Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) was set up in 1993 when the now megarich club was in financial difficulties and the fan group acquired the freehold of the pitch to protect Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's home for 106 years, from developers.
"At today's general meeting of Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), 61.6 per cent of votes cast on Chelsea Football Club's proposals to buy the freehold land on which the Stamford Bridge stadium sits were for the proposal," a club statement said.
"However as 75 per cent of votes were needed, the proposals fail to pass. Chelsea FC is naturally disappointed with the result."
The club, who have not ruled out trying to extend Stamford Bridge, feel the stadium's capacity of 42,000 puts Chelsea at a financial disadvantage compared with rivals such as Manchester United (76,000) and Arsenal (60,000).
Chelsea said matchday revenue at Arsenal more than doubled when the club moved to the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium in north London from nearby Highbury (38,000).
Some Chelsea fans are concerned Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who bought the club in 2003, wants to build a new stadium well away from south west London, and fear selling back the freehold would remove an important safety net for the club.
The club have said they have no wish to break the link with "Chelsea's ancestral home" and any new 60,000 arena would not be further than three miles (five kms) from Stamford Bridge.
"While we will remain as ambitious as ever, this decision could slow down our progress. Despite the vote, the facts remain that the current structure could hinder the club," the statement added.
Ken Bates, the man who sold Chelsea to Abramovich, said before the vote that the attempt to buy the ground's freehold was a "land grab" of prime real estate.
"If he (Abramovich) wants to build a new stadium it will cost between 500 and 600 million pounds. He could do it out of his own back pocket. He does not need the freehold," Bates, now the chairman of Leeds United, told the Daily Mail newspaper.
Chelsea have won the Premier League three times and the FA Cup three times since Abramovich took over, as well as reaching the 2008 Champions League final.
2011年10月29日星期六
Jennings told a Senate committee
Jennings said Brazil should take responsibility for the preparations away from senior FIFA officials, including Ricardo Teixeira, head of Brazil's football confederation and the nation's front man for World Cup preparations. He says Teixeira may have amassed $9.5 million in bribes from now-defunct FIFA marketing firm ISL.
"It is in the best interests of your country to get these people out and appoint honest bureaucrats and clean people to run the World Cup," he said.
Jennings featured in an investigative report by BBC's Panorama programme that accused Teixeira and former FIFA president Joao Havelange of taking millions of dollars in bribes from ISL to retain the company as FIFA's sole official marketer.
He says Havelange, who is Brazilian, may have amassed $50 million or more in bribes through a facade company called Sicuretta.
Jennings also says he has evidence that it was Teixeira and Havelange who ended a Swiss legal investigation into the case by paying 2.5 million Swiss francs ($2.9 million) to charity and confessing in writing to taking bribes.
Teixeira, who is facing a Brazilian federal police investigation related to the case, has denied the allegations. The BBC said that Havelange did not respond to its request for a comment.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced a long-awaited anti-corruption plan last Friday that included a pledge to re-open the case into ISL's collapse.
"It is in the best interests of your country to get these people out and appoint honest bureaucrats and clean people to run the World Cup," he said.
Jennings featured in an investigative report by BBC's Panorama programme that accused Teixeira and former FIFA president Joao Havelange of taking millions of dollars in bribes from ISL to retain the company as FIFA's sole official marketer.
He says Havelange, who is Brazilian, may have amassed $50 million or more in bribes through a facade company called Sicuretta.
Jennings also says he has evidence that it was Teixeira and Havelange who ended a Swiss legal investigation into the case by paying 2.5 million Swiss francs ($2.9 million) to charity and confessing in writing to taking bribes.
Teixeira, who is facing a Brazilian federal police investigation related to the case, has denied the allegations. The BBC said that Havelange did not respond to its request for a comment.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced a long-awaited anti-corruption plan last Friday that included a pledge to re-open the case into ISL's collapse.
2011年10月27日星期四
chairman and editor-in-chief of the publication
Golf Digest never disclosed terms of the deal, although it was believed to be among the smallest financially for Woods - no more than $2 million a year. The value came from exposure, along with some content provided for Woods' website.
"The reality is his deal was up at the end of the year," said Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG. "Because we're living in this digital world, they needed more time from him. He wasn't ready to commit to any additional time at this point with everything going on - trying to work on his swing and other things."
The announcement comes two weeks after Gillette said it would not renew its contract, which expired at the end of 2010. That brings to five the number of endorsements Woods has lost since he was caught in extramarital affairs. The other three are Accenture, AT&T and Gatorade.
Golf Digest put his column on hold last February while Woods took time off to sort out his personal life, resuming the column in September.
Woods' last column will be in the February issue, an indication that both sides had been negotiating a new deal.
Other playing editors at Golf Digest include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.
"I enjoyed my relationship with Golf Digest," Woods said in a statement released by the magazine." But we have decided it's now time for a break. I wish my friends at Golf Digest continued success."
"The reality is his deal was up at the end of the year," said Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG. "Because we're living in this digital world, they needed more time from him. He wasn't ready to commit to any additional time at this point with everything going on - trying to work on his swing and other things."
The announcement comes two weeks after Gillette said it would not renew its contract, which expired at the end of 2010. That brings to five the number of endorsements Woods has lost since he was caught in extramarital affairs. The other three are Accenture, AT&T and Gatorade.
Golf Digest put his column on hold last February while Woods took time off to sort out his personal life, resuming the column in September.
Woods' last column will be in the February issue, an indication that both sides had been negotiating a new deal.
Other playing editors at Golf Digest include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.
"I enjoyed my relationship with Golf Digest," Woods said in a statement released by the magazine." But we have decided it's now time for a break. I wish my friends at Golf Digest continued success."
So I was in two minds whether
Woods also played an important behind-the-scenes role for Atwal before the Indian clinched his maiden victory on the PGA Tour at last year's Wyndham Championship.
"We practise so much together and Tiger tries to support me in any way he can," Atwal said during this week's Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort.
"In fact, he even told me to go out and play in the Monday qualifier for the Wyndham Championship. I had my European Tour card as well and it was my last year being fully exempt there.
"So I was in two minds whether to go and play there or at the Wyndham. And Tiger was like: 'Just go ahead and play in Monday qualifying and you will be fine'. And that's exactly what I did."
Atwal sank a pressure-packed seven-foot par putt on the final hole to beat American David Toms by one shot and become the first Monday qualifier to win on the PGA Tour since 1986.
He also became the first Indian and sixth Asian-born player to triumph on the US circuit, a breakthrough that booked his place in the field for this week's winners-only Tournament of Champions.
"That was huge for me, especially because two weeks before that I had just lost my (PGA Tour) card and my conditional status with the medical (exemption)," said Atwal.
The previous season, he had been sidelined for four months by a lingering shoulder injury.
"The thing was I had played pretty well all last year so I felt like I had the game to win," said Atwal, who became the first Indian to win on the European Tour at the 2002 Singapore Masters.
"It was just a matter of getting a few more starts and I had only nine starts before the Wyndham.
"So it was a lot of pressure but once that ended, when I got into the Wyndham, it didn't matter. I really had nothing to lose. I just went ahead and let it go."
Asked how much his Wyndham breakthrough had changed his goals on the PGA Tour, Atwal said: "It's given me more confidence. My goals have always been the same. It just took me a while to win here.
"I came pretty close to winning on the PGA Tour in '05 and '06. It just didn't go through. But it has definitely given me more confidence for when I am in the same position next time."
Something else which will not change will be his regular practice rounds with Woods in Florida where he will continue to seek advice from the former world No 1.
"Physically, I can't really compare myself to Tiger," said Atwal, who took up golf at the age of 14 in Calcutta. "He's in a different league.
"But on the mental side, he's shown me a lot of stuff that he does in preparation ... and how to compose yourself when you are under the gun, not being afraid of trying to pull shots off when you're out there under pressure."
"We practise so much together and Tiger tries to support me in any way he can," Atwal said during this week's Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort.
"In fact, he even told me to go out and play in the Monday qualifier for the Wyndham Championship. I had my European Tour card as well and it was my last year being fully exempt there.
"So I was in two minds whether to go and play there or at the Wyndham. And Tiger was like: 'Just go ahead and play in Monday qualifying and you will be fine'. And that's exactly what I did."
Atwal sank a pressure-packed seven-foot par putt on the final hole to beat American David Toms by one shot and become the first Monday qualifier to win on the PGA Tour since 1986.
He also became the first Indian and sixth Asian-born player to triumph on the US circuit, a breakthrough that booked his place in the field for this week's winners-only Tournament of Champions.
"That was huge for me, especially because two weeks before that I had just lost my (PGA Tour) card and my conditional status with the medical (exemption)," said Atwal.
The previous season, he had been sidelined for four months by a lingering shoulder injury.
"The thing was I had played pretty well all last year so I felt like I had the game to win," said Atwal, who became the first Indian to win on the European Tour at the 2002 Singapore Masters.
"It was just a matter of getting a few more starts and I had only nine starts before the Wyndham.
"So it was a lot of pressure but once that ended, when I got into the Wyndham, it didn't matter. I really had nothing to lose. I just went ahead and let it go."
Asked how much his Wyndham breakthrough had changed his goals on the PGA Tour, Atwal said: "It's given me more confidence. My goals have always been the same. It just took me a while to win here.
"I came pretty close to winning on the PGA Tour in '05 and '06. It just didn't go through. But it has definitely given me more confidence for when I am in the same position next time."
Something else which will not change will be his regular practice rounds with Woods in Florida where he will continue to seek advice from the former world No 1.
"Physically, I can't really compare myself to Tiger," said Atwal, who took up golf at the age of 14 in Calcutta. "He's in a different league.
"But on the mental side, he's shown me a lot of stuff that he does in preparation ... and how to compose yourself when you are under the gun, not being afraid of trying to pull shots off when you're out there under pressure."
2011年10月25日星期二
Association season which starts in November
NBA star Yi Jianlian would play for Guangdong Hongyuan in the upcoming Chinese Basketball Association season which starts in November, the defending CBA champions confirmed on Saturday night.
"Yi has signed a one-season contract with Hongyuan with an option to leave once he accepts an invitation from NBA teams," Guangdong Hongyuan's team manager Liu Hongjiang told Xinhua.
The current NBA lockout approached its 100th day Saturday, having forced a handful of super stars including Andrei Kirilenko and Tony Parker to seek playing opportunities in Europe and Asia. Last month, Denver's Kenyon Martin joined CBA runner-up Xinjiang Guanghui.
Guangdong Hongyuan has won seven CBA titles in the recent eight seasons, and Yi was instrumental in that between 2004 and 2006.
"Although he may not stay with us very long, I am quite sure his return is good for himself, the team and Chinese fans as well, " Liu said.
"He could keep his edge in CBA, our team will also benefit from his skills and fans certainly want to see him play at his best years."
Yi was impressive at last month's Asian championship and many expect him to land a new offer once the NBA labor dispute settle down.
Liu said that Yi was not indispensable. "Otherwise we would not agree with the jump-out clause in the contract," he said.
Yi was chosen by the Bucks at the sixth pick in the NBA draft in 2007. He played for the New Jersey Nets in 2008 and the Washington Wizards in 2010.
http://iedhardy.net/
"Yi has signed a one-season contract with Hongyuan with an option to leave once he accepts an invitation from NBA teams," Guangdong Hongyuan's team manager Liu Hongjiang told Xinhua.
The current NBA lockout approached its 100th day Saturday, having forced a handful of super stars including Andrei Kirilenko and Tony Parker to seek playing opportunities in Europe and Asia. Last month, Denver's Kenyon Martin joined CBA runner-up Xinjiang Guanghui.
Guangdong Hongyuan has won seven CBA titles in the recent eight seasons, and Yi was instrumental in that between 2004 and 2006.
"Although he may not stay with us very long, I am quite sure his return is good for himself, the team and Chinese fans as well, " Liu said.
"He could keep his edge in CBA, our team will also benefit from his skills and fans certainly want to see him play at his best years."
Yi was impressive at last month's Asian championship and many expect him to land a new offer once the NBA labor dispute settle down.
Liu said that Yi was not indispensable. "Otherwise we would not agree with the jump-out clause in the contract," he said.
Yi was chosen by the Bucks at the sixth pick in the NBA draft in 2007. He played for the New Jersey Nets in 2008 and the Washington Wizards in 2010.
http://iedhardy.net/
the team's official website reported
Al Davis, the outspoken Hall of Fame owner of the National Football League's Oakland Raiders, died on Saturday at the age of 82, the team's official website reported.
The Raiders gave no details of the death of one of the leading personalities in the NFL but said a statement would be made later on Saturday on the site (http://www.raiders.com/).
Davis was hired as coach and general manager of the Raiders at the age of 33 and later became principal owner.
The Raiders won three Super Bowls and had 28 winning seasons, including 16 in a row from 1965-1980, during his 48 years with the team.
Davis was also commissioner of the American Football League (AFL) in 1966 and was viewed as a driving force in its merger with the NFL that created the modern competition.
"Al Davis's passion for football and his influence on the game were extraordinary," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement.
"He defined the Raiders and contributed to pro football at every level. The respect he commanded was evident in the way people listened carefully every time he spoke.
"He is a true legend of the game whose impact and legacy will forever be part of the NFL," Goodell said.
Davis could also be defiant. After a lengthy court battle, he took the Raiders away from Oakland to Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994 before returning the franchise to its original home.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Although his team have struggled in recent years, Davis led one of the most successful franchises in sports during the 1960s and '70s.
Like their iron-fisted boss, the Raiders were the tough guys of the NFL in their silver and black uniforms.
"I judge sports figures based on individual achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game," Davis told reporters when George Steinbrenner, owner of baseball's New York Yankees, died in 2010.
"George was right up there with me at No. 1 -- bright, aggressive and, most of all, not afraid."
The trailblazing Davis was the first NFL owner in the modern era to hire a black head coach, Art Shell in 1988, the first to name an Hispanic head coach, Tom Flores in 1979, and the first to name a woman as chief executive, Amy Trask.
"What a tremendous person, tremendous man," current coach Hue Jackson told reporters in Houston where the Raiders play on Sunday. "I owe him so much. This league owes him so much. He's a legend and an icon."
http://eccoecco.com/
The Raiders gave no details of the death of one of the leading personalities in the NFL but said a statement would be made later on Saturday on the site (http://www.raiders.com/).
Davis was hired as coach and general manager of the Raiders at the age of 33 and later became principal owner.
The Raiders won three Super Bowls and had 28 winning seasons, including 16 in a row from 1965-1980, during his 48 years with the team.
Davis was also commissioner of the American Football League (AFL) in 1966 and was viewed as a driving force in its merger with the NFL that created the modern competition.
"Al Davis's passion for football and his influence on the game were extraordinary," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement.
"He defined the Raiders and contributed to pro football at every level. The respect he commanded was evident in the way people listened carefully every time he spoke.
"He is a true legend of the game whose impact and legacy will forever be part of the NFL," Goodell said.
Davis could also be defiant. After a lengthy court battle, he took the Raiders away from Oakland to Los Angeles from 1982 to 1994 before returning the franchise to its original home.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
Although his team have struggled in recent years, Davis led one of the most successful franchises in sports during the 1960s and '70s.
Like their iron-fisted boss, the Raiders were the tough guys of the NFL in their silver and black uniforms.
"I judge sports figures based on individual achievement, team achievement and contributions to the game," Davis told reporters when George Steinbrenner, owner of baseball's New York Yankees, died in 2010.
"George was right up there with me at No. 1 -- bright, aggressive and, most of all, not afraid."
The trailblazing Davis was the first NFL owner in the modern era to hire a black head coach, Art Shell in 1988, the first to name an Hispanic head coach, Tom Flores in 1979, and the first to name a woman as chief executive, Amy Trask.
"What a tremendous person, tremendous man," current coach Hue Jackson told reporters in Houston where the Raiders play on Sunday. "I owe him so much. This league owes him so much. He's a legend and an icon."
http://eccoecco.com/
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