REAL BACK FOR RONALDO

Spanish giants will make new move for United ace
MAKE-UP, lights, camera, action - the Cristiano Ronaldo Show is about to enter its second season.

Stand by for the Manchester United star to once more start polishing his ego, fluttering his eyelashes and wooing would-be suitors.

His admirers have not changed. Real Madrid continue to be attracted by the prospect of securing a player who has become World and European Footballer of the Year since they last tried to sign him.

United are fooling themselves if they think that Real's pursuit of the Portuguese winger ended when Sir Alex Ferguson chased them away last summer.

The Spanish giants will be back in the close season with a renewed passion and an £100million package to try to entice club and player.

But the seduction process has already begun. The Real key figure has changed but the aim remains the same. Former president Ramon Calderon has left centre stage, ousted in a vote-rigging scandal during club elections last year..

The contest to replace him is already under way with Florentina Perez ready to stand for office, three years after leaving his Bernabeu seat of power.

Perez wants to bring the glamour and Galacticos back to the Spanish capital and Ronaldo's name is the top one on his election ticket.

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So, too, is the Brazilian superstar Kaka - another £100m target - while Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas has also been linked but is more likely to be attracted to his former club Barcelona.

Perez will not present his package to the Real electorate until all his potential signings are in place. But he is convinced he will see off any rival candidates and win the keys to the boardroom.

Steven Gerrard was to be his third star capture but the Liverpool skipper has kicked that idea into the long grass by pledging the rest of his career to the Anfield club.

Ronaldo's attempts at a similar show of loyalty have been less convincing. He contends he is happy at United but, of the future, adds: "Only God knows about that."

There are echoes in that remark of those he made a year ago when his commitment to the United cause gradually wavered to the point where he admitted he wanted to join Real.

Spanish sources have been insisting for several months that a deal has been struck between Madrid, United, Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes, a claim that has been vehemently denied at Old Trafford.



But ex-president Calderon recently told a Spanish radio station that his legacy to the club was to have clinched Ronaldo's arrival this summer. And the winger's international team-mate and Real defender Pepe believes he is on his way to Spain.

Pepe said: "Cristiano wants to play in the Santiago Bernabeu. I would love him to join Madrid. He has already said that he wants to come and I hope that next season he is with us."

Claims that Ronaldo is not receiving sufficient protection from Premier League referees are being interpreted in Spain as a further sign that he will leave United in the summer.

A new wave of media frenzy broke out in the Spanish capital this week when it was revealed that he intends to open a branch of his chain of fashion stores in Madrid. There are also claims he has plans to open shops in Paris, Milan, Madrid, London, Prague, Berlin, Tokyo and Los Angeles but, significantly, not in Manchester.

A Spanish source told Sport of the World: "There is a cleverly conceived plan in place for Cristiano to join Real.

"The reports that he is unhappy with the treatment he gets in England is part of it and will be used as a lever for him to get his dream move to Madrid.

"Of course, it will have to be achieved with United's approval but part of the strategy is to keep chipping away at their resistance until they give in."

Sir Alex Ferguson will fight tooth and nail to keep his star player from the clutches of a club he has come to despise for their underhand tactics.

And United have been drawing up a new deal which could earn him up to £200,000-a-week as a reward for his status as the world's best player.

That will provide the ultimate test of Ronaldo's fidelity.

Any hesitation on his part will begin a re-run of the saga which stretched through last summer.

For there to be a different ending he will need to utter the words which so far he has failed to deliver: "I want to leave Manchester United."

If he does the curtain will fall. And it will be exit, stage left, Cristiano Ronaldo.

CESC FABREGAS ON WAY OUT :Arsenal players turn on big-head skipper

CESC FABREGAS has been branded arrogant and out of control - by his own Arsenal team-mates.

And while his behaviour has created shockwaves inside the Emirates Stadium, the situation is being monitored closely back in his Spanish homeland.

The signals have been picked up at Barcelona - where Fabregas began his career as a trainee.

Sources close to the Catalan giants are now convinced the midfielder has set his heart on rejoining the club he has supported since he was a toddler.

Reports in his native Barca claim that his recent spat with Hull officials after the Gunners' stormy 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory have further affected his state of mind. Barcelona are briefing the Spanish media that Fabregas believes there is a witch hunt against him as part of a campaign to drive him away from Arsenal.

Back in England, there is an entirely different notion. Within the confines of the Emirates, insiders have detected a marked change in Fabregas's attitude since he returned victorious from Spain's success in last summer's European Championships.


TO HULL AND BACK - Cesc Fabregas (right) after Hull's League win over Arsenal earlier this season

A Gunners insider told us: "Fabregas has changed since he came back from the European Championships. It's as if he thinks he's made it because Spain won.

"It was the same with Thierry Henry in his last season - but at least Henry had won everything and had a right to swagger around. People are scared to confront Fabregas in case they upset him and he decides to walk in the summer.

"But as far as most of the players are concerned, he's going anyway and there is a real arrogance to him now."

What do you think?

There is a growing belief amongst Arsenal players and officials that his swagger is threatening the dressing room harmony.

The Arsenal source said: "Fabregas is almost a law unto himself. He walks around like he owns the place and that's put more than a few noses out of joint.

"A lot of the players think he'll be off in the summer to Barcelona - or maybe even Real Madrid - and that he's just swaggering around until he goes.

"The problem is, he gets away with it. There were a lot of people at the club who were surprised when he was allowed to go back to Spain for several weeks to do his injury rehabilitation because it's normally a strict policy that rehab is overseen by Arsenal medical staff."

The player's father, Francesc Fabregas Snr insisted his son "is very happy at Arsenal" before adding: "But there are a thousand conditions to be considered.

"He has always said that Arsene Wenger is one of the fundamental things for him to be there.

"When Florentino (Perez) was at Real Madrid four years ago they came to us and put a lot of money on the table but we said 'No'.

"We decided that it was not the right moment then for Cesc to make the change. You have to take everything into consideration - money is not everything."

While manager Arsene Wenger has publicly defended his club captain, there are other senior officials at Arsenal who are concerned at the Spaniard's attitude.

And there is a feeling at Arsenal the club will not be able to match the £120,000-a-week wages that would be on offer at the Nou Camp.

Wenger has insisted on basic parity amongst top earners - like Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas - of around £90,000 so as not to create any ill-feeling in the dressing room.


Agent


But that figure is unlikely to satisfy Fabregas, 21, who knows the La Liga giants will do everything they can to lure him home.

Significantly, Wenger is already looking to strengthen his midfield department - with Fiorentina's Felipe Melo seen as a possible replacement.

The young Brazilian has been watched several times in recent week and has confirmed: "I know about the interest from teams like Arsenal and Juventus but I prefer to leave these matters in the hands of my agent and only think about playing football."

Wenger will not let Fabregas leave willingly. But he will need to use all his powers of persuasion to calm the storm which is brewing inside his dressing room. Ultimately, the solution lies with Fab himself.

WAYNE ROONEY was last night hailed as the 'crazy joker in the pack' by Fabio Capello.

Fabio hails his 'joker in the pack'


WAYNE ROONEY was last night hailed as the 'crazy joker in the pack' by Fabio Capello.

Rooney banished all memories of his red card last Saturday with a stunning two-goal show.

The England boss called Roo a 'crazy man' in the build-up to yesterday's 4-0 trouncing of Slovakia following the Manchester United star's sending off at Fulham.



But after seeing Rooney turn in a virtuoso display, Capello insisted: "Wayne is the joker in our pack, perhaps the crazy joker!

"He can play anywhere and is so important to us."

And England team-mate John Terry has tipped Rooney to smash every England record after watching his demolition of Slovakia.

The England skipper backed the striker to pass Sir Bobby Charlton's haul of 49 international goals.

And with Rooney in line for his 50th cap against Ukraine in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier, Terry reckons the Manchester United hitman will also eclipse Peter Shilton's 125 caps for his country.

WELL DONE SON - England players congratulate Emile Heskey on his early opener


Terry said: "It's frightening to think he'll reach 50 caps at only 23. There's been a lot of talk about Becks this week, but I've said to Wayne, 'You could get to 150 caps'.

"It will be no problem for him to get to 100 quickly. He could have been nearly there already but he's missed some games with injury.

"When you talk about Bobby Charlton's record, his goals are there too. But it's Wayne's all-round play that is outstanding - you can see it in some of the moves out there. When you tell him to play, he's natural.

"There's been a lot of talk of Wayne's discipline, but everyone can see he's maturing on and off the pitch. You just need to let Wayne play and do what he's best at.


ROO BEAUTY - Wayne Rooney heads home his first goal

"On that form he's one of the world's best. It doesn't matter whether you're playing against him in training or on a computer game, he gets the hump if he doesn't win. That's how competitive he is and you never want to lose that in him.

"He gets at everyone if we're losing, but that helps us because we see that will to win."

Terry celebrated a milestone of his own with his 50th cap, then set his sights on emulating record breaker David Beckham, who reached 109 for his country, passing the great Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108.



Chelsea's skipper added: "I'm very proud to get to 50 caps. Maybe I was overshadowed a bit by Becks, but I don't mind that. It's great to get to 50 but, obviously, I hope to get many more.

"A hundred caps is my next target. When I first got in the England team, 50 was my target so now I have another."

The only disappointments in England's 4-0 rout were the injuries to strikers Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole AND Peter Crouch.

Heskey scored his first-ever goal at Wembley and his first for his country in six years. But the Aston Villa hitman then limped off after just 15 minutes with a thigh problem.

Frank Lampard scores for England
LIGHT UP - Frank Lampard scores for England

He was replaced by West Ham striker Cole but he lasted only 21 minutes and his replacement, Portsmouth's Peter Crouch, hobbled off 17 minutes from the end.

Three Lions boss Capello declared: "Please God, Rooney stays fit. He can play up front on his own if we need him to because he is such a special player.

"He played very well and we can't do without him."

Cole was last night ruled out of Wednesday's World Cup qualifying tie against Ukraine with an abductor muscle problem - with Spurs' Darren Bent called up in his place.

As for his other crocked forwards, Capello added: "Crouch should be OK for the next game. He had a knock on his back.

Becks and lamps
HAPPY - David Beckham congratulates Frank Lampard

"But Heskey needs a scan. He suffered cramp in his thigh and we will know the results on Sunday.

"I will also decide then whether to call up any other players to the squad. But we cannot call up Michael Owen. He has only played for 20 minutes for Newcastle. It is not enough."



Rooney capped an outstanding performance with his second-half brace and declared: "I'm enjoying my football and we played some great stuff.

"I feel I'm probably playing as well as I ever have for England. The formation with myself and Stevie Gerrard worked really well in the first half.

"You can see the manager's ideas in how we played. He wanted us to take the work in training on to the pitch and I felt we did it.

"It would be nice to get near some of the caps and appearances records, but I'll just be happy to be still involved with England for the next 10 years.

"I'm delighted I'm scoring goals for England and I've got no problem playing up front on my own if I'm asked to. I've done it before.

"It's not nice when you get injuries but, hopefully, those players will all be OK for Wednesday. Ukraine is a big game for us but this was the ideal preparation."

Iran sack Daei after defeat to Saudi Arabia

Ali Daei, the world's all-time highest international goalscorer, has been sacked as Iran coach after his team's 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying, state media reported on Sunday.


The hugely-popular Daei, a former Bayern Munich striker, was dismissed after his side let slip a 1-0 lead with 11 minutes remaining, the IRNA news agency reported, without giving details.

The Saudis' win in Tehran gave them a World Cup lifeline but pushed the Iranians down to fourth place in Group 2 with six points from their five games played.

With a top two finish and automatic qualification looking unlikely, three-times qualifiers Iran now face a dogfight to clinch a playoff berth.

In a post-match news conference on Saturday, Daei vowed to push on with the campaign and refused to step down.

"I'm happy with the players' performance and I'm not going to resign," Daei said.

"We conceded those two goals because of our mistakes but I can understand how difficult it is for everybody."

He added: "What we have to do is try harder and claim as many points as we can in the forthcoming games."

Playing in a packed Azadi stadium, the Saudis battled hard throughout the match and blocked out the jeers of the hostile crowd to score twice in eight minutes after going behind to Masoud Shojaei's impressive 57th-minute strike.

They will see the result as justice following their disallowed goal and rejected penalty appeal in the first half, both of which appeared legitimate.

Naif Hazadi and Osama al-Harbi scored in the last 11 minutes in an amazing comeback to give the Saudis a chance to reach their fifth successive finals.

North Korea lead the group on 10 points, ahead of South Korea, who have played one less game, on eight.

Saudi Arabia have seven points and take on bottom side UAE, who have one point, on Wednesday. The top two teams in each group advance, with the third-placed side entering playoffs for the final berth.

U.S. barely escapes with a draw against El Salvador

Harry Houdini has nothing on the U.S. men's national team.

Staring at a two-goal deficit with less than 15 minutes to play, the U.S showed plenty of resolve in salvaging a 2-2 tie courtesy of late goals by substitute Jozy Altidore and Frankie Hejduk. And while there are some compelling reasons to hail the Americans' Great Escape, getting one point in El Salvador isn't anything to crow about, and it's plenty troubling that the U.S. needed such a miracle to begin with.

AP

Frankie Hejduk, right, played a hand in both of the U.S. team's late goals against El Salvador.

To say the Yanks were guilty of sleepwalking through the first 75 minutes is like saying AIG had some cash flow problems late last year. Aside from Michael Bradley's typical intensity, the U.S. offered little in the way of attacking aggression for much of the game. In fact, the U.S. looked downright scared of getting forward, with its transition from defense to offense painfully slow.

This was especially true of outside backs Heath Pearce and Hejduk, who rarely ventured forward during the first two-thirds of the game, and as a result the U.S. attack had little to no width. Combine this with the tendency of Sacha Kljestan and DaMarcus Beasley to give the ball away, and you had a U.S. team that played right into the hands of a tenacious El Salvador side, one that succeeded in packing the midfield, while looking dangerous on the counterattack.

It was from just such a foray that El Salvador broke on top in the 15th minute, although it initially looked like the danger had been averted when Rodolfo Zelaya was hemmed in on the right wing. But a quick combination involving Zelaya and Osael Romero, as well as some suspect defending from Pearce and Carlos Bocanegra, allowed Eliseo Quintanilla to waltz in and slot his shot past Brad Guzan in the U.S. goal.

U.S. men's schedule
U.S. vs. Trinidad & Tobago
April 1
LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.
7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

That should have been enough to wake up the U.S., but it wasn't until El Salvador winger Cristian Castillo nodded home his team's second goal in the 72nd minute when the U.S. were galvanized into action, with Hejduk and Altidore in the thick of things. Hejduk began making some dangerous runs forward, and after taking a pinpoint feed from Brian Ching, the Columbus defender hit a perfect cross that Altidore powered home at the far post to get the U.S. back into the game.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Hejduk brought the U.S. level by nodding home a loose ball in the box after substitute keeper Juan Jose Gomez had punched Beasley's corner high in the air. And about the only thing more surprising than seeing Hejduk score was the sight of him shoving Altidore out of the way just prior to heading the ball in.

The U.S. then nearly achieved the impossible in stoppage time, but Ching, after being set up beautifully by Altidore, could only hammer his shot straight into the chest of Gomez from little more than 6 yards out.

So was this result a point gained or two points dropped for the Americans? Certainly a two-goal fight-back on the road is nothing to be dismissive about, and the result puts the U.S. alone at the top of the Hexagonal standings. But the U.S. no doubt has done some damage to their qualifying campaign. It's unlikely that teams like Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico will only manage a point in El Salvador, and now the U.S. will need to get some road points elsewhere to make sure their push to qualify doesn't go down to the wire.

They will also need to continue to win at home, and while there is always pressure to hold serve, the El Salvador result has increased the anxiety ahead of Wednesday's home match against Trinidad & Tobago.

U.S. manager Bob Bradley will also have some decisions to make in the wake of some downright poor performances. Both Kljestan and Pearce have been subpar of late, and it might be time to give some other players a shot. Jose Torres in particular did well in a substitute role, if for no other reason than he was able to find a white shirt with his passes. Jonathan Spector could also be the latest to be given a try at left back. Landon Donovan was barely heard from during the U.S. comeback, and while it's clear that his spot in the lineup is safe, the Americans need more involvement from their all-time leading goal scorer.

Regardless, the U.S. will just be hoping that on Wednesday another appearance by Houdini won't be necessary.

Player ratings (scale of 1-10)

Brad Guzan, 5 -- Left hung out to dry on the first goal, and did well to save Romero's shot from distance in the first half. Looked like he could have done a bit better on Castillo's header.

Heath Pearce, 3 -- A nightmare. Got caught on the wrong side of Quintanilla on El Salvador's first goal, and killed plenty of attacks with some wayward passing.

Carlos Bocanegra, 4 -- Decision to commit to Romero on Quintanilla's goal was a killer, and his passing left a lot to be desired.

Danny Califf, 4 -- Seemed awkward and slow to react, which led to conceding too many free kicks.

Frankie Hejduk, 6 -- Went from goat to hero in record time. Was soundly beaten in the air by Castillo for El Salvador's second goal, but then his inch-perfect cross to Altidore got the U.S. back in the match. Got forward with abandon after that and scored the equalizer, leading one to wonder: What took him so long?

U.S. vs. El Salvador
Last five road games against El Salvador

March 28, 2009 -- T, 2-2, San Salvador

Oct. 9, 2004 -- W, 2-0, San Salvador (WCQ)

June 29, 1997 -- T, 1-1, San Salvador (WCQ)

March 23, 1993 -- T, 2-2, San Salvador

Feb. 18, 1992 -- L, 2-0, San Salvador

DaMarcus Beasley, 3 -- His poor first touch sparked the counter that led to El Salvador's goal and it also stifled several offensive forays. Moved to left back and aided the attack, but got roasted by Zelaya in the run-up to El Salvador's second.

Michael Bradley, 5 -- Was one of the few players who played with the requisite amount of intensity throughout, but even he found it difficult to connect on his passes.

Sacha Kljestan, 3 -- The Chivas USA midfielder is out there primarily for his offense, and his passing did little to justify that reputation.

Clint Dempsey, 6 -- A hit and miss performance that was more "hit" by the end. Had some shocking giveaways, but also did plenty to keep some attacks alive, including the long ball that he knocked into Ching during the run-up to Altidore's goal.

Landon Donovan, 4 -- The L.A. forward was dangerous at times in the first half and had a point-blank opportunity stuffed by starting keeper Miguel Montes. But this was a game where the U.S. needed him to step up more, and he didn't get it done.

Brian Ching, 5 -- Ching was more effective once the U.S. started getting forward, and his layoff to Hejduk was sublime. Had the chance to steal all three points, but his late drive was hit straight into the chest of substitute keeper Gomez.

Substitutes:

Jozy Altidore, 7 -- A game-changing performance. Not only did he get the U.S. back into the match with a well-taken goal, but his perfect layoff to Ching should have led to the game-winner.

Jose Torres, 6 -- Did a good job of keeping the attack ticking over during 18 productive minutes.

Maurice Edu, NR -- Earned a late cameo due to a late injury to Bradley.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPNsoccernet. He also writes for Center Line soccer and can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com.

Sania Mirza foresees No problem in playing in Pakistan

Sania Mirza foresees No problem in playing in Pakistan






The tennis star Sania Mirza has recently rewritten history by becoming the first Indian woman to annex a Grand Slam title. Partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi, she won the mixed doubles event of the Australian Open 2003 by overpowering the duo of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram 6-3, 6-1 in the final in Melbourne.

Indeed winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi was the best way she could have made a comeback in the international circuit after having been out of action for quite a while due to a wrist injury.

"It is very special to win your first Grand Slam. After the injury it is a great way to come back. I am just living in the moment for now," the 22-year-old Sania Mirza was quoted as saying upon her return to India.

Sania Mirza, laid low by the wrist injury for the better part of the last year, has begun the new year on a high note and she looks determined to make it count. What a great start she has had to 2009, winning her maiden Grand Slam title in the very first outing.
Last year the wrist injury had forced her to withdraw from several matches and the Roland Garros and US Open Grand Slams.

She represented India at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, in the women's singles and doubles events. In singles, she retired in the round of 64, while she was trailing 1-6, 1-2 against Iveta Benešová of Czech Republic. She teamed up with Sunitha Rao for the doubles event. They got a walk-over in the round of 32, but lost to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina by 4-6, 4-6, in the round of 16.

Talking to a group of covering journalists from Pakistan, she had remarked during the Beijing Olympics that she would like to play in Pakistan where she has also great fan following. She didn’t foresee any problem if invited to participate in any tennis event in Pakistan. She spoke very highly of the talents of Aisam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s premier tennis player of the recent times.

Hailing from the historic town of Hyderabad, Sania Mirza had started playing tennis at the age of six, turning professional at the age of 16. She made her debut in the India Fed Cup team, winning all three singles matches. She won the 2003 Wimbledon Championships Girls' Doubles title, in the company of Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.


She is the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India, with a career high ranking of 27 in singles and 18 in doubles. She holds the distinction of being the first Indian woman to be seeded in a Grand Slam tennis tournament.

She had become the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2005 U.S. Open, defeating Mashona Washington, Maria Elena Camerin and Marion Bartoli. In 2004, she had finished runner-up at the Asian Tennis Championship.

In 2005, Sania Mirza reached the third round of the Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams. She became the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title, defeating Alyona Bondarenko of Ukraine in the Hyderabad Open Finals.

She won the silver in the women's singles category and the gold

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3 years after sanctions, Sooners reach round of 16

3 years after sanctions, Sooners reach round of 16



NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma made the NCAA tournament in 2006, but its basketball program quickly turned into a mess.

The Sooners made a quick exit from the tournament, losing in the first round to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Not long after, coach Kelvin Sampson bolted for Indiana amid an NCAA investigation into nearly 600 improper recruiting phone calls made by Sampson and his staff that resulted in probation and other sanctions for Oklahoma.

The bad news continued: After Sampson left, three of the prominent recruits who had signed with Oklahoma backed out of their letters of intent, including Damion James, who went to Texas, and Scottie Reynolds, who went to Villanova. That left Sampson's replacement, Jeff Capel, with a bare cupboard of a roster.

But it didn't take long for Capel to turn around the program.

Three years after taking over, he's guided the second-seeded Sooners into the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament, in which Oklahoma (29-5) will play third-seeded Syracuse (28-9) on Friday in a South Regional semifinal in Memphis, Tenn.

It's the Sooners' longest run in the NCAA tournament since 2003, when they lost in the round of eight, coincidentally to the Orange.

Capel wasn't in the mood to look back Monday at how far the Sooners have come: "Too busy; I'm still in the midst of it," he said. "When it's over, I guess we'll do that."

An athletic department spokesman said Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione was unavailable and Castiglione did not immediately respond to an e-mail query sent Monday afternoon by The Associated Press. But Oklahoma's players certainly are aware of the program's recent history and appreciative of its latest run of success, giving much credit to their coach.

"I'm proud to be a part of the team that kind of hopefully changed the program around and kind of got it rolling again," sophomore center Blake Griffin said. "It's something we'll all be proud of as a team."

Oklahoma has been to the Final Four four times, most recently in 2002, and the Sooners were a postseason staple under Sampson and his predecessor, Billy Tubbs, making either the NCAA tournament or National Invitation Tournament for 25 straight seasons, at the time the longest such streak among Division I programs.

That streak ended in the 2006-07 season, Capel's first at Oklahoma, when the Sooners struggled to a 16-15 record. That summer, Oklahoma's football program was penalized for NCAA rules violations and the university's probation period — which was to end in May 2008 — was extended to May 2010.

Capel took a big step in the rebuilding process by signing one of the nation's top recruits in Griffin, who came from just up the road in Oklahoma City two years after his older brother, Taylor, signed with the Sooners. Oklahoma rebounded to 23-12 last season, falling to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Unlike many other stars in his class, Blake Griffin opted to return to college for his sophomore season, and Capel landed another high-profile recruit in guard Willie Warren, giving the Sooners a strong outside complement to Griffin's rugged inside presence.

Senior guard Austin Johnson said it was tough at first to adjust to Capel's way of doing things, but that it's hard to argue with his success.

"He got some good players in," Johnson said. "He's a great coach that came in and he's got us rolling right now."

That roll includes NCAA tournament wins over Morgan State (82-54) and Michigan (73-63), putting the Sooners one win shy of the program's first 30-win season since 2002. Taylor Griffin, a senior, said he will do "whatever it takes" to keep Oklahoma's season going.

"For me, being in my position as a senior, having a sibling on the team, seeing this program go through so much over these four years, it's been incredible," he said. "I don't want it to end any time soon."

Manchester United looking Tata Group as sponsor

Manchester United looking Tata Group as sponsor

Indian conglomerate Tata Group.

United’s four-year, US $100 million contract with American International Group runs until May 2010 but the insurance giant said in January it would not be renewing the deal.

The English Premier League champions sent a shirt sponsorship proposal to another Indian company, the Sahara Group, in January and local media reported on Thursday that United has also approached the Tata Group.

“It’s reasonably right,” a brand consultant of the Tata Group said of the reports.

“There are various sponsorship options, one for the team shirt. This has been going on for some time but nothing has been finalised.”

The Tata Group has interests spanning steel, cars, information technology, communication, power, tea and hotels.

Tata Consultancy Services, the software arm of the group, is one of the sponsors of the Ferrari Formula One team.

Last month the chief executive of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia also said his company is pondering whether to become United’s new shirt sponsor.

Saudi Telecom and British insurer Prudential have also been linked as potential backers of United, who rely on sponsorship for around a third of their revenue.

Napier Test: India has to trail kiwis by 540 runs

Napier Test: India has to trail kiwis by 540 runs

Napier: India dug themselves into a hole by losing three quick wickets after an insipid bowling display allowed a spirited New Zealand to pile up a mammoth first innings total and take control of the second cricket Test in Napier on Friday.

The Kiwis rode on Jesse Ryder's (201) maiden double century and Brendon McCullum's strokeful 115 to rattle up 619 for nine declared, their highest against India on home soil, on a placid track at the McLean Park.

The Indians, whose fielding left much to be desired and the bowling lacked the sting, were at a jittery 79 for three at close of the second day which was completely dominated by the Blackcaps.

Needing 341 runs to avoid the ignominy of follow on, the experienced duo of Rahul Dravid (21) and Sachin Tendulkar (0) will now have to bat out of their skin to save India the blushes.

VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik are the other recognised batsmen and all of them have to come good if India hope to prevent the Kiwis from equalling the three-match series.

India's ploy of sending Ishant Sharma (0) as the nightwatchman backfired as he fell in the penultimate over of the day, forcing Tendulkar to come out and face seven deliveries.

In the familiar company of his Delhi teammate Gambhir (16), Sehwag (34) began in his characteristic swashbuckling way, imposing himself on the Kiwi bowlers.

New Zealand got a chance to remove him when Sehwag was on 21 but Martin Guptill's throw missed the stumps by a whisker with the opener nowhere in the frame.

Fortunately for them, the lapse didn't prove costly. Sehwag, having hit Daniel Vettori for a six in the previous delivery, went for a wild slog-sweep only to bottom edge it to Brendon McCullum behind the stumps and perish after a 25-ball 34.

Jeetan Patel then removed Gambhir and Vettori trapped Ishant for a duck to compound India's problem.

Earlier, Jesse Ryder's 201, his second hundred against India in three innings, proved the fulcrum around which New Zealand recovered from a shaky 23 for three to stack up an intimidating first innings total.

The stocky left-hander batted with great resolve throughout his 490-minute tenure at the crease, inspiring three significant partnerships which drove India to despair. A powerful striker of the ball, he showed great ability to moderate his innings, defending when the bowlers demanded respect, attacking when they strayed in line and length.

There were moments when Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma troubled him with deliveries that slanted away from him, but he dug in heels to ensure that New Zealand would keep the series bubbling until the third Test at Wellington.

Ryder, resuming at his overnight 137, became only the third Kiwi to score a double hundred against India. Understandably, he was disappointed at casting away his wicket when he dragged Zaheer on to his sticks, immediately after bringing up his 200 off a disdainful pull. It was sad that a man who had been patient and watchful while consuming 328 deliveries, was to fling his willow in dismay as he entered the dressing room.

It wasn't Ryder's day alone at the McLean Park. James Franklin made a dignified 52 before falling victim to a misjudged single when Yuvraj relayed the ball to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik as he reluctantly responded to a call from Ryder. The pair raised 121 runs for the fifth wicket, following the record 271 Ryder and Ross Taylor had assimilated yesterday.

McCullum and Vettori (55) piled on India's agony in the post-lunch session, garnering 128 runs with effortless ease for the seventh wicket.

McCullum got into overdrive the moment he arrived at the crease, caning the bowlers who were by now listless and disheartened. Cuts, pulls and drives blazed from his willow as he raced to his third Test hundred. With a declaration imminently around the corner, he chopped Ishant to Tendulkar at deep point.

Vettori, reprieved by Ishant at mid-off off Sehwag when he was on 37, went to complete his fifty before dragging a distant Ishant ball on to his off peg.

Zaheer, who developed a sore back after hurtling 34 overs, was the pick of the Indian bowlers (3 for 129), though Ishant Sharma also finished with three for 95.

Talk of the 2009 Sweet 16 Cheerleaders

Talk of the 2009 Sweet 16 Cheerleaders

Just a short time ago, 64 teams entered into the March Madness tournament filled with hopes of NCAA basketball glory. But after a lot of sweat, tears and bracket-killing upsets, we’re down to the lucky bastards of the Sweet 16. And we could think of no better way to celebrate this than, you guessed it, cheerleaders! (What else?) Regardless of whether you’re team made the cut, Cheerleaders of the Sweet 16 will get you back in the game.

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