Chelsea wuz robbed!

I am sitting on my couch at my home watching a repeat of the Chelsea versus Inter Milan right now. The first half has just ended and right before it, Kalou was denied a perfectly obvious penalty, that happened right in front of the referee. I can't believe it myself, and before you jump on your soapbox I am not a Chelsea fan! I am a Tottenham Hotspur fan from across the other side of London, so back off! Chelsea ended up losing 2-1 on the day, and they are still ok because the match was at the San Siro and Chelsea scored an away goal. But they should not be in a position where they can lose because of a terrible call from the ref.

Pompey goes into financial administration

Portsmouth will become the first English Premier League club to go into financial administration in an embarrassing landmark for the world's richest league. Four undisclosed groups reported to be interested in the club failed to prove they had the funds to buy it from Balram Chainrai by a deadline set by insolvency specialist As a result of entering financial administration, a form of bankruptcy protection, Portsmouth will be docked nine points, leaving the club bottom of the league with just seven - 16 points behind the team above it. Accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young will issue a detailed statement outlining how the club will be restructured to prevent it going into liquidation and made attractive for a potential buyer.By going into administration, a winding up order from the government's Revenue and Customs authority over unpaid tax will be suspended. Portsmouth, an 112-year-old club that has already had four separate owners this season, reportedly has debts of 70 million pounds ($A120.72 million). Another sad day, as this was the club that my later father followed and I was so happy when they made into the Premier League. To go out tlike this is atrocious.

Lydia Lassila wins Australia's second gold

Diminutive Lydia Lassila emerged from the Cypress Mountain mist to land two mighty spinning, twisting jumps, and with them Australia's second gold medal of these Winter Games, now the country's most successful. What a great follow-on from Alisa Camplin in Salt Lake City. Lassila's gold was like her mid-air somersaults, triply destined. It was the medal she had always believed would be hers one day, first as a gymnast, for the past 10 years as aerialist who at first was too gung-ho for own wellbeing, but is now complete. Go girls!

Cricket Star Breaks an 'Impossible' Record

India's Sachin Tendulkar scored a double-hundred against South Africa in a one-day match on Feb. 24, 2010. For the 1.5 billion people who follow cricket — making it, by some reckoning, the world's second most popular sport after soccer — it was a moment to match Roger Bannister's 4-min. mile in 1954. It was entirely appropriate that the record should fall to Tendulkar, 36, the greatest run scorer of all time, as he roars into the autumn of a storied career. Cricketers very rarely play into their 40s, and most are long past their record-breaking age at 35. But the Little Master, as his fans know him, is as bright at twilight as he was at noon: he's ratcheted up a string of recent big scores in both the five-day "Test" and one-day versions of the sport, giving a new generation of bowlers the privilege of a Tendulkar thrashing. I have had the privilege of seeing this wonderful cricket player, and he's as good a man off the field as he is on it, and that is rare.

Sad day as Eagles release Brian Westbrook

The Philadelphia Eagles announced they will release one of my favourite players, running back Brian Westbrook, less than 24 hours after LaDainian Tomlinson was cut by the Chargers. "Brian is one of the greatest Eagles of all time and he is even a better person and leader," said head coach Andy Reid on the team's website. "In my mind, there has not been a more versatile running back that the NFL has seen. I had a conversation with Brian this morning to let him know. This is by far the most difficult part of this job. We wanted to make this move now in order to maximize Brian's chances of landing with another NFL team."

Westbrook will leave with more yards from scrimimage (9,785) than anyone in Eagles history. His best year came in 2007 when he rushed for a career-best 1,333 yards while catching 90 balls for 771 yards; his 2,104 yards from scrimmaged paced the league that year. But Westbrook suffered through the least productive season since his rookie year in 2009, a victim of recurring concussion problems. He played in just eight games and managed just 455 yards from scrimimage. I understand why it happened but that doesn't make it any easier to take. Brian was the heart and soul of the team. All the fans will miss you Brian.

Toyota Boasted Saving $100M on Recall

Toyota officials claimed they saved the company $100 million by successfully negotiating with the government on a limited recall of floor mats in some Toyota and Lexus vehicles, according to new documents shared with congressional investigators. The savings are listed under the title, "Wins for Toyota — Safety Group." The document cites millions of dollars in other savings by delaying safety regulations, avoiding defect investigations and slowing down other industry requirements. I wonder what Congress should do about it, let's see... maybe, make them pay.

Eat you heart out... Kitt!

Whoah, check THIS out, the new Mercedes Carlsson C25... rooooooooowrrrr.

Piano Men Rock Salt Lake

Last Friday night I had the pleasure of working the Elton John - Billy Joel Face to Face Tour concert at Energy Solutions Arena. While my music tastes have changed over the years for the harder side, Sir Elton and Billy put on a truly great show. I absolutely enjoyed it even though I was actually working at the time. They played for well over three hours and the parts where they performed together were awesome. It was especially poignant for me as I was supposed to attend an Elton John concert Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand in 1986 but my father died the day before. So seeing him 24 years later was something that I had always wanted. It made me remember my Dad, whom I still miss very much all these years later. Good times. (Photo courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune)

Torah Birght wins Australia's first gold medal at Whistler

Under pressure after falling on her first run, Australian snowboarder Torah Bright strung five technically superior jumps together on her second attempt and landed them all, propelling her to a gold medal in the women's halfpipe tonight at the Vancouver Olympics. Bright, 23, scored 45 points to defeat defending champion Hannah Teter by 2.6. Way to go Aussie girl, you've done us proud.

Ex-NYC Police Commissioner Gets 4-Year Prison Sentence

Former New York City police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who was hailed as a hero alongside former Mayor Rudy Giuliani after the Sept. 11 terror attacks and nearly became chief of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was sentenced to four years behind bars Thursday for eight felonies. Kerik admitted in November that he lied to the White House, filed false taxes and committed other crimes. "The fact that Mr. Kerik would use that event (9/11) for personal gain and aggrandizement is a dark place in the soul for me," said federal Judge Stephen Robinson. An apologetic Kerik said before the sentence was pronounced: "Allow me to return to my wife and two little girls as soon as possible." Kerik was "the chief law enforcement law enforcement officer for the biggest and grandest city this nation has," Robinson said. The crimes were committed "in the process of attempting to become a cabinet level position in the government of the United States."

Snow brings out the best in people

Lindsey Vonn gets downhill skiing gold despite a major shin injury

Lindsey Vonn lived up to expectations and won the Olympic downhill today. This is a totally amazing result considering she was badly injured only two weeks ago. It shows that despite pain and difficulty that a great attitude and hard work can get you through and ordeal. In a race characterized by several crashes - including one to Swede Anja Paerson — Vonn's bruised right shin proved to be no problem as she sped down Franz's Downhill in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds. "This is everything I've wanted and hoped for," Vonn said, her voice choked with emotion. Mancuso finished 0.56 seconds behind, and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria took the bronze medal, 1.46 seconds back. Maria Riesch of Germany, Vonn's best friend and usual rival of late, finished eighth. It's the third time two Americans have finished 1-2 in an Olympic Alpine race, and the first time in 26 years.

Tracking software leads to suspect in computer theft

A man accused of stealing computers was caught with the help of tracking software. Ultimately, his past mug shot led to a new round of charges. A customer stole two laptops from the EZ Rent-to-Own store at 2974 W. 3500 South in Salt Lake City on Dec. 10. However, tracking software was loaded on the computers. A store employee later noticed someone logging onto the Internet with the stolen computers. The thief apparently was searching the Salt Lake County jail website for a mug shot of 41-year-old Shane Ellis Caster. The employee recognized that mug shot as the customer who stole the computers. Caster was arrested and charged with retail theft.I love it when stupid criminals basically catch themselves. It makes my day!

Park bosses ban daredevil squirrel

A theme park has been forced to ban a daredevil squirrel from one of its rides as its antics posed a health and safety risk, it said. The rodent was said to be causing headaches for operators at Alton Towers by getting in the way of improvement work on an attraction at the resort. Workers noticed it riding the revamped Sonic Spinball roller coaster as it was tested in the mornings and joining visitors who were offered an early go on it before the official opening. The grey-haired animal was also caught stealing food from the workers. A spokeswoman for the Staffordshire theme park said: "It was getting in the way of builders who were painting. They couldn't carry on because they would end up with paw prints in the paint." He only wanted a fun ride, poor little guy.

Canada hails a new sporting hero, who dedicated his win to sick brother

Canada has acclaimed a new sporting hero in Alexandre Bilodeau after his gold medal in men's moguls ended the nation's victory drought at the third Olympic Games on Canadian soil. The victory was celebrated by Canadian media in early reaction, and was hailed by British Columbia's premier Gordon Campbell as "one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history."Not long after his victory, 22-year-old Bilodeau appeared on Canada's host broadcaster CTV with his family, including older brother Frederic, 28, who suffers from cerebral palsy and was named by the freestyle skier as his inspiration. "This is what sport can offer at its very best, a glimpse of triumphs that are enormous and of national significance, intimate and tender at the same time, and so it was here," a CTV correspondent wrote in its online edition. The Toronto Star said Canada had "a new sports hero" who had "forever cemented his name in the Canadian sports hall of fame." Now this is the kind of competitor who deserves to be a hero, a man with a real heart.

Furious Melbourne plan get-square

Melbourne Victory aren't using the word ''revenge'' in public but the reigning champions are privately planning harsh retribution against Sydney FC on Thursday night after striker Robbie Kruse was left with a suspected broken leg following a horror tackle from Terry McFlynn at the weekend. McFlynn was last night cleared by the match review panel of any wrongdoing, although Ernie Merrick, the Melbourne coach, was enraged the incident wasn't dealt with immediately by the referee, Matthew Breeze, who deemed the offence worthy only of a yellow card.

Two comments here! One, I saw the tackle a number of times and all it deserved was a yellow card. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be from the reaction. The fact that Robbie got a broken leg out of it is tragic, something that NONE of us wanted to see. But let's face it, the tackle was run-of-the-mill, it just had a disastrous result. Second, a 'revenge' plan rarely works, and usually backfires badly on the team seeking it. Not good for anyone, team, country or football. Get well soon Robbie!

Dalai Lama in Washington

China has responded to the scheduling of this coming Thursday's meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama -- and they want it canceled. "We urge the U.S. side to fully understand the high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, honor its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and opposing 'Tibet independence,'" said China Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. The Obama-Dalai Lama meeting is one of several sources of tension between the U.S. and China, a list that includes new arms sales to Taiwan, Chinese currency manipulation and evidence of Chinese hack attacks on Google. This kind of situation provides a difficult question for lovers of freedom and truth... on the one hand, one should always keep commitments, keep one's word. BUT, Tibet is NOT China, it is a not a province of a dictatorship, but a sovereign country in its own right, stolen from its people who have a right to govern themselves. Keep the meeting on President Obama, this is one of the things I agree with you about.

U.S. Takes Back America's Cup In 2-Race Showdown

Larry Ellison's space-age trimaran BMW Oracle won back the America's Cup for the United States by speeding across the Mediterranean and routing two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland in a two-race sweep. The 65-year-old software tycoon was on board his incredibly fast craft Sunday, after sitting out Race 1 due to a weight limit. His victory over rival Ernesto Bertarelli sends the oldest trophy in international sports to San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club. BMW Oracle Racing owner Larry Ellison raises the America's Cup trophy after sweeping rival Alinghi. The two billionaires have been locked in a tumultuous legal fight for two and a half years, and it looked for a while like the result of this race was going to be contested off the water. While I am happy that such a beautiful yacht, has won the Cup, and that it was chaired by a Kiwi, Sir Russell Coutts the CEO and skippered by an Aussie, James Spithill, this is a series that should have been contested by a multi-nation fleet in Valencia. That such a historic race can be hijacked by two spoiled billionaires in a deal cooked up in a court of law, instead of on the water, is a travesty.

Sydney FC win A-League Minor Premiership

THE minor premiership, a place in the Asian Champions League and the defeat of their biggest rivals on the biggest stage, all sealed with one of the best goals ever seen in the A-League. Truly, this was a day to savour for Sydney FC. The Sydney Football Stadium pulsated with passion, colour and tension, and while it wasn't a final, it certainly felt like it. Karol Kisel got Sydney going with an ambitious lob midway through the first half, and while Melbourne only needed a draw to retain top spot, John Aloisi sealed all three points with a breathtaking strike just after half-time.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sue over split claim

Celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have begun legal action against a British tabloid that reported they were going to split, a lawyer acting on their behalf confirmed on Monday. Keith Schillings, of London-based Schillings lawyers, said in a statement that the couple had begun legal proceedings against the News of The World, a Sunday tabloid and Britain’s highest selling newspaper. He said the newspaper had made ‘‘false and intrusive allegations’’ when it reported on January 24 that Pitt and Jolie had agreed to separate, to divide assets worth 205 million pounds ($US320 million, $A367.69 million) and had made arrangements regarding the custody of their six children. Good on you guys, the world sorely needs these rumour-mongering idiots to get a hefty financial smack upside the dead.

A rare faily-tale ending

When the New Orleans Saints won the NFL Superbowl last night they reached a number of milestones. Firstly, they won on their first trip to the big game, second, they overcame the equal largest come-from-behind deficit in Superbowl history, which was 10 points. They overcame a very inauspicious and tentative start to come alive in the second quarter and then turn the game with an on-side kick play to start the second half. But the big news, like in many feel good victories is that a devastated city and struggling state now has something real to cherish and some sustained momentum in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Like my colleague said on the drive to work this morning, Sean Payton, the head coach deserved the MVP even more than Drew Brees because of his astute coaching and gutsy calls. It was a great game and a wonderful result, and victory again for the underdog in adverse conditions.

Accused con man used Morse code to order murders

New details have emerged in federal court about the alleged plan by a Lindon, Utah man to have four of his former investors killed. Jeffrey Lane Mowen appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul M. Warner, seeking a release from custody pending his trial on charges of wire fraud, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, witness tampering and retaliating against a witness. But federal prosecutors told Warner that while Mowen was in the Davis County Jail, he attempted to have four former investors murdered by a white supremacist to prevent them from testifying against him.

Prosecutors claim that in one instance, Mowen used Morse code to dictate a letter to a fellow inmate ordering the slayings. The inmate taking the dictation was working with authorities. He was wearing a recording device that captured Mowen tapping out the hit list, prosecutors said. There are in fact TWO morals to this story; 1) be careful who you blab your innermost thoughts to, and 2) if you are going to be that stupid at least use a mechanism that can't be traced. So many DUMB criminals!!!

How good is Roger Federer? Australian Open Champion again, 16 majors down!

So it has come to this in the world of big-time tennis: You're 28 years old, absolutely in your prime, cherishing the game -- and you're some kind of mythical superhero, a miracle of longevity and commitment. Roger Federer's path to greatness is a throwback, a reminder of more sensible times in the sport, when players competed well into their 30s without losing their talent or motivation. "I'm flabbergasted to know what still motivates Federer," Pat Cash told reporters in Melbourne. "I certainly couldn't keep it up. There must be a real challenge there. He showed he still has stuff to prove to himself and to match up with the young guys."Make no mistake, Federer is special in ways few can comprehend. He'll own at least 20 majors by the time he's done, and some of his other accomplishments -- such as reaching 23 consecutive major semifinals -- border on the surreal. Let's just hope that Federer is remembered, as well, for allowing himself to reap the rich rewards of maturity.

Road crash turns into 238-pound pot bust

Tracks in the snow leading from a crashed car to the nearby bridge overpass on New Mexico's I-40 just didn't look right to officers. State police say that officers patrolling the stretch near Tucumcari Saturday found that 40-year-old Henry Alan Lowe of El Paso, Texas, had lost control of his sedan and crashed into a snow pile. Then they noticed tracks leading back and forth from the trunk to the bridge. They allege that partially hidden under the overpass were large plastic wrapped bundles and inside was about 238 pounds of raw marijuana with an estimated street value of more than $642,000. Police say Lowe was arrested after treated for a gash to his head. Moral of the story: Don't smoke your own dope while driving on the highway!!!