Soccer outside Europe has gained in popularity in recent years, with David Beckham making a high profile move to the MLS in North America, a transfer that transformed soccer into a sport with a widespread global profile and exposed a new generation of potential players to the game, but the latest FIFA tournament, the African Cup Of Nations, has failed to catch the public's imagination.

You know you've MADE IT in the Ballers Bitchy Books when even Rafael van der Vaart can't stop himself from laughing at you! Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to Mario Balotelli before the City/Spurs kick-off last weekend he ignored every single human being on his way out of the players tunnel.

I generally have a very low opinion of the pampered, overpaid ladyboys of modern top-flight football, but if there is one player I despise more than any other, it is Manchester United's disloyal cheating thug, Wayne Rooney. Rooney has proved time and time again that he has no concept of sportsmanship, class, humility or fair play, and he showed this again on Sunday in the FA Cup third round

ST. PAUL, Minn. 11-10-11 Courtesy MIAC online.org The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced the 2011 MIAC Women's Soccer Awards Thursday, including the MIAC All-Conference Team, Honorable Mention selections and the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. The league's top individual awards were shared by the two teams that met last weekend for the MIAC Playoff championship [.

On Monday, the Revolution's Darrius Barnes and Zak Boggs were named as finalists for year-end MLS awards for their efforts on and off the field in 2011.

Barnes is a finalist for the XBOX 360 Fair Play Award, which is given to the MLS player who exemplifies the meaning of sportsmanship. In 2011, the versatile defender, who split time across the backline in 28 games, committed only 14 fouls on the season and was cautioned just once.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas acknowledges that referring to the unfortunate officiating against the Blues in recent matches as a conspiracy will only land the club in hot water and is aware that the media's reaction won't help.

Although Villas-Boas is only in his first season at Stamford Bridge, his current side has been criticized on many occasions for lacking sportsmanship and complaining about controversial decisions made by referees.

Take a lesson from Turkey, and ban blokes from Leeds v United

On Wednesday the Turkish Football Federation decided that only women and children would be allowed in to watch Fenerbahce against Manisaspor after repeated crowd trouble from the home side. More than 41,000 turned up to the Istanbul stadium, and according to reports it was sweetness, light and sportsmanship all round: "It was such a fun and pleasant atmosphere," said Manisaspor's Omer Aysan.

According to beloved ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville, Liverpool deliberately tried to ‘deprive' Man United of the title in 2010 by ‘easing off' against Chelsea at the tail-end of Premier league season.
At the time, Liverpool and Man United both had 18 league titles apiece, and a victory over Chelsea would've handed United the advantage in the race for the title.

I was bit sad for Mourinho yesterday, despite I was very happy that Barcelona won the Super Cup. Mourinho, after a great summer of preparations, tactics, great players, and a lot of team work, seemed to be left helpless again against Barcelona and the 'unfit' Messi.
The camera caught Mourinho with very good attitudes and sportsmanship, showing to the public how stinky Messi is, and then, twisting the ear of the Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova : )
After the game Mourinho was not upset of his players red cards:
"What happened, happened because somebody provoked the situation and it certainly wasn't a player from Real Madrid"

Thoughts on the Woman's World Cup first half;

• The compact USA defense is working well however you get the sense that Japan has a goal in them. The missed chances by the United States could come back to haunt them.
• Even though the chances were plentiful for the Americans Japan has to be feeling good going into the half at 0-0.

By Chris Wright

With Sir Dr Alex Ferguson and Dr King Kenneth Dalglish already roaring ahead in the honorary degree stakes this summer, you'll be glad to know that David Moyes has pulled one back for Everton receiving a fellowship in 'Outstanding Contributions to Football and Sportsmanship' from Liverpool John Moores University and looking bloomin' dapper while doing so.

Wembley was a happy hunting ground for Man Utd in their first Champions League victory in 1968 when they beat Benfica, 4-1. Bobby Charlton with a brace, George Best, and Brian Kidd scored for Utd while Graca pegged one back for the Portugese giants.

Best was a thorn dazzling with his footwork and Charlton was a sublime finisher.

As FC Barcelona and Manchester United ready themselves for the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley on 28 May, we take a look at some of the games along the way.
First of all both Man United and Barcelona are fantastic teams, true champions with loads of stars playing for them – its going to be one incredible festival!

In a month in which Lionel Messi again demonstrated his genius and the El Clasico series dominated football it was only appropriate that the Greatest Player of All Time was asked his opinion on matters.

Interviewer: "Who is the best, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?"

Pele: "I am the best.

So kiddo's, Mother's Day is next Sunday and Father's Day is in June. Are you ready yet to say thanks? It's not too late to share not only photos, but keepsake gifts and clothing imprinted with photos of you, by your favorite soccer photographer.

Check out my photo ordering website where you can get not only standard prints but plenty of other options as well.

Written by dandan

Half time in Madrid, players pushing and shoving, all the backroom boys getting involved, is this what we want in our league? Mourinho is in the thick of it having started it off at his press conference, Barcelona's reserve goalkeeper gets involved in the melee in and around the tunnel and is sent off from the bench.

[EDIT: Mike Schmidt's number was 20, which is the reason why the Union's Ruiz did not receive a jersey with 20 on it. The Phillies retired 20.]

When it was suggested over Twitter, people didn't know what to make of it, but apparently Carlos Ruiz meeting Carlos Ruiz in person didn't destroy the world.

Adebayor Thanks the Divine Powers that be for the happenings last night at the Bernabeu.Many have come to the Bernabeu on a magical European night spellbound by the occasion and the legend of the stadium only to leave battered and bruised from the beating handed out by the players whose all-white uniforms seem to conceal their thirst for blood.

Adebayor Thanks the Divine Powers that be for the happenings last night at the Bernabeu.Many have come to the Bernabeu on a magical European night spellbound by the occasion and the legend of the stadium only to leave battered and bruised from the beating handed out by the players whose all-white uniforms seem to conceal their thirst for blood.

I will stop, I will stop at nothing. Say the right things when reading the Anti-Power Rankings I trust I can rely on your vote.

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#5 - The King of Limbs: The only bigger than football is the release of Radiohead's new album, 'The King of Limbs'.

Even when it doesn't count, Messi is stunning. Look at that pass! It is impossible not to hit that ball too hard or too soft. I'm officially calling him Young Skywalker. That pass? It's nothing! He used to bullseye womprats in his speeder back on Tatooine.

In the summer, Napoli sold goalscoring machine Di Natale and signed Edinson Cavani, fresh off his performance as the third best striker on the Uruguay squad.

As we enjoy a beautiful, albeit cold, day in the Ozarks it's appropriate to look back at the year that was and consider the coming year. What stories did you enjoy in 2010? Here's the Top 10 individual stories:

1 ) BBC Looks At World Cup 2010, Download The Schedule although posted in Dec 2009, this was the top story on my site for the year, drawing 11,004 unique visitors.