Tag Archives: sportsbiz

Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini face 8-year football ban

An independent Ethics Committee has suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) boss Michel Platini for eight years from all football-related activities.

The bans are effective immediately, the committee said.

In a statement, the international football governing body confirmed that “the proceedings against Mr. Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF2 million (£1.34 million) transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr. Platini. Mr. Blatter, in his position as president of FIFA, authorized the payment to Mr. Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999.”

The two men claimed the money was payment for work that Platini carried out during his stint as a technical adviser for Blatter between 1998 and 2002. The payment, however, was not part of Platini’s written contract, but both said it was a verbal agreement, which is legal under Swiss law.

Premier League Managerial Sack Race: Mourinho & Monk Fall

The total number of 2015/16 Premier League managerial casualties has risen to five after the month of December saw both Garry Monk and Jose Mourinho lose their jobs.

When Premier League chairmen smile, there are two rows of gravestones between their Mick Jaggers. They have a membrane like patience, sensitized nerve endings, and a flagrant disregard of support.

On 4th October 2015, Dick Advocaat resigned before being pushed at Sunderland, and Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers. At that time, I wrote that six more managers would follow them out of the door by the end of the season. In December, Swansea sacked Garry Monk, and Chelsea sacked Jose Mourinho. Two down, four more to go.

The sacking of Mourinho is one that I called back in October when I created my hit list. It shows that even the greatest managers in the world are chicken feed in comparison to the star players. Mourinho lost the dressing room. Roman Abramovich sided with the dressing room.

Premier League Managerial Sack Race: Mourinho & Monk Fall

The total number of 2015/16 Premier League managerial casualties has risen to five after the month of December saw both Garry Monk and Jose Mourinho lose their jobs.

When Premier League chairmen smile, there are two rows of gravestones between their Mick Jaggers. They have a membrane like patience, sensitized nerve endings, and a flagrant disregard of support.

On 4th October 2015, Dick Advocaat resigned before being pushed at Sunderland, and Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers. At that time, I wrote that six more managers would follow them out of the door by the end of the season. In December, Swansea sacked Garry Monk, and Chelsea sacked Jose Mourinho. Two down, four more to go.

The sacking of Mourinho is one that I called back in October when I created my hit list. It shows that even the greatest managers in the world are chicken feed in comparison to the star players. Mourinho lost the dressing room. Roman Abramovich sided with the dressing room.

Premier League Week 17 Review: Leicester Top at Xmas

[Image Credit: premierleague.com]

Premier League Week 17 sees Leicester City sit atop the league at Christmas, Man Utd losing at home to Norwich and Chelsea fans none too happy with the club’s decision to fire Jose Mourinho.

The last time Santa pulled his sled out of the garage Leicester were at the bottom of the Premier League, Nigel Pearson had the personality of a cold floorboard, and Match of the Day pundits were reminding everyone that only 3 of the previous 22 teams who were in that position at Christmas had escaped relegation.

12-months on and they are top of the Premier League, Claudio Ranieri is displaying savant-like managerial acumen, and Match of the Day pundits are talking about them as being serious title contenders.

NFL Week 15 – Why it matters

I know, I know. Every writer with a laptop and an audience (hello? anyone?) scribbles one of these articles at this point ever season. This one’s slightly different because I’m not going to preview the Week 15 assuming that you are just waltzing in to the season at this point. You know who’s in, who’s not in, who might be in.

[Image credit: www.sportsonearth.com]

Instead, this is an underscore of what all the teams are searching for in each matchup. Another, stupid variation of this would be, “What Each Team Is Asking Santa for Christmas!” Speaking of which, Happy Holidays!

THE EARLY GAMES IN NFL WEEK 15

NFL Week 15 – Why it matters

I know, I know. Every writer with a laptop and an audience (hello? anyone?) scribbles one of these articles at this point ever season. This one’s slightly different because I’m not going to preview the Week 15 assuming that you are just waltzing in to the season at this point. You know who’s in, who’s not in, who might be in.

[Image credit: www.sportsonearth.com]

Instead, this is an underscore of what all the teams are searching for in each matchup. Another, stupid variation of this would be, “What Each Team Is Asking Santa for Christmas!” Speaking of which, Happy Holidays!

THE EARLY GAMES IN NFL WEEK 15

International Olympic Committee launches new sports betting integrity rules

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a new code to combat the influence of match-fixers, with the potential for lifetime bans for transgressors.

The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (read it here) is the IOC’s attempt to harmonize regulations among its members, although members are free to impose more stringent regulations if their nation’s supply of thumbscrews is going underutilized.

The code, which will be in effect at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil, prohibits participants from betting on (a) events in which they are directly involved, (b) the sport in which a participant competes, and (c) any event in a multisport competition in which the participant is involved.

Participants are also prohibited from passing on inside information and from accepting any benefit from people seeking such info. Failure to provide the IOC with info regarding fixing overtures or to cooperate with the IOC in its investigations will also land participants in hot water.

International Olympic Committee launches new sports betting integrity rules

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a new code to combat the influence of match-fixers, with the potential for lifetime bans for transgressors.

The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (read it here) is the IOC’s attempt to harmonize regulations among its members, although members are free to impose more stringent regulations if their nation’s supply of thumbscrews is going underutilized.

The code, which will be in effect at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil, prohibits participants from betting on (a) events in which they are directly involved, (b) the sport in which a participant competes, and (c) any event in a multisport competition in which the participant is involved.

Participants are also prohibited from passing on inside information and from accepting any benefit from people seeking such info. Failure to provide the IOC with info regarding fixing overtures or to cooperate with the IOC in its investigations will also land participants in hot water.

Identity Revolution – Not your Grandfathers NY Jets?

You either love the Jets or you hate them. Nobody is ambivalent about this team. It’s easy for people to be casual about non-threats to their favorite franchises, or their hometown heroes. Someone who cheers for the Niners probably has no earthly reason to feel anything about the Bucs, for example.

But everyone hates the Jets. It might be time for us to stop.

[Image credit: fansided.com]

The offseason represents an opportunity for bad teams to recreate themselves. And let’s make no mistake about the Jets for the past three seasons. They’ve been comically terrible. We’re not talking “aw shucks” bad. We’re talking “HAHA LOOK AT THE JETS THEY S-U-C-K! It rules!”

Brandon Vera Crowned Inaugural One Heavyweight World Champion With Knockout Of Paul Cheng

11 December 2015 – Manila, Philippines:The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), electrified the packed house at the 20,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines with another evening of world-class mixed martial arts action to close out an amazing year. In the main event, international mixed martial arts superstar Brandon “The Truth” Vera captured the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Championship by knocking out Paul “Typhoon” Cheng within a minute of the first round of their title bout.

Visit the official ONE: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS photo gallery by clicking here.

Filipino-American Brandon “The Truth” Vera made quick work of Taiwan’s Paul “Typhoon” Cheng, stopping his opponent within moments of the opening bell to claim the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Championship. Vera opened the bout by dropping Cheng with a counter left hook after Cheng was caught over-extending on a missed punch. Vera followed up with a high kick that landed flush, sending Cheng down to the canvas. From there, Vera rained down hammer fists to force a stoppage.

Reece “Lightning” McLaren of Queensland, Australia shocked the hometown crowd by beating Mark “Mugen” Striegl by submission in the second round of a bantamweight contest. McLaren invested in leg kicks early, slowing down an aggressive yet composed Striegl who was determined to use his wrestling to take McLaren to the ground. Striegl dropped McLaren with a short right elbow followed up by a technical ground kick, but failed to finish off the Australian. In the final round, McLaren had just enough to outlast Striegl, as he locked in a rear naked choke to earn the victory.

Brandon Vera Crowned Inaugural One Heavyweight World Champion With Knockout Of Paul Cheng

11 December 2015 – Manila, Philippines:The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship™ (ONE), electrified the packed house at the 20,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines with another evening of world-class mixed martial arts action to close out an amazing year. In the main event, international mixed martial arts superstar Brandon “The Truth” Vera captured the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Championship by knocking out Paul “Typhoon” Cheng within a minute of the first round of their title bout.

Visit the official ONE: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS photo gallery by clicking here.

Filipino-American Brandon “The Truth” Vera made quick work of Taiwan’s Paul “Typhoon” Cheng, stopping his opponent within moments of the opening bell to claim the inaugural ONE Heavyweight World Championship. Vera opened the bout by dropping Cheng with a counter left hook after Cheng was caught over-extending on a missed punch. Vera followed up with a high kick that landed flush, sending Cheng down to the canvas. From there, Vera rained down hammer fists to force a stoppage.

Reece “Lightning” McLaren of Queensland, Australia shocked the hometown crowd by beating Mark “Mugen” Striegl by submission in the second round of a bantamweight contest. McLaren invested in leg kicks early, slowing down an aggressive yet composed Striegl who was determined to use his wrestling to take McLaren to the ground. Striegl dropped McLaren with a short right elbow followed up by a technical ground kick, but failed to finish off the Australian. In the final round, McLaren had just enough to outlast Striegl, as he locked in a rear naked choke to earn the victory.

Will Warriors beat Lakers’s 33-game win streak?

The Golden State Warriors has crossed out the “best start in NBA history” off their to-do list, next goal: the Los Angeles Lakers’ 33-game win streak.

The Warriors began the 2015-16 NBA regular season with an unprecedented 16 straight wins, surpassing Houston Rockets and Washington Capitals’ 15-0 record. That is just after the fact that they just won the franchise’s first NBA title in 40 seasons.

On Sunday, the team’s 112-109 victory over the Toronto Raptors broke another record for the best start to a season by a professional sports team. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Warriors’ 21-0 record moved the team past the St. Louis Maroons of Union Association, a league in Major League Baseball.

The Warriors undefeated run continued as it beat Indiana Pacers 131-123 on Tuesday, pushing its winning streak to 23-0 this season.

Will Warriors beat Lakers’s 33-game win streak?

The Golden State Warriors has crossed out the “best start in NBA history” off their to-do list, next goal: the Los Angeles Lakers’ 33-game win streak.

The Warriors began the 2015-16 NBA regular season with an unprecedented 16 straight wins, surpassing Houston Rockets and Washington Capitals’ 15-0 record. That is just after the fact that they just won the franchise’s first NBA title in 40 seasons.

On Sunday, the team’s 112-109 victory over the Toronto Raptors broke another record for the best start to a season by a professional sports team. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Warriors’ 21-0 record moved the team past the St. Louis Maroons of Union Association, a league in Major League Baseball.

The Warriors undefeated run continued as it beat Indiana Pacers 131-123 on Tuesday, pushing its winning streak to 23-0 this season.