Thursday, October 20, 2011
Crestor Lawsuit
Gerrard reveals injury nightmare
The midfielder scored on his first start in nearly half a year, against Manchester United on Saturday, after being sidelined due to a groin injury.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Gerrard revealed the extent of his desperation.
"When I got the injury, I knew it was going to be a serious one, something I wasn't used to - and I'll admit I was down, as low as I've ever been as a footballer.
"I think it's only natural that you have doubts. Different things cross your mind from time to time.
"I was fighting to get fit, just to get out on the pitch. I was trying to put my body on the line, but it wasn't the real me and I wasn't the player I want to be."
Ironically, it was in another game against Manchester United, in March last season, that Gerrard's injury took a serious turn.
"Before the operation, I'd been getting niggles and having injections to play. Basically I knew I wasn't right," he explained.
"I was missing training sessions and coming in the day before a game trying to get that last session in, or having injections to play the next day.
"You can only do that for a certain amount of time before your body gives in, and mine gave in. My groin packed in on me and when it happened I was down and I was low.
"It probably wasn't until I got off the crutches that I started being really positive again.
"I could see I was progressing day by day, and when that happens your positivity creeps back in. Without a doubt, the last six months have been the hardest of my career."
Gerrard also responded to criticism in Pepe Reina's book that the captain failed to call for previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to leave the club.
Liverpool a Happy place
Fenway Sports Group, led by John W. Henry completed their takeover of Liverpool in October last year, ending the reign of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, which had been blighted by unrest amongst players and fans alike.
And Johnson reveals the impact the new owners have made has seen an air of excitement return to Anfield.
"There has been a real transformation," Johnson said on Liverpool's official website.
"I'm very happy with how things have been going and I was pleased to sign a new contract in the summer. The owners have come in and pretty much done what they said they were going to do, which has been great news for everyone.
"I think they have given the fans back their belief and certainty in terms of the feeling amongst the players and the staff, the atmosphere has been very good.
"I remember sitting giving interviews 12 months ago with people asking me whether the players were worried about the takeover and so on because of course we didn't know much about the owners at the time."
But despite the uncertainty that initially accompanied Fenway Sports Group's takeover, the owners have so far delivered on every promise they made, including splashing the cash on the likes of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, something Johnson believes is a real statement of their intent.
"We had some hard times around this time a year ago but it's all been positive since the change of ownership.
"They [the owners] broke the club's transfer record twice in January, which is just the kind of thing the fans wanted to see and was a real signal of intent. It is a very happy place at the moment."
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Online casinos
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Monex gold
ponting interview
Joshua Nath: Ricky, welcome to India. How difficult it is to retain the world No. 1 rankings sans greats like Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer?
Ricky Ponting: It will be very tough for us to retain the Number One status in ICC rankings once you lose all-time greats like them. It will be very difficult for any side to sustain the level of excellence like those guys had helped achieve.
JN: Do you think you have done reasonably well after losing such champion match-winners until now?
RP: Yeah! The thing that really impresses me is that even with the absence of those guys, we have been playing good competitive cricket. Any series that we have gone into, we have been ultra competitive and had our moments where we should have won many Test series. The way we have been playing in the last two or three years, there are enough positive signs.
JN: Do you think the side has shaped up well after the Ashes loss?
RP: I think the Ashes was a real learning experience for our young players, many of whom were new to Test cricket. But the amazing thing is that all those players have learnt from their mistakes in the Test defeats and have done really well in the one-dayers. I am very much confident that they will continue in the same vein to play good competitive cricket to win.
JN: You are currently ranked number four in Tests. Do you think that is a true reflection of your young side?
RP: Not really, I think we are a much better side than that. We are number one in ODIs now, which I think is the true reflection of our team.
JN: Do you think other top teams can cope with the tricky business of rebuilding a team like the way Australia has done?
RP: If we compare the rebuilding of other top teams with us, in a couple of years’ time, South Africa will be going through the similar process of rebuilding and I think India too will have to go through that phase when the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Zaheer and Harbhajan will end their Test careers. By the time they are going through it, we would have invested 30-40 Tests in our younger players, making it a very settled team by then. So it will be interesting to see how those teams rebuild through it. It can be bit of a cycle with the way things work with the timing of the players retiring and new players coming in. But I think we are on the right track as a team.
JN: Which are the teams you think can push Australia the hardest?
RP: I think South Africa, even though they have this habit of missing out on big tournaments but overall if we look at them they are a well balanced side. India too, we have known them for a long time and they are particularly good in one-day cricket.
JN: Ricky, would you put Michael Hussey and Michael Bevan along the same lines in the middle order?
RP: Yeah, both have batted at the similar sort of positions in the batting line up, and both have been recognized as guys who you expect to finish games for your team by staying right till the end. So yes, they are very similar.
JN: What kind of playing eleven have you decided for the ODIs v India? Will you be playing with three pacers, two all-rounders and a spinner like in the recent ICC Champions Trophy?
RP: I think three pacers, one spinner and two all rounders in Watson and Hopes was a ploy that gave us a lot of balance in the ICC Champions Trophy. However, we are still not decided about the batting order. We still have to find a replacement in the eleven for injured Callum Ferguson. It could be Shaun Marsh or Adam Voges. We have enough flexibility in our ranks to surprise the Indians on the day of the match.
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JN: Is a seven-match series too long for an ODI series?
RP: Look, the previous series against one team was the Ashes series which went on for close to about four months which is way too long a time to play one side in a calendar year. That tour consisted of 5 Tests, seven ODIs, two T20 Internationals as well. I think five ODIs in a series is good enough, seven games are way too long.
JN: A word on the security arrangements this time around?
RP: I think the security levels this time around are much stricter for obvious reasons but we are here to play good competitive cricket and the authorities have made good arrangements for us so far.
JN: The horse racing season is in full bloom in Australia and the Melbourne Cup is not far away. Have you been betting there or is it just for fun?
RP: Horse racing is always fun to be a part of. It is more of fun then anything else for me.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Moving company
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monex
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
We cannot win five
United have already won the Club World Cup and Carling Cup, are four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League and still in contention in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Ferguson told the New Statesman: "The thing about cup football is you need to be the best but you also need a lot of luck and I think it's asking too much for all the games to go your way.
"The one thing I will say is, this squad is the best I have ever had. Every game we play, I feel confident.
"At the moment, every attack fears our defence and every defence fears our midfield and attack. That gives you confidence but it is too tough a call."
Monday, March 9, 2009
Business credit
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
College education
Hesh goes through
Safina goes through
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Online colleges
Bernie's wife files for divorce
A spokeswoman for the 50-year-old said the announcement had been prompted by media speculation about the Ecclestones' personal life.
The former model, who will be represented by Liz Vernon, one of Britain's most highly-rated divorce lawyers, could be in line for a significant portion of her husband's fortune. Bernie is believed to be worth in excess of US$4billion.
Simon Bethel, a family law specialist, told the BBC: "Given Mr and Mrs Ecclestone were reputed to be worth US$4billion in the 2008 Rich List, this case may see the highest award to a wife in legal history."
Jani victorious at Sepang
Team Switzerland's Neel Jani became the fifth different race winner this season. After a red flag, Switzerland controlled the re-start and made a slick pit-stop to take a comfortable win in the hot and humid conditions. Frances Loc Duval finished second ahead of a charging Earl Bamber for A1 Team New Zealand.
As the cars came in formation towards the rolling start, an incident involving USA, Brazil and India brought out the red flag. The pack appeared to pick up pace as it approached the start line, but then backed off causing a concertina effect towards the back of the field.
The USA car of Marco Andretti and the Brazilian car of Felipe Guimares took it in turn to climb over the back of Narain Karhtikeyans Indian entry scattering debris across the pit straight.
Marco Andretti commented: "I'm disappointed. You can say its unavoidable but at the time I thought everyone was going and I could only see two rows ahead of me. I couldnt see ahead of the whole field.
"I was about to grab fourth gear, and as soon as the rear tyres were hooking up that was when I needed to be stopping the car so there was no hope. Once you are committed you are kind of stuck with it. In the States you either go or you dont. Here, they went, and then stopped. No one was to blame, it was just racing, but ultimately I crashed out two cars."
Australia's John Martin had lightening reactions to dive left and onto the grass to avoid the accident as the race was immediately red flagged.
After a 30-minute delay the cars lined up in single file to start behind the Safety Car, but Danny Watts was now in trouble having to crawl back to the pits as the Great Britain car was stuck in first gear.
With the race finally underway, Switzerland held the lead as the pack came round for a cautious single file race start. Further down the field, David Garza was under pressure losing out to The Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen, who grabbed seventh round the outside of the Mexican at Turn 9.
South Africa then made a move down the inside of the final hairpin to pass Mexico and as the pair both ran wide, home nation Malaysia was right in the thick of the action, as Fairuz Fauzy snatched eighth going through on the inside of both cars.
South Africa tried to fight back and as the pair went wheel-to-wheel they touched with Malaysia picking up a left rear puncture. Fauzy limped back to the pits much to the disappointment of the Malaysian crowd.
After 3 laps the order at the front settled with Switzerland having a 2.3-second lead from France, New Zealand, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands and South Africa. With changes to the regulations this season, the cars headed towards their first ever mandatory Sprint race pit stop with France and New Zealand being the first to dive in.
France had a slower stop, and New Zealands Earl Bamber was released alongside France. With New Zealands nose being just ahead France was forced to ease off allowing Bamber to take the position as the pair exited the pit lane. However, the team made the call to give the position back to France to avoid any further penalty for what could be deemed to be an unsafe release.
A lap later Jani pitted and, after a slick stop by the Swiss crew, rejoined with a comfortable lead. A great stop from the Irish team also leap-frogged Adam Carroll ahead of Italy and into fifth. On lap 7 the order was Switzerland still up at the front from New Zealand, France, Portugal, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy and Australia.
Switzerland held on to win the Sepang Sprint race for the third year running to become the fifth different race winner in the five races so far this season.
"It was a great race, we had very good pace, a good re-start and pit stop so it was just a perfect race for me", said Jani.
"The big race is the Feature race though, and we are at the back of the grid so its a totally different task. Its about the average of the weekend and we need to get a good points average."
Frances Loc Duval said: "The pit stop was not that good and I ended up third. I thought New Zealand may have a drive-through or something like that as the car was released in front of me from the stop, but he let me go back past. The car was not that good so we have to improve a little bit for this afternoon but after that, we were ok and there was no problem at all."
"We got a really good pit stop, said Bamber who brought Black Beauty home in third. The team did a fantastic job and it was quite close between me and Loc where I just squeezed past, but the team radioed me to let France back past because of an unsafe release. I let him pass on the back straight and then I finished the race in third. It was a good result so we will see how I do from 15th this afternoon."
Despite what looked like an extremely bad crash at the start, USA, Brazil and India will all be ready to take the grid for this afternoons Feature race, where even more excitement can be expected.
Medical supplies
Team mates support Malik
Malik's style of captaincy had come in for severe criticism from several former players including Imran Khan, Ramiz Raja and even current coach Intikhab Alam.
In a more damning indictment, middle-order batsman Mohammad Yousuf said he had joined the unauthorised Indian Cricket League in part due to Malik's style of leadership.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board hinted that Malik would be retained as captain after the team's 3-0 series triumph over the West Indies in Abu Dhabi.
"Nothing has been decided about Malik's captaincy, but I think he is committed," said PCB chief executive officer Saleem Altaf.
"He is young and if he gets a chance he might prove himself a good captain."
Younis Khan, who struck a century in the final match against the West Indies, also backed Malik.
"He is learning with time and with every match," said Younis, who was among the contenders to take over if Malik was sacked.
"I suggest that people should leave him alone. He should be made captain for four to five years because he comes under pressure every time there is talk about changing the captain."
Former skipper Wasim Akram, a staunch critic of Malik earlier in his reign, seems to have changed his mind following the recent success.
"Until last year I believed Malik wasn't a good choice as captain, but he has proved me wrong by performing really well in most of the matches Pakistan have played this year," Akram said.
"I think he should be retained."
Inthikab sees a role for Shoaib
"He can play a very important role against India and we will be relying on him to deliver the goods with experience and pace. I don't think he is finished. If nursed properly and he takes care of himself, Shoaib can do more for Pakistan than he has done in recent times," Intikhab, who guided the team to a clean sweep in ODI series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi recently, said today.
"Shoaib is certainly not finished as an international player as yet and he still has a few years to give to Pakistan cricket," he added.
The former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia recently advised the PCB to tell the fast bowler to go home and retire as he was finished as an international cricketer.
Intikhab, a former international cricketer, said that Shoaib had been told to follow a rigorous rehabilitation and training programme under the supervision of the team's Australian trainer David Dwyer.
Shoaib regained his berth in the national team recently and went to Abu Dhabi with the squad but didn't play in the series due to a calf strain.
"He is working very hard and doing what he has been asked to do to lose weight, become fitter and sharper and get the match fitness. He was fit for the final match (in Abu Dhabi) but we decided to not risk him on the advice of the trainer," he said. Speaking on the coming home-series against India, the coach insisted, "The series is very much on and we have to start serious preparations for it. All the players have already been given individual programs to keep themselves fit for the series as it is big for us." Intikhab also lauded Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men for their stupendous performance in the recent series against Australia and the ongoing England series.
"India has done really well in recent months and against Australia they were the better side but I think one of the reasons for their success is also the cricket balls they use in domestic cricket and against touring sides.
"The Indian players are well versed with the SG cricket balls and know how to use them well. Compared to the Kookaburra, the SG has a more prominent seam that does not die down after a few overs and is a big help for the spinners and pacers alike. It allows them to take a strong grip and use it effectively," he said.