Tag Archives: yankees

Mario Balotelli named as one of TIME"S 100 most influential people

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Which former Premier League bad boy has made the list of the world's top 100 influential people And which three other sporting giants are there too

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One thing nobody could dispute is Balotelli's news value, with the 22-year-old often finding himself plastered over pages at the front end of newspapers, as well as at the back.

Former French Open tennis champion Na is back at the very top of women's tennis. The popular Chinese player narrowly missed out on another Grand Slam title in January, when she lost the Australian Open final to Victoria Azarenka.

Top star: Li Na, seen here in action last month in Florida, has made the TIME list

Top star: Li Na, seen here in action last month in Florida, has made the TIME list

Speaking about Na, tennis legend Chris Evert said: 'Tennis has exploded in China. The country now has some 15 million tennis players; 116 million people watched Li win the French Open. That kind of exposure is crucial to our sport, and it never would have happened without Li.

'At tournaments, I’ve seen her charm the crowds. When she smiles, everyone melts. She’s such a breath of fresh air. And like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova before her, Li Na has transcended her sport.'

James is quite simply a superstar of American sport. The Miami Heat forward became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points earlier this year.

Jump to it: LeBron James goes up for a dunk against Philadelphia last month

Jump to it: LeBron James goes up for a dunk against Philadelphia last month

He is one of the most well-known characters in American public life, and New York Yankees baseball stalwart Derek Jeter said: 'I’ve had the chance to meet LeBron James, and I know he’s a Yankees fan. I also know it must be tough to root for the Yankees while living in Miami and Cleveland.

'Most people in LeBron’s position aren’t as grounded as he is. He hasn’t forgotten where he comes from, and he’s given back so much to Ohio and Akron, his hometown. LeBron cares deeply about these places, and that says a lot about him.'

Vonn is a titan of winter sports, with the American at the top of skiing for more than a decade.

Looking good: Vonn has made her name on the slopes

Looking good: Vonn has made her name on the slopes

Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn

Supporting Tiger: Lindsey Vonn was at Augusta last week to watch Woods play at the Masters

The Olympic downhill champion will be best remembered this season for a terrible crash in the super-giant slalom at the World Championships in Austria. Despite serious injuries suffered by Vonn, she insists that she will be fit and ready for next February's Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

If Vonn wasn't already famous enough in her own right, the identity of her significant other ensures an even higher profile. She is of course dating golfing icon Tiger Woods.

QPR appoint Olympic architects for centre of excellence

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QPR ramp up plans for centre of excellence by appointing Olympic architects

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UPDATED:

10:05 GMT, 10 September 2012

QPR have appointed the architects behind Wembley and the London 2012 Olympic Stadium to design 'an unparalleled centre of excellence' at their new training base in Ealing, west London.

The club, who currently train at the Imperial Sports Ground in Harlington, expect to move into the new Warren Farm complex ahead of the 2014-15 season.

Populous, who also designed Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, are putting the finishing touches to their plans for the training centre.

Training day: QPR have made plans to move to a new complex

Training day: QPR have made plans to move to a new complex

QPR chief executive Philip Beard said: 'Having secured Warren Farm, we wanted to work with the best people in the industry to develop a training ground which will benefit not only the first team, but also the academy and the local community.

'Populous have great experience in this field and are the perfect fit for us.

'Over the summer, a great amount of renovation has taken place at our current training ground at Harlington which has reduced the urgency for us to move to a new site.

'We are working very closely with Ealing Council and are very excited about what we can create.'

Populous also designed Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, the New York Yankees stadium and the Sydney Olympic Stadium in 2000.

Blueprint: QPR have appointed the architects who designed the Olympic Stadium

Blueprint: QPR have appointed the architects who designed the Olympic Stadium

John Terry meets Chelsea in New York

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Terry back in business with Chelsea after flying out to meet squad in New York

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UPDATED:

19:02 GMT, 22 July 2012

Fantasy football 2012

John Terry made a welcome return to Chelsea training on Saturday after putting the ghosts of his legal ordeal to bed.

Chelsea's captain has backed to the hilt by his club from the moment his infamous spat with QPR defender Anton Ferdinand started, back in October, through to its conclusion at Westminster Magistrates Court in July.

The centre-back was cleared of a charge of racial abuse – which he denied throughout – and now both he and they will be glad to be able to concentrate on football matters again.

Back in the fold: John Terry (second left) along with David Luiz (left), Ramires and Petr Cech, meeting New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera (centre)

Back in the fold: John Terry (second left) along with David Luiz (left), Ramires and Petr Cech, meeting New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera (centre)

Chelsea take on former manager Carlo Ancelotti's Paris St Germain team in New York's Yankee Stadium on Sunday night.

Terry enjoyed a successful season at Stamford Bridge last year – bar one or two games he played to a high standard as Chelsea won both the FA Cup and the Champions League.

Sadly for him, he watched from the sidelines during the final of the latter triumph.

A foolish sending-off against Barcelona in the semi-final meant he could not help as the Blues completed an unlikely, astonishing, delirious victory in Munich.

Cityscape: New York's imposing skyline watches over Eden Hazard (left), Terry and Roberto Di Matteo

Cityscape: New York's imposing skyline watches over Eden Hazard (left), Terry and Roberto Di Matteo

But the success was one in which he played a part – his heroics during Chelsea's first-leg semi-final 1-0 win will not be forgotten.

The player is the most successful captain in the club's history, lifting three Premier League titles, winning five FA Cups (four as skipper), two League cups and, of course, the Champions League.

He will be hoping the club can push on and challenge for the title in the 2012-13 season.

Preparation: Veterans Frank Lampard (left) and Ashley Cole (right) were at the top of their game under Di Matteo

Preparation: Veterans Frank Lampard (left) and Ashley Cole (right) were at the top of their game under Di Matteo

Owner Roman Abramovich's spending certainly suggests that is what he will demand of manager Roberto Di Matteo.

The Italian was left hanging over a permanent deal until after he picked up the Champions League, but the pressure will still be on as Chelsea's Russian benefactor has never proved to be the most patient.

Early signings include 32million star Eden Hazard, as well as 7m Marko Marin and soon-to-be 25m Brazil wonderkid Oscar.

Howdy: Rivera greets Cech and Luiz

Howdy: Rivera greets Cech and Luiz

But the spending is unlikely to be over after that, with Spanish right-back Cesar Azpilicueta being targeted as a replacement for Jose Bosingwa, whose contract has not been renewed.

It would also not be a surprise if Chelsea's departed legend Didier Drogba was replaced with a big money signing – Edinson Cavani has been linked, as well as Stevan Jovetic.

With support like that, Di Matteo and Terry will be licking their lips as they aim to bring more silverware to south west London.

New ground: Cole has joined Twitter

New ground: Cole has joined Twitter