Monday, 4th June 2007

SPORTS SHORTS

* Nokia Siemens Networks said Thursday that Malaysian mobile operator Maxis has commissioned Nokia Siemens Networks to integrate, deliver and host an interactive mobile game "Master of Maya". The game will be launched by Maxis in the end of May 2007. "Master of Maya" was jointly developed by Nokia Siemens Networks and UFA / FremantleMedia, and will be actively advertised by Maxis in the end of May 2007. Source: Total Content + Media, 1st June 2007

* VSNL has launched WiMAX services on May 31, becoming the first company to launch it in India. WiMAX facilitates video streaming, high-speed file downloads, VoIP, and web browsing while on-the-go. The services are on offer to enterprise customers in Bangalore and plans are underway to extend WiMAX network to about 120 cities across India for enterprise customers and 5 cities for retail customers by the end of this year. The company launched its services after conducting pilot testing in Bangalore and other locations. Source: Digital Media Asia, 1st June 2007

* Major League Baseball could stage games in China as early as next year, according to MLB president, Bob DuPuy but he warned that establishing the sport in the country would take time. MLB is considering starting the 2008 season in Japan and holding exhibition games in China. The New York Yankees have already said that they want to play the league’s first game in China. MLB is among several US sports that are eyeing China’s 1.3-billion population as a potentially lucrative new market. Source: Sportcal, 1st June 2007

* IEC has been appointed by Colin Stubs Enterprises to handle worldwide television distribution for the tennis event, AAMI Classic for 2008 and 2009. The tennis event is held each year the week before the Australian Open at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne. The 2008 tournament is taking place from 9-12 January. The AAMI Classic will be staging its 20th edition next year. The tournament has had the likes of Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic participate in the past. Source: Indian Television, 2nd June 2007

* Ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has quit her U.S. television show to spend more time with her soccer-playing husband. Beckham, who was known as Posh Spice when she sang with the British pop group, wasn't prepared to miss David Beckham's games this week and next, to complete two weeks of filming for her NBC reality show about her move to the United States. "My family will always come before my career," she was quoted as saying. Source: UPI on New Kerala, 1st June 2007


MORE NEWS

India/General: Indian Cricket League Runs into Copyright Row

Subhash Chandra’s much-talked-about Indian Cricket League (ICL) could be headed for trouble even before its first tournament hits the ground. The ICL happens to be the copyright of a top official of the BCCI, in an individual capacity. However, Lalit Modi, vice-president, BCCI, declined to name the individual. “I cannot reveal who holds the copyright,” he said. Sources indicate that the individual in question, along with the Essel group and other concerned legal and regulating authorities, are trying to sort out the matter.

Essel officials, meanwhile, claimed that they were not aware of any such development. Himanshu Mody, business head of Zee Sports, said, “There is no such complication. We are currently in the process of registering the ICL name.” Subhash Chandra has been trying to develop a large cricket property after failing to land any big broadcast rights.

Zee Sports lost out in the bid for Indian cricket rights, which was won by Nimbus. Recently, it also lost the right to broadcast the International Cricket Council’s global competitions, including the world cups of 2011 and 2015 and four champions trophy tournaments. ESPN Star Sports pipped everybody to win this prize. Cricket continues to be the biggest money-spinner in India despite the spectacular failures of the national cricket team. Zee Sports had to win some big broadcast rights in order to attract viewers and advertisers.

The copyright issue now poses further complications for this fledgling channel. Essel had announced the formation of the private league on April 3, 2007, but had not registered the trademark. The league has roped in cricket stars including Kapil Dev, Kiran More, Dean Jones and Tony Greig as members of the Board.

The BCCI had announced last year that it would establish an inter-city cricket league in the limited overs and Twenty20 format. It was supposed to be structured along the lines of professional leagues such as the English Premier League, complete with relegations and promotions. The league was to also recruit overseas cricketers and have separate TV, internet, mobile, merchandising, sponsorship and ground signage rights.

BCCI’s vice-president Mr Modi had predicted that the league would become the single largest revenue earning avenue for the Board after its establishment. On 12 September 2006, the BCCI had announced that it would spend $347 million over the subsequent one year to upgrade the cricket stadiums around the country. It was then that the words Indian Cricket League were brought under the concerned individual’s trademark. Source: The Economic Times, Indian Times Cricket, 4th June 2007


ARTICLES, COMMENTS & OPINIONS

Blatter's Dangerous Glory Rings Hollow
Source: The Scotsman, 3rd June 2007

Upon being re-elected, unopposed, for a third term as FIFA president in Zurich on Thursday, Sepp Blatter made a casual remark. "Some people say that to win without danger is to triumph without glory." Then, appearing to realise how that might be interpreted, he backtracked, in the next breath, adding: "But I don't necessarily agree with that."

It is no wonder that Blatter is, to some, beyond parody. Then again, he is not without power, significant power - and after Thursday's FIFA congress he appears to have more than ever. Which, to those who consider him beyond parody, or to those who regard him as beneath contempt, is remarkable.

It is also remarkable that Blatter's casual - and self-aggrandising - remark about danger and glory was in reference to a serious matter, namely the federal case in New York that saw Mastercard take FIFA to court last year for breaching an exclusive re-negotiation period to open talks with their great rivals, Visa. The case prompted Mastercard's lawyer, Martin Hyman, to comment: "Disraeli once said there were three kinds of lies: lies, darn lies and statistics. We have learned from FIFA that there are more. We have learned about the six degrees of prevarication, white lies, commercial lies, bluffs, pure lies, straight untruths and perjury."

FIFA lost the case in December, though Blatter has appealed, knowing - as cynics pointed out - that the appeal wouldn't be heard before Thursday's congress, and his re-election. Yet although it is losing FIFA in the region of $2m a month in sponsorship revenue, on top of the $5m legal fees, the Mastercard case, according to those who have Blatter in their sights, is small beer. If what they say is true - if even some of what they say is true - then it is stunning that Blatter, at 71, even wants to remain at the helm of the organisation until 2011. Then again, he didn't get where he is today by being retiring, or entertaining thoughts of retirement.

There is a direct line from Blatter to his predecessor, the Brazilian Joao Havelange, who replaced Sir Stanley Rous as FIFA president in 1974. Havelange, who was 82 when he stepped down after 24 years, groomed Blatter as his successor, and when the Swiss stood for the presidency he had only one rival, the UEFA president Lennart Johansson. Story Continues…

Can Rugby Orient Itself
Source: Daily Telegraph, 1st June 2007

When a team of expats played the Chinese Army at the military garrison in Shenzen, the highly decorated general addressed his troops, who were 10-deep on all sides of the pitch watching. "Rugby is very good, very good for the character. If you want to get anywhere in this army you must play rugby," he declared. The next day 2500 eager soldiers turned up and registered to play. That story was recounted by Australian Justin Sampson – a former representative forward who for the past 13 years has been spreading the rugby gospel throughout Asia.

The former Singapore national coach tells of a game whose popularity is exploding through the region. The Asian Rugby Football Union now has 24 member nations including such diverse countries as Mongolia and Sri Lanka. Sampson describes Asian rugby as a "sleeping giant", that with the right guidance and support could become a force internationally.

"When China were admitted to IRB in 1997 Leo Williams, who was the charge of Rugby World Cup, asked what they needed to develop," Sampson said. "The head of China Rugby Union turned around and said, quite seriously, 'I want 500 referees and 2000 coaches'.

"And if Korea get their act together they are going to be unbelievable. They are as hard as nails – it's like they have all been trained up near the 38th parallel." He recalled how a team from Mongolia turned up to play in the Kowloon Sevens in Hong Kong and their No. 8 was the player of the tournament. "He was he was six feet six and ran like a gazelle. I could not believe it," he said.

And what about the Thai fullback who kicked three field goals from back on halfway against Malaysia then proceeded to kick another two against Singapore? Or that before their current civil war, games in Sri Lanka drew crowds of 30,000 and the national side fielded a massive 880kg pack when they played Sampson's Singapore side.

Sampson is a real rugby missionary who conducts coaching clinics and fundraising activities for the local unions as well being a colour commentator for the ESPN Star Sport rugby coverage. But rugby in Asia is more than a sport. It can also serve an important social function for the participants. In the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, UNESEO didn't know how to occupy the time of the kids from the orphanages and those living in the city dumps.

"So rugby said 'we will give it a go' and they have taken to it like you wouldn't believe," Sampson said. "I have coached some of the under-19s who were street kids. They have improved out of sight and they just love it, they love tackling."