Sports thread: Everything sport related here.

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Neither Floyd Mayweather Or Spike Lee has the financial backing to join the billionaires of the NBA owners.. and frankly I doubt if the Board of governors of the NBA would approve of either one of them. Nope..someone with more financial horsepower & business savvy needs to apply.

I believe Operah Winfrey is a candidate and a good choice as possible owner of the Clippers. I say someone (preferably a billionaire) from Seattle buy the team and move it there. They deserve a team.

 

[bd popeye]

I don't think the Clippers will move out of LA. They've gained so much popularity over the last 3-4 years. They may change their name however.. that's a rumor I heard on sports talk radio.

 

[bd popeye]

I'm no association football (soccer) fan. But I have a comment to make about the upcoming World Cup in Brasil. After seeing all the demonstrations in Brasil, stadium and infastructer problems and more recent police action

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/wor...rces-pictures-thread-161-1217.html#post276000

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/wor...rces-pictures-thread-161-1217.html#post275998

Do any of you football/soccer aficionados think the World Cup should be played in a different nation? I do. I'll leave it at that for now.

And yes it is toooo late to move the WC now.

 

[SteelBird]

Association Football World Cup is one of the most important sport event in the world. Countries which host such an event must have been carefully chosen. I don't know much about Brazil; however, judging from photos I think Brazil doesn't have enough facility to be a host country of the World Cup. Yes, it is too late for any alternative choice now. Hope that the event will go through smoothly. See you in June!

 

[broadsword]

Maybe, neighboring Argentina can lend a hand The Qatar World Cup will have some question marks too.

Five FIFA World Cup problems that are a serious, serious worry



WITH just over three weeks to go until the FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 13 (AEST), there are issues at every turn.

Here are the worst of the worst.

1. THE STADIUMS AREN’T READY

ALL 12 World Cup stadiums have held test events ahead of football’s showpiece tournament, but none of the test matches were held at full capacity because there is still a lot of work left to be done at the venues, including the installation of seats.

Football’s governing body usually wants three test events in stadiums hosting World Cup games, but it had to accept less than that in Brazil because of the country’s chronic preparation delays.

There’s a lot of work left outside the venues too, especially on infrastructure projects aimed at improving nearby roads.

Arena da Amazonia is among the stadiums facing a race against time to be complete in time


2. THE PROTESTS ARE REAL

MASSIVE anti-government protests across Brazil last year overshadowed the Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament to the World Cup, with more than a million people taking to the streets on a single night.

Many of the demonstrations turned violent, with protesters and police clashing. At least six people were killed in connection with the protests, most being run over by cars as rallies packed busy streets.

This year, the protests continue with Brazilians angry at the billions spent to host the World Cup, much of it on 12 ornate football stadiums, one-third of which critics say will see little use after the big event.


3. KICK-OFF TIMES

BRAZIL’S own football players’ association FENAPAF is taking legal action against FIFA in a bid to shift lunchtime kick-offs during the World Cup due to expected soaring temperatures.

FENAPAF reportedly said a request for a court injunction would be submitted in Sao Paulo this week demanding that each of the tournament’s 24 games scheduled for 1pm local time be shifted to 5pm.

“We have reached the conclusion that matches played between 1pm and 3pm in the north, northeast and central-west regions are a concern because they could affect players’ health,” FENAPAF president Rinaldo Martorelli said.

The organisation also wants a mandatory drinks break midway through each half, with a number of host cities traditionally averaging temperatures of 29C-31C over the June/July period.


4. BRAZIL COMPARED TO A WAR ZONE

LAST week, Brazilian sports minister Aldo Rebelo admitted the World Cup faces “serious” security problems and then, in an attempt to play down those concerns, pointed out that the country was not a war zone like Iraq or Afghanistan.

Why was he making that comparison at all?

Riots rocked Rio de Janeiro’s famous Copacabana Beach district last month and fears about safety for thousands of football fans visiting Brazil were heightened this month by the fatal shooting of a man during a clash with police close to the England team hotel in the city.

Robberies that lead to homicide have hit a nine-year high in Sao Paolo.

An officer from the CORE police special forces aims his weapon during an operation to sea

An officer from the CORE police special forces aims his weapon during an operation to search for fugitives in the Complexo do Alemao “favela” in Rio de Janeiro. Source: Getty Images

5. RIO-BOCOP

THEY’RE here to keep the fans safe, but the elite squad of 400 specialist Robocop-style troops are evidence of how serious a threat terrorists are in Brazil.

The BOPE special forces unit will be on 24-hour standby armed with grenades, knives and guns to deal with terrorist threats — but have also reportedly been instructed to deal with supporters who step out of line.

“If hooligans drink a lot of calpirinhas — our national cocktail — and does something crazy BOPE are the ones that will deal with him,” Lieutenant Colonel Joao Soares Busnello said.

“BOPE will also be called if someone is taken hostage or there is a terrorist act or a political or religious riot.”

A further 4000 regular police officers will be on patrol and they will be joined by a further 1500 military officers.

The Special Riot Police unit carries out a drill for controlling civil disorders at their

 

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I'm no association football (soccer) fan. But I have a comment to make about the upcoming World Cup in Brasil. After seeing all the demonstrations in Brasil, stadium and infastructer problems and more recent police action

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/wor...rces-pictures-thread-161-1217.html#post276000

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/wor...rces-pictures-thread-161-1217.html#post275998

Do any of you football/soccer aficionados think the World Cup should be played in a different nation? I do. I'll leave it at that for now.

And yes it is toooo late to move the WC now.

Perhaps, but lets give Brazil a chance to show the world what it could do. I remember when South Africa won the hosting of the FIFA World Cup and they get a ton of media flack of all kinds that "they're Africans....they can't host an event like this". I think Brazil will do fine.

 

[bd popeye]

I remember when South Africa won the hosting of the FIFA World Cup and they get a ton of media flack of all kinds that "they're Africans....they can't host an event like this".

I don't. I don't follow soccer closely at all. I just know there is a lot of up-evil in Brasil over the World Cup and upcoming Olympics in 2016 from what I've read and seen in the media reports.. I sincerely hope the government tin Brasil can handle the situation with great compentance.

....but lets give Brazil a chance to show the world what it could do.

I agree. I hope all the bumps, glitches and hiccups are solved before this most prestigious event starts.

.

 

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This is one of best act of sportsman ship I've seen in MMA. The guy already winning the fight, he later than kneel down and tap out and the referee immediately steps in and awarded the victory to his opponent. It's very humbling to see.

[video=youtube;64TG8SpZoNQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64TG8SpZoNQ[/video]

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[Shaolian]

I think the World Cup has never been politicised to anywhere the level of the Olympics. The usual preoccupation on the Opening or Closing Ceremonies, the drug testing, the inherent pissing contest between rival superpowers are just simply, not there. I'm not really saying those things are bad per se, because I do enjoy those aspects of the Olympics, but when it comes to the World Cup, it's all about the football. And maybe the (bad?) refereeing decisions.

Really, those Openings and Closings of the World Cup are one of the lamest shows we could see. Nobody cares!

It seems that if any particular World Cup is to be remembered fondly, then the actual football being played has to be good. Italia '90 was widely panned for the overly defensive tactics employed by most teams. While Mexico '70 seems to be always associated with the brilliant (commonly referred to as "beautiful") football play by its eventual champions, Brazil.

 

[bd popeye]

I found this article about the issues concerning the 2014 WC. It is very long so check the link.

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Brazil was awarded the WC in 2007 and is still not ready with the WC starting on June 12th. 3 of the 12 stadiums are not and may not be completed

My interest in the WC started because I follow stadiums at skyscrapercity.com. I have little sporting interest. If the US or Mexico wins I'll be happy for a few minutes.

If the US was awarded the WC last summer no stadiums need be built. Only stadium dates would need to be set and perhaps some minor modifications..and of course travel arrangements and accommodations.

My fantasy list of US stadiums for a WC to be held this summer.

All these stadiums meet FIFA standards..I think.

CenturyLink Field Seattle WA

Rose Bowl Pasadena CA

University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale AZ

A T & T Stadium Arlington TX

Reliant Stadium Houston TX

Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City MO

Soldier Field Chicago IL

Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans LA

Sun Life Stadium Miami Gardens FL

Raymond James Stadium Tampa FL

M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore MD

MetLife Stadium Sat Rutherford NY

There are many others stadiums in the US that could host a FIFA WC event.

The 1994 WC held in the USA still holds the record to total attendance.

from wiki

Highest average of attendance per match
68,991, 1994.

Highest attendance in a tournament
3,570,000, 1994.