After watching the Angels drop $90 mil on Torii Hunter, the Dodgers spent about a third the price on Andruw Jones, who is a superior player.
Just when I thought they would do something dumb like throw $60 million at Aaron Rowand, they sign one of the better center fielders in the game for proper-market value. Even in his worst year, Andruw still managed 26 homers and over 90 RBI. If he duplicates his ‘06 stinker, he’ll still be the Dodgers best power hitter. I’m not sure if that’s more of a commentary on the Dodgers, or Andruw, but it’s still a significant piece of info.
Not only is the Jones contract a short-term commitment for a relatively little amount of money all things considered, but the signing gives the Dodgers flexibility to make a deal. They move Juan Pierre over to left field, and now Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp become expendable in right.
Don’t be surprised if the Dodgers re-enter the Johan Santana sweepstakes. One problem for the Dodgers though, say they acquire the likes of Johan, they would be hard-pressed to sign him to a long-term deal. No matter what they do next, you can’t knock this signing — it was short term, at good value, and it fills two needs (power hitter and center fielder).
Ned Colletti is on his way to redeeming himself (and Scott Boras cannot be pleased).
Thursday, December 6, 2007
except Royals and Rays in on Santana talks
According to Ken Rosenthal's 53rd update of the hour and 413 other websites, the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Mariners, Dodgers, Indians, Rockies, Cardinals, Tigers, Giants, Blue Jays, Orioles, Angels, White Sox, Athletics, Cubs, Brewers, Rangers, Phillies, Braves, Astros, Pirates, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Reds and Padres are all engaged in the Santana talks and could potentially have the necessary chips to land the left-handed ace.
NFL ticket resale
The National Football League is preparing to embrace the ticket reselling business, which could prove awkward for the New England Patriots.The NFL is planning to name an official ticket reseller for all its teams in the next two weeks. Six companies are vying for the business, including StubHub Inc., the eBay-owned company that is locked in a court battle with the Patriots over the legality of selling team tickets above face value.
more stories like this
* In crunch time, Patriots were efficiency experts
* Patriots had luck and pluck on their side
* Patriots’ Meriweather was much more involved vs. Ravens
* Ravens’ comments may bring league penalties
* Like 2004, Steelers trying to stop Patriots
The deal underscores how the ticket reselling business has gone mainstream in America. But it also highlights how the Patriots are trying to buck that trend, insisting their tickets are licenses that can be revoked if customers try to resell them.
more stories like this
* In crunch time, Patriots were efficiency experts
* Patriots had luck and pluck on their side
* Patriots’ Meriweather was much more involved vs. Ravens
* Ravens’ comments may bring league penalties
* Like 2004, Steelers trying to stop Patriots
The deal underscores how the ticket reselling business has gone mainstream in America. But it also highlights how the Patriots are trying to buck that trend, insisting their tickets are licenses that can be revoked if customers try to resell them.
Sports Movie ever
Here are the top ten performances we came up with that got absolutely no love from the Oscars.
Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man
Crowe absolutely shines as Jim Braddock in Ron Howard's 2005 masterpiece. He shows the vulnerability of a family man trying to provide for his family in the midst of the Great Depression, yet also displays the swagger of a boxing champion when appropriate. He nails the Bergen, New Jersey accent, makes the viewer love his character despite what we might think of Crowe in real life. This honestly is the type of performance that makes you want to stand up and cheer at the end ... only I hate people who clap at movies, so if I'm in the theater, please refrain. Crowe wasn't even nominated, and that was mostly due to the fact that the Academy was tired of putting him in the running. This movie came out during the outrage over Crowe's "phone throwing" incident and that could have a lot to do with it.
Still, based on performance alone, this movie and Crowe should have at least been nominated and thereby recognized. An even more egregious crime was the fact that Giamatti was robbed for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar by a wholly average performance from George Clooney in the wildly overrated Syriana. That movie sucked and they gave the award to Clooney because he gained weight for the role. Again I say it, a travesty.
Memorable lines:
"You think you're telling me something? Like, what, boxing is dangerous, something like that? You don't think working triple shifts and at night on a scaffold isn't just as likely to get a man killed? What about those guys who died last week living in cardboard shacks to save on rent money just to feed their family, 'cause guys like you have not quite figured out a way yet to make money off of watching that guy die? But in my profession - and it is my profession - I'm a little more fortunate."
Robert Duvall in Days of Thunder
This movie as a whole is nothing special but Duvall's performance as Nascar crew-chief Harry Hogge is great. Duvall is fantastic in whatever he does but he really carries this movie and makes it watchable. His supporting role as an old-time, southern, good-ole boy, trying to tutor a hot-shot young driver - Cole Trickle, played by Tom Cruise - from California makes this movie worth watching. He combines humor with poignant moments that reveal the deep bond that develop between drivers and their crew chiefs. His accent, one-liners and deep, fatherly affection are all perfect and despite the overall mediocrity of the movie, Duvall should have been recognized for his performance.
Memorable lines:
Harry Hogge: "Cole, you're wandering all over the track!"
Cole Trickle: "Yeah, well this son of a bitch just slammed into me."
Harry Hogge: "No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin, son, is racin'"
Harry Hogge: "All right. While we're still under a caution, I want you to go back out on that track and hit the pace car."
Cole Trickle: "Hit the pace car?"
Harry Hogge: "Hit. The pace. Car!"
Cole Trickle: "What for?"
Harry Hogge: "Because you've hit every other goddamned thing out there, I want you to be perfect."
Wilford Brimley in The Natural
Though mostly now known for having diabetes and shilling Quaker Oats, Mr. Brimley was actually an actor once. He was even in one of the best sports movies of all time, 1984's The Natural. This movie is littered with fantastic performances - and was even nominated for four Oscars - but Brimley's turn as Pop Fisher is by far the best of them all. As the movie starts we meet the New York Knights, baseball's worst team. And their manager, Pop, is a wise, old-school kind of guy, but he's in danger of losing his job and his stake in the team. Brimley absolutely shines in his role as a curmudgeonly manager who'd rather yell at his players than tutor them, but loves them because they're "his losers," and no one else's. When a middle-aged sensation, Roy Hobbs, walks into his life and onto his team, Fisher greets him with nothing but skepticism, until he sees how he can abuse a baseball.
From his dugout conversations with his assistant manager Red Blow (played by Richard Farnsworth) to his tirades at players, umpires or anyone who'll listen, Brimley brings life out of the character that made the movie. In inferior hands, the role of Pop could have sunk this film, but the personality Brimley gave him makes the viewer love the guy almost instantly. It's a shame that neither Brimley, nor any of the other excellent male performances (Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, Farnsworth as Red, Robert Duvall as sportswriter Max Mercy) didn't get so much as a sniff from the Academy. Glen Close was nominated for her role as Iris Gaines, but no one else was. It's a shame too, because there might not be a better group of performances in any sports movie. But Brimley should have been at least nominated for his supporting role and anyone who has seen this movie would say he deserved to win as well.
Memorable lines:
Pop Fisher: "My ma' urged me to get out of this game. When I was a kid, she pleaded with me. I meant to, you know what I mean? But she died."
Red Blow: "Tough."
Pop Fisher: "Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!"
(to Hobbs when he shows up): "People don't start playing ball at your age, they retire!"
Pop Fisher: "You know my mama wanted me to be a farmer."
Roy Hobbs: "My dad wanted me to be a baseball player."
Pop Fisher: "Well you're better than any player I ever had. And you the best God damn hitter I ever saw. Suit up."
Bob Uecker in Major League
This might be - outside of Billy Murray's turn as expert greenskeeper Carl Spackler - the most quotable role in sports movie history. Uecker plays Harry Doyle and he absolutely nails the disgruntled "homer" announcer for a perennial basement dweller. His beloved Cleveland Indians are so bad he has to find ways to amuse himself during games, like being sarcastic over the air, drinking Jack Daniel's or his shy "expert" color guy on the spot. Uecker delivers his one-liners with surgical precision and as the Indians start winning and slowly come to life, so does Doyle. He goes from disinterested and bored during games to a giddy fan seemingly overnight. And Uecker was so good he really should have been given a nod for his supporting role, simply because he steals scenes in an already hilarious movie. He absolutely stands out and 18 years later his lines are still hilarious.
Memorable lines:
"In case you haven't noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven't, the Indians have managed to win a few ball games, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar."
Harry Doyle: "That's all we got, one goddamn hit?"
Assistant: "You can't say goddamn on the air."
Harry Doyle: "Don't worry, nobody is listening."
"The post-game show is brought to you by ... (searches through his papers) ... Christ, I can't find it. To hell with it."
"Haywood leads the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair. When this guy sneezes he looks like a party favor."
(Vaughn throws a ball to the backstop) "Juuust a bit outside, tried the corner and missed ... Ball eight ... Ball twelve, how can these guys lay off pitches this close?"
Tim McGraw in Friday Night Lights
I so wanted to hate his performance when I heard he would be in this movie. Singer-actors almost always suck and this was his first real movie role. Plus, he's a pretty boy who bagged a hot wife so obviously he's ripe for hate. But his portrayal of Charles Billingsley a drunk, former high school football star who's kid, Don, is currently on the town's team and has "ball security issues." He takes every opportunity he can to rip his son to pieces and bring him down. He also never misses a chance to point out how he won a state title and his son isn't worthy of one. This is a great movie but his performance outshines all the others. It's a very small, supporting role, which may be why he didn't get a nomination but he's so powerful that he deserved one. Don wants to be nothing like his father, but Charles continues to try and convince him that it's inevitable. His confrontations with his Don leap off the screen for their intensity and the seething hatred that exists between them. McGraw, sadly enough, was simply phenomenal.
Memorable Lines:
"You just-you ain't gettin' it. You don't understand. This is the only thing you're ever gonna have. Forever, it carries you forever. It's an ugly fact of life. Donnie, hell. It's the only fact of life. You got one year, one stinkin' year to make yourself some memories, son. That's all. It's gone after that. And I'll be damned if you're not gonna miss it."
Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own
Before snagging Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks played Jimmy Dugan and former home run king and manager of the Rockford Peaches, a girls baseball team. Dugan is a drunk and probably sees girls baseball the same way he sees sobriety - and he doesn't disguise it. He hates what he's doing and is clearly just there for the paycheck. But when his team starts winning, he cuts out the drinking and actually gets into his job. Hanks absolutely nails this supporting role. He's a combination of funny, intense and enthusiastic all at the once. He is great as displaying the restrained excitement his character feels when the Peaches start to win, since he wants to act like he doesn't care. Hanks is one of the best actors on the planet, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he was great in a role, but this is one he definitely should have been nominated for. In 1992 when the film was released, he had already scored a nomination for Big and while that's a classic flick, he's much better in this.
Memorable Lines:
"Uh, Lord, hallowed by Thy name. May our feet be swift, my our bats be mighty; may our balls ... be plentiful. Lord, I'd just like to thank You for that waitress in South Bend. You know who she is - she kept calling Your name. And God, these are good girls and they work hard. Just help them see it all the way through. Okay, that's it."
Walter Harvey: "You kind of let me down on that San Antonio job."
Jimmy Dugan: "I, uh, yeh, I, uh ... I freely admit, sir, I had no right to ... sell off the team's equipment like that, that won't happen again."
Walter Harvey: "It's funny to you. Your drinking is funny. You're a young man, Jimmy you could still be playing, if you would've just laid off the booze."
Jimmy Dugan: "Well, it's not exactly like that ... I hurt my knee."
Walter Harvey: "You fell out of a hotel. That's how you hurt it."
Jimmy Dugan: "Well there was a fire."
Walter Harvey: "Which you started, which I had to pay for."
Jimmy Dugan: "Well, now, I was going to send you a thank-you card, Mr. Harvey, but I wasn't allowed anything sharp to write with."
Jimmy Dugan: "Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!"
James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams
This guy is such an underrated actor it's unbelievable. He's known for his booming voice, but Jones is incredible in virtually everything he's in. His supporting performance as Terence Mann is no different. As a stereotypical reclusive writer, he displays a latent hostility that fits with the typical attitude of an aged child of the 60s coming to terms with his or her age. When he lights up at the prospect of attending a baseball game, he turns once again into an excited child with something to live for. Jones' enthusiasm and the change his character goes through when reconnected to his childhood obsession is magical. He combines that youthful enthusiasm with very deep insight, and delivers one of the best monologues in movie history, let alone sports movie history with his "people will come" speech. No doubt about it, he should have won and at the very least, nominated.
Memorable lines:
"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
Gene Hackman in Hoosiers
He was only the lead actor in the greatest sports movie of all time, why would he possibly deserve a nomination? Hackman is gold as coach Norman Dale in the tale of Hickory High's improbably run to the Indiana state basketball title. There's really nothing to say here, except that Hackman has never been better than he was in Hoosiers and that's saying a lot since he owns two Oscars (for Unforgiven and The French Connection) and three other nominations (Mississippi Burning, I Never Sang for My Father and Bonnie and Clyde). But I have no idea how he wasn't given a nomination for his performance. Paul Newman won in 1987 for The Color of Money and he was great, but Hackman was transcendent. He's the ultimate coach if you have to put together an all-movie team in any sport. Simply a flawless performance.
Memorable lines:
"You know, in the 10 years that I coached, I never met anybody who wanted to win as badly as I did. I'd do anything I had to do to increase my advantage. Anybody who tried to block the pursuit of that advantage, I'd just push 'em out of the way. Didn't matter who they were, or what they were doing. But that was then. You have special talent, a gift. Not the school's, not the townspeople, not the team's, not Myra Fleener's, not mine. It's yours, to do with what you choose. Because that's what I believe, I can tell you this: I don't care if you play on the team or not."
Charles S. Dutton in Rudy
I hate that this movie is about Notre Dame but one scene never fails to give me chills and it's when Fortune sets Rudy straight. Dutton portrays the former football player turned Notre Dame Stadium groundskeeper and acts as Rudy's conscience. The man is great in every role he takes on but he stepped up his game for this one. His supporting performance in this one didn't get so much as a look from the Academy but he certainly deserved a nomination. He is so powerful, forceful and genuine that you really forget he's acting. And the speech he gives Rudy is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Sean Astin was good in this movie, Charles S. Dutton was great.
Memorable lines:
"You're five feet nothin'. 100 and nothin'. And you got hardly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're also gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this lifetime, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody except yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen. Now go on back."
Rudy: "I'm sorry I never got you to see your first game in here."
Fortune: "Hell I've seen too many games in this Stadium."
Rudy: "I thought you said you never saw a game ... "
Fortune: "I've never seen a game from the stands."
Rudy: "You were a player?"
Fortune: "I rode the bench for two years, thought I wasn't being played because of my color. I got filled up with a lot of attitude, so I quit. Still not a week goes by I don't regret it, and I guarantee a week won't go by in your life you won't regret walking out, letting them get the best of you. Do you hear me clear enough?"
Kurt Russell in Miracle
This was a very underrated movie but I don't know a single person who didn't love it. It's hard to give a guy credit for nailing a role when the character is as juicy as Herb Brooks, but Kurt Russell far surpassed any expectations I had. You could tell he just grabbed the role and ran with it. He's not a guy who has ever really been an Oscar-type actor, but he sank his teeth into this leading role and really proved himself. He had Brooks down pat. From the accent, to the mannerisms, to the restrained hostility and deep affection he felt for his team, Russell had it all. Don't underestimate how hard it is to portray someone we've all seen countless times before. This performance and this movie would have been universally panned had it not been true to life and it delivered. For what he accomplished with the role it would have been nice to see Russell at least get a nod from the Golden Globes, but he got nothing. I thought he could have gotten an Oscar nomination without anyone complaining, that's how good he was. And it's too bad, because when he delivers that speech before the game with the Soviets, it really got me. He couldn't have possibly been better in this role.
Memorable lines:
"Great moments... are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can! Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it."
Russell Crowe in Cinderella Man
Crowe absolutely shines as Jim Braddock in Ron Howard's 2005 masterpiece. He shows the vulnerability of a family man trying to provide for his family in the midst of the Great Depression, yet also displays the swagger of a boxing champion when appropriate. He nails the Bergen, New Jersey accent, makes the viewer love his character despite what we might think of Crowe in real life. This honestly is the type of performance that makes you want to stand up and cheer at the end ... only I hate people who clap at movies, so if I'm in the theater, please refrain. Crowe wasn't even nominated, and that was mostly due to the fact that the Academy was tired of putting him in the running. This movie came out during the outrage over Crowe's "phone throwing" incident and that could have a lot to do with it.
Still, based on performance alone, this movie and Crowe should have at least been nominated and thereby recognized. An even more egregious crime was the fact that Giamatti was robbed for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar by a wholly average performance from George Clooney in the wildly overrated Syriana. That movie sucked and they gave the award to Clooney because he gained weight for the role. Again I say it, a travesty.
Memorable lines:
"You think you're telling me something? Like, what, boxing is dangerous, something like that? You don't think working triple shifts and at night on a scaffold isn't just as likely to get a man killed? What about those guys who died last week living in cardboard shacks to save on rent money just to feed their family, 'cause guys like you have not quite figured out a way yet to make money off of watching that guy die? But in my profession - and it is my profession - I'm a little more fortunate."
Robert Duvall in Days of Thunder
This movie as a whole is nothing special but Duvall's performance as Nascar crew-chief Harry Hogge is great. Duvall is fantastic in whatever he does but he really carries this movie and makes it watchable. His supporting role as an old-time, southern, good-ole boy, trying to tutor a hot-shot young driver - Cole Trickle, played by Tom Cruise - from California makes this movie worth watching. He combines humor with poignant moments that reveal the deep bond that develop between drivers and their crew chiefs. His accent, one-liners and deep, fatherly affection are all perfect and despite the overall mediocrity of the movie, Duvall should have been recognized for his performance.
Memorable lines:
Harry Hogge: "Cole, you're wandering all over the track!"
Cole Trickle: "Yeah, well this son of a bitch just slammed into me."
Harry Hogge: "No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin, son, is racin'"
Harry Hogge: "All right. While we're still under a caution, I want you to go back out on that track and hit the pace car."
Cole Trickle: "Hit the pace car?"
Harry Hogge: "Hit. The pace. Car!"
Cole Trickle: "What for?"
Harry Hogge: "Because you've hit every other goddamned thing out there, I want you to be perfect."
Wilford Brimley in The Natural
Though mostly now known for having diabetes and shilling Quaker Oats, Mr. Brimley was actually an actor once. He was even in one of the best sports movies of all time, 1984's The Natural. This movie is littered with fantastic performances - and was even nominated for four Oscars - but Brimley's turn as Pop Fisher is by far the best of them all. As the movie starts we meet the New York Knights, baseball's worst team. And their manager, Pop, is a wise, old-school kind of guy, but he's in danger of losing his job and his stake in the team. Brimley absolutely shines in his role as a curmudgeonly manager who'd rather yell at his players than tutor them, but loves them because they're "his losers," and no one else's. When a middle-aged sensation, Roy Hobbs, walks into his life and onto his team, Fisher greets him with nothing but skepticism, until he sees how he can abuse a baseball.
From his dugout conversations with his assistant manager Red Blow (played by Richard Farnsworth) to his tirades at players, umpires or anyone who'll listen, Brimley brings life out of the character that made the movie. In inferior hands, the role of Pop could have sunk this film, but the personality Brimley gave him makes the viewer love the guy almost instantly. It's a shame that neither Brimley, nor any of the other excellent male performances (Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, Farnsworth as Red, Robert Duvall as sportswriter Max Mercy) didn't get so much as a sniff from the Academy. Glen Close was nominated for her role as Iris Gaines, but no one else was. It's a shame too, because there might not be a better group of performances in any sports movie. But Brimley should have been at least nominated for his supporting role and anyone who has seen this movie would say he deserved to win as well.
Memorable lines:
Pop Fisher: "My ma' urged me to get out of this game. When I was a kid, she pleaded with me. I meant to, you know what I mean? But she died."
Red Blow: "Tough."
Pop Fisher: "Now look at me. I'm wet nurse to a last-place, dead-to-the-neck-up ball club, and I'm choking to death!"
(to Hobbs when he shows up): "People don't start playing ball at your age, they retire!"
Pop Fisher: "You know my mama wanted me to be a farmer."
Roy Hobbs: "My dad wanted me to be a baseball player."
Pop Fisher: "Well you're better than any player I ever had. And you the best God damn hitter I ever saw. Suit up."
Bob Uecker in Major League
This might be - outside of Billy Murray's turn as expert greenskeeper Carl Spackler - the most quotable role in sports movie history. Uecker plays Harry Doyle and he absolutely nails the disgruntled "homer" announcer for a perennial basement dweller. His beloved Cleveland Indians are so bad he has to find ways to amuse himself during games, like being sarcastic over the air, drinking Jack Daniel's or his shy "expert" color guy on the spot. Uecker delivers his one-liners with surgical precision and as the Indians start winning and slowly come to life, so does Doyle. He goes from disinterested and bored during games to a giddy fan seemingly overnight. And Uecker was so good he really should have been given a nod for his supporting role, simply because he steals scenes in an already hilarious movie. He absolutely stands out and 18 years later his lines are still hilarious.
Memorable lines:
"In case you haven't noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven't, the Indians have managed to win a few ball games, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar."
Harry Doyle: "That's all we got, one goddamn hit?"
Assistant: "You can't say goddamn on the air."
Harry Doyle: "Don't worry, nobody is listening."
"The post-game show is brought to you by ... (searches through his papers) ... Christ, I can't find it. To hell with it."
"Haywood leads the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair. When this guy sneezes he looks like a party favor."
(Vaughn throws a ball to the backstop) "Juuust a bit outside, tried the corner and missed ... Ball eight ... Ball twelve, how can these guys lay off pitches this close?"
Tim McGraw in Friday Night Lights
I so wanted to hate his performance when I heard he would be in this movie. Singer-actors almost always suck and this was his first real movie role. Plus, he's a pretty boy who bagged a hot wife so obviously he's ripe for hate. But his portrayal of Charles Billingsley a drunk, former high school football star who's kid, Don, is currently on the town's team and has "ball security issues." He takes every opportunity he can to rip his son to pieces and bring him down. He also never misses a chance to point out how he won a state title and his son isn't worthy of one. This is a great movie but his performance outshines all the others. It's a very small, supporting role, which may be why he didn't get a nomination but he's so powerful that he deserved one. Don wants to be nothing like his father, but Charles continues to try and convince him that it's inevitable. His confrontations with his Don leap off the screen for their intensity and the seething hatred that exists between them. McGraw, sadly enough, was simply phenomenal.
Memorable Lines:
"You just-you ain't gettin' it. You don't understand. This is the only thing you're ever gonna have. Forever, it carries you forever. It's an ugly fact of life. Donnie, hell. It's the only fact of life. You got one year, one stinkin' year to make yourself some memories, son. That's all. It's gone after that. And I'll be damned if you're not gonna miss it."
Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own
Before snagging Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks played Jimmy Dugan and former home run king and manager of the Rockford Peaches, a girls baseball team. Dugan is a drunk and probably sees girls baseball the same way he sees sobriety - and he doesn't disguise it. He hates what he's doing and is clearly just there for the paycheck. But when his team starts winning, he cuts out the drinking and actually gets into his job. Hanks absolutely nails this supporting role. He's a combination of funny, intense and enthusiastic all at the once. He is great as displaying the restrained excitement his character feels when the Peaches start to win, since he wants to act like he doesn't care. Hanks is one of the best actors on the planet, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he was great in a role, but this is one he definitely should have been nominated for. In 1992 when the film was released, he had already scored a nomination for Big and while that's a classic flick, he's much better in this.
Memorable Lines:
"Uh, Lord, hallowed by Thy name. May our feet be swift, my our bats be mighty; may our balls ... be plentiful. Lord, I'd just like to thank You for that waitress in South Bend. You know who she is - she kept calling Your name. And God, these are good girls and they work hard. Just help them see it all the way through. Okay, that's it."
Walter Harvey: "You kind of let me down on that San Antonio job."
Jimmy Dugan: "I, uh, yeh, I, uh ... I freely admit, sir, I had no right to ... sell off the team's equipment like that, that won't happen again."
Walter Harvey: "It's funny to you. Your drinking is funny. You're a young man, Jimmy you could still be playing, if you would've just laid off the booze."
Jimmy Dugan: "Well, it's not exactly like that ... I hurt my knee."
Walter Harvey: "You fell out of a hotel. That's how you hurt it."
Jimmy Dugan: "Well there was a fire."
Walter Harvey: "Which you started, which I had to pay for."
Jimmy Dugan: "Well, now, I was going to send you a thank-you card, Mr. Harvey, but I wasn't allowed anything sharp to write with."
Jimmy Dugan: "Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!"
James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams
This guy is such an underrated actor it's unbelievable. He's known for his booming voice, but Jones is incredible in virtually everything he's in. His supporting performance as Terence Mann is no different. As a stereotypical reclusive writer, he displays a latent hostility that fits with the typical attitude of an aged child of the 60s coming to terms with his or her age. When he lights up at the prospect of attending a baseball game, he turns once again into an excited child with something to live for. Jones' enthusiasm and the change his character goes through when reconnected to his childhood obsession is magical. He combines that youthful enthusiasm with very deep insight, and delivers one of the best monologues in movie history, let alone sports movie history with his "people will come" speech. No doubt about it, he should have won and at the very least, nominated.
Memorable lines:
"Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
Gene Hackman in Hoosiers
He was only the lead actor in the greatest sports movie of all time, why would he possibly deserve a nomination? Hackman is gold as coach Norman Dale in the tale of Hickory High's improbably run to the Indiana state basketball title. There's really nothing to say here, except that Hackman has never been better than he was in Hoosiers and that's saying a lot since he owns two Oscars (for Unforgiven and The French Connection) and three other nominations (Mississippi Burning, I Never Sang for My Father and Bonnie and Clyde). But I have no idea how he wasn't given a nomination for his performance. Paul Newman won in 1987 for The Color of Money and he was great, but Hackman was transcendent. He's the ultimate coach if you have to put together an all-movie team in any sport. Simply a flawless performance.
Memorable lines:
"You know, in the 10 years that I coached, I never met anybody who wanted to win as badly as I did. I'd do anything I had to do to increase my advantage. Anybody who tried to block the pursuit of that advantage, I'd just push 'em out of the way. Didn't matter who they were, or what they were doing. But that was then. You have special talent, a gift. Not the school's, not the townspeople, not the team's, not Myra Fleener's, not mine. It's yours, to do with what you choose. Because that's what I believe, I can tell you this: I don't care if you play on the team or not."
Charles S. Dutton in Rudy
I hate that this movie is about Notre Dame but one scene never fails to give me chills and it's when Fortune sets Rudy straight. Dutton portrays the former football player turned Notre Dame Stadium groundskeeper and acts as Rudy's conscience. The man is great in every role he takes on but he stepped up his game for this one. His supporting performance in this one didn't get so much as a look from the Academy but he certainly deserved a nomination. He is so powerful, forceful and genuine that you really forget he's acting. And the speech he gives Rudy is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Sean Astin was good in this movie, Charles S. Dutton was great.
Memorable lines:
"You're five feet nothin'. 100 and nothin'. And you got hardly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in with the best college football team in the land for two years. And you're also gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this lifetime, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody except yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen. Now go on back."
Rudy: "I'm sorry I never got you to see your first game in here."
Fortune: "Hell I've seen too many games in this Stadium."
Rudy: "I thought you said you never saw a game ... "
Fortune: "I've never seen a game from the stands."
Rudy: "You were a player?"
Fortune: "I rode the bench for two years, thought I wasn't being played because of my color. I got filled up with a lot of attitude, so I quit. Still not a week goes by I don't regret it, and I guarantee a week won't go by in your life you won't regret walking out, letting them get the best of you. Do you hear me clear enough?"
Kurt Russell in Miracle
This was a very underrated movie but I don't know a single person who didn't love it. It's hard to give a guy credit for nailing a role when the character is as juicy as Herb Brooks, but Kurt Russell far surpassed any expectations I had. You could tell he just grabbed the role and ran with it. He's not a guy who has ever really been an Oscar-type actor, but he sank his teeth into this leading role and really proved himself. He had Brooks down pat. From the accent, to the mannerisms, to the restrained hostility and deep affection he felt for his team, Russell had it all. Don't underestimate how hard it is to portray someone we've all seen countless times before. This performance and this movie would have been universally panned had it not been true to life and it delivered. For what he accomplished with the role it would have been nice to see Russell at least get a nod from the Golden Globes, but he got nothing. I thought he could have gotten an Oscar nomination without anyone complaining, that's how good he was. And it's too bad, because when he delivers that speech before the game with the Soviets, it really got me. He couldn't have possibly been better in this role.
Memorable lines:
"Great moments... are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can! Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it."
SPARC Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism
The Awards, sponsored by SPARC, attracted around 260 past and present media and sporting celebrities. Among the special guests were representatives of the 1987 World Champion All Blacks and New Zealand Netball teams.
Present on the night were, Grant Fox, Buck Shelford, Steve McDowall, Joe Stanley, John Drake, Coach Sir Brian Lochore, John Hart and Richie Guy, members of the All Blacks team who won the inaugural Rugby World Cup and remain the only All Black team to have won the William Webb Ellis Trophy. Also at the dinner were members of the 1987 New Zealand Netball team, Julie Coney, Rita Fatialofa-Patolo, Margaret Forsyth, Joan Hodson (Solia), Angela Bell (Pule), Tracy Shortland (Eyrl) and Sandra Gray (Edge), plus Coach Lois Muir DCNZM.OBE., winners of the 1987 World Netball Championships in Glasgow.
At the dinner Buck Shelford, on behalf of the 1987 All Blacks and Margaret Forsyth and Sandra Gray, from the 1987 Netballers, entertained guests recalling some of their special moments from their respective world championship winning campaigns. And 2011 RWC CEO, Martin Snedden, updated progress on the next Rugby World Cup here in New Zealand.
A record 214 entries were received for this year’s TP McLean Awards and the big prize on the night went to The Press reporter Tony Smith, who took out the supreme Air New Zealand Sports Journalist of the Year Award. Smith also won the Steinlager Award for Newspaper Feature Writing.
The SPARC Lifetime Contribution to Sport through Journalism Award went to radio sport host Brendan Telfer, one of New Zealand’s most respected sports broadcasters.
Two journalists were also made Life Members of the NZSJA – former cricket and rugby commentator, Colin Snedden, and long time Newstalk ZB sports guru, Barry Holland.
These were the 27th NZSJA awards, the 13th under the patronage of SPARC and the seventh year they have been known as the Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards.
The 2007 TP McLean National Sports Journalism Awards winners, by award category, were:
Orca Award for Sports News Print
Paul Lewis (Herald on Sunday)
Orca Award for Sports News Broadcast
Andrew Saville (TVNZ)
Wilson Award for Sports Radio
Brian Kelly (Radio Network)
Telecom Award for Sports Television
Hamish Clark (TV3)|
Millennium Hotels Award for Best Sports Column/Opinion
Dylan Cleaver (Herald on Sunday)
Steinlager Award for Feature Writing – Newspapers
Tony Smith (The Press)
Steinlager Award for Feature Writing – Magazines
Peter Malcouronne (Metro)
New Zealand Herald DJ Cameron Young Writer Award
Logan Savory (Southland Times)
SPARC Award for Recreation/Adventure/Lifestyle Reporting
Peter Cronshaw (TVNZ)
SPARC Award for Recreation/Adventure/Lifestyle Photography
Peter Meecham (The Press)
SPARC Award for Best Photography Portfolio
Michael Bradley (Freelance)
SPARC Award for Best Single Photo
Marty Melville (Getty Images)
Special Awards:
Air New Zealand Sports Journalist of the Year
Tony Smith (The Press)
Fairfax Media Best Provincial Writer Award
Jamie Troughton (Bay of Plenty Times)
Fairfax Media Best Provincial Photographer Award
John Borren (Bay of Plenty Times)
Garry Frew Memorial for Outstanding Contribution to Provincial Sports Journalism
Phil Quinney (Newstalk ZB, Taranaki)
SPARC Lifetime Contribution to Sport through Journalism
Brendan Telfer (Radio Sport)
For more information please contact:
Armin Lindenberg
NZSJA Secretary
Ph: (09) 520 4427
Mob: 0274 786 040
Email: arminl@xtra.co.nz
Present on the night were, Grant Fox, Buck Shelford, Steve McDowall, Joe Stanley, John Drake, Coach Sir Brian Lochore, John Hart and Richie Guy, members of the All Blacks team who won the inaugural Rugby World Cup and remain the only All Black team to have won the William Webb Ellis Trophy. Also at the dinner were members of the 1987 New Zealand Netball team, Julie Coney, Rita Fatialofa-Patolo, Margaret Forsyth, Joan Hodson (Solia), Angela Bell (Pule), Tracy Shortland (Eyrl) and Sandra Gray (Edge), plus Coach Lois Muir DCNZM.OBE., winners of the 1987 World Netball Championships in Glasgow.
At the dinner Buck Shelford, on behalf of the 1987 All Blacks and Margaret Forsyth and Sandra Gray, from the 1987 Netballers, entertained guests recalling some of their special moments from their respective world championship winning campaigns. And 2011 RWC CEO, Martin Snedden, updated progress on the next Rugby World Cup here in New Zealand.
A record 214 entries were received for this year’s TP McLean Awards and the big prize on the night went to The Press reporter Tony Smith, who took out the supreme Air New Zealand Sports Journalist of the Year Award. Smith also won the Steinlager Award for Newspaper Feature Writing.
The SPARC Lifetime Contribution to Sport through Journalism Award went to radio sport host Brendan Telfer, one of New Zealand’s most respected sports broadcasters.
Two journalists were also made Life Members of the NZSJA – former cricket and rugby commentator, Colin Snedden, and long time Newstalk ZB sports guru, Barry Holland.
These were the 27th NZSJA awards, the 13th under the patronage of SPARC and the seventh year they have been known as the Sir Terry McLean National Sports Journalism Awards.
The 2007 TP McLean National Sports Journalism Awards winners, by award category, were:
Orca Award for Sports News Print
Paul Lewis (Herald on Sunday)
Orca Award for Sports News Broadcast
Andrew Saville (TVNZ)
Wilson Award for Sports Radio
Brian Kelly (Radio Network)
Telecom Award for Sports Television
Hamish Clark (TV3)|
Millennium Hotels Award for Best Sports Column/Opinion
Dylan Cleaver (Herald on Sunday)
Steinlager Award for Feature Writing – Newspapers
Tony Smith (The Press)
Steinlager Award for Feature Writing – Magazines
Peter Malcouronne (Metro)
New Zealand Herald DJ Cameron Young Writer Award
Logan Savory (Southland Times)
SPARC Award for Recreation/Adventure/Lifestyle Reporting
Peter Cronshaw (TVNZ)
SPARC Award for Recreation/Adventure/Lifestyle Photography
Peter Meecham (The Press)
SPARC Award for Best Photography Portfolio
Michael Bradley (Freelance)
SPARC Award for Best Single Photo
Marty Melville (Getty Images)
Special Awards:
Air New Zealand Sports Journalist of the Year
Tony Smith (The Press)
Fairfax Media Best Provincial Writer Award
Jamie Troughton (Bay of Plenty Times)
Fairfax Media Best Provincial Photographer Award
John Borren (Bay of Plenty Times)
Garry Frew Memorial for Outstanding Contribution to Provincial Sports Journalism
Phil Quinney (Newstalk ZB, Taranaki)
SPARC Lifetime Contribution to Sport through Journalism
Brendan Telfer (Radio Sport)
For more information please contact:
Armin Lindenberg
NZSJA Secretary
Ph: (09) 520 4427
Mob: 0274 786 040
Email: arminl@xtra.co.nz
sportainment, Sports Tainment
If the strapping 6’3” 235 lb. lad wins the Heisman, he’ll be making history on several counts.
First, he’s only a sophomore. Second, he is the only player in NCAA history to run and pass for at least twenty touchdowns each in one season. Third, this son of missionaries to the Philippines was homeschooled in grades K through12.
The last fact, no doubt, prompted Sports Illustrated to opine that Tebow is “hardly the typical college athlete.”I’ll confess that I’m not much of a sports geek, but some homeschooler bloggers predicted success both on and off the field for years. And any google search for Tebow and homeschool will find a long list of homeschoolers voting for Tim to win the Heisman.
Funny, nobody is asking if he has a chance at success without a “regular” high school diploma.
First, he’s only a sophomore. Second, he is the only player in NCAA history to run and pass for at least twenty touchdowns each in one season. Third, this son of missionaries to the Philippines was homeschooled in grades K through12.
The last fact, no doubt, prompted Sports Illustrated to opine that Tebow is “hardly the typical college athlete.”I’ll confess that I’m not much of a sports geek, but some homeschooler bloggers predicted success both on and off the field for years. And any google search for Tebow and homeschool will find a long list of homeschoolers voting for Tim to win the Heisman.
Funny, nobody is asking if he has a chance at success without a “regular” high school diploma.
Sports Car Transport Carrier
Under the different classification of cars, sports car forms major part in it. Games cars is said to be more important and valuable for sports people and it should be transported using qualified auto transport company who handles the service in efficient way.
Sports cars are expensive cars which should be carried on by car shipping company in a processed network. Sports car can be transported in two ways, either enclosed or open transportation. We facilitate all kinds of transportation and we are reliable and competent shippers.
Sports cars are expensive cars which should be carried on by car shipping company in a processed network. Sports car can be transported in two ways, either enclosed or open transportation. We facilitate all kinds of transportation and we are reliable and competent shippers.
Arup reveals its entry
Premier Park will provide facilities for more than 150 activities including football, cricket, athletics, basketball and rugby.
The complex will also house a 55,000- to 70,000-seat national stadium with a lightweight moving roof design, a 6,000-seat aquatic centre and a 3,000-seat multi-purpose indoor arena. Water sport facilities will include an Olympic-standard white water kayaking course and a water sport centre with a separate 500m course for dragon boat, kayak and rowing boat racing. The winning team will be selected next month.
The complex will also house a 55,000- to 70,000-seat national stadium with a lightweight moving roof design, a 6,000-seat aquatic centre and a 3,000-seat multi-purpose indoor arena. Water sport facilities will include an Olympic-standard white water kayaking course and a water sport centre with a separate 500m course for dragon boat, kayak and rowing boat racing. The winning team will be selected next month.
The Athletes' Turn
A controversies about speech and sports involve fan speech. But sometimes controversy arises over what athletes themselves say, on or off the field.
Robert Edwards Auctions got its hands on an 1898 document entitled "Special Instructions to Players," which warns professional baseball players to stop profanity to intimidate opponents and umpires. And since you cannot stop anyone from using bad language without providing examples of that bad language, the instructions give ten examples of unacceptable offensive language.
Robert Edwards Auctions got its hands on an 1898 document entitled "Special Instructions to Players," which warns professional baseball players to stop profanity to intimidate opponents and umpires. And since you cannot stop anyone from using bad language without providing examples of that bad language, the instructions give ten examples of unacceptable offensive language.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Norifumi "Norick" Abe is Dead
| Norifumi Abe | |
| Nationality |  Japanese |
|---|---|
| | |
| Grand Prix motorcycle racing career | |
| Active years | 1994 - 2004 |
| Teams | Yamaha |
| Grands Prix | 144 |
| Championships | None |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podium finishes | 17 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| First Grand Prix | 1994 500cc Japanese Grand Prix |
| First win | 1996 500cc Japanese Grand Prix |
| Last win | 2000 500cc Japanese Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 2004 MotoGP Valencia Grand Prix |
Norifumi "Norick" Abe 阿部典史 (Abe Norifumi?), or ノリック・アベ (Norick Abe) (September 7, 1975 – October 7, 2007[1][2]) was a Japanese motorcycle road racer and former 500cc/MotoGP rider.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Biography
Abe was born to Mitsuo Abe (阿部 光雄), an Auto Race rider, in Tokyo. When he was eleven, Abe began racing minibikes and spent his earlier career competing in motorcross. He turned to road racing when he was fifteen and also competed in the United States. In 1992, Abe was the runner up in the 250cc category for the domestic National A championship. The following year at the All Japan Road Race Championship, Abe won the 500cc title in the category's final year and became the youngest title winner.
In 1994, while racing in his home championship, Abe had a chance to race at the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix as a 'wild card.' He shocked the field by challenging for the win until three corners from the finish before falling off. Abe's performance impressed Kenny Roberts' Yamaha team, and was offered two more rides that year which yielded two 6th places and earned him a full-time Grand Prix ride for the 1995 season.
Abe took his first podium finish in 1995, and his first win and 5th overall in the championship a year later. His team in 1997 was run by another former champion, Wayne Rainey, and Abe took regular points finishes over the next two seasons, including four podiums. He joined the D'Antin team in 1999, won at Rio de Janeiro that year, and won again at Suzuka a year later. Abe spent two seasons on less competitive machinery, yet his race results ensured his 100% record of top 10 championship finishes continued.
However, 2002 was the first year of MotoGP regulations, and Abe did not get on well with the four stroke machinery. As such, when D'Antin switched over to the Yamaha YZR-M1 for 2003, Abe left the team and acted as a factory test rider and occasional wild card racer for Yamaha. He got another chance on the Tech 3 Yamaha team for 2004, but was unsuccessful, and was moved to Yamaha's returning World Superbike squad for 2005. Despite having less factory support than Noriyuki Haga and Andrew Pitt, Abe finished in the championship top 10. In 2006 he was less competitive, failing to score a podium.
In 2007, Abe competed in the All Japan Superbike Championship, again on a Yamaha.
[edit] 500cc/MotoGP career statistics [3]
| Season | Class | Motorcycle | Race | Win | Podium | Pole | FLap | Pts | Plcd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 17th |
| 1995 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 9th |
| 1996 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 148 | 5th |
| 1997 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 7th |
| 1998 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 128 | 6th |
| 1999 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 6th |
| 2000 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 8th |
| 2001 | 500cc | Yamaha YZR500 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 137 | 7th |
| 2002 | MotoGP | Yamaha YZR-M1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 6th |
| 2003 | MotoGP | Yamaha YZR-M1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 16th |
| 2004 | MotoGP | Yamaha YZR-M1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 13th |
| Total | 144 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1157 |
[edit] Death
On October 7, 2007 while riding a 500cc scooter in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Abe was involved in a traffic accident with a truck, which made an illegal U-turn in front of him, at 6:20pm local time. He was pronounced dead two and a half hours later at 8:50pm at the hospital where he was taken for treatment [1][4].
The Doctor "Rossi"
Valentino Rossi (born February 16, 1979 in Urbino) is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with 7 Grand Prix World Championships to his name. In 2006, he narrowly missed an 8th title by scoring a second place in the Championship, and with three races to go in the 2007 season, he lost out again, this time to Australian Casey Stoner. According to Sports Illustrated, Rossi is the 7th highest earning sports personality in the world (2nd outside the United States), earning an estimated $30 million a year.[1]
Following his father, Graziano Rossi, Rossi started racing in Grand Prix in 1996 for Aprilia in the 125cc category and won his first World Championship the following year. From there, he moved up to the 250 cc category, again with Aprilia, and won the World Championship in 1999. He won the 500 cc World Championship with Honda in 2001, the MotoGP World Championships (also with Honda) in 2002 and 2003, and continued his streak of back-to-back championships by winning the 2004 and 2005 MotoGP World Championship after leaving Honda to join Yamaha.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] The early years
Valentino Rossi was born in Tavullia. Son of Graziano Rossi, a former motorcycle racer, he first jumped on a bike at the age of two, and his astounding career progressed in leaps and bounds.
Rossi's first racing love was actually go-karts. Fuelled by Rossi's mother, Stefania's, concern for her son's safety, Graziano purchased a go-kart as substitute for the bike. However, the Rossi family trait of perpetually wanting to go faster prompted a redesign; Graziano replaced the 60 cc motor with a 100 cc national kart motor for his then-5-year-old son.
Although Valentino showed interest in such things as his guitar and playing football, his interest in school and study waned. Shrugging off his mother's attempt to get him to attend football school, he found more interest in the gravel pits and various motorcycle GPs.
Graziano attempted to forge documents in an attempt to get Valentino's junior kart licence one year before he was legally allowed (he was 9 at the time), but ultimately failed.
Valentino won the regional kart championship in 1990. At the time, a new craze had taken over. The minimoto had now become his weapon of choice, and before the end of 1991, he had won 16 regional races.
Although minimoto was for fun, he continued to race karts and finished fifth at the national kart championships in Parma. Both Valentino and Graziano had started looking at moving him into the Italian 100 cc series as well as the corresponding European series, which most likely would have pushed him into the direction of Formula 1. However, the high financial burden of racing karts led to the decision to race minimoto exclusively. Through 1992 and 1993, Valentino continued to learn the ins and outs of minimoto racing, steadily racking up win after win.
[edit] The move to motorcycles
With Rossi growing in talent, it became abundantly clear that a proper motorcycle was required to further his progress. In 1993, Rossi acquired a Cagiva Mito 125 cc motorcycle, which was damaged in a first-corner crash no more than a hundred meters out from pit lane.
The bike was repaired, giving Rossi an opportunity to correct his first-corner mistake, only to crash it going into the second corner. It was an amusing yet trying moment for Rossi, who was hoping to decide whether motorcycles were really for him.
Valentino ended up finishing ninth that race weekend. Although his first season in the Italian Sport Production Championship was varied, he consistently improved his skills, leading to a pole position at the season's final race in Misano, where he ultimately would finish on the podium. By the second year, Rossi had been provided a factory Mito by Cagiva team manager Claudio Lusuardi and cruised to the Italian title.
[edit] The World Championship era
In 1994, Aprilia by way of Sandroni had found a new young talent in Valentino Rossi and proceeded to use him to improve its RS125R and in turn allowed Vale to learn how to handle the fast new pace of 125 cc racing. At first he found himself on a Sandroni in the 1994 Italian championship and continued to ride it through the 1995 European and Italian championships.
Rossi had little success in the 1996 World Championship season, collecting more crashes than anything else, failing to finish five of the season's races. In August, he won his first World Championship Grand Prix at Brno in the Czech Republic on an AGV Aprilia RS125R. By the end of the season, he was in ninth position, plagued with somewhat inconsistent performances, yet showing stunning speed at times. Rossi treated it as a learning process and refined his skills enough to completely dominate the 125 cc World Championship in the following 1997 season, winning an impressive 11 of the 15 races.
By 1998, the Aprilia RS250 was reaching its pinnacle and had a formidable team of riders in Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and Tetsuya Harada. But even with a fast bike and experienced championship-winning teammates, Rossi struggled in his first season in 250 cc. Rossi considered 1998 the toughest year of his career, due to the persistent pressure to perform that he felt from Aprilia, the media and effectively everyone around him. The death of two of his friends in a car accident also took a toll. Again, he found himself learning the ways of his new bike in the first season, concluding the 1998 250 cc season in second place, only three points behind the champion Loris Capirossi. In 1999, however, he won the title, collecting 5 pole positions and 9 Grand Prix wins along the way.
Rossi was rewarded in 2000 for his 250 cc World Championship by being given a ride with Honda in what was then the ultimate class in World Championship motorcycle racing, 500 cc. Jeremy Burgess, part of Honda Racing's brains trust, had shown him the NSR500 and was convinced that the pairing of it with Rossi would bring nothing but success. Retired 500 cc World Champion Mick Doohan, who also had Jeremy Burgess as chief engineer, worked with Rossi as his personal mentor in the first year at Honda. It would also be the first time Rossi would be racing against fierce rival, Max Biaggi. Although the two had never raced against each other, an intense rivalry had developed due to Rossi's arrogant yet lovable nature and Biaggi's proud, king-of-the-hill persona. The media naturally escalated things, printing any juicy gossip they heard, be it alleged or real. Rossi proceeded to showcase the NSR500's strengths, constantly using his analytical mind to refine it even further. It would take nine races before Rossi would win on the Honda, but like his previous seasons in 125 and 250, it was inevitable that 2000 would be a warm-up to a dominant second season. Vale finished 2nd to American Kenny Roberts, Jr., with Max Biaggi finishing in 3rd place.
Rossi stormed home to an overwhelming World Championship in 2001, winning 11 races, including the first three and the final four of the season. It would be the final 500 cc season for Rossi and most of the premier class.
Also in 2001, Rossi teamed with American rider Colin Edwards for the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race aboard a Honda VTR1000SPW. The pair won the race despite Rossi's "lack" of experience racing Superbikes.
[edit] MotoGP
2001 had turned out to be the swansong for the 500 cc World Championship; the 500 cc giving way to the newly created MotoGP class. The two-stroke 500 cc were rapidly being replaced by four-stroke 990 cc engines, allowing the factories to provide their riders with staggeringly fast motorbikes. Honda outfitted their factory riders with the RC211V, a liquid-cooled V5 four-stroke with traditionally odd aerodynamic aesthetics but phenomenal speed. Even though Rossi likes the Japanese bikes, he has always wanted to ride the infamous Team Bramich 748 Ducati.
2002 was the inaugural year for the MotoGP bikes and with all riders experiencing the same teething problems getting used to the new bikes (or dealing with the inferior 500 cc bikes), it was all Rossi needed to grasp the Championship with two hands from the very first race and never let go of it. Rossi won an astounding 8 of the first 9 races of the season, eventually claiming 11 victories in total.
It was more of the same in 2003 for Rossi's rivals; Rossi claimed 9 pole positions as well as 9 GP wins to his third consecutive World Championship. The Australian GP at Phillip Island in 2003 is considered to be one of Rossi's greatest career moments due to the unique circumstances in which he claimed victory. After being given a 10-second penalty for overtaking during a yellow flag due to a crash by Ducati rider Troy Bayliss, 1st-place Rossi proceeded to pull away from the rest of the field, eventually finishing more than 15 seconds ahead; more than enough to cancel out the penalty and win the race.
[edit] From Honda to Yamaha
There was much speculation during the second half of the 2003 season about Rossi's plans for the future. Most suspected that he would succeed in his bid to claim a third consecutive title and wondered where the amazingly talented Italian would go in the future. There were even rumors that he would attempt a career in rally cars after he had competed in a Peugeot 206 WRC rally car at the 2002 Rally of Great Britain (although he drove the car into a ditch). His contract with Honda was up at the end of the year and there were rumors that Rossi had become somewhat disillusioned with his ride at Honda. His tenure at Honda had effectively run its course; he had provided Honda with a 500 cc World Championship as well as consecutive MotoGP World Championships, he had helped perfect the RC211V into a formidable, almost unstoppable racing machine and considering Honda's reluctance to pay top dollar to secure his services in 2004, seemed to have overstayed his welcome.
Partnered with increased skepticism that the reason for his success was the dominance of the RC211V rather than Rossi's talent, it was inevitable that Honda and Rossi would part. Mid-season rumors pointed towards a possible move to Ducati, which sent the Italian press into a frenzy; the concept of the great Italian on the great Italian bike seemed too good to be true. Ducati did indeed try to seduce Rossi into riding their MotoGP bike, the Desmosedici, but for numerous reasons Rossi passed the offer up. Critics say that compared to the other manufacturers, Ducati had a significant way to go before being competitive even with Rossi at the helm. This proved to be the truth with Ducati's lackluster performance in the 2004 season, which had actually been worse than their inaugural year in MotoGP in 2003.
In his 2005 autobiography, "What If I'd Never Tried It?", Rossi offers another reason for choosing Yamaha over Ducati, saying that the mindset at Ducati Corse was a little too similar to the one he was trying to escape from at Honda.
Ultimately, Rossi signed a two-year contract with rivals Yamaha reportedly worth in excess of (U.S) $12 million; a price no other manufacturer, even Honda, was willing to pay.
Rossi's move to Yamaha would be a baptism of fire. His fiercest critics claimed that on an inferior machine (the Yamaha YZR-M1), Rossi would not be able to recreate his World Championship wins of the previous years, especially with increased development of the RC211V and the likes of Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau on Hondas. The RC211V was a superior machine in almost every aspect although it was guaranteed that the gap would shrink with the defection of Rossi and Jeremy Burgess (chief mechanic for Rossi at Honda, whom Rossi had also convinced to join). The 2004 season would give Rossi the ability to show everyone, especially his critics what he was made of and provide him with an opportunity to prove that it was his talent rather than his bike that won him his championships.
With the traditional first race of the season at Suzuka off the list due to safety considerations, the 2004 season started at Welkom in South Africa. Rossi shone through to claim first blood in his new team colors and somewhat silenced some of his critics who thought the Yamaha would still play second fiddle to the Honda. Rossi would go on to claim 8 more GP wins during the season, battling Sete Gibernau ferociously until Rossi eventually closed the door on Sete's hopes in the penultimate race of the season at Phillip Island. Gibernau and Rossi had become bickering enemies during the course of the season; whereas in previous seasons they had been competitive but friendly rivals, various disputes arose during 2004 which led to their falling apart. Rossi would continue to rub salt into the wound for both Gibernau and Honda by winning the ultimate race of the season at Valencia. It was a painful blow to both Gibernau and Honda; Gibernau, so close to a World Championship, and Honda, starting to become aware of what they had let go. Valentino Rossi ended up with 304 points to Gibernau's 257, with Max Biaggi 3rd with 217 points.
In 2005 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, [1] Rossi captured his 7th World Championship and 5th straight MotoGP Championship.[2] He finished with a total of 367 points, an incredible 147 points ahead of 2nd place finisher Marco Melandri (220 pt), and Nicky Hayden finishing 3rd with 206 points.
The 2006 MotoGP season started off with Rossi, once again, being the favorite to take the Championship, but he had trouble in the first half of the season. Rossi finished 14th in Jerez, making an amazing comeback after Toni Elias pushed him at the very first corner, and had a pair of DNFs in Shanghai and Le Mans due to tyre and electronic problems respectively. Nicky Hayden held the points lead throughout most of the season, but Rossi was slowly working his way up the points ladder. It wasn't until Motegi when Rossi finally grabbed 2nd in the points race behind Hayden. In the Portuguese Grand Prix, the second to last race of the season, Hayden was taken out by his teammate, Dani Pedrosa, and did not finish the race. This led to Rossi taking the points lead with only one race left in the season. Rossi crashed early in Valencia, the last race, and Hayden went on to win the 2006 MotoGP Championship. Rossi finished the season in 2nd place.
Valentino Rossi returned to MotoGP for the 2007 season riding the new Yamaha YZR-M1 800 cc. In the first race in Qatar he came second to Casey Stoner on the Ducati Desmosedici. In the second round of the season Rossi won the Race with Dani Pedrosa in second place and Colin Edwards in third giving both Yamaha riders podiums. Casey Stoner returned to winning ways in the third and fourth races of the season at the Turkish and Chinese grand prix on his extremely quick Ducati, which has enjoyed a top speed advantage over the rest of the field. Another reason for Stoner's consistency during the 2007 season in comparison with Rossi's mixed results is the advantage Ducati's tyre supplier, Bridgestone, appears to have over its rival, Michelin, who supply tyres for Rossi's factory Yamaha.
Rossi's lowly 10th position at Turkey was put down to a defective tyre and while he managed to bounce back to a second place on the podium at China, a poor tyre recommendation from Michelin was blamed for his 6th place finish in the wet French grand prix at Le Mans. Bridgestone riders took all 3 places on the podium at the French tyre giant's home race, and Rossi went on the record to say that Michelin must urgently address various weaknesses. Indeed it seemed they paid heed to their wake up call when Rossi cruised to victory at his home race, the Italian grand prix at Mugello, ahead of Dani Pedrosa, also Michelin-shod on his factory Honda. Championship leader Casey Stoner was beaten to the last podium place at Mugello by Brazilian veteran Alex Barros on a satellite Ducati with Bridgestone tyres.
Rossi's grip on the championship loosened slightly at Catalunya and Donington, finishing second and fourth respectively to winner Casey Stoner, however the Assen race was won by Rossi who charged through the field from 11th on the grid after a poor wet qualifying session to challenge and eventually beat Casey Stoner to the chequered flag by 1.5 seconds. At the half-way point of the 2007 season Rossi was the closest challenger to Casey Stoner's title aspirations, trailing by 21 world championship points. In the month of June, commonly called "Rossi's month" with races consisting of Mugello, Catalunya, Donnington Park and Assen, both Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner have scored 83 points each; 2 x 1st place, 1 x 2nd place and 1 x 4th place. This has been done in conditions favourable to the Italian manufacturer and in some cases left Rossi on the fourth row with a point to prove.
Sachsenring saw a disastrous performance from the Italian. After qualifying fourth on the grid, whilst Stoner took pole, Rossi had to use raceday to his advantage. Come Sunday, Rossi lined up with a fever of 102 degrees and dropped down to 8th by the end of the first lap. A pass on Randy De Puniet at the tight Omega corner saw Rossi lose the front, catch it then lose it completely and skid off into the gravel where his right hand clip on was damaged leaving him out of the race on lap 6. Luckily problems for Bridgestone in the blistering heat saw Stoner finish 5th stretching his championship lead by 11 points to 32 ahead of "The Doctor". A visit to Laguna Seca for the USGP, Rossi finished 4th place behind Stoner, Vermulen, and Melandri respectively.
The end to the summer break in the 2007 season landed the MotoGP paddock at Brno, with various new changes to the Fiat Yamaha. Qualifying 6th for the race start on Sunday morning after struggling in free practice, Rossi spent his rear Michelin early on in the race chasing Capirossi to make it up to 5th. Eventually tyre issues got the best of the 7 times world champion and Rossi crossed the finish line in 7th, a whole 22 seconds behind 1st place man Casey Stoner. This now leaves Rossi 60 points behind the Championship leader with only 150 points up for grabs.
Misano saw Rossi starting from 2nd on the grid behind Casey Stoner. An engine failure five laps in resulted in Rossi falling 85 points behind Stoner as he finished first.
A start from 3rd on the grid in Estoril ended in a no holds barred race with Pedrosa as they both accelerated out of the last corner sideways for Rossi to take the race win and gain 9 points in the World Championship on Stoner who finished in third.
A wet race confused the front runners at Motegi as the track dried out quickly with everybody still on wet tyres. Rossi fought his way to first and whilst in front of Melandri, put in some impressive lap times. A late bike change got the Doctor back out in second behind Capirossi, but cold intermediate tyres ended in Rossi running of the track at the end of the back straight, another pit stop put Rossi back out in 13th with nothing else to do but watch Stoner take the World Championship.
super caelitos "Carlos Tévez"
arlos Alberto Tévez (born 5 February 1984 in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine footballer who made his name with Argentine giants Boca Juniors, Corinthians in Brazil and later in England with West Ham United. He is currently playing for Manchester United, on a two-year loan from Media Sports Investments.
Tevez (left) in West Ham colours
He is regarded as one of the most promising prospects to come out of Argentina. Like Argentine teammate Lionel Messi, he has been labelled as the "New Maradona". Diego Maradona once described him as the "Argentine prophet for the 21st century".[1]
Contents[hide] |
Background
Tévez was born as Carlos Alberto Martínez, and raised in the humble neighbourhood of Ejército de Los Andes, better known as "Fuerte Apache". It was from there where he got the nickname of Apache. His parents changed his surname to his mothers during a conflict between his junior club All Boys and Boca Juniors.[2]
Tévez has a distinctive burn mark from his right ear, down his neck to his chest. This occurred when he was ten months old while he was exploring his mother’s kitchen floor and he inadvertently pulled a kettle of boiling water over himself. This caused third-degree burns to the right side of his face, neck and chest and left him in intensive care for almost two months. Today, the scars are a highly visible feature of Tévez, who did not get them fixed because he was playing in a junior football team. He refused an offer from his then club, Boca Juniors, to have them cosmetically improved, saying that the scars were a part of who he was in the past and who he is today.[3]
Club career
Boca Juniors
Tévez joined Boca at the age of thirteen and played his first professional match with Boca on October 21, 2001 against Talleres de Córdoba. He played for the team until the end of 2004. With Boca Juniors he won an Argentine Championship (2003), a Copa Libertadores (2003), an Intercontinental Cup (2003), and a Copa Sudamericana (2004). Because of the Intercontinental Cup of 2003, he did not participate in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the Argentine team.
Following Argentina's and Tévez personal success at the 2004 Olympic Games, he was named Futbolista latinoamericano más destacado ("Most notable Latin American footballer") in 2003 by Latin American Fox Sports. In addition, the Argentine Football Writers chose him as Footballer of the Year and Sportsman of the Year 2004.
Corinthians
In December 2004, he transferred to Sport Club Corinthians Paulista for $20 million with a five year contract worth $10 million, following the Brazilian club's deal with Media Sports Investments. The deal was the biggest transfer ever in South American football. Initially, Tévez was not well received by the Corinthians fans - including Brazilian president Lula. However, Tévez became the captain and star of the team that won the 2005 Brazilian league and the fans' favourite player. When the 2005 Brazilian league ended, he was granted the award of best player of the tournament by the Brazilian football federation, becoming the first non-Brazilian player to win that award since 1976.
West Ham United
On 23 August 2006, Sky Sports revealed that Tévez was refusing to play for Corinthians.[4] The article insinuated that a move to Europe was likely, with Chelsea and Manchester United both mentioned as possible destinations. Yet on Thursday 31 August 2006, the day of the European transfer deadline, Tévez confirmed on his website that both he and Javier Mascherano were signing for West Ham United on permanent deals, for £12 million.[5][6] The deal shocked the football world and controversy surrounds the move's exact nature and terms, with media reports suggesting that several other Premiership clubs turned down the opportunity of signing Tévez and Mascherano because of the stipulations put in place by the owner of the players' contracts, Media Sports Investments.[7]
Following the arrivals of Tévez and Mascherano, West Ham failed to win for nine games (one draw and eight defeats), including seven consecutive matches without scoring. On 5 October 2006, Argentina national football team manager Alfio Basile urged the pair to quit West Ham. Just three days later, however, Tévez told the media that he was aiming to stay at West Ham "for the long-term". Until West Ham's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea on 18 November 2006, he had not played for West Ham since coming off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur on October 22 2006 (a game West Ham lost 1-0), during which time West Ham had managed to end their losing streak. Tévez also left the ground early after being substituted and throwing a mini tantrum versus Sheffield United in November. As punishment, which was decided upon by his Upton Park team mates, Tévez had to donate half of a weeks wages to charity and train in a Brazil shirt. Tévez refused to wear the Brazil shirt saying "I played in Brazil and have a great respect for Brazil and Brazilians but I’m Argentine and won’t wear that shirt".[8]
On 17 December 2006, the News of the World revealed that Tévez said he was surprised Alan Pardew had not been sacked earlier than now and that he criticized Pardew's management.[9]
On 6 January 2007, Tévez made his first start for West Ham United under the management of Alan Curbishley against Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup 3rd round. West Ham United won the game 3-0, with Tévez playing a role in all of the goals. However, during a routine Premiership clash against Fulham, Tévez suffered an injury which was expected to keep him out for a sustained period of time. However, Tévez soon began full training again and came on as a substitute against Watford on 10 February in a 1-0 defeat.
Tévez scored his first goal for the club on March 4, 2007 in a 3-4 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, scoring from a direct free kick and assisting West Ham's other two goals on the day.[10] He scored his third consecutive goal for West Ham in the 2-0 win against Middlesbrough, after having set up Bobby Zamora for the first. It was his first goal from open play in a West Ham shirt and he was named Man of the Match.
In April, following a record £5.5m fine for West Ham for breaching Premier League rules over the signings of Tévez and Mascherano, Tévez was cleared to play for West Ham by the Premier League after changes were made to a third party agreement related to him.[11]
In April 2007, the Argentine picked up the Player of the Year Award from club magazine Hammers News and also received the Hammer of the Year award from West Ham United.[12] In May, he inspired West Ham to a 3-0 win over relegation rivals Wigan, and then scored a brace and set up a Mark Noble volley the following week against Bolton Wanderers.
In West Ham's final game of the season against the recently-crowned champions, Manchester United, on 13 May 2007, Tévez secured the club's Premiership status by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory. Due to Wigan Athletic's 2-1 win over Sheffield United on the same day, a loss to Manchester United would have resulted in West Ham's relegation.
2007 transfer saga
Tévez's future at West Ham has been the subject of constant speculation ever since he signed for the Hammers, with the media linking him to a host of European clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Internazionale. However, West Ham stated repeatedly that they owned his registration and did not wish to sell him.
At the end of June, Tévez rejected a move to Inter Milan, having been given a deadline for his decision by the Serie A champions.[13] His agent, Kia Joorabchian, stated that he was in discussions with West Ham, as the player was settled in the Premiership and had publicly stated his desire to stay in England. Tévez went on to claim that he would not make a decision on his future until the Copa America finished in July, but on 5 July the Daily Mail broke news that Tévez had reportedly agreed to join Manchester United in a deal worth £20 million, subject to an appeal from West Ham.[14] In response to the rumoured deal, the Premier League issued a statement indicating they would block any proposed transfer unless they were certain West Ham would receive the majority of any transfer fee.[15] The Premier League have insisted that "Any deal for Carlos Tevez has to be done directly with West Ham"[16].
On 6 July, reports emerged that Tévez had agreed personal terms with Manchester United. Shortly thereafter, West Ham released a statement, saying "Carlos Tevez is a registered West Ham United player, contracted to the club until June 2010 [...] There is no agreement with West Ham United for Carlos Tevez to leave the club and we expect him to return in time for next season's preparations. No decision on his future can be reached without the agreement of West Ham United."[17] In light of this statement, Kia Joorabchian claimed that permission had been given by West Ham, and that talks with United had taken place.[18]
In the middle of July 2007, Manchester United and West Ham agreed to invite FIFA to rule on the ownership of Tévez, but on 24 July 2007, FIFA recommended that West Ham and Carlos Tévez refer the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport[19]. However, Kia Joorabchian issued West Ham with a High Court writ to "...to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tevez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties.".[20] The High Court date was set for 22 August and was due to last three days. However, an agreement was reached between West Ham and MSI, with the approval of the Premier League, whereby MSI would pay £2 million to West Ham, who would then release Tévez from his registration with them.[21]
Manchester United
Following the payment of £2 million to West Ham by MSI, Tévez was formally released from his contract with West Ham. Manchester United put forward a proposed two-year loan deal for Tévez to the Premier League, which was approved on 10 August.[22] He was given the number 32 jersey, the same number as that which he had worn at West Ham. He claims to like the number as it contains the same numbers as Michael Jordan's famous 23, a sportsman who Tevez lists as one of his idols. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on 15 August, replacing Wayne Rooney, who had suffered a foot injury, and set up a goal for Paul Scholes.[23] On 26th August 2007, Tevez allegedly scored his first goal for United against Tottenham, as a long range strike from fellow new signing Nani brushed his head on its way to goal. Replays showed that Tevez certainly touched the ball, while manager Sir Alex Ferguson also credited the goal to the Argentine so as to relieve the enormous pressure heaped on the him. However, many of the next day's papers still chose to list the goal as scored by Nani. On 23rd September he scored his first officially recognised goal with a diving header, in a 2-0 victory for Manchester United against Chelsea F.C, at Old Trafford. On 6th October, Tevez hit the back of the net again, in another man of the match performance, scoring the first goal in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
International career
Tévez was a key part of Boca's victory in the 2003 Copa Libertadores but his greatest achievement was during the 2004 Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal with his team and scored eight goals in six matches to be the top scorer of the competition. He was the world's second Top Goal Scorer of 2004 in international competitions (according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics[24]), one less than Ali Daei from Iran.
Tévez was selected by José Pekerman for Argentina for the 2006 World Cup. He started the first match against the Ivory Coast on the bench but came on as a substitute for the match against Serbia and Montenegro. He scored the fifth goal and assisted Lionel Messi's first goal which was Argentina's final goal in a superb 6-0 victory for them. In Argentina's drawn final Group C match against Holland, Tévez played the entire duration and emerged man of the match.
Career stats
| Season | Club | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2002 | Boca Juniors | 11 | 1 |
| 2002-2003 | Boca Juniors | 32 | 10 |
| 2003-2004 | Boca Juniors | 23 | 12 |
| 2004-2005 | Boca Juniors | 9 | 2 |
| 2005 | Corinthians | 29 | 20 |
| 2006 | Corinthians | 9 | 5 |
| 2006-2007 | West Ham | 26 | 7 |
| 2007- | Manchester United | 9 | 2 |
Titles
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 2004 Athens | ARG | |
- 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Corinthians)
- 2004 – Olympic gold medal (Argentina)
- 2004 – Pre-Olympics (Argentina)
- 2004 – Copa Sudamericana (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – Intercontinental Cup (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – Argentine Apertura (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – South American under-20 Championship (Argentina)
Personal awards
- 2007 – West Ham United Hammer of the Year
- 2007 – Hammers News Player of the Year
- 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro's Best Player by CBF (Brazilian Soccer Confederation)
- 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro's Best Player (Brazilian Placar magazine)
- 2004 – Olimpia de Oro award for Argentine most important Sportperson of the year (Shared with Basketball player Manu Ginobili) (Clarín newspaper)
- 2004 – Olympic Golden Boot (8 goals in 6 matches)
- 2003, 2004 and 2005 – South American Player of the Year (Uruguayan newspaper El País)
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