Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Lenovo IP S10E ATM/1.6 10.1 512M-160GB CAM WLS Laptops


Stay on budget and experience Lenovo quality and engineering excellence, the IdeaPad S10e Netbook is designed to handle your basic day-to-day computing needs.Enjoy videos, surf the web, video message friends, email, homework, listening to music, and more all on the go. Manufacturer: Lenovo Group Limited Manufacturer Part Number: 4187RWU Manufacturer Website Address: www.lenovo.com/us/en/ Brand Name: Lenovo Product Line: IdeaPad Product Series: S10e Product Name: IdeaPad S10e Netbook Product Type: Netbook Processor Manufacturer: Intel Processor Type: Atom Processor Model: N270 Processor Speed: 1.60 GHz Standard Memory: 1 GB, 1GB Maximum Memory: 1GB, 1 GB Memory Technology: DDR2 SDRAM Memory Standard: DDR2-667/PC2-5300 Hard Drive Capacity: 160GB, 160 GB Solid State Drive Capacity: Not Included Optical Drive Type: Not Included Optical Media Support: Not Applicable Screen Size: 10.10", 10.1" Graphic Mode: WSVGA Display Screen Type: Active Matrix TFT Color LCD Widescreen: Yes Graphics Controller Manufacturer: Inte less

this news has been taken from http://www.pronto.com

Reliance Mobile Test Championship

TeamMatchesPointsRating
1India323957124
2South Africa303672122
3Australia354054116
4Sri Lanka313574115
5England394102105
6Pakistan21174483
7New Zealand29233781
8West Indies29222477
9Bangladesh1925513
Developed by David KendixLast Updated: Sun, Jan 10, 2010

Reliance Mobile ODI Championship

TeamMatchesPointsRating
1Australia395080130
2India455524123
3South Africa263085119
4New Zealand252789112
5England333606109
6Pakistan283012108
7Sri Lanka394163107
8West Indies21158976
9Bangladesh32172754
10Zimbabwe3282326
11Ireland615225
12Kenya14282
Developed by David KendixLast Updated: Mon, Jan 11, 2010

For the Reliance Mobile ODI Rankings predictor please click here.

everything has been taken by ICC-cricke.com

Wandering Adu eyes Greek revival


Only a few years on from being touted as the long-awaited saviour of American soccer, Freddy Adu is heading for his third loan spell in three seasons, this time with mid-table Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki. The move is seemingly a long way from the creative attacker’s meteoric rise to prominence as a precocious prodigy destined to someday make it in a big way.

Born in Tema, Ghana, young Fredua Koranteng Adu was noticed early in the USA after arriving with his mother through an immigration lottery. At the tender age of just 14 - after representing the USA with distinction at both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 World Cups in 2003 - Adu became one of the youngest American professional athletes in history, turning down offers from some of Europe’s top sides to sign a Major League Soccer contract in 2004.

“I try to not think about what everyone is saying about me,” he told FIFA.com in late 2003, already engulfed by a soccer-inspired mainstream media whirlwind not seen in the USA since the country hosted the FIFA World Cup™ in 1994, or Pele's arrival at the New York Cosmos in 1975.

It can be the right thing or the wrong thing (going abroad) depending on the individual situation; it’s something to think through.
USA star Landon Donovan

What followed for fresh-faced Adu, who was tagged “the biggest signing in the history of MLS” by commissioner Ivan Gazidis, was a succession of disappointments at club level, at least relative to the media circus that buzzed around him. He scored 11 goals in 90 appearances at DC United and eventually moved on to Real Salt Lake in 2006, playing 11 times and scoring twice before a much hyped move to Europe finally took shape.

His first port of call was Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, signing on just two months after his 18th birthday for a reported $2m. He failed to shine under the bright lights of Lisbon, averaging only 20 or so minutes per game. Adu never once made a starting appearance, scoring just twice in 11 outings.

In 2008, he was loaned out to Monaco in the French top flight, and he again failed to earn a starting place and saw his playing time shrink even more. After a return to Benfica, Adu was shipped off yet again, this time to cross-town Belenenses. While with the Portuguese top-tier basement dwellers, he managed briefly to break into the first team before injuries and inconsistency again took their toll.

It seemed to be the case of a wildly talented youngster touted too early, possibly losing his way in the pitiless world of international football. His newest assignment, on loan in Greece, will give Adu – still only 20 – one more opportunity to gain regular first-team action in Europe. “A lot of thought and research went into this move (to Aris),” reported Adu, who turned down an offer to join up with English Premier League outfit Hull City, on his much-followed Twitter page.

At Aris, Adu will be joining up with Eddie Johnson, another once-promising US striker who is now 25 years old. After moving to Fulham in England from Major League Soccer, he failed to make an impact at either Craven Cottage or during a loan spell at Cardiff City, and he is also looking for a revival in Greece. The pair were team-mates at the FIFA U-20 World Cup UAE 2003, where the Americans went all the way to the quarter-finals and Johnson finished the tournament as top scorer.

Stay-or-go debate
“It depends on the player and the situation. Going abroad can be a great move for an American player, but it really depends on the circumstances,” USA coach Bob Bradley told FIFA.com during last June’s FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, where Adu spent the entire tournament – as the US roared to the final – watching from the bench. “The last thing you want is for a player to leave somewhere where he’s playing regularly and go somewhere where he plays less.”

Landon Donovan, who is currently on loan in England with Everton, echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying: “It can be the right thing or the wrong thing (going abroad) depending on the individual situation - it’s something to think through.”

Adu and Johnson will be aiming to put in good performances at their new club in order to get themselves back in the reckoning for a place in Bradley’s USA squad for South Africa 2010. Adu made his debut for the national team in 2006 at the age of just 16, a move seen by some as an attempt to keep him from playing for Ghana. Since then he has figured only sporadically and made just 15 appearances for the Stars and Stripes.

Johnson, too, has gone off the radar, missing the FIFA Confederations Cup and figuring only occasionally in USA’s qualifiers for the 19th FIFA World Cup. Both Adu and Johnson will be well aware that another young US attacking star, Charlie Davies, is unlikely to recover from injuries sustained in a recent car accident in time to take part in the global showpiece. A turn of fortunes, a spot of regular playing time and a few goals on Greek shores might well be enough for a plane ticket to South Africa.

THIS INTERVIEW IS TAKEN FROM FIFA.COM

Monday, January 11, 2010


"Zizou, you are a legend!" The cry comes from an overexcited young boy in the midst of a crowd gathered at Sun City, one of South Africa's most popular tourist destinations, to watch Zinedine Zidane play in a five-a-side tournament. The French icon appears relaxed and unfazed as eager fans try to squeeze past his four bodyguards for a photo or an autograph. He grins, but says little. "That's Zizou", his aide quips, "he never says much."

Since retiring from the game, Zidane has kept his public appearances to a minimum, and interviews have been even rarer. Yet despite his withdrawal from the limelight, the former Real Madrid midfielder remains as idolised as ever by football fans the world over, for whom memories of his elegant brilliance remain vivid.

South Africa's affection was certainly reciprocated when Zizou chatted exclusively to FIFA.com, with the three-time FIFA World Player taking the opportunity to compliment the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts. The former France captain also offered his assessment on the prospects for African nations at next year's finals, reflected with fondness and pride on France 1998, and gave his take on Les Bleus' current difficulties.

FIFA.com: Having now spent some time in South Africa, what are your impressions of the country and its people?
Zinedine Zidane:
This is a very beautiful country. I have to say I'm impressed and so far I'm enjoying myself here. I'm sure that people are going to love being here. The thing is, not many people (from outside the continent) have been to Africa; for many it will be a new and completely different experience.

Of course, you yourself are of Algerian descent. How do you feel about the fact that the FIFA World Cup will be staged on African soil for the first time?
It's great for African football that we have the World Cup here. For me, it's an exciting period and an opportunity for Africa to show the rest of the world what it is capable of doing. I think this World Cup will be the best opportunity for African teams to prove to the rest of the world their capabilities. One of the things that will be to their advantage is that they will be playing on home soil - that should be a motivation in itself. What I know is that, for every player, to appear in any World Cup is an honour. However, when the event is on home soil, it brings a fantastic feeling. And from our time in France (in 1998), we saw what playing the tournament at home means. The atmosphere from your own supporters just adds more flavour and gives more motivation to the players.

I didn't know that this event had so much power to influence society, but from our experience (in 1998) I think we all saw what it can do.
Zidane on the power of the FIFA World Cup

What do you think this FIFA World Cup will mean to the South African people?
Hosting the World Cup is a special moment for any country and I'm sure South Africans will embrace the tournament. The thing about the World Cup is that it brings happiness to the supporters and I would urge South Africans to enjoy it, enjoy every moment of it because it's something they might not experience again in their lives. I'm sure this is going to be a fantastic and a new experience for many people in the country.

You mention how special it is to play in a FIFA World Cup on home soil. Can you share your experience of France 1998 with us?
I remember one of the most touching scenes for me was seeing people hugging in the streets after we won the tournament at home; it was a great moment. Many people were in tears, they were so happy - all people, both black and white. For me, that was one of the most rewarding feelings, and I hope that might also happen in South Africa. I didn't know that this event had so much power to influence society, but from our experience I think we all saw what it can do.

Who do you think will win the FIFA Confederations Cup in June?
(Pauses) I don't know, I can't really say which side will win. I think it will be interesting. We have many good sides competing.

I'm sure you have been asked so many times about that Final against Italy at Germany 2006. Given an opportunity to do it all again, would you do things differently?
(Smiles) I don't really want to talk about that. So much has been said about that game, so much has been written about things that happened during it, but to me it's history now. It was a great game and we wanted to win it. Obviously, I would have loved to see France on the winning side, but it didn't happen.

Just before that FIFA World Cup, you had played your last-ever match for Real Madrid against Villarreal. How did it feel to walk out at the Bernabeu for the last time?
It was a very emotional moment for me. Many people who know me will probably tell you that I'm not really good at showing emotions, but that game was different. When I looked at the stands, I saw my friends and my family there. They were there to support me and that made the match even more special for me. I remember that I battled to hold back tears. The thing is, deep down you know that this is your last game of your club career and, throughout my life, I have always loved playing football.

You have clearly enjoyed a hugely illustrious career. What do you regard as your biggest achievement in football?
Winning the World Cup on home soil was great, it was a special moment and it will always rate among the biggest achievements in my career.

The French team have endured a difficult period since you retired. What do you make of their current situation?
I think its fair for people to say they have been disappointed with the results from the team, they have gone through a rough patch, but I think its unfair for some individuals to say they are a bad side. They are not a bad team at all but, as I said, they are just going through a difficult period. France still have some special players who can turn their fortunes around.

THIS INTERVIEW IS TAKEN FROM FIFA.COM

Torres: Our best is yet to come


Fresh from setting a new record at club side Liverpool, having racked up 50 Premier League strikes quicker than any other player in the Anfield outfit’s history, Fernando Torres remains as fiercely ambitious as ever. Still known as El Niño (The Kid), though he is now a father himself, the 25-year-old spoke to FIFA.com about his fine current form and his goals for the future at club and international level.

FIFA.com: Fernando, last month you were included in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2009. How did it feel to know that over 50,000 professional players voted?
Fernando Torres: It’s a real source of joy and satisfaction as well a huge privilege. Receiving this kind of recognition from your fellow professionals is something very special, which fills you with pride. The fact they admire what you do spurs you on to keep improving, to try and continue forming part of this XI.

What’s your verdict on 2009?
Being included in the World XI without having won any silverware makes me even more motivated. What I mean is, though collectively we’ve not had the best of luck, on a personal note the balance is right and I’m doing my job well. I have to keep that going. We just need a little more luck as a team to be able to win a trophy.

Things have not gone well for Liverpool so far this season. Is the club capable of turning things around?
Unfortunately this season is not turning out how we’d wanted, but our best is still to come. Let’s hope that we can put a string of good performances together come the end-of-season run-in and the most pivotal moments, and that we can put right what we’ve not done so well up to now. And who knows, in May we might well be talking about how good a season it’s been. We’ve still got objectives to aim for.

Though collectively we’ve not had the best of luck, on a personal note the balance is right and I’m doing my job well. I have to keep that going.
Fernando Torres on Liverpool

In that case, is there confidence in the manager and within the squad?
Of course. We’re extremely confident that we can regain the position [in the table] that we deserve and that it’s still in our hands. We’re virtually the same team that finished second in the Premier League last season and we’re going to do everything we can to improve our situation.

With Spain, on the other hand, things are going extremely well, with La Roja winning all ten of their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers. In your opinion, what was the highlight of the year for the national team?
I think that the most positive thing was how we bounced back after losing in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup. In a way, that defeat did us good by helping us realise that the road to the World Cup wasn’t going to be easy, but that we had to stay on track. And what better way to do that than winning ten games in a row in qualifying. We’ve now recovered any confidence that we may have lost that day against the United States. What matters is we’re heading into the World Cup unbeaten and we want to finish it that way, without losing to anybody.

Do you think that defeat against USA has made you stronger?
I think that the squad’s always has its feet on the ground. Humility is the hallmark of this Spanish national side. But we’ve realised that anybody can have a bad day and that a bad day puts you out of the World Cup. That was made very clear to us at the Confederations! But we now know what we have to do so it doesn’t happen again. South Africa 2010 is our big chance and we don’t want to waste it.

We’ve realised that anybody can have a bad day and that a bad day puts you out of the World Cup. That was made very clear to us.
Torres on the lessons of Spain's defeat to USA

Spain have been drawn in Group H for South Africa 2010 alongside Switzerland, Honduras and Chile. How do you rate your group rivals?
As I was saying, the defeat against the USA taught us that any team can make life hard for you. You have to have a lot of respect for every opponent. Our goal is to take each game as it comes and finish top of the group. Whoever we face in the Round of 16 will be fearsome, whether we finish first or second, because there are some of the best teams in the world in Group G. But if you want to be world champions you have to be ready to take on any national side.

Your winning goal in the final of UEFA EURO 2008 clinched Spain’s first trophy at senior level since the 1964 European Championship. Can you see yourself repeating the feat in a few months’ time?
We all dream of winning another final, particularly at a World Cup which is what every footballer aims for. I think that at one time or another we’ve all pictured ourselves being photographed lifting the World Cup. Let’s hope that it happens this time round. We know it’s difficult, but we’re going to give everything we’ve got because we’re in good form and we may not find ourselves in a situation like this again.

Pele has said that the current Spain side reminds him of the Brazil team which triumphed at Mexico 1970. What is more, that Seleção also went into the FIFA World Cup finals after winning all their qualifying matches.
When a football legend speaks, you just have to listen. It’s an added motivation for us. However, that’s also a warning shot for our opponents and will make them more defensive against us. Let’s hope that once the World Cup is over we can say that Pele was right.

What’s your wish for 2010?
Just as every year, my wish is that we’re lucky with injuries. Not just me, but all my team-mates too because there are some very big matches coming up and that way we’ll be competing on a level playing field. If that’s the case, may the best team win.

THIS INTERVIEW IS TAKEN FROM FIFA.COM

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