Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sports World |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2011 07:47 AM PST "We'll shake a few people up next summer, that's for sure," Those were the words of Shay Given directed towards a jubilant Irish crowd, who bedecked in green, had crammed into a joyous Aviva Stadium. The scoreboard read Republic of Ireland 1 Estonia 1, but thanks to their magnificent efforts in Tallinn on Friday, Giovanni Trapattoni's men knew the game in Dublin on Tuesday was merely a 90 minute party, barring an almost unprecedented soccer betting defying comeback from the Estonians. Their 4-0 first leg win, 5-1 on aggregate, means that after a decade of looking on from a far, tuning in on TV or even watching Live Football Online , the Irish can pack their passports and travel to a major tournament. When the Republic makes major tournaments they more than hold their own. In 2002 they pushed Spain all the way in the last 16 before crashing out agonisingly on penalties. In 1994 they famously beat Italy to reach the knock-out stages while in 1990 they reached the quarter-finals. Their only European Championship experience has been in 1988 when they went out at the group stage – though they did beat England 1-0 at that tournament. The Three Lions could be one of their opponents in Poland and the Ukraine, though the nightmarish scenario of being in the same group as Spain, Germany and Portugal is also a possibility. But given it will have been ten years since the last adventure, I doubt the Irish fans will care who they plays as they will feel they can give anyone game – and I think other sides will be keen to avoid them when the draw is made early next month. Speaking after the game Trapattoni said: "The players deserve to have a party and to drink beer. "But maybe its better that I don't see it. Greece won Euro 2004. With this group of players, why not? We have good options. It's not a dream."  |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:24 AM PST The NBA have cancelled all games until 15th December after the National Basketball Players Association informed the league of its plans to disband. The news means that 20 matches from the original 82-game schedule have now been lost and there appears to be little sign of an agreement being reached between the players and the league in the near future. NBA commissioner David Stern has repeatedly said that there will have to be approximately 30 days between a new collective bargaining agreement being settled and the season getting underway. Those following the latest basketball betting online will know hopes are fading. The players have filed complaints in Minnesota and California claiming the league violated the Sherman Antitrust Act when it shut its doors to players in July. The class-action lawsuit in Minnesota states that the NBA's lockout "constitutes an illegal group boycott, price-fixing agreement, and/or restraint of trade in violation of the Sherman Act." In response, the NBA has filed a lawsuit in New York arguing that its lockout is legal. Stern is beginning to think the whole season will have to be cancelled, admitting: "It looks like the 2011-12 season is really in jeopardy." The players are seeking a minimum 52.5 per cent share of teams' basketball-related income, but have indicated in recent days that they would accept 51 per cent with an additional one per cent going to a fund for retired player benefits. The league's current offer gives players between 49 per cent and 51 per cent, but the players argue that 50.2 per cent would be the best realistic outcome under the terms of that deal.  |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2011 04:17 AM PST Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley fears that Matt Cassel could be out of action for a lengthy spell after the 29-year-old picked up a hand injury during the weekend defeat to the Denver Broncos. Cassel's injury means that journeyman Tyler Palko is set to stand in for the Chiefs' first-choice quarterback for the foreseeable future. Those looking at the best online American football odds will be wondering what sort of impact this will have on the side. When asked whether Cassel would not play again this season, Haley responded by saying: "That's a possibility although I wouldn't say it's an absolute. "There's some optimism, but with each person that varies. Being a quarterback and being the hand he throws with, that's a difficulty." The Chiefs could sign a new quarterback, but Palko is set to start next Monday night's game against the New England Patriots. He replaced Cassel for their final possession against Denver, completing five of six passes for 47 yards and guiding the Chiefs to a field goal. "We feel good about Tyler, or he wouldn't be here and he wouldn't be our number two," added Haley. "He's got a great understanding of how our offense works and what his role within it is." Palko joined the Chiefs last year after being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 28-year-old also played for the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints earlier in his career. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have added LB Caleb Campbell to their practice squad. The 27-year-old had a brief spell with the Indianapolis Colts earlier in the season and previously spent three years with the Detroit Lions.  |
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