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The Yankees' bullpen looked good today in relief of Andy Pettitte, who after two rounds third acute fear due to a groin strain in grade 1, which will keep him on a 4-5 week planned.

That puts the Yankees in a very precarious position for several reasons.

The bullpen has planted over 13 innings in the last two games because of injuries to AJ Burnett and his club yesterday Rampage groin injury Pettitte today.

It goes without saying, but 13 innings over two games is a challenge for the bullpen, not to mention the Yankees' bullpen, which has been very irregular this year.

And of course, with Pettitte being off for months to come, Americans need another start.

It is their plan now to use Sergio Mitre Pettitte replacement in the rotation until he recovers from his injury.

Mitre, who returned from injury himself, is not exactly the right person for the job, in my opinion.

He is a starter by trade and has the ability to launch five or six solid innings, but he might be too valuable as a long relief pitcher out of the pen than as a starter.

He appeared in 10 games this year (mostly as a relief pitcher long), but made two starts where he allowed four runs on nine hits in nine innings.

Then in relief this year, Mitre gave up only three runs and five hits in 16 innings. So I think it should be in the bullpen, in this case, Chad Gaudin is expected to be released.

So who should start up Pettitte, if Mitre is not?

Ivan Nova Scotia, which is an excellent young pitcher in the farm system, has the ability to pitch to boost the Yankees' rotation.

As a starter at AAA Scranton / Wilkes Barre this year, Nova has launched 103 rounds in 17 starts, going 7-2 with a very respectable 3.21 ERA, holding opposing batters and only eight home runs.

It also said earlier this year, he threw a 100 mph fastball, but minor league radar guns are not exactly the best in the world.

It was not in the majors earlier this year launched three rounds aimlessly two games in his short stint in New York.

New is also logical because it would be able to adjust to the majors this year and would be much more comfortable position in spring training next year, possibly competing for fifth place in the rotation if both Andy Pettitte and Javier Vazquez departure after this season.

The Yankees will need a lot one day off tomorrow to rest and do some organizing drives, and we'll see what happens.

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Cesc Fabregas has revealed the depth of his torment over a proposed move to Barcelona, describing himself as a "Gunner" and Arsène Wenger as his "second father"

 Emotional ties: Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas admits leaving Arsenal would be a difficult undertaking 

Wenger had a heart-to-heart conversation with his captain shortly before the World Cup at which Fabregas expressed a desire to return to the city of his birth.

Arsenal, though, have since rejected a formal offer of £29.2 million from Barcelona and are now refusing to enter any negotiations with the La Liga champions.

With Barcelona restrained financially amid debts of £368 million, there is an increasing feeling at Arsenal that the battle to keep Fabregas has been won for at least this transfer window.
Fabregas is due to report back for pre-season training at Arsenal next Thursday and is also now resigned to the possibility that he will spend the next year at the Emirates.
“I’m a Barca fan, I’m a socio, as is my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin. I have felt the colours from a young age, I’m Catalan,” said Fabregas.
“However, I’m the captain of Arsenal, I’m a Gunner, and I have become a player there and matured as a person.”

Fabregas described the conversation with Wenger about his future as “one of the best” he has had with anyone in his life and clearly retains a deep personal loyalty.
“He is a second father for me, the most important person in my life after my father,” said Fabregas.
“He has behaved really well with me and taken me in like a son. I am part of his family.
"He doesn’t want me to leave. And in my last conversation with him in London, it was one of the most difficult moments I have experienced. I ended up very upset.”
Wenger’s determination to keep Fabregas centres on his belief that the long-term policy of investing particular energy in developing young players will pay dividends this season.
His key priorities are to buy one more central defender and a goalkeeper, with Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker and Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka among the targets.http://jodnet.blogspot.com
“I am very confident [we’ll do better than last season],” said Wenger. “We invest in our work, in our beliefs, in the quality of our behaviour and I am confident that will pay off.
"We finished third last year and we hope we can improve on that.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mario Balotelli's agent has said Inter Milan and Manchester City are still far from coming to a deal for the 19-year-old.

 

Friends reunited: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is expected to be reunited with Mario Balotelli at Eastlands Photo: Getty Images

The Inter Milan forward has long been linked with a move to Manchester City and all parties were confident of carrying out an agreement early this week.

However, Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola has repatriated in Italy Manchester and admitted that while they remain hopeful an agreement will be done, it will not be completed as soon as they had expected.

"As long as there is hope there is life," Raiola said. "He is calm but anxious to reach an agreement, it is normal for a boy of 19 years. We work and hope. "

Reports indicate that the sticking point is the wage claim of 19 years.

Mancini wants to be reunited with Balotelli, who has caught as Inter coach in 2006 but has insisted they will not pay inflated salaries to anyone.

Inter said on several occasions not to sell the Italy Under-21 international for less than £ 29 million.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan will be runners-up last season from AS Roma and Juventus host traditional rivals in their fifth and sixth games in Serie A next season, the draw on Wednesday. http://jodnet.blogspot.com

The European champions, who also won the national cup last season to seal an unprecedented triple Italian, open their campaign on the Bologna wrestlers alive, but the game can be moved from the date August 29 they face the 'Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup Aug 27.

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David James has signed for Championship club Bristol City, just a month after he wore his country’s colours in the World Cup

Everyone knows that James has never been the most conventional players. He drives a replica of Del Boy Trotter Reliant Robin, it's no hurry-up in the aisles of airplanes, and he was spotted 6ft 4in bend her body in a seat in economy class on Eurostar, but the signature of the City of Bristol, where he won 53 England caps is an odd position, even for him.

The former Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City player joined Portsmouth following their relegation from the Premier League last season, but there was no shortage of top-flight teams interested in signing. Indeed, he refused approaches from Celtic and Sunderland for the benefit of working under Steve Coppell. And playing in the championship will not help his chances to prolong his international career.

For James, who will be paraded at Ashton Gate on Saturday before its next friendly match against Blackpool again, the question is simple. Playing for the Bristol City guarantees him first team football with a team who are said to match his own ambitions, and means that it is not necessary to shake his family, who are at ease after four years in the south.

"I had offers to stay in the Premier League but it is more important that I play football - I love - the club and be a father," he said. "I had a long talk with Chairman Steve Lansdown, and I liked what he said on the club and its ambition.

"I know all about the plans for a new stadium and the desire to win promotion to the Premier League," he added. "The club is ambitious and that is what I am. The Southwest has not had a club in the Premier League and that must change. "

No doubt the will of James to improve the representation of the region in world football, but perhaps more importantly, this approach will allow him to extend his playing career more than he could have be different if he had joined a Premier League club. He turns 40 on Sunday, and although he only signed for one season, he was given the option of a further year if the match is a good thing.

There are also other advantages. James is understood to have an interest in coaching when his playing career ends, and there are worse ways to pick up tips and ideas on the management of working under Coppell, one of the few that succeeded in more than 1000 matches. http://jodnet.blogspot.com

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Roberto Mancini has been forced to abandon Manchester City’s pre-season tour of America and fly to his family home in Italy after his father was taken seriously ill.

Family First: Roberto Mancini had to leave the pre-season tour of Manchester City in America to be near his father's Picture: ACTION IMAGES

Mancini, who had sanctioned the sale of Javier Garrido to Lazio in a £ 2.5 million much earlier in the day, was about to undergo training in Baltimore, where he was informed that his father had been rushed to intensive care Ancona .

Coaches David Platt and Brian Kidd will be responsible for Saturday's friendly match against Inter Milan.

We do not know if Mancini is back in America for the match against Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund next week.

When he does return to work, Mancini will turn the mind unloading more players side of the payroll of the club, after dropping Garrido, signed by Sven-Goran Eriksson for € 1.5 million in 2007, on Friday.

The Italian would like to start his first Premier League campaign without Stephen Ireland, Craig Bellamy, Jo, Felipe Caicedo, Robinho, Roque Santa Cruz, Nedum Onuoha, Michael Johnson Kelvin Etuhu, but has not been forthcoming .

Santa Cruz is considered a target for Stoke, while Blackburn will consider the loan Jo City should agree to pay a portion of his salary. http://jodnet.blogspot.com

A similar arrangement may be necessary to secure the sale of Robinho to Benfica.

Bellamy would be tempted by the prospect of joining the former director of Mark Hughes to Fulham, while Onuoha and Ireland have both been linked with Everton and Sunderland.

City remain hopeful of signing Mario Balotelli for £ 25 million from Inter, though sources at the club suggested that the two parties have yet to agree a fee, while the wages of the players can prove a stumbling block.

"He looks forward to reaching an agreement, it is normal for a boy of 19 years," said Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola.

 

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Golden moment: Britain's Andy Turner produces the goods when it matters to capture the gold medal in the 100m hurdles in Barcelona Photo: GETTY IMAGES

While many had been touting the claims of William Sharman as Britain’s big hope in the 110 metres hurdles, it was the less heralded man, another rare British battler, who prevailed after Sharman had been disqualified in his semi-final for a false start.

It was the race of the Nottingham man’s life and his gold-laden team-mates were left thrilled by this ultimate Turner prize. Years of near-misses and frustrations seemed to be packed into his 13.28 sec of immaculate action

In his semi he had clattered into the eighth hurdle and looked ragged, but when it mattered, it was Turner who proved as note perfect as we had expected the classically-trained pianist Sharman to be, smoothly clearing the 10 barriers before bounding over an imaginary 11th while clouting the air in sheer joy. It was his best time of the season.
And Turner’s triumph, like the medals of Mark Lewis-Francis and Christian Malcolm before him, was another reward for a British athlete who simply refused to be written off.
Last year, Sutton-based Turner had lost his Lottery funding, suffered further injury which wrecked his season and saw his thunder stolen by Sharman.
At 29, he could have been forgiven for starting this season believing he may never win a major gold after picking up a bronze at these championships four years ago and at the Commonwealth Games.

Maybe feeding athletes and then starving them really does work wonders. Turner was mad, losing an appeal against the Lottery cut despite claiming it was unfair because he had been injured.
But after the financial backing was restored this year, the result was this magnificent performance, just one-hundredth of a second outside his lifetime best, but recorded in the teeth of a headwind.
“I walked round the stadium the other day and I stood by the rostrum, looked at the gold medal spot and thought: ‘I want to stand on that so bad’,” he reflected afterwards.
“It’s been a tough two years but I’ve been chipping away and working hard, all those lows have finally been worth it. I can forget about that now.”
For once in his life, Turner got lucky. He feared he had false-started in Thursday’s heats, nearly tumbled in his semi and when the Czech favourite, Petr Svoboda, appeared to be surging to victory in the final, he clattered into the seventh hurdle and ended up trailing home sixth.http://jodnet.blogspot.com
“It might have cost him,” said Turner, who was effectively given a free ride to the line, pursued by Frenchman Garfield Darien (13.34) and Hungarian Daniel Kiss (13.39).
Watching from the commentary box, Jackson, four-time winner of this title, acclaimed his successor’s “special moment”. Turner had battled for years to bound out of the imposing shadow left by the golden era he and Jarrett had enjoyed.
There needs, again, to be some perspective. This time only puts him eighth in the world on this year’s rankings.
It was comical how all the pre-competition hype had centred on Sharman, a fascinating character who plays the cornet, has an economics degree, and was formerly the timekeeper on Gladiators.
But Sharman, fourth in last year’s World Championships, fell foul of the ‘one false start and out’ rule, introduced here at a major championship for the first time.
“No complaints but it was like a nightmare,” he said. “I think this new rule is horrible.”

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Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has hinted he is still tempted by a return to Barcelona. (Independent)

Landon Donovan says he would love to rejoin Everton from LA Galaxy following his successful loan spell at Goodison Park last season.
Premier League new boys Blackpool are eyeing a loan deal for Liverpool attacker Nabil El Zhar. (Tribal Football)
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson wants Aston Villa midfield general Stiliyan Petrov as the shock replacement for transfer-seeking Javier Mascherano. (Mirror)
Chelsea want to wrap up the £17m signing of ­Benfica star Ramires in time for their pre-season tour of Germany. (Star)
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Arsenal
Serdar Tasci could still make a £10 million switch to Arsenal. The Gunners have held talks with Stuttgart but are yet to bid for the German defender. (Sun)
With Sol Campbell heading to Newcastle, Arsenal are ready to turn to Per Mertesacker to solve their defensive crisis. Arsene Wenger will offer Werder Bremen £10m for the German international centre-back. (Mirror)
Arsenal have been given the green light to bid for Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti after Cagliari put him up for sale. (Sun)
Manuel Almunia is wanted by his first club Osasuna, a transfer which could rekindle Arsenal's move for Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. (Mail)
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Aston Villa
Luke Young's exit from Aston Villa is a step nearer after he was omitted from the club’s latest touring squad as Liverpool eye him. (Mirror)
Shaun Wright-Phillips is being offered to Aston Villa in a cut-price makeweight in the James Milner deal. (Mirror)
Stiliyan Petrov wants boss Martin O'Neill to sign Celtic's Aiden McGeady, who Aston Villa are reportedly interested in. (Sky Sports)
Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell has rejected West Ham to join Fulham in a £2 million deal. (Mail)
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Birmingham City
Birmingham defender Roger Johnson insists his side still need another six signings before the transfer window shuts. (Sun)
Crystal Palace have warned Birmingham City a bid for defender Nathaniel Clyne is "not even worth looking at" after the Midlands club had a £1.25 million offer rejected. (Sky Sports)
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Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn are hopeful of signing Brazilian forward Jo on either a loan deal or a fraction of the £11m Manchester City paid for the player. (Mirror)
Blackburn have taken Andranik Teymourian, Rodrigo Branco and former Barcelona winger Gai Assulin on trial. (Mail)
Harry Redknapp will make a move for young Blackburn centre-back Phil Jones. (People)
Jason Roberts is determined to stay at Ewood Park, despite manager Sam Allardyce looking to sell the striker. (Mirror)
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Blackpool
Premier League new boys Blackpool are eyeing a loan deal for Liverpool attacker Nabil El Zhar. (Tribal Football)
Blackpool are losing their fight to entice Tom Cleverley to Bloomfield Road on loan - but Ian Holloway is set to finally make Dekel Keinan his first summer signing. (Mirror)
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register hereFormer West Brom midfielder may be on his way to Bloomfield Road on a free transfer. (Mail)
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Bolton Wanderers
Nigeria international John Utaka will choose between Bolton, Sunderland and Fulham after being told he can leave troubled Portsmouth in a cut-price move. (Star)
In order to raise funds, Aston Villa have put a £4 million pricetag on Nigel Reo-Coker, frightening off interest from Bolton and Blackburn. (Mirror)
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Chelsea
Chelsea want to wrap up the £17m signing of ­Benfica star Ramires in time for their pre-season tour of Germany. (Star)
Chelsea have been told they must stump up £33million to sign top defensive target David Luiz from Benfica. (Mail)
Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has revealed he would find it difficult to ignore an offer to join Chelsea. (ESPN)
Chelsea are understood to have made a £20million transfer bid for Ramires, the Benfica midfielder, as Carlo Ancelotti searches for a replacement for Michael Ballack and Joe Cole.
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Everton
Landon Donovan says he would love to rejoin Everton from LA Galaxy following his successful loan spell at Goodison Park last season.http://jodnet.blogspot.com
Everton striker Lukas Jutkiewicz is joining Coventry City on loan. (Daily Mail)
Inter Milan have earmarked Everton winger Steven Pienaar as a potential target. (Daily Mail)
Everton have rejected Arsenal's £14 million offer for Phil Jagielka, but may test the Blues' resolve with an improved £16 million bid. (Mirror)
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Fulham
New Fulham manager Mark Hughes could return to former club Manchester City to buy Stephen Ireland, Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz. (Mirror)
Arsene Wenger has offered 37-year-old Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer a role at Arsenal as player coach as an extra incentive to join the club (Sun)...
... But Fulham have lined up Rangers' Allan McGregor just in case the Australian does leave Craven Cottage. (People)
Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell has rejected West Ham to join Fulham in a £2 million deal. (Mail)
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Liverpool
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson wants Aston Villa midfield general Stiliyan Petrov as the shock replacement for transfer-seeking Javier Mascherano. (Mirror)
Luke Young's exit from Aston Villa is a step nearer after he was omitted from the club’s latest touring squad as Liverpool eye him. (Mirror) A fee of £2.5m has been agreed between the clubs. (Guardian)
Maxi Rodriguez is ready to join the exodus from Liverpool, with his old club Espanyol keen to take him back to Spain in a bargain deal. (Mirror)
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Manchester City
City are planning to offload Craig Bellamy, Stephen Ireland and Roque Santa Cruz as part of a summer exodus. (Star)
Santa Cruz is likely to head to Marseille for less than £10m. City paid Blackburn £18m for the striker. (Mirror)
Blackburn are hopeful of signing Brazilian forward Jo on either a loan deal or a fraction of the £11m City paid for the player. (Mirror)
Mario Balotelli will finalise his move to City this week after snubing Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester united, who offered the player more money. (Mirror)
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Manchester United
Manchester United are leading the chase for Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan. (Sun)
Manchester United may yet sign long-term target Steven Defour this transfer window. The Standard Liege midfielder, 22, has often been linked with United and Alex Ferguson is set to make a £13million bid. (Sun)
Nemanja Vidic's agent has stressed that Real Madrid have yet to make an approach for the defender. (PA)
Sir Alex Ferguson wants Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm to join Manchester United and is willing to use striker Dimitar Berbatov as bait in a part-exchange deal. (Express)
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Newcastle
Sol Campbell has hinted at a move to Sunderland and not Newcastle. (Sun)
Manager Chris Hughton says goalkeeper Steve Harper will not leave the club, despite reported interest from Celtic. (Sky Sports)
Hughton has also turned down Matt Derbyshire, who was approached by the Olympiakos striker's agent. (People)
Young winger Kazenga LuaLua has been offered a loan move to Brighton & Hove Albion, with Newcastle yet to respond. (Sky Sports)
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Stoke City
Stoke City are to launch an £8 million bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole and remains interested in Tottenham winger David Bentley. (People)
Graham Dorrans will not be joining Stoke City or West Ham after signing a new deal with the Baggies. (People)
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Sunderland
Nigeria international John Utaka will choose between Bolton, Sunderland and Fulham after being told he can leave troubled Portsmouth in a cut-price move. (Star)
Sunderland have confirmed their interest in Stephen Ireland, but the 23-year-old's wage demands may be problematic. (Sky Sports)
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Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham want to sign Scott Parker – but West Ham are looking for a stunning £15million transfer fee. (Mirror)
Real Madrid veteran Raul is poised for a shock Premier League move with Tottenham top of the queue. (Sun)
Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon are about to sign unsettled striker Roman Pavlyuchenko for a season on loan. (Daily Mail)
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West Bromwich Albion
West Brom have had a bid of £3m rejected for Ivorian midfielder Cheick Tiote. The FC Twente star started all three games for his country in this summer's World Cup. (Mail)
Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury could be subject to a loan deal at West Brom, but they face competition from Newcastle and Fulham. (Express)
West Brom are lining up a £1 million move for Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts. (Daily Star)
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West Ham United
Avram Grant is still undecided whether to offer Argentinian striker Milton Caraglio a West Ham deal, following the player’s trial with the Hammers. (IM Scouting)
West Ham have offered Scott Parker a new contract worth £20million over five years to try and prevent him leaving the club this summer. (Mail)
Roma are stepping up their efforts to sign midfielder Valon Behrami from West Ham and could offer goalkeeper Doni or striker Stefano Okaka in exchange. (Mail)
West Ham are winning the race to sign coveted Nice striker Loic Remy after making an improved bid. (PA)
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Wigan Athletic
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is ready to snap up Dutch right back Ronnie Stam in a £2 million deal from champions Twente Enschede. (Mirror)
Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register hereWigan have completed the signing of Paraguay international Antolin Alcaraz after the defender was granted a work permit.
Wigan look set to complete the signing of Hamilton midfielder James McArthur. (PA)
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Wolverhampton Wanderers
Mick McCarthy's men are close to clinching the loan signing of Senegalese international Guirane N'Daw from Nantes. (People)

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The team's coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reportedly forced to become a builder and has been expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea. Photo: REUTERS

The entire squad was forced onto a stage at the People's Palace of Culture and subjected to criticism from Pak Myong-chol, the sports minister, as 400 government officials, students and journalists watched.

The players were subjected to a "grand debate" on July 2 because they failed in their "ideological struggle" to succeed in South Africa, Radio Free Asia and South Korean media reported.

The team's coach, Kim Jong-hun, was reportedly forced to become a builder and has been expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea.
The coach was punished for "betraying" Kim Jong-un - one of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il's sons and heir apparent.
The country, in its first World Cup since 1966, lost all three group games – including a 7-0 defeat to Portugal.
The broadcast of live games had been banned to avoid national embarrassment, but after the spirited 2-1 defeat to Brazil, state television made the Portugal game its first live sports broadcast ever.
Following ideological criticism, the players were then allegedly forced to blame the coach for their defeats. http://jodnet.blogspot.com
Only two players avoided the inquisition - Japanese-born Jong Tae-se and An Yong-hak, who flew straight to Japan after the tournament.
However, media in South Korea said the players got off lightly by North Korean standards.
"In the past, North Korean athletes and coaches who performed badly were sent to prison camps," a South Korean intelligence source told the Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

 

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife was threatened at her home by three men who were carrying guns and looking for the former NBA player about six weeks before he was shot to death, the woman's attorney said Friday.

Sherra Wright warned her ex-husband, the father of her children, about the visit by men dressed in sport coats with weapons tucked in their waistbands, lawyer Gail Mathes said. But she was frightened by their threats and didn't tell authorities about it until Monday, when she alerted police in the Memphis suburb of Collierville, near her home.
''She was told that if she said anything she would be killed, or her children,'' Mathes said. ''Mrs. Wright was terrified.''
The body of the 34-year-old athlete was found in woods in Memphis on Wednesday, six days after his family reported him missing. He was last seen around midnight July 18, when he stayed over at his ex-wife's house.
Sherra Wright told officers he left in the middle of the night with an unidentified person. Police records indicate Wright was probably carrying a large amount of cash when he disappeared.
An investigation is now under way by police in nearby Germantown, another Memphis suburb, about how a 911 call from Wright's phone early on July 19 was handled.
Autopsy results haven't been released, so it's not clear when Wright died or how many times he was shot. Police said the medical examiner had to use dental records to establish a positive identity, indicating the body might have been in the woods for some time before it was found by a police search team.
Memphis police are leading the homicide investigation and won't discuss a motive or if they have suspects. Memphis police Lt. Alan Ruhl said Friday that the department isn't discussing details of the case because the investigation is ongoing.
Rodney Bright, Germantown's deputy police chief, said department officials did not know about the 911 call until Tuesday, eight days after it was received by a dispatcher in the early morning hours of July 19.
Bright said Friday he can't discuss what was said on the call, which has been turned over to Memphis police. They also won't talk about the call.
The Commercial Appeal newspaper, which first reported the call, said the dispatcher heard a garbled male voice utter an expletive and then heard at least 10 gunshots. The call went dead and no one answered when the dispatcher called back, the newspaper reported.
Police said area law enforcement agencies didn't meet until Wednesday to discuss the case. Investigators were able to locate the source of the call and a few hours after that meeting, officers found Wright's body nearby.http://jodnet.blogspot.com
Police in Collierville had taken the July 22 missing person report. Before Wright was found dead, they had repeatedly said they didn't suspect foul play.
Wright's friends have questioned why police didn't act with more urgency. Mathes said Germantown police were negligent in failing to report the call to other law enforcement in the area, and the delay has hurt the homicide investigation.
''I do believe there was a disregard with a transparent obliviousness to the significance of a call where you hear 10 shots,'' Mathes said.
The 6-foot-11 Wright played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall.
He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career games.
Wright leaves behind six children, his mother Deborah Marion, and father Herb Wright, who coached his son from a wheelchair after he was shot in the spine. Lorenzen Wright's 11-month-old daughter, Sierra, died in March 2003 of sudden infant death syndrome.
Messages of sadness and condolence have poured in from around the NBA since Wright's body was found. Hundreds of people have visited the scene near where Wright's body was found to pay respects to the beloved Memphis native.
Mathes said she is hoping to set up a fund for Wright's children, with hopes of getting contributions from NBA players.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees do not fear the Rays. They respect them. The Rays’ success in 2008 taught them that, and their revival in 2010 has reinforced it. Every time the Yankees have won over the last five weeks, the Rays have seemed to match them. That streak ended Friday night, when Tampa Bay outshined the Yankees on all fronts, if only by a drop.
 
Their starting pitcher lasted a bit longer and pitched a bit better, and their home run knocked in one more run. That supplied the margin of victory for the Rays, who drew to within one game of the Yankees in the American League East with a 3-2 victory in front of a raucous capacity crowd of 36,973 at Tropicana Field.
“We understand that these aren’t the end-of-the-world games,” Manager Joe Girardi said. “But these are important games in our division, and we’re trying to win this series.”
For the first time in their history, the Rays (64-38) have sold out three consecutive regular-season games, and after Matt Joyce’s three-run home run in the sixth inning soared over the right-field bleachers, Phil Hughes said he heard no cowbells or horns — just extended shouts of joy.
“That’s probably the loudest I’ve heard it in there,” Hughes said.
Hughes lamented his one mistake — a two-out, two-strike cutter. But he congratulated his counterpart, Wade Davis, who allowed a leadoff single to Derek Jeter, a two-run homer to the next hitter, Nick Swisher — “That must have really upset him or something,” Swisher said — and little else over seven sparkling innings.
The Yankees (65-37) had only one hit after the first inning, and none came from Alex Rodriguez, who continues to chase career home run No. 600. After Rodriguez went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, a flyout and two popouts, his streak without a home run stood at 34 at-bats.
On nights like this — and at this hectic juncture on the baseball calendar, when weaknesses are magnified in advance of Saturday’s trade deadline — it is easy to understand why the Yankees would want to augment their offense as they gear up for what should be a tense two-month battle with the Rays for the division title.

Although they are the highest-scoring team in baseball, the Yankees lack a full-time designated hitter. They tend to fix small problems with big names, and they were on the verge of adding Lance Berkman from the Houston Astros. Late Friday night, they also acquired the right-handed-hitting outfielder Austin Kearns from Cleveland. Their regular lineup will soon have a glut of switch-hitters with power — Swisher, Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada and Berkman — who can create late-inning matchup problems for bullpens.
Because of the strong base of Yankees fans living nearby, Tropicana Field is the only visiting ballpark where the reaction to Rodriguez is, at worst, mixed. As he strode to the plate in the first inning, it seemed that entire sections of Yankees fans, assembled near the left-field line, rose and showered him with an ovation. When he struck out, the Rays supporters answered, and the back-and-forth went on all night.
“These series are fun because you know what’s at stake,” Swisher said.
For reasons neither he nor Manager Joe Girardi can identify, Hughes has tended to pitch far better away from Yankee Stadium, where he surrendered his previous 15 home runs. In 11 starts at home, Hughes has a 5.26 earned run average. In seven on the road coming into Friday, his E.R.A. was 2.36. Part of the discrepancy may derive from a scheduling quirk, which had Hughes making six of his last seven starts at home, a stretch that coincided with a drop-off in performance that he attributed to a mechanical flaw.
The pitching coach Dave Eiland noticed that Hughes was having trouble throwing his pitches from a consistent arm slot: his arm would drop, causing his fastball to stray and his curveball to lack depth. Between his last few starts, Hughes has focused on maintaining his release point, and the results of his hard work were on display Friday night. He threw his curveball with conviction and at any point in the count — to get ahead, when he was behind, and to get hitters to chase it in the dirt, as Carl Crawford did to end the third inning.
That strikeout came during a string of seven straight outs, broken up by Willy Aybar’s leadoff single in the fifth. In discussing the Rays on Thursday, Hughes mentioned how relentless their lineup is, how their aggressiveness and opportunism can put constant pressure on a pitcher. The next hitter, B. J. Upton, surprised the Yankees with a bunt up the third-base line that dribbled foul. Hughes got Upton to pop out. Then, in one of his more impressive moments of the night, he came back against Reid Brignac after falling behind by 3-and-0 to catch him looking at a 93-mile-per-hour fastball that grazed the inside corner.
With the Yankees clinging to their 2-0 lead, the Rays threatened in the sixth, and Hughes nearly escaped. A nifty defensive play by Robinson Cano on Carlos Pena’s bouncer resulted in a forceout at second base, putting runners on the corners for Joyce. Hughes threw two straight curveballs, trying to slow Joyce’s bat enough to sneak a fastball inside on him. The cutter leaked over the plate, and Joyce pounced, setting up an intense final two games that could be a prelude for late October.http://jodnet.blogspot.com
“One pitch,” Hughes said, “and that was our night.”

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