Monday, May 22, 2006

The Top 10.... And Footballer's Wife!

Top 10 Premature Celebration In Sports:

1. Arsenal’s Champions League Parade: Thursday’s Highbury to Islington Town Hall route had already been ordained; yellow signs had been posted to warn off non-Arsenal fans; the open-topped bus had been booked and a podium built for Arsène Wenger to parade the Champions League trophy to his adoring throng. Come Thursday, Islington was eerily quiet, the silence broken only by council employees dismantling a podium.

2. Australia’s splash: Australia’s women brilliantly won the 4x200m freestyle relay at the world swimming championships in 2001. In fact, Petria Thomas was so chuffed she jumped back into lane seven to thrash around with joy. Over in lane five, however, the Italians had not yet finished. The Australians were disqualified by what their coach claimed was a “kangaroo court”. It was only following the koala rules, set by wallaby judges.

3. Lindsey Jacobellis’s tumble: Leading the 2006 Olympics snowboard cross at a canter, Jacobellis decided to climax with one last show-off: a hyper-difficult board-grab. She landed on the edge of her board and tumbled over, allowing Switzerland’s Tanja Frieden to take gold and relegating Jacobellis to silver. “I messed up,” she shrugged. “Oh well. It happens.”

4. Nigel Mansell’s wave: The last lap of the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix. Nigel Mansell was so far ahead that he waved to the crowd to celebrate a glorious victory over his Brazilian arch-rival Nelson Piquet. Alas, in the process, the rather bulky Brummie accidentally switched off his Renault-Williams engine and stalled the car. He finished sixth, behind even Bertrand Gachot.

5. The US basketball team’s time-out: In the 1972 Olympic final, the Americans went Cold War crazy when they led 50-49 with three seconds remaining and a time-out was called. As the Americans toasted their 63rd successive victory, the Soviet Union swept down court, Alexander Belov made a basket and his team took gold. The Americans childishly refused to accept their silvers.

6. Don Fox’s conversion: With seconds remaining in the 1968 rugby league Challenge Cup final, a drenched Wakefield Trinity scored a heart-stopping try. A simple penalty conversion in front of the posts would secure them the “watersplash” final over Leeds. Exuberant Trinity fans celebrated as man of the match and dead-eye boot Don Fox stepped up. To their horror, Fox sliced the ball wide, handing victory to Leeds. As Fox squelched off, the very apotheosis of dejection, Eddie Waring uttered the immortal words: “He’s missed it. The poor lad.”

7. Annika Sorenstam’s chip: In 2000, the Solheim Cup at Loch Lomond was going rather well for Europe and Annika Sorenstam. On the final day she chipped in for birdie at the 13th and celebrated wildly. Until the Americans pointed out she had played out of turn and the shot had to be replayed. She missed.

8. Clive Thomas’s whistle: Brazil were hugely relieved when Zico headed home a last-second winner against Sweden in their 1978 Group C game. They danced the samba, pretended it was carnival and lived up to every national stereotype, until referee Clive Thomas announced that he had already blown for time.

9. Roger Loughran’s whip salute: With the recently turned professional Irish jockey Roger Loughran aboard, Central House led as he passed what the rider thought was the winning post at last year’s prestigious Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown. Loughran stood up and raised his whip to salute the crowd, but he hadn’t won, he had passed a mere post, rather than the actual winning post. Central House finished third and Loughran was banned for 14 days, presumably for stupidity

10. Michael Knighton’s ball juggling :To celebrate his takeover of Manchester United in 1989 for £20m, Michael Knighton “entertained” the Stretford End at Old Trafford with a display of ball-juggling that would have put Ralph Milne to shame. Tragically (for Knighton, if not United), Knighton’s backers, perhaps unable to take him seriously, pulled out of the deal and soon he was on his way to Carlisle United.

Ever Seen Commentators THIS Crazy?
Thanks to Daryl for the link. Well we have heard Andy 'YOUUUU BEAUUUTY!' Gray's commentary on Steven Gerrard's goal from 35 yards out last week. Here's another video of that goal, but by a different commentator, this time round RadioCity. Hear the commentator scream and go bananas! It's a must watch.



OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOHOHHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Footballer's Wife...
How lucky are these players actually. Their salaries in a month is probably what your whole family earns in a year and..they have really beautiful wifes! Life is quite unfair sometimes..

Alessandro Del Piero...
























David Trezeguet....


























Tomas Rosicky...






























And Oliver Kahn...





















And of course there are others like Christian Vieri and Francesco Totti's...but they seemed to be nude models so..IM NOT GONNA POST THEM HERE.

World Cup Preview: Group C, Ivory Coast:

Keepers: Jean-Jacques Tizie (Esperance Tunis), Boubacar Barry Copa (Beveren), Gerard Gnanhouan (Montpellier);

Defenders: Cyrille Domoraud (Creteil), Blaise Kouassi (Troyes), Abdoulaye Meite (Marseille), Etienne Arthur Boka (Strasbourg), Abib Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Marc Zoro (Messina);

Midfielders: Didier Zokora (St Etienne), Emerse Fae (Nantes), Kanga Gauthier Akale (Auxerre), Romaric Ndri Koffi (Le Mans), Gnegneri Yaya Toure (Olympiakos), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys), Guy Roland Demel (Hambourg);

Strikers: Bakari Kone (Nice), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Arouna Kone (PSV Eindhoven), Bonaventure Kalou (Paris St-Germain), Abdoul Kader Keita (Lille), Aruna Dindane (Lens).

Facts:
* Didier Drogba and Lens star Aruna Dindane will lead the attack.
* Arsenal's Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue included in defence.

Player(s) To Watch: Didier Drogba(ha ha ha). Although he IS alittle pants, but I think his pace and power will prove to be abit too tough for some defence to handle.

Youth(s) To Watch: Emmanuel Eboue. He's had a great season over at Arsenal and a very attacking minded full-back. Athletic and always have a eye for a cross. Also, Arouna Kone, he scored 4 goals in 5 games for PSV.

Drogball's Prediction: First-round. Actually I think they are the dark horses this World Cup like Senegal was during the 2002 Japorea WC. But unfortunately, they're grouped together with Argentina, Serbia & Montenegro and also the Dutch. This surely is the group of death and could go anywhere. But looking at the squad, maybe they're just a little too inexperience. Again I would like to emphasize that I wouldn't be surprise if they get through to the Quaters.

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