| 'Beckham transcends the sport'
Australian football may be forever in the debt of David Beckham after 'Becksmania' enticed 80 000 fans to watch an international club friendly. Los Angeles Galaxy's 5-3 loss to Sydney FC was immaterial. It was the prospect of watching the international football phenomenon strut his stuff for the first time in Australia that attracted the fans in their droves to Sydney's Olympic stadium on Tuesday. Only Australia's World Cup final eliminators have drawn more home fans than the 80 295 at Tuesday's exhibition. Charismatic Beckham didn't disappoint his legion of admirers, stroking home a signature "Bend it like Beckham" free kick in the first half and even getting steamed up enough to earn himself a yellow card for a square-up tackle. .
Everyone gets ice time: Special needs hockey program in Pembroke invites kids of all abilities to play
PEMBROKE - The players trickle out of the locker room, gliding across the milky surface of Hobomock Arena. As they cavort with teammates, their coaches gather at center ice to discuss the morning's practice.The scene is played out at dozens of other rinks on a frigid Saturday morning: Kids with boundless energy, watched by proud parents, up at dawn to indulge a passion for hockey.But what is unique about the Boston Bear Cubs is that this team is composed of special needs children. While their needs are special, their dreams are common: play a little hockey and have a lot of fun. Starting outJohn Quill lives and breathes the sport. The 37-year-old Norwell resident played at North Quincy High, still plays in a men's league, and coaches his 11-year-old daughter Megan's South Shore Seahawks team.Like other hockey parents, John and his wife, Julie, wanted to pass their love of the game to their three children.But there was a hurdle: John's son Sean, 10, is autistic.
Smith Speaks on Black Male Athletes
Whether you are a student-athlete or just an uninterested spectator, it doesn't take much for one to realize that sports is an important aspect of Colgate life. So when guest speaker Professor Earl Smith of Wake Forest University was invited to give a special lecture titled "The Overrepresentation of African American Student-Athletes in Division I-A Sport Programs," its message was bound to have a strong impact on campus.
As a sociology professor, Smith's observations and research have led him to believe that the arena of professional sports has produced a system of inequality for African American athletes. Whereas, in sports such as football and basketball, African American athletes make up the majority of players, in other competitive sports such as tennis, soccer and swimming, hardly any players are African American.
On Second Thought: Bowl Championship Series Champions
The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) might be the worst idea since naming bowl games after their sponsors. How proud would you be to play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl? That's its real name - no joke. Instead of letting the teams decide who will win the championship on the field, college football takes the votes of biased sportswriters and coaches in the Associated Press and Coaches' polls, then combines them with some computerized rankings to decide which two teams get to play in the championship game.
Sometimes they get it right, but there have been a couple of instances where undefeated teams got left out, or the computers just flat-out mess the whole thing up. This year, that's not going to happen because this season has made about as much sense as wearing a parka to the beach.
Sports Briefs: Michael Vick starting prison time early
RICHMOND, Va. — Michael Vick got a head start on a possible long prison stretch, surrendering three weeks before he was to be sentenced for his involvement in a bloody dogfighting ring.The disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback surrendered to U.S. marshals in what his lawyer said was another step in his public repentance."From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance," Billy Martin said in a statement. "Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time."Vick pleaded guilty in August to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge after his three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities.Federal sentencing guidelines suggest he could expect to serve a year to 18 months, but Vick, who has admitted bankrolling the Bad Newz Kennels, faces a maximum of five years in prison.He’s scheduled to be sentenced Dec.
Cardinals' La Russa pleads guilty to drunken driving
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. � St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence today, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol. La Russa said he had decided to plead guilty to the misdemeanor because it was in the best interest of all concerned. ``I accept full responsibility for my conduct, and assure everyone that I have learned a very valuable lesson and that this will never occur again,'' La Russa said in a statement released by his attorney, David Roth. La Russa did not appear in court to plead guilty. As part of his plea agreement, La Russa will serve at least six months' probation, pay a $678.50 fine, complete DUI school and any recommended treatment and complete 50 hours of community service, according to state prosecutors.
News Index
VANCOUVER - David Beckham says the Los Angeles Galaxy knew what they were getting when they signed him to play Major League Soccer.The former England captain was responding to criticism from soccer legend Pele, who said American fans were misled into thinking Beckham would be a goal scorer in the league. "The Galaxy wouldn't have come out and said that," Beckham said Wednesday after the Galaxy played to a 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps in an international friendly before 48,172 fans."The Galaxy brought me in because I'm a football player. Everybody in the world knows I'm not a goal scorer."Everyone has their own opinion. Pele is a great player and a great ambassador for the game."Pele told the Associated Press that American soccer fans were given the impression Beckham would be a goal scorer."They announced him as a scorer of goals," Pele said during an interview in Sheffield, England.
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