| Hectic schedule delights Gunter
Cardiff and Wales defender Chris Gunter is delighted to get his season back on track after four games in nine days. The full-back, 18, had been struggling for a place at Ninian Park before impressing in Wales' draws with the Republic of Ireland and Germany. He then returned to the Bluebirds side for Saturday's vital win over Ipswich and Monday's 0-0 draw at Leicester. "It's been unbelievable, I didn't expect to play for Wales then to get back for Cardiff was superb," he said. .
Brown joins receiving line
Bill Belichick maintained all along that there would be a role for receiver Troy Brown with the Patriots. Yet as Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donté Stallworth exploded onto the scene this year, it was hard to see where. Belichick, despite his team being stocked with six receivers, proved to be true to his word. With Brown's time on the physically unable to perform list ending at 4 p.m. yesterday, the team essentially had three options: 1. add Brown to the roster; 2. place him on season-ending injured reserve; 3. release him. The Patriots went with the first option, activating the longtime fan favorite and waiving rookie defensive lineman Kareem Brown, the fourth-round draft choice out of the University of Miami who could return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.
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.
Hectic schedule delights Gunter
Cardiff and Wales defender Chris Gunter is delighted to get his season back on track after four games in nine days. The full-back, 18, had been struggling for a place at Ninian Park before impressing in Wales' draws with the Republic of Ireland and Germany. He then returned to the Bluebirds side for Saturday's vital win over Ipswich and Monday's 0-0 draw at Leicester. "It's been unbelievable, I didn't expect to play for Wales then to get back for Cardiff was superb," he said. .
NFL NOTES
ATLANTA: Facing millions in claims from banks, creditors and prosecutors, suspended Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has put his seven bedroom, 8 1/2-bath house in Duluth, Ga., up for sale. The asking price for the sprawling home and $1.5 acres grounds? $4.5 million. Only buyers with proof of income sufficient to buy the property and house are provided access to the home. The Web listing for the house has attracted more than 10 million page views. Vick is in a Virginia jail and awaiting sentencing Dec. 10 for felony dogfighting charges. CAROLINA: Memo to Saints fans: As you watch Panthers quarterback Vinny Testaverde (Nov. 13, 1963) do his thing today at the tender age of 44, keep in mind that he is 46 days older than Saints Coach Sean Payton (Dec. 29, 1963). TAMPA BAY: Today's game between the NFC South-leading Buccaneers and Washington will be the Redskins' fourth at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in less than 25 months and the sixth between the teams in five years.
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 gives fans the boot
The Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys. It's a behemoth battle Thursday night between a pair of 10-1 teams - the first in the NFL since 1990 and just the second since 1970. A prime-time battle for NFC supremacy. The game football fans have been looking forward to for weeks. The game hardly anyone on the Grand Strand will get to see in their homes? Yes, sadly, that too. An impasse between the NFL Network and many of the nation's cable companies, including all that provide cable on the Strand, will keep the game out of most homes in America and send football fans to bars that have the network. The network is owned by the NFL and is broadcasting eight games late this year - exclusively in all but the home markets of the teams in each game - including Thursday's pivotal tilt.
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