PALIN MITENK BLOG

By Maysa Rawi and Tamara Abraham

Strawberries and cream: Serena Williams celebrates her debut on Centre Court today in red shorts inspired by the Wimbledon dessert


There were strawberries and cream on court as well as off at Wimbledon today when Serena Williams stepped onto Centre Court in red and white.

While hemlines continue to dominate headlines, Serena failed to disappoint in an off-white 'Control Lawn dress' by Nike, inspired by the British dessert synonymous with the tournament, featuring bright piping and matching hotpants.

The defending champion not only co-ordinated her socks and trainers with bright red laces, but also showed off intricate nail art with silver sequin polish and capital S painted on her finger.


Fashion statement: Serena turned heads in a matching outfit designed by Nike and even co-ordinated her laces


But of course it was also her tennis that was the focus as Williams beat Portugal's Michelle Larcher De Brito 6-0 6-4, sailing through to the next round.

On the warm, sunny afternoon, Williams won all 27 points on her first serve, including an ace with her final shot.

De Brito played it safe in a classic white dress with navy trim but also matched her Nike shoes, proving fashion on court is fast becoming a necessary prerequisite to big tournaments.


Bling: Serena shows off her sequined nail art with initial embellished in red...and her toned physique


But after four British women's hopefuls were knocked out yesterday, it was bad news again for Anne Keovathong, who lost to Russian-born Anastasia Rodianova on Court 12.

Keovathong lost six games in a row to throw away the decider to Rodionova 6-4.

The Hackney-born player - sporting yellow hotpants under her white skirt and vest - was is visibly upset after losing 3-6 6-2 6-4, reminiscent of her tears last year.


Defeat: Portugal's Michelle Larcher De Brito picks herself up after slipping as she loses today's game


Meanwhile Andy Murray flashed a rare smile as he arrived at the club for practice this morning, while Rafael Nadal was seen training ahead of his match this afternoon against Japanese player Kei Nishikori.

Nadal, the 2008 champion who missed out on defending his title last year due to tendinitis, returned to a Centre Court basking in 80-degree heat with ready to win as he claimed the opener 6-2 in the first-round contest.


Shady: A tired Andy Murray takes a break after a nervy start against Jan Hajek


Murray also seemed in high spirits today as he updated his fans on Twitter.

He wrote:'Solid chicken and pasta for lunch. Thanks for all the support and see u out there!'

And the fans were out there in the hundreds, queuing with their picnics according to Wimbledon tradition.


High spirits: Murray opts for classic Adidas as he puts on a passionate display


Show of support: Mother Judy Murray and girlfriend Kim Sears (right) turn out to watch Murray play


But frustrated tennis-lovers had to wait a while before seeing Murray on court as there was at least another set to be played by Robert Kendrick and Jo-Wilfired Tsonga before the British no1 took to the court.

Looking smart in Adidas, Murray's mother Judy and girlfriend Kim Sears turned out to watch him up against Jan Hajek.

The pair were pictured together yesterday in a rare romantic display after reuniting last month following a split last November.


On fire: Britain's Anne Keothavong (left) playing on Court 12 today before losing to Australian Anastasia Rodionova (right). The hopeful is just three games away from a place in the second round


There was plenty in the way of celebrities to entertain between matches - albeit in the safety of a VIP area rather than with the hordes outside.

Bear Grylls, Grace Jones and Trinny Woodall were among the unlikely group in the Evian suite.

They were joined by T4 presenter Jameela Jamil, Skins star Nicholas Hoult and singer Victoria Hesketh, a.k.a. Little Boots.


Lovely ladies: T4 presenter Jameela Jamil, left, Victoria 'Little Boots' Hasketh and 90210 star Jessica Lowndes enjoy the day from the VIP Evian suite


90210 actress Jessica Lowndes, who caused a stir at Richard Branson's pre-Wimbledon party.

Tens of thousands of fans have been flocking to the All England Club since the humid opening day's tennis yesterday.

Some had camped out for three days to be at the front of the queue that snaked through SW19, and if they were hoping to enjoy a strawberry they were soon put off with the price of £2.50 for a little punnet.






All on the same day, the beauty, the high and the mighty of the women's game
By paul harris

Packing a punch: Sam Stosur's thighs ripple as she plays yesterday


It used to be so genteel – flowing skirts, frilly knickers and deliciously well-turned ankles.

But at Ladies’ Day yesterday, the girls proved that in the modern game, power and efficiency are much more their style.

Australian Sam Stosur may have followed convention by wearing a dress, but it barely contained her muscular thighs.

The 26-year-old regards her power as one of the great ‘weapons’ in her tennis armoury, as she puts it – and that drive helped propel her to number six seed.

However, power isn’t everything, it seems.

She lost in straight sets to Kaia Kanepi yesterday.

At 6ft 3in, it may not be a surprise to see world number 93 Akgul Amanmuradova, from Uzbekistan, dressed in an outfit more akin to the men’s game.

After all, she’s taller than most of them. Besides, towering 1ft above the tournament’s shortest player, Jill Craybas, from the U.S, may make it unlikely that she’d ever find a skirt to fit.

But the height advantage of the 13-stone builder’s daughter, who turned down a place on the national basketball team in favour tennis, couldn’t guarantee her victory either.

The player, who is 26 today, was defeated by Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova


Tall order: Akgul Amanmuradova towers above a line judge at 6ft 3in. Right, Maria Sharapova on her way to winning


At least Maria Sharapova proved that a little polish can pay off. Wearing a flouncy skirt layered to resemble an upturned white rose, the 16th seed made her 6-1, 6-0 victory over Anastasia Pivovarova, look effortless.

Perhaps it was those £1,200 Tiffany ear-rings tickling the 23-year-old’s neck which gave her game that extra sparkle...


source: dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter

Cute kit: Fergie took to the pitch in a flirty dress at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa today


Pop star Fergie wore a cute if unconventional kit as she took to the football pitch ahead of World Cup celebrations today.


*** Scroll down to watch VDO ***


The star wore a flirty feline-printed frock as she greeted the press with her Black Eyed Peas bandmates at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa today.

The group will perform at the World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert tomorrow alongside a host of big names, including Alicia Keys, John Legend and Freshlyground.


Ready to rock: The Black Eyed Peas will perform at the World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert tomorrow


Colombian singer Shakira, who today met with local school children in Soweto, will perform the official World Cup song, Waka Waka.

Johannesburg is the latest stop for the Black Eyed Peas, who have been busy jetting around the world performing dates on The E.N.D. Tour.

Fergie, 35, who is married to actor Josh Duhamel, says the full schedule has left her little time to think about starting a family.

She told OK! magazine: 'Everyone tries to rush you into everything in the press these days, but for me right now it's all about Black Eyed Peas - there's no room in my schedule to have a child.

'Even if I wanted to get pregnant, there's no way I could perform on stage and be pregnant, I would feel too guilty.'


Meet and greet: Shakira speaks to school children at the Isu'lihle primary school in Soweto today





source :dailymail

Smile of a champion: Jimenez claimed victory in Dubai

The winning touch which Lee Westwood rediscovered in 2009 deserted him as he lost a three-hole play-off to Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez in the Dubai Desert Classic.

As dusk was falling on the Emirates Golf Club, Europe’s No 1 twice missed birdie putts from inside 15 feet at the 18th hole that would have completed a unique hat-trick.

Westwood, who closed with a par 72 to join Jimenez (73) on the 11 under par mark of 277, had been looking to add to his victory in the Dubai World Championship that clinched the Race to Dubai money list.

Instead, he had to settle for second place as Jimenez, 46, produced some short game magic of which his compatriot Seve Ballesteros would have been proud.


Battle Royale: Jimenez and Westwood shake hands on the third play-off hole


At the first extra hole, Jimenez got up and down from the bank of the lake guarding the green, then he kept the play-off alive by splashing out of a bunker and holing a par putt from six yards.


Frustration: Westwood reacts after missing a putt for victory


With light fading, the pair switched to the par-four ninth, where Jimenez got down in two from the rough to take the title as Westwood missed a five-foot putt.

Westwood could climb into third place when the world rankings are published today, but he clearly missed a golden opportunity here to take his 21st European title.

‘I thought I hit the ball good in the play-off,’ said Westwood. ‘But when Miguel put his ball in a bunker and holed an 18-foot putt, the writing was on the wall. I have been treating this trip to the desert as pre-season training. I have done a lot of fitness work.’

Jimenez said: ‘My last win was in 2008, so it proves old guys like me can still win.’
A one-over-par 73 cost Rory McIlroy the chance to successfully defend the title and he had to settle for a share of sixth, two shots ahead of Tom Watson, 60, who tied for eighth after a 68.


source: dailymail

South African Zola Budd was famous for training and racing barefoot

Searching for the perfect pair of jogging shoes is a waste of time --running barefoot is better for you, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that people who run barefoot tend to land on the ball or the middle of the foot and avoid jarring their bones.

But those who run in shoes tend to land on the heels, sending painful shockwaves through the body.

The study analysed the running styles of athletes, both shoewearing and barefoot.

It found three-quarters of shoe-wearers 'heel-strike', which means that for every mile they run, their heel slams into the ground 1,000 times, creating a 'very large and sudden collision force'.

But those who go barefoot tend to land with a springy step toward the front of the foot. They point their toes more on landing and have a lighter step.

The finding helps explain why so many of the world's greatest endurance runners run so well barefoot.

'People who don't wear shoes when they run have an astonishingly different strike,' said Dr Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University who led the study.

'Most people today think barefoot running is dangerous and hurts, but actually you can run barefoot on the world's hardest surfaces without the slightest discomfort and pain.

'All you need is a few calluses to avoid roughing up the skin of the foot. Further, it might be less injurious than the way some people run in shoes.'

Barefoot running is common in parts of Africa. Nearly 50 years ago Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist Abebe Bikila won his first marathon, barefoot while in the 1980s, South African Zola Budd took to the track barefooted.

However a growing number of British runners are following suit by chucking out their shoes and going barefoot or wearing foot 'gloves'.

Barefoot runners say the risk of dog mess, broken glass or jagged paving slabs is outweighed by the freedom - and lower injury rate.

The new study - which involved scientists at Glasgow University - analysed the running styles of athletes, comparing those who had always run barefoot, those who had always worn shoes and those who converted from shoes to barefoot.

They found that three quarters of shoe-wearers 'heel-strike'. For every mile they run, their heel slams into the ground 1,000 times, creating a 'very large and sudden collision force' 1,000 times.

But those who go barefoot tend to land with a springy step toward the middle or front of the foot. They point their toes more on landing and have a springier step.

The scientists say modern running shoes get in the way of millions of years of evolution. People have evolved strong, large arches that are used as spring when running.

'Humans have engaged in endurance running for millions of years, but the modern running shoe was not invented until the 1970s,' they report in the journal Nature.

'For most of human evolutionary history, runners were either barefoot or wore minimal footwear such as sandals or moccasins with smaller heels and little cushioning.'

However, Dr Liebermann warned people tempted to throw away their runnings shoes to ease themselves into barefoot jogging.

'Running barefoot or in minimal shoes is fun but uses different muscles,' he said. 'If you've been a heel-striker all your life you have to transition slowly to build strength in your calf and foot muscles.'

Earlier this year a study of 68 runners on a treadmill found that suffered 38 per cent more twisting in their knees and ankles when wearing shoes than they did barefoot.


source: dailymail

By Tom Bellwood

Hitting the big time: Chris Smalling has signed for Manchester United


From non-league football to the biggest club in the world - it has been a dramatic two years for Manchester United's new signing Chris Smalling.

The centre-back, 20, will spend the rest of the season at Craven Cottage before moving to Old Trafford to hook up with Wayne Rooney and co when just a couple of seasons ago he was turning our for Maidstone United in the Isthmian Premier Division against the likes of Canvey Island and Dartford.

It is a remarkable leap in short space of time for Smalling who earned an England Under 21 debut in November last year and a first league start six weeks later, but he's not the first player to make a giant leap up the football pyramid.

Sportsmail takes a look at the other non-league players who made the jump to the big time ...

Les FerdinandFerdinand played for a number of non-league clubs before being snapped up by QPR from Hayes in 1987 for £30,000.

His professional career didn’t enjoy what you waould term an electric start, he was loaned out to Brentford and Besiktas, but he later became ‘Sir Les’ as the goals came by the bucketload up at Newcastle and later Tottenham.


Sir Les: Ferdinand enjoyed a superb career in the top flight and is seen here in action for Newcastle against Wimbledon in 1995


Stuart PearceFootball, it seemed, wasn’t for Psycho who was establishing a career as an electrician and plumber while playing for Wealdstone long before he’d become the free-kick specialist, World Cup penalty-missing left-back we all came to love.

Coventry City paid £30,000 for Pearce in 1983 before Nottingham Forest bought him two years later and his career blossomed.


Psycho: Stuart Pearce will be fondly remembered as one of Nottingham Forest's greatest players


Stan CollymoreColly initially slipped through the net after failing to make the grade at Wolves and Walsall before moving to Stafford Rangers in the Conference.

But his breakthrough came in 1992 when he was signed by Palace but was soon shipped out to Southend and later Nottingham Forest where his goals earned him a big-money move to Liverpool.


Stan the man: Collymore in action for Liverpool against Wimbledon


Ian WrightHe left it really late did Wrighty – he moved from Greenwich Borough to Crystal Palace aged 22, in a deal in which his transfer was secured in exchange for a set of weights.

He enjoyed a successful spell Selhurst Park and later went on to become Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer – until Thierry Henry turned up, that is.


Arsenal legend: Ian Wright firing home for the Gunners against Blackburn in 1996


John BarnesGraham Taylor made one of his more sensible decisions by giving the young Barnes a chance in the Watford reserve team after he was scouted playing for Sudbury Town in 1981.

Taylor offered Barnes a professional contract and the faith was repaid with 65 goals in six seasons at Vicarage Road before his £900,000 move to Liverpool in 1987.


Barnes: Was a firm favourite at Anfield


source: dailymail

Leading the way: Burnley's Graham Alexander has won the most votes for the coveted Morgan on Sport British Football Personality of 2009


Ryan Giggs ended last year lauded as one of the best players of his generation, after adding the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award to his 11 Premier League crowns.

But there is one prestigious title that could still escape his grasp. With four days to go in the voting to name the Morgan on Sport British Football Personality of 2009, Giggs is behind veteran Burnley professional Graham Alexander.

Nearly 10,000 readers have already cast their votes online, choosing from the shortlist of 10 selected by Mail on Sunday columnist Piers Morgan for the second year of his special award, which aims to find the best British player from the past 12 months.

Alexander, the 38-year-old defender who helped Burnley win promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history, is the clear leader. Giggs is well ahead in second, with Manchester rivals, Wayne Rooney and Craig Bellamy, tucked in behind in equal third.


Victory for Scotland defender Alexander, who played every minute of all 61 games in league and cup as Burnley returned to the top flight for the first time since 1976 last season and who has played all of the club's 20 league games so far this year, would mirror last year's award for Hull City stalwart Ian Ashbee.

'I'm not surprised by the level of support for Alexander as he has been a wonderfully loyal professional for more then two decades,' said Morgan.

'But I can't believe United fans are going to sit back and let a Burnley player beat their beloved Giggsy. They must have been either too hungover, or too stunned by their team's thrashing by Fulham, to find the strength to vote.Either way, they've got four days to stop the most coveted title in world football heading to a local rival.'


source: dailymail

Leeds United's legion of supporters would not wish for anything different ahead of a trip to Old Trafford.

Their manager is on the front foot.

‘We set out to try and beat Liverpool in September and we gave them one hell of a game,’ said manager Simon Grayson.

‘We’ll go to Manchester United to enjoy it, but we’re going there to try to win. We’re not going there to sit back and defend.’

Those words would have had little resonance six years ago when these two clubs last locked horns in the Premier League at Old Trafford. That was in February 2004 when Leeds drew 1-1 with their arch rivals.

Grayson is now speaking as a League One manager of a Leeds United side who are into their third season in the third tier of English football. Facing Liverpool and United was nothing out of the ordinary earlier in the decade, but meeting the big guns is a rarity these days, and it is to be savoured.

Leeds gave Rafa Benitez’s side a stern test in the Carling Cup when the Anfield outfit scraped home 1-0, and tomorrow Grayson’s side have the chance to test themselves against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Premier League Champions in the third round of the FA Cup.

Grayson, Yorkshire born and bred, is in danger of smashing the doom and gloom which has gripped Leeds on their downward spiral.

Elland Road is a happier place nowadays because they top the table with a healthy 56 points, well clear of nearest challengers Charlton Athletic and Norwich City.

Yet Old Trafford will witness the resumption of a notoriously bitter rivalry tomorrow when the clubs collide.


source: dailymail

By Ian Ladyman and Simon Cass

The wife of Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is seriously ill after a stroke.

Van der Sar is at his wife Annmarie van Kesteren’s hospital bedside in Holland awaiting test results.

Sportsmail understands Annmarie collapsed at home last Wednesday as Van der Sar and the couple’s two children, Joe and Lynn, were preparing to celebrate Christmas.

Out of action in recent weeks with a knee injury, Van der Sar had been given permission by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to return to his homeland for the festive period and to receive treatment from the Holland team doctor.

The 39-year-old former international is not expected back in Manchester until more is known about his wife’s condition.

Van der Sar is United’s No 1 and has been considering an offer to stay at the club for another season.

source: dailymail

By Sportsmail Reporter

England manager Fabio Capello has told David Beckham he will be at the World Cup as long as he is fit and playing regularly.


The ex-England captain is set to start his second loan spell with AC Milan and Capello expects the 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy star to have another successful stint in Serie A.

Beckham has played in the last three World Cups and could make it four in a row when Capello names his squad for South Africa at the end of the season.

The Italian said: 'Certainly (I'll call up Beckham) if he is playing and physically fit.

'I don't look at age, I look at qualities and Beckham has lots. He's serious, he's a great professional and the World Cup is incredibly important to him.

He added in La Gazzetta dello Sport: 'He will do well (at Milan). I have no doubt about it. David is a player with his head straight.'

Capello also hailed the appointment of his fellow Italian Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.

'It's a reason for pride for our football,' he said. '(They choose Italians because) we bring ideas, desire for new things, experiences.'

However, the former AC Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid coach said that despite the success of his compatriots, Italian football still could learn from the English game.


Something to aim for: Beckham could play in his fourth World Cup
'The Premier League is the most interesting, attractive championship in the world,' he said.


'There are special aromas - full stadiums, safety, beauty, a lack of stupidity. Take Newcastle United. They were relegated and they are applauded. Now they are in the second tier and 50,000 go to see them.

'The atmosphere in Italy is different - hostile, nasty. We make the same mistakes with the management of the grounds, with violent fans. We don't improve, we don't move forward, we don't resolve the problems. This upsets me.'

source: dailymail

By Simon Cass

Galvanised: Fabregas whips Arsenal into the lead with a glorious free-kick


Arsene Wenger insisted he would not shy away from another gamble on Cesc Fabregas’s fitness after his skipper inspired Arsenal to a victory over Aston Villa.

Fabregas came off the bench in the second half and galvanised Arsenal to a 3-0 win which leaves them four points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. Manchester United stay second after Wayne Rooney inspired them to a 3-1 win at Hull.

Fabregas lashed in a 25-yard free-kick before finishing off a quick-fire second. But he limped off soon after and watched as Abou Diaby added a third in stoppage time.

Wenger said: ‘If you can prove to me we would have won the game without him coming on, I was wrong. He adds creativity and at that moment I felt that was needed.’

But Wenger’s risk-taking could see Fabregas recurrence of a hamstring strain, not that the Arsenal manager felt he had much choice.

‘Fabregas is happy we won the game but is concerned about his hamstring,’ said Wenger, who also saw Denilson forced off with a back problem.


Feeling the pain: The Spaniard limps away in celebration after his second goal


‘We don’t know if it’s a recurrence of the pull or just scar tissue. We’ll know more about it tomorrow. If it’s scar tissue it’s a few days, if it’s a recurrence it’s three weeks.'

The win gives Arsenal breathing space over Villa in fourth place, even if it once again illustrated Wenger’s need to shop for a new striker in the transfer window.

‘It’s a massive result when you look at where we were a few weeks ago,’ added Wenger. ‘Credit to the team, they didn’t give up when everybody had written us off.

'We kept going and that shows that the team have shown mental strength. It makes it interesting now. We are in a strong position.’

On the subject of buying a replacement for the injured Robin van Persie, Wenger said: ‘We will keep our eyes open and if a good opportunity turns up we will do it.

I will have to look maybe as well at midfielders.

'If we lose Denilson and Fabregas we will be short there.’

Villa manager Martin O’Neill refused to be too downhearted.

‘We were right in it until the free-kick, and Fabregas’s contribution was immense in the time he was on,’ he said. ‘We are up there because we deserve to be and it is up to us now to see if we can maintain the form which put us there in the first place.’


dailymail

New Orleans Saints running back Mike Bell is lifted by team mate Zach Strief following their win over the Washington Redskins at the end of over time in their NFL game in Landover, MD, December 6, 2009.





New Orleans Saints receiver Robert Meachem (L) catches a touchdown pass that tied the game from quarterback Drew Brees (not in photo) in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Maryland December 6, 2009. Redskins' safety LaRon Landry (R) pursues on the play. The Saints' won the game in overtime on a field goal.



New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley (L) celebrates his game-winning field goal with holder Mark Brunell (2nd L) in overtime during their NFL game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, MD, December 6, 2009.


photo: Reuters

Phoenix Coyotes' Daniel Winnik (34) battles Ottawa Senators' Nick Foligno (71) for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz.





Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov (30), of Russia, makes a save as Ottawa Senators' Chris Kelly (22) and Coyotes' Keith Yandle (3) look at the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz.




Phoenix Coyotes' Taylor Pyatt (14) celebrates his goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates Ed Jovanovski, left, Radim Vrbata, middle, of the Czech Republic, and Petr Prucha, of the Czech Republic, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz.



Phoenix Coyotes' Martin Hanzal (11), of the Czech Republic, celebrates a goal by teammate Petr Prucha as Ottawa Senators' Brian Elliott, left, reacts to the goal as Senators' Erik Karlsson (65), of Sweden, and Anton Volchenkov, of Russia, skate to the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz.


photo: AP

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland tees off on the second hole during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California December 4, 2009. McDowell replaced Tiger Woods in the tournament after Woods withdrew.




Camilo Villegas of Colombia tees off on the second hole during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.




Yang Yong-eun of South Korea hits his approach shot onto the 18th green during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.




Sean O'Hair of the U.S. hits an approach shot onto the 18th green during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.



Jim Furyk of the U.S. hits his approach shot from the 18th fairway during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.



Ian Poulter of England hits a shot out of the rough along the 18th fairway during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, December 4, 2009.


photo: Reuters

Sturm Graz's Jakob Jantscher, foreground, challenges for the ball with Dinamo Bucharest's Adrian Cristea, background, during an Europa League, group F, game in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009.









Sturm Graz's Samir Muratovic, right, jumps for a header with Dinamo Bucharest's Laurentiu Rus, left, during an Europa League, group F, game in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009.



Sturm Graz's Haris Bukva, right, is challenged by Dinamo Bucharest's Francisco Molinero, left, during an Europa League, group F, game in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009.


photo: AP

By Andrew Moore
Entertainment Correspondent

What the hell is going on with Tiger Woods? Recently, the world’s most famous golfer has been getting the TMZ treatment due to a bizarre chain of events that has yet to be sorted out. According to reports, Woods crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant early Friday morning.

His airbag didn’t deploy, so he wasn’t driving very fast; however, he somehow sustained injuries to his face. Also, at some point, his wife, Elin Nordegren, allegedly smashed one of his windows with -- what else? -- a golf club.

The chain of causation is a bit hazy. It’s possible that Tiger Woods was out for a drive at 2:30 in the morning (for some reason). He accidentally hit a fire hydrant, hurt himself, and his wife smashed a window to help get him out of the car.

A domestic dispute gone public
Other sources say that the injuries to Woods’ face were the result of a domestic dispute. Some have suggested that Woods and his wife were fighting about a rumored affair. Woods tried to escape the argument by leaving the house, at which point his wife pursued him, striking his vehicle with a golf club, possibly distracting Woods and causing him to crash the vehicle.

This second account, if true, would be a shock to Tiger Woods’ many fans. Is it possible that Woods has wrecked his marriage and damaged his reputation, even risked his physical well-being, for a shot at some strange beauty? If so, what the hell was he thinking? Tiger Woods has yachts bigger than any house most of us will ever own. His wife is a Swedish model. He has a beautiful family. And, instead of going to work every day like the rest of us, he plays golf.

No, that’s not true. He doesn’t just play golf. Tiger Woods owns golf. He is a historically dominant athlete who has achieved unparalleled success. To top it off, he’s super-famous and mega-rich. In many ways, Tiger Woods lives the dream. He has the kind of life we all aspire to live. Come to think of it, maybe that’s how he got himself into trouble in the first place.

Too driven to win
Maybe it’s not so unthinkable that a man would risk his marriage and his reputation for some alone-time with Rachel Uchitel, the woman whom Woods was allegedly seeing on the side. She’s drop-dead gorgeous after all, and men do stupid things for beautiful women every day. However, there may be more to it than that. Could the same thing that makes a man a great athlete, a smart businessman and a wildly successful individual also drive him to cheat on his wife?

What do we admire about Tiger Woods? Isn’t it his focus, his intensity and his seemingly indomitable will to win? We admire Woods because he’s insatiable, and we think it’s good to be insatiable. We admire the man who refuses to settle, the guy who leaves his average job for a higher-paying one. We want to be the guy who sells his house and moves into a bigger house, in a better neighborhood. To some degree, we even applaud the old guy who trades in his wife for a younger, hotter model. We love Woods because he’s done what we’ve all been advised to do. He succeeds, seemingly at everything. He wins and then he goes out and wins some more.

Might it be the case that a man who is always looking toward the next victory is also the kind of man who would step out on his wife for the challenge, the unconquered territory of a new temptation? It’s a troubling thought. Maybe the things we admire about Tiger Woods we shouldn’t admire so much.

sports and life follow different rules
Unlike in golf, in life there isn’t always another tournament, another title and another record. The metrics we use to measure success in sports don’t apply to the rest of your life. In life, there are no points systems or rankings. No one is keeping score. The measure of a good life isn’t expensive stuff or the number of women you’ve slept with. The only thing that matters, always, is happiness. Some happy people have a lot of money, some happy people don’t. Some guys are happy being single, others are happy being married. How you get there doesn’t matter. All that matters is, once you get there, stop. Stop chasing things and enjoy your life.


source: askmen.com