ESP – Gasol grabs FIBA Europe Player of the Year award

A day doesn’t seem to go by when Pau Gasol of Spain fails to make headlines.

He’s certainly the toast of Spain after claiming another big honor on Monday, the 2009 FIBA Europe Player of the Year award.

It’s the second time in a row that Gasol has been voted as Europe’s top player, and it comes as no surprise.

The seven-footer captured an NBA title for the first time last year after helping the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals and followed that up with an MVP performance at EuroBasket 2009 where Spain overcame a poor start to win their first gold medal in the competition.

Now Gasol, who last month was named the 2009 L.A. Sportsman of the Year, has another honor to put in his awards cabinet.

Gasol will wait until the end of the season before deciding if he will represent Spain at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Spain will compete in Group D in the Preliminary Round against France, Lithuania, Canada, New Zealand and Lebanon.

It certainly will not be a tournament that Gasol will want to miss.

He was the 2006 FIBA World Championship MVP after leading Spain to that title.

USA – Wade shines brightest in Dallas

Dwyane Wade shone brighter than the rest of his fellow All-Stars as he led the East to a 141-139 win over the West in the 59th All-Star Game in Texas on Sunday.

The Team USA guard filled the stats sheet like no other, scoring a game-high 28 points, dishing out a team-best 11 assists, pulling down six rebounds and recording five steals in front of a record capacity crowd of 108,713 that filled the American Football venue Cowboy Stadium.

“I just wanted to do a little bit of everything,” Wade said afterwards. “That’s the way I would like to win MVP, not just get 30 points.”

The personal accolade – and of course the win for the Eastern Conference – gave Wade another reason to remember Dallas fondly. It was almost four years ago that he led the Miami Heat to their first NBA championship in north Texas, helping them overcome a 2-0 deficit against the Dallas Mavericks to clinch the series 4-2.

The East led 76-69 after a high-scoring first half and extended that advantage to 90-74 as Wade and fellow Team USA member LeBron James each had 10 points in the early part of the third quarter.

The West rallied all the way back thanks to some inspiring play from local favourite Dirk Nowitzki as well as Olympic Gold medallist Carmelo Anthony.

Team USA hopeful Chauncey Billups tied the score at 137 with just over a minute remaining before Wade got a steal and was fouled with 13 seconds to go. He made both free-throws for a 139-137 advantage before Nowitzki tied the game up again when he made a pair of his own.

Dallas native and Team USA member Chris Bosh edged the East back in front when he made good on his trip to the charity stripe with five seconds remaining and the outcome was settled when Anthony missed a game-winning three.

Wade and James have not yet confirmed whether they will be representing the USA in Turkey at this summer’s FIBA World Championship for Men as both players – along with Bosh – will headline the 2010 NBA free agent class.

ATP backs Murray over withdrawal

Tennis officials have backed Andy Murray's decision to pull out of this week's Marseille Open.

Murray was due to be top seed in Marseille but has withdrawn from the event as he continues to recover from his efforts at the Australian Open, where he lost in the final to world No.1 Roger Federer.

Tournament director Jean-Francois Caujolle has denied calling for Murray to be suspended for missing the tournament for the second year in succession.

And the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has confirmed it would not have been inclined to do so anyway.

An ATP statement read: "There are clear rules and regulations in place with regard to player withdrawals and Andy Murray followed them."

"We understand a situation like this can be frustrating for a tournament, but we are looking forward to a great week of tennis in Marseille with a strong field led by six of the world's top 20 players."

Caujolle had been quoted in a national newspaper calling for Murray's suspension but on Monday morning told Sky Sports News: "I never said that he should be suspended, but it's true I was really disappointed because he was my top player."

"There is a responsibility for the credibility of all the game when it's a top player. Sometimes you have to force yourself and be responsible."

"I understand he's quite young and it's not a huge tournament but it's quite disappointing and we had the same last year."

"Last year he played in Rotterdam and was a bit injured and I understand that. He sent me an email saying next year I will play."

"I understand everything but the fact is it's going to affect the tournament."

"One week before, to phone and say I am not coming would have been good. In that case I could have found another player, not as good as Andy, but made an offer to Marin Cilic or someone, but it was too late."

"A few minutes later Juan Martin Del Potro pulled out with a real injury so I lost my top two players."

"I think the top seed and marquee player ... they have to not pull out because all the promotion is framed around them."

"There should be something but the ATP is working on that, it's not the fault of the ATP or even Andy. It's just life."

Barcelona falls to Atletico

Barcelona failed to re-establish its five-point lead at the top of the Primera Division after slumping to a 2-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid.

Pep Guardiola's men were second best for long periods against an Atletico side who established a 2-0 lead inside 23 minutes thanks to a clinical Diego Forlan strike and a wonderful free-kick from Simao Sabrosa.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic halved the deficit within four minutes but Atletico deservedly held on to secure an impressive win and do city rivals Real Madrid a huge favour in the title race.

Real, who beat Xerez 3-0 on Saturday night, is now just two points behind its Catalan rivals, for whom it was a first league defeat of the season, after 22 rounds.

Sevilla capped a productive week with a 1-0 win against Osasuna which moved it back into the Champions League qualifying spots.

But while it may have been a three-point haul for the Andalusians, it was another wholly unconvincing performance.

Completely outplayed by Getafe in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg in midweek - Sevilla still progressed despite a 1-0 defeat - Manolo Jimenez's men were again lacking fluency.

But they grabbed the only goal came after 35 minutes courtesy of the prolific Luis Fabiano.

Fernando Soriano struck an injury-time equaliser to salvage a point for Almeria and heap more frustration on Getafe.

It looked like Getafe was going to bounce back from its Copa disappointment with a win as goals from Javi Casquero and Roberto Soldado saw it leading 2-1 heading into the final minutes.

However, it was not to be as Soriano's 92nd-minute equaliser saved lowly Almeria and continued its decent run under new coach Juan Manuel Lillo, who has now lost just one game in seven since replacing Hugo Sanchez during the winter break.

Espanyol secured a vital 2-0 win at home to high-flying Deportivo La Coruna to move back up to the respectability of mid-table.

Former Deportivo midfielder Joan Verdu set Mauricio Pochettino's men on their way with the all-important opener six minutes before half-time.

And Jose Callejon sealed a precious win for the Barcelona-based side with the second just short of the hour mark.

By then, the Catalans' task had been made all the more easier by the sending-off of Deportivo midfielder Antonio Tomas for an elbow on Javi Chica.

Malaga cruised to a 3-0 win at Racing Santander thanks to goals from Weligton, Felipe Caicedo and Victor Obinna.

Racing's misery was compounded by the late dismissal of striker Mohamed Tchite, who was shown a straight red for gesturing to the referee he needed glasses.

Real Zaragoza produced a battling performance to claim a valuable point against relegation rivals Real Valladolid.

Jose Aurelio Gay's side had won their previous two matches to climb out of the bottom three at Valladolid's expense, but they would have been content with just a point after they were forced to fight back from a goal down and having been reduced to 10 men following Andre Herrera's 65th-minute dismissal.

Diego Costa had fired Valladolid ahead after 23 minutes before Humberto Suazo got the visitors on level terms six minutes before the break.

Totti doesn't need an operation

Francesco Totti's doctor insists the Roma captain doesn't need another knee operation amid reports to the contrary.

The 33-year-old has been restricted to just 14 League appearances this season and won't be available to Claudio Ranieri for this weekend's match against Palermo.

It was reported this morning that Totti might need to go under the knife to clean up the area around his knee, which is apparently surrounded by pieces of shattered cartilage, causing inflammation.

“I don't see anything to be alarmed about. The condition of Totti's knee is good,” Professor Pier Paolo Mariani explained.

“Totti had some bruising between the kneecap and the quadriceps against Parma.”

Asked about the prospect of another operation, Mariani said: “I don't really know where these rumours start from. In the last check up, I have seen stud marks on his knee, the poor lad.

“Since the match against Parma we have examined the knee at least twice. There is nothing strange. From a clinical point of view there isn't a problem that can create alarm.”

Premier League ponder Champions League play-off

Soccernet understands that some Premier League clubs have expressed their fears about the adverse effect on English football should there be a four-way play-off to decide who claims England's final Champions League place.

Currently the teams finishing in the top four positions are handed entry to Europe's elite competition, either in the main draw or at the qualifying stage, but the Premier League is believed to be considering a proposal to introduce a play-off for the fourth Champions League spot.

But Soccernet understands the idea has little support among the clubs, who are concerned that it could cost English football one of its coveted places in the Champions League.

It has been suggested that only the first three European spots be decided on league position and the fourth place be determined by a play-off. That could mean the teams finishing between fourth and seventh play a mini-knockout competition.

One idea also mooted is that it could see the return of the failed "39th game" proposal, meaning the play-offs would take place in another country, such as the United States, Australia or the Far East, but any suggestion to switch one of the most imporant games in a club's history to a foreign ground would surely be met with opposition.

The Dutch Eredivisie ran a play-off system for their second Champions League spot from 2006 but it was scrapped after just two seasons.

Such a move would be seen as a measure to inject more competition into the league, but if the team finishing seventh qualified for and won the Champions League place play-off, it could affect English football's coefficient if they then went out before reaching the group stage. Should that happen, eventually it is possible England's quota could be cut from four to three clubs.

In addition, the fixture programme is so congested already that extending the season is not something most clubs would encourage, especially in a World Cup or European Championship year.

The same four clubs - Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea - have filled the top four positions in five of the past six seasons. Only Everton, in 2005, have broken their stranglehold.

The proposal is thought to have been raised at a recent meeting of all 20 clubs and will be considered again when they next meet in April. If the proposal were to be voted on at any stage in the future, a 14-6 majority could be enough to see it implemented, although it would not force for another three years due to the current cycle of TV deals.

A Premier League spokesman said: "We look at all sorts of ideas and rarely make comment until we have decided something definitely.''

Rio set for San Siro start

Rio Ferdinand is set to make only his third start of 2010 on Tuesday night when United take on Milan in a mouthwatering Champions League tie.

In fact, Ferdinand has only made two appearances since his injury problems began in late October - his ill-fated return against Hull City on 23 January, from which he subsequently picked up a four-match ban, and the Carling Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.

Rio has missed half of the Champions League campaign so far - his last outing in Europe being away to CSKA Moscow on 21 October. But Sir Alex Ferguson feels his vastly experienced defender should return at the San Siro.

"We have to consider whether Rio will start tomorrow but I think he probably will," said Sir Alex, at Monday evening's pre-match press conference.

"We feel we've got to the bottom of the back problem. We certainly hope he'll be okay for the rest of the season. He's not missed a training session in the last six or seven weeks.

"We've worked really hard with him and he's worked very hard himself. He's now doing really well with his core work and we feel that will help him in the future."

With Nemanja Vidic still out, Ferdinand would pair up with Wes Brown or Jonny Evans at the heart of United's defence. The full squad in Milan is as follows: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak; Neville, Brown, J Evans, Ferdinand, Fabio, Rafael, Evra; Valencia, Park, Nani, Obertan, Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, Gibson; Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Diouf

NBA Trade Deadline: A Reminder of A Cavaliers Team Not Quite Good Enough

Just as they were a year ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers are rumored to be involved in trade talks as the NBA deal deadline draws near.

This time around, as evidenced by no fewer than three articles here in two days—and one of my own three weeks ago—the talk centers on Amar’e Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns.

(If you think it’s been busy here on theCavaliers page, check out the Suns archive , where there have been almost two dozen articles about Stoudemire rumors in the past couple of weeks.)

The Cavs are supposedly dangling forward J.J. Hickson and either rookie Danny Green or veteran Zydrunas Ilgauskas as bait for Stoudemire.

The Suns have other suitors for their All-Star power forward however, so nothing’s certain.

Still, the fact that Cleveland GM Danny Ferry is once again involved in trade talks is indicative of his willingness to look for opportunities to make the Cavaliers stronger.

Consider his team of a year ago. They sported an identical 43-11 record at this point in the season. From there, they finished with a 23-5 flourish and topped the NBA with 66 wins.

After sweeping Detroit and Atlanta in eight straight games however, the Cavs wilted in the Eastern Conference finals and lost in six games to Orlando.

Will history repeat itself? Is the Cavs' performance this year likewise a mirage, destined to lead to another playoff disappointment and even the possible departure of LeBron James after this season?

Trade or no trade—whether for Stoudemire, Indiana’s Troy Murphy, Washington’s Antawn Jamison, or Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala—where do the Cavaliers stack up compared to a year ago?

By almost any measuring stick, this year’s team is stronger and more experienced. Start with LeBron James, who is putting up numbers that point to a possible second consecutive MVP award.

More important, James has clearly clicked with Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq recently spoke to James about taking over late in close games and, in effect, refusing to let the Cavaliers lose. Afterward, James elevated his play and launched Cleveland on their current 13-game winning streak.

Do not minimize the impact of a more seasoned, more determined, and more dominant LeBron James. This is his seventh professional season, and there is little James hasn’t seen or experienced in the NBA. It was in Michael Jordan’s seventh season, remember, that he and the Bulls won the first of their six league titles.

Beyond James, however, the 2009-2010 Cavs are stronger on a number of fronts.

A year ago, the roster included the likes of Wally Szczerbiak, Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, Tarance Kinsey, and Joe Smith.

This year, they’ve been replaced by Shaquille O’Neal, Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, Danny Green and, in a matter of days, Leon Powe.

That group alone could compete with the likes of New Jersey or Minnesota. In Cleveland however, they all fill a role, plucking out their complimentary notes like the second and third violins in a symphony orchestra.

O’Neal has paired admirably with Ilgauskas in the middle, and Parker has assumed a role he wasn’t expected to play as the starter in Delonte West’s place.

Moon has been LeBron’s primary reserve, but when he recently was sidelined with an abdominal strain, Jawad Williams emerged from the shadows and has been contributing 15 to 20 meaningful minutes a game for the past month. He’s reached double figures in scoring six times, including a career-high 17 points in a Feb. 9 win over the Nets.

Anderson Varejao continues to confound the critics with his inspired play at both ends of the court, averaging about eight points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes a game. He’s discontinued much of the flopping that drew the ire of players and fans around the league and is turning in his best season as a pro. The Brazilian could start on many teams in the league, and would possibly average a double-double if he did.

Most impressive, however, has been the way Cleveland has handled the absence of Mo Williams and West at the guard position. Both were injured in late January and missed the bulk of the recent winning streak—yet win the Cavs did.

They did it with Daniel Gibson stepping in at the point. They did it with LeBron taking over the position late in games. They did it with Shaq and Hickson leading the team in scoring or rebounding on four separate occasions.

No matter what buttons Mike Brown has chosen to push, the results have been the same. The Cavaliers keep on winning, and they do it with a mixture of size, speed, and experience.

Stoudemire or no Stoudemire—or anyone else, for that matter—the Cavs are poised for a deeper playoff run than a year ago. That would mean a return to the Finals, where they would have a much better chance than the Cleveland team that was swept by San Antonio in 2007.

Mo Williams and Powe will be at Brown's disposal soon, adding strength outside and inside to an already potent lineup. If Ferry is able to add another seasoned veteran—Stoudemire the chief prize among them—the Cavs will be even more formidable, and a much more imposing candidate to dethrone the Lakers as NBA champions.

Mourinho: "I'll tell you my team"

José Mourinho is treating Napoli-Inter the same as every other game. "Every match is difficult, I prepare for every match with the same concentration, dedicating to each one the same time, the same respect, and with the same faith in our qualities," said the Inter coach in today's press conference.

Napoli is Inter's third game in seven days after last weekend's win over Cagliari and the midweek draw at Parma. "It's undeniable: it's different playing a match every three days and having a week to prepare for one, but this is the difference between the players and the coaches of the great teams," said Mourinho. "With this I am not looking for any excuses, because we will play this match without excuses. Both teams will go into the game with the maximum preparation and concentration. It will be a difficult match, but I think it can be even harder for our opponents than for us."

Inter are without a win in three trips to the San Paolo, but Mourinho's men are travelling south looking to extend their twelve-match unbeaten run and lead at the top of the table. "The past means nothing for me. The only thing I can say is that we lost last year in Naples because Inter did not play well and did nothing to deserve victory."

Mourinho has no doubts about his starting eleven to face the Azzurri and he revealed his lineup to the journalists for a reason in particular. "We trained on the pitch today and when we train on the pitch you journalists always know the formation, from a phone call or from a position in the trees. So I have no problems telling you. It's quicker this way. Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Santon, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Muntari, Sneijder, Pandev and Milito will play."

So will Samuel Eto'o be rested ahead of the Champions League games? "Every player is important for the Champions League," said Mourinho. "When the Champions League comes I will play those who are in the best condition. I think Pandev and Milito are the most in-form at the moment."

In his pre-match briefing Mourinho also spoke about last night's early game between AC Milan and Udinese, and the appointment of Roberto Rosetti for Napoli-Inter. "No, Milan's victory does not worry me. Inter are on top of the table and I have to worry about my team, not the others," he said. "As for Rosetti, I can only say that it wouldn't be a problem for me to have him in all 38 league matches. Looking at the precedents, I'm not saying it because Inter always do well with him on the pitch; I'm saying it because he's one of the best referees in the world. I am not worried about this appointment."

We’ll see Atlético at their best

Josep Guardiola expects a tough match at Atlético Madrid. “They are always at their best against us”, he said, before adding that he was “more or less” sure who’ll start in defence.

Atlético Madrid are as unpredictable as teams come in football. They can produce great displays like the 4-3 win against Barça, or lose 3-0 away to second division Recreativo. But Guardiola knows how they always produce their best against Barça, and not only that “but their morale is in the clouds. They have qualified for their first final in ten years”. Quique Sánchez Flores’ side were vastly the better outfit in the semi final against Racing. Defence undecided Where Guardiola has by far the most problems is in forming his defensive line, and has ruled out playing just three at the back because “that is impossible against Atlético.” Nevertheless, he didn’t want to give away any clue about the back four he’ll be starting with, but did say “I have it more or less decided.”

The fourth man

Puyol, Milito and Maxwell will almost certainly be lining up, the question mark is over who the fourth man in the defence will be. Jeffren, who played right back against Cultural Leonesa, seems a likely choice, who Pep described as “fast, brave and daring, but that is not his natural position”.

Bartra and Muniesa, of Barça Atlètic, could make their League debuts on Sunday. Bartra is a centre back but can play as a full back, as he did in the friendly in Kuwait, and although Muniesa is also a centre back, he has played left back in the past. Pep just said that “it is good news for Luis Enrique that two of the Barça Atlètic players are in the first team”. Of course, there is also the option of dropping Keita back into the left back position.

Avoiding anything crazy

Atlético v Barça games have, in recent years, been amazing affairs, with all kinds of manic activity on the scoreboard. The red and whites are the only side to have ever put four goals past Barça under Guardiola. The manager wants to avoid an “uncontrolled match … They lack regularity and continuity. They can play the best game in their history and then lose the next. If it is an end to end match, with no control, they are stronger than we are. We have to avoid all that”.