World Cup 2006 Blog

Sepp Blatter’s Magical Money Making Machine Posted: 23 Mar 2009 03:40 PM PDT If you’ve been reading the real world non-football news (and I don’t recommend it right now) then you’ll know there’s a whole world of economic bleakness out there. But in FIFA-land? All is sunshine, lollipops and big profits. FIFA announced their 2008 figures on Friday, and… ker-ching! Revenues are up and profits are good. Sepp Blatter and friends took in $957 million in 2008 (compared to $882m in 2007) and spent just $773m (compared to $883m in 2007) for a total profit of $184m. And while most financial institutions were either wobbling or collapsing at the end of last year, FIFA even did some smart financial stuff that I don’t quite understand: “FIFA even made a profit of $16 million in managing its assets last year. Its equity stands at $902 million, boosted by a successful policy of hedging foreign currency.” (Does that mean they dropped foreign currency in a hedge, and then came back a year later to find it was still there, and worth more than when they left it?) In a way, it’s good news that FIFA is doing well. Because if the governing body goes under, that would spell trouble for the beautiful game. But seeing FIFA - which is supposed to be a governing/administrative body and not a for-profit business - make out so well in 2008 while everyone else struggled is pretty remarkable. It basically underlines the idea/fact that FIFA is now a corporate monolith that makes a fortune selling TV licensing, merchandise and sponsorship. The estimated revenue for World Cup 2010 is apparently $3.2 billion. Imagine how many AIG retention bonuses you could pay with that?

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Sporting News Today: Which Sweet 16 players have NBA scouts drooling?

MAMUDU, Your March 24, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Our 12-man roster of the Tournament's top prospects Xavier has a major issue with 'mid-major'label NFL: Stafford gets stamp of approval from Hall of Famer Handicapping the playoff push in the NHL's Western Conference Is Schilling Hall-worthy? Two peers weigh in 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&37190&119787&13081&0000&1236447752&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 28207

Sporting News Today: Who is tops among the NCAA's Sweet 16?

MAMUDU, Your March 23, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue DeCourcy: Cards tops among Sweet 16 squads NFL: Giants ace offseason by playing to strong suit The NCAA Tournament Skinny: Aldrich dominant for Kansas Kyle Busch finishes the job at Food City 500 LeBron adds some fuel to 2010 speculation 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&37075&119555&13044&0000&1236447677&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 28207

Sporting News Today: Big boys assert themselves in Tournament's second round

MAMUDU, Your March 22, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Power schools flex muscle in Tournament's second round G.M. Newsome maintains Ravens' roster depth Plenty up for grabs in NBA home stretch Shaq passes Malone for fifth in NBA career scoring MLB: Phillies' Hamels makes progress from elbow issue 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&37051&119512&13042&0000&1236447669&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 28207

Sporting News Today: Upset uprising in Day 2 of Tournament

MAMUDU, Your March 21, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue NCAA Tournament: Day 2 ends with thrillers, overtimes and underdogs Jets make defense the priority Three reasons Team USA won't reach WBC final Twins' Mauer to miss opening day Can Atlanta lure Georgia vs. Florida to Georgia Dome? 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&37050&119484&13038&0000&1236447662&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 28207

Sporting News Today: March Blandness, as Western Kentucky provides only real surprise

MAMUDU, Your March 20, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue DeCourcy: Few upsets, little drama in Day 1 of Tournament NFL Draft: Scouts rank top 10 QBs for SN Baseball: How long will bum ankle keep Youkilis out? Recruiting: Memphis linebacker likes Alabama, Illinois, LSU Sports Business Journal: Yankee Stadium debt at $1.3 billion 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&36907&119401&12998&0000&1236447570&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 28207

Sporting News Today: Don't count out these coaches as tournament tips off

MAMUDU, Your March 19, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Bet on these four coaches making it through first round Madness begins today: Previews of all 16 games NFL scouts: Dolphins' Parcells held line on talent Astros' Boone to have heart surgery Celtics beat Wade-less Heat, clinch division title 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&35580&119315&12983&0000&1236447307&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 28207

NCAA Tournament: Sporting News Today identifies five potential first-round upsets

MAMUDU, Your March 18, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Which tournament teams are candidates for early exits? NFL Draft: SNT ranks the top 10 running back prospects Players who are opening eyes in the Grapefruit League Peers reflect about Brodeur's place in history Ninth-inning rally lands U.S. in WBC semifinals 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&35191&119243&12946&0000&1236447206&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 28207

World Cup 2006 Blog

Maradona vs Riquelme Posted: 16 Mar 2009 09:15 AM PDT Say what you like about Diego Maradona’s reign as Argentina DT, but it hasn’t been short of drama. The big argument for this past week (and the foreseeable future) has been Maradona vs his (former) playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme. For those who haven’t been following, here’s the story so far: Riquelme hadn’t been playing well for Boca Juniors. Maradona publicly criticised Riquelme’s Boca performances in a TV interview: "I want Roman as a playmaker, to make a difference in the last 20 meters with his mental quickness, to feed our strikers and create goals, but the other day I saw him on the field for Boca and, I don't know if he's having physical problems or what, but that's not what I need," Riquelme got the hump with that, and retired from international football. But it hasn’t ended there, as the two men have turned their disagreement into a Biggie vs Tupac style feud. And the rest of Argentinean football is getting involved too. Here’s what Riquelme said about his refusal to play under El Diego: “As long as Maradona is coach I will not return to the national side - we are not on the same wavelength. “It’s clear we cannot work together. “The national side is over for me - I say that very clearly. I learned from the radio that I was not going to play against France (a February 11 friendly with the South Americans won 2-0 in Marseille). I have principles and they are not those of the coach. Boca coach Carlos Ischia has - understandably - defended his star player. But you might be more surprised to learn that the River Plate coach Nestor Gorosito also came to Riquelme’s defence, saying the midfielder “many principles and he believes they have not been respected.” And because Diego Maradona is such a calm guy, you know he just responded with a wry chuckle and went about his work. Oh no, wait. That’s not how Diego works at all. He actually responded this weekend by threatening both Riquelme and Gorosito, according to The Canadian Press: Maradona warned Riquelme in an interview published in the daily Clarin on Friday not “to tarnish my name because I have more wit and cunning than he does,” while also threatening to spill private details about Gorosito because “I know (him) well and I’m tough when it comes to getting the damage done.” Blackmail. Classy. In a way, this was always the main pitfall with Diego Maradona coaching Argentina’s national team. Doesn’t matter that he doesn’t know about tactics. He’s got coaches who do. The real problem is that the man can’t keep his mouth shut. He has an opinion on everything. From Riquelme’s form to the World Player of the Year voting rules. Everyone knows Riquelme has a skin so think you can see his organs. The Boca #10 is a fool for over-reacting and throwing away a genuine chance to be part of a World Cup winning team. But really Maradona should have known better. So both men are to blame, but the boss (who should be the more mature party in situations like this) started it. And has Diego learned anything from this? Of course not. Over the weekend he told Hernan Crespo that he needs to leave Inter Milan if he wants an international future. I don’t see a resolution to this Riquelme argument. The two men are so stubborn it’s the unstoppable force vs the immovable object. But I do see more drama and more arguments in the future for Diego Maradona.

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NCAA Bracket advice: Sporting News Today ranks the field of 65

MAMUDU, Your March 17, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Which 10 teams have the best shot to win NCAA title Vols'signing of Bryce Brown boosts recruiting class Devils' Brodeur goes for wins record tonight Carolina denies talking Peppers trade with Pats Women's tournament: Can anyone stop No. 1 UConn? 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&35093&119117&12927&0000&1236447143&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 28207

Sporting News Today: 30 pages of NCAA Tournament coverage to help with yourbracket

MAMUDU, Your March 16, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue DeCourcy: And the winner is ... Louisville Breer: Only way to build an NFL champ is via draft Good news, bad news for hobbled Rex Sox Lawyer named to succeed Upshaw as NFLPA head Rollins drives in four, Team USA stays alive 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&35000&118977&12895&0000&1236447070&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 28207

Sporting News Today: Final maddening moments before Selection Sunday

MAMUDU, Your March 15, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue DeCourcy: After 124 days, it's time for answers in college hoops Georgia Tech's Johnson moving up SN's draft board Devils' Brodeur ties NHL goalie mark for wins NFL Players' Association to pick new boss today No mercy: Puerto Rico pounds USA 11-1 at WBC 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? Just click here or email him/her the 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&34975&118939&12890&0000&1236447062&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 28207