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London mayor in dock for claiming ping-pong to be of British origin

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:59:00 -0400

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, is in hot water for claiming that ping pong originated in Britain rather than in China.

Johnson''s assertion in Beijing that the game started life as "whiff-whaff", played on the dining tables of the British upper classes, has had game-makers and historians accusing him of rewriting a small chapter of social history.

Joe Jaques, the commercial director of Jaques of London, the world''s oldest sporting and games manufacturer, told The Times that Johnson had his facts "completely wrong".

He accused the mayor of doing his family a disservice by failing to acknowledge that they had been first to codify the game and had invented the name ping-pong years before whiff-whaff - devised by a business rival - was even thought of.

In typically flamboyant fashion, Johnson declared at the Olympics that it was a common misconception that table tennis had been invented in China.

In comments broadcast widely across the world, the mayor said: "Ping-pong was invented on the dining tables of England in the 19th century and it was called whiff-whaff.

"The French might look at a dining table and see an opportunity to eat. We looked at it and saw the opportunity to play whiff-whaff. And I say to the Chinese, and I say to the world, ping-pong is coming home."

However, according to Jaques, whiff-whaff was a poor imitation of a game invented by John Jaques, his great-grandfather, and which was manufactured many years earlier.

There is much speculation about the origins of ping-pong. Some historians believe that the game was derived from outdoor tennis. Others say that British soldiers in India originally played it.

However, the Jaques family claim that they commercialised the game, providing nets, balls, bats and formal rules.

Johnson, who prides himself on his historical knowledge, was unrepentant yesterday.

He said: "I stand by my assertion that whiff-waff and ping-pong are one and the same thing, with the ''whiffs'' predating the ''pongs''. Regardless of semantics though, it is a sport of which we should be proud and I look forward to watching it in 2012." (ANI)

Watson hopes Symonds will opt for Australian team over IPL

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:59:00 -0400

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has said that he hopes that Andrew Symonds would return to the national cricket side and not commit himself to the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) second series this year, the schedule of which is to be finalized.

Watson said this despite the fact he stands to benefit from Symonds'' absence from the upcoming tour of India. With no Symonds, Watson would be in the frame to assume the all-rounder''s role in the Aussie line-up for the four-Test series. The team for the India tour is expected to be announced on September 13.

Symonds is presently planning his future, whether to play for Australia or IPL, after being sent home from Darwin last weekend for a disciplinary reason for not attending an important meeting.

Symonds, who was left high and dry by his fellow team-mates following the racist remark against Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, has even been advised a rehabilitation program under the supervision of Cricket Australia (CA).

According to the Courier Mail, as one of the highest-paid players in the IPL, Symonds could command big money on the subcontinent for two months of cricket a year - even if he gave up on playing for his country.

But, Watson hoped that he won’t go for IPL. “For my sake as a player, because I love watching him playing for Australia and for the general public as well, I hope that''s not the way he goes because I don''t want this to be the last time the Australian public is seeing Andrew Symonds playing,” the paper quoted Watson as saying. (ANI)

Saudi Arabia''s "Mr. Deep Pockets" buys UK’s Manchester City club

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:57:00 -0400

A multi-billionaire Arab consortium has reportedly purchased the Manchester City football club and launched audacious transfer bids for Real Madrid Brazil ace Robinho and for the Spurs’ star Dimitar Berbatov.

City also revealed they had lodged bids for Valencia striker David Villa and Stuttgart’s Mario Gomez.

The buyers, Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, are reportedly worth between 650 billion and 800 billion pounds — compared to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s 11.7 billion pounds.

The takeover deal was struck late on Sunday with City’s previous owner, the controversy-dogged ex-Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim, the Arab world’s answer to Sir Alan Sugar, fronts the group.

The 31-year-old said: “Our goal is simple — to make Manchester City the biggest club in the Premier League. We are trying to be in the top four this season and will buy whatever is needed.”

The property developer said of his group: “We have a deep pocket, we really have. It is very deep.”

Al Fahim is a former child chess champ who fronts his own Apprentice-style reality TV show and is known for getting what he wants.

Al Fahim began working as a boy in his dad’s pharmacy, was investing on the stock market at 14 and buying property at 15.

Ten years ago he was devastated when his parents and brother died in a car crash. He moved to the US, married and had three kids. (ANI)

“Flintoff is a fantastic role model for youngsters”

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:56:00 -0400

England batsman Andrew Flintoff is a fantastic role model for the younger players and has a lot of knowledge about the game which he now wants to pass on to the next generation, said his country’s cricket coach Peter Moores.

“Fred is on great form around the dressing room at the moment. He is calm and very committed, and he''s a fantastic role model for the younger players to have around because nothing is a drama for him,”

“You need people with presence, people who believe totally in themselves and know that they''re going to win the game. Fred is a doer, he leads by example, and he has a lot of knowledge about the cricket he has played all over the world that he wants to pass on. This is one of those cases where you have a great player doing well on his own account, and making other people play better too,” The Telegraph quoted Moores as saying while commenting on Freddie’s autobiography “Being Freddie” in which he admitted to wasting the early years of his career through a poor diet and a lack of direction.

Flintoff''s emergence as a world-class player can be traced back to the day in 2001 when his management team gave him a rollicking for being overweight. From that point on, his career began to climb towards the dizzy peak of the 2005 Ashes. But, Flintoff has regularly claimed "my best years are still ahead of me" - a claim which looks far more plausible after his spectacular performances over the past month.

Moores said: “Fred has missed a lot of cricket, but one of the biggest benefits we are seeing is that he has matured as a bloke. He was ready to come back and show us everything that he knew about international cricket and everything that he''s learned about life.”

Moores said that while Flintoff was himself a former England captain, he had not hesitated to put his weight behind Kevin Pietersen''s new regime. “One thing Freddie has done really well is to support Kevin. When someone''s pulling for you in your corner, and it''s Fred Flintoff, that''s a nice thing to have on the field and in the dressing room,” said the coach. (ANI)

KP does not cook in his birthday suit, says his wife

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:56:00 -0400

He may be the hottest property in English and world cricket at this moment, but he certainly does not cook for his family in his birthday suit.

We are talking about England captain Kevin Pietersen, or KP as his family and close friends know him, and the one making the comment on his culinary skills in the nude is none other than his wife of eight months – Jessica Taylor.

Glamorous pop star Jessica says that she is proud of him, and adds that he has done brilliantly as a player and a captain.

She also does not seem worried about all the attention he gets from other women.

The Sun quotes her as saying: “I know what sort of man he is and don’t need to worry. It doesn’t matter what these women do. And, anyway, it’s natural that he should get so many admirers — he’s fit.”

As far as cooking goes, she says: “I do most of the cooking in our house. And I can honestly say Kevin has never cooked for me naked. It wouldn’t be safe, would it? All that hot oil. It could be very dangerous. I would insist on an apron at least.”

Since Kevin, 28, took over from Michael Vaughan as England captain last month, the team have won every game they have played — a Test match and four one-day internationals against South Africa, where he was born.

He qualified to play for England because his mum, Penny, was born in Canterbury, Kent.

Once seen as the showman and rebel of English cricket, he has reined in his image to become the saviour of the game.

Jessica, who used to be in reality TV band Liberty X says: “Before I met Kevin I had never even seen a cricket match. But I’ve had a proper initiation and understand all the rules now. I’m really enjoying supporting him. I go to every game possible. I love it.”

Their home life, in Chelsea, West London, isn’t bad either.

She says: “Kevin and I are so low-key. We hardly go out. My perfect evening is staying in together with a roast and watching our favourite TV shows on Sky Plus.

“Married life is absolutely brilliant. I’m very happy. It is like the final seal — the ultimate commitment. It makes you feel completely secure.”

The feeling is mutual. Yesterday Kevin said: “I’m very fortunate that I have a wife who has been in the spotlight for a lot longer than I have. She had seven or eight years of a very successful music career.

“I can go home and she can talk to me about stuff and we can chuck ideas around.”

And are little KPs on the horizon?

Jessica says: “Oh yes, definitely. I’ve always loved children and am looking forward to having them. But I’ve got plenty of time to think about that. I’m only 28. (ANI)

Symonds advised to seek shrinks help following Shaun Tait-like “persecution complex”

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:06:00 -0400

Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who was left high and dry alone by his team-mates last year after the race row with Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, has been reportedly advised to get psychological help. He is not likely to be picked up in the team for next month’s four-Test India tour.

He appears to have developed a “persecution complex”, said a report in perthnow.com and added it is understood that the “strife-torn cricketer” has been asked to go on a rehabilitation program overseen by Cricket Australia (CA) medical staff, in which he would see counsellors about his state of mind.

Quoting a report published in the Daily Telegraph, the portal said that it might be a similar recovery regime to that undertaken by fast bowler Shaun Tait, who withdrew from cricket in January citing mental exhaustion.

It is also understood that Symonds, sent home from Darwin after going for fishing instead of attending a compulsory team meeting, is no chance of touring India in October as he spends time deciding whether he wants to return to international cricket, added the report.

Australian cricket coach Tim Nielsen expressed his concerns about the all-rounder''s attitude towards cricket, saying: “The players usually don''t miss a thing and they are always early and presented as well as they possibly can. When somebody hasn''t got the information that they need or hasn''t turned up on time it''s usually due to the fact they''re away from us and the group a little bit, mentally. That always raises concerns.”

According to the report, if Symonds does return to cricket, it will almost certainly be via his state side the Queensland Bulls, who play their opening Sheffield Shield game of the season against Tasmania at the Gabba on October 10.

Australia''s squad for the four-Test tour of India is expected to be picked on September 13, and national selection chief Andrew Hilditch yesterday admitted he and his fellow selectors had not even discussed Symonds'' prospects for India. (ANI)

Phelps, Rice now making a splash on airways

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:43:00 -0400

After their spectacular successes in swimming championships in Beijing, golden girl Stephanie Rice and her alleged Olympics flame Michael Phelps are once again walking the same path to fame — TV shows.

While Rice is all set to highlight Seven''s Make Me A Supermodel this week, Phelps has filmed a cameo for his favourite US series Entourage.

Phelps is also set to host the September 12 season premiere of Saturday Night Live.

"It''s going to be really strange, but fun. We''ll see if I really am a fish out of water and if I have a comedic side to me. All of my friends are giving me a hard time about it and saying I better not mess up and better not do this or do that," the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

As regards the latest rumours of his romance with a former Miss California runner-up named Nicole Johnson, Phelps said that the two of them were just “good friends”.

“I never said I have a girlfriend, and I never said I don''t have a girlfriend. My public and private life are separate. I keep my private life to myself,” he told People magazine. (ANI)

British woman eyes skydive record over Everest

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:35:00 -0400

A British woman plans to make a parachute jump over Mount Everest hoping to become the first woman ever to skydive over the world''s highest peak, organisers said on Sunday.

Holly Budge, 29, plans to throw herself out from 465 feet (142 metres) above Everest, hurtling past it, before landing in a mountain meadow at 12,350 feet (3,764 metres), reports The Mirror.

She plans to attempt her dive in October after taking off from an airstrip in Syangboche in the Khumbhu region of northeast Nepal, home to Mount Everest, the world''s highest peak at 8,850 metres (29,035 feet).

Budge is a Bristol-based interactive designer and film maker, and she says that she will wear an oxygen mask and carry a parachute that is much larger than normal to compensate for the faster descent through the thinner air of the world''s highest drop zone.

Three thousand people have so far climbed Mount Everest since 1953.(ANI)