Jeff Monson charged with mischief; ESPN not an accomplice

Jeff Monson is either really dumb or really smart. I'm leaning towards the latter.
The fighter, who last appeared in the Mixed Fighting Alliance, winning over Ricco Rodriguez in December, has a warrant against him for defacing the Capitol building in Olympia, Wash. This warrant was issued after pictures of him painting an anarchist symbol on the building appeared in ESPN the Magazine.
See, Monson is an outspoken anarchist. He has said many times that he wants to do away with the social hierarchies that govern our world. The best way for Monson to share these theories is through the mass media, so publicity is his friend.
Is Monson so dumb that he would expect ESPN to not use photographs of him committing a crime? Of course not. This is a man with a Master's degree in psychology. He understands the ramifications of civil disobedience. If he didn't want attention brought to his cause, he would have asked ESPN to photograph him sitting at home, enjoying dinner.
Monson was charged with first-degree malicious mischief, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of a $20,000 fine and 10 years in prison. ESPN did not do him a favor by running that picture, but it's not their job to protect athletes. It's their job to cover them, a fact which Monson has used to make sure that everyone is discussing his cause today.

McLaren, ecco la MP4-24

Giornata dai due volti a Woking: presentata la nuova monoposto con cui Lewis Hamilton difenderà il titolo del 2008 e annuncio a sorpresa del titolare che lascerà a Whitmarsh il suo posto a marzo occupandosi di automobili di produzione

WOKING (Inghilterra), 16 gennaio 2009 - Presentata oggi la nuova McLaren MP4-24 per il Mondiale 2009 di F.1 (guarda le foto). E Ron Dennis ha chiarito subito gli obiettivi stagionali: "Vogliamo entrambi i titoli mondiali". Nel 2008 il titolo di Lewis Hamilton che ha subito esaltato la nuova macchina: "È la prima volta che vedo la nuova monoposto, è bellissima - dice il pilota inglese - è splendido vedere il risultato finale del lavoro di tutta la squadra".
ANNUNCIO CHOC - La giornata è però poi stata caratterizzata dal clamoroso annuncio delle dimissioni dello stesso Ron Dennis. Lo storico titolare del team di Woking ha infatti annunciato che lascerà l'incarico all'inizio di marzo, cioè a un mese dall'inizio della nuova stagione. È probabile che all'origine della decisione abbia pesato non poco la Spy-Story ai danni della Ferrari nel 2007, costata alla McLaren una multa record di 100 milioni di dollari e l'esclusione dal Mondiale costruttori. Al suo posto Martin Whitmarsh.
DECISIONE MIA - "È tempo che Martin prenda le redini come team principal della scuderia - ha spiegato - è al 100% una mia decisione". Dennis ricoprirà il ruolo di direttore esecutivo del gruppo McLaren e si occuperà in particolare della produzione. "Mi aspetta un lavoro difficile - ha spiegato ancora Dennis - abbiamo intenzioni chiare relativamente al nostro programma di automobili di produzione. Comunque assisterò a qualche gara, perché resto un appassionato. Come una pensione? No. Voglio lavorare di più in altri settori".
SCIENZIATI - La nuova McLaren, caratterizzata da un'ampia ala anteriore e da un alettone posteriore ridotto, debutterà domani in un test privato in Portogallo. Al volante, per i primi giri, il collaudatore spagnolo Pedro de la Rosa. "Tutti i team hanno dovuto fare i conti con le novità regolamentari, le più radicali degli ultimi 15 anni - dice Dennis - i cambiamenti hanno costretto tutti a lavorare molto. Nella nostra organizzazione abbiamo dovuto affidarci non a semplici ingegneri, ma a scienziati con qualifiche altissime. La MP4-24 è una monoposto concepita nel modo giusto, se si commettono errori nella progettazione poi diventa impossibile produrre qualsiasi tipo di sviluppo". Una è già pronta in Portogallo per i primi test: "Siamo in condizione di lavorare in modo ottimale per arrivare preparati al primo GP".
LEWIS CARICO - Molto carico Lewis Hamilton: "Mi sento molto rilassato semplicemente perché vengo da un periodo eccellente - ha detto - quando si vince una gara, si affronta la successiva con una dose supplementare di fiducia. Ho gli stessi obiettivi che avevo quando sono arrivato in F.1, voglio diventare campione nel mondo, non sto qui a dire che ho già vinto il titolo. Ovviamente ci sono momenti della scorsa stagione che ricordo con orgoglio. Ogni tanto accendo il computer e guardo le foto del 2008. Vengono in mente ricordi straordinari, ma poi bisogna andare avanti. Non voglio vivere nel passato, anche se la vittoria del titolo mondiale regala sensazioni straordinarie. Ho analizzato anche gli errori che ho commesso, per esempio nella pit-lane in Canada. Sono sicuro che anche quest'anno vivrò esperienze utili: si impara sempre".

Kaka's Man City transfer deal in doubt

LONDON (AFP) – Manchester City's reported world record bid for AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka hung in the balance on Thursday with conflicting reports on how the transfer talks were progressing.
The club's assistant manager Mark Bowen told the BBC that a deal was "very close", but an Arabian business website insisted that talks had broken down.
Reports on Wednesday said that the Abu Dhabi-owned City had proferred a staggering 100 million pounds (110 million euros, 150 million dollars) to acquire the services of the 26-year-old former World Player of the Year and that club officials had met with their Italian counterparts in Milan.
"We have understood there have been negotiations for a fair while now and as far as we are concerned we believe a deal is very close," Bowen, who is assistant to head coach Mark Hughes at Eastlands told the BBC.
"I've read a lot about his love of AC Milan - and that goes without saying - but even when people said the deal was dead, that was not our understanding.
"We are still hopeful of still signing Kaka."
That view was not shared by Arabianbusiness.com which cited a "senior source close to the club's owners" as saying that the deal was off.
The unnamed source was quoted as saying: "The deal is off, and the offer is no longer on the table. The club is now pursuing another striker which it is very close to signing. Manchester City is about to unveil a new striker, but he is not called Kaka."
City manager Hughes, however, was quick to dismiss those reports telling a press conference: "I've seen these reports but you have to bear in mind that the people who are being given a platform to speak do not represent the owner (Sheikh Mansour) or (chairman) Khaldoon (Al Mubarak).
"In my opinion they should not be given a platform to say what they have because in this instance it is completely untrue because negotiations are still taking place."
"It would be naive to think I have not been involved in discussions over this transfer. I have had meetings about it and have had an input.
"It is impossible to say whether it will go through or not but we will let everyone know when there is something to say."
And reports in the Italian press suggest that the move is very much alive with Milan themselves seemingly keen to push it through.
The Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Milan gave Manchester City permission to talk to Kaka on Tuesday with City representative and notorious Iranian-born agent Kia Joorabchian making contact with Kaka's father and agent Bosco.
Kaka himself was quoted as saying that he was happy to stay at AC Milan if the club did not want to sell him, but he has given every indication in the past that he would love to play in the English Premiership at some stage in his career.
He is already one of the best paid players in the world and his spokesman Diogo Kotscho said it would not be money that would prove decisive.
"It's not impossible for Ricky (Kaka) to transfer to Manchester City as long as the English club demonstrates it is preparing to become one of the best teams in the world," he said.
"Even so it will be very difficult to reach agreement with Milan, but if Manchester City present a good project and prove capable of attracting other players of the highest level to become one of the best clubs in the world, like Milan, then we can begin transfer proceedings.
"The English championship is one of the best and Kaka would like to play in it. But I don't know if it will be the right way forward."

Lawsuit Is Latest Test for Knicks’ Curry

Tall, broad and powerfully built, Eddy Curry looks like a human model of strength and control. Nearly everything in his N.B.A. career suggests otherwise.

On the court, Curry often plays smaller than his size (6 feet 11 inches, 300 pounds). Opponents beat him to rebounds and fearlessly drive past him for layups. Off the court, Curry, the 26-year-old Knicks center, is humble and easygoing, a gentle giant who seems more likely to be a victim than a bully.
As the former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas once said of Curry, in a statement that was intended as both compliment and criticism, “He’s a nice man.”
So when his former driver this week sued Curry, accusing him of sexual harassment and verbal abuse, the news sounded surreal to those who know Curry best.
“Nobody can picture anything like this happening,” said Quentin Richardson, a teammate of Curry’s, a longtime friend and fellow native of Chicago. “Anybody that knows him knows that those things are the complete opposite of his character.”
David Kuchinsky, Curry’s driver from 2005 to 2008, made a number of salacious allegations in his lawsuit, which was filed Monday in federal court. He accuses Curry of dropping his pants and making lewd remarks, of using racial and religious epithets, and, in one incident, of brandishing a gun. The suit seeks unspecified damages, in addition to a claim of $93,000 in unpaid wages and reimbursements.
The dispute will eventually be settled in a courtroom or at a negotiating table. But the conflict underscores how easily and how often his career has been thrown off track.
When the Chicago Bulls made Curry the fourth pick in the 2001 draft, he was a teenage prodigy and the projected heir to Shaquille O’Neal. Four years later, he was traded to the Knicks amid concerns over a heart condition.
Two seasons ago, Curry looked like a potential All-Star, averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. A year later, his confidence and production plummeted after the Knicks acquired another star big man, Zach Randolph.
Now Curry is enduring perhaps his most miserable season of all. The Knicks’ new coach, Mike D’Antoni, prefers a running game that seems ill suited to Curry’s plodding ways. The Knicks’ new president, Donnie Walsh, is trying to pare the payroll, making Curry an obvious candidate to be traded.
Curry reported to training camp out of shape, lost a week to illness, then hurt his right knee — an injury that wiped out November and December and pushed him into a deeper hole.
Curry finally joined the rotation last week in Dallas. The good feelings lasted just 2 minutes 38 seconds — the time that Curry played, while an 11-point lead shrank to 2. Problems with both knees have kept him out of action since then.
Then came the shocking lawsuit. The news reached Curry in New Orleans, where the Knicks were closing out a four-game trip. When Curry met with a small group of reporters after the game Monday night, he seemed to be in shock.
“He’s not giving up,” said the Knicks veteran Malik Rose, who has been a frequent adviser to Curry. “He’s not letting these evil acts — or unfortunate acts, with his injuries and all — get him down. He’s upbeat. He’s really making me proud of him.”
Curry has denied all the allegations in the lawsuit. His lawyer, Kelly Saindon, has described Kuchinsky as a “disgruntled former employee” and the suit as an extortion attempt. Saindon has also pointed to two felony convictions in Kuchinsky’s past, including a three-year sentence for burglary in 1992.
Saindon said she would move to have the lawsuit dismissed. She also intends to countersue, saying that Kuchinsky changed the locks on two of Curry’s storage lockers and was holding his possessions hostage. Kuchinsky’s lawyer did not respond to an e-mail message Tuesday.It is striking just how much misfortune Curry has endured in his career. He was having his best season for the Bulls in 2004-5 before an irregular heartbeat forced him to miss the playoffs — which would have been his first.
The heart concerns eventually led Chicago to trade Curry, who then became the center of controversy as the Bulls and the Knicks offered conflicting views of his health. Curry has not experienced any known heart problems in the last four seasons.
In July 2007, Curry and his family were robbed at gunpoint in their home in Burr Ridge, Ill.
“He’s certainly had more than his share of adversity over the last couple of years,” said Curry’s agent, Leon Rose. “I think he’s handled himself with class, and I think he’s showed a lot of fortitude, the way he’s been battling. And I believe in him, and I believe ultimately he’s going to be back to where he wants to be.”
Often, Curry has appeared just as helpless with the basketball. A gifted low-post scorer, he has shown flashes of dominance throughout his career, but he has never fulfilled his potential, or shown much interest in defense.
On a trip to Phoenix this season, O’Neal spent several minutes talking to Curry, trying to impart a little big-man wisdom. But Curry is more often compared these days to Kwame Brown, the No. 1 pick in 2001, who is now viewed as one of the greatest busts in draft history.
For years, Curry has exasperated coaches with his apparent lack of passion and dedication. When asked how Curry could become a better rebounder, Scott Skiles, the former Bulls coach, famously replied, “Jump.”
In Curry’s first season in New York, Coach Larry Brown proclaimed him a franchise player. By the end of the season, Brown was benching Curry in fourth quarters while praising Jackie Butler — an undrafted journeyman — as “our best center by far.”
Despite his scoring talents, Curry is viewed skeptically by many N.B.A. executives, especially those who value plus-minus statistics. Curry is consistently a net drain when he is on the court. Still, the Knicks are hopeful of trading him, if not by the Feb. 19 deadline, then this summer.
In the meantime, Curry will fight twin battles as he tries to revive his career and clear his name.
“It’s an unbelievable run of bad luck for a very good person,” Malik Rose said.
Joshua Robinson contributed reporting from Greenburgh, N.Y.

Phelps returns to China - for car commercials

US Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps swims during filming for a television commercial for Mazda at Yingdong Swimming Pool in Beijing January 13, 2009. China's leading media and entertainment group, has signed a landmark agreement for Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to become the brand spokesperson for Mazda in China.

BEIJING -- Michael Phelps is back where he made Olympic history.
Don't look for much swimming. This time, he's in Beijing to do TV commercials for automaker Mazda, which is reported to be paying him more than $1 million to endorse the brand in China. It's believed to be the largest single sponsorship deal for a foreign celebrity in the country.
Besides filming commercials and doing photo shoots, Phelps is also slated to return to the Water Cube -- where he won his record-eight gold medals at last August's games -- before he leaves China.
"Hopefully I'll get a few workouts in before I go home," he said. "And then once I get back home it's time to get back in the water and really start to train for the next four years."
He's expected to resume serious training before the month ends, and is likely to work on some new events heading into this summer's world championships in Rome.
Guests should not expect to catch a glimpse of Phelps in the hotel pool.
"The pool at the hotel is closed right now, so I can't swim," Phelps said.
Phelps said returning to China stirred emotions.
"There are some memories, some flashbacks of that time when I landed and was first going to the Olympic Village," he said. "Driving around today on the roads -- sort of seeing some landmarks I saw -- really just brings back more and more memories."
Phelps is reported to be earning "well into seven figures" for the deal with FAW Mazda.
Mazda vice president Yu Hongjiang said he was certain Phelps would help sell cars in China's growing car market. In November, golfer Tiger Woods ended his nine-year relationship with General Motors Corp. Woods was a spokesman GM's Buick brand.
China is the world's third largest car market, but even here sales have slowed during the global economic slump.
"We have very strong confidence in him (Phelps)," Yu said. "We all know the auto industry has had some unsuccessful records with image ambassadors. But there is no doubt this will be successful. ... Currently in China, nobody has the reputation that Phelps has."

Cristiano Ronaldo desmiente el supuesto acuerdo con Florentino Pérez

El jugador del Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo aseguró en la rueda de prensa previa a la Gala del FIFA World Player que "no es verdad" que haya llegado a un acuerdo con el ex presidente del Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, para fichar por el club blanco en 2010. El portugués United intento evitar referirse a su supuesto traspaso al Real Madrid. "Creo que deberíamos hablar de otras cosas", respondió cuando llegó la primera pregunta sobre ese asunto. Sin embargo, cuando un segundo periodista insistió y le pidió que contestara simplemente con un "sí" o un "no", aunque no entrara en detalles, Ronaldo dijo: "no es verdad". La prensa británica publicó esa versión, según la cual el trato con Florentino Pérez había sido alcanzado a través de su representante. Gran parte de la atención de los periodistas que se encuentran en Zúrich para asistir a la gran celebración anual de la FIFA se concentró en el futbolista portugués, a quien se considera prácticamente fijo para hacerse con el premio. El ganador se escoge en función del resultado de una votación entre entrenadores y capitanes de los equipos nacionales masculinos y femeninos de todo el mundo. El año pasado, Ronaldo quedó tercero en esa nominación, en la que se consagró al brasileño Kaká. En esta ocasión, el delantero del Manchester llega con pie firme para enfrentar a sus rivales, el argentino Lionel Messi, los españoles Xavi Hernández y Fernando Torres, y Kaká nuevamente. Sobre su reciente accidente -ocurrido la semana pasada cuando conducía su coche Ferrari, que quedó destruido, mientras que él resultó ileso-, Ronaldo aseguró que se siente "perfecto, muy bien, incluso mejor que antes del accidente". Preguntado sobre sus sentimientos al haberse convertido en un personaje tan popular, especialmente en Madeira, la isla portuguesa donde nació y pasó su niñez, el futbolista dijo que le encanta ser tan famoso y recomendó a los padres que dejen "a sus hijos vivir sus sueños". "Los padres deben apoyar a los niños para que éstos alcancen sus aspiraciones", dijo. Por otro lado, el jugador negó que alguna vez haya dicho que él es el "primer, segundo y tercer mejor futbolista del mundo". "Lo he leído en la prensa, pero nunca lo he dicho. Eso sería una falta de respeto hacia los otros jugadores", anotó.

Rangers’ Lundqvist Shuts Out Senators

Henrik Lundqvist made 33 saves to earn his second shutout of the season, and Brandon Dubinsky and Lauri Korpikoski provided the offense in the Rangers’ 2-0 victory against the host Ottawa Senators on Saturday night

Lundqvist, selected during the week for his first N.H.L. All-Star Game, stopped 27 shots in a 4-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Monday to pick up his first shutout this year. He allowed five goals in a loss to Montreal on Wednesday, but bounced back against Ottawa after taking a game off.
He has 19 career shutouts in four N.H.L. seasons.
Dubinsky ended a 19-game drought without a goal when he scored his sixth of the season in the first period. Korpikoski followed with his second goal of the season, giving the Rangers a cushion in the third period.
“It’s been a struggle for me to score goals,” said Dubinsky, who scored his first goal since Nov. 24. “I’ve had chances and felt like I was playing well and making good shots, but they weren’t going in for me.
“To have a gift like that is nice. Hopefully, the floodgates will open and they’ll start going in a little more now.”
Lundqvist’s performance spoiled a good outing by Senators goaltender Brian Elliott, who was making his second start. Elliott made 25 saves. Ottawa had just returned from a 1-6-1 trip.
Elliott, the American Hockey League goalie of the month in December, was called up in an effort to give the Senators a spark. He played well, but the Senators had no answers against Lundqvist as they were shut out for the fourth time this season.
DEVILS 5, KINGS 1 Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias, Zach Parise, Brian Rolston and Jamie Langenbrunner scored for the Devils at Los Angeles. Devils goaltender Kevin Weekes made 32 saves.
COYOTES 1, STARS 0 Kyle Turris scored in the fifth round of the shootout to lead Phoenix past visiting Dallas.
Ilya Bryzgalov made 38 saves in regulation and overtime, then stopped three of five in the shootout for the Coyotes.
RED WINGS 3, SABRES 1 Mikael Samuelsson scored the go-ahead goal with 2 minutes 34 seconds and added an assist to lead host Detroit to its sixth straight win.
BLUE JACKETS 4, WILD 2 Nikita Filatov became the first Columbus rookie to score three goals, helping the Blue Jackets beat visiting Minnesota.
PREDATORS 4, BLACKHAWKS 1 David Legwand scored twice for host Nashville. Legwand, a center playing his second straight game at left wing, has scored three goals since the switch.
FLYERS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 1 Jeff Carter scored his league-leading 28th and 29th goals in the third period to help Philadelphia win its season-high eighth straight home game.
CANADIENS 5, CAPITALS 4 Sergei Kostitsyn scored Montreal’s fourth third-period goal with 21.2 seconds remaining to help the Canadiens extend their winning streak to four games.
AVALANCHE 5, PENGUINS 3 David Jones had two goals and an assist, Andrew Raycroft made 21 saves and host Colorado won its third straight.
BRUINS 5, HURRICANES 1 Michael Ryder had two goals and David Krejci added a goal and two assists for host Boston.
The Bruins have won 12 of 14 and led the N.H.L. with 66 points pending the outcome of San Jose’s game later at Vancouver. The Sharks had 65 points going in.
PANTHERS 8, THRASHERS 4 Ville Peltonen scored twice in a five-goal third-period outburst as host Florida set a season high for goals.
AROUND THE LEAGUE Bruins forward Marco Sturm will have left knee surgery Tuesday to repair a meniscus and possibly the anterior cruciate ligament. He could miss the rest of the season. ... Columbus acquired left wing Mike Blunden from Chicago in a trade for right wing Adam Pineault.