(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)
Name: Miss Charmaine Chinapen
Miss Belize, Charmaine Alisha Chinapen, is a perfect B2 (Beauty and Brain). This twenty one year old is definitely going to catch audience’s attention in the final round. Charmaine describes herself as an emphatic, compassionate and goal oriented person. Charmaine also has great patience because it takes a lot of time to read Physical Chemistry Quantum Mechanics books. Charmaine is born to Guyanese parents in Curacao. Her father is a banker. Due to her father’s profession, she moved to different places.
Age: 21
Height: 174 centimeters
Languages: Charmaine can fluently speak in English. She can speak conversational Spanish.
Education and future plans: Charmaine Chinapen has an excellent academic background. In 2004, Charmaine made a record in Country of Belize CXC (Caribbean Examination Council). Charmaine graduated in the second place from St.CatherineAcademy. Currently, a senior at St. John’s University, New York, Charmaine is going to start her final semester. She majored in Chemistry and did her minor in Philosophy of Physical Sciences. Charmaine wants to become a neurosurgeon.
Favorite foods: Charmaine is sea food lover. Stuffed clams, lobsters, and crab cakes are some of her favorite sea foods.
Sports and outdoor activities: Charmaine loves rock climbing, swimming, track and field, hiking in the Belizean rainforest, and cycling. During her teenage years, she spent a lot time exploring the Maya ruins and the famous barrier reef.
Hobbies and other interests: Charmaine loves performing arts. She received special trainings in singing, song writing, piano, dancing, acting, etc. Charmaine also likes to write short stories and does fashion designs. In her free times, she plays with her German shepherd, Elle, and play videogames with her brother.
Wimbledon has experienced another classic men’s singles final tonight as Roger Federer defeated Andy Roddick in a five-set thriller. The score line: 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3, 16-14- is enough to indicate the kind of competitiveness two competitors featured in the game. With this title, Federer has clinched his 15th grand slam title, and thus, breaking Pete Sampras’ record 14 grand slam titles.
Roger Federer ended up losing last year’s classic Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal, but this time, the Swiss great did not make any mistake. He held his nerve under huge pressure and produced some excellent moments that you would like to remember for the rest of your life. Well, Federer also had made bad mistakes which do not go with his class, but still you have to be full of praise for this Swiss.
Well, it would be unfair if I do not spend some words for Roddick. I would just use the words excellent and outstanding for the performance of the American star. From the very beginning of the game, Roddick looked pretty much confident and did not let Federer dominate the game. Especially, his forehand shots were so perfect in the game that I think he is the one of the best forehand players of these days.
Roddick took the first set 7-5, despite facing intense competition from Federer. The Swiss star took the next two sets by the same margin 7-6 in tie-breaker. Roddick then came back in the match winning the fourth set 6-3, the least competitive set in the match. A number of unforced errors cost Federer the set, and thus, leading the match to the thrilling fifth set.
It seems all the excitement and enjoyment were left for the fifth set. Both Roddick and Federer appeared with their sturdy look. At one point, it seemed the last set would go on forever, with both players failing to break the opponents. Federer once went very close to win the match when Roddick was serving, but the American bounced back showing his never-give-up mentality and held his service. Well, I would say that Federer could have won the final set some earlier, had he not made some awkward-looking unforced errors while Roddick was on serve.
Anyway, it was Roger Federer who took the final set 16-14 to win his 15th grand slam title. The best part of Federer’s game was his excellent aces which earned him a number of points in the final set. Overall, Roger Federer once again showed that he deserves to be the greatest male tennis players of all time.
(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)
You know that ManchesterCity is now in pursuit of many big players in European football. They want to become the next Chelsea and they want to win many trophy. They have got a billionaire man from Middle East as a new owner and he is now coming with a lot of cash. So, ManchesterCity is going to make a lot adapt petroleum dollar with this they want to buy some world class strikers. They are also looking to make world record this for many players and they are trying to their best to get a good goalkeeper. They have already tried to get the goalkeeper of Real Madrid who did not accept their offer. Now, they are after the goalkeeper of Juventus. Some people think that Gianluigi Buffon of Juventus is the best goalkeeper in the world.
Well, I have reservation about this match but till now doubt he really one of the top goalkeepers in world football today. Now, Buffon has asked a huge pay increase. There is a rumor that he is asking for quarter million of pounds a week as wages if he wants to come to ManchesterCity. If the figure is true then it should be one million pound a month and that is a lot of money for any player. So, if he really gets then I will not get surprise if he come to ManchesterCity. However, a few days ago he said very strongly that he is not thinking to England or to ManchesterCity in stead he wants to stay with Juventus.
(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)
Wayne Rooney is one of the most gifted players of England national football team today. He is also a big star in Manchester United Club and millions of people are crazy for him. So, I can not find any justification of his bad challenge in the match this weak in the Champions league. He did it against Denmark club and he offended a player that was not marked by the referee but it got a lot of negative coverage in the media.
Now, UEFA official are investigating about it and even there is fear of getting banned for a match or two or even more because of this bat tackle. I really can not understand why Rooney acted this way because this match was not important for Manchester United. Manchester United has already qualified for the knock-out stage and even if Manchester United lost it would not have any difference for them. They would go to the knockout stage.
Anyway, Wayne Rooney is not a person who should do serious and bad tackle because it is the work of defender and he is a striker.
(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)
If you are an Arsenal fan then I am sure that you will not have a very happy and joyful Christmas 2008 because your favorite club is going no where in football this season. The season has not come even the half way and Arsenal is already out of league cup and suffering in premier league and also now has started to struggle in UEFA Champions league. However, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has not agreed with this kind of pessimistic idea. He feels that in Europe, his club will shine in this season and his club is not afraid of anyone.
Well, I wish that he was right. Like me, many Arsenal supporters would also have the same wish that their dream come true. However, I can not be that much confidence and optimistic because the club seriously lack from strength in seventh position. Arsene Wenger should focus and getting a quality striker and he should also think of getting someone at the defense. The mid-field looks solid to me with quality players like Cese Fabregas and Nasri. However, it is in the striking position that I can find some weakness.
(This entry was originally published in this blog December 2008 and it is based on the information of that time.)
Corey Pavin will lead the U.S. Golf team in the 2010 Ryder Cup. Forty nine year old Pavin was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team in and 1991, 1993, and 1995. Pavin has been named captain of the team by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. In 2010, he will lead the 12 member U.S. Team in the 38th Ryder Cup which is going to be held at The Celtic Manor in NewPort, Wales on October 28th, 2010.
Paul Azinger, who led the U.S. Team to victory in the 2008 Ryder Cup, said that he has no problems to lead the U.S team this time. For the first time since 1999, U.S team won the prestigious tournament under Azinger’s captainship.
However, Corey Pavin is also a very experienced player and has all the qualities to lead the team. Pavin won 15 PGA Tour events and 27 worldwide professional championships. In the Ryder Cup games, he had an impressive 8-5-0 score. In the 1995 U.S. Open Championship, Corey Pavin had an impressive final round. He had one-stroke victory over Greg Norman. Outside the Ryder Cup, Pavin served as the assistant to Captain Tom Lehman at the 36th Ryder Cup at The K Club in Ireland in 2006.
Much-awaited test series Ashes 2009 kicks off from 8 July 2009. Host England is now gearing up to take revenge of their humiliating white-wash at the hands of their traditional rivals Australia in Ashes 2007 which took place in Australia. With a depleted squad, on the other hand, Australia would like to continue their dominance over the English side.
Ashes series is the most traditional bilateral rivalry in the history of cricket. Tracing back to its origin in 1876/77, you can see that how much influence Ashes series had on the development of cricket in its formative years. In fact, international test cricket started through Ashes series between England and Australia. Today, there are a number of rivalries in cricket including India-Pakistan, Australia-New Zealand and Australia-South Africa. However, Ashes was the first cricketing rivalry in Cricket, and still today, this is considered to be one of the most popular test series in world cricket.
Well, Ashes may have a century-long history and an undeniable prestige, but in terms of competitiveness, Ashes looked bleak for more than a decade since 1989 because of Australia’s one-sided dominance. However, an indication of revival of Ashes came in 2005 when England, under their inspirational captain Michael Vaughan, retained the Ashes title before the home crowed. There are many who consider 2005 Ashes as the start of demise of Australia’s decade-long dominance.
Australia lost much of its strength over the last few years mainly because of a series of retirements of some of their great players like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martin, Adam Gilchrist and some others. Australian team itself is going through its formative years as a number of young players are getting used to international cricket besides gaining experience. Leg spin legend Shane Warne played a huge role behind Australia’s decade-long dominance in Ashes, but now the situation is that there is no quality established spinner in the Aussie camp. Naturally, England is looking forward to building on this disadvantage of the visitors and that is why, ECB decided to organize the first test at Cardiff where spinners generally get lots of assistance from the pitch.
Australia may take some inspiration from their success in the last Ashes tournament back in home, but they should also remember that they lost four years back in England. So, Australia has no room for complacency; otherwise it could lead Ricky Ponting boys to a devastating result in Ashes 2009. Australia’s recent form is not pretty much satisfactory and there is no doubt, Australia’s huge dominance over world cricket has been fading away now. They lost the home test series to South Africa, and even though they defeated the same opponent away few weeks later, Australia has not retained its real dominance in world cricket yet.
England stirred a seemingly-dying Ashes rivalry all the way in 2005, defeating visiting Australia. Even though England lost the title to Australia two years later, England fans are still confident England would be able to reproduce their 2005 performance this year and would once again retain the title. The intensity of the 2005 triumph was so huge that England cricketers still take inspiration from a series which took place four years back. Alike Australia, England holds a mixed performance recently.
England defeated West Indies in their recent test series at home 2-0, and thus, retaining the Wisden Trophy which they had lost just few months back in West Indies. Last year, England lost the test series 1-0 against India after suffering a humiliating 2-1 defeat in a four-match test series against South Africa at home. However, one thing is for sure that England is pretty much confident ahead of the series mainly because of two things. First of all, English cricketers are pretty much organized under the leadership of Strauss and the guidance of Andy Flower. The working relationship between the captain and coach is another positive side of England. Secondly, the decline of Australia’s invincible status in world cricket after the loss of a number of former greats must have increased the guile among the English cricketers.
Both sides have a number of match winners. Let us start with English side. In the presence of Strauss, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Graeme Swann and James Anderson, England seems to have formed a balanced squad which is capable of challenging Australia. Specially, spinner Swann could play a big role for the home side in the series.
Australia also has some key players in Ponting, Hussey, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Simon Katich, North, who got century in the tour match against England Lions, and Shane Watson. The only specialist spinner in the squad is Nathan Hauritz who may not seem very promising yet, but could be viral for the visiting side.
Here, I am giving you the full schedule of Ashes 2009 series:
