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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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Top 10 college football heavyweights fail to impress

MAMUDU, Your October 25, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Curtis: Iowa's joy ride won't end in BCS title game ALCS Game 6: Saturday's rainout a blessing for Angels Steelers vs. Vikings features true grit QB battle Cowboys rested, ready for Falcons Q&A: Celtics' Rasheed Wallace talks championship 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&114686&153436&17114&0000&1236486903&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

College football extra: 15 pages of previews, predictions and player diaries

MAMUDU, Your October 24, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Tonight's keys to success for Yankees, Angels Six questions await Phillies as they wait Saints' Sharper tops list of best defensive pickups My Profile: E'Twaun Moore, Purdue center on Wooden Award watch list Rangers' Gaborik, other newcomers who are making an instant impact 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&114681&153426&17113&0000&1236486901&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

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The Unofficial World Football Championships Posted: 22 Oct 2009 01:10 PM PDT Do you know who the unofficial world football champions are? It’s not Italy, they’re the official world champions by virtue of being World Cup holders. The unofficial world champions are in fact the Netherlands. Who says? The Unofficial Football World Championships people says, that’s who. Basically, the UWFC people treat international football as if it was boxing or wrestling, in which you have a title-holder and challengers. When the current Unofficial World Champion plays against any other nation, the title is up for grabs. If the other nation wins, they become the new Unofficial World Champions. And so on. All “A” internationals count, so that means any full senior international game, be it World Cup final or just plain old friendly. The idea started in 1967, when Scotland faced World Cup holders England at Wembley in a European Championship qualifier. Here’s a nice nine minutes plus YouTube video of that game (with a very Scottish introduction)… Scotland won 3-2, ending England’s 19 game unbeaten run, which led to Scottish fans declaring their team the “unofficial world champions”. At some point (I can’t find exactly when) someone decided to take this idea of an unofficial world champion and trace it all the way back to the beginning. The first ever international match was in 1872, between what were then the only international teams in the world: England and Scotland. Unhelpfully for the UWFC, that game finished 0-0. But they met again in 1873, England won 4-2, and the UWFC title is traced from there. You can see the full list of title matches here. Brilliantly, that famous game 1967 game between England and Scotland actually was an unofficial title match in hindsight, as England happened to be UWFC holders as well as actual World Cup holders at the time. Of course, it’s all done with a smile, and not taken too seriously. Most teams are probably unaware of the UWFC title’s existence. I can’t decide if that adds to the charm, or is a missed opportunity to add a competitive edge to international friendly week. Either way it keeps FIFA happy, because the UWFC’s fun loving approach doesn’t threaten their dominance or profit margins. Here’s what FIFA have to say, according the UWFC website: 'As long as people have fun with football and that it is played in the spirit of respect for all involved, the non-violation of the Laws of the Game and the ethics of sport, FIFA is more than happy!' exclaimed a statement from the FIFA Media Department. 'We wish UFWC fans a lot of fun!' Current holders the Netherlands have had the title since November 2008, when they beat Sweden 3-1 in a friendly. They last defended it by drawing 0-0 vs Australian on October 10th, but face a genuine challenge on November 14th when they play a friendly against Italy in Pescara (to show solidarity with the earthquake hit region).

German Security Firm Increases Your Confidence In South Africa 2010 Posted: 22 Oct 2009 11:12 AM PDT All of days ago we were treated to a trailer of Fahrenheit 2010, the documentary which takes a look at the devious desires behind FIFA’s insistence on a World Cup in South Africa. Not quite sure it’ll have the clout to do any damage (read: bribes), but it shines more light on an already illuminated subject. So how about the news that the German national team won’t be leaving their compound without bulletproof vests? It would seem that dirty tackles are the least of their worries in South Africa. * – Click on that link for an eminent display of Photoshopping skillz. Love it. BaySecur, the security consultancy in charge of Jogi’s boys next summer, gave us a little view into the process: "The possibility for the players of moving outside of the hotel boundaries should be kept to a minimum. Otherwise there must be a full escort: armed security guards and bullet-proof vests for the players." So in other words, treat them like a president under assassination threat. Or the pope. What’s going to happen is South Africa will turn into the real life interpretation of a pretty poor Steven Seagal or Nicolas Cage film. Presumably with better acting from Mario Gomez. And then Michael Ballack and Jogi Loew will meet in a dark room at an airport under black ops surveillance. Then Jason Bourne will come in and save the day (both in terms of the actual day and film quality). And voila, the fourth in the Bourne series will be…. There is one silver lining for all of this, however: standards are set so impossibly low they can’t possibly fall short, can they? (Don’t answer that.)

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NFL Week 7 Extra: 15 pages of previews, predictions, fantasy tips

MAMUDU, Your October 23, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Angels blow lead, but rally to stave off elimination SN's 2009 baseball awards: 391 players, managers, G.M.s go to the polls Hayes: Three ranked teams on upset alert Saturday Deveney: Five NBA players who are tearing it up in preseason DeCourcy: Coach K says get ready for new-look Duke 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&114572&153414&17073&0000&1236486846&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

Surprise college football teams of first half try to keep rolling

MAMUDU, Your October 22, 2009 issue of Sporting News Today is now available, please click here. Here are some articles in Today's Issue Phillies blow away Dodgers, eye World Series repeat Teixeira's Gold Glove makes up for ice-cold bat Mark McGwire says Pujols 'is on his own planet' Is it pine time for NFL QBs Sanchez, Collins, Campbell? Canucks have look of a contender in win over Blackhawks 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&114503&153375&17049&0000&1236486813&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

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Raymond Domenech: Man Seeking Muzzle. Posted: 20 Oct 2009 08:58 AM PDT For those on the inside looking out, nary a worse manager reigns in the international realm; for those on the outside looking in… Viva la Domenech. What he lacks in coaching abilities, he makes up for in deliciously idiotic words. He’s kind of like Maradona without the playing career. Or coke habit. Or fatness. The latest and greatest comes fresh off the announcement of Ireland as their obstacle on the way to South Africa 2010. A team he’s affectionately dubbed ‘England’s B side‘. There may have been something lost in translation, or there may not - this is Raymond Domenech, after all. What is certain is that Irish eyes will be giving this the thrice over at the bulletin board every single day up until that first day in Dublin. “Whoever our opponents were, I would have said the same thing, the objective is to qualify: but now it's Ireland, we just have to get on with it. The advantage is that everyone knows them. They are a sort of England B side. They all play in the English league so all our players know them: some of our players play alongside them, while others against them. There will be no surprises. We know what to expect and we know what we have to do.” Of course this isn’t the first time the Irish have been referred to as England’s B’s. Back in the 90’s they used to hunt out Irish lineage in Englishmen for the national team, earning the name and reputation. Not quite what Domenech meant, however. What he meant to say is that the Irish aren’t quite a closed book, that like England, their playing style and players are no mystery. Which he did say. Only the good and logical was overshadowed by the large mess he’d made in the other room, falling in line with the rest of his managerial career, spurring on the Irish in the process. And if his managerial career remains on course, he’ll leave the playoff with a job regardless of outcome and will still be doing more for the opposition than his treasured Les Bleus. Viva la Domenech.

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