| Trial date to be set for Vick on state charges
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback was not expected to attend a hearing in Surry County Circuit Court to schedule his trial on two felony dogfighting counts. Vick is being held at a jail in Warsaw, Va., after unexpectedly turning himself in Nov. 19 to begin serving time for a federal dogfighting conspiracy conviction. Vick faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 10 in the federal case. The two state charges - beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs, and engaging in or promoting dogfighting - also are punishable by up to five years in prison each. Vick's lawyers have indicated they will fight the state charges on the grounds he can't be convicted twice of the same crime. Vick and three co-defendants, who also face state charges, pleaded guilty to the federal charge in U.S.
£5m pledged for top-class coaches in Scottish sport
A £5m coaching initiative in Scotland, announced in Glasgow yesterday, will increase medal prospects in major championships. Half of the money will go towards employing performance managers or coaches in several sports in order to prepare, competitors up to Great Britain level. The remainder will target more than 8500 volunteer coaches in 21 sports. The aim is to help them gain the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC). New and existing coaches will be able to undertake these nationally certified courses, with sportscotland subsidising up to 75% of the fees. The lottery-funded project was unveiled at sportscotland's partners' meeting in Glasgow by Julia Bracewell, who chairs the organisation. .
California partners with Brownsville for soccer team
California is now partnered with Brownsville in a co-op varsity soccer team. However, the California School Board voted Nov. 15 to allow California to form its own soccer team next year. The co-op was originally formed because California didn't have enough players to form a complete team, which requires about 22 players. Terri Doman, a California School Board member for four years, said when the co-op began, it was with the understanding that when California had enough players to form a team, it would move back to California and play for its own school. The next step California needs to take in order to form its own team is to secure the approval of the WPIAL. Since WPIAL already approved the co-op team for another two years, California needed to send a letter stating that it has formed its own team.
Pele: England lacks good players
Pele believes England is too quick to blame its managers for underachieving - instead of admitting that the soccer-mad country is starved of talent.
The national team's only significant triumph remains the 1966 World Cup, which it hosted, and is now in danger of missing its first major tournament since the 1994 World Cup after last month's defeat in Russia maintained a patchy qualifying campaign for the European Championship.
Manager Steve McClaren, fighting for his future after 15 months at the helm, needs Israel to deny Russia three points on November 17 and for his team to beat Croatia four days later at Wembley.
"England has few very good players," three-time World Cup winner Pele said on Wednesday.
"When those players get injured in a tough, long tournament they don't have a player to replace them - that is the big problem in England.
BCS could expand at-large pool
The Bowl Championship Series will expand the pool of teams eligible for at-large bids if it's faced with a shortage of qualified contenders when the season is over. BCS rules state a team must have at least nine victories and finish in the top 14 of the final standings to qualify for an at-large bid to one of the five marquee bowl games. But because no conference can have more than two teams, including its champion, in the BCS, officials were facing the possibility of not having enough eligible teams to fill the 10 spots this season. The BCS announced Tuesday that if fewer than 10 of the top 14 teams in the standings are eligible for an at-large bid, the qualifying standard will extend to the top 18. If enough teams are still not available, the standard would be pushed back four spots until the pool is big enough to fill all the bowls.
The CNN Wire: Tuesday, Nov. 27
Suicide bomber wounds 12 BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Seven U.S. soldiers and five Iraqi citizens were wounded Tuesday when a female suicide bomber wearing an explosives-laden vest detonated in Baquba, a statement released Wednesday by the U.S. military said. The injured were taken by helicopter to a military hospital for treatment. The military said the incident is under investigation. (Posted 2:45 a.m.) U.S. military investigates checkpoint shooting in Baghdad BAGDHAD (CNN) -- Two women were killed and four others -- two men and two women -- were wounded Tuesday when members of the U.S. military fired warning shots at a minibus as it approached a checkpoint in Baghdad, according to Maj. Bradford Leighton with Multi-National Force - Iraq.
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