game blogs,game weblog,game new

Hoffenheim boss Dietmar Hopp has forked out 7 million euros to seal the transfer of Croatian national Josip Simunic, captain of Herta Berlin, to his village club, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Simunic’s contract with Hoffenheim runs until 2012 and the 31-year-old defender will earn 3 million euros for each year.

“Joe will play a central role, giving our team further stability and passing on his many years of experience. I am certain that our young players will profit a lot from him, both on the pitch and off,” said Hoffenheim head coach Jan Schindelmeiser.

The Canberra, Australia-born Croatian international is rich in Bundesliga experience. Simunic is well known for his leading abilities as well as for his defensive actions. The central defender has featured in 230 Bundesliga games for Hamburg SV and Hertha BSC, scoring three goals in the process.

“I have played in Berlin for ten years. This time has been intense, and I will remember it fondly,” said Simunic at the signing of his contract.

“In Hoffenheim, I see a young, modern club with big ambitions and I am very glad to be able to pass on my experience to this young team with so much potential,” he added.

Simunic will arrive at Hoffenheim on Monday.

Brazil on Sunday became the outright record winners of the FIFA Confederations Cup by sinking North American champions the United States 3-2 here.

It was the third time for A Selecao to gain the trophy after its victory in 1997 and 2005. That enabled Brazil to surpass the record of two Confederations Cup champion titles shared by France and itself.

For the United States, it was also a historic mark as it was the first time for the country to sail into a world final.

With the passion of over 50,000 spectators, the Yanks’ cohesive attacking style proved that it was not a coincidence that they can make the breakthrough in the intercontinental tournament.

As Brazil was still mulling over the attacking strategies patiently, Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey received the cross from defender Jonathan Spector on the right wing and made the ball sliding into the far left corner of the net in the 10th minute, notching the opener for the Stars and Stripes.

The goal spurred A Selecao to unleash attack waves, but that only led to less coordination among the players in crossing. U.S. forward Landon Donavon kicked off a swift counter-attack in the 27th minute to double his side’s lead.

Brazil seemed to enlighten itself in the second half and unrelentingly mounted pressure on the U.S. side. With just one minute after the break, Luis Fabiano received the pass from Maicon and fired past U.S. goal keeper Tim Howard, boosting the morale of A Selecao to a great extent
The equalizer came in 74th minute as Kaka slided the ball across to Machester City forward Robinho. Sevilla FC striker Luis Fabiano slot the ball home finally after Robinho’s shot hit the crossbar and bounded back.

With six minutes left, centre-back Lucio’s header from Elano’s corner before the net sealed a perfect end to the Brazilian’s rush to the trophy.

Among the three teams which enjoyed higher FIFA world rankings in the Confederations Cup, only Brazil with the lowest ranking survived into the final.

The sea of Brazilian national flags waved by soccer fans in the Elis Park Stadium testified the zeal and tradition of football deeply ingrained in the life an culture of the South American country. A Selecao has won an unprecedented five FIFA World Cups.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley told the press conference after the match that he was disappointed about the result, considering it as a difficulty loss. He said the Stars and Stripes had also accumulated precious experience against great teams.

“Brazil has done a great job. The United States gained confidence through the match. We know now that we are also able to go against best teams,” said Bradley.

The United States should aim to have manufacturing jobs make up at least 20 percent of total employment, about twice what the current level, General Electric Co Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt said last Friday.

Speaking to the Economic Club of Detroit, Immelt outlined what he called an American industrial renewal driven by an emphasis on manufacturing and exports, investment in new technology and research and development, innovations in clean energy and affordable health care.

The US has faltered as it has moved toward a service and consumption-based economy, Immelt said.

He singled out financial services, which he said comprise 45 percent of earnings of companies on the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, up from 10 percent a quarter-century earlier.

American manufacturing can be reinvigorated through investment in research and development, infrastructure and training, and by fostering public-private partnerships, Immelt said.

There is nothing “predestined or inevitable about the industrial decline of the US, if we as a people are prepared to reverse it,” he said.

“We would do much better to observe the example of China. They’ve been growing fast because they invest in technology and they make things. They have no intention of letting up in manufacturing in order to evolve into a service economy.

“They know where the money is and they aim to get there first,” Immelt said. “America has to get back in that game.”

Earlier that day, Immelt announced GE is developing a US$100 million research and development facility 40 kilometers west of Detroit.

Nets trade Carter to Magic in multi-player

The new roof wasn’t tested. Roger Federer was - briefly.

The retractable roof stayed open Monday for the first match on Centre Court at Wimbledon, and Federer fell behind early before charging past Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.

Federer failed to convert his first four break-point chances, then lost serve to trail 2-3. But he immediately broke back, broke again in the final game of the first set and dominated from there. “I thought I played really well,” Federer said. “My opponent was tough.”

Bidding for his sixth title, Federer won for the 41st time in his past 42 matches at the All England Club. The lone loss came in last year’s final to Rafael Nadal, a match hailed by some as the sport’s best ever.

The grasscourt tournament began in cloudy but dry weather. When it rains, the translucent roof on the 87-year-old stadium will be closed so play can continue.

“I guess the moment will come that I’ll play indoors here,” Federer said. “But you don’t really hope for it during the match.”

Playing second on Centre Court was two-time champion Serena Williams, who lost only nine points on her serve and beat Portuguese qualifier Neuza Silva 6-1, 7-5. The No. 2-seeded Williams, runner-up to her sister Venus a year ago, improved to 5-5 since starting the year 21-2.

“I’m just happy to have a win under my belt here,” Williams said. “I was a little nervous going into the match.”

Maria Sharapova, the 2004 women’s champion, won the final four games of the first set and beat qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine 7-5, 6-4.

“She’s a very aggressive player,” Sharapova said. “She went for many shots very freely and loosely, and I was just trying to hold on.”

Sharapova, making a comeback from shoulder surgery last October, saved a set point in the opening set with a forehand winner and later shook off two awkward spills behind the baseline.

Joining the Russian in the second round will be Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova who ended the hopes of Britain’s golden girl Laura Robson 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

The 15-year-old Robson, the youngest player in the main draw since Martina Hingis in 1995, had the distinction of winning the first ever point on the new Court Two when she fired an ace.

It was a good day for Asia, as China’s Zheng Jie and Sania Mirza of India moved into the next round.

Last year’s semifinalist, Zheng, the 16th seed, survived a tough test against Germany’s Kristina Barrois before coming through 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4). Mirza, returning from injury woes, beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in a clash of unseeded players.

The first seeded player to lose was No. 17 James Blake, who was beaten by Andreas Seppi of Italy 5-7, 4-6, 6-7 (5). Blake failed to convert a set point in the third set and squandered a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker.

Blake also lost in the first round at the French Open last month.

Another American, No. 28-seeded Mardy Fish, never lost serve and led 6-3, 6-2, 4-1 when Argentina’s Sergio Roitman retired with a right shoulder injury.

Chelsea said they will appeal against the UEFA’s bans handed out to striker Didier Drogba and defender Jose Bosingwa resulting from their conduct during the Champions League semifinals last month.

Drogba was given a six-match ban, the last two games suspended for two years, for his angry confrontation with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after being eliminated by Barcelona.

For branding the referee a “thief” for denying penalties, Bosingwa was handed a four-match ban, the last game suspended for two years, by European football’s governing body.

Chelsea also intends appealing against the 100,000 euros (138,000 dollars) fine for the improper conduct of its players and for the throwing of missiles by its supporters.

Along with Corinthians’ 2-0 win at home against Internacional, Ronaldo celebrated goal drought of 40 days by scoring his teams second goal in Wednesday’s match.

By doing so, the player scored his 11th goal with Corinthians. There are 19 goals left for Ronaldo to meet his forecast of scoring 30 goals this year with Corinthians.

The Corinthians players continued their physical workouts on Thursday in preparation for the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship.

However, head coach Mano Menezes has already made it known that he plans on resting his star players in this weekends match.

Facing their cross-town rivals, Sao Paulo, Menezes is placing a higher importance on the rest of principal players in order to guarantee a positive result in the return leg against Internacional in the finals of the Brazilian Cup.

Ronaldo, William, Jorge Henrique are expected to receive a day off during Sunday’s big game.

Corinthians will travel to play Internacional in the final leg of the Brazilian Cup on July 1. Should Corinthians not give up more than three goals against Internacional, it will be Ronaldo’s second title while playing in Brazil.

His first came earlier in the year when his Corinthians team beat Santos in the finals of the Sao Paulo state championship. Before that, the athlete had never won a championship inside of Brazil.

One day after marking his 40th day without scoring a goal, Ronaldo explained on Monday his current slump with Corinthians.

The player claims he already knows how to solve the problem on get back on track to score his forecasted thirty goals this year. Ronaldo’s last goal was against Santos in the finals of the Sao Paulo state championship. However, since early May Ronaldo has been plagued by injures and health problems.

His latest excuse is that he has had a cold, weakening him. He even claims that he suffered from flu-like symptoms during and after their game last Sunday against Goias.

“Over the past months I have suffered from an injury to my calf and from two different colds. This has slightly interrupted by plans. It’s a shame. I had such a good return to the field until the end of the state championships, and then I fell off. Now, I have to work hard, get on the right path and be decisive at the right time, once again,” explained Ronaldo.

The star forward claims that he still suffers from a bad cold. He admits to be a little worried with the duration of the cold but says that he is taking all the legal and permitted medicine possible to get better and get back to do his best.

In the finals of the New Brazilian Basketball league (NBB), Flamengo won Game 3 on Sunday in the best-of-five series.

Winning at home by the score of 99-78 against Universo, Flamengo is one win away from the NBB’s inaugural season title.

Flamengo secured their victory in the second half. After trailing 53-44 at the half, the home team rallied to outscore their opponents and win by 21 points.

The third quarter was decisive as Flamengo totaled 32 points in the period while Universo scored only seven. After establishing the lead, Flamengo cruised to victory.

Flamengo’s Marcelo Machado led all scores with 30 points.

With a 2-1 lead in the series, Flamengo is one game away from winning the finals. Game 4 will be held in Brasilia on June 20, giving Universo plenty of time to reconfigure their strategy in hopes of turning the series around.

David Letterman joked Thursday that things are now fine now between him and Sarah Palin because the Alaska governor called and offered to take him hunting.

She’d done nothing of the sort, of course, continuing a feud with the CBS late-night host that may wind up being well-timed for Letterman in the second week of his new competition with Conan O’Brien on NBC’s “Tonight” show.

“I’m Dave Letterman, making friends wherever I go,” Letterman said at the opening of Thursday’s show, a day after he apologized for wisecracks aimed at Palin and one of her teenage daughter — even as he milked the situation for more laughs. His lengthy discourse on Wednesday blended flashes of contrition with more pokes at Palin and her family.

Letterman invited Palin to come on his show, which her spokeswoman declined with a shot of her own.

Letterman had made several jokes on Monday’s monologue about the Palin family’s visit to New York.

His Top Ten list featured “Highlights of Sarah Palin’s Trip,” and included: “Bought makeup at Bloomingdale’s to update her ’slutty flight attendant’ look.”

But the diciest joke centered on the family attending a Yankees baseball game.

Letterman said “an awkward moment” occurred for Palin when, “during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by (Yankee third baseman) Alex Rodriguez.”

Without naming her, the joke seemed to refer to Palin’s 18-year-old daughter Bristol, an unwed mother.

But it was 14-year-old daughter Willow, not Bristol, who had been at the game.

Todd Palin issued a statement that said “any ‘jokes’ about raping my 14-year-old are despicable.”

And Sarah Palin charged Letterman with “sexually perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity.”

“I am not a celebrity,” said a deadpan Letterman, interrupting himself as he read the statements aloud on Wednesday’s show. “I’m 62 years old, but I’m not a celebrity.”

He denied the joke was meant to be about Willow Palin.

“I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl,” he said, dropping his signature sarcasm. “I don’t think it’s funny. I would never think it was funny.”

“I’m not necessarily proud of these jokes,” he said in a more ironically self-deprecating moment. “We do stuff all the time and our objective here is to get a laugh, and thank God we don’t have to go to the Hague and the World Court to defend them. It’s a joke and that’s all it’s supposed to be.”

Before he was done, he tried to boil down the situation into two key points, which he stated with playful precision:

“Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes.

“Did I suggest that it was OK for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No.”

He also invited Palin to be a guest on his show, saying, “I think we could put these differences behind us.” But the offer, extended to both Palin and her husband (”or leave Todd at home,” Letterman suggested), was turned down on Thursday.

“The Palins have no intention of providing a ratings boost for David Letterman by appearing on his show,” said Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton. “Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman.”

While the incident keeps Palin in the public eye in a manner likely to draw sympathy from supporters, it puts Letterman in the news in an extremely fortuitous time. It’s the second week of his battle for eyeballs with O’Brien and it couldn’t be closer.

In an overnight measurement of the nation’s biggest media markets, O’Brien beat Letterman by one-tenth of a ratings point on Wednesday, according to Nielsen Media Research. It was the same slim margin on Monday, and with Julia Roberts as a guest on Tuesday, Letterman beat O’Brien — the first night CBS has beaten NBC since last October.

In Nielsen’s metered markets, Letterman hasn’t beaten the “Tonight” show for a week since November 2005.