MLB to help Australia set up new league

(AUSTRALIA, BASEBALL, LEAGUE, GOVERNMENT, SPORT, AUSTRALIAN)

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia will establish a new professional baseball league as early as next year with backing from the government and North America`s Major League Baseball.
The sport has struggled to gain a foothold in Australia, and the country`s first professional league folded under heavy debts in 1999 after lasting only 10 years.
Australia`s government has pledged $400,000 to help the league`s development.
"Australian baseball has done a great job in securing this significant partnership with Major League Baseball -- developing up-and-coming athletes and strengthening the game in Australia," sports minister Kate Ellis told the Australian Baseball Federation`s (ABF) website (www.baseball.com.au).
"This funding will help baseball to develop the next generation of Australian baseball stars."
Paul Archey, head of MLB International, said in a statement on the website Wednesday that his organization was keen to develop the sport in Australia.
"I cannot tell you when this will happen or where, but I can tell you that MLB is committed to this initiative and look forward to working with the Federal Government and the ABF to further develop the game of baseball in Australia through planning a new national league."
QUESTIONABLE CLIMATE?
The new league would likely include eight to 10 teams and schedule matches between November and February, the Australian Associated Press said.
"Some people may think we`re crazy with the present economic climate: `Why would you even be thinking about doing a national league?`" the agency quoted ABF Chairman Mark Peters as saying.
"Well we`ve got the confidence that there are people out there that will support us and with MLB`s backing, one of the best brands in the world, this will be successful."
Peters said the federation had learned from the experience of other leagues and from the previous league`s failure.
"One of the big issues is going to be facilities," he said.
"If we`re going to run a spectator-friendly sport then we`ve got to have the right facilities in place.
"The days of playing on the side of rugby and football ovals are something we can`t cope with if we`re going to be professional."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Original article

NHL`s Panthers use football agent in ad campaign

(PANTHERS, MARKETING, CAMPAIGN, SEASON, TICKET, WOULD)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Drew Rosenhaus, a sports agent who typically battles with football team owners to get lucrative contracts for his clients, has been enlisted by the NHL`s Florida Panthers in a marketing campaign to boost season-ticket sales.
"This is part of our new marketing campaign that`s launching next week," Panthers President Michael Yormark said in a statement Tuesday. "The premise of the campaign is that he`s been retained by Panthers` fans to renegotiate the season-ticket pricing."
Sports teams have been hurt by the recession as fans cut back on spending at games or attend fewer events. In the National Hockey League, the tight credit markets have led to the expected sale of several teams as well as the bankruptcy of the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Panthers last season had an average attendance of 15,621 at its home arena, which seats 19,250 people. A full-season Panthers ticket currently costs an average $54.16.
Rosenhaus, who represents such National Football League players as wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson, will appear in television, radio and print ads talking about how he has been hired by fans of the hockey team to negotiate lower season-ticket prices and other benefits for the 2009-2010 season that begins in the fall, Yormark said.
The campaign is set to start on July 7, but the team would not confirm if it would result in lower season ticket prices.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman, Editing by Maureen Bavdek)
Original article

Ukraine`s Euro 2012 prospects bleak admits President Yushchenko

(UKRAINE, UEFA, CONFIRMED, 30, VENUE, NOVEMBER, CITIES)

MOSCOW, June 25 (RIA Novosti) - Euro 2012 joint host Ukraine faces serious difficulties in completing preparations for the tournament, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Thursday.
Ukraine has been hard hit by the global financial crisis, and delays in the implementation of plans to improve infrastructure have lagged far behind UEFA requirements. UEFA president Michel Platini said recently that, "There are huge infrastructure problems to be resolved in Ukraine."
European football`s governing body has so far only confirmed that the capital, Kiev, will host games, although it has not yet approved the city as the venue for the final. A decision on the suitability of the three other cities - Donetsk, Lvov and Kharkov - will be made on November 30.
"November 30 is Judgment Day," Yushchenko said, as quoted by the Rosbalt news agency. "Believe me, I don`t want to play the role of a bearer of bad news, but all of this is a major warning."
Ukraine and Poland were named as joint hosts for the tournament in April 2007. All four Polish cities put forward for Euro 2012 - Warsaw (opening game), Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk - have been confirmed by UEFA as venues.
 
Original article

Zenit `offer Fenerbahce $14 million for Spanish striker Guiza`

(TURKISH, 2008, GUIZA, RUSSIAN, ZENIT, MILLION, RUMORED)

ANKARA, June 25 (RIA Novosti) - Zenit St. Petersburg have offered Fenerbahce 10 million euros ($14 million) and Turkish striker Fatih Tekke for Spanish international Daniel Guiza, Turkish media said on Thursday.
Talks between the two clubs are believed to have been continuing for the past 10 days and a decision is expected by the end of the week.
Fenerbahce signed 28-year-old Guiza from Mallorca in July 2008 for 14 million euros. However, the forward has scored a mere 16 times in 50 matches since joining the Turkish side.
Guiza is well known to Russian football fans, scoring in Spain`s 3-0 semifinal win over Russia at last summer`s Euro 2008.
Zenit trainer Dick Advocaat has transfer-listed Tekke over what he called his "unprofessional;" attitude.
There has so far been no official comment on the rumored deal.
Zenit are currently in 7th place in the Russian Premier League after 12 games. The club has lost a number of key players since lighting up the European arena in 2008, with Andrei Arshavin leaving for Arsenal, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk signing for Bayern Munich, and Argentine star Alejandro Dominguez returning to Rubin FC.
Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak is also rumored to be on his way out, possibly to an English Premier League club.
 
Original article

Top U.S. court agrees to hear case on NFL licensing

(COURT, AMERICAN, NEEDLE, NFL, LEAGUE, NATIONAL, ANTITRUST)

By Ben Klayman
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday it would decide whether the National Football League should be treated as a single entity under federal antitrust law in a dispute over an exclusive license to make caps and other headgear.
In a case that could affect other sports leagues, the court agreed to hear an appeal from American Needle Inc, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, on whether the NFL and its 32 teams can be sued under federal antitrust laws for signing an exclusive licensing deal with Reebok International in 2001.
The case will be argued during the court`s upcoming term that begins in October. A decision is expected in the first half of next year.
American Needle, a former licensee of the NFL, challenged the deal, which offered Reebok an exclusive license for 10 years according to court documents, claiming the NFL was 32 separate business entities and not a "single entity" as the popular professional sports league said.
Germany`s Adidas AG bought Reebok in 2006 for $3.8 billion in a move to boost its U.S. presence.
In its original lawsuit, American Needle had charged the NFL with unlawful restraint of trade and monopolizing the team products licensing, manufacturing and wholesale markets by violating antitrust laws by working too closely together, according to court documents. The cost of basic fitted caps jumped to $30 from $19.99, American Needle said in court documents.
American Needle lost the case in U.S. District Court as well as in the federal appeals court in Chicago in 2008.
"American Needle has pursued this litigation because it feels that if it could compete for the use of NFL trademarks in selling hats that it could provide lower priced merchandise than is currently available on the market," said Glen Nager, an attorney at Jones Day, which is representing American Needle.
The NFL also had urged the Supreme Court to take the case in the hope of winning a national victory, as it and other sports leagues have lost similar cases in other appeals courts.
"We look forward to the opportunity to explain why the court should confirm and extend on a nationwide basis the favorable rulings of the Court of Appeals on the application of the antitrust laws to the unique structure of a sports league," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email.
The National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League filed briefs supporting the NFL with the Supreme Court, while Major league Baseball, which has an antitrust exemption on many issues, did not.
The U.S. Justice Department had urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case, saying neither American Needle nor the NFL had presented a question warranting review by the justices.
The case is American Needle v. National Football League, No. 08-661.
(Additional reporting by James Vicini in Washington; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
Original article

Brazil fight back to sink U.S.

(BRAZIL, US, DONOVAN, HOWARD, HEADER, AFTER, BEFORE)

By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Holders Brazil fought back from 2-0 down with three second-half goals to beat the United States 3-2 and win the Confederations Cup for the third time in an entertaining final Sunday.
The U.S., who shocked Spain in the semis, looked set to complete an even greater upset when goals by Clint Dempsey and skipper Landon Donovan put them 2-0 ahead at halftime.
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard produced several good saves before striker Luis Fabiano took his tournament tally to five just after the restart and he equalized with a header.
Brazil captain Lucio completed his side`s stunning recovery when he rose superbly to power home an Elano corner six minutes from time.
The match was a fitting climax to an outstanding tournament which provided shocks, excellent football and noisy crowds, auguring well for next year`s World Cup finals in South Africa.
The U.S. stunned Brazil by taking the lead with a fortuitous goal by Dempsey.
He connected with Jonathan Spector`s cross and although he did not get a perfect touch the ball sped past Julio Cesar.
Astonishingly, the Americans doubled their lead after 27 minutes.
Donovan started the move deep in his own half when he found Ricardo Clark who broke down the left before sending a perfect cross back to Donovan.
His first touch wrong-footed Ramires, creating an opening for the striker who switched the ball to his left foot and cracked it past Julio Cesar for his 40th international goal in his 114th match.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Brazil had beaten the U.S. 14 times in 15 previous meetings but keeper Howard kept the outsiders firmly in control with a number of fine saves.
Brazil had the majority of the possession but rarely threatened until a minute after the restart when Luis Fabiano turned and shot through the legs of a defender in one movement.
Brazil twice went close to an equalizer, Howard pulling off an excellent diving save from a Lucio header and getting lucky when Kaka`s downward header looked to have crossed the line before the keeper held on to it.
But he was not quite as fortunate the next time Brazil hit the bar.  Continued...
Original article

Related articles:
Brazil fight back to sink U.S. in Confederations Cup final

Brazil fight back to sink U.S. in Confederations Cup final

By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Holders Brazil fought back from 2-0 down with three second-half goals to beat the United States 3-2 and win the Confederations Cup for the third time in an entertaining final Sunday.
The U.S., who shocked Spain in the semis, looked set to complete an even greater upset when goals by Clint Dempsey and skipper Landon Donovan put them 2-0 ahead at halftime.
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard produced several good saves before striker Luis Fabiano took his tournament tally to five just after the restart and he equalized with a header.
Brazil captain Lucio completed his side`s stunning recovery when he rose superbly to power home an Elano corner six minutes from time.
The match was a fitting climax to an outstanding tournament which provided shocks, excellent football and noisy crowds, auguring well for next year`s World Cup finals in South Africa.
The U.S. stunned Brazil by taking the lead with a fortuitous goal by Dempsey.
He connected with Jonathan Spector`s cross and although he did not get a perfect touch the ball sped past Julio Cesar.
Astonishingly, the Americans doubled their lead after 27 minutes.
Donovan started the move deep in his own half when he found Ricardo Clark who broke down the left before sending a perfect cross back to Donovan.
His first touch wrong-footed Ramires, creating an opening for the striker who switched the ball to his left foot and cracked it past Julio Cesar for his 40th international goal in his 114th match.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Brazil had beaten the U.S. 14 times in 15 previous meetings but keeper Howard kept the outsiders firmly in control with a number of fine saves.
Brazil had the majority of the possession but rarely threatened until a minute after the restart when Luis Fabiano turned and shot through the legs of a defender in one movement.
Brazil twice went close to an equalizer, Howard pulling off an excellent diving save from a Lucio header and getting lucky when Kaka`s downward header looked to have crossed the line before the keeper held on to it.
But he was not quite as fortunate the next time Brazil hit the bar.  Continued...
Original article

Will World Cup bring South Africans closer?

By Barry Moody
LONDON (Reuters) - Beyond the angst about whether South Africa will pull off a successful soccer World Cup next year is a more profound question -- can the competition bring the races closer 15 years after the end of apartheid?
Organizers of the competition, Africa`s biggest sports event, are hoping for a moment akin to the legendary appearance of Nelson Mandela in a Springbok shirt when South Africa won the 1995 rugby World Cup in Johannesburg.
That gesture forged an iconic symbol of national unity from a sport passionately loved by whites and had a lasting impact in calming their raw fears a year after majority rule began.
The nation has come a long way since then, but distrust and tensions persist between the races and, in a sports-mad nation, successful staging of the most-watched competition on earth could mark a new watershed.
"The 1995 rugby World Cup helped establish South Africa as the `Rainbow Nation`. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will see that nation come of age," organizing committee chief executive Danny Jordaan told Reuters.
He said the current Confederations Cup tournament, seen as a dress rehearsal for next year`s extravaganza and watched by multiracial crowds, had already shown "the capability that soccer has in bridging the divide between different races...
"It is my belief that the FIFA World Cup will have an even greater effect."
Jordaan is not alone in trusting in the potential of the tournament to have a major impact at home, weakening divisions and misunderstanding and also drawing more whites into football -- traditionally a black South Africans` game.
"You can be a fairly right-wing white Afrikaner and still feel an immense sense of pride when you see your nation is hosting what is the biggest show on earth, even if you are a die-hard rugby fan," said Richard Maguire, editor of South Africa`s football magazine Kick-Off.
"I think definitely the World Cup will have an impact in bringing people together and developing a sense of unity and national pride," he told Reuters.
CAVEATS
But while there is widespread optimism and excitement is building, analysts warn the impact should not be over-estimated.
The only real way to bring South Africans closer is to end the stark wealth disparities that are among the reasons for one of the world`s worst rates of violent crime.
"You can feel good about all this stuff in a stadium but on a Monday morning, when it is raining on your little tin shack held together with pieces of plastic , you may not be feeling so good about South Africa," Maguire said.
"There are those harsh realities underneath that no World Cup is going to take away."  Continued...
Original article

U.S. shock Spain to reach Confederations final

By Mike Collett
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - United States scored their greatest win for almost 60 years by beating European champions Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
Goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey ended Spain`s world record run of 15 successive victories and their 35-match unbeaten sequence, a world record streak they share with Brazil, and caused one of the biggest soccer upsets in years.
However, the match ended in bitter-sweet agony for U.S. coach Bob Bradley when his son Michael, who had a brilliant game in midfield, was sent off three minutes from time.
He was the third U.S. player sent off in the tournament and now misses Sunday`s final against Brazil or hosts South Africa.
Overall though it was the best performance by the U.S. since they beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
It was also the first time the U.S. had beaten a team ranked number one in FIFA`s world rankings since they defeated Brazil in 1998.
The result was even more remarkable because the U.S. had lost their opening two group matches in the competition and were heading out until they beat Egypt 3-0 on Sunday and Brazil sank Italy by the same score as they squeezed through on the number of goals scored.
The fact the Americans are now in the final is testimony to their grit, determination and battling qualities in denying Spain time and space in midfield and up front.
Typical were brave blocks by defenders Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra who were all outstanding.
GREAT EFFORT
"That was a great team effort, to beat a team like Spain, it`s big," coach Bradley told reporters.
"We played as hard as we could, everyone played their part. We will take a few hours to regroup now but we will be ready for the final. We are so excited about this."
Counterpart Vicente Del Bosque, who had guided his side to 13 wins in a row since taking over after Spain won Euro 2008, said: "We are not used to losing any longer.
"Every defeat hurts. Today we needed the final touch. We had many opportunities but they really closed the door on us."
Altidore, 19, said: "The fact I play my football in Spain at Villarreal was a big help. I have played against a lot of these guys and know them and gave the coach some information.  Continued...
Original article

Ex-First Boston CEO to run UFL's NY football team

By Ben Klayman
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The United Football League named on Monday the former head of First Boston Corp as the owner of its New York team, ahead of the American football league's October launch.
William Mayer, co-founder of Park Avenue Equity Partners, is the latest investor and owner in the smaller rival of the National Football League that is scheduled to begin play with four teams playing in seven cities.
The league announced in February plans to kick off its inaugural season with a smaller slate of teams -- it had initially targeted six to eight teams -- due to the U.S. recession.
"Bill's business acumen and leadership skills will be an incredible resource to the league and the New York team," UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue said in a statement.
Mayer has been involved in private equity investing for more than 35 years, including 23 years at the former investment bank First Boston Corp, where he was chief executive. He also was dean of the College of Business at the University of Maryland from 1992 through 1996.
Mayer is a board member of BlackRock Kelso and Lee Enterprises.
Park Avenue Equity Partners is a New York private equity firm focused on investing in middle-market companies. It has invested about $340 million since its founding in 1999, according to the firm's website.
The Park Avenue Equity Partners portfolio includes financial services firm W.R. Hambrecht + Co, whose CEO, William Hambrecht, founded the UFL, according to Park Avenue's website.
"Affordable and accessible entertainment is paramount in today's economic climate and this is what the UFL is offering," Mayer said. "Having worked with Bill Hambrecht for many years and even housing the league offices in its infancy, I knew the United Football League was a fiscally sound investment and one that showed great potential."
Other UFL investors, who are putting a combined $30 million into the league, include Google executive Tim Armstrong and Paul Pelosi, the husband of Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The UFL is the latest in a series of leagues to compete with the NFL since the 1970s. Its predecessors -- the World Football League, the United States Football League and, most recently, the XFL -- all failed.
However, UFL officials have vowed not to overspend or set unrealistic expectations -- mistakes of past NFL rivals. Huyghue said the UFL will complement the NFL and not try to compete for top players.
UFL games will air on Versus, a Comcast-owned network, and will take place primarily on Thursday evenings. The season will end with a championship game over Thanksgiving weekend.
The initial UFL teams include New York/Hartford, Connecticut; Las Vegas/Los Angeles; San Francisco/Sacramento, California; and Orlando, Florida. Huyghue previously said the league will expand by at least two to four teams in 2010.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman, editing by Matthew Lewis)

Source: Reuters

Mexico drop deeper into trouble, U.S. recover

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Mexico slumped to their fourth successive away defeat in World Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 reverse in El Salvador on Saturday, while the United States recovered to get their campaign back on track for South Africa.
Midfielder Celso Borges scored twice as CONCACAF region leaders Costa Rica backed up their win over the U.S. on Wednesday with a 3-2 triumph at Trinidad & Tobago to stay top of the final stage standing as the marathon tournament nears its climax.
Mexico dropped to fifth in the six-team group after Eliseo Quintanilla's late penalty left them on three points from four games, ruining coach Javier Aguirre's second debut with the side.
The top three teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fourth plays off against the fifth South American team for an additional berth.
Mexico have lost all three away games -- against U.S., Honduras and El Salvador -- and were also beaten in Honduras in the last away game of the competition's previous stage.
Four of their remaining six games are at home but they have no more margins for error.
Former Atletico Madrid coach Aguirre, brought back after Sven-Goran Eriksson was sacked in April, had promised a more positive attitude but instead saw his team fall behind to Julio Martinez's 11th goal at San Salvador's hostile Cuscatlan stadium.
Mexico equalized in the 71st minute with a penalty converted by playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was recalled by Aguirre despite announcing his international retirement under Eriksson last year.
But Oscar Rojas was adjudged to have handled with four minutes left and Quintanilla stepped up to score and take El Salvador to third place with five points.
"Beating Mexico is a special sensation," El Salvador coach and former Mexico international Carlos de los Cobos told reporters. "We have a team of players who know how to play football."
DREAM START
The U.S. edged to a nervy 2-1 victory over Honduras after the visitors had made a dream start in Chicago when Carlos Costly scored with a 25-meter shot in the fifth minute.
Landon Donovan equalized with a penalty two minutes before halftime after Mario Beata handled and a brave diving header by captain Carlos Bocanegra in the 69th minute gave the relieved hosts the points.
"After we went behind, we were thinking 'not again' but we fought together and stayed together in a team effort and showed character to come back and win," Bocanegra said.
The U.S. stayed second with 10 points from five games while Honduras dropped to fourth with four from four.
Norwegian-based Borges, on target against the U.S. last Wednesday, scored twice in the second half as Costa Rica came from behind to beat the Soca Warriors. Continued...
Source: Reuters