BRAZIL STARS RIVALDO, CARLOS SPARK CONTROVERSY - for playing in Thailand

“I do not get tired in planes,” said Brazil's Rivaldo (pictured above). “Let everybody stop worrying. I will come back from Bangkok and will arrive in time to play the match (against Real).”

Roberto Carlos is also slated to participate although he was not included in the original team selections of Barzil coach Wanderley Luxemburgo. AFP reported that Carlos was added to the Brazil’s squad at the insistence of Rivaldo’s Barcelona team in the Spanish League.

Barca boss Louis Van Gaal expressed his displeasure when he had to release Rivaldo to Brazil for the Kings Cup competition. Since Barcelona was losing Rivaldo, Van Gaal wanted to even the odds by having Carlos, who plays for Real Madrid, included on the Brazil team. Barca faces the Real Madrid squad three days after the Brazil’s Kings Cup match against Thailand February 23.

Soccer sports daily Marca claimed the pressure from Barcelona was exercised to insure that the rivals each would be deprived of a key player. Both clubs are bitter rivals and are unhappy about having to release their stars.

Fifa regulations require players be released by their clubs to play with a national team unless they can come to an agreement with the international team managers.

“This cannot continue,” Van Gaal said. “Clubs spend millions on players. The player is in a difficult situation because he cannot refuse to play for Barcelona or for the national team. It’s very negative.”

Real president Lorenzo Sanz said, “We have already denounced this sort of thing several times.”

Carlos is pleased to be representing his country, “I would never refuse a call-up. To wear the national team shirt is a pleasure and an honor.

The 27 year old Rivaldo wants to play both games. “I do not get tired in planes,” he said. “Let everybody stop worrying. I will come back from Bangkok and will arrive in time to play the match (against Real).”

The match will take place at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

THAILAND’S national soccer team isn’t as lucky to have the players they would like to have participate in the tournament on the squad. Unlike the teams they play against the Thais don’t have players who make millions of dollars to play the sport. Their team is comprised of policeman, students and players with various other occupations [see PETER WITHE].

As a result two of the 30 players were axed from the squad due to not turning up for training because of school studies. Another was cut for not turning up for training and having no excuse. It comes down to basically amatures competing against professionals.

The Thais still manage to compete and win. They lost to Brazil 2-0 this past May in a closely contested match. This past year Thailand has defeated South Korea, New Zealand and Arsenal. The Thai squad will also be without their star player KIATISAK SENAMUANG who is playing with Huddersfield Town in the English First Division

DID YOU KNOW? Hockey great Gordie Howe came out of retirement February 20, 1974 and signed a million-dollar contract to play with the Houston Aeros of the then World Hockey Association. One of the reasons Howe returned to the game was that his sons MARK and MARTY were playing for the Aeros at that time.

SAY WHAT???: DENNIS RODMAN is wearing number 70 because the NBA won’t permit him to wear number 69. Go figure…..

MORE RODMAN: In Rodman’s first two games with Dallas he averaged 14.5 rebounds a game including a teams season best 16 against the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday. He’s accomplishing this in only his second game with the Mavericks after missing half of the season and no training camp. He’s not in shape.

Cedrick Ceballos is the team leader with 7.9 rpg. He had a team best 14 rebounds in three games this season.

WHO-DA-THUNK-IT: SHAQUILLE O’NEAL made 11 of 12 free throws Tuesday in the Lakers 88-76 win over the Chicago Bulls. O’Neal is finally finding out what his fingertips are for. GIVE HIM SOME LOVE.

THE TEST: When I travel around the world I’m often asked about sports journalism. Many who inquire speak little or NO English. With that in mind I travel with copies of my sports columns.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Think about it. The column is worth 1000 words as its own picture. Every picture in the column is worth a thousand each. Thus right off the bat we’ve communicated a minimum 2000 words.

NOW HERE’S THE ZINGER. When one sees the stories that I’ve done on MICHAEL JORDAN, MAGIC JOHNSON and DENNIS RODMAN who do you think draws the greatest response and recognition? ANSWER BELOW.

BOXING: GEORGE FOREMAN’S daughter Freeda announced that she is becoming a professional fighter wants to fight MUHAMMAD ALI’s 21-year-old daughter Laila. Her father lost to Ali in the famous Rumble in the Jungle fight in Zaire in 1974, three years before she was born.

“My goal is to change history and knock Laila out,” the 23 year old said. “It’s not revenge, but the opportunity is there for me.” Foreman is the third oldest of Foreman’s ten children [five girls, five boys]. Her first fight is scheduled April 1, at the Regent in Las Vegas.

Foreman’s announcement means that the greatest fighters of that period now have daughters who are professional boxers. JOE FRAZIER’s 38 year old daughter Jackie Frazier Lyde followed Laila Ali into the profession. Now if there could be a round robin tournament and throw in boxing beauty MIA ST. JOHN we would have something interesting to see. It might be as interesting [entertainment wise] as when their fathers met. Of course we’re not talking boxing skills just entertainment.

THE TEST ANSWER: DENNIS RODMAN