UFC 168: Rousey vs Tate

LAS VEGAS – UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey lived up to her billing on Saturday, finishing Miesha Tate with her patented arm bar, but in the process became perhaps the most disliked fighter in the UFC.

Rousey went past the first round for the first time in eight pro fights, but she pummeled Tate throughout before getting the arm bar submission at 58 seconds of the third round in the co-main event of UFC 168 at the MGM Grand Garden.

The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in judo threw Tate several times and was clearly physically dominant. She had Tate in bad positions throughout the fight, but Tate was gritty and battled her way out of several precarious situations.

Rousey, though, raised the ire of the sell-out crowd when she snubbed Tate when Tate offered to shake hands after the finish. Seconds after referee Mario Yamasaki broke them up, Tate stood up and extended her right hand to Rousey.

The two have had a long hatred of one another that was heightened during their stint coaching opposite each other on the reality series, "The Ultimate Fighter," earlier this year.

Rousey looked at Tate and walked away, refusing to shake hands. The fans responded with a thunderous series of boos. The booing was so loud that when Rousey was being interviewed by Joe Rogan in the cage after her win, it was virtually impossible to hear her speaking.

It was a classless act, but it was likely calculated to increase her status as the UFC's top heel. She's now the fighter the fans love to hate, and that will sell her a lot of pay-per-views.

So, too, will fighting aggressively throughout the bout, as she did in dominating Tate.

Federer Still Majestic in Defeat

During Roger Federer’s hugely enjoyable defeat to Novak Djokovic in their opening World Tour Finals group match on Tuesday night, there was a moment when it became apparent that the Swiss master must go on playing until his legs beg him to stop.

A set and 2-1 down in the second stanza, Federer pulled out a marvellous hold to love, dispatched with the imperious arrogance that we saw so often in his pomp.

There were further moments of outstanding aesthetic and technical beauty, such as an impudent flicked return that caught Djokovic cold en route to a break of the Serb's serve, or the dominant tie-break that saw Federer level at one set apiece.

Whatever the detractors calling for his retirement may say, Federer is still the main attraction in men’s tennis. His popularity remains so much greater than that which accompanies Rafael Nadal (and that accompanied Pete Sampras) that you have to accept the sport of tennis is about much more than just the art of winning. Anyone present at the O2 or watching attentively at home would have noticed the bombastic roar that accompanied every flashing return, every crushing ace, every impudent flick of the backhand.

Federer's popularity is particularly notable when he plays indoors.

When the roof was called for in the second set of Federer’s 2012 Wimbledon final victory over Andy Murray, there was silent collective shrug among British tennis fans, probably including Murray himself.

A set to the good and apparently en route to a maiden Grand Slam title, the somewhat premature decision to draw Centre Court’s new roof – and spend the best part of 45 minutes allowing the court to acclimatise to the new conditions – played into Federer’s hands. For this was no longer a conventional grass-court final (grass being a surface that Murray has pretty much dominated in recent years), but an indoor title showdown. And Federer is arguably the greatest indoor player of all time.

Federer’s alarming 2013 slump is not entirely unexpected; the passing of time diminishes the physique and, while the Swiss was never overly reliant on strength or speed, the marginal decrease in his overall ability is inflated at the upper end of the rankings, in the latter stages of the five-setter.

But, as he showed in Bercy last week, Federer is still one of the sport’s prime indoor movers.

And again, even in defeat, in London Federer again proved he is a force to contend with under a roof.

Indoor tennis – particularly on the hard courts – is a technical leveller. The impact of the conditions is all-but eradicated, unless one has an aversion to the inevitable heat generated between a roof and four walls. You no longer have to hit through the wind or – in the case of the tactically unparalleled Murray – use the forces of nature to your shot-making and point-building advantage.

And technically Federer, still, is unrivalled. The delicate hands of Richard Gasquet and the searing winners of Stanislas Wawrinka come close, while the overall packages offered by Dokovic, Nadal and even Murray are of course now superior, but in terms of racquet manipulation and point anticipation Federer cannot be touched.

Realistically he will have to win most of his matches in two sets to have a chance of claiming a record seventh World Tour finals title; as soon as stamina and fitness enter the equation, the 32-year-old will struggle to cope with the power of Nadal, the flexibility of Djokovic (pictured at his bendy best below) and both men’s endless reserves of energy.

We saw that quite clearly tonight; Federer found the extra reserves needed to claw the second set back from Djokovic, but once it entered a third he faded badly. He simply cannot go the distance with the super-fit Serb – or Nadal, or Murray – at this stage of his career, certainly not enough regularity.

Of course Fed is unlikely to add another Grand Slam to his armoury; given the outstanding athleticism of the ‘big three’, he is unlikely to go the whole way in London (I would be delighted if he proves me wrong).

And of course the other big players are amazing to watch; in addition to his physical superiority and almost psychopathic mental strength, Djokovic also made some marvellous shots, such as the diving backhand across court that caught Federer cold during their second set tete-a-tete. Nole is clearly a vastly superior athlete and, as such, the better player.

But perhaps more than other sports, tennis is as much about entertainment as it is the pragmatism of victory. Gasquet, and fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, are equally unlikely to clinch an elusive Major, yet they remain immensely popular draws on the tour. Fabrice Santoro never broke into the top 10 but, a master of the trick-shot, he put bums on seats into his late thirties.

Should Federer wind down his career simply because he is no longer the best? Fans accustomed to his winning ways should remember that true support comes through thick and thin; even in the twilight of his career, Federer is still a joy to watch. Certainly more so than the drudgery of Nadal and David Ferrer's one-sided, baseline bar-fight earlier.

So just lower the expectation, sit back and prepare to be entertained, for aesthetically Federer remains the world’s number one.

What Football Gives Back

The picture above has been doing the rounds and deserves plenty more coverage with Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom proving that footballers can be an incredible force for good.

Sweden and Germany played their second excellent match of World Cup qualifying last Tuesday, this time the home side were beaten, in the main thanks to a hat-trick from Andre Schurrle.

But with the top two spots in Group C decided weeks ago, arguably the story of the match came before kick off.

Eleven children with Williams syndrome had the pleasure of being mascots for the game at the 50,000 capacity Friends Arena.

For Max, who was led out by Kim Kallstrom, it was a massive day in his life for which he had prepared for but Williams syndrome causes problems with concentration and relating to the outside world.

So, walking out in front of so many people was potentially very risky for many of the kids who led out the Sweden national team.

Max, thankfully, was cajoled and helped along by Kim Kallstrom who in the days after the game, received a heartwarming letter from the boys father.

“Because of your actions my son was able to experience exactly the same feelings as everyone else: pride, a sense of being special, wrote Max’s father who added expressions like “I did it” and “the joy,” which Max had exclaimed after kick off.

Max’s father continued: “I am writing to you because I’m not quite sure if you understand how much of a difference you’ve made to us. Tuesday saw my son Max do something very special, for other children, it’s really about 15 minutes of concentration and nervousness as well as an incredible joy of having been able to meet the national team.”

Kim Kallstrom then replied in a Swedish newspaper: “Of course I’m pleased that Max’s dad appreciated what I did during the field entrance, but what’s more gratifying is that, despite Max being a little nervous in the players tunnel, together we were fortunately able to make it a very positive experience.”

Kallstrom continued: “In a situation like this I act more like neighbor and parent than as the footballer I just happen to be. I realize I have a responsibility to the parents, who probably themselves are a little apprehensive about staying in the stands, but also to the children who enter with us. I try to be calm and comforting and it is usually enjoyed by kids.”

 

Man of Steel Reviews

I was very skeptical when it was announced Zack Snyder would helm the new Superman movie. I'm not a huge fan of his mostly CGI movies. 300 and Sucker Punch to name a few. But when it was also announced that Christoper Nolan would be the Executive Producer to the man from Krypton, it gave me chills. After the success of the Dark Knight trilogy, I was really anticipating the outcome of Man of Steel. And yeah, when the first trailer was out, it had Nolan's touch written all over it. Man of Steel opens in Malaysia tomorrow. Read the scoop of the movie below for the first batch of reviews. 

The Hollywood Reporter 

To the oft-asked question of whether or not the world is really starving for yet another superhero origin story, Man of Steel simply responds by serving up what could be as much spectacle and action — minute-by-minute, frame-by-frame — as any movie anyone could think of. Zack Snyder’s huge, backstory-heavy extravaganza is a rehab job that perhaps didn’t cry out to be done but proves so overwhelmingly insistent in its size and strength that it’s hard not to give in. Warner Bros.’ new tentpole should remain firmly planted around the world for much of the summer. 

Super Hero Hype 

Man of Steel is great. It takes stories that we all thought we knew and looks at them through a different prism, creating a solid superhero story that stands apart from all of the others. Though the acting is solid all around, many of the characters don't naturally fit in, but when the film offers amazing fights and comic book levels of destruction, most fans won't mind that at all. 

ScreenCrush 

‘Man of Steel’ isn’t perfect. There’s an emotional beat that is supposed to have resonance, but you’ll probably be thinking, “who’s she?” (The answer, undoubtedly, is “someone whose earlier scenes got cut out.”) There’s also a dopey decision that a character makes, a beat that only an actor of Kevin Costner‘s quality can save. Also, the world-building in ‘Man of Steel’ is so good that the movie lends itself to some hardcore nitpicking of a “how did they know English?” variety. But when your scrutiny has to go that deep, you know you have a solid blockbuster on your hands. 

Crave Online 

Man of Steel is a movie we need right now, and while normally such blanket statements refer to films of great portent or contemporary significance, I’m not convinced that Man of Steel is either of those things, not really. It’s a remarkable piece of popcorn entertainment with a few lofty issues on its mind that are simply expressed beautifully throughout the film. It’s an impressive retelling of a story that is generations old, and that somehow feels fresh here, without sacrificing the greatness that began with Action Comics #1. It could, to use the common parlance, be referred to as “awesome.” But awesome no longer means “awesome.” Awesome means “strikingly cool.” Man of Steel is awesome in that it inspires a sense of genuine awe. That, dear readers, is something of value by its lonesome. 

Digital Spy UK 

Man of Steel is not quite the perfect movie. Snyder's deployment of handheld camerawork works to create an intimacy between viewer and action, but this aesthetic jars horrendously with the 3D conversion (see in 2D if you can). Character loses focus in favor of action in the final third and there are also shades of Clark's character that go unexplored (for instance his split identity and deeper relationship with Lois). These threads are left tantalisingly open for a sequel, though. The foundations are firmly in place for what could be exciting further adventures of Superman. 

Ain't It Cool News 

MAN OF STEEL is the Superman movie we have been waiting for. Full of action, emotion, and spectacle, this is Zack Snyder’s finest work so far, and I prefer David Goyer’s work here to his work on Nolan’s Batman films. This was the harder job, by far – to make Superman relevant again, and to give him life beyond the page. It is true to the comics, to the films, to everything we love about this character. When I dreamed of heroes as a child, dreamed of taking flight, I saw this movie in my mind’s eye. Zack Snyder has pulled from the dreams of millions of fans, and brought us something to cheer for. MAN OF STEEL soars on the winds of those visions. I imagine fans will lose their damn minds over this movie, and deservedly so. What the future holds for DC on film, I cannot know, but MAN OF STEEL lays the foundations for something quite extraordinary. I can’t wait to see what’s next. 

SlashFilm 

Yes, folks, Man of Steel delivers. It’s a phenomenal film and an even better set up for what we hope is a huge, DC Universe. 

Movies.com 

Man of Steel has a whole ton of pride, as do both its heroes and villains. Pride in where they came from and how its shaped them. The film is very much about what it means to be home and feel home, and even though it's about an alien man who flies through the air shooting lasers out of his eyes, there's nothing you won't be able to relate to in this. 

The action is also pretty boss and fairly frequent (the Smallville sequence alone is loud and meaty), and there are some moments that are easily comparable to the best stuff from any recent superhero movie (including The Avengers). But where Man of Steel really succeeds is in its power to connect, emotionally and spiritually, with its audience. That's a rare trait for a giant movie like this with an incredible amount riding on its sucess, but that's what also makes it the best Superman movie to date.

Tiger Comes Roaring Back

I am a sports enthusiast but at the same time, I still don’t understand golf. Basically I don’t understand their scorecard. May be I should take up a lesson or two. Ok back to the original story. Even though I couldn’t understand the game, there is one man who is “The Man”. And he has return to the top of the golfing chain. That man is none other than Tiger Woods. His fall from grace was epic when it was revealed he’s been sleeping around with other women. After all that commotion and a horrendous year for Tiger in the PGA, he is back. Roaring too I might say. Here’s an article of his latest triumphant return as number one: 

Like most of a fascinated sports world, I waited patiently for Tiger Woods to grant his post-Bay Hill victory interview on The Golf Channel on Monday. It took him about 15 seconds to get to Steve Sands for the greenside chat, and I imagine that's because he told Sands: "Hang on, Sandsy. Let me slip on this giant foam finger that reads 'I'M NUMBER ONE,' flash it toward the haters, the press and the haters in the press and I'll get right to you."

Holy smokes. Tiger Woods just accomplished one of the greatest feats of his career. Right next to winning four consecutive majors from 2000-01, right next to winning six consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs and U.S. Amateurs, right next to 77 PGA Tour wins by age 37, I'll put "The Long Climb Back" on Tiger's all-time ledger. By winning at Bay Hill on Monday, Tiger Woods is No. 1 in the world again – for the first time since October 2010, for the first time since falling to No. 58 in the world, and for the first time since his cloak of invincibility disappeared with a public fall from grace.

And right next to that statistical fact – Numero Uno says the computer – I'd put perhaps an even more important, less numerically definable achievement: The Reclaiming of The Aura.

It's taken six wins in his last 20 PGA Tour starts, it's taken the miracle resurrection of a putter last seen in George W. Bush's first term, and it's taken the convenient digression of Rory McIlroy's career arc, but Tiger is back to being, well, Tiger.

By that, I mean The Big Kahuna, El Grande Queso, His Tigerness. No, he doesn't need to win a major to regain his status as the Elvis Presley/Mick Jagger/Jay-Z of golf. He's back in players' heads already, back rattling their comfort zones, back to the point where his name on the leader board causes bouts of gastric discomfort among the field.

Surely, you saw Justin Rose on Saturday throw four bogeys on his back nine to cough up an afternoon lead and hand the 54-hole lead to Tiger. Surely, you saw Rickie Fowler rinse two golf balls and post a snowman on the 16th hole Monday when he had crept within two shots of Tiger.

And surely you saw this quote from Keegan Bradley, a player you'd think was so young and so free of Tiger-issued scar tissue that he'd represent the new breed of challenger: "I feel like this is the Tiger I grew up watching."

Heavenly choirs and Bach sonatas could never sound as beautiful to Tiger Woods than those words from one of the poster boys of the next generation. It's the best of all possible worlds for Tiger. He spent the past 15 years obliterating one generation of golfers, only to fall on his face in humiliating fashion, opening the door for the Rory-Keegan-Rickie generation to charge in, carrying the "If It's Too Loud/You're Too Old" flag for the new millennium.

And they tried to do their parts, really. Rory won those two majors in historic style, and ascended to the top rung. Keegan even won a major and became a star. But now, over the course of three years, and with – as Tiger said on Monday after his win – "hard work and patience," those time-tested virtues, he's right back in their faces. He's their childhood TV idol, in the flesh and in a red shirt. He's a mythical figure, now very real trying to take what they thought could be theirs: victory and glory.

From 2010-12, things were different. Tiger had lost his aura. Tiger had lost his putter. Tiger had lost his health. Tiger's personal life was a mess. Rory was the new star. Everybody saw it, everybody said it. Johnny Miller said it. Nick Faldo said it. Any number of scribes, including yours truly, said it.

But things change. Putting mechanics get fixed. Young stars change golf clubs for big money. Knees heal up. New love and emotional security blossoms. Time marches on. The present is ever fluid, ever ripe for a new moment. Tiger seized on this Zen philosophy, got better, got fixed and created a new narrative.

The future is so tantalizing, so fun to ponder. Miller wondered on The Golf Channel if being relieved of the No. 1 spot will "free" McIlroy, will allow him to play unburdened. Some still wonder if Tiger can win a major now, given the obvious self-imposed pressure he places on himself to topple Jack Nicklaus. Some wonder if Tiger is a "horse for a course," meaning his wins at Torrey Pines and Doral and Bay Hill are as much about familiarity and muscle memory as anything else, that doing it at Merion's U.S. Open is a different deal.

Well, if Tiger is a "horse for a course," Augusta National is a familiar paddock. We'll see him there next, on Thursday, April 11, for the first round. You'll recognize him. He'll be the No. 1-ranked player in the world, playing like it, acting like it and, best of all, knowing that everybody knows it.

Lil Pea aka Chicharito?

We’ve seen tons of videos gone viral via many sources back in 2012. Most videos were focused on little kids. 2013 is no different. I’m sure most of us have seen these kids showing off their multi-talented skills. If you haven’t, where the hell have you been dude??? Kids these days are growing up so fast. In turn, their brain develops much faster too. Credits must be given to the parents as they play a major role in their upbringing. 

Two of the people that matters to me are actually expecting and going to deliver a 2013 baby, InsyaAllah dan Amin. Today, I’m revealing just one of them. It’s none other than my cousin Nadrah aka Boss Kecik!!! You can actually follow her blog over here -> Nadrah's Blog. We had an interesting conversation earlier today. She told me the she and her Hubster (yeah, she calls her husband that) are starting early on educating their soon-to-be born baby. Here’s how it went down: 

Nadrah: AG's making me watch one footballer documentary after another, starting with Zidane.. Training our Chicharito.. Haha!!! 

Me: Oh AG calls your baby Chicharito? Getting an early education on footy is good tau..I endorse it!!

Nadrah: It was Little Pea.. Sebab die kecik..Then AG cakap Chicarito is Little Pea..And considering he/she is a fighter.. Haha!!! Walaupon mak die kena jaga the father time kena bedrest sume, memang Chicharito la jadi nya

Me: I like it la.. Chicharito!!!! Uncle Hashir likes it!!!

Nadrah: Girl ke boy tak kisah, kalau girl, she's going to run super fast and masok Olympics menang gold medal.. Kalau boy he's going to be a great football player, manager pon boleh macam AVB..But yea, aside of being educated.. Haha!!! Sebab mesti buat business, at least boleh tanggung keluarga.. My baby mungkin lambat nak keluar sebab takut dengar expectation.. Haha!!!! But he/she will live up to it

Me: Lawak siut..Lambat keluar sebab takut expectation

Nadrah: When asked AG what are you going to teach your child about failure? AG jawab, "Why do we fall Master Bruce? So that we can pick ourselves up".. Hahahah!!!!

Me: Hahahahaa.. I love that quote! Your kid will be spoilt with movies, sports and business la.. All come from parents.. Star Wars is a saga, NOT Twilight.. Wakakakaka

Nadrah: No no.. The best quote would be "Vampires don't shine like diamonds"

Me: Haha sengal itu movie (due to "unforseen" circumstances, part of this line has been deleted)

Nadrah: Kite orang tengok but just for fun.. It is a comedy kan.. Haha!!

There you have it!!! Congrats to the both of you AG & Nadrah!!! Lil Pea is due by ... ??? We'll just have to wait and see folks!!! Til next time!!! 

An Injury Setback

After a bright start to 2013, I suffered an injury setback. Last Friday, I tore my left hamstring. It's been almost 11 years since I had a hamstring injury. With the clock ticking down, I need to be able to shake off the injury for our next match in February. Here's a rundown for my injury. 

A pulled hamstring may also be called a torn hamstring or hamstring strain. It’s when one or more of the hamstring muscles are abruptly or forcefully stretched/pulled past their normal positioning. This injury is commonly caused by activities that involve sprinting, such as track, football, baseball and basketball.

Anatomy As It Related To A Pulled Hamstring

The hamstring actually isn’t one large muscle, but rather three muscles located in the posterior thigh. The semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris comprise the hamstring. It starts in the lower pelvis and runs the length of the femur bone. It crosses the back of the knee along either side and attaches to the fibula and tibia bones. The large muscle controls much movement in the body. It helps to turn the leg out and in, allows the knee to flex, assists with hip extension, and is highly involved with power lower extremity movements for thrust and propulsion. The hamstring is also highly involved is eccentric movement. It increases in length when under tension, acting as a braking system to stop the movement. This action can be felt in the hamstring as one tries to stop suddenly from a sprint.

Causes Of A Pulled Or Torn Hamstring

The biceps femoris is the most often pulled hamstring muscle. More often than not, pulled hamstrings occur while under eccentric motion. The stretching or tearing could also be the result of a direct hit to the area or any movement that causes the muscle fibers to abruptly or forcefully contract. Other risk factors include:

* poor flexibility

* significant imbalances in strength or flexibility between hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups

* hamstring fatigue or weakness

* overexertion of hamstring

* leg length differences may cause tighter and more apt to pull hamstrings

* participation in activities and sports that require quick starts-and-stops

Let's hope I'm able to recover on time as I need match fitness and match sharpness as well. Hope this injury is not too severe. Til next time folks. Cheerio! 

A New Beginning

As I embark on a new beginning in the year 2013, football has been by my side since 1992. With all the ups and downs, football has been loyal to me albeit it can be heartbreaking at times too. Last year was a breakout year, personally and professionally. That's all in the past now and I hope I can achieve further success than last year. 

One thing came to mind for 2013 was playing regular football. Don't get me wrong. I've been playing futsal aka indoor football for close to a decade now but it isn't just the same. I'm one passionate man when it comes to football. Started watching it since 1992. Started playing it since 1995. Been a student ever since. 

Last Saturday, me and my futsal mates had our first match of 2013 at Kepong. It was our first football game together. We've been playing futsal together for a decade now and we believe it's time for us to step it up a notch and give ourselves a try on a football field. Unfortunately but as expected, we lost the game 5-1. Though it was a heavy defeat for us, there are a lot of positives we all can take from it and I personally believe it will benefit us all as a team. 

We were up against the RMC '99 Old Boys. We played in 3 halves of 30+20+20 as we had stamina issues. I'm pretty sure we were all excited and nervous at the same time when the match started. No doubt they were much fitter than us. We were outpaced by them but definitely not outclassed. We drew level at 1-1 after going a goal down. Ezuan took his chances well and finish it off calmly. Then the floodgates opened for them. Banging in 3 further goals against us. By the end of first half, we were already down 4-1. 

The lads looked tired and dejected but our player manager, Ezry aka AgVB (currently out with a knee injury) made a couple of necessary changes and lifted our spirits. We did much better in the 2nd half as we managed to keep the scores goalless. Special mention to Kapal, our 'keeper who kept things at bay with a string of fine saves.  

As we moved on to the 3rd half, fatigue began to tire their defence. We managed to create a couple of chances. Unfortunately we couldn't convert our chances into goals. I myself, had a glorious chance to reduce the deficit after side stepping the 'keeper but fluffed the shot just wide of the goal. What a sitter!!! All I can say was, it happens to the best of us. The most important thing is that we are creating chances up front. So that should not be a concern to us. We conceded another goal late on but as I said earlier, there are plenty of positives we can take from our first game. 

Our next game will be in February and we have plenty of time to prepare ourselves as we look towards a better performance and better understanding. Not forgetting adjusting ourselves to a new environment. To my teammates, do not let this defeat derail us as we will improve and with more practice, we will get better. There are a couple of absentees last Saturday, therefore we are looking forward for their attendance in the next game to boost the squad. A thank you note to Yus who made this all possible. 

Cristiano Oh Cristiano

Cristiano Ronaldo rarely misses an opportunity to blow his own trumpet, and has a pair of boots made up to spell out just how great he is - the Portuguese star takes to the field on Sunday night in Nike footwear listing his phenomenal goal stats from 2012.

Real Madrid take on Real Sociedad in their first match of the year, and although they trail Barcelona by 16 points in La Liga, Ronaldo has deemed the occasion perfect for letting the world know just how talented he is.

And let's give the man his due - Ronaldo enjoyed a spectacular 2012. Just look at the numbers stitched into his boots.

1, 9, 14, 19, 27, 55 and 60 might sound like the winning EuroMillions balls, but in fact each one refers to an achievement from the last 12 months:

1 - Liga title won
9 - Goals for Portugal
14 - Games for Portugal
19 - Number of Liga teams scored against (i.e. all of them except Real Madrid)
27 - Age
55 - Club matches
60 - Club goals

Ronaldo said: "Last season was a very special one for me, helping my team and country achieve success.

"It's great to celebrate these achievements and also have a great pair of boots to recognise the moment. I'll enjoy playing in them for sure."

However, Ronaldo's amazing feats are unlikely to win him the prestigious Ballon d'Or, awarded every year to the world's outstanding player.

Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi is favourite to win the prize for the fourth year in a row. Ronaldo and Messi's Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta are the other nominees.

JinnyboyTV

I'm sure quite a number of us have seen their inspiring videos over on YouTube. The 2 brilliant mind behind the videos are Jin and Reuben. Their videos are all about us typical Malaysian behaviours and some sort of an eye opener to us all. Enjoy some of their videos folks!!!

Ronaldo Returns to Manchester

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the phone to Manchester, as he often is. He told former team-mates that he was coming to the city for Real Madrid's first ever game at Manchester City and wanted to know who was about to meet up and liven up his 24 hours in a hotel.

He was deflated to hear that Manchester United have changed their travel plans for European away games and now stay overnight afterwards so that players and staff get a night's sleep. United will return from Istanbul this afternoon (Wednesday) just a few hours before Madrid meet City.

Ronaldo was cheered though to hear that several key United players would be rested for the trip to Istanbul and said he would love to see them. And several of the United players and coaching staff will be at the Etihad tonight.

If there's an opportunity to scout future opponents on your doorstep then you'd be foolish not to take it, especially if that game promises so much. United play City in 11 days and could easily meet Madrid in the Champions League this season, a game which would see Ronaldo return to his former home.

When a footballer leaves a club, they promise to keep in touch with their soon to be former colleagues. The reality is often different. Footballers have few genuine friends among other players and the stream of texts becomes a trickle as fewer and fewer people the player once knew remain at the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the usual recipient of Ronaldo's calls, didn't move anywhere. The pair speak frequently and compare football notes. Managers have often communicated with players from rival clubs, even if they haven't worked together. Liverpool's legendary boss Bill Shankly used to call Manchester United midfielder Paddy Crerand at home on a Sunday morning in the 60s, getting him out of bed to talk football.

Shankly had an insatiable thirst for football knowledge. The best managers are like sponges, soaking up information and various influences and opinions. The best players are always seeking to improve, to listen to advice from those they respect most.

Ronaldo's respect for Ferguson is absolute. The Scot helped make him the player that he is today during his six years at Old Trafford, turning raw talent into a player worthy of being named 2008 European footballer of the year. Ronaldo has continued to improve in Madrid, his determination for personal excellence the greatest asset to his game. If it hampers his performance then Ronaldo won't touch it, from cigarettes to the wrong type of food.

Ronaldo didn't love Manchester and what he considered the endless grey days of cold and rain. He moaned about it in training — and Ferguson was right to laugh off talk of him ever playing in Russia last week given his intolerance to cold - but he loved United and he loved his manager and has said on more than one occasion recently that he'd like to play for the club again.

The United fans adored him too. Still do. Only Eric Cantona gets his name sung more frequently by fans who holler: "Viva Ronaldo, Running down the wing, hear United sing, Viva Ronaldo". Several have got tickets in the Madrid end tonight, taking advantage of the usual poor travelling support of Spanish clubs to see their former hero. He'll be booed mercilessly by City fans, but that goes with the territory.

Ronaldo needs to be loved and he felt that in Manchester. Ferguson knew this and complimented him publicly, even if he was frustrated with him. He told United's media department to do the same, so that Ronaldo's ego could be indulged. He would have stayed, but sated after winning everything with United, the urge became too strong to play for Madrid, a club which has more kudos than United on his home island of Madeira.

He doesn't get the same treatment in Madrid, whose fans are harder to please and easier to alienate. In September, Ronaldo announced that he wasn't happy, but refused to specify why. In the game against City at the Bernabeu a few days later, fans briefly booed him when Madrid went behind, only to cheer him when he scored a decisive last minute winner. He was then given a standing ovation, highlighting the fickleness of fandom. Nor is he delighted to not even be in the top 10 best paid players in the world either, behind three of the City players he'll face tonight.

Ronaldo gets on well with his compatriot Mourinho, who, at 49, will tonight become the youngest manager to reach 100 European Cup games in charge, but he isn't as close to him as he was to Ferguson. The Scot reached 100 European Cup matches at 62, though the increased number of games since the inception of the Champions League two decades ago distorts the statistic.

Ronaldo is no slouch in Europe either. Aged just 27, he'll play his 85th Champions League match tonight, hoping to add to his 43 goals — a sublime record for the highest level of competition. He'll score many more, but whether he'll do it wearing white of Madrid isn't the certainty it seemed a year ago.

The Future Of WWE

We are just hours away from WWE's latest pay-per-view, Hell In A Cell. As things are about to kick off for WWE, there tons of questions being asked around by fans, but the main question is "What the future holds for WWE?"

We've seen a lot of superstars come and go. Those who were once on top of the WWE mountain, they find themselves right back at where they started. Why? The answer is simple. Complacency. I've read numerous reports that the new superstars take things for granted. When you've been given the opportunity to shine, take it with your both hands. 

I've been fortunate enough to witness how WWE started, moved on to the Attitude era (my personal favourite time) and launched to an even greater height with the current PG era. Yes, the PG era has its ups and downs but I personally believe that it opened a lot of doors not just to WWE, but also to a whole lot of wrestlers. 

We've seen those huge, mass muscled men, who basically can kick anyone's ass at any time been given a lot of push. But what about the so called the "little guys"? WWE has made the right choice by giving the so called "little guys" a lot of push and on the other hand, opened the gates for WWE to tap into a lot of other opportunities. 

Skeptical fans asks all this question all the time "Why does it always have to be John Cena?" In a recent interview with current WWE superstar, Dolph Ziggler, he had this to say : "He's been someone that I've looked up to, but also hated for the last five years, because he is the face, he is the franchise of the WWE. And there's been guys that have become World Champion and WWE Champion who are still second fiddle to what John Cena and whatever he has going on in his life. So this guy is the guy to be in the ring with. This is the guy to go toe to toe on the mic with. This is the guy to be in the matches with that you will be in the main event. And instead of everyone going 'Hey you had a great match. You should have been in the main event' people will be telling me 'Hey, it was a great match. There's a reason why you're in the main event out there with John Cena, because you do what you do better than everyone else." I have to admit, I am a Cena fan, but I do give credit where it's due and also critic when I feel I should. This is a guy who always comes to work first and leaves the last (as it was said by many superstars on numerous occasions). This is a guy whose work ethics can never be questioned. This is the guy that Stone Cold Steve Austin passed the Attitude era torch to (actually, he passed his signature beer on his Hall of Fame induction ceremony). Cena's been in WWE for 10 years or more now. He's one of the old guards now along with Undertaker, Kane, Big Show etc. You may also wonder why are these old guards are getting all the attention compared to the new and upcoming superstars? The answer is simple. Hard work. 

As WWE heads to the future, current crop of superstars have a long way to go before they can be considered as legends. And to the WWE fans or now called WWE Universe, do continue to give the support. I believe WWE will take us all to another road of great wrestling matches and great tv. 

The Top 10

I've got no idea what to write today, so somebody gave me an idea on this topic. You know who you are and thank you. Hahaha here goes... 

10 criteria to be my wife

1. Pandai memasak

2. Lemah lembut

3. Tak pandai melawan - bagus buat bini nie

4. Jgn cari kaki shopping - habis duit u nanti
5. Carik kaki travel - nanti u pun boleh travel 

6. Cari bini yang cantik - sejuk mate memandang

7. Loyal - kalau cantik tak loyal habis u..nanti u yg nangis kena tinggal

8. Ber-career - baru cun

9. Cari yang pandai urut - supaya u sakit badan, darling please massage me and jgn lupe beli massage oil

10. Kena ada kimia - paling penting sekali supaya u tak bosan dgn dia and dia pun tak bosan

Sekian sahaja dari Dr Love hari nie

What do you think people? Agree to it? Hahaha.. 

Kingmaker Scholes Shines as United Falter

Manchester United’s run of playing badly and winning had to end at some point. This result was long overdue for Tottenham, but they only half deserved it in the end. To be specific, they deserved to win the first half. After the break, United murdered them, but to no avail. 

AVB will rightly take some credit for setting up his side in a tactically successful manner and motivating his charges into taking an early 2-0 lead. However, there is no denying that United were absolutely pathetic in the first half. 

After two minutes, Spurs took the lead. Ryan Giggs is the most decorated footballer in English football history; he has a legendary left foot and is a terrific example to every professional player in the game. But he is rubbish in central midfield. That is where he started, and that is why Tottenham controlled the first half.

Half an hour later, the Londoners were 2-0 up and had barely broken sweat. That made it a clean sweep of games this season in which United had been lousy in midfield. If things had continued that way, we could have been facing a battering of Manchester City proportions. 

The crowd were terrific, though, defiantly supportive in the first half. Chants of ‘We love United, we do’ rang out through the ground. This is our team, and this is the show they put on for us. They’re not perfect, but I wouldn’t swap them for the world.

What made that opening period all the more alarming is that United put in a stupendous performance after the break. The discernible change was the introduction of Wayne Rooney for Giggs. Suddenly, we were a different team. 

Perhaps it is Rooney’s competitiveness, his drive, and his will to win. Whatever it was, it infected the rest of the team and lit a fire under our performance. His impact was crucial and, within six minutes, he had set up the goal that opened up the match.

And boy, did it open up. Three barmy goals were scored in 140 seconds. Nani toe-poked home Rooney’s cross, but then Clint Dempsey legged it up the other end and scored. 

The pick of the bunch though, was Kagawa’s strike to make it 3-2. Collecting a stupendous pass from van Persie, he managed to trap the ball, turn and finish past an experienced goalie in an incredibly crowded patch of pitch. It was impressive stuff – exquisite, and showing immense skill. United were back in it. 

Our game seems to be based more on pressure and intensity now. In the first half, this pressure was non-existent, but we applied it with force after the break. Scholes, again, was magnificent in that second half. Whilst it is slightly annoying that we need him to save us every week, you can only admire the majesty of his football: the greatest English player of the last 30 years, without question. 

Liverpool fans can rest easy. United also had three fairly decent penalty appeals turned down. We also hit the woodwork twice, but these are not excuses for our defeat. After a first half in which we would have lost to Accrington Stanley, there can be no complaints. 

The good news is that the front trident of Van Persie, Rooney and Kagawa appears likely to become fearsome. With those three on the field, we looked like a great side. But again Scholes was the kingmaker, and without him we struggle. Fergie will be advised to conduct his half-time team talks before the match from now on. 

The lethargy at the start was appalling, but this breathless game of football will live long in the memory. For all the positives we can draw from the excellence of our forwards, this is a very early juncture of the season and we have lost two games already. In some seasons, that would cost you the league. We can only hope this isn’t one of them.

Man Utd 1 - 0 Galatasaray

Michael Carrick's first Champions League goal in three years after just seven minutes proved enough, with United missing yet another penalty, their third of the season, through Nani. Galatasaray were desperately unlucky, failing to get a clear penalty before United struck, hitting the woodwork twice before being denied by David de Gea's excellent double save and then having another spot-kick claim waved away in stoppage time. 

Darren Fletcher returned from his career-threatening bowel condition as Manchester United scrambled to an unconvincing 1-0 win over Galatasaray at Old Trafford. It was the Scot's first appearance since November 22, although he had been battling against the problem for eight months before that. 

At one stage, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he feared whether Fletcher would ever resume his career. Fletcher's arrival for Paul Scholes 11 minutes from time brought a deserved standing ovation, and was one of the few high points of a difficult evening for the hosts, who collected the victory but little else of note.

There then followed the third instalment of United's penalty embarrassment. After failures from Van Persie and Javier Hernandez already this season, Nani exuded confidence. Until it actually came to striking the ball that is. After a little shimmy, the Portugal winger seemed to freeze, and Musiera saved to his right. 

Rather than being eased in as Ferguson doubtless hoped, Fletcher's battling qualities were a necessity for the latter stages as United managed to keep their opponents at bay.

It was never comfortable though, with substitute Javier Hernandez failing to capitalise on a couple of late opportunities.

My verdict on Man Utd: Evra has lost his pace at the back. He's still a very good defender but we need pace at the back. Maybe Buttner is the solution but he needs a lot of composure before he can replace Evra. Our wingers need to improve a lot. Like real quick. Their runs are good but they suck at delivering the final ball into the box. Valencia and Nani need to get their heads together and come up with the goods.