When heroes came out of the shadows September 1, 2010 SAM TORRANCE played one of the greatest masterstrokes in Ryder Cup history when, as captain in 2002 at the Belfry, he sprung a surprise on his American opponents ahead of the decisive singles contests. Sensing a need to get back on the front foot after the United States had drawn level, Torrance front-loaded his order [...]
Bloodgate doc not struck off September 1, 2010 RUGBY UNION: The doctor at the centre of the Bloodgate scandal has escaped being struck off and had her suspension lifted by the General Medical Council. Dr Wendy Chapman, who said the 18-month saga had been a “great strain”, admitted deliberately cutting the mouth of Tom Williams as the Harlequins winger sought to fabricate a [...]
Hammers clinch Jacobsen deal September 1, 2010 FOOTBALL: West Ham’s deadline-day move for Blackburn’s Denmark defender Lars Jacobsen was rubber-stamped by the Premier League yesterday. Right-back Jacobsen, 30, arrives on a free transfer from Ewood Park after the relevant paperwork was found to have been completed by Monday’s 6pm cut-off. He spent just one year at Rovers, playing 16 times, after joining [...]
Holyfield calls out champ Haye September 1, 2010 BOXING: Heavyweight veteran Evander Holyfield has challenged British WBA champion David Haye to what would be a high-profile title fight. The American, who turns 48 next month, said: “I’m looking at both the Klitschko brothers and David Haye. I want to fight the people with the titles. If they want to make money, I’m the [...]
Pakistan to defy calls to ban ‘spot-fix’ stars August 31, 2010 PAKISTAN are to defy calls from England to suspend the three players implicated in the ‘spot-fixing’ allegations. Professional Cricketers’ Association boss Angus Porter told yesterday how the England players thought it would be “preferable” that those involved would not play in the two forthcoming Twenty20 matches and the five-match one-day series. Test captain Salman Butt, [...]
Harry sweats on £8m coup for Real ace August 31, 2010 TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp remained ‘hopeful’ of pulling off the biggest coup of transfer deadline day last night by luring Real Madrid ace Rafael van der Vaart to White Hart Lane in a cut-price £8m deal. Redknapp admitted he was alerted to the Dutch midfielder’s availability just two hours before yesterday’s 6pm deadline, prompting a [...]
Wenger’s lack of keeper activity beggars belief August 31, 2010 OF all the deals penned during another hectic deadline day yesterday, it was the one transfer that wasn’t completed which raised the eyebrows the most. With a scouting network to rival almost any club in Europe, it beggars belief why Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger still can’t sign a goalkeeper, despite being linked with so many. [...]
Theo: I blame myself for World Cup snub August 31, 2010 THEO WALCOTT doesn’t blame anyone else but himself for his World Cup omission – and insists England boss Fabio Capello has faith in him to succeed. Walcott, 21, was surprisingly left out of Capello’s 23-man squad for South Africa in the summer, but has bounced back with four goals already for Arsenal this season. Winger [...]
Black Cats purr at arrival of £13m Gyan August 31, 2010 SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce told of his delight last night after smashing the club’s record transfer fee to land Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan in a £13m deal. The powerful frontman spent all day in the north-east thrashing out a deal before finally agreeing to make the switch from French club Rennes 20 minutes before the [...]
Top-flight spend down £100m in a year August 31, 2010 CASH-CONSCIOUS top-flight clubs slashed their summer spending by 22 per cent in the quietest transfer window for four years. This year’s total spend of around £350m was £100m down on last summer’s transfer window and some £175m short of the 2008 peak of £525m, according to business advisory firm Deloitte. Analysts blamed the slow market [...]