Latest World Cup Blog Updates

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FIFA World Player of the Year Shortlist 2009 (With Some Bonus Ballon d’Or Comparison) Posted: 30 Oct 2009 12:36 PM PDT FIFA has announced its shortlist of 23 players for the Men’s World Player of the Year award, and 10 players for the Women’s World Player of the Year Award. National team captains and coaches will now vote (but not for players from their own country) and this final five will be revealed in early December, with the winners announced at FIFA’s World Player bash in Zurich on December 21st. The shortlists are below, along with some FIFA WPotY shortlist vs Ballon d’Or shortlist comparison. Just for fun. Here is the FIFA Men’s World Player of the Year shortlist: Michael Ballack (Germany) Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) Iker Casillas (Spain) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Diego (Brazil) Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast) Michael Essien (Ghana) Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) Steven Gerrard (England) Thierry Henry (France) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Andres Iniesta (Spain) Kaka (Brazil) Frank Lampard (England) Luis Fabiano (Brazil) Lionel Messi (Argentina) Carles Puyol (Spain) Franck Ribery (France) Wayne Rooney (England) John Terry (England) Fernando Torres (Spain) David Villa (Spain) Xavi (Spain) The Ballon d’Or shortlist is 30 players long, so at least seven players were going to miss out on double-recognition. There were actually ten players from the Ballon d’Or list that didn’t make the FIFA WPotY list. They are: Andrei Arshavin, Edin Dzeko, Karem Benzema, Yohann Gourcuff, Maicon, Yaya Toure, Julio Cesar, Nemanja Vidic, Cesc Fabregas, Ryan Giggs. Which means there are three players who are on the FIFA WPotY list but aren’t on the Ballon d’Or list: Gigi Buffon, Carles Puyol, Michael Ballack. All of which proves that football awards and shortlists are completely subjective. And probably far too long. Whether players like Dzeko and Gourcugg deserved to be on the WPotY shortlist or not (I say yes) this award is more than likely going to come down to four men: Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi. Here are the ten shorlisted FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year nominees: Nadine Angerer (Germany) Sonia Bompastor (France) Cristiane (Brazil) Inka Grings (Germany) Mana Iwabuchi (Japan) Simone Laudehr (Germany) Marta (Brazil) Birgit Prinz (Germany) Kelly Smith (England) Abby Wambach (USA) Five of the ten players ply their trade in Women’s Professional Soccer, so read Melissa’s reaction to the nominations here.

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College football extra: 11 pages of previews and predictions

MAMUDU, Your October 31, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Why Georgia, Oklahoma State and Oregon can pull shockers and shake up the BCS World Series 'swing game' may turn on one swing Hamels admits lack of offseason prep led to off season for him Rematches critical for Packers, Chargers, Jets Cavs win first of season behind 24 from LeBron If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department. Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.     Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,   copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&115120&153579&17224&0000&1236487119&EIInjEOx9cS45     Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.   To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,   click here.   Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202

Burnett baffles Phillies as Yankees grab must-win Game 2

MAMUDU, Your October 30, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Pedro comes up short, but shows he can still bring it Vikings vs. Packers: Favre's return brings drama to Lambeau NFL Extra: 14 pages of Week 8 previews, predictions, fantasy tips DeCourcy: Wake Forest, Cincinnati lead list of preseason poll snubs Georgia's blueprint to beat Florida If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department. Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.     Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,   copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&114999&153545&17198&0000&1236487057&EIInjEOx9cS45     Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.   To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,   click here.   Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202

Behind dominant Lee, Phillies take charge of Series

MAMUDU, Your October 29, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Phillies have their own CC for Yanks: Cliff and Chase Five unthinkable BCS title game matchups How to get Bears, 49ers, Ravens and Giants back on track NFL draft 2010: SN's expert ranks the talent pool Cavs fall to 0-2 despite LeBron's triple-double If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department. Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.     Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,   copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&114926&153473&17178&0000&1236487021&EIInjEOx9cS45     Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.   To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,   click here.   Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202

World Series analysis: Going deep to find who has the edge - Yanks or Phils?

MAMUDU, Your October 28, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue SN's Stan McNeal picks Yanks in 6 How long can college football's perfect seven stay that way? Led by Benson, collection of castoffs puts Bengals in business Kopitar's body, and body of work, in better shape Lakers, Celtics win on opening night If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department. Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.     Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,   copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&114883&153460&17169&0000&1236487000&EIInjEOx9cS45     Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.   To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,   click here.   Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202

Latest World Cup Blog Updates

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South African Grannies Team to Open World Cup 2010? Posted: 26 Oct 2009 12:10 PM PDT Move aside Bafana Bafana. The world has a new favourite South African team, and their name is Vakhegula Vakhegula, which means “Grannies” in the local Xitsonga dialect. Why? Because they’re a team of grandmothers of course, ranging in age from 40somethinng to 80something and competing in an eight team local league in around the Nkowankowa township, 600 kilometers north of Johannesburg. Twice a week for around two years now, the team of grannies shrug off any domestic stuff they’re supposed to be doing and play the beautiful game: “I like to play soccer because it helps,” said Nari Baloyi, who at 47-years-old, clocks in as one of the youngest players. “We were sick, but now our temperatures, our blood pressures… have gone down …even our doctors are amazed when we go for a check-up.” There’s an idea being floated right now for Vakhegula Vakhegula to play an exhibition game before one of the World Cup 2010 opening games. Watch the video of the grannies in action after the jump, and then tell me that’s not the best idea ever. Keep an eye out for the 0:50 mark, where 84 year old Nora Makhubela says “My life has really changed…if I were to run with you I would beat you even though I’m much older.” She’s talking to you Peter Crouch. This right here is why I love the World Cup, and why it won’t matter if someone like Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t there. The World Cup’s not all about the big name players, it’s also about the heartwarming side stories that come with it. I also love that the Grannies have local fans! And love even more the idea of the Vakhegula Vakhegula playing a part in opening World Cup 2010. If USA ‘94 can have Diana Ross taking a penalty… …then South Africa 2010 needs to have the Grannies playing an exhibition match. Anyone making a Wayne Rooney joke gets a zero for the day.

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NBA opening night: Cavs, Celtics lead slate of elite showdowns

MAMUDU, Your October 27, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue With Shaq on board, Cavs in line for trip to Finals Lakers should prevail again in competitive West Clipper curse: Griffin could miss six weeks World Series: Lee vs. CC leads marquee matchups McNabb's milestones extend 'Skins' misery in Philly's 27-17 win If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department. Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.     Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,   copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&114816&153448&17151&0000&1236486966&EIInjEOx9cS45     Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.   To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,   click here.   Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202

NBA Season preview: Team-by-team

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Yankees World Series-bound after Game 6 clincher

MAMUDU, Your October 26, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Again, Pettitte and Rivera come through for Yanks World Series storylines: Philadelphia vs. New York Week 7 Checkdown: AFC powers unleash fury Bungles' no more: Cincy stomps Bears Matt Hayes breaks down the latest BCS drama If you experience any problems with your issue, please click here to contact our customer service department. Know a friend who might like Sporting News Today? Email him/her this link: www.sportingnewstoday.com.     Trouble Viewing? If any of the above links do not work for you,   copy and paste this URL into your browser:   http://today.sportingnews.com/t=c/?1&114707&153441&17121&0000&1236486914&EIInjEOx9cS45     Please do not reply to this message. Questions may be submitted to Digital Support.   To stop receiving email notifications for digital issues of Sporting News Today,   click here.   Sporting News Today 120 West Morehead Street Suite 200 Charlotte, NC 28202

Latest World Cup Blog Updates

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Maradona – Potty Mouthed Conspiracy Theorist Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:42 AM PDT There was a time when the names Diego Armando Maradona, Carlos Bilardo and the Argentine National team were synonymous with success. The magical run to the 1986 World Cup made both men house hold names in the sport, and heroes back home. Boy, does that seem like a life time ago. Today, Maradona has caused more Argentine headaches then the English fans had after the Hand of God goal. The team struggled mightily in World Cup qualifying, to the point where Argentina needed to win both of their remaining games against Peru and Uruguay in order to secure a spot. The first game against Peru was shockingly close, but a last gasp, hail mary of a cross found a head in Martin Palermo to seal the game. In typical dignified fashion, Maradona celebrated the only way he knew how; using the wet pitch as his own personal slip and slide, taking a belly flop like an Antarctic penguin. Think about that for a second; a huge celebration for a win . . . against Peru. That is how far the Argentine Nats have fallen. But that was only the beginning of this *ahem* colorful characters antics. After securing the victory against Uruguay in another less than inspiring show, Maradona gave his greatest performance of all with wonderful quotes like these: “I never forget. To those who didn't believe, with apologies to the ladies, they can suck it. They can keep sucking it. I'm either black or white – I'll never be gray in my life. You people who treated me like you did? Keep licking it. Now, next question?” “Eh, you have it inside you too” – in response to another reporters question That was enough to catch the ire of FIFA head Sepp Blatter, who has now begun an investigation of this childish tirade. But Diego wasn’t done! Forever blameless for any of his wrong doings, Maradona has now traded in his managerial tracksuit for the cape and magnifying glass of a detective. He has uncovered a conspiracy – typically, against him and his boss – and he is revealing “the truth” to anyone who can hear him. “There is a campaign against against Grondona here. Vila and Bilardo wanted to bring down Grondona,” Maradona said. Vila is a well respected reporter out of Argentina. He has been trumpeting for the firing of Maradona since Argentina’s struggles began, pleading with AFA head Grondona to do the right thing. In Maradona’s mind, Vila’s unsuccessful bid to turn Grondona against him forced the reporter to find another ally to get his master plan done. That man? Carlos Bilardo. And why? Because Bilardo has aspirations of being the true Argentine head coach. Of course. You would figure that someone would tell this guy to just be quiet and lay low till 2010, but when you are used to being treated like a diety, such a request may be too much to ask for. What are your thoughts on the latest from El Dios Maradona?

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