Sports News for December 31, 2008

Becks praised by AC Milan captain
AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has praised the work ethic of loan signing David Beckham. ANI

Dhoni receives extortion letter
Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni received an extortion letter demanding five million rupees. ANI

Shocked Johnson says Oz will try to come back
A shocked Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has said that Tuesdays loss to South Africa in the second Test in Melbourne has left him disappointed, but warned that the team will strive to make amends in Sydney. ANI

Obama is also a West Ham fan
US President-elect Barack Obama may sport a ubiquitous Chicago White Sox cap, but it turns out he is also a fan of West Ham United, a soccer team in the Englands Barclays Premier League. ANI

Oz team spirit will be tested following Proteas defeat: Warne
Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has said that Australias team spirit will undergo an acid test after the demoralising home series loss to South Africa. ANI

Watson says will use IPL to launch Ashes selection bid
Injured Australian crickter Shane Watson has said that he will use his second stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009 to boost his Ashes selection hopes. ANI

Ronaldo may be sent home to find missing spark
Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson is seriously considering allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Portugal to recharge his batteries before the teams Barclays Premier League showdown with Chelsea on January 11. ANI

Fate of Pak hockey teams visit to India to be decided on January 2
The decision on the proposed Pakistan hockey teams visit to India will be taken up for discussion in a high-level meeting in Islamabad on January 2. ANI

Debt-ridden Latvians use Internet to convince billionaire Abramovich to buy Latvia
Russo-Latvian billionaire and owner of the Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich has been told that he would need to fork out 7.2 billion pounds to buy his hard-up country Latvia. ANI

Proteas vow to keep pressure on Australia at SCG
South Africa has vowed to maintain the pressure on Australia during the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which begins on Saturday. ANI

Not the right time for chopping and changing Oz cricket squad: Hilditch
Australias chief cricket selector Andrew Hilditch has reiterated that the rebuilding process is progressing well and asserted that now was not a time for chopping and changing the squad despite the series loss to South Africa. ANI

S.African pair Smith and Steyn top batting and bowling charts
South African stars Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn may be focussing on overtaking Australia as the worlds No.1 Test cricket side, but they can also reflect on 2008 as a stand-out year individually. ANI

Crickets dilemma: Economics or respecting tradition
Cricket is a game forever on the cusp of disappointing its traditionalists. ANI

Miandad snubs Qadirs proposal of holding trial matches
The Director-General of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Javed Miandad, has rejected chief selector Abdul Qadirs proposal to host a series of trial matches ahead of the home teams upcoming international fixtures. ANI

Time for Australia to pass the champions baton: Roebuck
Well known cricket columnist Peter Roebuck believes that Australias period of cricketing domination is over, and therefore, it needs to pass the champions baton to the South Africans. ANI

Sri Lanka tour of Pak hits a roadblock
The Sri Lankan tour of Pakistan seems to have hit another road block just when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was preparing to host Sri Lanka for a test and one day international series. ANI

Roo rubbishes Arsenals chances of being Premier League champs
Manchester United and England football star Wayne Rooney has rubbished Arsenal Football Clubs chances of winning the Premier League title. ANI

Bollinger hopes to save `once great Australia from further embarrassment
New South Wales left arm quick Doug Bollinger is thrilled with his call-up for the Sydney Test that begins on Saturday, and hopes to save `once great Australia from further embarrassment at the hands of the South Africans. ANI

Liverpool back outstanding servant Gerrard after assault charge
Liverpool have extended full support to captain Steven Gerrard, days after he was charged with assault and affray during a late-night bar brawl. ANI

Oz selectors accused of muddled thinking following series defeat to Proteas
Australias cricket selectors continues to face flak in the wake of the national teams two-nil series defeat to South Africa. ANI

Gerrard gets text messages of support from England mates
England and Liverpool soccer star Steven Gerrard has reportedly received texts of support from top players, including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, days after being charged with assault and affray.The Sun reports that the four players, all senior figures in the England team, told Gerrard to keep your chin up after hearing he must appear before a magistrates court next month in connection with a bar brawl. An England source said: They wanted to tell Stevie theyre behind him. They know what its like to be under the spotlight. You stick by your mates - especially in times of trouble - and footballers are no different. ANI