| California partners with Brownsville for soccer team
California is now partnered with Brownsville in a co-op varsity soccer team. However, the California School Board voted Nov. 15 to allow California to form its own soccer team next year. The co-op was originally formed because California didn't have enough players to form a complete team, which requires about 22 players. Terri Doman, a California School Board member for four years, said when the co-op began, it was with the understanding that when California had enough players to form a team, it would move back to California and play for its own school. The next step California needs to take in order to form its own team is to secure the approval of the WPIAL. Since WPIAL already approved the co-op team for another two years, California needed to send a letter stating that it has formed its own team.
£5m pledged for top-class coaches in Scottish sport
A £5m coaching initiative in Scotland, announced in Glasgow yesterday, will increase medal prospects in major championships. Half of the money will go towards employing performance managers or coaches in several sports in order to prepare, competitors up to Great Britain level. The remainder will target more than 8500 volunteer coaches in 21 sports. The aim is to help them gain the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC). New and existing coaches will be able to undertake these nationally certified courses, with sportscotland subsidising up to 75% of the fees. The lottery-funded project was unveiled at sportscotland's partners' meeting in Glasgow by Julia Bracewell, who chairs the organisation. .
Hectic schedule delights Gunter
Cardiff and Wales defender Chris Gunter is delighted to get his season back on track after four games in nine days. The full-back, 18, had been struggling for a place at Ninian Park before impressing in Wales' draws with the Republic of Ireland and Germany. He then returned to the Bluebirds side for Saturday's vital win over Ipswich and Monday's 0-0 draw at Leicester. "It's been unbelievable, I didn't expect to play for Wales then to get back for Cardiff was superb," he said. .
NFL NOTES
ATLANTA: Facing millions in claims from banks, creditors and prosecutors, suspended Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has put his seven bedroom, 8 1/2-bath house in Duluth, Ga., up for sale. The asking price for the sprawling home and $1.5 acres grounds? $4.5 million. Only buyers with proof of income sufficient to buy the property and house are provided access to the home. The Web listing for the house has attracted more than 10 million page views. Vick is in a Virginia jail and awaiting sentencing Dec. 10 for felony dogfighting charges. CAROLINA: Memo to Saints fans: As you watch Panthers quarterback Vinny Testaverde (Nov. 13, 1963) do his thing today at the tender age of 44, keep in mind that he is 46 days older than Saints Coach Sean Payton (Dec. 29, 1963). TAMPA BAY: Today's game between the NFC South-leading Buccaneers and Washington will be the Redskins' fourth at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., in less than 25 months and the sixth between the teams in five years.
La Russa pleads guilty to drunken driving
West Palm Beach, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence Wednesday, eight months after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol. La Russa said that he had decided to plead guilty to the misdemeanor because it was in the best interest of all concerned. .
Youth movement spurs China's Olympic hopes
Spare a thought for Alex Hua Tian -- just 18 years old and the weight of a nation's expectations heaped high on his young shoulders. The Hong Kong-born event rider has yet to qualify for a place in the Equestrian competition of the XXIX Olympiad, but already he is being touted as one of China's gold medal hopefuls. .
Rivermen weekly
THIRD ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TOSS NIGHT! The Rivermen invite everyone to bring a new or gently-used teddy bear to the game on Friday night and throw it on the ice when the Rivermen score so that less-fortunate children in the Peoria area can have a brighter Christmas. Firefighters Local 50 will be spearheading the bear collection this year and distributing the toys in time for the Holidays. Wrap your toy in a plastic bag to keep the moisture off its fur! Pucks 'N' Purses Night will take place on Friday as well, with local businesses setting up a female-oriented expo in the Civic Center halls just in time for holiday gift ideas and shopping tips - right guys? **nudge, nudge, wink, wink** If your business is interesting in having a table at the game, call Katie Kerr at (309) 680-3791 for more information.
Outlaws move to 11-1 at home
MASON CITY — Great hockey teams find a way to win.The North Iowa Outlaws proved they could be a great team, escaping with a 3-1 NAHL Central Division victory over the Fargo-Moorhead Jets on Saturday at the North Iowa Ice Arena."We’re doing everything we can to win," North Iowa forward Ross-Ring Jarvi said. "Great teams always find a way to win games, and that’s what I think we are, a great team."North Iowa defenseman Matt Morin put North Iowa in front 1-0 heading into the first intermission, scoring a power-play goal with 31 seconds remaining in the opening period.Fargo-Moorhead’s Mark Johnson tied the score with 2:46 left in the second leaving the third period to decide the outcome."We were a lot better in the first period (Saturday) than we were (Friday) and then kind of got a little uninterested in the second period," said North Iowa coach Dave Boitz, whose team improved to 6-0-0 against the Jets this season.
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