Sports News

Phil Brown has described as 'scandalous' the decision to charge Hull with misconduct over last weekend's melee at Arsenal.
The FA have charged both Hull and theGunners with failing to control their players after a massconfrontation involving 21 players in the Tigers' defeat at theEmirates Stadium on Saturday.
The incident erupted after Arsenal's Samir Nasri appeared to stamp on the ankle of Hull midfielder Richard Garcia as players contested afree-kick decision late in the first half.
Fracas: Arsenal and Hull players square up at the Emirates Stadium
Brown has defended the reaction of his players and says the club will be contesting the charge.
Brown said: "There was an incident for some reason, and I can'tanswer the accusations against Nasri. He decided to light thetouchpaper.
"It was there for everybody to see. It needed to be dealt with more severely and hasn't been. Why we are up for a charge I don't know.
"I defend the players to the hilt. As far as I am concerned thatlad has gone in there with the intent to start a fight, to start aruck.
"Maybe it was because Arsenal were hitting a brick wall in terms of the way they were playing, I don't know.
"We were doing our job to the best of our ability and maybe that's why they've decided to light the touchpaper. I've no idea.
Fuming: Phil Brown can't believe his Hull side face punishment
"For us to come under criticism yet again is absolutely scandalous, and we'll be defending it."
Tigers midfielders Stephen Hunt was booked by referee Steve Bennett once order had been restored, along with Nasri.
Hunt feels he was harshly singled out for his reaction.
The Irishman said: "There were 22 players there and I got booked!
"I don't think I deserved to be booked for that incident. Maybe he was booking me for fouls, I don't know.
"There were other players in there who seem to have got away with it, I think."
The fracas occurred with the game still goalless but Arsenal wenton to claim a 3-0 win that kept the pressure on Manchester United andChelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League.
Hull now face another tough task with champions United visiting the KC Stadium on Sunday.
Booked: Referee Steve Bennett shows Samir Nasri a yellow card for his part in the confrontation
Brown's side revived their campaign with an uplifting run ofresults in November but they have now gone four games without a win andthe pressure is again growing.
Brown, however, believes his team can build on the performance atArsenal and also draws encouragement from injury-hit United's defeat atFulham last weekend.
Brown said: "If we can perform the way we did against Arsenal, andhopefully get that strong referee I've been crying out for at the KCStadium, then who knows? We might be able to compound ManchesterUnited's defeat against Fulham.
"They will be like a wounded animal and they have great quality indepth, but it is an opportunity. We just want players to grab thatopportunity."
Wolves recently made 10 changes for game against United in orderrest players for a game against Burnley perceived as more winnable.
Hull play one of their relegation rivals in Bolton on Tuesday butBrown is not likely to follow Wolves' example in his selection for theUnited game.
He said: "The first team will be full strength and we will see what happens on Sunday.
"Every game is an opportunity as far as I am concerned, it doesn't matter who you are playing.
"The next game is an opportunity to put our best foot forward and try to get three points."
Hull will have Nick Barmby available after the former England international overcame a calf injury.
A trophy for Wenger, a fit player for Moyes, waterwings for Martinez, no Man Ure for Rafa and beach balls for Bruce - the Premier League Christmas wishlistArsenal and Hull hit with FA charge over their mass brawl at the EmiratesALL THE WEEKEND BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS HULL CITY FC

Chelsea captain John Terry says former Blues boss Jose Mourinho will receive a rapturous reception when the Inter Milan boss makes his eagerly anticipated return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.
Mourinho, who left Chelsea by mutual consent in September 2007, never got the chance to bid supporters farewell, but Inter travel to south west London on March 16 in the second leg of their last 16 clash.
As the most successful coach in Chelsea's history, Mourinho won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 - and Terry expects the crowd to show their appreciation.
'It's a great draw because the fans never got the chance to send Jose off the way they would have liked,' said Terry.
Special: Mourinho

'He's idolised by the Chelsea fans, the players and by everyone at theclub. He took us on to another level and it's going to be a specialoccasion when he comes back.
'He is certainly the best manager I have worked with and every otherChelsea player who played under him will say exactly the same thing.
'At the same time it's a tough draw. They're going well in Italy but we feel we can win,' Terry said. Benzema rejects Chelsea and Man City as he vows to save his Real careerSturridge vows to keep Chelsea firing without absent Drogba and AnelkaEngland are one of the World Cup favourites, insist Chelsea star BallackCHELSEA FC

Germany captain Michael Ballack considers England 'one of the favourites' to win next summer's World Cup.
The Chelsea midfielder believes Fabio Capello could lead England to a first major title since 1966, and admits his own nation is lagging a bit behind.
'They have a great team and many players with exceptional individual class,' he told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
'With Fabio Capello, they now have a manager who has brought stability. That is important and the team feels that.
On the charge: Ballack says England are a team to avoid in South Africa
'They have got to be able to win games even when they are not playing at the highest level and that is what Italian managers are good at, particularly Capello.
'England are oozing self-confidence and I can sense that here. They are one of the favourites.'

Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has said he had requested Younis Khan to make himself available for the one-day series in Australia in January, after the Tests. Younis, the regular captain, backed out of the three-Test series in New Zealand because he wanted a break from international cricket but didn't figure in the squad for the three Tests in Australia, starting on December 26 in Melbourne.

"Yes, I did call up Younis because we have always been good friends and we have played a lot of cricket together," Yousuf told PTI. "I would definitely like to see Younis back in the team as soon as possible because he is a very experienced batsman and the team is missing him.

"We always got along well together and that is why I called him up to enquire about his plans. I am happy that he was very positive about resuming playing international cricket again."

Younis returned to domestic cricket by featuring in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in which his team, Habib Bank, was routed by Karachi Blues by 141 runs inside three days. However, Younis failed to convince the selectors about his batting form as he made just 7 and 4.

Virtually chanceless centuries from Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir made sure they would go to their home ground, Feroz Shah Kotla, with the series in the bag. The ease with which they chased down 316 in 48.1 overs, with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar out inside the first four overs, and the absences of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh for this match, was remarkable. On a day that youngsters outshone the more familiar performers in the series, Upul Tharanga's first ODI century in 53 innings and more than three years, along with Suranga Lakmal's opening burst finished second-best to the 224-run partnership between the Delhi batsmen.

The Sri Lankan spinners were hampered by the dew, and were not helped by the ease with which the Indian batsmen kept alternating the strike. Kumar Sangakkara's strategy to sit and wait for a mistake in the middle overs confounded equally. Of the 224 runs that Kohli and Gambhir added, they ran 125. As a result, they were not forced to take risks, neither did the required run-rate ever go over 6.7.

That had little bearing on how well Kohli - who scored his maiden international century - and Gambhir played. The main features of Kohli's innings were the flicks into the leg side, and punches off the back foot. Gambhir looked to run the ball off the face of the bat, place it into gaps for couples, and he also made sure he was there till the end.

Lakmal would have happily settled with Sehwag and Tendulkar as his first two international wickets, within seven deliveries and before either batsman had settled down, had Kohli and Gambhir not staged the comeback. Neither batsmen needed to take the aerial route. The only element of risk was Kohli's moving across the stumps, but his bat kept coming down at the right time.

Debutant Thissara Perera went for 28 in his four overs, and was replaced by Lasith Malinga, who helped in opening the floodgates. Kohli flicked him for two boundaries on the leg side, and crashed him through the off side for two more, off consecutive deliveries in his first over. After nine overs, India had galloped along to 70, and Kohli to 26 off 22.

Lakmal continued to get the odd ball to rise awkwardly, but he lacked support from the other end. And once India's run-rate went above the required rate, both the batsmen settled down into milking mode and waited for the loose balls, which Malinga kept providing India with.

With spin came signs that the dew would have an effect on the remainder of the match. In his second over, Suraj Randiv bowled a lob down the leg side, and Kohli took advantage. The boundary again took India ahead of the required rate, and in the next couple of overs both the batsmen reached their fifties.

They cruised towards their centuries, but not before Kohli presented Sri Lanka with the only glimpse of opportunity. He had reached 88, and India 207 for 2 in 33 overs, when he nicked the first ball from Tillakaratne Dilshan. Sangakkara, though, couldn't hold on to a tough chance. The two batsmen then reached their respective centuries mirroring each other - moving from 99 to 100 in consecutive deliveries. In what was the definitive tale of the innings, both got those singles with only four fielders inside the circle.

The century attained, Kohli holed out to long-on, trying to finish off the game early, but Gambhir made sure there were no further mishaps, scoring 47 off the 70 remaining runs.

Tharanga was made to work harder for his seventh century earlier in the day. For the first time in the series, India came out with an effective plan to keep Tharanga and Dilshan quiet in the opening overs. Both Zaheer and Nehra kept two men on the leg-side boundary for Dilshan, the third man was left vacant, but no room was given and neither was he offered anything to drive.

As a result, India managed their first maiden of the series - bowled by Nehra - and not one boundary was conceded in the first five overs. In the first three matches, Sri Lanka reached their 50 in 3.4 overs, 6.3 overs, and 7.2 overs. At those various stages, Sri Lanka had scored 6 for 0, 23 for 0 and 24 for 0 today.

Dilshan fell into the trap and pulled Nehra low to Kohli at fine leg, but in one swift act of acceleration, and solid consolidation thereafter, Tharanga almost single-handedly undid India's improved effort.

India's fielding was a huge improvement over their earlier efforts, but they still dropped Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara. That cost them 171 runs, and left them chasing 300-plus - a total that did scant justice to the efforts of Zaheer and Nehra who took 4 for 117 between them.

Like Malinga with Kohli later in the match, Ishant Sharma provided Tharanga with the release and the momentum in the 12th over. Ishant provided him driving length, and also width, and was punished with five boundaries in his first over. All of a sudden, Tharanga was 45 off 43 balls.

A period of consolidation followed, and Tharanga and Sangakkara added 126 runs in 23.4 overs without any concern. After Sangakkara's dismissal, and Tharanga's soon after, Perera stunned India with 31 off 14 balls, but Zaheer and Nehra came back well to ensure the damage done was not beyond repair.

Score: India 317 for 3 (Gambhir 150*, Kohli 107, Lakmal 2-55) beat Sri Lanka 315 for 6 (Tharanga 118, Sangakkara 60, Zaheer 2-49) by seven wickets

Virtually chanceless centuries from Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir made sure they would go to their home ground, Feroz Shah Kotla, with the series in the bag. The ease with which they chased down 316 in 48.1 overs, with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar out inside the first four overs, and the absences of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh for this match, was remarkable. On a day that youngsters outshone the more familiar performers in the series, Upul Tharanga's first ODI century in 53 innings and more than three years, along with Suranga Lakmal's opening burst finished second-best to the 224-run partnership between the Delhi batsmen.

The Sri Lankan spinners were hampered by the dew, and were not helped by the ease with which the Indian batsmen kept alternating the strike. Kumar Sangakkara's strategy to sit and wait for a mistake in the middle overs confounded equally. Of the 224 runs that Kohli and Gambhir added, they ran 125. As a result, they were not forced to take risks, neither did the required run-rate ever go over 6.7.

That had little bearing on how well Kohli - who scored his maiden international century - and Gambhir played. The main features of Kohli's innings were the flicks into the leg side, and punches off the back foot. Gambhir looked to run the ball off the face of the bat, place it into gaps for couples, and he also made sure he was there till the end.

Lakmal would have happily settled with Sehwag and Tendulkar as his first two international wickets, within seven deliveries and before either batsman had settled down, had Kohli and Gambhir not staged the comeback. Neither batsmen needed to take the aerial route. The only element of risk was Kohli's moving across the stumps, but his bat kept coming down at the right time.

Debutant Thissara Perera went for 28 in his four overs, and was replaced by Lasith Malinga, who helped in opening the floodgates. Kohli flicked him for two boundaries on the leg side, and crashed him through the off side for two more, off consecutive deliveries in his first over. After nine overs, India had galloped along to 70, and Kohli to 26 off 22.

Lakmal continued to get the odd ball to rise awkwardly, but he lacked support from the other end. And once India's run-rate went above the required rate, both the batsmen settled down into milking mode and waited for the loose balls, which Malinga kept providing India with.

With spin came signs that the dew would have an effect on the remainder of the match. In his second over, Suraj Randiv bowled a lob down the leg side, and Kohli took advantage. The boundary again took India ahead of the required rate, and in the next couple of overs both the batsmen reached their fifties.

They cruised towards their centuries, but not before Kohli presented Sri Lanka with the only glimpse of opportunity. He had reached 88, and India 207 for 2 in 33 overs, when he nicked the first ball from Tillakaratne Dilshan. Sangakkara, though, couldn't hold on to a tough chance. The two batsmen then reached their respective centuries mirroring each other - moving from 99 to 100 in consecutive deliveries. In what was the definitive tale of the innings, both got those singles with only four fielders inside the circle.

The century attained, Kohli holed out to long-on, trying to finish off the game early, but Gambhir made sure there were no further mishaps, scoring 47 off the 70 remaining runs.

Tharanga was made to work harder for his seventh century earlier in the day. For the first time in the series, India came out with an effective plan to keep Tharanga and Dilshan quiet in the opening overs. Both Zaheer and Nehra kept two men on the leg-side boundary for Dilshan, the third man was left vacant, but no room was given and neither was he offered anything to drive.

As a result, India managed their first maiden of the series - bowled by Nehra - and not one boundary was conceded in the first five overs. In the first three matches, Sri Lanka reached their 50 in 3.4 overs, 6.3 overs, and 7.2 overs. At those various stages, Sri Lanka had scored 6 for 0, 23 for 0 and 24 for 0 today.

Dilshan fell into the trap and pulled Nehra low to Kohli at fine leg, but in one swift act of acceleration, and solid consolidation thereafter, Tharanga almost single-handedly undid India's improved effort.

India's fielding was a huge improvement over their earlier efforts, but they still dropped Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara. That cost them 171 runs, and left them chasing 300-plus - a total that did scant justice to the efforts of Zaheer and Nehra who took 4 for 117 between them.

Like Malinga with Kohli later in the match, Ishant Sharma provided Tharanga with the release and the momentum in the 12th over. Ishant provided him driving length, and also width, and was punished with five boundaries in his first over. All of a sudden, Tharanga was 45 off 43 balls.

A period of consolidation followed, and Tharanga and Sangakkara added 126 runs in 23.4 overs without any concern. After Sangakkara's dismissal, and Tharanga's soon after, Perera stunned India with 31 off 14 balls, but Zaheer and Nehra came back well to ensure the damage done was not beyond repair.

Ricky Ponting's prospects of leading Australia in the Boxing Day Test appear strong after he batted in the nets at the MCG without any clear signs of discomfort in his injured left elbow. Australia will wait to see how Ponting pulls up on Christmas Day before confirming him in the starting line-up but the indications were positive two days out from the first Test against Pakistan.

Ponting batted for about half an hour in the nets over three separate stints, starting with throwdowns before he went behind closed doors with the physio Alex Kountouris. He returned and spent 15 minutes facing Shane Watson and a group of young fast bowlers, and was strong in his grip and extended his arm without any obvious problems.

Apart from strapping on his elbow and the fact that he wore an arm-guard, there were few signs of his injury. Michael Clarke, who would step in as captain if Ponting was unavailable, was happy with how his leader performed.

"We'll obviously have to see how he pulls up tomorrow but we're all pretty confident," Clarke said. "It looked like he hit the ball quite well and he's obviously in very good form. Fingers crossed he pulls up tomorrow but we're pretty confident. He's a very tough bloke and cricketer and I think you'd probably have to cut his arm off for him to miss a Boxing Day Test match."

It was the first time Ponting had batted since the second innings against West Indies in Perth, when he came in at No. 9 and survived for only six deliveries, batting in obvious discomfort. The problem arose when he was struck on the elbow by a bouncer from Kemar Roach in the first innings at the WACA, which left him with tendon damage.

He has had several sessions in a hyperbaric chamber in an effort to speed up the recovery process for a problem that Kountouris last week said left his elbow like meat bashed with a mallet. Ponting has not missed a Test since 2004.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is confident Dale Steyn will be fit to resume his new-ball duties in the second Test at Durban. The fast bowler came through 10 overs on Wednesday without any reaction and the hosts hope to make a final decision on Christmas Day.

Steyn was ruled out shortly before the toss at Centurion after pulling up stiff on the morning of the game, which allowed Friedel de Wet to make his debut and the 29-year-old produced a stunning new-ball burst on the final afternoon to almost snatch victory. However, despite an impressive first appearance, de Wet would be the man to miss out if Steyn makes his return.

"Dale has come on nicely," Arthur said. "We will still wait and see on that department. He bowled 10 overs at virtually full pace yesterday and there's been no comeback so I'm pretty sure he'll be fit to take his place. We certainly don't want to be going in as we were at Centurion where everything seems fine then he was tight on the morning of the game. We'd certainly like to take the call on Dale tomorrow."

De Wet's performance has bolstered South Africa's quick-bowling ranks and prompted speculation over the future of Makhaya Ntini who managed just two wickets in his 100th Test. Arthur, though, added his complete backing of Ntini to that of Graeme Smith on Wednesday, but is delighted that the first-choice quicks are being put under pressure by the emergence of new names.

"Ntini has taken some flak and I'm not 100% sure why," Arthur said. "I thought he did a fairly decent job for us. He performed a role, but I guess there was always going to be the speculation once Friedel rocked up and nearly bowled us to victory. The whole bowling unit will feel it now, not just Makhaya.

"Friedel was fantastic and it puts another guy in the queue. It's another guy we have given a match to and he has shown what he can do. He puts a lot of pressure on the other bowlers to perform. But we'll probably go back to our tried and tested for what is a really important Test.

Former Jacksonville running back Fred Taylor says the Jaguars might be find themselves in Los Angeles and jokingly said he was putting in a bid for a job.

Taylor, who played with the Jaguars from 1998 until being released after the 2008 season, challenged Jaguars fans during a conference call on Wednesday by saying the team probably would be better off moving.

"Sometimes the truth hurts," said Taylor, who gets his first crack at his old team when he and the New England Patriots host the Jaguars this week. "It can be played either way in that the fans want the team to stay there, they have to show that they want the team to stay there."

Taylor said the league has made it clear a team eventually will be in Los Angeles and because of attendance problems, the Jaguars might be the choice.

"I don't know what's going to be a decision maker or breaker but you look at average attendance and whatever have you at the end of the day they're going to find a team to take out there," he said. "I don't want to offend anyone. Never do, but you've got to be realistic."

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said his former back has always been one to speak his mind.

"Fred has always been a great interview because he speaks straight from the heart and he's not trying to be politically correct," Del Rio said. "That's what he feels and it's entertaining reading."

As far as any potential move goes, Del Rio said he will support whatever decision team owner Wayne Weaver makes.

"I'm an employee of his," Del Rio said. "Whatever he wants to do, my personal feelings are not part of it, my duty is to do the best I can in my role as head coach."

Before suggesting a possible move to Los Angeles, Taylor found himself in a sparring match with Del Rio.

Taylor, who is Jacksonville's all-time leading rusher with 11,271 yards, drew a rebuff from Del Rio after saying there is plenty of veteran leadership leading the way in New England, more film watching and quizzes with the Patriots than he experienced with the Jaguars.

"I saw (Taylor's comments), and I said that's really great because he pointed out the leadership there shows the way and I think he was referring to veteran players," Del Rio said. "So, that's what we're looking to instill in our veteran players, and evidently he wasn't that veteran leader here having our guys watch the tape. So, we're going to work on getting the veteran leaders that are now here to have our guys watching more tape because he provided the blueprint."

Even though both Del Rio and Taylor say they have no hard feelings, the player said the comment stung.

"A smidgen," he said. "A little piece of me didn't" like it.

Taylor explained he didn't mean the Patriots had a hold on all film watching and the quizzes come from coach Bill Belichick's style. He also insisted he wasn't taking shots at Del Rio.

"Never, never, never," he said. "I would never take a shot at him. You never burn bridges. Why would I burn bridges? I would never say that even if I felt that way. I have no problems with Jack, I really don't."

Taylor says him the tone of his comments were lost in the translation.

"It's kind of like a text message," Taylor explained. "He didn't hear my tone, he didn't know if I was laughing or joking. He didn't hear any of that."

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has been placed on injured reserve, Adam Schefter reports.

Delhomme had developed swelling in an injured finger and had trouble throwing the ball in practice this week, leading to the move to IR. The veteran had missed the Panthers' last three games -- including a victory over the Minnesota Vikings -- because of the finger injury.

Carolina is not expected to part ways with Delhomme, who is still owed $13 million for next season, ESPN reports.

Matt Moore, who threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, will be the Panthers' starting QB.

Gary Patterson guided TCU to its best season in 70 years on the way to becoming the first Associated Press Coach of the Year from outside the six conferences with automatic BCS bids.

Patterson led the Horned Frogs to a perfect regular season, their second Mountain West Conference title, their first BCS appearance and even had them vying for a spot in the national championship game.

"I'm really kind of humbled by the whole thing," Patterson said in a telephone interview. "The best way I know how to deal with it is to put my nose down and keep getting ready for Boise."In a close vote released Wednesday, Patterson received 21 votes from the AP college football poll panel to edge Brian Kelly. The former Cincinnati coach, now with Notre Dame, received 19 votes, and Alabama's Nick Saban, who won the award last season, got 14 votes.

Chip Kelly of Oregon received three votes and Boise State's Chris Petersen and Texas' Mack Brown each got one vote.

Patterson's ninth season with the Horned Frogs has been his best, but TCU's success this season is no great surprise. The Frogs have consistently been a threat to bust the BCS under Patterson, who was promoted from defensive coordinator after Dennis Franchione left Fort Worth for Alabama in 2000.

Patterson is 85-27 at TCU and has led the Horned Frogs to five seasons of at least 11 wins the past seven years. This season, the Horned Frogs went 12-0 for their first undefeated regular season since 1938, when TCU won its only AP national championship.

Patterson said he's become a more well-rounded coach during his time at TCU.

"I had to change my personality. I'm a passionate guy on game day. I'm all over the place," he said. "I'm better at helping kids with their lives. When you first become an assistant you're all about Xs and Os but I tried to become better at (helping players) after practice."

Don Meyer hasn't lost his love, focus or discipline for basketball.

On Dec. 16 - his 65th birthday - he kicked his players out of practice. “It probably isn't easy to practice during finals week, but we just didn't feel right about the way things were going,” said Meyer, the South Dakota Sports Writers Association's men's college coach of the year. “You do what you have to do sometimes. You need to get players to think.”

Some people spend their days in chemotherapy dealing with curve balls being thrown at them from all angles, said Meyer. Many times, we don't realize how fortunate we are.

Basketball is a privilege, not a right.

The Northern State men's basketball coach is in the middle of his 37th basketball season. As he is every season, Meyer is concerned about and for his team. In gathering an NCAA-record 914 career victories, Meyer knows this year is the most important year to those currently in the program.

That is the way it always is for Meyer. One of the most important messages he tries to get across is to make the most of today, because you never know what tomorrow will hold.

“Every team is different,” Meyer said. “You find out as you go along what you have to do with them. Every team has to figure out life - and that is a big deal - develop toughness and grow up. We have been dealing a lot with injuries, but you can still play the game the right way, even if you are down to two people.”

In September 2008 on the way to a team retreat, Meyer survived a life-threatening car accident - his players helped save his life - that resulted in a two-month hospital stay, the discovery of cancer and the loss of part of his left leg. He returned to coach the entire season, break the record for career wins and win the Jimmy V. Award for Perseverance at the 2009 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.

Meyer also led the Wolves into the national tournament for the fifth time in the past six seasons. His friend and ESPN baseball guru Buster Olney is now writing a book about Meyer that could be published next year.