Pep Guardiola Resigns

After a week of speculation, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has announced today that he is stepping down from his post.
The 41 year old former Barca player has endured his most difficult week in the job as his Barcelona team were first defeated by arch rivals Real Madrid to concede the La Liga title, and following this up with a 2-2 draw against English side Chelsea to crash out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage.
Guardiola has enjoyed unrivalled success at the club, winning all 5 trophies the team entered in his first year in charge.  His four years at the helm have seen Barcelona win 3 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League crowns.
He has become noticeably jaded in the past year however, with the strain imposed by the rivalry with Real Madrid, and in particular Jose Mourinho, has loaded stress onto his shoulders.
Favourites to replace Guardiola as manager include Ernesto Valverde, a former Barcelona player who has enjoyed success at Greek side Olympiacos, guiding them to three successive league titles.  Also in the frame is Marcelo Bielsa, the Argentine whose philosophy so closely matches that of Guardiola and Barcelona.  He has done well at Athletic Bilbao, guiding them to the final of the unsecured loans Europa League.
Whoever takes over will do well to improve upon the 13 trophies Guardiola has delivered in his four seasons in charge of the Catalan club.  They will however take charge of a stellar playing squad, including 3 times World Player of the Year Leo Messi, as well as stars such as Xavi and Andreas Iniesta.
It is understood that Guardiola will take a year long break from the game, quashing rumours that he will take the vacant managers job at Chelsea.  Before he leaves Barcelona however he has the small matter of the Spanish Cup Final to deal with, and he will no doubt wish to leave the club bad credit loans on a high and with his 14th trophy safely tucked away.

High school hockey do battle

Steve Stanlick says the 2012 OFSAA AAA/AAAA and A/AA boys' hockey championships are anyone's to take.
Both provincial high school championships take place next week in Peterborough with the action starting Wednesday (March 21). The tournaments wrap up Saturday (March 25) at the Memorial Centre with medal games on the schedule.
"There's going to be a lot of good hockey," says Stanlick, the tournament convener.
Three of the top four teams from last year's AAA/AAAA Ontario championships will once again battle for gold, including the St. Peter's Saints, who placed fourth a year ago.
"I think we have a chance," Stanlick says about the Saints, who are ranked eighth.
"We have strong goaltending and defence, and our forwards have been able to put the puck in the net. With that combination, if you play well and stay disciplined, you have a chance to win for sure."
Last year's gold medalist, Brother Andre from Richmond Hill, enters the tournament ranked first while Loyola, Mississauga is seeded second. St. Thomas Lasalle rounds out the top three seeds.
"You have 10 to 12 teams that could potentially win the AAA tournament," Stanlick says
He says the A/AA tournament is up for grabs as well.
The Holy Cross Hurricanes drew the 12th seed and will be in tough against the top four seeds: Glendale, Tilsonburg; St. Mary's College, Sault Ste. Marie; North Hastings, Bancroft; and Appleby College, Oakville. Appleby captured gold a year ago while St. Mary's has won two of the last three championships.
"I am sure they (the Hurricanes) are going to be strong playing in front of their hometown crowd," says Stanlick.
"If they play as a team and stay disciplined, they could come out of their pool. I think they have a legitimate chance of doing that, which would be good."
In total, 40 teams from across the province will participate in the four-day event with games being played at the Evinrude Centre, Kinsmen Arena, Memorial Centre, Norwood unsecured loans and Douro rinks.
Opening ceremonies are set for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Kinsmen Arena.
On Wednesday night, athletes and team officials will be treated to banquet at St. Peter's. St. Peter's alumnus and TSN morning host Dan O'Toole will be the guest speaker.
"This is really exciting," Stanlick says. bad credit loans
"Hockey is the highest profile championship and we have two of them. The committee and I have really made an effort to put together a tournament that is memorable for the players and coaches."                                    

Ched Evans

On Friday afternoon, Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans was sentenced to five years for raping a 19-year-old woman.

Almost immediately, the #ChedEvans hashtag appeared on Twitter, and later, #JusticeForChed. Some tweets displayed confusion, questioning why one defendant was found guilty, and one not. Others displayed varying levels of victim blaming; some could only be described as vile.

This continued all weekend. Then, on Sunday, someone named the woman who was apparently the complainant. The insults became more personal, and the levels of abuse directed at the alleged victim increased throughout the day.

Rape survivors fall into a special category of victims of crime, entitled to life-long anonymity, applying to the survivor's name, address, image and any other matter, if the publication could lead to the public identifying the person. A breach occurs if a person causes identifying matter to be published in England and Wales in a written publication available to the public. Whilst this legislation has not been tested when applied to Twitter, courts have found newspaper websites guilty of contempt of court, which, it can be argued, is analogous to this situation.

Several people contacted North Wales Police; a spokeswoman for whom said they were collating all the relevant information.

The Director of End Violence Against Women, Holly Dustin, issued a statement saying:
"It has long been law that rape complainants are protected by lifetime anonymity and those who have named her have been reported to the police for committing a criminal offence. This raises serious questions about the adequacy of the criminal justice system to deal with offences that occur online and we are calling for an urgent review of laws and practices."


Does it? Or actually does this statement simply display a misunderstanding of how law works?
Law isn't a shield preventing a bad thing happening - it cannot stop people behaving in a certain way; it can only simply prescribe a punishment or remedy unsecured loans should people behave in a certain way. Our modern digital world enables us to see more easily behaviour we knew existed in any event. We have already criminalised that behaviour because we knew it existed.

In addition, the provision for life-long anonymity isn't the only law which would apply to those tweets - there is the possibility of offences having been committed under section 127 Communications Act 2003, if the tweets can be deemed to be grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, and under section 4A Public Order Act 1986 if the tweets bad credit loans can be deemed to contain threatening, abusive or insulting words.

While I have every sympathy for the complainant in this case, we really must stop and think about calling for new laws every time something we don't like happens - especially when the call goes out before the criminal justice system has even had the opportunity to show what it can do in this situation. It really isn't helpful, and it lessens the remainder of the message.

chelsea fc barcelona

1. One shot, one goal. It don’t get more efficient than that boyo!
2. The heady mix of Chelsea’s deep-set tactics and Barca’s penchant for swarming on the edge of their opponent’s penalty area pretty much forced John Terry and Gary Cahill into putting in colossal displays in central defence and boy did they do just that. Both defended like kings for the duration.
3. Let’s not kid ourselves. If Barca had been a tad more ruthless/lucky they’d have been two or three goals up within the first half-an-hour. If only Cesc didn’t have a nerveless hock of ham at the bottom of his left leg, eh? Chelsea may well have ‘had a plan’ (as Frank Lampard insisted after the game) but they also rode their luck to the point of indecency. Thankfully, the footballing gods were with them and they came out smelling of roses.
4. Ashley Cole had his best game in months. He was up and down that touchline all night like a particularly pacey and well-aspirated tractor. Maybe a top-of-the-line Massey Ferguson? He and the equally mobile Ramires nullified Dani Alves for the majority of the game, stifling one of Barca’s key attacking thoroughfares and getting in behind the Brazilian full-back on several occasions – including the goal.
5. Didier Drogba led the line like a little girl manfully. His grovelling quickly became utterly nauseating to those watching on, but that wasn’t the point. It was obviously a pre-approved tactic for him to disrupt the play as often as possible; diving, feigning, etc – and he stuck to his designated role with vim and vigour. Nothing funny about the kick in the perineum from Mascherano though, that looked bloody painful.
6. Can you just imagine what the scoreline would’ve been had David Luiz played?
7. Not to take anything away from Chelsea, but it seemed that Barca played at somewhere hovering around 70% after conceding. Safe in the knowledge that they’ll be given another crack at Roberto Di Matteo’s side in a week’s time, and that a one-goal deficit will not be insurmountable, maybe Saturday’s El Clasico became a more pressing concern as the night wore on and breaking down Chelsea’s sturdy defence became increasingly energy-sapping?
8. John Terry became the latest Premier League footballer to struggle with the simple concept of a handshake…

9. Frank Lampard and Raul Meireles did a fine job without touching the ball so much as 10 times between them all evening. Both had their panties pulled down a couple of times in terms of being rushed and technically flustered by Barcelona’s nippy midfielders, but Lamps and Meirels remained incredibly disciplined while not in possession bad credit loans– staying deep and narrow to clog Barca’s passing arteries. Christ, even Obi Mikel did his bit.
10. They may be flagging somewhat, and a concerted league campaign may be gradually getting beyond them, but on a one-off big game basis, Chelsea definitely have the players at their disposal to win. Seeing lone frontman Drogba barking out defensive/positional orders, moving his pawns this way and that before a late Barca set-piece neatly summed up the value of both his and the rest of his veteran colleagues’ collated experience.
11. Despite the two overwhelming favourites for the final having unsecured loans suffered minor set-backs in the first legs of their respective semis, don’t you just have the nagging suspicion that we’re still staring down the barrel of an all-Spanish Champions League final this year?

Liverpool beat Everton

Andy Carroll scored a dramatic late winner as Liverpool came from behind to defeat Merseyside rivals Everton 2-1 to reach the FA Cup final at Wembley here Saturday.
Carroll -- the club's much-maligned £35 million record signing -- glanced in a Craig Bellamy free-kick in the 87th minute to keep Liverpool on course for a domestic cup double.
It was the second time in five days that Carroll had come to Liverpool's rescue after scoring an injury-time winner in the Premier League victory over Blackburn in midweek.
More importantly the goal ensured Liverpool have the opportunity to finish a disappointing season on a high in next month's final where they will face the winner of Sunday's last-four clash between Tottenham and Chelsea.
Carroll's decisive strike came after Liverpool had fought back to level through Luis Suarez on 62 minutes following Nikica Jelavic's opener for Everton.
"It's the best feeling ever," Carroll told ESPN. "I had a few chances earlier, but it was a great ball in from Craig (Bellamy) so I just had to score with that one.
"I've had some criticism but I've just kept on going. It's a great feeling."
Reds skipper Steven Gerrard added: "He (Carroll) doesn't hide and he takes criticism on the chin. That's what we bought him for, to score big goals, and he's delivered today."
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish hailed his side's achievement in reaching two Wembley finals following their triumph in the League Cup in February.
"I think it was fantastic and although it's not been too good in the league recently, that's two cup finals -- one we've won and won we're looking forward to," Dalglish said.
"That gives everybody who supports Liverpool Football Club a lift. We're very proud and pleased that we're in the final."
Everton manager David Moyes said mistakes at crucial times had been his team's undoing, most notably when defender Sylvain Distin gifted Liverpool their equaliser midway through the second half.
"We were just beginning to get back in the game when obviously we made a mistake and that gave Liverpool a bit more impetus," Moyes said.
Liverpool had started well, with Glen Johnson surging forward bad credit loans menacingly after only three minutes to release Carroll.
The pony-tailed striker cut back deftly to Jay Spearing but the young midfielder should have done better than a shot which flew harmlessly over.
Liverpool chances thereafter were few and far between and while Dalglish's side often advanced into good attacking positions their forays invariably fizzled out because of poor play in the final third.
Everton meanwhile looked comfortable throughout the first period, mopping up Liverpool's attacks with ease and probing for openings.
On 24 minutes Liverpool were made to pay for their lacklustre opening as Jelavic pounced for his sixth goal since signing from Rangers in January. unsecured loans
Daniel Agger dithered over a clearance inside the area before Jamie Carragher attempted to scramble the ball to safety.
Carragher's intervention cannoned back off Tim Cahill and into the path of Jelavic who finished coolly to send the blue half of Wembley into raptures.
The anticipated response from Liverpool never came however and they struggled to test Everton through the remainder of the half, with an off-target, long-range Gerrard effort on 37 minutes their only attempt on goal.
It was a different story after the break however as Liverpool started with far more purpose.
Indeed they should have levelled on 47 minutes only for Carroll to send a downward header yards wide after a perfect cross from Stewart Downing.
Carroll buried his head in his shirt while Dalglish clutched his hands to his face in disbelief -- a response mirrored up in the stands by Liverpool's legendary No.9 from the 1980s Ian Rush.
But just when it seemed Everton had withstood the early onslaught, Liverpool drew level on 62 minutes. Distin underhit his backpass to Tim Howard and Suarez raced through on goal before poking his finish under the American keeper.
The relief coursed through Liverpool's massed ranks of fans and they looked by far the likeliest side to score for the remainder of the game.
Carroll should have done better but dragged a low shot wide on 78 minutes while at the other end Jelavic briefly raised Everton hopes when his shot flew into the side netting.
Then with extra-time looming Everton substitute brought down Gerrard wide on the left flank.
Liverpool substitute Bellamy, who had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes, chipped in a perfectly flighted effort and Carroll outjumped Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini to glance home.

2012 Masters Tournament

Tiger Woods is sorry he lost his temper on Friday (April 7) during a particularly stressful moment during the 2012 Masters golf tournament.

"Certainly I'm frustrated at times and I apologize if I offended anybody by that," says Woods. "But I've hit some bad shots and it's certainly frustrating at times not hitting the ball where you need to hit it. unsecured loans"

On Friday, Woods hit a poor tee shot with a 9-iron, reports the New York Daily News, and reacted by dropping the club behind him, then turning and angrily kicking it several yards. The outburst instantly garnered attention for Woods -- who has been slowly working his way back into the top echelons of the PGA tour.

CBS Sports analyst Nick Faldo opined that Woods had "lost his game and his mind."

Players are usually disciplined by the PGA for "conduct unbecoming a professional." Thus far, no formal action has been taken against Woods who on Saturday again lost his temper after a bad credit loans disappointing shot, scolding himself with, "God-dang it, Tiger."

The Boat Race report

One hundred years after both crews sank; this was set to be an even more dramatic University Boat Race.
In the weeks preceding The 158^th Boat Race in the series and the last to be sponsored by Xchanging, it had been Oxford who had shown the most impressive form, defeating an under 23 German crew, Leander very convincingly and Molesey Boat Club. Cambridge on the other hand didn't look so impressive against either Leander or Molesey and despite having 7.9Kg per man weight advantage went into the Race as underdogs.
Neither crew could boast a host of returning Blues, only the two Presidents; Dave Nelson bow in the Light Blue Boat and Karl Hudspith, 5 for Oxford. Cambridge's Mike Thorp also raced in 2011, vowing to grow his hair until his defeat was avenged.

Coaches Steve Trapmore, in only his second race at Cambridge, and Sean Bowden in his 14th for Oxford, both worked with international line-ups but it was Bowden who had looked and sounded more confident in the build-up to the Race.

Having enjoyed relatively benign weather in the weeks and days preceding the Race, the started overcast and drizzly with a light NE wind, and while the sun briefly appeared for the Isis/Goldie race, that was largely how it remained.

In the toss for stations it was Cambridge picking unsecured loans tails who chose the Surrey station, hoping to take advantage of the long bend mid-way through the Race. This entire preamble counts for nothing though in this, perhaps the most dramatic of all Boat Races.

Off the start it was Oxford who looked slicker at 44 strokes a minutes, slightly over-rating Cambridge and taking an early ¼ length lead. They couldn’t break an indomitable Cambridge crew however, who had won the toss and chosen the Surrey station.

By the Mile Post which was reached in a fast time of 3 minutes 42 seconds the dark blues still only had the narrowest of leads and as the two crews settled into their racing rhythms and with continual warnings from the umpires launch to “move apart” there was no advantage to either.

 And this was how the race proceeded with neither crew giving any quarter, Oxford holding on around the outside of the Surrey bend but unable to move away from the light blues as they raced under Hammersmith Bridge and on towards Chiswick Eyot. With the wind now behind them and both crews showing great heart and determination it was shaping up to be a truly fantastic race.

And then suddenly with Oxford primed bad credit loans to put in a push on the outside of the bend turning into the Crossing, Oxford cox Zoe De Toledo shot her hand in the air to be followed quickly by John Garrett the Umpire waving his red flag stopping the race. Amid some confusion on the river a swimmer who would have been mown down by the flotilla of following boats if the race had continued, was spotted between the two crews. Later Garrett explained how his assistant umpire Sir Matthew Pinsent had spotted the swimmer and that there was absolutely no choice but to stop the Race.

After 20 minutes Garrett (who had disqualified Isis in 1990) got the Race restarted, but it was cold and uncomfortable for the crews, needing to maintain their composure in very bouncy water while boats swarmed around them. Nothing like this had happened in the history of The Boat Race, but the drama was to continue after the restart. With a free start towards the bottom of Chiswick Eyot Oxford were off sharply again slipping out to a ¼ length lead in the first few strokes.

Then just 35 seconds into the restarted race Oxford on the outside of the bend were continuously warned to move away from Cambridge.  This they failed to do and a clash was inevitable. A clash in which the Dark Blues came out the worst and which cost them the race as Hanno Weinhausen six in the Oxford crew emerged from it with no spoon on the end of his blade.

Effectively the Race was over and Cambridge moved steadily away from the 7 man Oxford crew over the next few minutes to win by 4 and a quarter lengths, times to be confirmed.

Despite the Oxford crew’s appeal at the end of the Race Umpire Garrett declared Cambridge the winner. But the drama wasn’t quite over Alex Woods Oxford’s bow man had collapsed after crossing the finish line and was lying unconscious in the boat, having given everything to prevent his team’s loss. Cambridge President David Nelson seemed bemused and described the Race in his laconic fashion as “pretty dramatic” while expressing his concern for his Dark Blue rival.

Race Umpire John Garrett explained his decision to allow the race to continue after the clash, “Crews have to abide by their accidents. I was warning Oxford at the time of the clash, as they were off station. I was comfortable Cambridge were in the right place on the river, so it was right and within the rules to allow the Race to continue.”

After the Race there was no presentation ceremony as both sides showed their concern for Woods who was taken to Charing Cross hospital immediately afterwards, where he was recovering well a short time later.

This was a truly dramatic afternoon of sport, one in which the Umpire was adjudged to have made all the correct decisions in an unprecedented race, and in which many people probably didn’t notice that Ed Bosson had become the youngest ever winning Cambridge cox.
In the reserves race earlier in the day Isis (Oxford) beat Goldie (Cambridge) by 5 lengths, setting a new record for this event with a time of 16 minutes 41 seconds.