European champions set to claim 100m windfall May 26, 2009 VICTORY in tonight’s Champions League final is worth more to Manchester United than mere sporting glory – the winners stand to make a cool £100m. The figure takes into account prize money, more lucrative sponsorship deals and television rights, an increase in squad value and a boost to season ticket sales. Even if they lose [...]
AT A GLANCE May 26, 2009 &9679; Of the previous three European Cup finals to be held at the Stadio Olimpico, two have been won by English sides (both Liverpool) and two have needed penalties to find a winner, including one of Liverpool’s wins &9679; United are the first defending champions to reach a Champions League final since Juventus in 1997 [...]
Brit women humbled at French Open May 25, 2009 BRITISH No1 Anne Keovathong admits she will have to swallow a few jokes after her French Open debut ended swiftly with a humbling 6-0, 6-0 defeat to top seed Dinara Safina. The Londoner’s thrashing was the start of a miserable day for British women at Roland Garros, with Katie O’Brien and Melanie South both falling [...]
Prepare for an onslaught, warns Geech May 25, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan insists this summer’s tour of South Africa will be more difficult than when he last triumphed there 12 years ago. The Scot famously led the Lions to a 2-1 victory over the hosts back in 1997 to follow up his success there as a player 23 years previous. [...]
Travelling fans hit by booze ban as Rome chiefs get tough May 25, 2009 FANS of Manchester United and Barcelona have been hit with a total alcohol ban in order to prevent crowd trouble ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League final in Rome. Local authorities have enforced the ban from 11pm tonight to 6am on Thursday throughout the entire city. Over 67,000 fans are expected in the Italian capital [...]
Casey has taken his game to a new level May 25, 2009 IT may have taken a while to fully develop, but it seems we are finally getting to see the full potential of Paul Casey’s all-round golf game – something which has only been sporadically evident since he burst on the scene as a promising amateur in the late 1990’s. Casey’s victory in the PGA Championship [...]
Tevez delays decision on future until after final May 25, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED misfit Carlos Tevez has postponed discussions over his future until after tomorrow’s European showdown against Barcelona. The striker’s two-year loan ends this summer and a permanent deal looks unlikely to materialise, with Inter Milan, Liverpool and Manchester City reported to want the 25-year-old. But Tevez insists the matter can wait until after the [...]
Broad warning for England pals May 25, 2009 SEAMER Stuart Broad insists England will not be underestimating the West Indies in today’s third and final one-day international at Edgbaston. Broad impressed with 4-46 in the six-wicket victory in the second ODI at Bristol on Saturday and is now looking to bowl England into a 2-0 series victory to add to their Test success. [...]
Williams confirm 2010 entry May 25, 2009 FORMULA ONE: Williams chief executive Adam Parr said the team felt “morally and legally obliged” to announce their participation in the 2010 Formula One championship. F1 chiefs are desperately seeking a compromise in the ongoing budget cap row which threatens to end the participation of several teams, including Ferrari. But Parr said: “We owe it [...]
Afzaal fires Surrey to derby win May 25, 2009 CRICKET: Usman Afzaal came within two runs of notching the first century of the Twenty20 Cup season as Surrey enjoyed a comfortable victory in their derby match with champions Middlesex. Afzaal smashed 98 off just 59 balls as the Lions posted 186-1 at Lord’s. Chris Schofield then took 3-21 as the Crusaders slumped to 129-7 [...]