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Michael Jordan Deal Less - FIFA Top 10 - NBA Draft - FIFA Holds @ 32 Teams For World Cup - Womens World Cup Sites - ESPN/STAR Sports Bad Audio - Cambodia Football Squad Lose Two - China Wins Mekong Goodwill Games Gold

MICHAEL JORDAN TURNED DOWN:

Michael Jordan was turned down in his bid to become an owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team. The team's owner Herb Kohl said he wanted to keep the team. He noted that Jordan would be a good owner. Kohl is also the Democrat state senator in the US state of Wisconsin.

Jordan was a part owner of the Washington Wizards from January 2000 to September 2001. He then came out of his second retirement as a player to play for the team. In doing so NBA rules required him to give up ownership.

Since Jordan's retirement this past season the Wizards weren't interested in having him back as a part owner or executive. He talked to Robert Johnson the owner of the new NBA Charlotte franchise regarding being a part owner in that organization. That deal wasn't consummated. What next for Michael?

NBA DRAFT

As expected Cleveland selected high school pheonom LeBron James as the NBA's overall number one draft pick June 26th. James hails from nearby Akron, Ohio where he played for St. Mary high school.

James is said to be the next Michael Jordan, at least that is what Nike is hoping since they gave the 18-year-old a seven year $90 million sponsorship contract. The deal is reported give James an extra $10 million as a signing bonus.

Marketing research strategy firms say that's a lot since you're buying an immature person.

By comparison Nike gave Tiger Woods a five year $100 million dollar with a $10 million signing bonus.

Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement James can only $4.02 million in the first year of his contract, $4.32 in the second year and $4.62 in his third year.

On the second draft pick Detroit selected power forward Darko Milicic from Serbia Montenegro.

Nineteen (our count) of the 58 1st and 2nd round draft picks are foreign players. Eight foreigners were taken in the first round and eleven in the second. France and Serbia Montenegro topped the list each having three of their players selected. One report said 21 foerigners were drafted.

BASKETBALL IN SHOWTIME OUT?

The NBA seems to be more interest in the foreigners since there is a lack of sound fundamental players in America. In recent years NBA players are more concerned about how fancy they are with their dribble and dunk shots than they are about sound fundamental basketball. Foreigners are less stricken with the Showtime disease…

FIFA TOP TEN

World Champions Brazil maintained the Number one spot in the FIFA Top 10 rankings. France retained the 2nd spot. The Czech Republic made a greate leap forward to move into the top ten advancing three positions from 13th to the 10th.

The United States continues its advance towards the top moving from the 10th position to ninth.

Ronaldo

Rodalninho

USA's Landon Donovan

Country - points

1. Brazil - 834

2. France - 814

3. Spain - 762

4. Argentina - 754

5. Netherlands 752

6. Germany 745

7. Turkey 733

8. England 727

9. USA 717

10. Czech Republic N/A

FIFA WORLD CUP ONLY 32 TEAMS

The executive members representing the South American confederation of CONMEBOL adhered to the request of FIFA President Seth Blatter and withdrew their proposal to increase the number of competing teams to 36.

The FIFA committee members agreed to a proposal tabled by vice-president Lennart Johansson and awarded an extra half-place (0.5) to South America.

Oceania will now receive half a place (0.5). The final distribution of places for the 2006 FIFA World Cup(tm) is as follows: Europe (14), Asia (4.5), South America (4.5), Africa (5), North, Central America and Caribbean (3.5) and Oceania (0.5).

DAVID BECKHAM

The transfer of David Beckham to Real Madrid for $41 million is a major merchandising deal. Beckham will wear number 23.

Those who love and have a copy Beckham's Manchester United jersey will now have to part with more dollars to stay in fashion. Fashion is the name of the Beckham game. Beckham mania is all over the world.

His official announcement of his signing at a press conference Beckham wore jeweled earrings. It will be interesting how many male fans will do the same.

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

FIFA announced the sites for the Women's World Cup now to be held in the United States after the SARS scare FIFA canceled China PR as the host of the matches.

FIFA approved the six stadiums and venues, Washington D.C., Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, California and Columbus, Ohio.

ESPN - STAR SPORTS BAD SOUND

ESPN and Star Sports Asia need to get their act together with the transmission of their audio feeds. During the NBA playoff finals ESPN used their announcers in Singapore to do play by play and didn't take the feed from the game site in the US.

The crowd noise seemed twice as loud as the play by play thus rendering the audio feed as useless. What is the point of having announcers in Singapore calling the game if you can't hear them?

During the regular season NBA games were transmitted with the announcers in the US. The audio was much better and the US announcers are better prepared with game information and notes.

Many of the US announcers are former NBA players such as Bill Walton, Danny Ainge and former Georgetown coach John Thompson.

The ESPN/Star Sports feed of the basketball show Inside Stuff is guilty of the same but… more so. The audio is inaudible. The problem also exsists on the ESPN Sportscenter feature segments. Is it neglect or lack of audio mixing skills by their staff?

CAMBODIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL SQUAD DEFEATED IN MEKONG GOODWILL GAMES - CHINA WINS GOLD

Five high school players were members of the Cambodian National squad.

Cambodia U-23 National football squad suffered two losses at the Mekong Goodwill Games in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

Club teams from Participating countries Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and China were the opposition. The Mekong River runs throuand all of these countries.

Cambodia The Khmers lost a close 3-2 decision to a Thailand club team in their first match. The result indicates the Khmers are closing the gap of talent to their more successful neighbors.

At one point this past year the Cambodian national squad had five players on the roster that were attending high school.

Cambodia then lost to Laos 3-1. China won the gold medal defeating Thailand 2-1.