And when I say down to the wire, I'm not talking about McNulty, Bunk or Omar.
The Campeonato Brasileiro 2009, Brazil's top division, comes to a conclusion this weekend and, just like last season, the destination of the league title remains undecided. It was dramatic enough last year when just two teams (Gremio and São Paulo) vied for top spot.

Black and red and joyous (photo: Alexandre Durão)
Flamengo were crowned champions of Brazil for the first time in 17 years last weekend after coming from 1-0 down to beat Gremio 2-1 in the Maracana stadium. A first half equaliser from David cancelled out Gremio's opener scored by Roberson, and the scores remained 1-1 through half time and into the middle of the second half.

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

Cristiano Ronaldo's two amazing/ridiculous goals in Real Madrid's 3-1 Champions League win over Marseille today. [YouTube]

John Terry and Frank Lampard discuss their "special relationship.

Blog do Carlão Adriano e Ronaldo Nazário, atacantes de peso ou pesados? Apesar de tudo fizeram um bom Brasileirão. Classe, quando existe, resiste a um pouco de peso a mais.

That's Adriano at a surprise birthday party for his girlfriend that he put together himself. While that minor cake fire is a bit troubling, I have to say the dude has really pulled himself together. From his multiple disappearances at Inter and Telling It Like It Is to winning the Brazilian league title and throwing fancy surprise parties that don't involve getting drunk and passing out without a shirt on, I'd say Adriano has really come a long way.

Last week he Adriano failed to show up for the ‘player of the year' awards. Today, he missed his flight from Rio to Brasília and was forced to hire a private jet to attend a reception hosted for Flamengo by Brazil president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Adriano discovers that time and tide wait for no Emperor

Earlier this month the player was ruled out of a vital league match after picking up a mystery burn on his foot – Adriano claimed he'd done it on a garden lamp.

Finally, after 11 years, Zico and Romario have decided to kiss and make up! You know how E ego masculino can blow things out of proportion, but at least they feigned the smiles in yesterday's "Game of the Stars" or Jogo das Estrelas.

It felt like it was never going to happen again. It seemed that Brazilian titles were going to be connected forever to the generation of Zico and Junior. But, today, Flamengo fans were released from the past. The most popular side in Brazil took home its 6th national title the first since 1992.

So much emotion... havia tanto amor! Even King Churrascaria himself, Adriano, had to choke back his tears after the fans came out to show their support following Flamengo's win of the Brasileirao Title on Sunday. "I can hardly believe it...I'm remembering all I went through, I don't even have strength left to celebrate," said Adriano.

(video gol Flamengo-Gremio)
Ben 17 anni. Ne è passato di tempo dall'ultimo successo, nel campionato brasiliano, dei rossoneri del Flamengo. Artefice di questo spendido trionfo (sesto titolo per i ragazzi di Rio de Janeiro, 5 secondo coloro per cui lo scudetto del 1987 non fu riconosciuto dalla federcalcio brasiliana), ottenuto alla fine del match vinto per 2 a 1 contro il Gremio, è stato senza dubbio l'ex interista Adriano.

Joy for Ronaldo Angelim and Flamengo

Brazil's biggest club, Flamengo, picked up their first Campeonato Brasileiro since 1992 after they saw off Grêmio 2-1 in Rio on Sunday.

Flamengo strode on to the pitch at the Maracanã to a marvellous atmosphere created by almost 85,000 fans confident that the Rubro Negros would end the day as champions.

Some new stuff here that will surely never happen:

• Inter Milan looking at Luca Toni?
  
• Jack Wilshere might be loaned out by Arsenal.
  
• MLS getting some dude named Niko Gkionis?
  
• Bojan Krkic and the Gunners?
  
• United ruling out Dzeko move?
  
• Phillip Lahm to Manchester City?

Brazilian considering move to Premier League.

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WEST HAM have been linked with a move for Brazil international striker Adriano.

Adriano celebrates with Flamengo

English tabloid, The Sun, has reported that West Ham could be interested in picking up Brazil front man, Adriano.

Hammers coach Gianfranco Zola is said to be a fan of the big striker and believes that Adriano's physical force and talent could help the club stave off relegation.

One day after the end of 2009 Campeonato Brasileiro, the best players of the tournament were awarded. Placar, the most traditional football magazine in Brazil, handed for the 40th time the Bola de Prata (silver ball) and the Bola de Ouro (golden ball). Later, CBF awarded its Craque Brasileirão, a newer prize but the one that gets an official seal.

Adriano is now a shining star in Flamengo supporter's eyes, when he moved to Brazil he was hated at first, but as goals came, the supporters turned around. And now thanks to Adriano Flamengo has won an epic Brazilian Championship, with the help of his teammates, Adriano dominated in the Brazilian league, dribbling past defences and using his powerful left foot to stun goalkeepers.

A) Apparently this Gremio sub's lips appear to tell his teammates to stop shooting.
B) Then some guys are covering their mouths in a secret conversation.
C) Then a guy missing an open net.
All three are contentious points to those in Brazil that think Gremio let Flamengo win the league championship.

Adriano is one of the hottest properties on the seas after helping Flamengo win their first title in three and a half decades. "Many offers have arrived already, largely because he's on a "free". And in Adriano's case, "free" means...he'll probably show up to training some combination of fat, drunk and/or stupid, earn a long [.

According to Patricio Figueroa at Sky Sports News, Club America dismissed the link involving striker Salvador Cabanas and West Ham United. Club America vice-president Yon de Luisa said,

"We haven't received any proposals for Salvador or any other player of America .

'Twas a Portuguese-speaking sweep of the podium at this year's Bidone d'Oro (Golden Trash Can for Serie A's worst flop) awards, with Juventus' big-moneyed signing taking home the big trophy. (Presumably there isn't an actual trophy, nor could the radio station get all three players to show up and collect their non-awards, but we [.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham United target Adriano has signed a new deal with Flamengo to keep him at the club another six months.

De que se rien Lula y Adriano? Sera de la noticia que Romario entro a la politica? nooooo...
gracias a FyA por la imagen.