Olympic Torch Relay Cut Short

The Olympic torch relay in Paris has been cut short after chaotic protests by anti-China demonstrators.

The flame had already been extinguished four times by security forces after repeated clashes with pro-Tibet and human rights campaigners.

The city's mayor also cancelled a ceremony to mark the torch's passing as officials draped a Tibetan flag over the city hall's facade.

Mayor Bertrand Delanoe announced the cancellation after Green party members of the city council flew the flag.

Thousands of police sent on to the streets to protect the torch relay as it made its way around the city were unable to prevent demonstrators hijacking the event.

The torch had to be repeatedly extinguished amid safety fears caused by the demonstrations and several activists were arrested.

Two campaigners brandishing a Tibetan flag were arrested for trying to bar the torch's path.

And two members of media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) - which disrupted the lighting of the flame in Athens - were held for trying to vault over the security cordon protecting the torch.

A member of the French Greens party had earlier been restrained by police when trying to grab the torch from the first of 80 torch bearers, former world 400m hurdles champion Stephane Diagana.

Several hundred demonstrators waving banners gathered on the Trocadero esplanade, just the other side of the river Seine from the Eiffel Tower, where the relay started.

Three RSF members climbed up the steel tower and unfurled a 13ft flag showing the five Olympic rings turned into handcuffs.

They then handcuffed themselves to the structure more than 200ft in the air.

Sky News Europe correspondent Greg Milam said extinguishing the flame was significant because the torch was supposed to be kept alight on its journey around the world.

"It's supposed to symbolise peace between nations," he said.

"It's clearly a massive blow to the organisers - the demonstrations along the route have had the desired effect."

Similarly chaotic scenes were seen when the Olympic flame was carried through London.

One demonstrator tried to snatch the torch from former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, while another attempted to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher.

By the time double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes lit a cauldron at the O2 Arena, some 37 arrests had been made.

International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge has expressed concern at the demonstrations but said there was no momentum for a boycott of the Beijing Games.

Tibet's capital, Lhasa, was hit last month by Buddhist monks' protests against Chinese rule.

The demonstrations, which saw many people killed, sparked widespread media attention across the world.

HA! Serve the Chinese commie bastards right!!!

Quote of the Day 5.4.2008

"I believe that 21st century adults do not worry about private sexual matters as long as they are legal and harmless." - FIA President Max Mosley

Mosley makes a fair point. While his actions were certainly immoral and caused emotional distress to his wife and family, they do not warrant any legal sanctions.

Symonds flattens streaker, faces ban

Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds flattened a streaker who ran on to the field during the second tri-series final against India at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The naked man came off second best after he evaded security and charged towards Symonds while he was batting during Australia's run-chase.

Symonds stood his ground as the man approach and dropped the pitch invader with a rugby-style shoulder charge.

The man was arrested by police and faces the possibility of a fine and a life ban from the Gabba.

Symonds, who briefly contemplated a career in rugby league before he broke into the Australian team, also faces the risk of punishment under the International Cricket Council's strict code of conduct.

The code includes a section banning players from any physical assault of a rival player, official or spectator.

Kudos to Andrew Symonds, the ICC can go fuck themselves if they try to discipline him for doing the right thing.

Scarlets Scandal

This rumour (and I stress the word 'rumour') might interest Rugby Union fans, and supporters the Scarlets in particular. A couple of nights ago, source of mine learned that a Welsh international and Scarlets player who has featured in this year's Six Nations Championship has been found to be taking 'vitamins' he wasn't suppose to and has been sent into exile in France, having been told in no uncertain terms that he'll never play for the Scarlets again. The scandal is an open secret, but a statement on this matter is 'imminent'.

Now, this may be just a malicious rumour (which is why I won't name names), but if it is true, I bet his wife has had a pop at him.

Thai referee gets a beating by entire soccer team

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai soccer referee was beaten up by an entire team after sending off three of their players during a match to decide promotion to country's second division, local media reported on Friday.

Referee Prakong Sukguamala needed 50 stitches and also broke a finger after being attacked by the Kuiburi FC squad, furious at being shown three red cards during a 4-1 loss to Kasem Bundit on Thursday, the Thai-language Thai Rath newspaper said.

The angry players charged into Prakong's dressing room at the stadium in Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok, and started to kick and punch him. They dispersed after police fired gunshots into the air.

The players then chased Prakong into the stadium's office, where the hapless official ran into a mirror, leaving him with cuts all over his body.

Prakong told Channel 3 television he was forced to lock himself in the room to escape his attackers.

In the same interview, Kuiburi's coach accused Prakong of biased refereeing but said he had urged his players to show restraint when tempers flared.

Prakong, covered in bruises, insisted he had refereed the game fairly and had been told by Thailand's soccer federation to press charges against the Kuiburi team.

Munich: 50 Years On

50 years ago today, a great young team that had won two consecutive Football League Division 1 Championships (and were on course to make it a hat-trick) and been F.A. Cup finalists and European Champions' Cup Semi-finalists the previous season were tragically killed before their prime on an airport runway in Munich on their way home from a European Champions' Cup quarter-final match in Yugoslavia. Let us all take some time out during today to remember the Busby Babes and the other victims of that dreadful day.

Capello Drops Beckham

Fabio Capello has told David Beckham that he will not be part of his first England squad, which is being named this afternoon.

The England manager telephoned the midfielder last night and broke the news to Beckham - who is just one appearance short of becoming the fifth man to earn 100 England caps - but assured him he could be part of his plans for the future.

It is understood that Capello told the 32-year-old he wanted his players to be match-fit, and that naming Beckham in his squad to face Switzerland next week would be unfair on those who have been playing in matches week-in, week-out.

Beckham is very disappointed by the news, especially as he has been training with Arsenal during his holiday - Major League Soccer's close season - to get fit for Capello's first game in charge, the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on Wednesday.

He has however been encouraged by his talk with Capello about the future.

In the phonecall, Capello told Beckham he was still part of his plans and that there was no reason why he will not pick him again as long as he is fit enough and playing well enough for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

It is also understood that Capello had no issue with Beckham going to Brazil and Africa this week.

Capello had been urged to give Beckham his 100th cap against Switzerland, if only to reward the player for his 10 years of service, but it is clear the Italian is refusing to indulge in any sentimentality.

Capello does know what Beckham can offer to a side - he was manager of Real Madrid last season and restored the England midfielder to the team after he was initially left out when he announced he was moving to America.

Beckham responded with a run of form that helped inspire Real to win the Spanish league.

He may be a fascist, but even Capello realises that Beckham is crap!

Quote of the Day 26.1.2008

"After every dark night there is a bright day" - Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley Quits WWE

The Emma-lousie Fenton of professional wrestling Bobby Lashley has quit World Wrestling Entertainment. Despite his problems in communicating using the English language (is anyone a "bathturd"), greenness in the squared circle and effeminate voice, Lashley was one of my guilty pleasures and I appreciate his hard-hitting style of wrestling (so long as he was carried by a decent opponent during his matches). The former U.S. Army Sergeant and World Military Games Silver Medallist now plans to pursue a career in Mixed Martial Arts.

I Loath David Beckham

I've just sent this letter to the Western Mail newspaper:

SIR – Keith Towler undermined his own argument when he cited David Beckham as a suitable role model for children ahead of eminently more qualified, homegrown heroes such as Joe Calzage and Ryan Giggs. The former is a vain, over-paid and over-rated under-achiever who not only revels in his own ignorance, but also has still not denied that he has been unfaithful to his equally loathsome wife.

The latter two are not only talented and often underrated; they are also hard grafters who have earned their honours and riches through dedication and personal sacrifice despite persistent recurring injuries. Their private lives are also to be commended for rarely being the subject of controversy.

Calzage and Giggs are welcome throwbacks to the noble, honourable sporting heroes of old, whereas Beckham, along with Tony Blair, David Cameron and Jade Goody, is a personification of the triumph of style over substance in today’s Britain.

Gerrard latest Liverpool player to be burgled

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard suffered a burglary at his home while he was playing in a Champions League game in France on Tuesday night, a police source said.

He is the latest Liverpool player to be burgled while playing a match for his club.
Gerrard's wife Alex Curran was in the house at the time.

Merseyside Police would not confirm it was Gerrard's house, but said they were investigating a confrontational burglary in Formby, Merseyside.

"Officers were called to a house at about 9:30 p.m. last night following a call from a female resident that four men had broken into the house and stolen items of jewellery," a police spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Curran and another woman, who was in the house at the time, were shaken by the incident, but were not injured.

The men, who were unarmed, wore hoods and balaclavas, the spokeswoman added. It is not clear how they broke in.

Gerrard, who captains Liverpool, was helping his team to a 4-0 victory against Olympique Marseille, a win which secured the club's passage into the last 16 of the Champions League.

Earlier this year, the home of Liverpool's goalkeeper Pepe Reina was burgled as he helped the club reach last season's Champions League final.

Team mates Jerzy Dudek, Daniel Agger, Peter Crouch and Florent Sinama-Pongolle, as well as Everton's Andy van der Meyde, were all burgled last year.

Last month, striker Dirk Kuyt suffered a break in at his luxury home in Woolton while he was on international duty with the Dutch team.

(Reporting by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Tim Castle)

LOL! I HATE Liverpool F.C!!!

The Curse Of Terry

Has anyone else noticed that whenever everyone's favourite great white dope Terry Kelly predicts a football or rugby team to win a match, that team mysteriously goes on to lose?!? Is El Tel the Scottish Lembit Opik?!?!?

Terry Kelly Facts Part Three

• Terry Kelly was dubbed "The Great White Dope" after he agreed to box Muhammad Ali. Ali KO'd Terry in Round 14.
• Heroin was nicknamed "dope" in honour of Terry Kelly

Terry Kelly - Sports Philistine

Jackart is right; this man really is beyond parody!

Congratulations To South Africa & Kimi Raikkonen

Both the South African rugby union squad and Raikkonen thoroughly deserve their respective world championships, which were earned through hard work and ability. Well done men!

Good Luck

Good luck to both the England rugby squard and Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton in their respective quests to become world champions this weekend.

If South Africa Win The Rugby World Cup Tonight....

Terry Kelly will go supernova, get drunk and violate a haggis he calls "Henry" in public!

Sir Alex Ferguson Assaulted By Yob At Train Station

"Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was assaulted by a random attacker at a train station on Monday.

The Scot was allegedly kicked in the shins by his assailant at Euston station in London after having travelled down to the capital to attend a function in the evening.

Following the attack, Ferguson alerted British Transport Police officers at the station who made an arrest.

The 65-year-old was not badly injured and was able to attend his function as planned.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged with actual bodily harm, assault and a public order offence."

Whether you love or loath the man (I personally love him - despite his politics), there no excuse for what was a cowardly and unproved attack on a 65-year-old man, especially one as talented and respected as Sir Alex Ferguson. I'm sure that Fergie will take the attack in his stride and have his team take out his anger on the next side United play against.

Iain Dale Has Heat With Me

He either didn't enjoy being linked with the former East German Stasi and or the story about about him having his head up Dave Cameron's backside (both of which were intended to be satirical jokes ala Private Eye).

Here is the score Mr. Dale, I trust no one and I don't carry water for other people because I prefer to think for myself. The fact that you are so touchy about my irreverence for authority figures in general (usually for good reason as history has taught us all time and time again) and my willingness to lampoon individuals and groups, whoever they are or what they may do, suggests you either take yourself faaaar too serious or that you might, might actually have something to hide.

I am an equal opportunities discriminator and I will not apologise to anyone for that, but rest assured Mr. Dale, although others and I believe that you might just be a little too sycophantic towards "Dave" the Blair-wannabe for the country's own good, I at least do have a great deal of respect and admiration for you both as a credible professional political pundit and presenter and more importantly, as a human being, even if by my own admission, I don't always show it.

Besides, if you think my comments about you are bad, you should have seen and heard some of unfair and hurtful things I have been subjected to in the past, both to my face and behind my back (particularly by the niece of former West Ham United manager, the late Ted Fenton).

Nine Times The King As Angle Becomes A Double Champion

I haven't really paid much attention to recent developments within the wacky world of professional wrestling this past week due to the Chris Benoit saga. As such, I have only just found out that my favourite prowrestler Kurt Angle defeated his old rival Brock Lesnar in just over ten minutes during the main event of the first Inoki Genome Federation show that was held at the Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan on June 29. Angle made Lesnar submit to his trademark Ankle-lock to capture the IGF version of the International Wrestling Grand Prix Heavyweight Championship.

The victory makes Angle a nine-time World Champion and a reigning double Heavyweight Champion. It also Angle's third Heavyweight Title reign in the past two months. During his near-nine-year career, Angle has held SIX different versions of the World Heavyweight Championship (WWE Undisputed, WWE World, WCW, TNA, NWA and IGF/IWGP) and I don't need to remind readers of his accomplishments at amateur level.