Get U.S. Open golf 2011 TV Coverage Schedule And Online Streaming

U.S. Open golf 2011 TV coverage schedule, online streaming

ESPN and NBC are sharing coverage of the 2011 U.S. Open golf tournament in order to bring golf fans as much coverage as possible.

For Thursday and Friday's coverage of the second major golf tournament of the season, ESPN will have coverage from 10 a.m. ET to 3 p.m. ET. NBC will take over for two hours, from 3 p.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET, and then it kicks back to ESPN for the last hour of coverage, from 5 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET. Which is weird, but there you go.

For the weekend, NBC's live coverage starts at 2 p.m. ET and continues until 8 p.m. ET on Saturday and starts a half-hour earlier on Sunday, airing from 1:30 p.m. ET until whenever the tournament ends. There is no live TV coverage prior to those afternoon starts on the Peacock.

But if you'd like to watch when there isn't coverage (or you're stuck at work in front of a computer and can't watch on TV), there is live streaming on ESPN3. Who's your pick to win it all? We always like to give a root to our hometown boy Zach Johnson.

Sources: http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/06/us-open-golf-2011-tv-coverage-schedule-online-streaming.html

Andrew Bynum Injured As Lakers Beat Spurs 102-93

Andrew Bynum Injured As Lakers Beat Spurs 102-93

LOS ANGELES — Andrew Bynum awkwardly sprawled onto the court, staying down for an uncomfortably long moment. The 7-foot center then walked cautiously to the locker room with more than one teammate staring at his perpetually problematic knees.

The Los Angeles Lakers ended their five-game losing streak Tuesday night.

They'll find out what it cost on Wednesday.

Kobe Bryant scored 27 points, but Bynum hyperextended his right knee in the two-time defending NBA champions' 102-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs' role players.

The Lakers' hopes for a third straight title might have taken a significant blow when Bynum fell after stepping on DeJuan Blair's foot during the second quarter. Los Angeles' superb low-post defender will have an MRI on Wednesday while the Lakers wrap up the regular season at Sacramento.

Bynum downplayed the injury while walking comfortably out of Staples Center, and the Lakers are cautiously hoping for news that won't derail their playoff run before it begins. Yet it's tough not to assume the worst with Bynum and his rickety 23-year-old knees.

"There's always concern," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who acknowledged Bynum could be out for at least a few games. "We've seen him go down a couple of times that have been debilitating, so there's a concern. It was kind of a freaky play, but they usually are, and that's what basketball is."

Bryant describes the shot-blocking center as the Lakers' most important defensive player, and his absence from the 2008 NBA finals was one reason Los Angeles lost to Boston before winning the next two championship series with Bynum in the middle. Bynum had surgery last summer to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

"He allows us to be the dominant team we're capable of being," said Derek Fisher, who scored 13 points. "It's hard to think about not having him for any significant length of time. It was tough to see. He's so important to what we do, so to even think for a second that he might be out, the impact that would have on him after all of his work, it's tough to deal with in the moment."

Lamar Odom scored 23 points as the Lakers struggled to hold off the Spurs, who rested stars Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker with the Western Conference's top seed already wrapped up.

Pau Gasol had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Lakers (56-25), who will get the No. 2 seed in the West with a win at Sacramento or a loss by Dallas (56-25).

Gary Neal scored 16 points and Matt Bonner had 13 for the Spurs, whose four-game winning streak ended.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't worry about falling into a tie with surging Chicago (61-20) for the NBA's best overall record, yet his junior varsity nearly knocked off the discombobulated Lakers, who couldn't breathe easily until Bryant's 3-pointer put them up 96-88 with 2:55 to play.

"I think it showed the character, the heart that we have, and we're a pretty deep team," said George Hill, who scored 11 points. "We tried to give the best effort we could, and that's all you can hope for. All of us thought we could win. That was our whole motive going into the game."

The Lakers hadn't won since April 1, falling apart after a sparkling 17-1 stretch. They still haven't fixed the defensive execution issues that have plagued them this month – but if Bynum's potential absence doesn't get the champs' attention, maybe it can't be got.

"Hopefully he'll be back soon, and we'll get him back at 100 percent and just keep plugging away," said Odom, who scored 21 points in the second half.

Bryant played with a short fuse and a scowl even before Bynum's injury. He earned his 15th technical foul of the season for arguing in the third quarter, picking up a T in his third straight game and moving right to the brink of an NBA-mandated one-game suspension.

Bryant punctuated the tantrum by punching a chair on the bench. If he gets another technical foul in the season finale, the suspension would be for the first game of next season.

If the Spurs and Bulls finish with the same record, every tiebreaker is even, so a random drawing would determine who got homecourt advantage in the NBA finals – a nonexistent concern to Popovich, a four-time NBA champion.

Popovich plans to get Duncan back in the lineup Wednesday night in the season finale at Phoenix.

"It's a back-to-back, and I'd rather play (Duncan) tomorrow and not have such a long time before the weekend," Popovich said. "(The reserves) got some experience. I'm happy with what they did."

The Spurs' patchwork starting lineup included Neal, Hill and Tiago Splitter. The Lakers took an early 10-point lead but couldn't hold it, giving up a 13-1 run and going into halftime tied at 45.

San Antonio took a lead on Danny Green's jumper with 7:28 to play, but Odom's three-point play put the Lakers right back ahead.

NOTES: The Lakers played without backup point guard Steve Blake, who will miss at least two games after contracting chicken pox, and reserve forward Matt Barnes, who rested his sore right knee. ... Veteran C Theo Ratliff appeared in just his second game for the Lakers since Nov. 9, playing 2 minutes. He missed most of the season after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. ... Fans near courtside included Dennis Haysbert and director Adam McKay.



Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/13/andrew-bynum-injured-lakers-spurs_n_848482.html

Vettel Dominate Formula One | Vettel Dominates First Qualifying of the Season

Vettel Formula One

Vettel Dominate, First Qualifying of the Formula One Season

Vettel Dominates First Qualifying of the Season

Saying that it was a surprise to see Sebastian Vettel score the pole position today in Melbourne at the first qualifying session of the year would not be accurate. On the other hand, judging by the sounds of peoples’ reactions to just how blisteringly fast the reigning world champion went and by how much he destroyed the competition, few people expected such domination.

Vettel set a lap time of .8 seconds faster in his Red Bull than the second man on the grid, Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren Mercedes, while Vettel’s teammate, Mark Webber was third fastest, but .9 seconds slower than his teammate.

“Starting the season that way is how you want to,” said Vettel.

But he said it does not mean that he is going to dominate the race by the same degree.

“With the new tires it’s a bit racing into the unknown,” Vettel said. And indeed, the way the cars and teams react with the new Pirelli tires in the first race of the season could change everything. It could lead to unpredictable pit stops, and greater tire wear on certain cars than on others.

But Vettel’s performance was nevertheless extraordinary. And Webber was the first to admit it. He had only been hundredths of seconds off his teammate here last year, now he was nearly a second slower.

“Couldn’t get the times today,” said Webber. “I’m really disappointed.”

But Vettel’s pole position was far from the only story worth telling in this first qualifying session of the year. Hamilton clearly also did a great lap to sneak his McLaren Mercedes between the two Red Bulls, and his teammate, Jenson Button, was fourth fastest. So clearly the McLarens are doing better than winter testing indicated they would.

But the big stories of qualifying were particularly that the two HRT team cars failed to make it to within 107 percent of the lap times of the leading car in the first qualifying session. As a result, they will not take part in tomorrow’s race. The rule returned this year after nearly a decade, and HRT and its drivers – Vitantonio Liuzzi and Narain Karthikeyan – have become the first and immediate casualties.

At the Lotus Renault team, Nick Heidfeld failed to set a fast enough time to move out of the first qualifying session. Heidfeld qualified only 18th, while his teammate, Vitaly Petrov, qualified sixth. When we consider that Petrov was so often slower than his teammate, Robert Kubica, last year, we can only imagine where Kubica would have placed the other car had he been here this year. Kubica, of course, was replaced by Heidfeld this year after Kubica was seriously injured in a rally accident over the winter.

And despite Michael Schumacher returning for his second season after retirement in a car that was designed with more of his input over the winter, the German failed to make it to the final session, qualifying in his Mercedes only 11th while his teammate, Nico Rosberg, qualified seventh. But Schumacher’s final lap was valiant, as he made it just in time to try a final surge and just failed to make it to the final session by 0.089 seconds behind Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso. (Buemi qualified in a fabulous 10th position.)

I predict that the race will be just as exciting as this exceptional qualifying session. At least I hope it will! Vettel could just run away with the whole show.



Source : http://formulaone.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/vettel-dominates-first-qualifying-of-the-season/

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Shift To West Coast, Lakers

Carmelo Anthony Trade Rumors Shift To West Coast, Lakers

A surprising new team has reportedly entered the fold in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported on Tuesday that the Denver Nuggets have had discussions with the Los Angeles Lakers about a trade that would involve center Andrew Bynum and likely more players.

Broussard says that the proposed deal with LA , as it stands now, would not necessarily require a third team. A straight-up-deal involving Anthony and Bynum would technically work financially under the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement, but the Nuggets would likely also ask for expiring contracts from the Lakers in exchange for more players.

Yesterday, Broussard broke news about discussions between the Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks--who have long been considered favorites to land Anthony--about a deal that would send Anthony to New York.

Today, Broussard says the deal is still alive, but has been complicated by concerns over the Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, who would be a key part of that deal.

Anthony has been the subject of trade rumors since he declined to sign a 3-year, $65 million extension with the Nuggets last summer.

Last month, Lakers star Kobe Bryant called Nuggets fans "Idiots" for booing Anthony.




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/08/carmelo-anthony-lakers-trade_n_820262.html

Proactive can appeal over £4.3m Wayne Rooney claim

Proactive can appeal over £4.3m Wayne Rooney claim

Sports management firm Proactive has won permission to appeal over a £4.3m claim against Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

The firm failed in its bid to sue Rooney in July 2010 for what it claimed was unpaid commission on deals agreed when the player was at Everton.

It was ruled that a contract between Proactive and Rooney for him to pay 20% commission on deals was unenforceable.

Permission for Proactive to appeal was given at the High Court in London.

Judge Brendan Hegarty ruled in 2010 at Manchester Mercantile Court that the eight-year contract Rooney signed as a young Everton player was "an unreasonable restraint" of his trade, when the Football Association recommended a maximum of two years.

After that hearing Rooney said he was "delighted", and that the firm had tried to "exploit him" by demanding vast sums.

Giving permission for the appeal earlier, Lord Justice Ward said Proactive did have a prospect of success in its arguments over Rooney's contract.

He said: "The mere fact that this was a claim for millions of pounds is almost in itself a compelling reason to give permission to appeal."

Proactive's founder Paul Stretford, took Rooney with him in October 2008 when he left the firm, citing "huge and irreconcilable differences".



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12382640

Djokovic Girlfriend

Djokovic Girlfriend

Djokovic Girlfriend, Tennis star Andy Murray yesterday revealed the secret of his success in Australia – information meetings every day of his girlfriend back home in the adventures of his dog. If they beat Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the Australia Open final today, 23 years old, Murray will become the first men of Great Britain winning Grand Slam tournament since Fred Perry 75 years ago.

He told The Mail on Sunday that both his girlfriend Kim Sears and the other woman in his life – his border terrier Maggie – have played a part in his impressive career to calm his nerves.
He revealed: “I talk with Kim every day. We try not to talk about tennis, if possible. I want to know about Maggie, what’s going on. All the things that has nothing to do with tennis, really. “

A newspaper article maliciously suggested yesterday that while Kim stayed at his home in Surrey and Andy was in Australia, a “new blonde ‘I was cheering in Melbourne – 20 years old Danish player Caroline Wozniacki.
Ms. Wozniacki saw her semifinal as a guest of Adidas, who sponsor both players. He explained he wanted to see more games of men “because I have to tighten my game.”
Murray affair with Kim, also 23, has been an issue on and off and the subject of much speculation, but yesterday the father of Murray made it clear how your child felt about her.
“I think Kim is very good for Andy,” said Will Murray, who is divorced from the player’s mother, Judy. “She is not interested in fame and definitely not a WAG. Kim is the first serious love of Andy.

Among those expected to be glued to your TV encouraging Murray, the fifth seed in the tournament, was his girlfriend Kim Sears, 22.

She could not meet him at the opening event of the tennis season is that she is carrying out her career after leaving university this summer.

Miss Sears was a strong figure in many of the previous games of Murray. So her absence from the Melbourne event has generated rumors that they had split again.

She lost the Australia Open final last year when the Swiss master Roger Federer crushed the Scot. They separated for six months.

The rumor was fueled by the presence of Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki tennis number one semi Murray? Final match on Friday.

The stunning blonde, 20, sat down with the camp as Murray beat David Ferrer of Spain. However, she did not expect to be in the final.

Initiated at Camp Murray says the British number one has been texting and Miss Sears offers Skype on a regular basis and are “very happy.”



http://usspost.com/djokovic-girlfriend-27679/

Li Na to make history against Clijsters in Aussie final

Li Na to make history against Clijsters in Aussie final

Li Na will become China's first Grand Slam singles finalist when she takes on Belgian third seed Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Clijsters can add to her own remarkable story by winning a fourth Grand Slam title in Melbourne, but Li's run to the final has broken new ground for tennis.

Li is unbeaten in 11 matches this year and beat Clijsters to win in Sydney on the eve of the Australian Open.

Clijsters is going for back-to-back Slams after September's US Open win.

The pair have met six times in the past, with Clijsters leading 4-2 but having lost two of the last three, including that defeat in Sydney which came after the Belgian had raced into an early 5-0 lead before dropping the first set on a tie-break.

"I think she's a good player," said Clijsters, remembering the Sydney final. "I think we're very similar type of players, I think we have a lot of things in common on the court.

"She played extremely well to get back, and was very focused and determined and just hit some incredible shots out there."

But Li is playing down that victory as she prepares to take to the biggest stage - a Grand Slam final.

"I wish this time I will not start 5-0 down," said the ninth seed. "I think it will be a matter of who starts the best, who can get into their game quicker. I beat her last time. Doesn't mean anything here."

China's tennis chief, Sun Jinfang, has hailed Li Na as a "pioneer" on a par with basketball idol Yao Ming and champion hurdler Liu Xiang for becoming the first Asian woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final and the sport as a whole is keen to build on her success.

"Women's tennis is already one of the fastest growing sports in China thanks to the celebrity status and success of Li Na and her compatriots," said WTA chief Stacey Allaster.

However, Li, who sports a tattoo on her chest of a rose inside a heart, has been something of a rebel throughout her career, breaking away from the state system in 2008 and hiring her own coach, before replacing former coach Thomas Hogstedt with her husband, Jiang Shan, in 2010.

Asked about her recent involvement with the Chinese tennis federation, the jovial Li said: "Yesterday I got a text message from the federation boss. She say, 'Oh, well done. You come back, I pay the dinner.' I say, 'What, only the dinner?'"

Clijsters has guaranteed she will rise to number two in the rankings after the tournament, continuing her successful return to tennis after ending a spell in retirement in late 2009.

She has since picked up two US Open titles, to add to her victory at Flushing Meadows in 2005, but in seven previous Grand Slam finals the 27-year-old has yet to land a major title outside of New York.

And following her marriage to basketball player Brian Lynch and the birth of their first child, Jada, in 2008, Clijsters can already see the end of her career looming as she plans to concentrate of family life.

"I know this is probably going to be my last full season on the tour, and then we'll see," she said. "You know, it's nice that I'm in this spot to reach the final, to play for the title."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/9379103.stm

Australian Open: Li Na & Kim Clijsters win semi-finals

Australian Open

Li Na & Kim Clijsters, Australian Open: Li Na & Kim Clijsters win semi-finals

Australian Open: Li Na & Kim Clijsters win semi-finals

Li Na became the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam singles final with a gutsy win over world number one Caroline Wozniacki in Melbourne.

The ninth seed survived match point in the second set before coming through a tense decider to win 3-6 7-5 6-3 and set up a final against Kim Clijsters.

US Open champion Clijsters repeated her New York win over Vera Zvonareva, this time easing to a 6-3 6-3 victory.

She will now overtake the Russian for the world number two ranking.

The second of the day's semi-finals was a one-sided affair, with Clijsters dominating Zvonareva just as she had done at Flushing Meadows in September.

After the pair swapped breaks of serve at the start of the match, Clijsters moved away with a break at 4-3 following a mishit smash from Zvonareva.

The three-time US Open champion saw out the set comfortably and looked ready to take charge of the second before Zvonareva recovered from 15-40 in the opening game.

Clijsters swiftly made up for that by grabbing the break at the next opportunity, consolidating it with a love hold as Zvonareva failed to make any impact.

The Russian finally had a chance to get into the match with two break points at 4-3 down but two wayward backhands saw the opportunity slip away, and Clijsters went on to seal the win with another break after one hour and 13 minutes.

"It's nice to be in another Grand Slam final here," said the Belgian. "Obviously when you're close and having played a few semi-finals and one final, I think you kind of just tease with that feeling of maybe going the whole way.

"It's nice to be in the situation with the last two standing and trying to finish on top. You know, this is the last match. Just give everything that you have."

In the earlier semi-final, Wozniacki controlled the first set but was eventually ground down as her serve became increasingly shaky.

The 28-year-old Li, who defeated Clijsters at the Sydney International earlier this month after trailing 5-0 in the first set, is yet to be beaten this season and extended her winning run to 11 matches.

But Li will need plenty of time to recover from a two hour 35 minute contest that oscillated between the two players before finally ending with her third successive win over the world number one.

Li opened in aggressive style but Wozniacki's consistent percentage tennis gradually appeared to play on her nerves and the world number 11 handed her a 4-2 lead with a double fault in the sixth.

The ninth seed briefly threatened at 30-30 in the set's final game but could not overhaul Wozniacki's serve and miscued a second-serve return to surrender the opener with her 17th unforced error.

Li's serve was wrestled from her in dispiriting fashion in the third game of the second set as she salvaged three break points, the last with a delicate drop volley, but again conceded with a double fault.

Wozniacki seemed on the brink of victory but Li clawed back match point with a searing forehand before seizing a break point of her own to extend a see-sawing contest.

It was Wozniacki who now felt the pressure of serving to restore parity and she conceded the second set with a double fault.

The pair traded breaks in the third and fourth games of the decider, and again in the sixth and seventh games, but it was Li who held her nerve as she stole Wozniacki's serve for a third successive, and decisive, time before serving out for the win.

Her compatriots Yan Zi and Zheng Jie have won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles in the past, but Li now has the opportunity to take one of the sport's great individual prizes.

"This is good for my tennis career, of course," said Li. "Good for me, good for my team, maybe good for China tennis - I'm not sure.

"But of course this is a good experience for my whole life, because many players, they play a long time, but they never come to the final of a Grand Slam."

Wozniacki said: "Sometimes in matches or in tennis it's one ball that can change everything. I didn't get my match point. From then on, well, she was just better at the most important points. She won the most important one, which was the last one.

"Of course right now I'm sitting here and I wish I would have won the match. It's quite difficult to get through this one. I just need to get back on the practice court and keep working hard. Hopefully I'll get many more chances in the future."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/9377571.stm

Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea

Bolton   0 - 4   Chelsea

Fourth-place Chelsea boosted their title defence with an emphatic victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Didier Drogba gave the visitors an early lead against the run of play with an audacious shot from 30 yards out.

Matt Taylor almost levelled with a bullet header but Petr Cech saved well before Florent Malouda scored at the other end from a tight angle.

Nicolas Anelka hit a third with a left-foot shot in the corner and Ramires finished it with a side-foot volley.

It was a night to forget for Bolton, who failed to draw inspiration from the tributes paid before the match to club legend Nat Lofthouse, who died aged 85 on 16 January.

The west Londoners arrived at the Reebok looking to continue an unbeaten away run against Bolton that stretched back 13 years.

Perhaps more importantly, the reigning champions were seeking to reverse a loss of form that has seen them fall behind in the Premier League title race.

With not only leaders Manchester United, but second-place Arsenal and Manchester City sitting above them in the table, and with the advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham based on goal difference only, Chelsea needed all three points to stay in touch.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle's side are without a win in 2011, but the Trotters dominated the opening exchanges.

Bulgarian midfielder Martin Petrov found Johan Elmander with a high cross in the box for the hosts' best early chance but as the Swede flicked on to Kevin Davies, the captain failed to test Blues goalkeper Cech.

Central defensive duo Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry, who was playing after suffering a rib injury, looked jittery as Coyle's men continued to threaten.

Until this match, Bolton had suffered only one home defeat all season, while Chelsea had lost five league games away this term, but the form book was torn up by Drogba.

Having nicked the ball off defender Gretar Steinsson, Malouda found the Ivorian striker whose blistering shot dipped into the top of keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's net from around 30 yards out.

Trotters old boy Anelka then had a chance to extend the visitors' lead, but defender Zat Knight made a fine saving tackle to thwart the France international.

The home side were denied moments later when Petrov provided a teasing cross from the left which Matt Taylor met with a bullet header, but Cech acrobatically pushed his effort around the post.

But it was Chelsea who found the back of the net next, this time after Malouda, who was standing almost on the byeline, slammed the ball against the legs of Gary Cahill before slotting the rebound in from a tight angle.

It was 3-0 to the Blues just after the break, Michael Essien pulling the ball back into the area from the line and though Knight was able to prevent Drogba from getting a shot off, the ball fell to Anelka who made no mistake.

Bolton's Mark Davies entered the fray just after the hour, and the midfielder almost netted after a smart one-two with Elmander, but the advancing Cech bravely grabbed the ball off his toe.

Any hopes of a Trotters revival were ended, though, when Essien turned another decent ball into the penalty area and Brazilian midfielder Ramires hit a side-footed shot beyond Jaaskelainen to make it 4-0 - mirroring the scoreline in this fixture last season.

Mark Davies continued to probe the visitors' goal but Cech was quick to extinguish the 22-year-old's efforts and Bolton survived a late penalty appeal as Paul Robinson looked to have caught Anelka in the area, but referee Chris Hoy waved play on.

Chelsea now sit seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand but travel to Blackpool on Tuesday, while Bolton drop to tenth below Stoke on goal difference.




http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9366920.stm

Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City: Berbatov Hits Another Hat-Trick In Rout As Ferguson's Men Secure Top Spot

Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City: Berbatov Hits Another Hat-Trick In Rout As Ferguson's Men Secure Top Spot

Giggs and Nani also on target in one-sided affair

Manchester United swept Birmingham City aside with a devastating display of attacking football at Old Trafford.

Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring in just the second minute and from there it was cruise control, the Bulgarian adding another soon after and Ryan Giggs making it 3-0 just before half time.

The second half continued in similar vein, Berbatov crashing home his third before Nani completed the rout of a hapless Birmingham side.

For United, Chris Smalling was drafted in for centre-back Rio Ferdinand after the England captain picked up a groin strain. The only other change to the side that drew 0-0 at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend was the inclusion of Anderson from the start in place of Darren Fletcher.

Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes was handed a spot on the substitute’s bench for the first time in over a month after a groin injury. He was joined by striker Michael Owen as he continued his rehabiliation from a hamstring tear picked up last March.

Visiting boss Alex McLeish gave a surprise call-up to youngster Jordon Mutch in place of Craig Gardner in the only change to the team that drew 1-1 with Aston Villa. Cameron Jerome was fit for a place on the sidelines after he missed the Birmingham derby.

The hosts instantly got on the front foot and went ahead in the second minute through  Berbatov. The Bulgarian nodded in on the goal line after John O'Shea flicked on a Nani corner.

United had the bit between their teeth and were handed a chance to double their lead after a panicked clearance from former player Ben Foster in the fifth minute rebounded invitingly off Berbatov. The goalkeeper redeemed himself with a fine save before Michael Carrick eventually shot narrowly wide.

United caused chaos from corners in the early stages and Smalling was inches away from finding the back of the net in the 10th minute. The giant England U21 international was beaten at the back post by Stephen Carr after Ryan Giggs stood up a cross.

The ball was in the back of the net again five minutes later through Nemanja Vidic but referee Michael Jones had already blown for pushes from Wayne Rooney and Smalling at yet another corner.

Birmingham finally mounted their first attack of the half in the 25th minute. Edwin van der Sar was alert to punch away a David Bentley cross before Keith Fahey sliced a shot wide from the rebound.

The visitors had finally dragged themselves into the match but their fightback was extinguished by Berbatov on 31 minutes after a slack error from Liam Ridgewell. The makeshift centre-back gave the ball away to Anderson on the half-way line, and Rooney then fed in Berbatov to fire in a low drive after he shimmied past the backtracking Roger Johnson.

There was no-sign of a let up from United and substitute Gibson - who replaced the injured Carrick in the 24th minute - produced a fine save from Foster with a trademark long-range drive in the 39th minute. A lightning quick counter attack which followed a Birmingham penalty shout for a handball from John O'Shea moments later saw Ryan Giggs' effort deflect wide off Mutch.

As the clocked ticked into injury time, Giggs wasn't to be denied again as he put United into a half-time 3-0 lead. The Welshman slotted into the roof of the net after Rooney picked him out on the back post after Berbatov had won the ball on the flank from an uncharacteristic slide tackle.

United showed no sign of relenting at the start of the second half and Rooney missed the simplest of chances to head in the fourth. The out-of-sorts striker nodded wide on the goal line from a Nani cross when it looked easier to score.

Rooney wasn't able to find the back of the net but he played a pivotal role in the 53rd minute whenBerbatov completed his third hat-trick of the campaign. His perfect control after he trapped Van der Sar's punted clearance saw him play in Giggs to set up the Bulgarian with a simple goal from another low cross.

The Welshman was granted an applause-laden exit moments later as he was substituted for Owen. On this form, it is clear to see why no eyebrows have been raised at the impending decision to grant the 37-year-old maestro a fresh contract extension.

Fahey was then to spurn a golden opportunity for Birmingham in the 58th minute to save face when he somehow produced an air shot when Bentley's attempt spun to him unopposed on the back stick.

The miss summed up an afternoon to forget for McLeish as his charges slumped to an increasingly listless defeat. The Scot was left with several tough questions to ask of his squad as they showed an alarming weakness not apparent last term.

United quickly regained control of the match and almost added to their opponents' misery in the 68th minute. A fine long ball from Smalling - reminiscent of Ferdinand - found Berbatov, who then blazed wide after some incisive interplay with Nani.

Nani had endured a frustrating afternoon in front of goal but his wait to find the back of the net ended in the 75th minute. The Portuguese used his sharp footwork to work some space and left Foster with no chance from 20 yards.

Nani continued to be at the centre of proceedings and his cross was lifted over by Rooney two minutes later. Owen then repeated the trick when played in by the onrushing Anderson on 80 minutes.

United remained in cruise control until referee Jones ended the demolition job on Birmingham and blew the final whistle. If Saturday afternoon’s relentless performance was repeated in the final months of the season, an omnipotent stroll to a record breaking 19th-title could ensue.


http://www.goal.com/en/match/48953/man-utd-vs-birmingham/report

Olympic Stadium Decision is Put on Hold

Olympic Stadium decision is put on hold

A decision on the future use of the 2012 Olympic Stadium, scheduled for Friday, has been postponed

The Olympic Park Legacy Company says it needs more time to study rival bids from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

West Ham have pledged to retain the athletics track, but Spurs would demolish the £537m stadium and rebuild it as a football-only venue.

The OPLC is in charge of securing an economically viable future for the Olympic Park post the 2012 Games.

A spokesman said: "Given the detailed nature of both bids received, we need more time to seek further clarification with both bidders in order to identify a preferred bidder.

"The stadium is a significant public asset and we have a duty to run a robust process.

"Securing the most appropriate solution for the stadium is vital to our long-term aspirations for the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the wider regeneration of the area."

Alongside the two shortlisted bids, the OPLC also has the option of converting the stadium into a 25,000 seat, mixed-use venue.

The spokesman added: "In going to market, the Legacy Company's aim was to consider options which would enhance and build on that plan."

An athletics legacy is one of the key promises that London 2012 made to the International Olympic Committee when it won the right to stage the Games.

But while Tottenham plan to remove the athletics track if their bid is successful, West Ham have vowed to keep it.

The Hammers, in a joint bid with Newham Council, want to create a 60,000-capacity arena for football, athletics, concerts and community use.

Tottenham, in a joint bid with sports and entertainment company AEG, would create an athletics legacy by contributing to the refurbishment of the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace.

The north London club have been given planning permission to redevelop White Hart Lane but chairman Daniel Levy has voiced concerns about the "viability and deliverability" of the proposed update of the ground in Tottenham.

West Ham will be loaned £40m by Newham Council to help with their redevelopment plans if they are chosen as preferred tenants of the Olympic Stadium.

Any OPLC recommendation will have to be ratified by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department of Communities and Local Government, and the London Mayor's office.

The ultimate deadline for the OLPC is the end of the financial year, although currently there is no suggestion it will take that long to make its decision.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/london_2012/9371972.stm

Wolverhampton 0 - 3 Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish earned his first victory since returning to the managerial helm at Liverpool as his side beat Wolves in a hard-fought game at Molineux.

Fernando Torres tapped in from a pass by the impressive Raul Meireles to put the Reds in front after 36 minutes.
Nenad Milijas had a promising effort saved for Wolves before Meireles struck a dipping 25-yard volley into the top corner of the net in the 50th minute.
Torres completed the win in the last minute with another simple finish.
Victory came in Dalglish's fourth game back in charge and will increase the feel good factor he has engendered as he tries to rescue his team's season.
The manner and style of the win will also help raise Liverpool spirits as the energy and industry of Portuguese midfielder Meireles, which was so key to the win, was matched by the rest of the side.
It earned revenge over Wolves, who had beaten a tame Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in December by pressing their opponents and depriving them of any space or time on the ball.
The home side employed the same tenacious tactics again as they tried to stay stay shirt-tight to their visitors but, this time around, the Reds were a different proposition as they showed a greater fighting spirit combined with a more accomplished passing game.
Wolves' focus on stifling their opponents came at the cost of their own attacking play as they rarely threatened at 0-0, while the chances that did come along as the two sides wrestled for supremacy were engineered by Liverpool.
Christian Poulsen gave Wolves their first scare when, from a pull-back by fellow midfielder Lucas Leiva, he had a side-footed effort blocked by centre-back Christophe Berra, who had just come back on after having a couple of stitches put into a head wound.
The forward runs of Lucas and, in particular, Meireles from midfield were a feature of the Reds play and the latter also supplied a delightful angled pass over the top of the Wolves defence to release Torres.
The Spaniard took the ball with his first touch, cut inside defender Richard Stearman and struck an early left-footed shot, which keeper Wayne Hennessey parried away.
Torres and Stearman were involved in a running battle as a feisty affair sometimes showed signs of boiling over, while Meireles sent a 20-yard strike wide and a turn-and-shot from Maxi Rodriguez again forced Hennessey into making a save before Liverpool took the lead.
Poulsen slid a pass into the clever run of Meireles, who beat the offside trap and unselfishly slid a ball across goal for Torres to tap in. The striker picked the ball out of the net and dropped it at the feet of Stearman as he celebrated.
Wolves had to be more adventurous and, after striker Steve Fletcher had a shot comfortably saved, team-mate Milijas had an effort blocked at the far post by Pepe Reina.
Liverpool had seen leads overturned in their previous two league games but a similar occurrence seemed unlikely because, after Dirk Kuyt failed in poking the ball through Hennessey leg's when through on goal, Meireles added to his side's lead in spectacular style.
When Berra headed Daniel Agger's long free-kick out of the Wolves defence the ball fell to Meireles and he fired home with unerring precision.
Liverpool started to play on the counter attack as they edgily held on to their advantage and Jonjo Shelvey missed the chance to calm their nerves when he blazed over with just Hennessey to beat.
But, even though the Reds had not kept a clean sheet in their six previous Premier League games, they repelled their rivals and sealed the points when Torres fired into the roof of the net from close range.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9365393.stm