Sports Notes - Lakers Jackson Return? - AC Milan Warners Ink Deal - Cambodian Football League Begins - May 2005

Would former Lakers coach Phil Jackson jump back into the frying pan?

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Monday May 2, 2005

Would Former Lakers Coach Jackson Return? - NBA Points© - FIFA Top 10 - Cambodia National Football League - AC Milan & Warner Brothers Ink Deal - Cambodian Rugby

FORMER LAKERS COACH PHIL JACKSON RETURN?

Rumors persist that former Lakers coach Phil Jackson will return as coach of the team. The question is why would he want to?

His contract wasn't renewed and he went on a long holiday. Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami. Jackson said some stern things in his book regarding how difficult to deal with Kobe Bryant. Why, why, why!!!

Does Jackson need the money? Is he lonely? Why would he take the punishment of trying to rebuild a team that is not even a shadow of itself when he was at the helm for three NBA championship seasons?

It is doubtful that he needs the money. He was/is/whatever the boyfriend of Jeanie Buss the daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

Rebuilding a fragmented team of basically last season's Miami Heat of which three were traded to the Lakers for Shaq. Painful? I'll say.

If he desires to return to the NBA the word is that the New Your Knicks are interested in his services. As a role player Jackson played on two NBA championship teams in the early 70's. So why? Why? Why?

NBA POINTS©

In pro sports the ability to win on the road is the key to winning a championship. Of the 16 NBA playoff teams the Phoenix Suns had the best road record 31-10 in an 82 games season. The Washington Wizards had the worst road record 16-25. The Charlotte Bobcats and New Orleans Hornets had the leagues worst road record 4-37.

The San Antonio Spurs are the second playoff cede in the Western Conference. Their 38-3 home record is the best in the entire NBA. They have a poor road record 21-20.

The Los Angeles Clippers finished ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings for the first time since 1993. Overall they were 37-45 to the Lakers 34-48. The Clips home winning record 27-14 is tied for 10th in a 30-team league. The Clippers were only 10-31 on the road. The Lakers were 22-19 at home and 12-29 on the road.

CAMBODIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

After two years of inactivity the opening games of the Cambodia National Football League were played Sat & Sun April 23 & 24th at Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium.

Defending champions Samart to be hereby known as Hello United got off to a good start Saturday with a 6-0 win over Navy. United is coached and managed by former national team standout Hok Sochetra.

What didn't go as planed was the appearance of Prince Norodom Ranariddh who was scheduled for an official opening ceremony Saturday, April 30. A change was made to Sunday April 24th after Sihanouk had a meeting in Beijing come up.

Cambodian Football Federation President Ravy Khek said the league came about after knowing of the plans of Cambodia hosting the 2111 Sea Games by Hun Sen and Ranariddh. He suggested there should be one league and a playoff rather than a knockout playoff that would only last a few weeks.

Each of the ten teams is scheduled to play an 18 game season with the top four making the playoffs that are scheduled for October.

On opening day the league had only eight teams with the two slots to be selected from a knockout playoff between five teams.

The provinces of Koh Kong, Svay Reng, Siem Reap and Kampot will compete for qualification.

The qualifying teams are scheduled to be included in the league by the middle of May.

The current league teams include: Hello United, Naga Resort, Khemera (Ranariddh's team), Navy, Royal Air Force, Army Division of Logistics, Military Police and Kandal Province.

The league is currently operating without a major sponsor. Khek says the league is primarily operating on Cambodian Football Federation money.

Next year the Japanese advertising firm Dentsu "will work with us to find sponsors, " Khek said.

Two league games per day are played Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm & 4pm. Admission is FREE.

FIFA TOP 10

European domination Czechs in second place

Seventy-seven World Cup qualifiers and over a dozen friendly matches during the course of the past four weeks have caused significant changes in the latest edition of the FIFA World Ranking.

The Czech Republic (2nd, up 2) climb to sit on Brazil’s coat-tails, with the struggling French falling two places (4th, down 2). The Czechs therefore reassume the mantle of Brazil’s closest challengers after a gap of six years.

France, meanwhile, lose their “top European team” crown after exactly two years. Argentina, however, successfully hold on to third place in the ranking. European champions Greece (12th, up 2) are also on the up, and a number of other teams in the top 50 also enjoy climbs of more than two places, including Croatia (21st, up 3), Egypt (28th, up 3), South Africa (37th, up 3), Belgium (41st, up 10), Ukraine (42nd, up 4), Switzerland (45th, up 4) and Slovakia (48th, up 6). The progress of Austria (72nd, up 8), Togo (79th, up 8) and the Cape Verde Islands (121st, up 8) is also noteworthy.

Like Greece and Belarus (63rd, up 3), the Cape Verde Islands now sit proudly in their highest-ever position in the FIFA World Ranking.

As a direct result of the World Cup qualifiers played in late March, CAF and UEFA strengthen their hold on the top 50, with UEFA once again represented by more than half of the teams (26).

FIFA TOP TEN

Rank/Team/Points

1. Brazil - 834

2. Czech Republic - 783

3. Argentina - 780

4. France - 777

5. Netherlands - 763

6. England - 757

7. Spain - 755

8. Mexico - 754

9. Portugal - 741

10. Italy & USA - 735

For more than one hundred years AC Milan has been synonymous with soccer, entertainment, emotion and success. The red and black has overall won the largest number of international trophies in the history of a soccer team.

Since its founding in 1899, AC Milan has won 17 League Championships, 6 European Club Cups, 3 International Cups, 4 European Supercups, 5 Italian League Supercups, 5 Italian Cups and 2 UEFA Cups Winners' Cups.

Today AC Milan is a leading entertainment company producing sporting spectacles for millions of people around the world.

The club recently announced a major global licensing agreement with the appointment of Warner Bros. Consumer Products as its exclusive worldwide licensing representative.

The agreement also sets the stage for AC Milan to work with various divisions within Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner on mutually beneficial marketing and promotional opportunities.

"This unprecedented alliance between AC Milan and the world's largest entertainment company has been a life-long dream for me," said Adriano Galliani, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Milan Associazione Calcio s.p.a.

"Warner Bros. Consumer Products is well-positioned to globalize our franchise and expand our fan base." Warner Bros. Consumer Products will utilize their creative, licensing and retail expertise to develop a complete range of licensed products.

New graphics, artwork and retail programs will be created for promotion partners and licensees around the globe and opportunities to license internet cafes, eateries and other specialty venues will be explored.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products' Italian office in Milan will spearhead the licensing program and closely coordinate all worldwide activities.

"This partnership underscores the global leadership position that our Company has achieved and continues to expand upon. We are pleased and honored to team with AC Milan and ready to explore a host of opportunities to achieve our mutual goals," said Dan Romanelli, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products.

"AC Milan is a historic sports and entertainment franchise, and we are honored to have been selected to represent them the world over," said Jordan Sollitto, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and International Licensing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "Going forward, we will be actively looking for ways to expand our relationship and share the broader benefits of the partnership."

The AC Milan and Warner Bros. Consumer Products partnership represents the first agreement of its kind between an entertainment company and a football club.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has significant experience in the world of Football with licensing partnerships currently including the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol (Mexican National Team) and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany(TM). They also recently represented UEFA's EURO 2004 tournament held in Portugal.

CAMBODIAN NATIONAL TEAM RUGBY

The Cambodian National Rugby team to play the Laos National team in Vientiane, Laos May 19th.

The squad consists of 40 players 30 Cambodians and 10 foreigners. Twenty-two players are selected to compete in the games.

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