KEY POINTS:
A good week for ...
Cricketing acronyms
Stunning news from the ECB this week, which is to launch the EPL T20 in a bid to rival the ICL and IPL. An ECB release said the tournament would replace Pro40. It will involve all 18 counties and two sides from overseas, probably the winners of IPL plus a side assembled by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford (RBs or Rich Bastards). No word yet on the fate of the ICL rebels, but when we hear we'll let you know ASAP.
Cricketing anarchists
Quite a week for cricket with news that Freddie Flintoff, Shoaib Akhtar and Jessie Ryder are all back in action.
Akhtar, the Harry Houdini of cricket, has now managed to overturn bans for chucking, drug use, attacking team mates and abusing PCB officials; Flintoff has finally finished celebrating England's 2005 Ashes victory; and Ryder has resurfaced as the captain - yes, captain - of the New Zealand emerging players team in Australia.
Not such good news for Mohammad Asif, though.
Having dodged a bullet not long ago - or more likely a rope - when he was released without charge despite being caught with 0.24g of opium at Dubai airport, the Pakistani has been suspended for a second time for failing a doping test, this time during the IPL.
At least he knows who to ask when he's looking for a good lawyer.
Ronaldinho
Brazil's chances of seeing off the Olywhites - a strong rival for Black Cocks as the worst nickname in New Zealand sport - have been given a huge boost by news that Ronaldinho will play at the Beijing Olympics.
Although not overly thrilled about it, the bucked-tooth genius' new club AC Milan decided to let him play to help him lose some weight. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Olympics offered the former two-time FIFA world player of the year "a chance to get back in shape" after he was run out of Barcelona for over-indulging on the paella.
Reggie Jackson
As well known for his Hall of Fame-sized ego as for knocking in mammoth home runs in October, Reggie Jackson was at his masterfully immodest best at the All Star game.
Introduced as one of the great home-run hitters of all time before he threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yankees captain Derek Jeter, Jackson was asked how he thought he'd do in the Home Run Derby. "I would have won them all. You know that," he said.
In true old codger fashion, Jackson then gave a less-than-flattering assessment of the modern-day player.
"These young guys today, they're bigger. But I don't know if they're stronger. There's no one playing today that's stronger than Jim Rice. There's no one playing today who hit the ball farther than Gorman Thomas."
Ah, the golden years ...
A bad week for ...
John Daly
Two-time British Open winner John Daly has accused former coach Butch Harmon of lying and smearing his reputation, and warned him to stay as far away as possible. Harmon cut ties with Daly in March, saying he was devoting too much time to partying and too little to practicing. "I think his lies kind of destroyed my life for a little bit," Daly said on the eve of the tournament.
Harmon dumped Daly after the PODS Championship when, already 3-over, Daly ducked into a corporate tent during a 2 1/2-hour rain delay and then replaced his caddie. He shot 77, then followed that up with an 80 and missed the cut.
NFL's signs of trouble
The National Football League is increasing its monitoring of on-field player activities to ensure that no one is flashing the hand signals of street gangs. Scrutiny was intensified after the shooting death of Denver cornerback Darrent Williams in 2007 after he was involved in a dispute with known gang members.
The NFL took further notice after Boston Celtics basketballer Paul Pierce was fined US$25,000 in April for a "menacing gesture" toward the Atlanta Hawks' bench.
Al Unser Sr
Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Sr has launched a law suit after getting into a fracas with police at a road block. Unser contends sheriff's deputies violated his civil rights and harmed him physically when they arrested him in 2006. A jury acquitted Unser on charges of resisting and disobeying police orders to leave the roadblock near a crime scene.
His brother, Bobby Unser, arrived at the roadblock later that day and was arrested after confronting police but charges were later dropped. Deputies said the brothers tried to get around the roadblock and ignored orders to leave the area where authorities had cornered an armed carjacking suspect.
The Unsers said they were on their own property and were strong-armed by deputies.
A sheriff's department spokeswoman said: "The county is prepared to aggressively defend this suit."
