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Soccer: Pele Opens Exhibition In Brazil

July 1st 2008 12:54
Personal objects from Pele were used to inaugurate an exhibition on Wednesday 25th June, to celebrate Brazil’s 50th Anniversary of their first World Cup title in Sweden, in 1958. "The King's Marks" exhibition opened in Brasilia's National Museum remembering Brazil's victorious campaign.

Among the objects on display is the radio in which the young Pele and his father, Dondinho, listened eight years earlier to Brazil's disappointing loss to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium. Pele made a bold prediction at the time.

"My father was sobbing listening to the match and I was just a kid and said 'Don't cry, I will win a World Cup to you'," Pele said.


He was only 17 years old when he helped Brazil claim its first world title in a 5-2 win over Sweden in Stockholm.

The exhibition, which will eventually go on a tour of Brazil and other countries, also includes a shoeshine box that Pele used as a kid to earn money to buy his first football boots.

In the inauguration, former Swedish midfielder Kurt Hamrin, who played in the 1958 final, gave Pele a jersey with the Swedish colours and the No. 58 on it.

Soccer Brazil Pele
Soccer Legend Pele

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Olympics: Zara Phillips Out Of Olympics

June 29th 2008 21:57
Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has pulled out of the Olympics because of an injury to her horse, the same reason she pulled out of the last Olympics. There was no mention of politics or smog in Beijing, but it does raise questions about the effect the sport has on he horses.

The 26-year-old Phillips had been among five riders selected to the eventing team by the British Olympic Association and was considered a strong medal contender.

But she was forced to withdraw after her horse, Toytown, was injured in training.

"I am very disappointed not to have the opportunity to ride at the Olympic Games and feel that Toytown deserved his chance to go," Phillips said in a statement.


"However, with horses these things happen and we still have a very strong team. I wish them every success."

A reserve rider and horse combination will now be selected by the BOA.

"This must be a huge disappointment to Zara, particularly following the pair's success over the last few years," BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said.

"Naturally, we now need to focus our full support on the rest of the team, including Zara's replacement."

A leg injury to Toytown in 2004 kept Phillips out of the Athens Olympics.

"The British team are saddened by the news, especially for Zara and her team," British equestrian team leader Will Connell said.

"We have a strong team of reserves and the team are now focused on trying to win medals."
Phillips won the individual gold on Toytown in the three-day eventing competition at the World Equestrian Games in 2006 in Aachen, Germany. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Her father, Mark Phillips, won a gold medal in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Her mother, Princess Anne, won the European title in 1971 and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the same event.

In 2005, Phillips won individual and team gold at the European Eventing Championships.

Last September, she helped Britain win its seventh consecutive team gold medal at the European Eventing Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.

But she left in tears after Toytown stopped in the showjumping to keep her from consecutive individual golds.

Olympics Beijing Equestrian UK Zara Phillips
Zara Phillips
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General: Greatest Sporting Movie Ever

June 28th 2008 13:39
There have been many posts as to what the greatest sporting movie ever made has been. While this is an interesting topic, one question arises above all others: should Kevin Costner ever be allowed to play a golfer or baseball player in a movie ever again?

My own personal favourite is the original Rocky. The film depicts the underdog overcoming all odds to get to the top.

Cool Running is in the same vein, and is another that I liked.

Of the documentary style, When We Were Kings, about the Ali-Foreman Rumble In The Jungle boxing comes to mind.

Fictional: Robert Redford as a baseball pitcher in The Natural leaves Kevin Costner for dead.

Comedy: Caddy Shack with Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield. Or maybe Happy Gilmore, with Adam Sandler.

Real Life: Chariots of Fire is the only contender in my mind, and a classic in it’s own right..But there are other notables. Bend It Like Beckham or Phar Lap are memorable.

A great Aussie sporting film is The Club, despite the fact it is about Collingwood. On the plus side, Graham Kennedy showed he could actually act, and John Williamson showed why he is Australia’s greatest playwright.

Sporting films come in many genres – comedy, drama, action, or whatever. The point is, sport reflects life, and the fact that sport is portrayed in so many different genres is proof that sport is an integral part of the lives of almost everybody, to varying degrees. It also shows that sport means different things to each of us.

And Kevin Costner really isn't that bad...

Sport Movie Rocky Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa
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Cricket: Australian Double Standards Accusation By Akram

June 27th 2008 16:17
Pakistan bowling legend Wasim Akram accused Australia of having "double standards" on security and said they must tour Pakistan to play September's Champions Trophy.

"They played in England despite blasts in London in 2005 and four Australians were willing to play in India despite blasts in Jaipur last month."

Players from Australia, New Zealand and England have raised concerns over security in the troubled Islamic republic despite an all-clear from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"I think the Australians have double standards," Wasim said.

The ICC board in a meeting starting on June 29 in Dubai will discuss an independent security assessment on the situation in Pakistan before taking a final decision on the Champions Trophy.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting last week said his side and others still had security concerns about Pakistan, and Australia were undecided about competing in the Champions Trophy.

Australia earlier this year postponed a Test and one-day tour of Pakistan over security fears sparked in the wake of a series of blasts - a decision Wasim believed was justified.

"I was in Australia at that time and backed their decision because the news we were getting at that time was not conducive for cricket, but nothing is happening now and they themselves rescheduled the tour after getting assurances," said Wasim, who played 104 Tests for Pakistan.

Australia set new dates for a one-day tour in 2009 and a Test tour in 2010 following an improvement in security after February's general elections in Pakistan.

Wasim accused the Australians of influencing other nations to boycott September's Champions Trophy.

"How can they create an opinion by sitting there in Australia? They said they don't want to come and (are) also trying to influence other teams. I am sorry, they are willing to play anywhere if they get money," he said.

Wasim said if Australia do not turn up, they should be fined by the ICC and action should be taken against them.

The Pakistan Cricket Board last week said it had made arrangements normally reserved for heads of state for the Trophy.

Wasim also lashed out at Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations, for generating doubts over security in Pakistan.

Wasim said the Asian bloc, especially India, must support Pakistan.

"India have been supportive to Pakistan's cause, they have sent a team for the (ongoing) Asia Cup, so Asia must devise a system to help Pakistan and ensure that the Trophy is held here," he said.

"Pakistan cannot afford teams pulling out at the last minute, it will destroy Pakistan cricket."

Cricket Pakistan Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram
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Olympics: Australian Athletics Team Named

June 27th 2008 15:08
Reigning world champions Jana Rawlinson and Nathan Deakes headline Australia’s smallest Olympic track and field team since 1992, with only 41 members. Jane Saville is the most experienced member of the team, becoming just the sixtrh track and field athlete to compete at four Olympic Games. There are 24 Olympic debutants.

Four competitors were added to the squad at the final Athletics Australia (AA) selection meeting this week: pole vaulter Paul Burgess, steeplechasers Youcef Abdi and Victoria Mitchell and 4x400m relay runner Mark Ormrod.

The most notable exclusions were in the men's 4x100m relay, where AA declined to nominate a squad even though Australia currently sits inside the top 16 on the rankings compiled by the IAAF, the sports's world governing body.

That means that the likes of national record holder Patrick Johnson and four-time national 100m champion Joshua Ross will not be competing in Beijing unless they successfully appeal their exclusion.

The 41-strong squad is the smallest since Australia was represented by 39 athletes at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Australia had a record track and field team of 86 on home soil in Sydney in 2000.

The 2008 team is also smaller than for 2004 in Athens (44) and 1996 in Atlanta (62).

Olympics Beijing Australia Track Field Jane Saville
Australian Walker Jane Saville


Australian Olympic track and field team:-

Men

400m: Joel Milburn, John Steffensen, Sean Wroe

800m: Lachlan Renshaw

1,500m: Mitch Kealey

5,000m: Collis Birmingham, Craig Mottram

3,000m Steeplechase: Youcef Abdi

4x400m relay: Dylan Grant, Clinton Hill, Milburn, Mark Ormrod, Steffensen, Wroe

20km walk: Luke Adams, Chris Erickson, Jared Tallent

50km walk: Nathan Deakes, Adam Rutter, Tallent

Marathon: Lee Troop

Pole vault: Paul Burgess, Steve Hooker

Shot put: Justin Anlezark, Scott Martin

Javelin: Jarrod Bannister

Discus: Benn Harradine

Women

400m: Tamsyn Lewis

800m: Lewis, Madeleine Pape

1,500m: Lisa Corrigan, Sarah Jamieson

100m hurdles: Sally McLellan

400m hurdles: Jana Rawlinson

3,000m steeplechase: Donna MacFarlane, Victoria Mitchell

20km walk: Jane Saville, Kellie Wapshott, Claire Woods

Marathon: Benita Johnson, Kate Smyth, Lisa-Jane Weightman

Pole vault: Alana Boyd

Long jump: Bronwyn Thompson

Discus: Dani Samuels

Heptathlon: Kylie Wheeler
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Soccer: Germany Knocks Out Turkey

June 26th 2008 14:14
German defender Philipp Lahm’s 90th minute goal sealed a 3-2 win over an injury-plagued Turkey on Wednesday night. Three times European champions Germany are now assured of a spot in the finals in Vienna on Sunday.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose had nudged his side into the lead on 79 minutes after Bastian Schweinsteiger's first-half goal had cancelled out Ugur Boral's early strike as Turkey had taken a shock lead. This was Germany's first win over Turkey since May 1992 and Fatih Terim's battered side used their never-say-die spirit forced the Germans to work hard


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Cricket: New Zealand Run Out Furore

June 26th 2008 14:07
The Exciting win by New Zealand over England, on the final ball, is set to be overshadowed by uproar. Grant Elliott was run out, after colliding with England quick bowler Ryan Sidebottom, and being knocked down.

Ian Bell then threw the ball to Kevin Pietersen at the bowler’s end, and Elliott was dismissed


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Tennis: Hewitt Beats Montanes At Wimbledon

June 26th 2008 14:01
Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt has progressed to the third round at Wimbledon, after a commanding win over Spain’s Albert Montanes. Casey Dellacqua is the only other Australian to progress to the third round.

Hewitt is the No.20 seed, and has been battling a hip injury. He recovered from a tough five-setter against Dutchman Robin Haase in the opening round to beat Montanes 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 6-2 in windy conditions


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Olympics: Marathon Smog Fears

June 26th 2008 13:55
Champion marathon runner Robert de Castella has warned of a huge attrition rate at the Beijing Olympics marathon, because of the chronic air pollution. Current marathon world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie has already announced that he will not run the road race in Beijing because he fears for his health, an outcome that de Castella describes as "a bit of a tragedy".

De Castella says the conditions are the worst since the 1984 Los Angeles games, at which he ran fifth, despite holding the world record at the time


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Sport Guru Network Introduction

June 23rd 2008 08:39
I am a journalist and writer, and I have just taken over writing this blog. These are my views on Australian and international sports, and how they affect Australia.
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July 2008
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