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Skiing: Vonn retains World Cup title without racing

March 14, 2013 By Admin

eb96735019f0175c24d5470e8aaabca4 Skiing: Vonn retains World Cup title without racing
(FRANCE OUT) Lindsey Vonn of the USA is helicoptered off the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Championships Women’s SuperG on February 05, 2013 in Schladming, Austria.
(February 4, 2013 – Source: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland (AP) — Lindsey Vonn had the weather on her side this time when it came down to deciding a World Cup title.

Fog canceled racing on Wednesday, giving the injured Vonn a record sixth straight World Cup downhill title without having to show up on the mountain. The title comes five weeks after a crash and season-ended knee injury for the American.

The cancellation allowed Vonn to retain her title — just one point ahead of overall champion Tina Maze of Slovenia.

“Omg I won the World Cup Downhill title!!!!! 6 in a row with a bum knee!” Vonn wrote on her Facebook page.

Two years ago, Vonn was denied a chance at a fourth straight overall title by similar weather conditions in Lenzerheide. The season-ending giant slalom was canceled and Vonn lost by three points to her good friend Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany.

“Everything in life comes back around,” wrote Vonn, whose title streak is a downhill record in 47 seasons of men’s and women’s World Cup racing.

Maze was trying to become the first woman to win five crystal globes in a season — the overall and four discipline titles — but conceded defeat in a Twitter post to Vonn.

“I guess the DH globe belongs to someone else, Congratulation Lindsey! What goes around comes around!” wrote Maze, who already won the overall title with a record point total.

Hoefl-Riesch, who had a slim chance of winning the downhill title, quickly sent Vonn a message on her Twitter account.

“Congrats to (at)lindseyvonn for the dh globe! Now you know how I felt 2 years ago ,” Hoefl-Riesch wrote.

Fog hung on the lower slopes all day and forced the International Ski Federation to cancel the men’s and women’s downhill.

On Thursday, Maze will be favored to take Vonn’s super-G title. She holds a 55-point lead over American Julia Mancuso with 100 points awarded to the race winner.

Vonn’s downhill title gave her a World Cup record 17th crystal globe, overtaking Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proell. The 28-year-old has won four overall titles and 13 in individual disciplines.

Vonn raced in only five of the seven downhills, winning twice at Lake Louise, Alberta, after recovering from a stomach illness.

“Coming back from that and then going to Lake Louise and pulling off those wins was very, very impressive,” said Alex Hoedlmoser, the U.S. women’s team head coach. “It’s really cool to see actually that she’s going to get the reward with the globe.”

Vonn came home from Europe for a midseason break before getting a third victory in January at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Vonn has been stuck at 340 downhill points since her crash on Feb. 5 in the world championships super-G in Schladming, Austria. She tore her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and broke a bone in her lower leg when her ski stuck in softer snow when landing a jump in a race delayed by fog.

That allowed an opening for Maze, who finished fourth in Meribel, France, and won her second career World Cup downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to get within a point of Vonn.

The American got an assist from unheralded Spanish racer Carolina Ruiz Castillo, whose victory in Meribel pushed Maze down one place and cost her 10 World Cup points.

Vonn’s injury has stalled the pursuit of Moser-Proell’s record of 62 career World Cup race wins at 59.

Skiing: Vonn retains World Cup title without racing is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Tennis Roundup: Wozniacki wins, Stosur loses at Dubai Championships

February 22, 2013 By Admin

3a7d88b5b1aa5df6d4fc94b12984f65d Tennis Roundup: Wozniacki wins, Stosur loses at Dubai Championships
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in action against Marion Bartoli of France during day four of the WTA Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship on February 21, 2013 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
(February 20, 2013 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

Story Highlights

Samantha Stosur lost to doubles specialist Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-2, 6-4
Caroline Wozniacki outlasted Marion Bartoli 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Vinci will face doubles partner Sara Errani in the semifinals

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova overpowered defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semifinal against former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the Dubai Championships on Thursday.

Wozniacki needed more than two and a half hours to get past Marion Bartoli of France, whose aggressive play was undermined by 14 double faults — two that cost her games in the second set — and 46 unforced errors.

Doubles specialist Roberta Vinci of Italy surprised former U.S. Open champ Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-4 in their quarterfinal and will face doubles partner Sara Errani after the seventh-ranked Italian overcame 12th-ranked Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.

No. 4-ranked Radwanska had no answers for the big-hitting Kvitova, who neutralized the Pole with a powerful forehand that contributed to 37 winners.

Neither player managed to hold serve in the nervy first five games. But then eighth-ranked Kvitova held for the first time to go up 4-2 and broke for a fourth time to make it 5-2. The second was tighter but Kvitova took control when she converted a fifth break chance in the game to go up 4-2. The Czech won the match with a powerful forehand that Radwanska returned weakly into the net.

“I think to beat Agnieszka here it means something more because she’s defending champion, so she’s playing well here,” said Kvitova, who has a 4-1 record against the Pole. “So that’s a good sign for me.”

Kvitova said she would have to play even better against Wozniacki, including reducing the 38 unforced errors she had against Radwanska.

“It’s important to have less unforced errors, but it’s part of my game,” she said. “I am a player who is going for the winners, so I have to accept the unforced errors, too. I shoot bullets on the court next time.”

Wozniacki and Bartoli had a similar sloppy start, with six breaks of serve in the first set. Bartoli came from 4-2 down to win the first set. Wozniacki was almost untouchable in the second, and the third became back-and-fourth. Bartoli jumped out to 2-0 and then Wozniacki ran off five straight games. Bartoli won two straight to make it 5-4 but Wozniacki was able hold her nerve and serve out the match.

After her win, Diego Maradona, an ambassador for the Dubai Sports Council, came onto the court to give her one of his signed Argentina jerseys emblazoned with his No. 10. The Dane gave him a signed tennis racket.

“It was disappointing to lose that first set after I had been up,” Wozniacki said. “But then I felt like she couldn’t really do much in that second set because I was all over it. And in the third set, down 2-love, could have been 3-love and all of a sudden it’s not looking too good. But I just kept fighting and every game was close.”

Earlier, Vinci put away a mistake-prone Stosur, who lost in the quarterfinals in Doha last week following a galling second-round exit at her home Australian Open.

Stosur made 28 unforced errors and was broken twice in each set.

“Way too many errors,” Stosur said. “She did well to not be bothered by anything I was trying to do. She used her slice very well which kept all the points neutral.”

Despite the latest setback, Stosur felt she was improving over her dismal start to the year.

“January didn’t really go as well as I wanted it to. I wasn’t playing up to the standard and level that I think I’m capable of,” she said. “The last couple of weeks, it’s gotten better. I’ve played many more good matches than bad.”

Vinci also ousted sixth-ranked Angelique Kerber. Her coach told her to attack Stosur’s backhand.

“She (Stosur) has an unbelievable forehand, so I tried to play against her backhand because she has a lot of problem with backhand, and try some slice and also some top when I have time,” Vinci said.

Vinci said her success in doubles — the Italian has 19 doubles titles to only seven singles — has contributed to her resurgence in singles, where she was ranked 17th.

“In doubles, you can try something that you can play in singles,” she said. “I probably play more relaxed and then I play better in the singles.”

5a81199f119128603656c2d865453683 Tennis Roundup: Wozniacki wins, Stosur loses at Dubai Championships
Marin Cilic returns a serve to Igor Sijsling during the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships in Memphis, Tenn.(Photo: Nikki Boertman, AP)

Marin Cilic moves on to US indoor quarterfinals

Story Highlights

Marin Cilic beat Igor Sijsling to advance to the U.S. National Indoor Championships quarterfinals
Top-seeded Cilic will face Kei Nishikori
Also moving into the quarterfinals are Alexandr Dolgopolov, Denis Istomin and Michael Russell

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Top seed Marin Cilic of Croatia survived three match points in a third-set tiebreaker against Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. National Indoor Championships with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 7-6 (7) victory Thursday.

Cilic, the world’s 12th-ranked player, battled Sijsling for more than 2½ hours and saved four break points in the 11th game of the third set to take a 6-5 lead. He squandered a match point with Sijsling serving at 5-6 in the third set.

Sijsling double-faulted on his third match point of the tiebreaker and lost when he netted a forehand from behind the baseline.

DUBAI CHAMPIONSHIPS: Wozniacki wins, Stosur loses

The win moved Cilic — who won his ninth ATP Tour title two weeks ago in Zagreb, Croatia — into the quarterfinals against fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over qualifier Donald Young of the U.S.

Also, Marinko Matosevic of Australia eliminated fourth-seeded American Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a match that lasted almost two hours.

Querrey had saved one match point in the deciding game, but double-faulted to send the advantage back to Matosevic. After a long rally from the baseline, Querrey sailed a forehand long, giving the Australian a berth in the quarterfinals.

Matosevic, ranked 53rd in the world, said he was pleased with his play after dropping the opening set. He said returning serve is one of his strengths, and despite Querrey recording 15 aces, Matosevic was able to keep some of his 135-mph serves in play “and win the rally.”

“I started to return a little bit better, and probably the major thing was I picked up my serve percentage,” Matosevic said of his play in the last two sets. “I started to get a few more free points and started to hold my own serve a little bit easier.”

Also advancing were No. 7 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and American Michael Russell.

Dolgopolov beat American qualifier Rhyne Williams 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Istomin defeated former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 6-1, 6-2; and Russell won 6-2, 6-4 over Lukasz Kubot of Poland.

Earlier in the women’s quarterfinals, top-seeded Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium was eliminated by Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, the No. 7 seed, 6-7 (11), 7-5, 6-3.

Flipkens’ loss meant the tournament’s top two seeds in the women’s draw have been eliminated. Second-seeded Sofia Arvidsson lost her second-round match to Marina Erakovic on Wednesday.

And fourth-seeded Heather Watson of Britain also lost Thursday, 6-1, 6-2 to Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland.

That left Sabine Lisicki of Germany as the only player in the top half of the draw to move on to the semifinals after she defeated eighth-seeded Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 6-3.

In Friday’s semifinals, Voegele will play Erakovic of New Zealand, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Jamie Hampton of the United States on Thursday, while Lisicki and Rybarikova will face off in the other match.

Almagro reaches Buenos Aires quarterfinals

Story Highlights

Nicolas Almagro defeated Andrey Kuznetsov 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Dadvid Ferrer was scheduled to face David Nalbandian later Thursday
In Marseille, Dmitry Tursunov upset fourth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (7-4), 6-2

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Nicolas Almagro of Spain and Federico Delbonis of Argentina picked up second-round victories and are set to meet in the quarterfinals of the Copa Claro in the Argentine capital.

Second-seeded Almagro defeated Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. Debonis won against Albert Montanes of Spain 6-1, 6-4.

Almagro won this tournament two years ago and was the runner-up last year to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

Ferrer was the top seed again and played late Thursday against David Nalbandian of Argentina.

Open 13

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro beat Michael Llodra 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 to reach the Open 13 quarterfinals on Thursday.

Del Potro hit 14 aces and saved nine of the 10 break points he faced as he was pushed all the way by the veteran Frenchman in a rematch of last year’s final.

“It was very, very tough. It shows the level of the tournament is so high,” del Potro said. “I think I played a very good level at the end of the match. He played well throughout the match. I needed luck to beat him today, because he deserved to win the match as well.”

The 2009 U.S. Open champion faces another Frenchman, Gilles Simon, in the last eight after he advanced to his third straight quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-1 win against Roberto Bautista-Agut, although Simon’s serve was again not at its best. He broke his Spanish opponent seven times, but conceded three breaks of his own.

Meanwhile, Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov also advanced after he upset fourth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

Tursunov, a semifinalist at the tournament two years ago, saved the four break points he faced and twice broke the Serb. He next plays Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.

Seventh-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland beat Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6 (0), 6-3, setting up a quarterfinal with top-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.

Tennis Roundup: Wozniacki wins, Stosur loses at Dubai Championships is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Tennis: Nadal is back, but the old game isn’t the same

February 13, 2013 By Admin

259e9773bbb273fd7197d864c80d9293 Tennis: Nadal is back, but the old game isn’t the same
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot during his Gentlemen’s Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.
(June 25, 2012 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)

(PhatzRadio / AP) — VINA DEL MAR, Chile — After seven months away treating a left knee injury, Rafael Nadal left many questions unanswered in his comeback tournament.

Nadal lost both the singles and doubles finals in the space of a few hours Sunday at the VTR Open in Chile. And Horacio Zeballos, who earned the first title of his career by beating Nadal in three sets, repeated what Nadal has been saying.

“Not playing has hurt him,” Zeballos said. “Four or five tournaments back should get him back in form. I’d say this was the perfect time to play Rafa considering the confidence factor and everything.”

In the final, Zeballos served better, hit more cross-court winners from sharp angles, and was quicker on clay than the Spaniard, the seven-time French Open champion who was introduced throughout the tournament as “The King of Clay.”

Nadal said the loss was a reminder of what he already knew: returning to challenge the other three in tennis’ top four — Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray — will be slow and gritty.

“It was a week when we didn’t know how the body would respond, the knee,” Nadal said. “At least we have seen we can compete up to a certain level. It’s true I have had good days and bad days that impact on my play. The tennis aspect isn’t the most important thing. The most important was being out there again in front of fans.

“But I won’t deny I wanted to win here.”

Despite the positive spin, Nadal lost to a player he beat in straight sets three years ago in the French Open — 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. Nadal has won 50 tournaments on all surfaces, and Zeballos now has won one. Nadal has $50 million in tournament earnings, while the Argentine has a mere $1.3 million.

Nadal moves this week to the Brazil Open in Sao Paulo, an event that provides another test on his road to the French Open. He competes again on clay later this month in Acapulco, Mexico.

Nadal looks slimmer than before, and his powerful forehand appeared to be recovering faster than his serve and backhand.

The torn tendon in Nadal’s left knee drew repeated questions. He said it’s better some days than others, and there’s still pain. He’s avoided surgery, and he says he’s been told by doctors the soreness may linger for a few more weeks — even a few months.

He wore a white bandage on the knee whenever he played, racing down plenty of loose balls and showing no signs of protecting the knee or, for that matter, his right knee, which has also been injured.

“Every day improves and increases the confidence for me,” he said. “Every day that the knee answers well is a lot of positive energy for me, and that’s helping me a lot. The feeling day by day is better — the feeling on court. … I still feel pain in the knee some days, and that’s something we hope and think will be improving week by week.”

Tennis: Nadal is back, but the old game isn’t the same is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Soccer Recap II: Mario Balotelli scores as AC Milan draws Cagliari: Serie A

February 11, 2013 By Admin

be92be1f95bb8c3b57cb1fc18f418836 Soccer Recap II: Mario Balotelli scores as AC Milan draws Cagliari: Serie A
Davide Astori (R) of Cagliari Calcio in action against Mario Balotelli of AC Milan during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan at Stadio Is Arenas on February 10, 2013 in Cagliari, Italy.
(February 9, 2013 – Source: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Europe)

(PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — Mario Balotelli earned and converted a late penalty as AC Milan drew 1-1 at 10-man Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday.

The Italy striker stepped up to score his third goal in two games for Milan, following his move from Manchester City. Two of his goals have come from penalties, with Balotelli scoring the winner from the spot in stoppage time against Udinese.

Cagliari took the lead just before halftime when Victor Ibarbo got between two Milan defenders to head home Daniele Conti’s free kick.

Milan levelled 10 minutes from time when Davide Astori wrestled Balotelli to the ground in the area. Astori was dismissed for his second yellow card of the match.

Milan remains fourth, a point ahead of Inter Milan, which plays Chievo Verona later.

There was more bad news for Roma, which lost 3-1 at Sampdoria in Aurelio Andreazzoli’s first match in charge, after he replaced Zdenek Zeman on an interim basis.

Andreazzoli brought Daniele De Rossi and Maarten Stekelenburg back to the starting lineup and Roma thought it had taken the lead early in the second half but Erik Lamela’s strike was harshly ruled out for offside.

Instead it was Sampdoria which broke the deadlock with an angled drive from Marcelo Estigarribia in the 56th.

Roma should have equalized when it was awarded a penalty after Daniele Gastaldello brought down Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, who snatched the ball out of Francesco Totti’s hands to take the spot kick much to the Roma captain’s displeasure.

Osvaldo stuttered as he ran up and lifted a weak effort straight into Sergio Romero’s hands.

It only got worse for Roma as Samp substitute Gianluca Sansone doubled his team’s lead shortly afterward with a free kick into the top corner.

Lamela pulled one back for Roma two minutes later but their hopes were swiftly dashed as an unmarked Mauro Icardi headed in Samp’s third.

Coaching debut

Alberto Malesani enjoyed a better coaching debut at bottom club Palermo as it drew 1-1 at home to Pescara.

Pescara took the lead when substitute Birkir Bjarnason nodded in Gaetano D’Agostino’s free kick in the 73rd but Diego Fabbrini drilled in the equalizer seven minutes later.

Palermo remains level on points with Siena after the Tuscan side drew 1-1 at Bologna. Siena, which stunned Inter 3-1, took the lead through Innocent Emeghara, who had scored on his Serie A debut last weekend.

Bologna levelled when Panagiotis Kone — who had hit the post in the opening minute — tapped in from close range four minuted from halftime.

Udinese beat Torino 1-0 thanks to a seventh-minute strike from Roberto Pereyra. Torino’s Maicosuel also hit the post.

Atalanta drew 0-0 against Catania, while Parma was also held to a scoreless draw at home to relegation-threatened Genoa, with the visitors rattling the woodwork twice

Genoa, which has undergone a revival under Davide Ballardini, had the better of the chances, with Andrea Bertolacci particularly dangerous.

Bertolacci forced two good saves out of Parma goalkeeper Nicola Pavarini in the first half, and hit the woodwork twice in quick succession after the interval.

Marco Borriello could also have scored for Genoa in first-half stoppage time but blasted over from nine yards out.

Since Ballardini’s appointment, Genoa has drawn with Serie A leader Juventus and beaten title-chasing Lazio.

Genoa won only two of its 13 games under previous coach Luigi Del Neri, losing nine.

Soccer Recap II: Mario Balotelli scores as AC Milan draws Cagliari: Serie A is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Skiing: Vonn suffers major crash at worlds, out for remainder of season

February 6, 2013 By Admin

(FRANCE OUT) Lindsey Vonn of the USA is helicoptered off the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Championships Women’s SuperG on February 05, 2013 in Schladming, Austria.
(February 4, 2013 – Source: Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

SCHLADMING, Austria (AP) — All it took was a moment. Lindsey Vonn landed hard and tumbled face first with a piercing shriek.

Just like that, the star American skier was on the ground with two torn ligaments in her right knee and a broken bone in her lower leg.

The cascading fall down the slope during the super-G at the world championships Tuesday knocked out the four-time World Cup champion for the rest of the season, the latest and most serious in a string of injuries for Vonn at skiing’s biggest events.

The U.S. team said in a statement it expects her back for the next World Cup season and the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which start a year from this week.

The harrowing accident came after Vonn was lifted into the air off a jump in the opening race at the championships. As she hit the ground, her right leg gave way and she spun down face first, throwing an arm out to protect herself. She ended up on her back as she smashed through a gate.

On the television feed, Vonn was clearly heard screaming an expletive as she landed, then a despairing ”Yes, yes,” when someone asked, ”Are you hurt?”

Race leader and eventual champion Tina Maze watched with her mouth agape. The concern also was obvious on the face of Vonn’s sister, Laura Kildow, who has been traveling with her full time this season.

For 12 minutes, Vonn lay on the snow getting medical treatment before being airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Schladming.

Vonn tore her anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in her right knee, U.S. ski team medical director Kyle Wilkens said in a statement. The broken bone was described as a ”lateral tibial plateau fracture.”

Christian Kaulfersch, the assistant medical director at the worlds, said Vonn left the Schladming hospital on Tuesday afternoon and will have surgery in another hospital. ”She first wanted to go back to the team hotel to mentally deal with all what has happened,” Kaulfersch said.

Vonn’s father, Alan Kildow, spoke with her by phone and said that she’s, ”mad at the way things turned out.” His daughter told him that she landed in a clump of sugar snow, or ice crystals, that caused her to fall forward, he said.

”She’s a tough character. A very determined and tough character,” Kildow told The Associated Press in a phone interview. ”She will be back.”

Kildow said that surgery could take place as soon as this weekend, likely at the Steadman Clinic, in Vail, Colo. Recovery time varies, according to Dr. Tom Hackett, an orthopedic surgeon at the clinic and the team physician for the U.S. snowboard squad.

But Vonn could be looking at six-to-eight months before she’s back on skis.

”It’s not like at six months you say, ‘OK, you can get back on a super-G course,” Hackett said. ”There’s a progression to getting back on skis, getting back to taking some easy runs, getting back to some gates, and working your way back to some steeper terrain. There’s a whole return to snow progression that we’ve developed over many years.”

Time enough to get back for Sochi?

”I think so,” Hackett said. ”I would be very optimistic she could come back strong. She’s a fierce competitor. She’s a fighter and chances are that she will – I would think – essentially take all of that athletic energy and put it into her rehabilitation. There’s a really good chance she could come back as strong as ever.”

Comebacks are nothing new for Vonn, who has also been afflicted by injuries at her last six major championships – from a thumb she sliced on a champagne bottle at the 2009 worlds in Val d’Isere, France, to a bruised shin that she cured with Austrian cheese at the Vancouver Olympics.

This one, however, could prove the biggest test yet for the 28-year-old who won the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Vonn took a month off this season after being hospitalized for an intestinal illness in November, and had just regained her form with two wins last month.

That was evident at the start of her Tuesday’s run. She led Maze by 0.04 seconds at the first checkpoint and was just 0.12 back at the second interval and seemingly on her way to a medal, if not victory.

Exactly what went wrong was debated by competitors and officials at the championships.

The start of the race was delayed by 3 1/2 hours because of fog hanging over the course and it began in waning light at 2:30 p.m local time. Even before Vonn’s crash, a course worker fell and also had to be airlifted. He was reported to have broken his nose.

All the delays made for what skiers call flat light – overcast and dreary conditions – when Vonn raced.

”Lindsey did a great job on top and Lindsey has won a lot of races in flat light so the flat light was definitely not a problem,” U.S. Alpine director Patrick Riml told the AP.

”We are upset obviously with what happened but if you don’t know the facts and why they decided to start and what the weather forecast was it’s hard to say without any reasoning,” Riml said. ”And they probably had a reason, otherwise they wouldn’t have started.”

Atle Skaardal, women’s race director for the International Ski Federation, defended the decision to go ahead with the event.

”I can confirm that the visibility was great, there were no problems, and the course was also in good shape,” he said. ”I don’t see that any outside factors played a role in this accident. … The other factors were like they were supposed to be for ski racing.”

Vonn’s list of injuries at major championships is long.

Two years ago, she pulled out midway through the last worlds in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, because of a mild concussion. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Vonn skied despite a severely bruised shin to win the downhill and take bronze in the super-G.

At the 2009 worlds in Val d’Isere, she sliced her thumb on a champagne bottle after sweeping gold in the downhill and super-G, forcing her out of the giant slalom. At the 2007 worlds in Are, Sweden, Vonn injured her knee in training and missed her final two events.

And at the 2006 Turin Olympics, she had a horrific crash in downhill training and went directly from her hospital room to the mountain to compete in four of her five events.

The conditions Tuesday varied from racer to racer, and as the light began to fade even more, organizers stopped the race after only 36 of the 59 skiers had come down.

Maze skied immediately before Vonn.

”I saw it was a very high jump, so I knew I had to take the right line to make the next gate,” she said. ”World championship races often have special conditions and the mistakes from the girls were not because of the slope.”

The two racers who started immediately after Vonn, former overall winner Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany and local favorite Anna Fenninger of Austria, each skied off course. In all, six women who started the course failed to finish. Still, Skaardal said he never thought about stopping the race.

”It’s not a very difficult course but in some parts you couldn’t see anything,” said Fabienne Suter of Switzerland, who finished fifth.

Vonn’s teammate Julia Mancuso also thrived in the difficult conditions and won the bronze medal.

”It’s the same for everybody,” U.S. speed coach Chip White said. ”Everyone had to wait for a long time and that’s always difficult. And the holds were every 15 minutes so it really doesn’t give you a chance to go and do something else. You’re always kind of on edge at the ready. It’s a difficult situation but everybody had the same difficult situation.”

Not long after Vonn was injured, NBC hosted a news conference in New York to discuss its coverage of the Sochi Games. A poster of a smiling Vonn hung in the room next to one of snowboarder Shaun White, evidence of the network’s unsurprising expectations that she would be one of the biggest stars in Sochi.

The network’s executives chose to put a positive spin on the injury.

”We expect her to be the comeback Olympian of the year,” NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus said.

Skiing: Vonn suffers major crash at worlds, out for remainder of season is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Golf: O’Meara calls for Singh ban over banned substance

January 31, 2013 By Admin

a6a7d582b96ccfefe29750c891e6b37b Golf: O’Meara calls for Singh ban over banned substance
Mark O’Meara of the USA plays his second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 31, 2013 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
(January 30, 2013 – Source: Warren Little/Getty Images Europe

(Reuters) – Twice major winner Mark O’Meara believes former world number one Vijay Singh should be suspended by the PGA Tour after the Fijian admitted to using a spray to treat an injury which contains a banned substance.

The three-times major winner said he was unaware the deer-antler spray, which he has been using for a couple of months, contained an insulin-like growth factor that is banned by the U.S. circuit.

O’Meara, competing at the Dubai Desert Classic where the 56-year-old opened with a five-under-par 67 on Thursday, said he had a lot of respect for his friend Singh but that his situation should be no different to those who have been banned before.

“Probably he should be suspended for a couple of months, and I don’t know what the PGA Tour Commissioner is thinking, but people have had to pay the price before and he should be no different,” O’Meara told reporters.

“I was a bit surprised to hear what Vijay said. I don’t think he’s a guy that would take advantage of anything, and besides I like Vijay. I wish the best for him and his family and I wish the best for him.”

Singh, 49, allegedly paid one of the owners of Sports with Alternatives to Steroids (SWATS) $9,000 in November for the spray and other products, Sports Illustrated said this week.

Singh released a statement on Wednesday at the Phoenix Open confirming he had taken it, that he was “shocked” and “angry” at himself and that he was in cooperation with the tour over the issue.

Since the PGA Tour’s anti-doping program was launched in 2008, American journeyman Doug Barron is the only player who has been suspended for a violation, in November 2009.

Barron, then 40, was banned for a year for taking a performance-enhancing drug.

In keeping with honesty in golf, O’Meara said he had no doubts over Singh, who is known for his workaholic approach to the game.

“Has Vijay tried to bend the rules? No I don’t think that.”

(Editing by Tom Pilcher)

(PhatzRadio / SI) — Vijay Singh has been named as one of several athletes to use a banned substance from a two-man company called S.W.A.T.S. — Sports with Alternatives to Steroids, according to an article from this week’s Sports Illustrated.

The two men, Christopher Key and Mitch Ross, run their company from a gym in Alabama. They sell products such as deer antler spray and hologram chips that they claim will help athletes perform better on the field.

The deer antler spray contains IGF-1, which SI describes as a “natural, anabolic hormone that stimulates muscle growth.”

It is also a banned substance by all major pro sports leagues.

Despite warnings from the PGA Tour that the deer antler spray was a banned substance, SI reports that Singh ordered several products from S.W.A.T.S. last November.

(Vijay Singh, however, remains a vocal supporter. In November, Singh paid Ross $9,000 for the spray, chips, beam ray and powder additive — making him one of the few athletes who is compensating S.W.A.T.S. He says he uses the spray banned by the PGA “every couple of hours . . . every day,” sleeps with the beam ray on and has put chips on his ankles, waist and shoulders. “I’m looking forward to some change in my body,” Singh says. “It’s really hard to feel the difference if you’re only doing it for a couple of months.”)

Players were warned about the deer antler spray back in 2011 after Mark Calcavecchia was told by the PGA Tour to stop endorsing S.W.A.T.S.’s “Ultimate Spray.” Ken Green also endorsed the product.

According to SI, Ross had a friend who introduced him to a PGA Tour caddie. Ross told SI that the caddie was “passing me around the golf world like a prostitute.”

This isn’t the first time Singh has been involved with controversy. Singh continued to defend and wear the logos of Stanford Financial, even after chairman and CEO Allen Stanford was charged with running a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme. Singh even offered to pay for Stanford’s bond, but he was not allowed to since he is not a U.S. citizen. Stanford is currently serving a 110-year prison sentence.

Singh, who turns 50 next month, has long been known as one of the most fit players on Tour. But in the last few years, Singh has struggled with injuries. In 2011, Singh went to Germany for a procedure on his back. The same doctor has also treated Fred Couples. In 2009, Singh had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Update: Ty Votaw, executive vice president of communications for the PGA Tour, said on Tuesday that the PGA Tour had just been made aware of SI’s article and was looking into it.

Update: Geoff Shackelford found this testimonial video, which shows several Champions Tour players endorsing the hologram chips sold by S.W.A.T.S. The video was posted by Mitch Ross, one of the co-founders of S.W.A.T.S.

Golf: O’Meara calls for Singh ban over banned substance is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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NBA Roundup: Pistons beat Magic 105-90

January 23, 2013 By Admin

42040ace4b66ae5e137d13ac18aede2e NBA Roundup: Pistons beat Magic 105 90
Carmelo Anthony of New York Knicks tries block Jason Maxiell of Detroit Pistons during the NBA London Live 2013 game between New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons at the O2 Arena on January 17, 2013 in London, England.
(January 16, 2013 – Source: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Europe)

AUBURN HILS, Mich. (AP) — Jason Maxiell, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe combined for 38 points and 28 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons pulled away to beat the undersized Orlando Magic 105-90 Tuesday night.

Brandon Knight led Detroit with 18 points, while Monroe scored 16 and Drummond and Maxiell each had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Pistons also finished with a 16-6 edge in offensive rebounds against the Magic, who had their size issues magnified when Glen Davis was benched for much of the second half after taking 15 first-half shots and grabbing just three rebounds. He attempted just one shot the rest of the way and finished with 11 points.

J.J. Redick was Orlando’s biggest threat, scoring 26 points on 9-for-10 shooting — including 5 for 6 on 3-pointers. Jameer Nelson added 14 points and nine rebounds.

BUCKS 110, 76ERS 102

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ersan Ilyasova had 27 points and 16 rebounds, Brandon Jennings scored 25 points and Milwaukee won for the sixth time in eight games since Jim Boylan replaced Scott Skiles as coach.

Monta Ellis added 18 points and 10 assists for the Bucks who lost the last four before Skiles parted ways with the team.

Evan Turner scored 23 points to lead the 76ers, Spencer Hawes added 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Nick Young scored had 20 points. Philadelphia lost its fifth straight on the road, and 15th in its last 21 overall.

The Sixers cut the Bucks’ lead to 90-86 when Thaddeus Young stole the ball and scored on a breakaway layup with 6:47 remaining. Ilyasova made a free throw to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 99-92 with 3:56 left. He then hit a jumper with about 2½ minutes to go, stretching the advantage to nine points.

After Hawes’ baseline jumper trimmed the lead to 101-94, Milwaukee made 4 of 6 free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

CAVALIERS 95, CELTICS 90

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 15 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, including several key late baskets, to help Cleveland get back-to-back home wins for the first time this season.

Irving scored 11 points in the final 2:33 on four layups and three free throws as the Cavaliers sent Boston to its season-high fourth straight loss. Irving shot 16 for 24 — setting a career high for field goals made — and fell one point short of his career-best scoring total, set at New York on Dec. 15.

Tristan Thompson added 21 points for the Cavaliers.

Rajon Rondo led Boston with 17 points while Kevin Garnett scored 16. Paul Pierce, who scored 40 points in a 103-91 win over the Cavaliers in Boston on Dec. 19, finished with 12 points on 3-for-15 shooting.

NBA Roundup: Pistons beat Magic 105-90 is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Soccer Roundup: Dempsey helps Spurs tie Man U

January 22, 2013 By Admin

85118e4918884c65b781999e96d19181 Soccer Roundup: Dempsey helps Spurs tie Man U
Clint Dempsey of Tottenham Hotspur turns to celebrate after scoring the equalising goal in stoppage time during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at White Hart Lane on January 20, 2013 in London, England.
(January 19, 2013 – Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)

LONDON (AP) — Clint Dempsey scored during stoppage time Sunday, giving Tottenham a 1-1 draw against Premier League-leading Manchester United.

The American, who sent Tottenham to its first win at United in 23 years in September, offset Robin van Persie’s first-half header to give the fourth-place hosts something to show for their dominance at snowy White Hart Lane.

“Before (this season) I’d never scored against them, so it’s good to help the team get results,” said Dempsey, who joined from Fulham in August. “We’ve got a win and a draw now (against United).”

United’s lead has been trimmed to five points this weekend after second-place Manchester City beat Fulham 2-0 on Saturday.

While United managed just five shots, Tottenham scored with its 25th shot in the third minute of stoppage time. Dempsey was set up by Aaron Lennon, who had pounced on the ball after goalkeeper David de Gea inadvertently punched a shot by Benoit Assou-Ekotto to him.

Despite salvaging a point, Tottenham fell four points behind third-place Chelsea after its London rival beat Arsenal 2-1 earlier in the day.

Juan Mata’s excellent finish and a penalty kick from Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a two-goal lead after only 16 minutes. The other score came in the 58th minute goal by Theo Walcott.

Arsenal, which lost to Manchester City last Sunday, remains sixth, but is now seven points behind Tottenham in the fourth Champions League spot.

“We have lost two big games in the last week,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “That’s damaging for us. We can’t afford to lose more points. It’s a concern.”

___

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Atletico Madrid defeated Levante 2-0 despite losing striker Radamel Falcao to injury, maintaining its perfect home record in the Spanish league while breathing some life into the title chase.

Atletico took advantage of Barcelona’s first league defeat of the season the day before by staying perfect through 11 league games at Vicente Calderon stadium. Atletico is eight points behind the league leaders.

Adrian Lopez scored in the 32nd minute. Jorge “Koke” Resurrecion then put the result beyond doubt in the 61st, four minutes after Falcao walked off clutching his upper left leg.

Elsewhere, Osasuna beat visiting Deportivo La Coruna 2-1 to move out of last place while sending its rival there. Oscar Gonzalez scored one goal and set up another to steer Valladolid to a 2-0 home win over Real Zaragoza.

In the late match, Real Madrid visited Valencia.

___

MILAN (AP) — Napoli missed the chance to close the gap on Serie A leader Juventus, drawing 1-1 at Fiorentina.

Fiorentina took the lead following a blunder by Morgan De Sanctis. The Napoli goalkeeper rushed out of his area to intercept a long pass from Facundo Roncaglia by midfield but misjudged the ball, which bounced over him and into the goal.

Napoli tied it three minutes from halftime as Edinson Cavani headed in Marek Hamsik’s free kick for his 100th Serie A goal. Alberto Aquilani could have won it for Fiorentina in stoppage time but blasted a good chance over the bar.

Napoli, which had a two-point penalty for match-fixing rescinded Thursday, is tied on points with second-placed Lazio, five points behind defending champion Juventus.

Fiorentina remains fifth but it is only two points above AC Milan, which beat Bologna 2-1 thanks to two goals from Giampaolo Pazzini.

___

AMSTERDAM (AP) — American forward Jozy Altidore scored his second hat trick of the season, leading AZ Alkmaar over Vitesse Arnhem 4-1 Saturday night.

Altidore scored in the 55th, 64th and 77th minutes, raising his total to 14 league goals this season and 18 overall.

Ajax pulled even on points with second-placed PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league after beating rival Feyenoord 3-0 Sunday despite playing much of the second half with 10 men.

Viktor Fischer, Ajax’s 18-year-old Danish striker, scored twice in the first half and Siem de Jong completed the scoring in the 62nd minute.

Ajax’s main title rivals dropped points. PSV slumped to a 3-1 home defeat against PEC Zwolle on Friday. League leader FC Twente was held to a goalless draw by RKC Waalwijk on Saturday. Vitesse Arnhem lost to AZ Alkmaar. Ajax is third because of PSV’s better goal difference while Feyenoord is fourth.

___

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Rafik Djebbour scored in first-half injury time and Djamel Abdoun added a goal in the 68th minute to give defending champion Olympiakos a 2-0 home victory over Giannena in the Greek league.

The win gave Olympiakos a 13-point lead over second-place PAOK with 12 rounds to play. PAOK lost 1-0 at third-place Asteras Saturday.

Also Sunday, Xanthi and Kerkyra played to a 0-0 draw and AEK drew 1-1 at Aris after tying the score in the eighth minute of injury time. Two players from each team were sent off in the last 10 minutes of regulation.

___

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Motherwell’s slim hopes of catching Celtic in the Scottish Premier League were boosted by a 3-2 win over St. Johnstone on Michael Higdon’s hat trick.

Motherwell is tied on points with second-place Inverness and nine points behind Celtic, which maintained its march to a successful title defense by beating Hearts 4-1 on Saturday.

Soccer Roundup: Dempsey helps Spurs tie Man U is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Golf: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods struggle in opening round in Abu Dhabi

January 17, 2013 By Admin

919942fdf6064fb9749071ff6a12bbbf Golf: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods struggle in opening round in Abu Dhabi
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (L) and Tiger Woods of the USA walk up the fairway on the tenth hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 17, 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
(January 16, 2013 – Source: Scott Halleran/Getty Images Europe)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — With Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods struggling, unheralded Jamie Donaldson took the spotlight at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday, shooting an opening-round 5-under 67 for an early one-shot lead.

McIlroy, playing with new clubs following his multimillion dollar sponsorship deal with Nike, finished with a 3-over 75 and risks missing the cut. He repeatedly missed fairways including a shot on his 12th that hit a tree and ended up in a parking lot, leading to one of his two double bogeys. His other double bogey came when he muffed a chip in thick rough on his par-3 6th. He also putted poorly, missing a par putt on his 17th and a birdie putt on the 18th.

Mclroy insisted his difficulties had more to do with rusty strokes than the new equipment. While he repeatedly slumped after a bad shot or frowned following a missed putt, the 2012 European Tour and U.S. PGA Tour money winner seemed resigned to the fact that it would take time for him to adjust to the new Nike clubs.

“When you go out and you’ve got new stuff, you are going to be a little anxious and hopefully you play well,” McIlroy said. “But I guess I can learn from it and move on and go into tomorrow and try and play a bit better. It’s about playing yourself into the weekend.”

Woods, meanwhile, finished a rollercoaster round at even par after “grinding it out.” The 14-time major winner had four birdies to go along with four bogeys and ended his round by three-putting his 18th for a bogey when he hit the second putt too hard.

“I’m still right there,” said Woods, who was five shots behind Donaldson. “You know, if I two-putt that last hole I’m in I think 12th or 13th or something like that. There’s not a lot of guys going low out there. These fairways are tiny to begin with, but there are a lot of crosswinds.”

Woods can thank his short game and putter for salvaging the round, saving par on several occasions and sinking several long birdie putts. He made three birdies on the last four holes of his front nine. But he lost that momentum on the back nine, when he mishit a tee shot that led to a bogey on 10, and couldn’t hole a short par putt on his 11th.

“I put something up there and lost it,” Woods said of his bogeys on the back. “I had another chance at 3 to make another bogey in row and made a good save there. That kind of got it going a little bit. But it was tough out there. I didn’t hit it that well. On top of that, this wind just magnifies it. You really have to control your ball today.”

It was left to the 47th-ranked Donaldson to show how to overcome the wind and master the narrow fairways. He had six birdies – including holing a bunker shot on his 12th – to go along with a bogey. The Welshman is one shot clear of Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain. Three others including Henrik Stenson of Sweden are a further shot back in fourth.

“Solid start, played some pretty good golf out there,” said Donaldson, who was looking for his second European Tour victory. “Obviously 5 under is a great start. I played pretty good in most of the round but there were times when it wasn’t quite on, we made some good up and downs. It was a matter of scoring well and keeping the momentum going.”

Golf: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods struggle in opening round in Abu Dhabi is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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Soccer: Messi wins record fourth straight Ballon d’Or

January 8, 2013 By Admin

afdbc5641452661281126d10371bd50c Soccer: Messi wins record fourth straight Ballon d’Or
(FILE PHOTO) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Lionel Messi (L), Cristiano Ronaldo (C) and Andres Iniesta (R). All three players have been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2012, the winner of the award will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d?Or gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on 7 January 2013. *LEFT IMAGE* OCTOBER 23: Lionel Messi of Barcelona runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League group G match between FC Barcelona and Celtic FC at the Camp Nou stadium on October 23, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) *CENTRE IMAGE* APRIL 21: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF runs with the ball during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on April 21, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Real Madrid CF won 1-2. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) *RIGHT IMAGE* NOVEMBER 17: Andres Iniesta of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Zaragoza at Camp Nou on November 17, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. FC Barcelona won 3-1.
(December 31, 2012 – Source: Getty Images/Getty Images Europe)

ZURICH (AP) — Lionel Messi became the first four-time winner of the FIFA Player of the Year award after shattering the world record with 91 goals last year for Barcelona and Argentina.

The 25-year-old won for the fourth straight time, beating Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta in voting announced Monday. His 91 goals topped Gerd Mueller’s mark of 85 for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972.

Abby Wambach became the first American to win FIFA Women’s Player of the Year since Mia Hamm in 2001 and 2002. Pia Sundhage was voted top women’s coach after leading Wambach and the U.S. team to the gold medal at last summer’s London Olympics.

Messi received 41.60 percent of the points in votes by national team coaches and captains plus selected media. Ronaldo got 23.68 percent and Iniesta 10.91 percent.

“To tell the truth, this is really unbelievable to get the fourth award. I am so nervous,” Messi said in Spanish, wearing a black tuxedo jacket and bow tie, both with a white polka-dot pattern in an unexpectedly flamboyant touch.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann and captain Carlos Bocanegra both voted Messi first, as did Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy.

“Whether I win or not it doesn’t matter, it’s a privilege to be here,” Ronaldo, the 2008 winner, said at a pre-gala news conference he attended while wearing a New York Yankees cap.

Zinedine Zidane of France and Ronaldo of Brazil were voted FIFA Player of the Year three times before the award merged in 2010 with France Football’s Golden Ball, given to the European player of the year. The Golden Ball, or Ballon d’Or, was won three times by Michel Platini of France and Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten of the Netherlands.

The 32-year-old Wambach received 20.67 percent to edge teammate Alex Morgan (13.5) and five-time winner Marta of Brazil (10.87). Jill Ellis, who was interim U.S. coach last fall, voted Wambach first, as did Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, while American captain Christie Rampone voted Morgan first.

“I’m very, very surprised,” Wambach said. “Not only do I think Marta and Alex could have won, but many other players could have been here as well.”

Wambach, who received the award from American goalkeeper Hope Solo, scored five goals in London as the U.S. won its third straight Olympic title. She has 152 international goals, six shy of Hamm’s record.

“She’s so completely deserving of this award,” Morgan said. “She’s made such a huge mark on women’s soccer over the past decade. She’s an inspiration to not only the thousands of young girls around the country and world, but also to me.”

The U.S. players were serenaded from the stage by Sundhage, who sang a verse of the Bob Dylan song “If Not For You” when she received her award.

Sundhage, who left the U.S. job after the Olympics to coach her native Sweden, got 28.59 percent of the vote to defeat Nono Sasaki of Japan (23.83) and Bruno Bini of France (9.02).

Vicente del Bosque was voted top men’s coach after leading Spain to its third straight title in a major tournament, the 2012 European Championship. Del Bosque got 34.51 percent to win over Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho (20.49), who won last year, and Pep Guardiola (12.91) who won in 2011 and retired from Barcelona last spring.

The three finalists for men’s Player of the Year were on the World XI All-Star team chosen by the FIFPro group of players’ unions, comprising 50,000 members worldwide.

They selected a team composed entirely of players from Spanish clubs, with nine repeating their selection from one year ago.

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas was selected as goalkeeper, joined on defense by teammates Sergio Ramos and Marcelo and by Barcelona’s Dani Alves and Gerard Pique. Iniesta was joined in midfield by Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez and Real Madrid’s Xabi Alonso. Messi led the attack with Ronaldo and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao. Marcelo and Falcao replaced Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney from the 2011 team.

The Puskas Award for the best goal in 2012, voted on by fans, was won by Miroslav Stoch of Fenerbahce, who had a long-range volley last March in a Turkish league game against Genclerbirligi.

Uzbekistan won the fair play award for its good disciplinary record. Sepp Blatter made the FIFA presidential award to Franz Beckenbauer, who captained and coached West Germany to World Cup victories, and then led the local organizing committee of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Soccer: Messi wins record fourth straight Ballon d’Or is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

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