel too good. The knockout from the World Cup has affected me. At a moment like this I wonder if I actually want to carry on coaching.

"I have the energy for it, but age and experience play a part in all this. I want to take my time and I won't make a decision before the end of January."

Who Is David Villa?

David Villa Sánchez (Spanish pronunciation: [daˈβið ˈβiʎə]; born 3 December 1981), nicknamed El Guaje (The Kid in Asturian)[2] is a Spanish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Valencia CF and Spain.

Despite sustaining a career threatening injury as a child, he started his professional career with Sporting de Gijón and made his debut in 2000 in Spain's Segunda División. He moved to Real Zaragoza after two seasons, after a total of 38 goals and 80 appearances for Gijón. He made his La Liga debut at Zaragoza and scored 31 goals in 73 appearances in the next two seasons, winning the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España, his first senior honours. He joined his current club Valencia in 2005 for a transfer fee of €12 million. He was the second highest scorer in the 2005–06 season with 25 goals, and was part of the Valencia team that won the Copa del Rey for a second time in the 2007–08 season.

Villa plays as a Spanish international and made his debut for the team against San Marino in 2005. He has since participated in two major tournaments: 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. He scored three goals at the 2006 World Cup and was top scorer at Euro 2008 with four goals. He is the second top scorer of all time for Spain behind only Raúl.[3] Statistics demonstrate Villa to be the most prolific goalscorer in the world since 2005, seeing the back of the net over 140 times.[4] Villa has two children with his wife Patricia and often attends charity events supported by sports personalities.

David Beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE[2] (born 2 May 1975)[3] is an English footballer who currently plays in midfield for American Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy[4] and the England national team.

Twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year[5] and in 2004 the world's highest-paid footballer,[6] Beckham was the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches.[5] He was Google's most searched of all sports topics in both 2003 and 2004.[7] With such global recognition he has become an elite advertising brand and a top fashion icon.[8][9] Beckham was captain of England from 15 November 2000[10] until the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals,[11] during which he played 58 times. Since then he has continued to represent his country and earned his much-publicised hundredth cap for England against France on 26 March 2008.[12] He is currently England's most-capped outfield player with 115 appearances.[13]

Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United, making his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17.[5] During his time there, United won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.[5] He left Manchester United to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, where he remained for four seasons,[14] clinching the La Liga championship in his final season with the club.[15]

In January 2007, it was announced that Beckham would leave Real Madrid and sign a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy.[16] Beckham's contract with Los Angeles Galaxy became effective on 1 July 2007 and gave him the highest player salary in MLS history.[17] His playing contract with Galaxy in 2007, 2008 and 2009 was worth $6.5m per year.[18][19][20] He debuted for the team on 21 July 2007 in a friendly versus Chelsea at The Home Depot Center,[21] and on 15 August, he had his first start with the team, scoring his first goal in the 2007 SuperLiga semi-final.[22] His first league start then came on 18 August in front of a record crowd at Giants Stadium.[23]

Beckham is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (née Adams).[24] The couple have three sons and currently reside in Beverly Hills, California.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɾɨʃˈtiɐnu ʁuˈnaɫdu]; born 5 February 1985)[1] is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid and serves as captain of the Portuguese national team. Ronaldo currently holds the distinction of being the most expensive player in football history after having transferred to Real Madrid in a deal worth £80 million (€94m, US$132m). His contract with Real Madrid is believed to have made him the highest-paid player in the world.[2]

Ronaldo began his career as a youth player at CD Nacional and his successes with the team led to a move to Sporting Clube de Portugal two seasons afterwards. Ronaldo's precocious talent caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and he signed the 18-year-old for £12.24 million in 2003. The following season, Ronaldo won his first club honour, the FA Cup, and reached the UEFA Euro 2004 final with Portugal, in which tournament he scored his first international goal.

In 2008, Ronaldo won his first UEFA Champions League title, and was named player of the tournament. He was named the FIFPro World Player of the Year[3] and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United's first Ballon d'Or winner in 40 years.[4]

Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff said in an interview on 2 April 2008, "Ronaldo is better than George Best and Denis Law, who were two brilliant and great players in the history of United."

C. Ronaldo promises to be back soon from injury

MADRID, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday told Real Madrid fans via the club's website that he will return soon from the ankle injury.

"Thank you to all the Madrid fans for the support they have given me during my injury," wrote Ronaldo. "I will be back soon."

The striker, who was injured in late September and aggravated the problem in Portugal's 3-0 win over Hungary 10 days later, has been absent from act on for almost two months.

Earlier this week, news had been around saying he could make training by the middle of this week after having recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury.