FC Barcelona and Club America Battle to 4-4 Tie

By Robert H. Kelly

Before a record crowd of 70, 550 soccer crazed fans in Houston’s Reliant stadium, FC Barcelona and Club America of Mexico battled to a 4-4 tie.

The international friendly match saw forward Nelson Cuevas score three first half goals to give Club America a 4-1 lead at the half.

The match was dominated by Club America in the first half, with Barcelona managing to find the net only once on a kick by Rafa Marquez in the fifth minute. However the second half was all Barcelona

Club America took the lead early in the third minute as Cuevas found the goal from twelve yards out off an assist from Claudio Lopez.

Cuevas scored his second goal in the 30th minute and his third in the 44th minute.
Barcelona's Oleguer scored an own goal in the 65th minute to give Club America its 4-1 lead.

Forward Javier Saviola stared Barcelona’ comeback in the second half when he took a pass from forward Samuel Eto in the 85th minute to score from 15 yards to take the score to 4-2.

FIFA’s World Player of the Year Ronaldinho sat out the half due to fatigue from the heavy tour schedule. He was the World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

He entered the game in the second half and cut Club America’s lead to 4-3 on a penalty kick in the 89th minute after being knocked down by Jose Antonio Castro.

Eto scored the goal for the tie in the 90th minute to end the game.

The match was preceded by the Los Angeles galaxy beating the Houston Dynamo 1-0 in an MLS match.

Thorpe Win Olympic Decathlon: 94th Anniversary

By Robert H. Kelly

94 years ago today, Jim Thorpe won the Olympic decathlon. With 8,412 points, he breaks the world record by an incredible 998 points. This came eight days after winning the pentathlon.

His closes competition was Hugo Wieslander of Sweden, who scored 7724 points.

When Thorpe is introduced at the awards ceremony there is a great burst of cheers, led by King Gustav V. Besides the gold medals, Thorpe receives a jewel-encrusted chalice in the form of a Viking ship (a gift from Czar Nicholas of Russia) for winning the decathlon and a life-size bronze bust of the Swedish king for capturing the pentathlon. In congratulating Thorpe, Gustav tells him, "Sir, you are the greatest athlete in the world."

Thorpe reputedly replies, "Thanks, king."

He was later stripped by the International Olympic Committee of his gold medals for professionalism. They were eventually restored to his family in 1983, thirty years after his death.

In this writerÂ’s humble opinion, Jim Thorpe was the greatest athlete of all time.
Below is a partial list of his achievements

* College Football Hall of Fame - 1951

* Charter Enshrinee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame - 1963

* All-America - 1911, 1912

* Olympic Decathlon and Pentathlon Champion - 1912

* AP Most Outstanding Athlete of the First Half of the 20th Century - 1950

* "America's Greatest Football Player of the half-century" - 1950

* ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Century - 2001

* Track and Field Hall of Fame

* In 1950, the nation's press selected Jim Thorpe as the most outstanding athlete of
the first half of the 20th Century

* From 1996-2001, he was continuously awarded ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of
the Century award

No other athlete in history can come close to these and his other achievements.

On one my numerous trips around the county to various sporting events, I had the opportunity many years ago to see his gold medals in the state capital in Oklahoma City. They were displayed in a case in the capital rotunda along with the classic painting of Thorpe in this 1912 Olympic uniform.

This was a major event in my life, as I grew up hearing about Thorpe from my father. I was fortunate to have my wife and young daughter with me.
The man is still inspiring athletes son many years after his great accomplishments and eventual death.

Say what you want about Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Carl Lewis and all the rest. Yes, they are indeed great athletes, but none of them compare to Jim Thorpe.

He is indeed the GREATEST ATHLETE OF ALL TIME.

We should all take the time to think about this great athlete on the anniversary of his greatest Olympic achievement.

Arena Out At USA Mens Soccer Head Coach

By Robert H. Kelly

In a copywrited article from the Houston Chronicle, USA Soccer men’s head coach Bruce Arena’s contact will not be renewed by the U.S. Soccer Federation at the end of the year.

Arena, who has been the most successful coach in USA Soccer history, began the job in 1998, coached the men’s team to 71 victories and a quarterfinal appearance at the 2002 World Cup.

Now, three weeks after the Americans' disappointing first-round exit from the World Cup in Germany, Arena is out despite an apparent wish to return to the team.

Everyone knows the drill. If the team wins, it is the players. If the team loses, it is the coach.

I watched all the USA games in this year’s World Cup and it was obvious to me it wasn’t Arena’s fault they lost.

These guys played like they were out there for themselves and couldn’t have cared less about team goals.

I am sure they wanted to win, but they didn’t have the fire and enthusiasm of past teams. It was eleven guys playing as eleven, instead of eleven guys playing as one.
So USA Soccer personnel will find some big name coach from Europe, give him the reins of the program and say “Gitty-Up.”

Don’t be surprised if we don’t see Team USA any better in four years.
In fact, we could possibly be worse off.

I say “Good Bye to Bruce Arena. You did a GREAT JOB with what you had to work with. You will be sorely missed.”

USA Crushes Great Britain in World Cup of Softball Opener

From USA Softball Press Release
July 14, 2006

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK) USA Softball sent a message in its opener at the World Cup of Softball presented by Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes with an impressive 14-0 shutout victory over Great Britain. After suffering a 2-1 loss to Canada in its opener at the 2005 World Cup, the U.S. was determined to not have it happen again. The team totaled16 hits in just five innings as the game was shortened to five innings due to the international run rule.

Team USA put up two runs in the first inning off a two-run homerun by Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) that scored Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.). The Great Britain defense kept the United States off the board in the second, allowing three hits but stranding three on base.

Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.) started in the circle going three innings, allowing no hits and striking out six batters. The bats of the red, white and blue came out strong in the third inning with the US posting five hits for six runs, hitting through the entire lineup. Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) hit her first triple of the year scoring Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) who singled to right field. With two outs, Mendoza again launched a ball over the fence, her third of the season, for two RBI. This is the first time in her career with the National team that she hit two homeruns in a game.

Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif.) came in to pitch the fourth inning, striking out one batter. The team again scored six runs in the fourth off five hits. With two runners on Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.), in her first International appearance with Team USA, soared a homerun ball over left field for a three-run homerun. Mendoza singled again for an RBI, finishing the game 3-4 with five RBI and two runs.

Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.) wrapped up the game for the U.S. throwing the fifth inning with three strikeouts to close out the game in five due to the run rule ahead.

Team USA will take on Canada tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. (CT) to open up session II.

Astros Fire Gaetti as Hitting Coach

By Chris Price

The Houston Astros fired hitting coach Gary Gaetti on Wednesday and named Sean Berry interim hitting coach.

The Astros entered this season with three regulars, Brad Ausmus, Adam Everett and Willy Taveras, among the bottom of hitters in Major League Baseball at their positions.

In addition, veterans Craig Biggio and Preston Wilson were sure to produce below their career norms

It's hard to see what Gaetti could have done these cases. Maybe he deserves some blame for Jason Lane's decline, but if that's the case, he definitely deserves credit for how Chris Burke and Mike Lamb have progressed this season.

More than anything else, it might have been Morgan Ensberg's injury problems that cost him his job.

Berry had his one big year in the majors as an Astro in 1996. The 40-year-old was in his second year in the role of minor league hitting coordinator for the club.

Astros Acquire Aubrey Huff From Tampa

By Robert H. Kelly

The Astros, in an attempt to boost their record for the second half of the season, acquired outfielder Aubrey Huff from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Huff, who played his high school ball at Vernon (Ft. Worth) High School and college ball at Vernon College in north Texas and the University of Miami is excited about coming home to play in Texas.

"I'll tell you," Huff said, "I'm very, very excited about Houston. There was a rumor last year about Houston, and I was excited to hear the rumor about it."

Trade rumors had been swirling around Huff for the past couple of seasons. Several clubs reportedly showed interest in him over the last few weeks as well, including the Tigers.

“It's like I've been dangling in front of teams the last three years," he said.
The question is where manager Phil Garner will decide to play him.

"I don't really know what the situation is with who they've got playing well and what have you," said Huff. "I've been playing third base here in Tampa, and this is the first year I've felt really comfortable playing third. I played right field, too, and I really enjoyed playing there."

First base is also an option.

"Whatever it takes to get the best possible lineup on the field is what I'll do," Huff said.

With the Astros clearing looking for anything that will raise them to the level that carried them to the World Series last season, Huff’s addition may be the added punch they need.

Bonds To Face Indictment

By Chris Price

In a copyrighted article from the New York Daily News, Major League Baseball has indicated that San Francisco Giants baseball player Barry Bonds will face indictment for perjury and tax evasion.

As I have stated in earlier posts, Bonds indeed will called to task for his actions (or lack of action).

Keep alert for further news on this story. TexSport Publications will be here to update the facts and give our own unique perspective on the issue.

Century 21 Home Run Derby

By Robert H. Kelly

Philadelphia Philles’ Ryan Howard wins the Century 21 Home Run Derby at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. He hit 23 home runs, defeating David Wright of the New York Mets by one run.

The Houston Astros’ Lane Berkman hit three home runs in the first round, but was eliminated.

At least it was good to see an Astro in the Derby.

On a personal note: Being born in Pittsburgh and growing up a diehard Pirate fan, it is good to see the All Star Game in Pittsburgh. I remember going to Three Rivers Stadium and seeing the Pirates play. I never got to go to Forbes Field, but I do remember seeing it on TV. In fact, my grandmother lived about three blocks from Three Rivers Stadium, in the same block as the Rooney family (of Steelers’ fame).

PNC Park looks great for the All Star Game, but I cannot be sad thinking about the parks of old. Oh well, progress marches on.

The final results of the Home Run Derby are listed below.

Click here for the final results.

USA Italy Battle to 1-1 Draw

By Robert H. Kelly

Feeling the possibly of an early exit and an end to their World Cup 2006 experience, the United States needed to step and play the type of soccer that would show the world they deserved to be here.

Facing an Italian that had far more tradition in the World Cup, the Americans stepped up to the plate, put the ball in the goal, and showed what good old American determination can do.

The Americans put themselves into a possible advancement to the next round with a 1-1 draw with Italy on Saturday. However, nothing has been determined, as all four teams in Group E still have a chance to advance to the second round.

The Italians head the way with four points (1-0-1), followed by the Czechs (1-1-0) and Ghana (1-1-0) with three points each and the United States ((0-1-1) with one point.

After Monday’s debacle, this writer felt the USA had already punched its ticket for an early return home. The one thing I had forgotten was that athletes rarely listen to sports writers and sports writers don’t determine the outcome of games, no matter how much we think we know.

Italy’s Alberto Gilardino, who scored in the 20th minute, voiced praise for the Americans after the match. “We came up against a strong and determined team,” he was quoted in saying.

The United States ties the match with a Cristian Zaccardo own-goal in the 27th minute.

The match was plagued by three red cards, with two of those coming in a span for five minutes."Two red cards in a span of five minutes is pretty hard. There's no way you prepare a team to play 10-on-9 for 45 minutes in a World Cup against a team like the Italians," said USA Head Coach Bruce Arena.

The Americans next take the field on Thursday against Ghana in their final match of the first round of World Cup 2006. They can still advance to the second round with a defeat of Ghana and with a Czech Republic victory over Italy.

New Jersey To Test HS Athletes For Steriods

By Chris Price

New Jersey becomes the first state in the country to begin statewide testing high school athletes for performance enhancing drugs.

On the National School Boards Association website, the specifics of the programs were detailed. They are listed below.

Sluggers on steriods? Joggers on juice? Placekickers on performance enhancers? While this might sound like a likely roster of Congressional testifiers on the topic of steroids, it's actually the latest group to come under scrutiny in high schools. On Wednesday, New Jersey became the first state to introduce a statewide steroid-testing policy for high school athletes.

An article in USA Today reports that according to the "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 6% of U.S. high school students, or about 300,000, took steroids in 2003 without a doctor's prescription." In accordance with New Jersey's plan, student athletes testing positive for steroids will be punished with a one-year loss of eligibility.

The state expects to test about 500 athletes, with the state and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association putting $50,000 toward the cost of the tests. Sixty percent of the tests will be performed on those participating in football, wrestling, track and field, swimming, lacrosse, and baseball, because NCAA data indicates that athletes in those sports are the most susceptible to steroid abuse.

California is also considering testing for athletes, but cites funding as an obstacle. Hawaii cites cost as a "red flag" in addition to the "legal ramifications" of testing.

How widespread steroid usage is in New Jersey is unknown. Obviously it must be a problem, so they won’t take this action.

Be ready to see a frequent lawsuits if tests start coming back positive. After all, Barry Bonds lawyered up when his problems started, so while shouldn’t future little Barrys.

I would love to see that happen her in Texas, but the cost would be so prohibitive that iy would be like stopping steroid use in Major League Baseball.

World Cup 2006 Preview: USA -vs- Italy

By Robert H. Kelly

If the USA is going to have any chance against three time world champions Italy and eventually advance to the second round of the FIFA World Cup, they are going to have to execute their game plan better than they did in their 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic on June 12.

The USA looked unorganized and as if they lacked confidence, which combined with the uninspired play of much of their talent, allowed the three Czech goals to go unanswered.

USA head coach Bruce Arena was critical of some of his stars, and stated "If we come out and play as bad against Italy as we did against the Czechs, we're going to lose. It's just that simple."

The USA managed only six shots on goal as opposed to ten by the Check Republic. No matter how well you think you played, a team cannot win a game with a shooting percentage of .000.

Indeed the Americans need to get their minds in the game and play the way they did so many years ago, when they advanced to the quarterfinals and played Germany to a 1-0 loss in 2002

I do not know if they USA can recover from the uninspired play earlier in the week. If I had to bet the rent money, I would put it on Italy, with a 3-0 win.

That decision is being made with my head. If I decided with my heart, I cannot say I wouldn’t still pick Italy. I think the Italians are simply a much better team.

HE Even Cheats At Golf!!!

By Robert H. Kelly

I knew he was despicable. I knew he couldn't be trusted. He cheated on his wife and lied about it. If he couldn't keep the most sacred vow that he ever took, how can he be expected to honor any other promises he made.

There are many things that bother me about Clinton, but to cheat when playing with Tiger Woods.

WOW!!! What a loser!!!

I don't know if the story is true or just a story told to a group of people to get a laugh.

But it doesn't matter. I believe it.

This guy has NO MORALS and NO CONSCIOUS!

Just something to think about.

A Different View on Bonds "Overtaking" Ruth

This is a very nice article about a former teammate of Babe Ruth, and his views on Bonds passing "The Bambino" on the home run list.

It brings some very interesting points to the forefront of the story.

It is GOOD READING! Check it out!

Bonds Days Are Numbered

By Robert H. Kelly

FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal states in a copywrited article that

It's finally over — Barry Bonds has passed Babe Ruth. Now comes the big question, the better question, the question that gives commissioner Bud Selig insomnia.

I make a prediction here:

Bonds will not play next season. He will hang it up sometime after the World Series.

After all, he will have nobody to blame his problems on. If he tried to break Hank Aaron's record, then he can't play the race card.

I say, "Goodbye to bad trash!"

But I know the IRS and the Feds will still be looking into him, and if justice is indeed poetic, they WILL eventually get him.

Just some food for thought!

UT's Ramonce Taylor Arrested For Drug Posssion

By Chris Price

University of Texas running back Ramonce Taylor was arrested early Sunday after Bell County sheriff's deputies found marijuana in a backpack in the rear of his vehicle.

Is this another case of a star athlete gone bad?

Is this another case of a school turning a blind eye to a problem?

Is this another case of an athlete perhaps getting special privileges because he is an athlete?

I sure hope not, but only time will tell where this story goes.

Does anyone want to make a bet of what the coaching staff in Austin will say about this young man?

Remember how they came to defense of Vince Young when it was reported he made a low score on his Wonderlik test?

Only time will tell? Let's wait and see what happens.

Grand Jury Convened To Look At Barry Bonds

By Robert H. Kelly

A federal grand jury is considering whether to indict San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds for perjury as a result of the testimony he gave to another grand jury over one year ago.

Bonds' playing days may be quickly coming to an end. It has been stated previously on this web site that if the federal government gets an interest in you, that interest does not go away.

Look at the attitude he has taken his whole life: "I am great." "I can do whatever I want." "I am a PLAYER and no one can mess with me."

Well, he is being messed with, and all his big talk and cool vibrato isn't going to help him one bit. If he lied to the grand jury 16 months ago, he is nailed!

As a good friend always says: "It isn't over until the fat lady sings." However, it appears that the fat lady is definitely getting close to the end of her song.

NEWS FLASH: DNA Tests Prove Duke Players Innocent Of Rape

DNA test results released today indicated that not one member of the Duke University's lacrosse team committed rape against an exotic dancer who was in performing at a team party.

The woman, who is a North Carolina Central University student, told police that she was performing as an exotic dancer at a March 13 party attended by lacrosse team members when she was pulled into a bathroom, beaten and raped by three men.

Time will tell how this will play out, but you can bet that these young men's college life has been disrupted, perhaps beyond repair.

Civil suits against the young woman might send the message not to make false charges against people. Perhaps the district attorney should consider charges against the woman for making a false report.

Did things possibly get out of hand at the party? Probably. But accusing three young men of rape went way over the line.

Perhaps Duke University needs to take a more active roll in what it's athletes are doing on their spare time. After all, incidents like this will hurt the university, the athletes, and many others, no matter whether they are true or not.

Two Suggestions To Deal With The Barry Bonds "Issue"

By Robert H. Kelly

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth as Major League Baseball’s All Time Home Run Leader. He did it without the aid of the latest scientific and chemical breakthroughs and developments know to mankind.

If Bonds does surpass Aaron and Ruth, there should be a BIG asterisk placed in the record book. I would be very surprised if that is allowed to happen. After all, Roger Maris’ asterisk was still a legitimate record.

I have two solutions to the Bonds controversy. I doubt, however, either would ever be seriously considered.

1. The commissioner has a meeting with Bonds. He is asked to quietly retire and no
further inquiries into his use of steroids by MLB would be done. His current
totals would stand, but he would be denied the All Time Home Run Leader. If he
refused, then all evidence that MLB has will be turned over the courts and MLB
would cooperate fully with any investigation. He would also be suspended until
the investigation is over.

2. Have every pitcher in MLB pitch around him. Walk him on every bat. He would NEVER
get a hittable ball pitched to him.

Now I know Bonds, his lawyers, the San Francisco Giants organization, the Players’ Union, and others in MLB would complain and raise so much of a ruckus that the sports pages would be filled for months with exclusive coverage of the matter.

At that point, every piece of information and data would be presented to the public. Tie him up in so much controversy that he couldn’t hold up under the pressure.

These two solutions would never be seriously considered. After all, he has rights, as we all do. But that is what I would do if I have any decision making power in the situation.

If they did occur, Bonds would state that everyone was out to get him. He would declare everyone who was against him as racist, and that no one wants a black man to succeed. The funny thing is that the record he is trying to break is held by a black man, and he is even wavering on whether Bonds record assault is legitimate.

Over the next weeks and months, watch Bonds stats and see what happens. If he indeed does hit fewer home runs and get more walks, you can be sure he will speak out that he is the target of racists he is being treated unfairly, and nothing has been proven dealing with his alleged steroid use.

After all, wasn’t he quoted making racists statements in the book “Game of Shadows”?

So I guess he is correct in stating racism is involved it this controversy. The sad thing is, HIS racism is what perhaps caused the problem in the first place, along with that “green monster” called jealousy.

Jesse Jackson Gets Involved In Bonds’ Controversy

By Chris Price

The Rev. Jesse Jackson says Major League Baseball and San Diego police failed to protect Barry Bonds after a fan threw a syringe near the San Francisco slugger as he came off the field after the eighth inning Monday night in San Diego. The object did not appear to have a needle, and Bonds called it a syringe.

Jackson was quoted in saying,

That fan should have been arrested. That object could have had a needle in it. It could have hit him. The commissioner of baseball must be outspoken in protecting any players whose lives are in jeopardy, whose security is at risk.

San Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy Alderson had a different description of the object.

The object in reality appeared to be of the size of something you would use to baste a turkey and not a syringe per se.

Jackson was quoted further,

For some people, it's about suspicion of drug use because they have no proof. For others, it's a cover for other anger that they have. For example, the closer Hank Aaron got to Babe Ruth's record, the more violence and hate mail he received. You cannot let this thing build to the point of irreversible danger.

It was just a matter of time before the Reverend Jackson became involved in the Bonds controversy.

As usual, he takes advantage of a situation to promote his own agenda. I guess he figures it is good for his own image to support Bonds and can us it to further his own causes.

I just wonder why he wasn’t standing in support of Representative Cynthia McKinney.

Steroids ARE Against The Rules In Major League Baseball

By Robert H. Kelly

It seems steroids are against the rules of Major League Baseball.

In a story by Richard Justice in the Houston Chronicle, it is stated and evidence shown that illegal drugs (which include steroids) are against the rules and policies of Major League Baseball.

A memo to all clubs, in 1991 from then commissioner Fay Vincent, states that fact.

It may be the end of Bonds' career is nearer than anyone previously thought.