The Best Of The Best

Pakistan press backs cricket walkout

Danton — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:10:51 +0000

Commentators in Pakistan back their cricket team's refusal to take the field against England in protest against umpire Darrell Hair's decision to penalise them for ball tampering.

In their sports columns, one former Pakistan captain says the Australian umpire is "universally" felt by sub-continent players to be "biased", while another describes him as a "mini Hitler".

One paper concedes that Mr Hair "might have seen something wrong", but says that even so, he should have come up with proof.

RAMIZ RAJA IN THE NATION

The star of the show definitely was umpire Darrell Hair, but as a villain of the piece… Players from the sub-continent universally feel that he is biased… Pakistan… were in their right to protest… Will it be the end of the road for [Hair]? If it is, it would not be a day too soon. But it is indeed sad that it has taken such a huge incident to remove a distasteful bully from the scene.

SARFRAZ NAWAZ IN DIN

It was inappropriate to protest after more than one hour and if they had decided not to field, then why did they come? … Bob Woolmer is an English person and he has favoured [England] to send the team back into the ground.

IMRAN KHAN IN THE NATION

Hair is one of those characters when he wears the white umpire's coat, he metamorphoses into a mini Hitler… During my career I have seen such umpires who go out of their way to make their authority felt. They are umpiring fundamentalists. Such characters court controversy.

AQIB JAVED IN DIN

Technically as per [the] International Cricket Council's rules Pakistan has lost the match.

SHAHED SADULLAH IN THE NEWS

The dice has been too heavily loaded in favour of one side against the other… Hair excelled himself, even by his own unfathomable standards… It is seriously time to examine the possibility of taking this man to a court of law… Enough is enough. The Darrell Hair problem now has to be addressed and it does not look as if there is much hope that ICC will do so.

KHALID HUSSAIN IN THE NEWS

It took a ball tampering allegation from the infamous Darrell Hair to add drama to an otherwise dead rubber.

INTIKHAB ALAM IN THE DAILY TIMES

[Current Pakistan captain] Inzamam should have taken the decision of leaving the ground at that very moment when the umpires decided to change the ball or either he should have kept on playing because Pakistan were in the winning position… Umpire Darrell Hair must have seen something wrong but he should have come up with proof.

ALEX BROWN IN THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

The 76-Test career of the Australian cricket umpire Darrell Hair is under threat following Pakistan's refusal to play future matches in which he is officiating.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Vietnam coach sacked over scandal

Danton — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:50:40 +0000

An assistant to Vietnam's national football coach has been sacked by his club over a match-fixing scandal.

Le Thuy Hai was dismissed by the Danang club for failing to prevent players in his charge allegedly fixing results.

Four players have already been arrested after an investigation into matches at December's South East Asia Games.

Le Thuy Hai, one of three assistants to national coach Alfred Riedl of Austria, has been heavily criticised in the media over the scandal.

He was sacked for "not having carried out his responsibilities in management and education of players in the Danang club who took part in negative acts", said the popular newspaper Sports Vietnam.

"Mr Hai has seriously hurt the reputation of Danang football club and of the city as a whole among fans and sponsors," it said.

Gambling banned

The allegations are the latest in a series of bribery and gambling scandals to hit Vietnamese football.

Mr Hai 's predecessor, Nguyen Thanh Vinh, was arrested in November over allegations of match-fixing.

The latest scandal revolves around a semi-final match with Burma, which Vietnam won 1-0.

According to state-controlled newspapers, some of the players were paid 20 million dong (US$1,300) by local bookmakers to make sure Vietnam did not win by more than one goal.

The bookmakers were able to offer attractive odds on various bigger winning margins, and profit from a guaranteed result.

Gambling is widespread in Vietnam, despite being banned, and millions of dollars often change hands over football matches.

More than 20 referees, coaches and officials are currently facing charges of match-fixing in the past year.

BBC NEWS | Africa | Toil and triumph at Radio Hill

Danton — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:46:53 +0000

Wednesday, 19 June, 2002, 15:05 GMT 16:05 UK Toil and triumph at Radio Hill
The sense of isolation was liberating for volunteers
Entering the remote Ankasa rainforest for the first time was strangely reminiscent of driving into New York.

A red earth track parts the trees and forms a straight avenue that left us looking up in wonder at the towering outgrowths on either side.

I was here to visit a remote clearing – a few hours trek into the forest – where Raleigh International was building a ranger camp to help Ghana's under-resourced Wildlife Division police the reserve more effectively.

Arriving late in the afternoon with no prospect of reaching the site before nightfall, we set up our mosquito nets with the wildlife rangers on the doorstep of a natural "architectural" wonder that would put Grand Central Station to shame – Bamboo Cathedral.

A forest path opens out on to the side of a small valley where vast bamboo plants form a nave-like chamber, pierced by shafts of light.

A river runs along the valley floor and looking along it more antechambers can be seen stretching into the distance.

Colonies of ants

It was an awesome sight and we visited twice; once in the evening and again early the next day just as the first rays of light were filtering through the canopy.

Later that morning we set off in a tractor-trailer, down a muddy track to the drop-off point from where we would hike to the building site, 14 kilometres into the forest.

Half an hour into the journey we were halted by a fallen tree blocking the track, forcing us to abandon the trailer and shoulder our rucksacks – while our porters hoisted the group's supplies on to their heads.

It was a relief when we finally left the track and branched off into the humid forest itself, out of the sun.

Here we walked in single file, led by a Wildlife Division ranger.

Several times we quickened our step as we crossed colonies of ants on the forest floor.

In the last few minutes of the walk, every huge tree seemed as if it would be the last one we'd be rounding, before we suddenly hit a slight incline, heard the sound of people working and found ourselves at Radio Hill.

Daily life

The last nine weeks have seen Raleigh's volunteers build the site up almost from scratch.

Tree roots and vegetation have been cleared using machetes and saws, timbers have been cut in a portable mill and the group of 14 has worked on everything from the floorboards to the fly screened windows.

Daily life has revolved around building work on the ranger hut and camp duties.

When there was no rainwater, all the site's water needed to be hand-pumped and filtered from a stream 10 minutes' walk away – at the bottom of a hill.

A team of four worked all day on water duty, and after a day of climbing and pumping, they valued every drop.

When rain arrived it usually came in deluges.

But the group stayed dry under tarpaulin tents and as the building developed, in the ranger hut itself.

The real bonus was that the water was collected in a tank and meant a few days off the water rota.

The main connection with the outside world was a shortwave radio set with which regular communications were held with Raleigh's field base in Accra.

Far from being restrictive, the sense of isolation was liberating for many of the volunteers.

Project manager David Morrice summed it up: "The fact that we have been so self-contained has meant that everyone who has worked on this site can look back with an incredible sense of achievement and say 'I built that'."

BBC SPORT | TV/Radio Schedule | Inside Sport | Gabby Logan: A woman inside sport

Danton — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:47:15 +0000

Behind the Scenes at Inside Sport Inside Sport is the new sports news programme from the BBC.

It will bring you in-depth interviews and features from a wide range of sports, and a bit of fun on your Monday night.

The show launches on Monday 30 April, at 2305 BST on BBC ONE.

In addition, the programme will also be on our global channel BBC World and available to watch again on bbc.co.uk/insidesport.

Host Gabby Logan shares her hopes for what the show can do for sport and what she can do for the show.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM INSIDE SPORT?

Inside Sport is new, so it's not emulating anything. Our aim is to have a good balance of original journalism, features that other areas of television don't have the inclination to do, and interviews that have more depth about the individual.

People like boxer Ricky Hatton and footballer Owen Hargreaves to name two – people who are leading the way in their sports and representing their countries.

They have something to say and we can come from a slightly different angle at them, not just stick them in front of a sponsor's board for two minutes.

Inside Sport is good film-making: the craftsmanship, the great heritage of BBC film-makers, as well as debate in the studio with some interesting pundits.

I want to do something that involves all sports. I came to the BBC to do things outside of football, but this is great because I get to do everything.

If there are big stories in rugby and football we're not going to ignore them, but we will be able to dip into other sports, be it sailing or whatever.

WHICH INTERVIEWS STAND OUT FOR YOU?

I once interviewed then-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in what was supposed to be a more relaxed environment.

But then, six minutes later, there was the tap at my shoulder telling me my time was up, irrespective of where we were at in the interview.

I also spent a day with Gazza during the World Cup in 2002 – three hours sat in a hotel suite. In terms of really getting to the soul of someone, that was as naked and exposed as you'd ever want anybody to be.

I did a month on Five Live Breakfast and that was so interesting because I got to interview so many different people and not just from the world of sport.

This programme is more about feeling the sportsperson's day – a few shades of Louis Theroux perhaps – and living a little bit of their lives with them, inside their sport, inside their world.

You get those insights that you wouldn't get in that 'chair-opposite-chair' interview set-up.

HOW TOUGH IS SPORTS PRESENTING?

It's a competitive world, no doubt, but it's also quite tough for women in the sense that there's a lot of scrutiny.

I see Inside Sport as another new challenge for me as a journalist.

ARE THERE PARTICULAR BARRIERS TO WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN SPORT?

As somebody who trained every day for three or four hours when I was a gymnast I had to struggle to make it happen for myself.

I wasn't chauffeur-driven to training every day and didn't get all the leotards I wanted. But I think that's the nature of being a sportsperson.

What I would like to see is an opportunity for young girls everywhere to do sport – but they have to put in a bit of work themselves.

Listen to someone like Kelly Holmes: You don't get two gold medals at the Olympics without sacrifice.

HOW HAS SPORTS JOURNALISM CHANGED? IS IT STILL A BOYS' CLUB?

There's much more opinion on everything. There's no longer such a thing as a straight match report.

I wouldn't say it's a 'boys' club' but it is male-dominated.

I'd be travelling back from Champions League games on the same plane as a lot of journalists and the really good ones – the ones that I really respected – you could have a good chat to.

They're very entertaining and engaging and they didn't exclude you. And then there were some that hunted in packs. They travelled together, they socialised together.

HOW DO YOU GET THE MEDIA TO COVER MINORITY SPORT WITH MORE CREDIBILITY?

We need the Beth Tweddles of this world to give gymnastics a boost and actually win medals on the world stage. Then newspapers can do a two-page feature on her.

That will happen, but they need people to write about. Then again, the sport needs its profile increasing to get people involved in the sport in the first place.

If I was coming from a minority sport, if I was the head of the British Fencing Association, I would make big in-roads with editors to get coverage for the personalities in my sport.

BBC SPORT | Football | Premiership | Ronaldo takes award from writers

Danton — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:42:51 +0000

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Chelsea's Didier Drogba to the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award.

The 22-year-old Portugal international has already been named player of the year by his fellow professionals.

"Cristiano was a runaway winner, and deservedly so," said Paul Hetherington, chairman of the FWA.

Ronaldo's team-mates Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were third and fourth respectively in the vote.

Ronaldo has been in spectacular form for United, who remain on course for a Premiership and FA Cup double.

He faced a backlash at the start of the season after his involvement in Wayne Rooney's sending-off against Portugal at the World Cup.

Hetherington added: "After the events of last summer at the World Cup, the vote of the Football Writers' Association shows that what we are all interested in is honouring the best player in the country.

"There has been no agendas carried over from last summer."

BBC SPORT | Fun and Games | Quotes of the Year

Danton — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:19:31 +0000

The Special One departed, the Hitman was knocked out and we welcomed the arrival of a new British Formula One star.

And they all played their part in making 2007 one of the best years ever – for sporting quotes.

Look out for part two on New Year's Eve, when we showcase the best of YOUR contributions to our top quotes.

JUST FOR LAUGHS

"I used to milk 100 cows six days a week, and then go to a place like Newbridge, in Wales, on a wet Wednesday night and have my head kicked in. It was a tough apprenticeship, but you know what? I miss those days."
New England rugby union captain Phil Vickery reminisces about the good ol' days.

"It's a bit like Amsterdam. They look great in the window, but it's different when you go inside."
Comic Bob Mills debates the perils of football's transfer window.

"I didn't know it was the home of golf. I thought the home of golf was where I was from."
Boo Weekley with his verdict on St Andrews. Weekley hails from Milton in Florida. His nickname comes from Yogi Bear's sidekick, Boo Boo Bear.

"All through the match I just wasn't there, I didn't perform. I played like a fish!"
Mark Williams misses out on a plaice in the second round of the World Snooker Championship after losing to Joe Swail.

"Some players have psychologists, some have sportologists – I smoke."
US Open winner Angel Cabrera.

"I felt the rear end go down, selected first gear and thought I saw the lolly move."
Lewis Hamilton on jumping the gun during a pit stop at Silverstone. At least we think that's what he was talking about.

"Sometimes on a day off I go to the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. When we play at home, I go there after the game and it's like a doughnut party! Everyone is eating doughnuts inside their cars – it's like a disco!"
Cesc Fabregas reveals his Homer Simpson fitness philosophy.

"I couldn't find London on a map if they didn't have the names of the countries. I swear to God. I don't know what nothing is. I know Italy looks like a boot. I know (Washington Redskins linebacker) London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That's the closest thing I know to London. He's black, so I'm sure he's not from London. I'm sure that's a coincidental name."
Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder ahead of the clash with the New York Giants at Wembley. Americans – gotta love 'em.

"It is nice to be recognised for actually achieving something in life as opposed to spending seven weeks in a house on TV with a load of other muppets."
British cyclist Bradley Wiggins has a pop at Big Brother after finishing fourth in the Tour de France prologue.

"I swear on my mother's life, my late mother's life."
Alex Higgins being interviewed by Stephen Nolan on BBC Northern Ireland.

"99% of the letters and e-mails are supporting us and that's not bad. That's as good as Saddam Hussein did and he was fiddling the figures."
Ken Bates after winning his battle to retain control at Leeds United.

"I put the tape in and we all found ourselves watching He-Man Masters of the Universe."
Former world snooker champion Joe Johnson finally decides to watch a re-run of his 1986 triumph on video and finds his kids have taped over it.

"He hit me below the belt, south of the border, south of the equator, everywhere you can imagine. What a filthy fighter."
Alex Arthur reveals his displeasure at the tactics of Koba Gogoladze after knocking out the Georgian during their super featherweight clash.

"I was made to stand on a chair and sing Lulu's 'Shout' to the lads as part of the initiation… it was only after I'd finished – and they'd stopped laughing – that I found out I was the only new player to do it."
Bristol City new boy Lee Trundle is singing from a different hymn sheet to the rest of his team-mates.

"He will find out the hard way on his birthday that he has got a present he never wanted.''
Graham Earl vows to wish Amir Khan an unhappy 21st birthday ahead of their fight in December. Earl was knocked out after 72 seconds.

"You can compare us at the moment to a bit of soft porn – there is an awful lot of foreplay and not a lot going on in the box."
Rochdale manager Keith Hill reflects on their 2-1 home defeat by Stockport.

"Dad's tiny – his passport picture is a full-length shot. He looks like he just hopped off a key ring. Mum is a different matter, she's a bit of a handful to say the least. I love her more than anyone on this Earth. But she's a monster."
Boxer Ricky Hatton lavishes praise on his parents.

He's got quite a bit of rhythm to him but you ought to see me on the dance floor in Manchester on a Saturday night with 12 pints of Guinness inside me – he doesn't even come close."
Hatton poo-poos Floyd Mayweather's appearance on Dancing With The Stars.

FOOTBALL FUNNIES

"I reckon he left the club in a much better state than when he took over."
Text message to BBC Five Live after Leroy Rosenior lasts just 10 minutes as Torquay manager.

"Up front we played like world beaters – at the back it was more like panel beaters."
Wigan manager Paul Jewell on a 3-3 draw with Spurs.

"I look forward to taking the club into a new era."
Comment from new Luton chairman David Pinkney in April – the club went in administration, were hit by a raft of FA charges and docked 10 points in November.

"I am not the 'Special One'. I'm the normal one. But my wife says I am special. What am I like? I am 180cm."
New Chelsea manager Avram Grant has them rolling in the aisles in his first press conference.

"Lampsy, I reckon. The girls like him a little bit. If I was that way I'd see something in him."
Chelsea captain John Terry when asked by the club's TV station to name the best-looking player in the squad.

"There's a few ugly ones. Carlo is probably the best looking."
Lampard plumps for Carlo Cudicini.

"I didn't know it was against the rules."
Cabofriense defender Cleberson after being booked for kissing the referee during a 3-1 defeat by Botafogo at the Maracana.

"I feel OK. The only difference is in training you have the press – and they want to come back home and sleep with you."
Barcelona striker Thierry Henry on his intimate relationship with the Spanish hacks.

"Well I'm the Prince and I'm sort of slaying a dragon – which is something I've never done before, obviously."
David Beckham on his role in Disney's Dream Portrait ads.

"These so-called big stars are people we are supposed to be looking up to. Well they are weak and soft. If they don't want to come because their wife wants to go shopping in London, it's a sad state of affairs."
Sunderland boss Roy Keane says what he thinks – just for a change.

"I had 18 players at Brentford and 20 at MK Dons, but when you see all the players run out at training here it's like a scene from Zulu!"
Martin Allen compares the size of his Leicester squad to the Michael Caine epic…not a lot of people knew that.

"There's more chance of me flying Concorde to the moon blindfolded than there is of you taking Wales to the World Cup."
What Robbie Savage reportedly told Wales manager John Toshack. At least he's not bitter.

"I'll bounce back – I'm not one to lie on a beach."
Former England manager Steve McClaren, shortly before jetting off for a break in Barbados.

JOSE MOURINHO

"My wife is in Portugal with the dog. The dog is with my wife so the city of London is safe, the big threat is away."
Jose Mourinho uses his post-FA Cup final speech to reassure the population that his runaway Yorkie has left the country.

"The style of how we play is very important. But it is omelettes and eggs. No eggs – no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem."
Mourinho was desperate for Chelsea to scramble a win from somewhere.

"I would love to gather all the fans together to say goodbye but they would crush me with their love."
Jose is as modest as ever on leaving Stamford Bridge.

IAN HOLLOWAY

"I think the Bosman thing is a pile of donkey dung."
BBC Sport columnist Ian Holloway, the former Plymouth manager, after learning midfielder Tony Capaldi was considering his future.

"If I'd have been one of their fans I'd have hit him with a bottle myself."
Holloway after an over-the-top goal celebration by Pilgrims player Hasney Aljofree led to bottles being thrown by Peterborough fans.

"I love the big man, absolutely brilliant. Some of the films were a bit dodgy. That one where he was diving off a cliff, he climbed back up to the top, his hair was immaculate and he wasn't even wet… and for me that's why he's the King.
All shook up over Elvis.

"It's still in my body and I'll have to pass it at sometime but my passing's absolutely diabolical. That's what I told the doctor: "What chance have I got of passing anything – did you see me play?!"
Holloway speaks about his kidney stone.

"If we're talking lookalikes he's Toad of Toad Hall, isn't he?"
On new Chelsea boss Avram Grant.

"I was never tempted to become a punk. I was Sidney Serious, I was into George Benson. I was smooth. Smooth as a cashmere codpiece."
His take on punk, after the Sex Pistols announced a UK tour.

"If that was a penalty, I might as well call myself Alec McJockstrap, and put on a kilt."
Holloway, now with Leicester City, on a dodgy penalty decision.

University soccer teams to move

Danton — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:32:03 +0000

University football side Team Bath are to ground share at Bath City's Twerton Park for the next three years.

The club, which plays in the Southern Football League, will move with immediate effect and share with Southern Premier side Bath City.

Previously Team Bath had played at the university's sports facility.

Team Bath were the first university side in 122 years to play in the first round of the FA Cup in 2002 – they were beaten 4-2 by Mansfield.

Ged Roddy, Team Bath manager said: "We're pleased with the decision and we're looking forward to playing at Twerton Park."

BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 2006 | Podolski beats Ronaldo to award

Danton — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:39:47 +0000

Germany striker Lukas Podolski has won the Fifa young player of the World Cup award, beating off competition from Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 20-year-old Podolski has scored three goals in six matches so far.

Podolski said: "I would have liked to have taken home the World Cup – but this is a great honour and is a great motivation to become more successful."

Ronaldo was favourite for the prize but his antics in the quarter-final against England cost him the chance to win.

Holger Osieck, head of the Fifa technical study group that picked the winner, said: "We want to have decent behaviour and I admit we were critical of this.

"We had a number of criteria but we have to admit players of that age do have their weaknesses and are not fully developed.

"Players should be role models and fair play is a consideration.

"But we have to admit young players are not always mature tactically and they also have difficulties in handling stressful situations."

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus, who is patron of the award, added: "You will never have 100% fair play and maybe looking at Cristiano he was obviously doing something here.

"He may have accumulated a couple of minus points due to his gesture with Rooney but you sometimes forget what the laws are in the heat of the fight."

Portuguese winger Ronaldo, pilloried for his part in the sending off of Wayne Rooney, was leading the Fifa website vote by a huge margin.

But an email urging fans to vote for Ecuador's Luis Valencia instead led to an incredible 24-hour turnaround.

Ronaldo was deemed unsporting for appearing to try and get Wayne Rooney sent off for his challenge on Ricardo Carvalho.

Podolski also beat off competition from Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi and Tranquilo Barnetta to win the coveted prize.

No England players were shortlisted for the award.

Podolski scored in the final group game against Ecuador and bagged a brace in the 2-0 second round victory over Sweden.

Osieck added: "He not only scored three goals, he was a key element in Germany's attack.

"He showed a great understanding with Miroslav Klose and the two players formed a very effective partnership."

Home front quiet as war starts

Danton — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:56:55 +0000

Americans woke up to find they were at war with Iraq, after a surprise missile strike aimed at Saddam Hussein himself.

President Bush addressed the nation at 2215 Eastern Time (0315 GMT) as the US networks cleared their schedules.

The months of uncertainty and waiting were over as he told the nation that "American forces were in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger".

The president reportedly clenched his fist and said he felt good just before he spoke from the Oval Office.

With calm determination, he warned that this war "could be longer and more difficult than some expected" and told the American armed forces that "the peace of a troubled world depends on you".

The decision to begin with a limited strike was taken late on Wednesday afternoon, after a third round of meetings with the president's national security advisers revealed that intelligence might have detected the whereabouts of the Iraqi leader.

Many had expected the war to begin with a massive air strike that would cause "shock and awe".

After Mr Bush made his decision, he sat down to a quiet dinner, where Chief of Staff Andrew Card informed him that the ultimatum had expired and that Saddam Hussein had not left Iraq.

On Thursday morning he rose early to meet his advisors to assess the surprise attack.

Although it appeared to be unsuccessful, it was a sign of the new face of "smart war", long advocated by Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, which seeks to "decapitate" the leadership and end the war quickly with few casualties.

Some Americans watched the speech quietly in New York's Times Square, where giant news screens displayed the president's words, while in Washington a small group of protesters gathered in a park across from the White House.

Focus of troops

Many people's thoughts were with the troops in the field, and much of the initial media coverage reflected that.

With new technology and the Pentagon's plan to "embed" correspondents with units in the field, there were many live reports, from Kuwait City to aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf and the Jordanian border.

Many said the strike surprised the troops themselves.

Pictures of the missile raid in Baghdad were also shown again and again. Instant analysis was provided for the television networks by some well-known military figures, including the general who fought the last Gulf War, Norman Schwarzkopf.

As war has approached, opinion polls suggested that more people were rallying round the president, with between two-thirds and three-quarters supporting his ultimatum to Saddam Hussein.

And political leaders, including key Democrats in Congress, like Senator Joe Lieberman, appeared on television to urge unity and support for the troops going into battle.

On Thursday morning, the Democratic Senate and House leaders, Tom Daschle and Nancy Pelosi, appeared in the Capital building to pledge their support for the President during the war.

Much of the local news also focused on the increased security measures around American cities, with more visible policing at potential targets and increased security checks at airports and ports.

In Washington, the city's marathon race on Sunday was cancelled over security fears.

And television networks moved their coverage of sports, including the popular NCAA college basketball tournament, to their cable affiliates.

Earlier in the week, the terror threat level had been raised to orange – or high.

Meanwhile, those in the anti-war movement said they would continue to protest against the war and its doctrine of pre-emptive intervention, while supporting the troops.

The broad religious coalition, Win Without War, said it would organise a series of candlelit vigils and a national petition, while other groups were planning non-violent protests that might disrupt traffic and government installations.

BBC SPORT | Fun and Games | Quotes of the Week

Danton — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:29:49 +0000

"When you're dealing with someone who only has a pair of underpants on, if you take his underpants off, he has nothing left – he's naked. You're better off trying to find him a pair of trousers to complement him rather than change him."
Arsene Wenger explains his football philosophy – something about not stifling creativity and taking away a player's flair. We think.

"If I give you a good wine, you will see how it tastes and after you ask where it comes from." Wenger (he's on a roll now) defends his recruitment policy at Arsenal.

"I do not think about the national team too much because footballistically it is not of too much interest."
And he's even making words up.

"It really p****d me off that a team-mate should poke his nose in and say I need to think more about the team – especially when it's him who needs to think more about the group! We have the guy considered the best in the world but Samuel Eto'o is also the best in the world. I know he's slagging me off but he should have the b******s to say things to my face instead of stabbing me in the back."
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o after Frank Rijkaard claimed he refused to come on as a sub against Racing Santander and was backed by Ronaldinho.

"People think that there is a time bomb in the dressing room, but that isn't true. Rijkaard has got the team under control. Samuel Eto'o has a good relationship with the rest of the group and the atmosphere is good"
Tonight, Matthew, Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is Comical Ali.

"The players said afterwards they were better at penalties than me!"
Middlesbrough boss and Euro 96 penalty fluffer Gareth Southgate after watching his side defeat Bristol City on spot kicks in their FA Cup replay.

"I'm like a badger at the start of the pairing-up season."
Plymouth manager Ian Holloway on reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"He's obviously had a mid-season break or the sun bed has been working well. He looked lovely and brown and he is a handsome man."
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton on referee Steve Bennett, whose decisions, Town fans felt, cost their side a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"I get shouted at by the wife all the time for having an untidy bedroom."
Freddie Flintoff reveals his bad habits to the 11-year-old schoolboy who answered questions about the England all-rounder on Junior Mastermind.

"It's just disappointing and it disappoints you."
Dennis Wise on the Leeds United 'snitch' who allegedly passed on team news to opponents Crystal Palace.

Guy Mowbray: "Big Sam and Little Sam are trying to get Bolton back into this."
Mark Lawrenson: "Big Sam, Little Sam? Sounds like a Cbeebies programme!"
BBC commentators talking about Bolton management team Sam Allardyce and Sammy Lee.

"Dear oh dear – that's on the M61!"
Lawro after Gilberto Silva's comedy penalty miss for Arsenal against Bolton in the FA Cup replay.

"He made a few runs in Brisbane and a double century in Adelaide, but I reckon my son could have batted on the first two days there and he is only seven."
Shane Warne heaps praise on Paul Collingwood.

"I try and be good in many different areas, a strong advocate in many areas. But two minutes after people see this interview I'll just be that big gay guy."
Former England international John Amaechi becomes the first former NBA player to publicly declare his homosexuality, during a TV interview.

"It was a major honour to come here and meet the Queen and have a look around. When I get home I'm going to say to my little girl that I've been to Buckingham Palace."
Arsenal captain Thierry Henry on his date with Her Maj.

"Me and Johnno lay in the bath and we could hardly get out!"
Leicester's Geoff Horsfield after he and fellow-striker Andy Johnson got the goals that sank Coventry – despite having a combined age of 65.

"Sometimes you want to crack open the champagne and sometimes you want to kick the dog."
Macclesfield boss Paul Ince after the 2-1 win over Peterborough spared Rover for another week.

"I can't wait to meet Roy Keane…I've got a few of his qualities but I would never claim to be half as hard as he is!"
Sunderland fan Paul Collingwood looks forward to meeting his hero.

"What was incredible was going into the Chelsea dressing room to have a chat and swap shirts. It's bigger than my house!"
Norwich midfielder Dickson Etuhu after the 4-0 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea.

AND SOME FROM YOU

"Now that Nos has switched to centreback, he's got much less time on the ball, which is best for all concerned."
A rare moment of comedy from Sunderland boss, Roy Keane, talking about Nyron Nosworthy. (Keith Irving, UK).

"Neil Warnock chopped down Aliadiere in the penalty box and from the replay it looked a clear foul."
Arsenal website has the Sheffield United boss moonlighting for Blackburn. (Uwais Patel, Blackburn).

"Arsenal's first touch and movement is amazing. I hope the people listening are watching this."
Chris Waddle commentating on Bolton v Arsenal in the FA Cup on Five Live. (Chris Alexander, England).

"John Barnes is literally in the eye of the storm at the Bay Arena."
Colin Murray at half-time during Blackburn's Uefa cup tie at Bayer Leverkusen. (Paul Sims, UK).

"Steve Coppell is not no mug."
Ian Wright in the pre-match build-up to Man U v Reading. (A Usher, UK).

"This will be out caught if they catch it."
Cricket commentator Tony Greig, whenever a man is under a high catch. (Steve, Newport).

"There won't be any alcohol for the players in Spain. Maybe a glass of wine for the manager so he can chill out."
Alan Pardew's relaxed view on Charlton's intensive five-day training camp in Spain. (Tommy Blanche, UK).

"Kitson's pass was that good Sidwell didn't even have to move for it, he just ran straight to it."
Lee Dixon on MOTD2 commenting on Steve Sidwell's one-two with Dave Kitson. Didn't move or had to run? Make your mind up, Lee! (Luke Dearing, England).

"I don't want to be playing in the Under 21s forever."
Quote from David Bentley in interview before FA Cup match vs Arsenal on BBC1. Er, does David understand the ageing process? (Jezza, UK).

"The full backs are very offensive."
Glenn Roeder describing his rude team before the Uefa Cup match against Zulte-Waregem. (Iain Macleod, UK).

CHANTS OF THE WEEK

"Chim-chimminy, chim chimminy chim chim cheroo, who needs Steve Gerrard when we've got Marc Pugh?"
Sung at Bury games most weeks! (Steve, England).

"We've been singing more then you!"
Gillingham fans reply to Northampton's "You're not singing any more" taunt. (Steven, England).

"Clayton Blackmore……famous once more!"
Chants for former United player, now plying his trade for Porthmadog in the Welsh League. (Chris Rogers, Wales).

"Supercasino? You're having a laugh!"
Norwich fans to Blackpool counterparts in the FA Cup replay. (William Kemp, United Kingdom).

"Here we go, here we go, here we go,
Youssef's better than Junin-ee-oh
Here we go-oh,
Morrocan All Over The World."
This is how the Norwich 'Status Quo' chant about Youssef Safri mentioned last week actually goes. (Harry, UK).

"Its just like watching The Bill!"
Middlesbrough v Bristol City when the police came up to speak to the crowd about persistent standing! (Chris Russell, England).

"Oh Michael Ricketts – he used to be a porker but he's all right now."
A song PNE sung to Michael Ricketts this week. (Paul, UK).

"We're not rubbish anymore"
The Barmy Army after England beat Australia in the CB Series at the SCG. (Neil, UK).

"We've got tiny Cox, we've got tiny Cox…"
Brighton fans after 5ft 4ins Dean Cox scored against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. (Rupert Hodges, UK).

"You're just a crap English Pub team."
Hibs fans to Gretna supporters after knocking them out of cup competitions for the second time this season. (Hibeebounce, Scotland).

'We'll beat you back to London."
Charlton fans to Man Utd fans towards the end of the game at Old Trafford. (Chris Goode, UK).

"That's why you're going down."
Derby County fans after a Hull player nearly hit the top of the stand with a 'shot'.

"That's why we're staying up!"
Hull fans after they equalised in the 88th minute. (David, UK).

Have Your Say: Are there any funny quotes we've missed out?