The wonderful future of heavyweight boxing: [nyt reg req] The Klitschko brothers, speaking Ukrainian, Russian, German, and English with doctorates from the University of Kiev in sports science. Can Lenox Lewis really be next ? Willl these two "gentelemen sportsmen" do for brotherly love (and boxing endorsements) what the Williams sisters did for sisterly love and womens tennis? PS Worshipful Sports Illustrated article and their snazzy official Web site.

posted by Voyageman to boxing at 09:10 AM - 1 comment

New Yorker's Editor David Remnick on British Gentleman Lennox Lewis: "A few weeks before the fight, I visited Lewis at his training camp in the Poconos. I went twice, first with a passel of other reporters, and a second time alone....In training, Lewis, unlike Tyson, unlike many of the moderns, practices the Spartan code: work, celibacy, boredom, and games—chess, mainly. The maternal presence provides warmth but a certain added discipline, too. 'My mother grounds me,' Lewis told me later in the day. 'She still tells me to clean up my room.' Remnick also authored King of the World-Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American Hero. Looks like he's angling for the book deal.

posted by Voyageman to boxing at 01:28 PM - 3 comments

Pierluigi Collina Superstar: Download your autographed photo. Now that he has been officially selected to officiate the Brazil-Germany final, watching him will make the game even more intriguing.

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 09:04 AM - 3 comments

Are the next Korean Presidential elections and the FIFA refs favoritism of Korea linked?: Chung Mong-joon is the Korean Football Association president and co-chairman of the Korea World Cup Organizing Committee. He is also the FIFA vice president who has been agressively attacking the current FIFA president Blatter, the only Asian executive member to join the legal action against the FIFA chief. He wants to run for Korean Presidency in December. When asked about the December Korean presidential race: "The appearance of the Korean national soccer team in the World Cup finals will considerably affect the election." Mong-joon is also one of the three sons of the late founder of Korean powerhouse conglomerate Hyundai Group. Where will conspiracy theorists take this?

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 11:32 AM - 8 comments

Merry King Sepp's low blow. : [nyt reg req] "The refereeing has been the only negative aspect of this World Cup magnificently organized by two countries" Blatter said. Coward. You are supposed to stick up for your men, especially with the semis and finals coming up. This increases the odds of even worse officiating than there has been so far, although that's hard to believe.

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 09:48 AM - 5 comments

Maybe FIFA can stop cheating the players and fans: "How do you choose the referees for such an event? The referees who have been selected have been involved in the top matches in their confederations and their performances have been highly rated over a period." Yet Italy-Korea's star Byron Moreno was suspended last year for six games (in spanish scroll down) by his national federation for disgraceful officiating. PS He's already been shipped back to Quito.

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 10:45 AM - 7 comments

Germany getting computer help: "Sports Analytics has been beaming via satellite daily packages of details on opposing teams and players to Germany coach Rudi Voeller in South Korea and Japan." What other technologies are changing the way this beautiful sport is played.

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 08:12 AM - 1 comment

The NBA's future - in the hands of international scouts: [nyt reg req] "In 1983, eight international players were listed on opening-night N.B.A. rosters. This season, 52 international players from 31 countries played in the N.B.A. ...The recent conference semifinal series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Kings featured eight foreign players.... Of the 10 players named to the N.B.A. all-rookie teams, five were foreign-born, including the Spaniard Pau Gasol, the rookie of the year." Much more interesting.

posted by Voyageman to basketball at 10:31 AM - 4 comments

World Cup meets the Weblog: How many more will pop up.

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 11:23 AM - 5 comments

"I know at times I come across like a Neanderthal or a babbling idiot, but I like that person..I'm Tyson, I'm a tyrannical titan " : [NYT reg req] All will be watching on June 8, and he will be $ 35 million richer. The fascination lives on.

posted by Voyageman to boxing at 09:21 AM - 0 comments

My new home page (for the next 2 months): I'm afraid the Yahoo-FIFA drones will puts me to sleep (if the televised game times don't do the job properly) Anything better out there?

posted by Voyageman to soccer at 03:16 PM - 3 comments