| Evans achieves Olympic qualification
Badminton Ireland has announced that Scott Evans, has reached the qualification standard for next year's Olympic Games in Beijing. Evans is currently ranked 45 in the world and his qualification will be confirmed next May by the Olympic Council of Ireland. .
Balanced schedule on NHL agenda
The NHL owners have a busy agenda as they gather this week in picturesque Pebble Beach, Calif., but they'll still find time to squeeze in a little golf. The annual two-day board of governors meeting, the most important of the year, goes tomorrow and Friday and should finally bring about a new format for the schedule. It means every team will play one another starting next season. "There's quite a large sentiment for change," said Edmonton Oilers president and CEO Patrick LaForge. Other main items on this week's agenda include: - A vote on the sale of the Predators to a local group in Nashville. - A thorough discussion of the on-ice product. Scoring is down, but what should be done? - A look at the finances, including last season's final numbers and an early season projection on this season's revenue figures.
Just what is wrong with English football?
England has the wealthiest soccer league in the world, with matches screened across the globe and business tycoons from the United States, Russia and Asia lining up to own the clubs. So why can't England put 11 Englishmen on the field to succeed on the international level? Steve McClaren became the latest coach to pay the price Thursday, getting fired after England's 3-2 loss at home to Croatia meant the team failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championship. While the likes of World Cup champion Italy, Germany, Spain, France the Netherlands and Portugal will be out to try to take the title away from Greece, England's stars - including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen - will have to watch the games on TV. The Football Association now has plenty of time to search for a coach who can lift the nation credited with establishing the modern game to the same level.
Balanced schedule on NHL agenda
The NHL owners have a busy agenda as they gather this week in picturesque Pebble Beach, Calif., but they'll still find time to squeeze in a little golf. The annual two-day board of governors meeting, the most important of the year, goes tomorrow and Friday and should finally bring about a new format for the schedule. It means every team will play one another starting next season. "There's quite a large sentiment for change," said Edmonton Oilers president and CEO Patrick LaForge. Other main items on this week's agenda include: - A vote on the sale of the Predators to a local group in Nashville. - A thorough discussion of the on-ice product. Scoring is down, but what should be done? - A look at the finances, including last season's final numbers and an early season projection on this season's revenue figures.
NFL: What's next for our conquering heroes?
WHEN IT rains it pours, or so it is said. Then again, sometimes the rain results in flowers. For the Raiders and 49ers it was a bouquet of roses Sunday. Finally. Last time both Bay Area teams won on the same day was Oct. 30, 2005, when the 49ers knocked off Tampa Bay, while the Raiders were winning at Tennessee. Home-and-away scheduling has something to do with this, but the last time both teams won on the road was Dec. 8, 2002 back in the playoff days. It's been a long wait but, for one day, worth it. Everything the 49ers and Raiders thought they were going to be turned out to be what they were. The Raiders thought they were a running team but over 10 weeks of the season what they were running was a rather grotesque six-game losing streak. Then they ran. Justin Fargas and even LaMont Jordan were given holes.
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.
Charges pondered in children's brawl on ice
TORONTO -- A shocking on-ice brawl involving eight-year-old hockey players over the weekend had officials denouncing their coaches yesterday and a passionate defender of children's sport comparing the intense spirit of competition that apparently fuelled the fight as borderline "child abuse." NHL hockey dad Emile Therien said he can hardly believe that young children would even be involved in an out-of-town tournament such as the one in Guelph on the weekend, where the unsavoury scrap took place. "It's unbelievable that you let eight-year-old kids play at such a high competitive pressure level," said Therien, former president of the Canada Safety Council, who called for an end to competitive leagues for children under the age of 12. "It smacks of everything that's wrong with hockey in this country, minor hockey." The fight erupted Friday between members of the Duffield Devils and Niagara Falls Thunder during a novice AAA tournament.
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