Ex-Florida Gator Reche Caldwell runs through passing drills at the United Football League ‘combine’ Saturday at Florida Citrus Bowl. (STEPHEN M. DOWELL/ORLANDO SENTINEL) (June 9, 2009)

When the subject of the United Football League surfaces, the only thing most everyone wants to know is if this thing is going to fly.

But if you listen to anyone involved with the UFL, they are quick to erase any doubtful thinking and litter the conversation with optimism ala a Barack Obama campaign speech. UFL officials not only plan to kick this league off in October, but to also do things the right way.

“It’s not going to be some kind of slappy league to the point where we’re just throwing something out here,” said former NFL quarterback Quinn Gray, a former Jacksonville Jaguars backup to Byron Leftwich and most recently David Garrard.

“The commissioner is going to put out the best talent. You’ve got a bunch of former NFL players, a bunch of former NFL coaches, and so it’s going to be a competitive league,”

Gray, 30, a former star at Florida A&M, was on hand Saturday as 52 free agents showed up at the Florida Citrus Bowl for a combine-type workout.

Orlando is one of four franchises in the inaugural season, along with San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York. And unless Michael Vick remains suspended from the NFL and ends up in the UFL, Gray could be the leading candidate as Orlando’s quarterback.

Regionality will play a big part in the league’s placement of players and Gray relishes the idea that he may wind up back in the Citrus Bowl where he took part in some great Florida Classic battles with Bethune-Cookman.

“The city of Orlando, they’ve been yearning for a team for years, regardless of what it is,” Gray said. “They had the Arena team and they’ve got the bowl games and of course the Florida Classic, so Orlando is going to be a great place for this team.

“The more guys from Florida A&M, Florida State, Florida — guys from this area … who are on this Orlando team is just going to bring more fans.”

Former Florida Gator and recent NFL castoff Reche Caldwell was another player working out Saturday.

“I played college here … I played here [Florida] my whole life until I got to the NFL,” said Caldwell, 30, a Tampa native, “so it will definitely be a great opportunity for everybody to come see me play if I get a chance to play here.”
Sourced via orlandosentinel.com

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The Reds manager seems to feel that 3-0 was not enough today at Anfield…

Liverpool swept Alan Shearer’s Newcastle United aside 3-0 at Anfield today, thanks to strikes from Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva, but manager Rafa Benitez felt that they could have netted more.

“I think it was a good game, but could have been better as we had plenty of possession and a lot of chances,” Benitez told his post-match press conference.

“We had opportunities to score more goals. To hit the crossbar three times in one match is enough! But in winning 3-0 and keeping a clean sheet, we have a lot of positives.”

“We knew that mentally they could have some problems if we scored first.

“That was the key, but you could see at 2-0 they were still working very hard so scoring the third goal was important for us to finish the game.”

Liverpool are now three points behind United, and Benitez wants his men to collect maximum points from their three remaining fixtures in order to keep the pressure levels intense right until the very end.

“We know they [Manchester United] are a good team with good players,” he added.

“They have to make two big mistakes, but we have to be ready. We have to try and get three points in each match and see if they feel under pressure and make mistakes.

“We have to win our games. It is the only solution for us – keep winning games and put them under pressure.”

There were some injuries to the Reds too, with Xabi Alonso being forced out of the action thanks to a Joey Barton tackle, for which the Toon man received a red card, and Javier Mascherano also picked up a knock. Spanish superstar Fernando Torres was not risked from the start, but could be in line for a return soon.

“Mascherano twisted his ankle and Xabi picked up a knock,” Benitez explained.

“He [Alonso] has some bruising, but I think he will be okay in a few days.

“Fernando had a problem with his hamstring and it would have been a risk to play him today. In the end we decided to leave him out of the squad, which I think was the right decision.

“I think he will be back next week. He was very close today, but to start with him could have been dangerous.

“To keep him on the bench, maybe without a proper warm-up, could have also put him at risk, but I think he will be ready for next week.”
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Seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has denied claims he ‘misbehaved’ during a random drugs test in France last month.

A tester from the French Anti-Doping Agency requested that Armstrong give urine, blood and hair samples while he was training in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in southern France.

The AFLD has sent a report to the International Cycling Union after it claimed the cyclist acted strangely when asked to provide samples.

The UCI said it could not rule on the matter as the test, which returned negative, was commissioned by the AFLD.

Armstrong says he just wanted the testers credentials checked before complying with the test.

The 37-year-old, who now rides for Astana after coming out of retirement recently, described the claims as outrageous.

“I had never heard of labs or governments doing drug testing and I had no idea who this guy was or whether he was telling the truth,” he said in a statement.

“We asked the tester for evidence of his authority. We looked at his papers but they were far from clear or impressive and we still had significant questions about who he was or for whom he worked.”

The Texan said the incident lasted 20 minutes and he wanted to make sure that it “wasn’t just some French guy with a backpack and some equipment to take my blood and urine.”

Armstrong said he asked the tester if he could have a shower while he waited for his AFLD credentials to be checked, to which the tester agreed.

“In addition, the form asked the tester to state if there were any irregularities or further observations from the testing process and to that he wrote ‘no’,” Armstrong added.

“This is just another example of the improper behaviour by the French laboratory and the French anti-doping organizations.

“I am sorry that they are disappointed that all the tests were negative, but I do not use any prohibited drugs or substances.”
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Tiger Woods is leading the push for Augusta National to admit its mistakes and restore drama to the Masters

Among the tournament’s many traditions is the one demanding that players, especially former champions such as Woods, be circumspect in assessments of both tournament and the host club. But the last two Masters, both concluded without drama, have built unstoppable momentum behind a mood for change.

Woods joined the campaign after finishing second last year to Trevor Immelman, who shot a final-round 75, three over par, to win his first green jacket. “There are not really any roars out there any more,” Woods said. “It is hard to make eagles and the big birdies. I miss the guys being able to go out there and shoot 31 on the back nine and win a championship.”

He is not the only one. “There is not much excitement any more,” said Davis Love III. “There’s just guys out there putting for par. It is a bit like the US Open – you are playing defence a lot of the time.”

Such criticism is not targeted at Immelman, or at the 2007 champion Zach Johnson, both of whom emerged victorious on Sunday afternoons notable mostly for being muted. Nonetheless, those finishes were in stark contrast to previous years.

Once upon a time Sunday at Augusta all but guaranteed drama of some kind. In 1996 Nick Faldo overcame a six-shot deficit to defeat Greg Norman and in 2004 Ernie Els stepped on to the 14th tee with a three-shot lead, then shot four pars and a birdie and was still beaten when Phil Mickelson holed a putt on the final green for a back nine of 31. “That was the last really nice shoot-out,” Els said recently. “We have had a couple since then that have been really subdued, and that will keep happening if they leave the golf course the way it is.”

Despite the refusal of those who run Augusta National to engage in serious debate about the course, or indeed admit they have made mistakes that have sucked some of the excitement out of the event, there is every indication the criticism has had an effect. As the players arrived at Augusta this week they were confronted by a course that, for the first time in almost 30 years, will be shorter than it was the previous year. The difference between 2008 and 2009 is approximately 10 yards – a negligible amount in real terms, but a signal of the club’s thinking.

So, too, are the decisions to push the tee forward on the 1st and to lengthen the tee box on the 7th, giving the club the option of significantly shortening a hole that, in the eyes of many, was emblematic of the ultimate failure of the cursed “redesign” embarked upon by the former club chairman Hootie Johnson in 2002.

Johnson’s changes – extra yardage, tree planting, the growing of some rough – were supposed to “Tiger proof” Augusta. Instead, subtly and in some cases not so subtly, they altered the risk-reward balance that was so integral to the Masters’ appeal. Where once a player chasing victory on a Sunday afternoon would have taken a chance, say, by trying to hit the green at the par-five 13th and 15th holes in two shots, it became too risky to do so. From a player’s point of view, it was sensible to do what Johnson did in 2007 and lay up at every par five. But from the perspective of those watching, it was dull and duller.

The casual viewer knew only that what he or she was watching was less exciting than it used to be. Cognoscenti knew why this was so. “The old Augusta was a tightrope, where risks were encouraged but a fall could hurt,” said Ben Crenshaw, twice a winner at Augusta, a noted course architect and one of the deepest thinkers on course design.

“You always felt you could take a chance on something, whether it was a tee ball or a second shot. You had more room to play and more people could play dangerously. It was totally different from any challenge in the world.

“There is no question it [the course] has become more of a defensive proposition. The thing that sets Augusta apart is that it’s exciting and theatrical. People would pull off shots but the flip side of that is that, if you failed, it would tax you mentally. If you failed, it had a big effect on you. I hope the guys today are doing the same gyrations that we did. That, to me, is the question.”

Crenshaw has made his concerns known to the Augusta hierarchy over the years, in person and in writing, but, publicly at least, he has never received the courtesy of a detailed response. Now that his views have been echoed by Woods, Els and many others, it could be that the gentlemen of Augusta will be forced into action. Who knows, this might mean giving the leaders a chance to shoot 31 on the back nine on Sunday.
Sourced via guardian.co.uk

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When one talks about sports, few people will think about Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Ugandans have an attitude that sports is only for people who are able-bodied. However, PWDs also enjoy and can participate in sports. Sport for PWDs is not something different from the usual sports activities. Depending on one’s disability, PWDs can participate in almost all sports activities.

There are many different kinds of sports PWDs can play and enjoy. They include wheelchair football, bowling, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair dance, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair cycling, swimming, tennis, badminton, javelin, yachting, shooting, snooker and skiing among others. These sports can thrill revellers as they watch a usual thing done in an uncommon manner.

Advocating for inclusion of PWDs sports in national competitions should be given priority. Disabled people’s organisations should inform the stakeholders like Federation for Uganda Football Association, Federation for Uganda Basketball Association and the Ministry of Education and Sports of the need to include PWDs in all sports activities.

PWDs also have to take the lead by getting organised and form teams for different sports at various levels like parishes, sub-counties and districts and eventually national teams, for example a national team for wheelchair football and wheelchair basketball.

PWDs should also form a strong body in form of a sports association or organisation in Uganda.

Such a strong body can be used to lobby and spearhead the formation of PWDs sports teams and establishment of a sports centre for PWDs that can have modern facilities to accommodate all disability sports.

In conclusion, PWDs have a right to take part in any social event and sports in particular. PWDs should organise sports teams from grassroots level and lobby for the inclusion of disability sports teams into all sports calendars.

Sports activities will provide a good platform for PWDs to prove their abilities and worth to society. This will also reduce the discrimination and stigmatisation against them.
Sourced via newvision.co.ug

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Surf classic comes to Tassie’s far north-west

Elite surfers are hitting the water at Marrawah in north-west Tasmania today for the start of the International Cold Water Classic.

The Tasmanian round is the first for 2009, before the competition heads to South Africa, Canada, Scotland and the the United States.

Contest director Matt Wilson says it’s the biggest surfing event Tasmania has ever hosted and the competition has attracted some big surfing names.

“We’ve got 144 of the top surfers in the world coming to a place like Marrawah,” he said.

“So the calibre of the guys coming and the names of these guys, guys like Jordie Smith, C.J and Damian Hobgood, CJ being a former world champion, high profile Australian surfers like Josh Kerr and Luke Munro who’re also on the world tour, I mean we are talking about the highest of standards,” Mr Wilson said.
Sourced via www.abc.net.au

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Lewis smashes more records

STEVE LEWIS retained his pole vault title in fine style setting a new stadium record of 5.65m on Day 2 of the AVIVA European Trials & UK Championships in Sheffield as fellow Loughborough athlete Steph Pywell claimed victory in the high jump and there were bronze medals on the track for Chris Warburton, Charlotte Best, Kim Wall and Leicester’s outstanding sprint hurdles talent Callum Priestley.

Steve Lewis has been in sparkling form during the indoor season smashing his personal best of 5.75m at the Vault Manchester’ event last month and winning in Cottbus on the European circuit and here in Sheffield in front of the packed crowd the 22-year-old was a class apart setting a stadium record of 5.65 with his first attempt before attempting a new British record. Fellow Loughborough athlete Paul Walker was also in good form setting a lifetime best of 5.31m to take the bronze medal behind runner-up Luke Cutts (5.41).

Lewis commented afterwards: “I still think I’m going to get the British record this season, it’s good to feel the bar at that height again – I’m jumping next in Stockholm against the big guys and I’m really looking forward to it.”

There was further success for Loughborough athletes in the infield as Steph Pywell, despite coming into the championships troubled by a long term ankle injury, the 21-year-old British Under-23 international produced a best of 1.82 metres to win the women’s high jump competition ahead of Trafford’s Kay Humberstone (1.79). This victory adds the indoor domestic crown to the outdoor title she won in Manchester last summer.

George Gandy’s squad were in the medal hunt over the metric mile as the men’s event was dominated by Mo Farah who simply blew the field apart with a powerful eyeballs out gun-to-tape performance searing through 800m in 1.54.26, to finish with a new stadium record narrowly missing the championship record crossing the line in a time of 3mins 40.57secs.

Belgrave Harrier Neil Speaight finished strongly to take silver in 3:42.67, just 0.67 outside the European indoor selection standard, with Chris Warburton representing Notts AC also coming through to take bronze with a new personal best of 3:43.04.

Farah reflected on his superb run saying: “I came here to work hard and that’s what I did, I needed to do some speed work and this was great preparation for the 3,000m at the Europeans.”

There was an equally exciting women’s 1500m final as Susan Scott, winner of the Glasgow International, and reigning NCAA outdoor champion Hannah England ran shoulder-to-shoulder producing a fast run and compelling race with Scott edging victory in 4:12.85 to 4:12.99 narrowly missing the European championships guideline time of 4:11 as World University Games 800m bronze medallist Charlotte Best broke her lifetime mark to secure third place with 4:16.16.

Scott said afterwards: “It’s the first time I have front run the 1500m but I think it’s good for my confidence. I’m not worried about the time – I’m sure I’ll get it next week at Birmingham.”

Chris Baillie won a dramatic 60m hurdles final after Loughborough Alumnus Andy Turner and William Sharman were disqualified for false starts.

Following the third re-start Baillie ran a strong race to take the title in a time of 7.74secs ahead of Gianni Frankis in 7.81 and Leicester’s outstanding sprint talent Callum Priestly, a day after celebrating his 20th Birthday, here representing Birchfield Harriers, but running in the British vest clocking 7.89 – as all top three athletes achieved life time bests.

Donna Fraser completed a superb double as the 36-year-old, who was due to retire after the Olympics last year, won the 200 and 400 metres, although her winning time in the 400m was fractionally outside the qualifying time for the European Championships.

The 200m is not on the programme in Turin but that will probably be a source of some relief to Fraser, who only continued competing after the disappointment of not being selected to run in the 4×400m relay in Beijing.

Fraser won the 200m in 23.48 seconds and held off 800m specialist Marilyn Okoro to win the 400m in a personal best of 52.83secs, just 0.03s outside the qualifying mark with Loughborough graduate Kim Wall third in a season’s best of 53.88.

Kelly Sotherton won silver in the shot put behind Scotland’s Alison Rodger – meaning she has now won medals in six different events in these championships – but pulled out of the high jump as a precaution with the recurrence of a hip problem.

Richard Buck retained his 400m title with an impressive run, leading from the gun to win in a time of 46.41secs, the fastest time by a British athlete this year and comfortably inside the European qualifying standard.

The men’s 800m final followed the pattern set in the middle distance races as the crowd witnessed another very close finish where Ed Aston (Cambridge and Coleridge), Richard Hill (Notts) and Joe Thomas (Cardiff) battled out the destination of the gold medal over a dramatic last lap with Aston holding the inside line as Thomas began to run out of steam as his legs gave way to leave Aston to take the title in a lifetime best of 1:48.82, with Hill edging second in 1:49.01 and Thomas hanging in just for third with 1:49.15.

Jenny Meadows was a more emphatic winner of the women’s 800m, showing class and style to win in 2:01.69 and achieving the European Indoor qualifying standard. Meadows led from start to finish and managed to maintain her form across the line, followed by Vicky Griffiths (Liverpool Harriers) with 2:02.59 and the ever-improving Tara Bird in 2:06.27.

In the men’s 200m the defending champion Chris Clarke crashed out clutching his hamstring on the top bend at the 100m point leaving Leon Baptiste clear to cross the line in 21.04secs and take the national title.

The men’s triple jump title was won by Julian Golley (Windsor SEH) for the fifth time with his best leap of 16.07m eclipsing that of Tosin Oke with 16.01m.

Sourced via www.athletics-leics.com

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