Hannah England"s season starts at Crystal Palace after achilles injury

Posted on July 13, 2012 by adminsports

England's season starts at Crystal Palace after achilles injury

UPDATED:

22:08 GMT, 12 July 2012

For most athletes the Aviva Diamond League meeting is a final sharpener before the Olympic Games.

For Hannah England, runner-up at the World Championships last year, it is the start of a new season. When she lines up at Crystal Palace in the 1500 metres it will be her first race for 46 days.

Back on the track: England

In that time she has spent five days in hospital on an IV drip, two weeks banned from standing for more than three minutes at a time and every morning for a fortnight in a hyperbaric chamber under water breathing pure oxygen to promote healing.

The end of her last season came on May 28 in Hengelo, Holland, when, 300m into a 1500m race, a rival’s spikes tore 4mm deep and 7mm long into her achilles tendon.
‘It hurt straight away,’ she said, but she steeled herself to win the race and achieve the Olympic A qualifying standard before going back to London with the assistance of crutches and also a wheelchair.

Britain selected her after her rivals failed to run faster at the trials.

‘It’s awful to sit there and hope the other girls aren’t running too well,’ said England (left).

‘I thought, “Worrying isn’t going to heal me any faster”. So I was always positive.

‘You get excited about every little progress, like walking across your room, and then you think, “But I am trying to race 1500m!” It’s ridiculous, really.’ Dame Kelly Holmes kept up her spirits with calls and texts, saying she ran only one race because of injury in the six weeks before winning an Olympic bronze in 2000. ‘Only control what you can control,’ is one text she remembers.

She finally ran a track session 10 days ago. She races world champion Jenny Simpson, last year’s world No 1 Morgan Uceny and No 2 Maryam Jamal.

Hannah England is an ambassador for skin products Ambre Solaire.

Lance Armstrong denies latest doping claims

Posted on June 14, 2012 by adminsports

Seven time Tour de France winner Armstrong angered by latest doping claims

UPDATED:

21:22 GMT, 13 June 2012

Lance Armstrong reacted angrily on Wednesday night after reports that the US Anti-Doping Agency has brought charges against the former cyclist that could see him stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

The Washington Post reported that USADA has written to Armstrong outlining charges that relate to allegations of doping that began in 1998 and continued until 2011.

According to the report, the charges include previously unpublicised allegations of doping in 2009 and 2010, after Armstrong came out of retirement.

The USADA was not immediately available for comment on the report.

Allegations: Armstrong issued an angry response

In a statement, Armstrong said: 'I have been notified that USADA, an organisation largely funded by taxpayer dollars but governed only by self-written rules, intends to again dredge up discredited allegations dating back more than 16 years to prevent me from competing as a triathlete and try and strip me of the seven Tour de France victories I earned.

'These are the very same charges and the same witnesses that the Justice Department chose not to pursue after a two-year investigation. These charges are baseless, motivated by spite and advanced through testimony bought and paid for by promises of anonymity and immunity.

'Although USADA alleges a wide-ranging conspiracy extended over more than 16 years, I am the only athlete it has chosen to charge. USADA's malice, its methods, its star-chamber practices, and its decision to punish first and adjudicate later all are at odds with our ideals of fairness and fair play.

'I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.

Back in action: Armstrong returned to cycling in 2009

'That USADA ignores this fundamental distinction and charges me instead of the admitted dopers says far more about USADA, its lack of fairness and this vendetta than it does about my guilt or innocence.'

The charges brought by the USADA would immediately prevent Armstrong from competing as a triathlete, the sport he took up following his retirement from cycling in 2011.

Armstrong survived testicular cancer early in his career and went on to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 while competing for the US Postal Service team and the Discovery Channel team.

He retired after the 2005 Tour de France, but returned in 2009, riding for Astana Cycling and RadioShack before retiring for a second time in February 2011, taking up triathlon earlier this year.

All-rounder: Armstrong has taken up triathlon this year

A statement from the International Cycling Union, which did not name Armstrong, confirmed it had been notified of cases opened by USADA regarding several people.

'The UCI confirms that it has been informed by USADA of its decision to open anti-doping cases against a number of rider support personnel and a rider,' the statement said.

'This is the first time USADA has communicated to UCI on this subject.

'The UCI is not aware of the information that is available to USADA on the persons concerned and has not been involved in the proceedings opened by USADA.

'The UCI will follow the case to the extent it will be informed and has noted that the persons concerned have been invited to send submittals on the allegations that are made against them.

'The UCI will not comment further at this stage.'

Euro 2012: Wayne Rooney humbled by Auschwitz

Posted on June 9, 2012 by adminsports

Rooney humbled by Auschwitz as England squad visit Nazi death camp

UPDATED:

09:52 GMT, 9 June 2012

Wayne Rooney hopes England's visit to Auschwitz will generate a greater degree of understanding about the horrors of the Nazi regime.

Rooney was one of seven members of Roy Hodgson's squad that visited the site of the biggest mass murder ever carried out.

Like the many thousands each year who pass under that mocking legend 'Arbeit Mach Frei', Rooney was left incredulous at the sheer inhumanity of a site which brutally put 1.1million Jews to their deaths, 80 per cent within two hours of their arrival.

In the spotlight: Rooney and other members of the England team visit Auschwitz

But as those who experienced it first hand get fewer, so the education process needs to be reinforced.

'Kids nowadays are interested in footballers,' said Rooney.

'I am sure that will get them interested. I am sure all of us who were there will speak of what we have seen.

'If a few more people understand it that's good.'

Accompanied by Phil Jagielka, Joe Hart, Leighton Baines, Theo Walcott, Andy Carroll and Jack Butland, Rooney was struck most by a picture hanging in a building at Auschwitz, depicting a scene from nearby Birkenau.

Harrowing: The Manchester United striker was taken aback by his experience

No-one is quite sure who it was. It might have been the infamous SS officer Heinz Thilo but it is too grainy to be certain. Yet there is no doubt about what it depicts.

With a flick of the finger, an old man is told to join a queue. He has just got off a train, one of thousands, its origin unknown. Clearly he is not someone capable of working a 10 hour day on a couple of slices of bread. The decision is easy.

The finger flicked to the mass of people to the right. He does not know it but this unnamed old man is 400 yards and two hours away from his death.

Harrowing: Rooney leaves the gas chamber and crematorium during Friday's trip

'That guy who made all the decisions, whether they lived or died,' said Rooney softly, his words delivered with total disbelief.

'He's probably gone home after that, listened to music, had dinner with his family, as if nothing had happened. It's crazy.'

Auschwitz is like that. It reduces everyone to exactly the same level. For four-and-a-half hours, this was not Wayne Rooney footballing superstar, but a 26-year-old man being shown the instruments of death, being told about the sub-human treatment of an entire race.

'It's hard to understand,' said Rooney. 'I am a parent and it's tough to see what happened there.

'You've seen the amount of children who died. You see the children's clothes and shoes, it's really sad.

'You have to see it first hand. You don't realise how those who lived there to work managed without food, without water. It's a form of torture and then they died. The others got murdered.'

David Luiz in frame to make Chelsea return for FA Cup final

Posted on May 1, 2012 by adminsports

The Final call! Chelsea defender Luiz in the frame for Wembley comeback

UPDATED:

21:58 GMT, 30 April 2012

Chelsea are optimistic that David Luiz will be fit for the first half of their attempt to land a unique double.

The defender is working hard to return for Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool, and interim manager Roberto Di Matteo is increasingly confident the Brazilian will be available for the Wembley showdown.

Luiz has been sidelined since injuring a hamstring in the 5-1 semi-final win over Tottenham. He has received round-the-clock treatment on his injury in the hope of being passed fit to face Liverpool.

Early exit: Luiz was taken off on a stretcher at Wembley against Spurs

Di Matteo will give Luiz as much time as possible to prove his fitness. However, the Italian will take no chances with the defender since he will have to play a key role in the forthcoming Champions League final.

Luiz is likely to be Chelsea's only available central defender for the match against Bayern Munich on May 19, with John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic suspended and Gary Cahill a major doubt.

Cahill is undergoing intensive treatment on the hamstring injury that he sustained against Barcelona last week.

The club could look at alternative methods, such as the use of an oxygen chamber, to give Cahill the best possible chance of making the final.

Meanwhile, Petr Cech says he would play both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba until the end of the season.

European adventure: Chelsea are Still battling it out on two fronts

Drogba has been in fine form of late and Torres has scored seven in his last 11 games, including a hat-trick against QPR on Sunday.

'We know Fernando is strong at running behind the line and getting in between defenders, and with Drogba you can do everything – he's a target man, he can hold the ball,' Cech said.

'They are different strikers. With both, you know you will get goals. I'd pick both.

'I don't know if it would work or not but I am sure one day it will happen and there will be goals.'

Meanwhile, Kenny Dalglish wants his Liverpool players to take tonight's clash against Fulham seriously and not worry about getting injured for Saturday's final.

'The more careful you are then the better chance you have of getting injured,' Dalglish said.

Des Kelly: Torture by TV for the duelling duo

Posted on April 28, 2012 by adminsports

Torture by TV for the duelling duo

UPDATED:

21:45 GMT, 27 April 2012

Painful joke alert: What's the difference between a masochist and a sadist A masochist says 'Please hurt me'. And the sadist says 'No'.

If you want to see some genuine agony, tune in on Monday night for the most unneighbourly encounter in Manchester since Mario Balotelli's landlord came home to find his bathroom was on fire.

Sir Alex Ferguson says only a masochist would enjoy Manchester United's visit to Manchester City, but he is merely telling half the story – because sadists will love it, too.

In the spotlight: Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini will go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium on Monday

In the spotlight: Sir Alex Ferguson and
Roberto Mancini will go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium on Monday

At the heart of the torture chamber are two managers caught in the glare of a global television spotlight, where every tactical decision, every gesture and every remark will be analysed and torn asunder in high definition.

Should you wish to watch Roberto Mancini rage and gesticulate wildly on the touchline, press the blue nose button on your remote control. To see Ferguson harangue the fourth official, press the red nose button, although the blue nose button might work just as well if he is really angry.

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Roy Hodgson thinks the scrutiny is too much. He believes Premier League managers are placed under impossible strain by television and he wants the intolerable cruelty to stop.

The West Brom manager called for TV cameras to be prevented from filming bosses during games, after becoming something of an online sensation himself earlier this year when he banged his head repeatedly on an advertising hoarding in a Basil Fawlty-style display of angry frustration.

'When you work in football you become a TV star,' he said. 'If I were in a dictatorial position I would never have cameras on coaches and benches. I would have TV cameras on the players. I don't think people should go to football matches to watch coaches, they should just watch the players.'

Fat chance. Newspapers and television stations have an array of long lenses constantly trained on the bench, in the hope of capturing grimaces, arguments and even that moment of uninhibited joy.

There might have been a time when a Brian Clough or Bob Paisley would have been left to their own devices once the game started, but those days are long gone.The manager is now an essential part of the drama and the technical area is their stage.

The ultimate performer is Jose Mourinho as he unleashes his full repertoire of managerial histrionics, capped this week by the sight of him kneeling alone in prayer on the touchline while Real Madrid exited the Champions League on penalties.

But if Pep Guardiola feels compelled to take a sabbatical from the pressures of running Barcelona – the most feted and successful club and coaching set-up in the world game – imagine what it must be like for every manager who has spent the last four years trying to catch up with him.

That is the pressure of being in front. It is a very different experience from being in the chasing pack. And all eyes will be on Mancini on Monday because it is a night when we will discover what he is made of.

Sign here: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson with starstruck fans in Wales on Friday

Sign here: United boss Ferguson with starstruck fans on a club trip to South Wales on Friday

Although United have stumbled of late, the onus is still on City at the Etihad Stadium. Ferguson and United will be content to escape with a draw, hang on to their three-point lead and move on to their final two fixtures.

Their advantage was eight points with six games remaining, but City have diligently chipped away at this as Mancini has played to the gallery with some delightful shtick. The nearer City have got, the more remote his chances have apparently become.

'We have no chance to win,' Mancini smirked on Sunday. 'United always… they are favourites'. The ploy is obviously to relieve the pressure on his players with a bit of reverse psychology. As mind games go, it's about as unsubtle as a big red button saying 'Do Not Push'.

And if City actually win and move back to the top of the table, and Mancini stays true to his line, he will probably concede the Premier League to United.

Whatever he's been up to, there is no disputing it has worked – so far. Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez are playing with such a carefree abandon it looks like they are having a kickabout in a Buenos Aires backstreet rather than battling for the title.

Big question: Manchester United's defence has been flapping - but can City take advantage

Big question: Manchester United's defence has been flapping – but can City take advantage

But this is a game when Mancini can forget about talking down City's hopes. He has to win. Ferguson's players might be wobbling, with the defence looking as vulnerable as it did before Christmas with Jonny Evans and Rafael flapping about unconvincingly, but there is no doubting the resolve of their boss and his ability to transmit that winning mindset.

For Mancini, this is something new. He collected titles in Italy, but with all the riches and talent at his disposal, he has a genuine chance to claim his first English league title. With Guardiola now available the chance might not come his way again.

But whatever happens on Monday, it's going to hurt someone.

You ARE the bad news, Bernie

Circus: F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone (left)

If I hadn't seen Bernie Ecclestone in
the flesh for myself (and just in time, otherwise my size 10s would have
accidentally squashed him down there) I'd have expected some
scriptwriter to invent this despicable little character.

F1's puppet master scuttled into Bahrain
with his grand prix cavalcade and then out again twice as quick with
the cash, avoiding pro-democracy protesters behind the tinted glass of
his high-security motorcade.

The diminutive 81-year-old dictator blessed with a gob as big as his bank balance then delivered his verdict on a shameful week. 'You know what they say – there is no such thing as bad publicity,' he said.

Oh really, Bernie Let's examine the truth of that idiotic maxim.

One 37-year-old protester shot and killed by riot police on the eve of the race. I'd imagine the family reading the obituary of the dead man might consider that pretty 'bad publicity'. Headlines declaring 10 women were held and one 'severely beaten' by troops aren't a winner, either.

If you think I've been harsh on Ecclestone, please don't worry on his behalf. Remember, Bernie says there's no such thing as bad publicity.

Kaboom!

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock is having talks with El Hadji Diouf, the player he branded a 'sewer rat'.

Back then the player responded: 'Who is Warnock He is nothing to me. He is always shooting his mouth off.' The two are now negotiating a transfer.

I haven't been as confident of the outcome since Alfred Nobel said he had invented something called dynamite.

UEFA share the trophy for stupidity with Terry

So the trophy for being a prize fool may well go to John Terry after all.

Chelsea are looking ahead to the Champions League final after a wondrously courageous performance in the Nou Camp saw the club showered with deserved plaudits.

But there was one name missing from the roll of honour. Terry.

The Stamford Bridge captain was shown the red card for kneeing Alexis Sanchez off the ball, a dumb reaction that saw him banned from the final and excluded from appearing on the team bench in Munich on May 19.

I didn't do it: John Terry offered a ridiculous excuse for his moment of madness in Barcelona

But now UEFA, in their quite magnificent stupidity, say they will allow Terry to climb the steps and pick up the famous old pot if his side win. The clowns say they 'have no power' to stop him.

I wonder what UEFA staff do all day in their offices, aside from twiddle with paper clips. It is quite simple for them to instruct a banned player to stay away from the official trophy presentation.

If Chelsea wish, Terry can join the obligatory bout of jumping up and down on the spot with the cup later on. But he has no place in the formal ceremony.

Of course this is the same UEFA that decided it would be fitting for former chief executive and Dr Evil impersonator Peter Kenyon to lead the side up when Chelsea were beaten in Moscow in 2008.

Sri Lanka v England – day two verdict from Lawrence Booth

Posted on March 27, 2012 by adminsports

Forget the mojo, these English batsmen need to rediscover their tempo

UPDATED:

11:03 GMT, 27 March 2012

Lawrence Booth gives his verdict for MailOnline from Galle on day two of the first Test match between Sri Lanka and England…

We’re all experts now that England are Not Very Good At Test Cricket again. Is it technique Is it temperament The heat, perhaps Or the prevailing wind on the Sri Lankan coast

Commentating on Test Match Special, Michael Vaughan seemed to come closest. ‘They haven’t found the right tempo,’ he said. It was the kind of comment only an ex-pro could have made – instinctive and knowing.

But he was right: ever since they arrived in the UAE in January, England’s Test batsmen have been searching for their blessed tempo.

Tempo was what Mahela Jayawardene batted with (as well as class, elegance, daring and a bit of luck). Tempo is the magic ingredient that, when located, makes a batsman look unrushed and at home. All the best batsmen have it. And right now, England manifestly do not.

Nightmare start: Alastair Cook goes for a duck to the bowling of Suranga Lakmal in Galle

Their lack of tempo today was evident not merely in the ways in which they contrived to get out – a chamber of horrors to conjure up so many winters past. It was there, too, amid the stuff in between.

Take Jayawardene, who faced 315 balls and calmly collected 51 singles. That equates to roughly one single per over, which is the very definition of ticking-over when you throw in the occasional two, three or four.

England, by contrast, managed 28 singles between them in 46.4 overs. A large proportion of their runs came in fours (124 out of 193), while only Andrew Strauss and Jimmy Anderson managed a two.

In other words, England were mainly reduced to either hitting or blocking, the exception being Ian Bell, who kept feathering the seamers to third man. (Turns out he was never out of form at all: he just needed to get away from Saeed Ajmal.)

Another one down: Rangana Herath successfully appeals for lbw against Matt Prior

And that is what is meant by tempo – the ability to assess a situation, a pitch, a bowling attack, and bat accordingly. Not, as England were doing, by numbers.

The cherished positives were few and far between as they slumped to their fifth sub-200 total in seven Test innings this winner.

Strauss came close to a tempo of sorts, hitting five singles, two twos, three threes and two fours, but he keeps having brainstorms in the 20s and 30s, which is not a good look for an experienced Test opener. Bell looked sublime before getting bogged down with the lower order (not a mistake Jayawardene made). The last four clumped merrily.

But ever since England over-attacked on the first morning of the Pakistan series – they then over-defended when chasing 145 in Abu Dhabi – they have been caught in a batting no-man’s land that has merely earned the derision of those already furious at their elevation to No 1.

Struggles: England captain Andrew Strauss again failed to dominate with the bat

In that respect, the 4-0 one-day win against Pakistan was the reddest of herrings. One-day cricket presents fewer problems to the batsman struggling against spin: there are fewer men round the bat, and – on a good day – a Saeed Ajmal can be seen off.

In Tests, they keep on coming, and England are yet to work out a method of tackling even an honest slow left-armer such as Rangana Herath. Of the six batsmen he dismissed today, only Bell could truly be said to have been got out. The rest gave it away.

Lessons can take time to absorb. But England’s rate of progress against spinners in Asia appears glacial. In a country as warm as this, there can be only one outcome.

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Tag Archives: chamber

Hannah England"s season starts at Crystal Palace after achilles injury

Lance Armstrong denies latest doping claims

Euro 2012: Wayne Rooney humbled by Auschwitz

David Luiz in frame to make Chelsea return for FA Cup final

Des Kelly: Torture by TV for the duelling duo

Sri Lanka v England – day two verdict from Lawrence Booth