Thursday, February 23, 2006
[Barca] Random Thoughts after 1st leg vs. Chelsea
看完重播後可能會有所改變。
很明顯地，依照彼此支持立場的不同，對於 Del Horno 那張紅牌
的意見也會有很大的差距，但從比賽當時的氣氛看來，我個人覺得
Terje Hauge 會作出這個判罰一點都不意外。（當然，Del Horno
的行為是否嚴重到需要判罰紅牌是另一個問題。）
這是兩支已有宿怨的球隊之間的對決，從比賽一開始雙方球員就
小動作不斷、火藥味濃厚；而從比賽裡可以看到的是，Hauge 事實
上一直企圖掌控場上快要失控的場面，希望雙方球員自制。事實上，
在比賽的前十五分鐘當雙方球員有大動作犯規時，Hauge 都會用誇張
的手勢希望球員能夠自制（他特地把 Edmilson 叫到面前，之後雙手
往下比的動作最令人印象深刻）。
在 Del Horno 的衝撞之後，可以看到的是雙方幾乎所有的球員都
立刻衝到事故現場，並且有相當程度的口角和少許的拉扯。這種
激烈的反應，事實上對於這兩隻本季在各自聯賽稱王的球隊來說，
都是很少見的。在這種隨時可能一觸即發的氛圍之下，Hauge 作出
看起來像是殺雞儆猴的判決，事實上是可以理解的。
在如此重要的比賽裡，裁判為控制場上局面而作出的嚴厲判罰，這
並不是第一次，也不會是最後一次。不管你喜歡與否，不能否認的
事實是，在這張紅牌之後，雙方球員的身體碰撞衝突的確有較為緩和
，Hauge 在剩下來的比賽裡也只再發給 Iniesta 一張黃牌而已。（
當然 Puyol 在比賽近尾聲時一次從後鏟人看起來是有給牌的空間）
之前已經有人提過了，Del Horno 在這次的衝撞之前早已犯規累累，
而且動作是一次比一次還大。除了用腳蹬踏到 Messi 的膝蓋之外，
他在比賽前二十分鐘跟 Deco 也有不少對抗，並且向裁判和邊裁的
抱怨從沒少過。不能否認的是，本來就不高的印象分數應該有影響到
這次判決的結果。
接下來來看這次衝撞。Messi 在球被 Robben 搶走之後的確有兩次
用手部輕微擊打 Robben 的動作，反搶回來之後又被 Del Horno
撞倒，撞倒之後在地上翻滾的動作的確也有表演的嫌疑，但如果說
這樣就認為這次衝撞其實並不嚴重，事實上可能是太過天真的想法。
不要忘記 Messi 當時是在極高速的情況下作出這一連串的動作。
他追了快半場之後在底線搶到球，接著一個回扣人球分過閃過
Robben 的出腳，隨即作出自保的跳躍動作，和 Del Horno 在空中
碰撞後倒地。在閃過後方的 Robben 之後立刻有 Del Horno 從側面
向他飛撲過來（說 Del Horno 飛撲的目的是為了清球事實上是有點
太過牽強，發生衝撞的位置和球還有一段距離），年紀極輕的 Messi
在第一反應能夠作出這樣的自保（或是在某些人眼裡的演戲）動作，
事實上是很難得的。
Messi 之後在地上打滾的動作是演戲沒錯，但他是這次衝撞的受害者。
事實上邊裁已經在第一時間搖旗，我不認為他的打滾對主裁最後的判
------
討論完紅牌之後，接下來回到比賽。
我對兩個邊後衛（尤其是 Oleguer）的表現其實已經感到相當滿意，
至少他們在防守上面對對方強大的邊鋒群，表現應該都有達到教練團
的基本要求；Oleguer 在進攻上還有一次人球分過接著底線傳中的演出。
雙後腰加上極少上前的兩個邊後衛，讓巴薩這場比賽的防守看起來
是比較穩固，但切爾西只要把防守反擊戰術的速度加快，場面往往
就會相當驚險；而或許更重要的是，在進攻上投入的兵力減少，也
讓球隊一直打不出具有威脅性的團隊配合，對於以進攻掌控比賽節
奏的巴薩來說，這可能比防守上的疏漏更為重要。
Motta 在防守上相當努力（包括烏龍球），但他在進攻傳球上的失誤率
高的嚇人（當然還沒有到 Gerard 去年第二腿時的經典演出就是），
讓切爾西有許多防守反擊的機會。在丟了一球，把 Motta 換成 Larsson
之後，球隊的進攻才真正有所開展，不只是在爭頂高球上
的縱深上有很大的進步: Eto'o 在左邊鋒的位置意外的活躍，兩個邊後
衛和中場也不斷往前壓迫，同時間巴薩的防守還能屢屢直接斷掉少打
的切爾西進攻之後就地反擊，更加大攻擊的力度。巴薩能在十分鐘內
進逼，連進兩球並且造成對方球門多次險情，當然是有以上所述的各
素配合，同樣的表現並不一定能在第二腿當中重現；但這至少給了 Rijkaard
和教練團們在排兵布陣上更多思考的空間（當然在球隊有客場進球優
下，面對第二腿的心態可能更會以穩健至上就是。）
在 Xavi 缺陣之後，如何能夠找到攻守平衡的中場人員組合，是球隊
目前最重要的問題。
切爾西或許能為自己的失利找到各種藉口，但巴薩絕對可以踢的比今
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Monday, February 20, 2006
[Kings] Latest Rumor: Bonzi to Denver?
Bonzi to Denver?
With the trade deadline arriving Thursday, the latest Nuggets trade rumors include a deal sending point guard Earl Watson to Sacramento for shooting guard Bonzi Wells. A move sending Watson and guard Voshon Lenard, who wants to be traded, for Wells would work financially. Adding Wells, who is averaging 14.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals, could give Denver a much-needed, starting-caliber shooting guard who could get $8 million as a free agent this summer. Wells also has a good relationship with Nuggets assistant Tim Grgurich, who coached him at Portland.
Word is the Nuggets could still acquire Orlando guard Steve Francis in a three-way trade that includes New York and send injured Nuggets forward-center Nene to Orlando and Watson to the Knicks. The deal would not include Denver forward Kenyon Martin.
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Friday, February 10, 2006
[Misc.] Russia’s Abramovich Buys Gigayacht, Most Expensive eBay Item for $170m
Mosnews :
A press release issued Wednesday claims Fort Lauderdale based 4Yacht has sold a 405-foot steel megayacht on eBay, believed to be the most expensive item ever sold on the Internet auction site, to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
he currently yet unbuilt yacht is so big, it is actually a “Gigayacht”, the press release adds. The yacht is announced as a “stunning new Frank Mulder Design Gigayacht” with a “luxury office area, salon, cinema room, fitness room, and two person cabins for children, personal assistant, or bodyguards”.
Below an artist’s impression of the yacht, there is some bold, capitalized rubric: “This auction is for a deposit of 50% of the purchase price of $168,000,000.00 total. Custom build. Delivery in 2007.” The Wednesday’s press release claims the project was sold for the “Buy now” price of $85,000,000, but 4Yacht has put the finished value at 140 million euros ($170 million) minimum.
The release then brings in Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s name into the mix, Forbes.com added, speculating the Chelsea owner could be a likely buyer — he’s apparently on the hunt for a 100-meter plus yacht to add to his collection of the Pelorus, the Ecstasea and Le Grand Bleu especially as “the project’s distinct resemblance to the Pelorus would be likely to have appealed” to the oligarch.
...
Asked about selling megayachts via eBay, Craig Timm, President of 4Yacht Inc, said “We run a strong advertising schedule and believe in the power of eBay as an additional marketing tool. We are truly in a global market, and what better way to let our potential customers know about such a unique offering?”
Related Links:
Forbes
eBay
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Thursday, February 09, 2006
[NBA] NBA introduces video-on-demand in China
The deal was signed between the NBA (National Basketball Association)-China and the nation's fledgling broadband live sports provider NuSports, said Mark Fischer, general manager of NBA-China.
"This is a breakthrough agreement for us in the new media realm where video-streaming and other technologies are constantly improving," Fischer said on Thursday.
NBA fans in China will now have access to 42 live webcasts and VOD of games from the current season and upcoming playoffs through the NuSports website, nusports.cn.
The live basketball games will be called in Mandarin by experienced broadcasters and will remain on the site for 24 hours for fans to view.
Financial terms of the deal, to last through the 2005-06 season, were not disclosed.
...The NBA currently broadcasts four live games a week nationally via state broadcaster China Central Television, while viewers in some parts of China can watch up to seven games a week via 21 provincial television stations, he added.
"We have up to 38 million viewers who watch at least one NBA game in China per week (on free television)," Fischer said.
"In the 15-24 year age group, our main market, basketball is the number one sport of 81 percent of the kids and 58 percent say they watch one NBA game a week," he said.
Related Links:
新傳寬頻體育
CCTV
China fans to root for Ming through NBA webcasts
NuSports and the NBA Bring 24-7 Basketball to Fans in China
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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
[NBA] Grizzly Grizzlies
"We're not having fun," Jackson said Saturday night.
What the Griz are not these days would take too much space to list. But the common denominator during a funk in which they've lost nine of the past 12 games is easy to discern. The Griz have underperformed on offense so routinely late in games that they have begun to second-guess everything.
Fratello blamed the laboring efforts on individuals hesitating, which has disrupted execution and flow.
Pau Gasol pointed to a lack of confidence in the group.
Jones directed his disappointment at sudden selfish play.
Jackson said the tension wouldn't be so thick if guys played more free and loose.
What do the numbers say?
There are culprits among the top six players in the Grizzlies' rotation.
Center Lorenzen Wright has been the least productive and called upon given his decreasing playing time late in games. Last Saturday night was the first time in the past 12 games that Wright didn't see the fourth quarter. And in the previous 11 games, Wright's averaged less than one rebound to go with 33-percent shooting in fourth quarters.
Jackson has the most points (45) and also the most shot attempts (48) in fourth quarters over the past 12 games. His shooting percentage (.333), though, is nothing to brag about.
Only Gasol's is worse. The 7-foot Spaniard has converted just 12-of-37 shots (32 percent) to go with a team-high seven turnovers in fourth quarters in the past 12 games.
With a 2.8-point fourth-quarter scoring average during that span, Gasol ranked fourth on the team in crunch-time scoring behind Jackson (3.7), Mike Miller (3.5) and Jones (3.3).
Since Jan. 14, the Griz have been outscored on average 22.5-19.8 points in fourth quarters. Their production is worse in the nine losses.
Opponents averaged 17.8 points compared to the Grizzlies' 14 points in the final frame. Those averages include an overtime game Jan. 20 at Philadelphia when the Griz were outscored 25-18 in the fourth and 15-11 in the extra period.
Their 14-point fourth quarter at Milwaukee marked the fifth time in the past nine losses that the Griz failed to score at least 20 points over the final 12 minutes of regulation.
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