Dutch Banned From Twitter During SWC
The Netherlands team warm down after a training session at Wits Stadium on June 9 in Johannesburg.
The Netherlands World Cup squad has been banned from using Twitter during the tournament after Eljero Elia sparked a racism row with comments on a live streaming video.
Viewers of the video – in which the winger appears to insult Moroccans – reacted angrily to Elia’s comments, forcing him to apologise and prompting Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk to impose the ban.
Defender Gregory van der Wiel said on his Twitter account the squad were no longer allowed to use it, and this was confirmed by Ryan Babel and Elia who both went offline.
On the video Elia and Babel are seen playing a computer game in their room in front of a webcam, with several other team members visiting them.
Elia apologised for his comments but insisted he had not intended to insult a group of people.
“I want to apologise to the Moroccan community but I am not a racist,” he told Dutch media.
“I grew up in The Hague in a neighbourhood with 75 percent Moroccans and have a lot of friends among them.
“What I said was meant for a friend of mine, Reduan, who always calls me ‘negro’… it sounds odd, but it is some slang.”
Van der Wiel last year learnt the hard way that Twitter comments can land you in hot water.
The defender pulled out of the Dutch squad for a friendly against Australia with concussion but said on Twitter that he had visited a concert the night the team travelled to Australia.
Netherlands start their World Cup campaign on Monday against Denmark.
With thanks to Stuff.co.nz
Bulls Might Rest 7 Stars Against Stormers
Bulls Super 14 players Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and Jaco van der Westhuyzen could be among many rested for the final game of the round-robin stage.
Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke is likely to pick a “B-team” to play the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday, and the home side has received positive news on the injury front.
After beating the Crusaders 40-35 at Loftus on Friday, the Bulls moved into an unassailable lead at the top of the standings with 47 points and, as a consequence, will want to rest key players in anticipation of their May 22 semifinal.
It’s good news for the second-placed Stormers after their 20-14 loss to the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
The final pool fixture against the Bulls was always going to be crucial for the Stormers but, now that the Bulls are set to send a second-string unit to the match, the pressure on the home team has eased slightly.
However, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee did not feel it was his place to comment on the Bulls’ team selection.
“You’ll have to ask the Bulls about their team selection, we just have to go out and win on the weekend to get into a semifinal position and it doesn’t matter who comes down here to play against us,” Coetzee said.
“I don’t know how they are preparing for this match, but we are preparing for our biggest game of the season.”
Publicly, Coetzee was saying what was expected, but privately he must be a happy man.
Yesterday, flank and skipper Schalk Burger was cleared of any lasting damage to a dislocated finger, and wing Bryan Habana was declared fit to play on Saturday after bruising his ribs nine days ago.
More good news is that prop Wicus Blaauw has made a faster-than-expected recovery from a hand injury and will come into consideration for selection.
If the Stormers win they will secure a home semifinal by finishing second on the log.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are to include almost half of their victorious Vodacom Cup side in the match 22. Captain Victor Matfield confirmed that there would be changes with a message on the social networking site Twitter, but he didn’t say how many players would rotate.
But The Times understands that as many as seven new faces can be expected to be named in the pack from the side that beat the Crusaders, with Bees Roux, Bandise Maku and Jaco Engels making up the front row.
Bakkies Botha and either Flip van der Merwe or Fudge Mabeta should start in the second row, with Pedrie Wannenburg, Derick Kuun and Danie Rossouw making up a formidable loose trio.
Heini Adams will have a rare start at scrumhalf, with Vodacom Cup star Francois Brummer, or Jacques-Louis Potgieter, at flyhalf. If centre Jaco Pretorius is fit, he’ll partner Stephan Dippenaar in the midfield, with Potgieter at flyhalf. If not, Potgieter will wear the No12 shirt with Brummer at flyhalf.
John Mametsa will take over from the suspended Gerhard van den Heever, and Francois Hougaard might start again.
Jaco van der Westhuyzen is ready to start at fullback, but consideration is also being given to Tiger Mangweni.
With thanks to timesonline.co.za
Jim Carrey Attacks Tiger’s Wife
Jim Carrey with his then girlfriend, Jenny McCarthy, at the men's US Open semi-final in 2006.
Jim Carrey, the actor, has launched a bizarre Twitter attack on the wife of Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren.
Carrey, 48, tweeted that Nordegren should have been aware of her husband’s marital indiscretions.
The actor, who currently stars in “I Love You Phillip Morris”, wrote that no wife should have missed that much infidelity”.
He said: “No wife is blind enough to miss that much infidelity. Elin had 2 b a willing participant on the ride 4 whatever reason. kids/lifestyle.”
The Liar, Liar star, who recently split from Jenny McCarthy after five years, added that Nordegren, 30, would have been wise to keep quiet for the sake of their children.
Carrey’s tweet received a volley of critical responses from other “twitterers” forcing him to defend himself.
He insisted that he did not condone infidelity.
In a tweet on Friday Carrey wrote “Tiger Woods owes nothing 2 anyone but himself.”
He added: “I want 2 make it CLEAR that I do not condone infidelity at all, but 2 some degree the responsibility 4 it is shared by both people.”
Tiger Woods, 34, returned to competitive golf at the Masters this weekend following a five month lay-off where it was rumoured he attended a clinic for sex addicts after a string of women came forward alleging affairs with the 14-times major winner.
With thanks to the telegraph.co.uk
Daly Hits Back At Golf Writer On Twitter
John Daly was so irritated that a Florida newspaper wrote about his PGA Tour disciplinary file that he referred to the writer as a “jerk” on Twitter and posted the writer’s mobile phone number for his followers to call.
The Florida Times-Union reported on Tuesday that the file was now public record through Daly’s unsuccessful libel lawsuit against the newspaper. The file is 456 pages and notes that Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort.
“Here’s the jerk who writes non-news article on debut of my show – call and flood his line and let’s tell him how we feel,” Daly said on Twitter, adding the cell phone number of golf writer Garry Smits.
The story appeared the day Daly’s reality show made its debut on The Golf Channel.
Smits, the golf writer for the Florida Times-Union, said he received about 30 calls after a series of three tweets late on Tuesday night, and nearly 100 calls by early Wednesday afternoon. Smits said most of the callers hang up, and about 30 left messages.
“His fans are very unhappy,” Smits said.
Daly removed the tweets by mid-morning on Wednesday. Bud Martin, president of SFX World and Daly’s agent, could not be reached for comment. The PGA Tour would not comment on Daly’s tweets.
“Over the haters – To me, this isn’t journalism, it’s paparazzi-like gossip. Please try harder to find some real news next time Gary,” said Daly’s second tweet.
It was followed by, “Gnight all but here’s Gary Smits cell number in case you didn’t get it … non sports writer.”
The PGA Tour does not comment on player discipline, but it was forced to turn over Daly’s file to attorneys for the newspaper’s parent company when Daly sued for libel. The file is now public record.
The lawsuit was dismissed a year ago, and Daly was ordered to pay nearly $272 000 (R2.049 million) in legal fees.
The 456-page file includes several newspaper clippings and incidents that already have been reported during Daly’s tumultuous career. It also included some startling numbers – he was placed on probation six times, ordered to go to counselling or alcohol rehab seven times, cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times and fined nearly $100 000 (R753 000).
Daly has not had his full PGA Tour card since 2006 and has been playing on sponsor exemptions.
With thanks to the telegraph.co.uk
Lance Armstrong’s Hectic Training Regime
Lance Armstrong is following a strict training regime to prepare for the Tour de France.
Following Lance Armstrong on Twitter is awesome – he keeps the tweets coming, and posts some really cool videos.
If you haven’t sent the clips of his team RadioShack testing his core body temperature – here they are. What these guys go through to be top athletes…
Loading ...
