- Horoscope * Jeraldine Saunders
- Taiwan offers financial relief pitch to ailing sport
- A letter to Bud Selig: Makeover the World Baseball Classic
- Foreign Flings No Threat to Healthy Relationships at Home
- pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …

Horoscope * Jeraldine Saunders
San Jose Mercury News
This birthday guy has become a top box office draw with hit films such as “Wedding Crashers” “The Break-Up” and “Fred Claus” under his belt. His first big break came when he appeared on the series “China Beach” and he made his film debut in the 1993 movie “Rudy. ” Vaughn is often romantically linked to his co-stars including Joey Lauren Adams and Jennifer AnistonARIES (March 21-April 19): Hide hesitation and let down your guard. It is a good time to share your deepest feelings and goals. You and a special someone can enjoy intimate moments under a seductive cosmic arrangement. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Cooperation is the key to success.

Taiwan offers financial relief pitch to ailing sport
Reuters
Lin’s association which forms and manages teams for international competitions would hire foreign coaches to bring Taiwan the latest skills he said. Fans including Taiwan legislators vented outrage after the losses this month pressuring the government to act. “The (rescue plan) means for the public that the government is paying attention to this sport” said lawmaker Yang Lee-huan. “If we’re too laid back mainland China will overtake us. China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949 when Mao Zedong’s Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule by force if necessary. Taiwan’s baseball pride surged after the team won bronze at the 1984 lympics in Los Angeles silver at the 1992 Barcelona lympics and gold at the 2006 Asia Games in Doha.

A letter to Bud Selig: Makeover the World Baseball Classic
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
But I along with my sports colleagues at the Daily Telegraph did not watch very much of the tournament. Frankly we were not interested. But I do realize that you have a potential gold mine on your hands a way to better promote your sport — and therefore your league — internationally to more consumers. With that in mind and as someone who tried to watch some of the tournament here is a plan to make the World Baseball Classic more enticing more exciting and more watchable for people around the globe. ° Appoint a single host nation. Why were there seven different venues in five countries? It may have been a ploy to encourage attendance but it kills some of the buildup to have games stretched across several time zones. The only venue that was consistently full for the early part of the tournament was the Tokyo Dome averaging nearly 44000 fans for each of Japan’s games in Pool A.
Related from Johnlawtonband: WBC final was a joy ride you didn’t want to end

Foreign Flings No Threat to Healthy Relationships at Home
New York Times
These are the areas in which the sport and top-tier foreign clubs find the most welcoming audience according to Kenyon. Although each place is different he said the availability of Premier League soccer on TV the relative availability of electronic media and the consumer culture make the United States China India and Russia ripe for soccer expansion. “It is a world sport” Kenyon said “and you can?t have a world sport if in places like China and North America the sport isn?t healthy. ”This is where Garber’s and Kenyon’s interests coincide where the support for established foreign clubs breeds interest in soccer and fuels growing interest in M. “We?re not trying to tell you not to be a fan of the club you love overseas” Garber said.

pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …
FXBusiness
EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 brings the ultimate online football gaming experience that mirrors the sophistication finesse and beauty of the real-world sport. Xiaowei Chen President of The9 said “EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 epitomizes a global sports game. During the closed beta test in China it received not only extremely positive feedback from game players but has also generated awareness and anticipation among football fans. The9 has been working actively with EA to add features that are tailor made for local players and to prepare for all aspects of the game’s operation in the Chinese market. From April 22nd gamers and football fans will enjoy the fun and excitement in this brand new online sports game. “Bringing EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to China is an important step for EA.

- pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …
- Foreign Flings No Threat to Healthy Relationships at Home
- KIA X Games Asia 2009 Returns to China April 30 - May 3

pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …
FXBusiness
EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 brings the ultimate online football gaming experience that mirrors the sophistication finesse and beauty of the real-world sport. Xiaowei Chen President of The9 said “EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 epitomizes a global sports game. During the closed beta test in China it received not only extremely positive feedback from game players but has also generated awareness and anticipation among football fans. The9 has been working actively with EA to add features that are tailor made for local players and to prepare for all aspects of the game’s operation in the Chinese market. From April 22nd gamers and football fans will enjoy the fun and excitement in this brand new online sports game. “Bringing EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to China is an important step for EA.

Foreign Flings No Threat to Healthy Relationships at Home
New York Times
These are the areas in which the sport and top-tier foreign clubs find the most welcoming audience according to Kenyon. Although each place is different he said the availability of Premier League soccer on TV the relative availability of electronic media and the consumer culture make the United States China India and Russia ripe for soccer expansion. “It is a world sport” Kenyon said “and you can?t have a world sport if in places like China and North America the sport isn?t healthy. ”This is where Garber’s and Kenyon’s interests coincide where the support for established foreign clubs breeds interest in soccer and fuels growing interest in M. “We?re not trying to tell you not to be a fan of the club you love overseas” Garber said.

KIA X Games Asia 2009 Returns to China April 30 - May 3
SupercrossKING
This year the event will showcase more than 200 of the best action sports athletes from more than 20 countries and five continents in world-class competition in the sports of Skateboard BMX In-Line Skate and Sport Climbing. New to the Asian X Games this year’’s event will also feature a Moto X Big Air demonstration. Televised live from Shanghai’’s KIC Jiangwan Stadium X Games Asia will air May 1 - May 3 on ESPN Asia networks and will be organized by sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports along with the Shanghai Media Group and Shanghai Sports Federation. The event will also be shown on ESPN International networks in Latin America Australia Middle East and Africa.
Related from Abnthailandhotels: Australia’s largest ever hotel sale starts midnight today

- pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …
- Foreign Flings No Threat to Healthy Relationships at Home
- Chinese snooker star Ding finds new role in cartoon
- La Jolla Sport Recalls Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts With …
- South Africa turns away Dalai Lama political firestorm follows

pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …
FXBusiness
EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 brings the ultimate online football gaming experience that mirrors the sophistication finesse and beauty of the real-world sport. Xiaowei Chen President of The9 said “EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 epitomizes a global sports game. During the closed beta test in China it received not only extremely positive feedback from game players but has also generated awareness and anticipation among football fans. The9 has been working actively with EA to add features that are tailor made for local players and to prepare for all aspects of the game’s operation in the Chinese market. From April 22nd gamers and football fans will enjoy the fun and excitement in this brand new online sports game. “Bringing EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to China is an important step for EA.
Related from Ultimategamingnetwork: pen Beta Test for EA SPRTS FIFA NLINE 2 to Begin on 22 April …

Foreign Flings No Threat to Healthy Relationships at Home
New York Times
These are the areas in which the sport and top-tier foreign clubs find the most welcoming audience according to Kenyon. Although each place is different he said the availability of Premier League soccer on TV the relative availability of electronic media and the consumer culture make the United States China India and Russia ripe for soccer expansion. “It is a world sport” Kenyon said “and you can?t have a world sport if in places like China and North America the sport isn?t healthy. ”This is where Garber’s and Kenyon’s interests coincide where the support for established foreign clubs breeds interest in soccer and fuels growing interest in M. “We?re not trying to tell you not to be a fan of the club you love overseas” Garber said.

Chinese snooker star Ding finds new role in cartoon
Xinhua
“The hero Xiao Hui who actually bears Ding’s given name share the same quality as his prototype with strong will and persistence” said Yu. “Ding’s fans may discover another side of their hero from the cartoon — shy but full of inner power” he said. Though snooker might not be a native Chinese sport but Ding’s emergence has elicited a huge interest in the sport in China where World Snooker the sport’s global governing body says that approximately 50 million of China’s population play snooker. The 21-year-old from east China’s Jiangsu province who started playing snooker at nine is the youngest player ever to win three ranking titles — the China pen and UK Championships in 2005 and the Northern Ireland Trophy in 2006. However Ding currently ranked the 11th in the world is in the midst of form slump failing to win a major title over the past two years. Now he spends most of time abroad for training and competitions. “thers may call my current situation a lowest point of my professional snooker career so far but I think I’m absorbing ‘nutrition’ from the loss” said Ding.

La Jolla Sport Recalls Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts With …
FXBusiness
Description: The recalled children’s hooded sweatshirts have RN number 85773 printed in the center back neck and were sold in sizes S-XL. The product name and style number are printed on the hangtag on the left side seam of the garment which comes in a variety of colors. Sold at: Bloomingdale’s Macy’s Boscovs Chick’s Sporting Goods Gottschalks Jacks Surf and Sport Lester’s and Zappos nationwide from December 2007 through January 2009 for about $30. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard or return the garment to the place of purchase or to La Jolla Sport to receive a full refund. Consumer Contact: For additional information contact La Jolla Sport USA at (800) 213-6444 between 8 a.

South Africa turns away Dalai Lama political firestorm follows
Christian Science Monitor
South Africa turns away Dalai Lama political firestorm follows | csmonitor. Critics say the decision was a nod to China.

- Chinese Skaters Dial Up the Passion
- South Africa turns away Dalai Lama political firestorm follows
- Taiwan offers financial relief pitch to ailing sport
- Fidel Castro recounts WBC final

Chinese Skaters Dial Up the Passion
Wall Street Journal
Stunts like the quadruple twist and a move known as the “death spiral” have made them fixtures on the podium. But this week the Chinese will attempt a new feat that could determine whether they will be able to break Russia’s iron grip on this sport. They’re going to tango. At the World Figure Skating Championships Wednesday in Los Angeles the leading Chinese pair Tong Jian and Pang Qing both 29 will unveil a steamy new routine set to Argentina’s legendary music of romance. The program which has lots of smoldering glances and passionate entanglements was developed with the help of a California skating choreographer who once convinced Dorothy Hamill to spike up her hair and take the ice in a shirt dress.

South Africa turns away Dalai Lama political firestorm follows
Christian Science Monitor
South Africa turns away Dalai Lama political firestorm follows | csmonitor. Critics say the decision was a nod to China.

Taiwan offers financial relief pitch to ailing sport
Reuters
Lin’s association which forms and manages teams for international competitions would hire foreign coaches to bring Taiwan the latest skills he said. Fans including Taiwan legislators vented outrage after the losses this month pressuring the government to act. “The (rescue plan) means for the public that the government is paying attention to this sport” said lawmaker Yang Lee-huan. “If we’re too laid back mainland China will overtake us. China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949 when Mao Zedong’s Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule by force if necessary. Taiwan’s baseball pride surged after the team won bronze at the 1984 lympics in Los Angeles silver at the 1992 Barcelona lympics and gold at the 2006 Asia Games in Doha.

Fidel Castro recounts WBC final
MiamiHerald.com
team was brilliant in its absence. The multinationals which exploit the sport lost nothing and gained much. The American people are grumbling. Everything was forecast. The Japanese gave their opponent a hard time even though Matsuzaka was not having his best day. At the first pitch of the game there was a centre homerun.
Related from Young-elderz: Latin Reggae Icon Fidel Nadal (f Todos Tus Muertos) Releases …

- Taiwan offers financial relief pitch to ailing sport
- South Africa peace conference stalls after Dalai Lama denied visa
- Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about age
- Lawmaker wants ATVs dirt bikes exempted from child-safety act
- Japan’s thrilling 10-inning win a fitting final chapter to second WBC
- Five Fab Foods — Research Summary
- Cricket-Miandad lauds China’s prospects after Beijing visit

Taiwan offers financial relief pitch to ailing sport
Reuters
Lin’s association which forms and manages teams for international competitions would hire foreign coaches to bring Taiwan the latest skills he said. Fans including Taiwan legislators vented outrage after the losses this month pressuring the government to act. “The (rescue plan) means for the public that the government is paying attention to this sport” said lawmaker Yang Lee-huan. “If we’re too laid back mainland China will overtake us. China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949 when Mao Zedong’s Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule by force if necessary. Taiwan’s baseball pride surged after the team won bronze at the 1984 lympics in Los Angeles silver at the 1992 Barcelona lympics and gold at the 2006 Asia Games in Doha.

South Africa peace conference stalls after Dalai Lama denied visa
CBC.ca
The Tibetan spiritual leader was expected to join fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureates at the conference ? which was organized by top soccer officials ? but the South African government turned down his entry visa. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said Monday that the visa was not granted because the invitation to the Dalai Lama did not come from official government channels. The conference was meant to highlight ways sport can promote peace ahead of the 2010 World Cup which is being held in South Africa. Discussions were expected to touch on anti-racism xenophobia and the ways sport brings people together. The conference committee announced Tuesday that it has decided to postpone the meeting indefinitely “as a result of the controversy surrounding the Dalai Lama. rganizers said they hoped to reschedule it before the World Cup ? if the Dalai Lama is granted a visa. No visa before 2010 But presidential spokesman Thabo Masebe said the Dalai Lama will not be issued a visa ahead of the sporting event.
Related from Zjkjw: China says door for talks open to Dalai Lama

Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about age
The Associated Press
The analysis was conducted by sports officials in southern Guangdong province and reported on the Web site of the Southern Metropolis Daily. The confirmation of age-faking again puts pressure on Chinese sports officials. Several of China’s gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year’s lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport’s world governing body. NBA player Yi Jianlian is also widely reported to have falsified his age on Chinese documents. Late last year China’s Sports Ministry reported that it found 36 players in China’s professional basketball league whose dates of birth may have been changed. The newspaper reported that Guangdong authorities found that 2000 athletes were no longer eligible to compete in youth events.

Lawmaker wants ATVs dirt bikes exempted from child-safety act
Fort Worth Star Telegram
“Motorcycle and motocross workers are among those asking lawmakers to save their livelihoods. Craig Martin owner and president of Action Motorsports DTM in Decatur hasn’t been able to sell small bikes. He said the law could seriously affect the sport for years to come. “The statistics are that if a youth rides as a youngster they will continue to ride as an adult” Martin said. “If they get into another sport or hobby then they never ride. So this would really impact the industry for years and years to come with a decline in sales. “Protecting our children is very high on my list” he said.

Japan’s thrilling 10-inning win a fitting final chapter to second WBC
SI.com
What he means is that baseball is becoming a truly international sport whether America wants to accept it or not. He also means Major League Baseball having saturated its American market is growing new pools of consumers around the world. The mother lode to all this of course is China. If the WBC is a vehicle to spur the Chinese to get serious about baseball — and its nature given lympic sports precedents is to compete at a high level not just be involved — then baseball will tap into a consumer market of more than one billion people. "Long after I’m gone" Selig said "this event will be huge. " Is it perfect? f course not. The new and improved WBC still needs tweaking.

Five Fab Foods — Research Summary
Ivanhoe
Cough is the reason for nearly 3 percent of all outpatient visits in the United States. Consumers spend billions of dollars each year on over-the-counter cough medications despite little evidence that these drugs provide significant relief. Chocolate Milk: A study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found plain old chocolate milk may be as good ? or better ? than sports drinks like Gatorade in helping athletes recover from strenuous exercise. In the study nine male cyclists rode until their muscles were depleted of energy. They rested for four hours and then biked until exhaustion. During the rest period the cyclists drank low-fat chocolate milk Gatorade or Endurox R4. During a second round the cyclists who drank the chocolate milk were able to bike about 50 percent longer than those who drank Endurox and about as long as those who drank Gatorade.

Cricket-Miandad lauds China’s prospects after Beijing visit
Reuters UK
“They definitely have potential the interest and resourcesto become a respected cricket playing nation. Miandad who played 124 tests and went on to coach Pakistanon three occasions said China had the potential to become ahuge international market and represented an ideal platformfrom where the International Cricket Council (ICC) couldglobalise the sport. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and ICC currently providetechnical assistance and equipment to China with both bodieshoping the sport can gain a foothold in the continent’s largestcountry. The regional authority has also sent coaches includingformer Pakistan test player Rashid Khan to help the nation’swomen’s and junior boys sides prepare for ACC-sanctionedtournaments. China has included cricket as one of the disciplines in the2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. “The Pakistan government has signed a memorandum ofunderstanding with their Chinese counterparts to help themstrengthen their cricket base and produce players” Miandadsaid. “China could be the next big frontier of internationalcricket if they are provided the proper support andfacilities.

- Report: Chinese Athletes Lied About Age
- For Two Israeli Tennis Players Focus Returns to Sports Not Politics
- Chinese set the new athletic standard
- Taiwan baseball official proposes training centers to save sport
- Mar 12′”Chinese rights leader’s family ‘defects to US’
- James Blake’s loss recalls sting of lympic tennis
- Sports of The Times Classic a Reminder That National Ties Are …

Report: Chinese Athletes Lied About Age
TIME
Several of China’s gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year’s lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport’s world governing body. NBA player Yi Jianlian is also widely reported to have falsified his age on Chinese documents. Late last year China’s Sports Ministry reported that it found 36 players in China’s professional basketball league whose dates of birth may have been changed. The newspaper reported that Guangdong authorities found that 2000 athletes were no longer eligible to compete in youth events.

For Two Israeli Tennis Players Focus Returns to Sports Not Politics
New York Times
“It sounds kind of big to say it but hopefully it’s not going to be just Israelis going to Dubai” Ram said. “It’s going to be something global for every athlete. Tomorrow if some guy from Taipei wants to play in China and they won’t allow it they’ll have this case that shows that anything is possible. The Dubai government accepted me. I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t be the same everywhere.

Chinese set the new athletic standard
Vancouver Sun
22 seconds and a Polish coach told The New York Times that in a sport where there are no secret stars the result was ?not rational. ? n the subject if any country could produce a BALC-like steroid laboratory without BALC-like investigations ? Who is going to investigate? The FBI? ? it is China. This is just the beginning. The Chinese were already dominant in gymnastics diving table tennis and badminton. But now they have broadened their focus and their results. And few sports will escape.

Taiwan baseball official proposes training centers to save sport
eTaiwan News
The centers should provide modern equipment professional trainers and experienced caregivers. Inviting overseas teams for training courses in Taiwan would also stimulate the local economy Yeh proposed. After Taiwan was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo by consecutive defeats against South Korea and China earlier this month the government promised to launch rescue plans for the country’s national sport. At the same time the Cabinet-level Sports Affairs Council promised to help find work for athletes after their sports career finished as reports circulated that several top stars were about to abandon their Taiwanese citizenship in search of more generous foreign support. The government wanted to spend lots of money saving baseball but spending NT$100 million did not mean you could have results Yeh said. If baseball turned into some kind of charity then there would be no progress he warned. The image of baseball suffered several setbacks over the past decade losing popularity as game-fixing scandals involving organized crime erupted.
Related from Bloggingrssmonster: Baseball Blogging Gets A Facelift — MajorLeagueBlogging.com

Mar 12′”Chinese rights leader’s family ‘defects to US’
The Epoch Times
Mar 12—Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about ageBEIJING (AP) — X-ray bone analysis of 15000 young Chinese athletes shows about 20 percent have lied about their ages provincial sports authorities say. The analysis was conducted by sports officials in southern Guangdong province and reported on the Web site of the Southern Metropolis Daily. The confirmation of age-faking again puts pressure on Chinese sports officials. Several of China's gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year's lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport's world governing body. Mar 13—US trade gap shrinks to 2002 low swells with ChinaWASHINGTN (AFP) – The weak global economy sent the US trade deficit to a six-year low in January amid plunging trade volumes but the politically sensitive deficit with China widened data showed Friday.

James Blake’s loss recalls sting of lympic tennis
Los Angeles Times
It also is what James Blake and Fernando Gonzalez have little of for each other. Without some history Blake’s third-round match against Gonzalez in Monday’s BNP Paribas pen was merely another day at the office for two players in the top 20 — Blake 13th and Gonzalez 17th. Both are big names in the sport Blake for the United States and Gonzalez for Chile. Both are here at this premier Indian Wells event to add to rankings to their millions in prize money and to get a shot at one of the big guys Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer. Blake’s last shot at Federer is what led to the intrigue Monday. When he upset Federer in the quarterfinals of the lympic tournament last August in Beijing it put him in a semifinal against Gonzalez. That resulted in a dramatic and controversial defeat for Blake and memories of that clouded Monday’s match in the bright blue skies of the desert.

Sports of The Times Classic a Reminder That National Ties Are …
New York Times
“So that’s why they boo me they heckle me they criticize me because I made a personal decision” rdóñez said. His teammates weren’t pleased by the political intrusion but it was another example of why lumping Hispanic players and countries is like conflating China and Japan. The common language of Spanish is no doubt a contributing factor in a way it isn’t for say Europeans in hockey. But American baseball has also long had an aura of insularity that has deemed other versions of the sport inauthentic unworthy and some of that shows up in response to the Classic. •Far from perfect the tournament at least makes the American purists and old-school elite sit up straight on their high horse for fear of being knocked off the way the Dominicans were by the Dutch. If nothing else the drubbing by Puerto Rico should have dampened America’s competitive conceit assuming the results of the inaugural W.

- Mar 12′”Chinese rights leader’s family ‘defects to US’
- Sport-Thousands of Chinese athletes faking ages in Guangdong
- Sports of The Times Classic a Reminder That National Ties Are …

Mar 12′”Chinese rights leader’s family ‘defects to US’
The Epoch Times
Mar 12—Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about ageBEIJING (AP) — X-ray bone analysis of 15000 young Chinese athletes shows about 20 percent have lied about their ages provincial sports authorities say. The analysis was conducted by sports officials in southern Guangdong province and reported on the Web site of the Southern Metropolis Daily. The confirmation of age-faking again puts pressure on Chinese sports officials. Several of China's gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year's lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport's world governing body. Mar 13—US trade gap shrinks to 2002 low swells with ChinaWASHINGTN (AFP) – The weak global economy sent the US trade deficit to a six-year low in January amid plunging trade volumes but the politically sensitive deficit with China widened data showed Friday.

Sport-Thousands of Chinese athletes faking ages in Guangdong
Reuters
The result showed 3000 were older than they claimed 2000of whom were no longer eligible for any youth sport and 1000who should have competed in different age categories. Ye said16 athletes in one event had faked their age and the worstoffenders were up to seven years older than they were allowedto be. Funding follows success in China’s state-run sports systemso officials at city and provincial level have long beensuspected of using overage players to help them wintournaments. China was accused of adding years to the age of twogymnasts so they would be eligible to compete at last year’slympics after media reports indicated the gold medallistsmight be younger than 16. The governing International Gymnasts Federation (FIG)investigated at the behest of the International lympicCommittee (IC) and were satisfied with documentary evidenceprovided by the Chinese authorities. The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) last yeardiscovered 26 players who had inaccurately registered theirages playing in its top flight league. New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian is officially listed asbeing 21 but a cloud of suspicion surrounded his age before waspicked sixth by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2007 NBA draft.

Sports of The Times Classic a Reminder That National Ties Are …
New York Times
“So that’s why they boo me they heckle me they criticize me because I made a personal decision” rdóñez said. His teammates weren’t pleased by the political intrusion but it was another example of why lumping Hispanic players and countries is like conflating China and Japan. The common language of Spanish is no doubt a contributing factor in a way it isn’t for say Europeans in hockey. But American baseball has also long had an aura of insularity that has deemed other versions of the sport inauthentic unworthy and some of that shows up in response to the Classic. •Far from perfect the tournament at least makes the American purists and old-school elite sit up straight on their high horse for fear of being knocked off the way the Dominicans were by the Dutch. If nothing else the drubbing by Puerto Rico should have dampened America’s competitive conceit assuming the results of the inaugural W.
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- Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about age
- Mar 12′”Chinese rights leader’s family ‘defects to US’
- China to help Zambia construct major stadium for development of sports
- Powerhouses clear one obstacle but now face another
- BAM’s strength is only in numbers
- Break or bridge
- Therapist Séguin kept athletes tuned up in China

Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about age
The Associated Press
The analysis was conducted by sports officials in southern Guangdong province and reported on the Web site of the Southern Metropolis Daily. The confirmation of age-faking again puts pressure on Chinese sports officials. Several of China’s gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year’s lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport’s world governing body. NBA player Yi Jianlian is also widely reported to have falsified his age on Chinese documents. Late last year China’s Sports Ministry reported that it found 36 players in China’s professional basketball league whose dates of birth may have been changed. The newspaper reported that Guangdong authorities found that 2000 athletes were no longer eligible to compete in youth events.
Related from Ilovesong: Lied Center Presents Wu Man and Friends

Mar 12′”Chinese rights leader’s family ‘defects to US’
The Epoch Times
Mar 12—Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about ageBEIJING (AP) — X-ray bone analysis of 15000 young Chinese athletes shows about 20 percent have lied about their ages provincial sports authorities say. The analysis was conducted by sports officials in southern Guangdong province and reported on the Web site of the Southern Metropolis Daily. The confirmation of age-faking again puts pressure on Chinese sports officials. Several of China's gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year's lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport's world governing body. Mar 13—US trade gap shrinks to 2002 low swells with ChinaWASHINGTN (AFP) – The weak global economy sent the US trade deficit to a six-year low in January amid plunging trade volumes but the politically sensitive deficit with China widened data showed Friday.

China to help Zambia construct major stadium for development of sports
Xinhua
The minister said it was good that after many years of discussions the project would finally take off and that the project would promote the bi-lateral relationship between Zambia and China. He called on investors to consider building hotels within the vicinity of the stadium so that visiting teams could be accommodated there. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin said the stadium would help improve the sports standards in the country once completed. Li said the stadium would provide an opportunity for the youth in Zambia to enjoy sports. Editor: Wang Guanqun.

Powerhouses clear one obstacle but now face another
บางกอกโพส
Now we hear of another ugly head which has risen in the Mainland. England’s famed journal The Guardian has claimed that a fifth of Chinas 15000 youth athletes have been misrepresenting their ages. This has been brought to light through X-ray bone analysis which China’s sports ministry in Guangdong province conducted recently. It has resulted with 3000 athletes found to be older than the ages they had claimed. With many junior meets coming up in Asia and elsewhere China has to be very careful not to allow its name to be tarnished again. ne heartening feature is that sports officials in China are determined to set things right. Ye Xiquan the deputy sports bureau chief is quoted as saying that he wants to make sure fakers have no advantage.

BAM’s strength is only in numbers
New Straits Times
The south zone leg in Malacca last month had less than eight players in the girls’ categories and only four pairs in the Under-18. This could be because parents are more interested in their children pursuing academic excellence which is also China’s problem. China have till this point managed to overcome this by having successful sports schools but the ones in Malaysia can’t claim to have a high success rate. The states too have to share the blame for despite the number of registered players they have the quality is nothing worth shouting about. The states have to make it attractive for players and one such way is by having quality coaches which should not be a problem given Malaysia’s history in the sport. However former players prefer to go into private coaching as the returns are higher and if the states want to attract them they should work with BAM and devise a package which will make it worthwhile for someone to contemplate working with them. BAM and the states must also not be overly worried about clubs for they have a role to play and Indonesia is a classic example.

Break or bridge
Malaysia Star
Colombia was knocked out and Escobar was understandably down. He was put out of his misery however when he was shot dead within days of his return to Colombia!) However there have been notable incidents when sport has bridged gaps between people. The Christmas Day football match of 1915 between British and German soldiers in No Man’s Land in the midst of fighting World War I and the use of “ping-pong diplomacy” by communist China to reach out to the United States are two examples that stand out. Sports has also helped provide the symbolism to bring a divided nation together post-apartheid South Africa got to celebrate wins in the rugby World Cup (1995) and football’s African Nations Cup (1996). According to Khoo if played in the right spirit sports is a huge unifying factor. “Many have forgotten the original lympian maxim that it is more important to take part than to win. Sport can overcome language barriers and racism.

Therapist Séguin kept athletes tuned up in China
Standard Freeholder
”Who needed Séguin’s attention the most? The speed-skaters and the curlers. Some explanation: one curler in particular had a pre-existing knee condition. That speed-skaters require lots of physiotherapy may be easier to understand — there’s is a sport of constant counterclockwise movement all that pushing with the right leg and leaning to the left that “leads to muscle imbalance” Séguin noted. There were opportunities for exploration too of course — Séguin spent two hours at the Great Wall; both literally and figuratively “it was the peak of my trip” he said. The Universiade itself was centred in China’s far north in Harbin “a small city of 9. 5 million” Séguin said. Séguin and the Canadians didn’t get a break from winter cold — temperatures dipped as low as minus-25 never went above freezing and snow was common.

- ne in five of China’s athletes lie about their age
- Daily Update
- IC president Rogge says Asia sports rising fast
- Yao Ming: Why the World Should Thank “Great Wall of China”

ne in five of China’s athletes lie about their age
Telegraph.co.uk
He Kexin a gold medal-winning gymnast was investigated by the International lympic Committee after being accused of being only 14 years old and ineligible. Although Miss He was eventually cleared by the IC suspicions linger on and Bruno Grandi the president of the International Gymnastics Federation recently gave an interview to the German press in which he said that there was “strong circumstantial evidence” of age falsification by the Chinese. Guangdong is hosting the Asian Games in its capital city of Guangzhou next year and the local Communist Party is determined that there will be no outcry. “We want to make sure fakers have no advantage” Ye Xiquan the deputy head of the sports bureau in Guangzhou told a local newspaper.

Daily Update
US-China Today
Age-controversy has surrounded Chinese athletes in the past such as with female gymnasts during the 2008 Summer lympics and current NBA player Yi Jianlian. The findings have affected the eligibility of 3000 athletes who now no longer qualify to compete in youth events or must change age categories. The city of Guangzhou’s hosting of the Asian Games next year means stricter monitoring and controls by officials. —posted by Catherine Ngo.

IC president Rogge says Asia sports rising fast
The Associated Press
Although Europe and the United States are still dominant “Asia is catching up very fast and this is the reflection definitely of the dynamism of your continent” Rogge said at a meeting of the lympic Council of Asia. Rogge congratulated Asia for winning 212 medals from among 19 countries at last year’s Beijing lympics. Nearly half were won by host nation China which collected 100 overall medals including 51 gold. The United States won the overall medal count with 110 including 36 gold. n other issues Rogge said security against terrorism will always be a priority especially after the recent attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Pakistan. Rogge said sport was “not immune from the evils of society” and “we live in a dangerous world. “”We believe however that within the sports community there is peace and there is understanding” he told reporters.

Yao Ming: Why the World Should Thank “Great Wall of China”
Bleacher Report
However if there were a Most Valuable Human award I’d give it to Yao in a second. He’s brilliantly taken two cultures that couldn’t be more different and brought them together in love for the same sport.
Related from Nationalbolshevik: WALL STREET’S MARXIST PRESIDENTIAL PAWN

- Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about age
- IC president Rogge says Asia sports rising fast
- EDITRIAL: Fund sports for the young not the pros
- Rugby parties in Dubai’s Sevens heaven
- Venezuela vs USA sport and politics mix again
- Scott’s Ivy-league aspirations took hardcourt detour

Bone analysis shows 20 percent lied about age
The Associated Press
The analysis was conducted by sports officials in southern Guangdong province and reported on the Web site of the Southern Metropolis Daily. The confirmation of age-faking again puts pressure on Chinese sports officials. Several of China’s gold-medal winning female gymnasts at last year’s lympics were widely suspected of being underage although they were later cleared by officials of the sport’s world governing body. NBA player Yi Jianlian is also widely reported to have falsified his age on Chinese documents. Late last year China’s Sports Ministry reported that it found 36 players in China’s professional basketball league whose dates of birth may have been changed. The newspaper reported that Guangdong authorities found that 2000 athletes were no longer eligible to compete in youth events.

IC president Rogge says Asia sports rising fast
The Associated Press
Although Europe and the United States are still dominant “Asia is catching up very fast and this is the reflection definitely of the dynamism of your continent” Rogge said at a meeting of the lympic Council of Asia. Rogge congratulated Asia for winning 212 medals from among 19 countries at last year’s Beijing lympics. Nearly half were won by host nation China which collected 100 overall medals including 51 gold. The United States won the overall medal count with 110 including 36 gold. n other issues Rogge said security against terrorism will always be a priority especially after the recent attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in Pakistan. Rogge said sport was “not immune from the evils of society” and “we live in a dangerous world. “”We believe however that within the sports community there is peace and there is understanding” he told reporters.

EDITRIAL: Fund sports for the young not the pros
Taipei Times
The nation¡s favorite sport is in crisis top pool player Wu Chia-ching (§d?¼y) is seeking citizenship in Singapore and USPGA star Yani Tseng (´¿¶®©g) the world No. 2 complains that the government does not care about golf. Meanwhile officials are left scratching their heads trying to think up solutions. In taking a step back and assessing things rationally however the main cause of this crisis ¡X Taiwan¡s loss to China in the World Baseball Classic last week ¡X should really come as no surprise.

Rugby parties in Dubai’s Sevens heaven
CNN
The 78000 people who ignored the global credit crunch to attend were well rewarded with Wales lifting the Melrose Cup for the first time. They had never reached a final in any Sevens international rugby tournament but the young squad who have only been together for two years can now add their names to the list of English New Zealand and Fijian stars who have won the world cup in the shortened version of the game. But Sevens which is bidding for inclusion in the 2016 lympics is as much about the spectacle as the play.
Related from Marcbryant: Rugby parties in Dubai’s Sevens heaven

Venezuela vs USA sport and politics mix again
France24
n Saturday China upset Taiwan’s official baseball team eliminating the island nation from the BWC tournament. China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949 and in the past Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule by force if necessary. Baseball is Taiwan’s most popular sport but under pressure from China the tournament’s organisers forced Taiwan to compete under the name "Chinese Taipei" with neither flag nor anthem. According to sport writer and lympics historian Jean Durry the BWC caved in to China’s political pressure for economic reasons. “Everyone now bows to the economic power of China because every country and every sporting entity is concerned about its financial and commercial interests in China” says Durry. As for Taiwan the early exit from the competition has made rebuilding the team a national priority. Baseball is one of few remaining opportunities for Taiwan to meet on equal terms with the world’s leading nations - many of whom no longer recognise it.

Scott’s Ivy-league aspirations took hardcourt detour
USA Today
Susan used to be team doctor for the WNBA New York Liberty. Next to her is husband Norman former team doctor for the NBA Knicks as well the original lympic Dream Team. So they understand a little about the intersection of sport and academia. But what about the day their son came to them and said he was leaving behind an Ivy League education? Cornell-to-Louisville is not exactly a conventional career decision. Says the mother “Coming out of the New York City private schools where everybody wants to go to the same three schools for him to say he wanted to go to Louisville — after a certain point in life you have to listen to what your children want. You have to hear their message. Says the father “He wasn’t even sure if he would like basketball ever again.