Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is the first woman to have flown in space, having been selected from more than four hundred applicants and five finalists to pilot Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963. In order to join the Cosmonaut Corps, Tereshkova was only honorarily inducted into the Soviet Air Force and thus she also became the first civilian to fly in space.
Before her recruitment as a cosmonaut, Tereshkova was a
textile-factory assembly worker and an amateur skydiver. After the
dissolution of the first group of female cosmonauts in 1969, she became a
prominent member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, holding various political offices. She remained politically active following the collapse of the Soviet Union and is still regarded as a hero in post-Soviet Russia.
In 2013 she offered to go on a one-way trip to Mars if the opportunity arose.[2] At the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, she was a carrier of the Olympic flag.
After the flight of Yuri Gagarin in 1961, Sergey Korolyov,
the chief Soviet rocket engineer, came up with the idea of putting a
woman in space. On 16 February 1962, Valentina Tereshkova was selected
to join the female cosmonaut corps. Out of more than four hundred
applicants, five were selected: Tatyana Kuznetsova, Irina Solovyova, Zhanna Yorkina, Valentina Ponomaryova,
and Tereshkova. Qualifications included that they be parachutists under
30 years of age, under 170 cm (5 feet 7 inches) tall, and under 70 kg
(154 lbs.) in weight.
Tereshkova was considered a particularly worthy candidate, partly due to her "proletarian" background, and because her father, tank leader sergeant Vladimir Tereshkov, was a war hero. He died in the Finnish Winter War during World War II in the Lemetti area in Finnish Karelia
when Tereshkova was two years old. After her mission she was asked how
the Soviet Union should thank her for her service to the country.
Tereshkova asked that the government search for, and publish, the
location where her father was killed in action. This was done, and a
monument now stands at the site in Lemetti—now on the Russian side of
the border. Tereshkova has since visited Finland several times.
Training included weightless flights, isolation tests, centrifuge
tests, rocket theory, spacecraft engineering, 120 parachute jumps and
pilot training in MiG-15UTI
jet fighters. The group spent several months in intensive training,
concluding with examinations in November 1962, after which four
remaining candidates were commissioned Junior Lieutenants in the Soviet
Air Force. Tereshkova, Solovyova and Ponomaryova were the leading
candidates, and a joint mission profile was developed that would see two
women launched into space, on solo Vostok flights on consecutive days
in March or April 1963.
Originally it was intended that Tereshkova would launch first in
Vostok 5 while Ponomaryova would follow her into orbit in Vostok 6.
However, this flight plan was altered in March 1963. Vostok 5 would now
carry a male cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky
flying the joint mission with a woman aboard Vostok 6 in June 1963. The
State Space Commission nominated Tereshkova to pilot Vostok 6 at their
meeting on 21 May and this was confirmed by Nikita Khrushchev himself. Tereshkova was exactly ten years younger than the youngest Mercury Seven astronaut, Gordon Cooper.
After watching the successful launch of Vostok 5
on 14 June, Tereshkova began final preparations for her own flight. She
was 26 at the time. On the morning of 16 June 1963, Tereshkova and her
back-up Solovyova were both dressed in spacesuits and taken to the launch pad
by bus. After completing her communication and life support checks, she
was sealed inside the Vostok. After a two-hour countdown, Vostok 6 launched faultlessly, and Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Her call sign in this flight was Chaika (English: Seagull; Russian: Ча́йка), later commemorated as the name of an asteroid, 1671 Chaika.
Although Tereshkova experienced nausea and physical discomfort for much of the flight,[5]
she orbited the earth 48 times and spent almost three days in space.
With a single flight, she logged more flight time than the combined
times of all American astronauts who had flown before that date.
Tereshkova also maintained a flight log and took photographs of the
horizon, which were later used to identify aerosol layers within the atmosphere.
Vostok 6 was the final Vostok flight and was launched two days after Vostok 5 which carried Valery Bykovsky
into a similar orbit for five days, landing three hours after
Tereshkova. The two vessels approached each other within 5 kilometers
(3.1 mi) at one point, and Tereshkova communicated with Bykovsky and
with Khrushchev by radio.
Even though there were plans for further flights by women, it took 19 years until the second woman, Svetlana Savitskaya,
flew into space. None of the other four in Tereshkova's early group
flew, and in October 1969 the pioneering female cosmonaut group was
dissolved.
“The postman wants an autograph. The cab driver wants a picture. The waitress wants a handshake. Everyone wants a piece of you.” John Lennon
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
Lionel Messi, an Argentine professional footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. Often considered the best player in the world and rated by some in the sport as the greatest of all time, Messi is the first football player in history to win four FIFA/Ballons d'Or
By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He followed this up by winning the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010, and then again in 2011 and 2012. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. At the age of 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in all official club competitions. In September 2014 he scored his 400th senior career goal for club and country aged just 27. In November 2014, Messi became the all-time top scorer in La Liga, and the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League.
Often considered the best player in the world and rated by some in the sport as the greatest of all time,[3][4][5][6][7][8] Messi is the first football player in history to win four FIFA/Ballons d'Or, all of which he won consecutively, and the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards. With Barcelona, Messi has won seven La Ligas, three Copas del Rey, six Supercopas de España, four UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Messi is the only player to top-score in four consecutive Champions League seasons, and also holds the record for the most hat-tricks scored in the competition with five. In March 2012, he made Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. In the 2011–12 season, Messi set the European record for most goals scored in a season with 73 goals, set the goalscoring record in a single La Liga season with 50 goals, and became the second player ever to score in six different official competitions in one season after Pedro.[9] In February 2013 he scored his 300th Barcelona goal. On 30 March 2013, Messi scored in his 19th consecutive La Liga game, becoming the first footballer in history to net in consecutive matches against every team in a professional football league. He extended his record scoring streak to 21 consecutive league matches. In March 2014, with a hat-trick against Real Madrid, Messi became the player with the most goals and most hat-tricks in the history of El Clásico. In October 2014, Messi, aged 27, became the youngest player to score 250 goals in La Liga. In November 2014, Messi scored a hat-trick against Sevilla to reach 253 La Liga goals, becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga. In May 2015, he scored his 77th Champions League goal to become its all-time leading scorer.
Messi helped Argentina win the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, finishing as both the best player and the top scorer (with six goals). In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play and score in the FIFA World Cup, and won a runners-up medal at the Copa América in 2007, in which he was named young player of the tournament. In 2008, he won an Olympic Gold Medal with the Argentina Olympic football team. At the 2014 World Cup, he led Argentina to the final, winning four consecutive Man of the Match awards in the process, and received the Golden Ball award as the best player of the tournament. In 2013, SportsPro rated him the second-most marketable athlete in the world.[10] His playing style and stature have drawn comparisons to compatriot Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor".
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Luis Figo, a Portuguese retired footballer that won Ballon d'Or in 2000, FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001, and in 2004 was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, OIH (Portuguese pronunciation: [luˈiʃ ˈfiɣu]; born 4 November 1972), is a Portuguese retired footballer. He played as a winger for Sporting CP, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Internazionale before retiring on 31 May 2009. He won 127 caps for the Portugal national football team.
Renowned for his creativity and having the ability to get past defenders, Figo is regarded as one of the greatest wingers of his generation.
He made 106 assists in La Liga, the second most in La Liga history, behind Lionel Messi. He won the 2000 Ballon d'Or, 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and in 2004 was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. Figo is one of the few football players to have played for both Spanish rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid.
His controversial 2000 transfer from Barcelona to bitter rivals Real Madrid set a world record fee of £37 million (€62 million).
He had a successful career highlighted by several trophy wins, including the Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups.
On 28 January 2015, Figo announced his intention to run against Sepp Blatter for the position of FIFA President.
Renowned for his creativity and having the ability to get past defenders, Figo is regarded as one of the greatest wingers of his generation.
He made 106 assists in La Liga, the second most in La Liga history, behind Lionel Messi. He won the 2000 Ballon d'Or, 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, and in 2004 was named in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. Figo is one of the few football players to have played for both Spanish rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid.
His controversial 2000 transfer from Barcelona to bitter rivals Real Madrid set a world record fee of £37 million (€62 million).
He had a successful career highlighted by several trophy wins, including the Portuguese Cup, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one Italian Cup and three Italian Super Cups.
On 28 January 2015, Figo announced his intention to run against Sepp Blatter for the position of FIFA President.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Gianni Rivera, an Italian former football midfielder, who was mostly utilised as an offensive playmaker; he was awarded the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, in 1969
Rivera was an elegant, efficitent, and creative offensive midfield playmaker, with an eye for goal, who possessed excellent technical ability, footballing intelligence, vision, and class.[2] He is widely considered to be one of the greatest Italian footballers, and one of the most talented playmakers of all time, due to his passing accuracy and his adeptness at providing assists.[3][4] In 2004, Pelè chose Rivera as part of the FIFA 100 greatest living footballers, and he placed 35th in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll.
After retiring from football, Rivera went into politics and he is currently a Member of the European Parliament for the Uniti nell'Ulivo party. He has been appointed as the President of the educational youth sector by the FIGC for the Italy national football team, along with Roberto Baggio and Arrigo Sacchi under head coach Cesare Prandelli.[5]
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a French professional tennis player. He is one of only two players to have Grand Slam wins against each of the Big Four (namely Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is a French professional tennis player currently ranked World No. 13. He was born in Le Mans, to a French mother, Évelyne, and a Congolese father, Didier Tsonga, who moved to France in the 1970s to play handball.[2] Tsonga is a member of the Tennis Club de Paris (TCP). His career-high singles ranking is World No. 5, which he achieved in February 2012.
Tsonga rose to fame by virtue of his performance in the 2008 Australian Open when, as an unseeded player, he reached the final, having defeated four seeded players along the way, including earning a straight-sets win over the World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Tsonga eventually lost to the World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the final in four sets, after winning the first set, the only set Djokovic dropped during the tournament.
Tsonga followed this up by winning his first ATP Masters Series championship at the 2008 Paris Masters, thus qualifying for the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China. His best performances in a major tournament since 2008 are semifinal appearances in the 2010 Australian Open, the 2013 French Open and at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2012. He also reached the final of the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals, where he lost to five-time and defending champion Roger Federer. He achieved his second Masters Series win at the 2014 Canadian Open, defeating four top 10 players on the way to victory.
He is one of the few active players on tour to have reached the quarterfinal stage of all four Grand Slams. He is also one of only two players (the other being Tomáš Berdych) to have Grand Slam wins against each of the Big Four (namely Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray).
Tsonga rose to fame by virtue of his performance in the 2008 Australian Open when, as an unseeded player, he reached the final, having defeated four seeded players along the way, including earning a straight-sets win over the World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. Tsonga eventually lost to the World No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the final in four sets, after winning the first set, the only set Djokovic dropped during the tournament.
Tsonga followed this up by winning his first ATP Masters Series championship at the 2008 Paris Masters, thus qualifying for the 2008 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, China. His best performances in a major tournament since 2008 are semifinal appearances in the 2010 Australian Open, the 2013 French Open and at Wimbledon in 2011 and 2012. He also reached the final of the 2011 ATP World Tour Finals, where he lost to five-time and defending champion Roger Federer. He achieved his second Masters Series win at the 2014 Canadian Open, defeating four top 10 players on the way to victory.
He is one of the few active players on tour to have reached the quarterfinal stage of all four Grand Slams. He is also one of only two players (the other being Tomáš Berdych) to have Grand Slam wins against each of the Big Four (namely Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray).
Friday, May 15, 2015
Lars Eriksson, a former football goalkeeper from Sweden. He participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992
Lars Eriksson (born September 21, 1965 in Stockholm) is a former football goalkeeper from Sweden. He participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992.[1] He played for Hammarby, Norrköping, Charleroi and FC Porto.
International career
Between 1988 and 1995 he played 17 matches for the national team, but was often used as bench cover for Thomas Ravelli. He took part in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992.
International career
Between 1988 and 1995 he played 17 matches for the national team, but was often used as bench cover for Thomas Ravelli. He took part in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 1992.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Vincent Enyeama, a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for French club Lille OSC and the Nigerian national team, as a goalkeeper. He is the captain and the most capped player ever for the national team
Vincent Enyeama (born 29 August 1982) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for French club Lille OSC and the Nigerian national team, as a goalkeeper.
Since making his debut in 2002 for Nigeria, he has since become the
captain and is now the most capped player ever for the national team.
Enyeama made his second FIFA World Cup participation in the 2010 tournament in South Africa. In Nigeria's opening match, he was named man of the match, producing a defiant display to restrict Argentina to a 1–0 win. Enyeama, who was playing his 56th international for the Super Eagles, made six fine saves against the two-time world champions, four of them from Lionel Messi. Argentine coach Diego Maradona praised him as the reason Messi was not able to score a goal. Enyeama was also awarded man of the match in the team's next fixture, a 2–1 loss to Greece, but was at fault for Vasilis Torosidis' winning goal.[8]
At the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Enyeama deputised for regular captain Joseph Yobo, who stayed on the bench for most of the competition.[6] On 10 February, Enyeama led Nigeria to its third continental victory, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 defeat of Burkina Faso in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Final. He was named to the team of the tournament as first choice goalkeeper, conceding only four goals in six matches.[9]
In June 2014, Enyeama was named in Nigeria's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[10] In the Super Eagles' first fixture, he kept the second FIFA World Cup clean sheet of his career as the team drew 0–0 with Iran.[11] He subsequently recorded a second consecutive shutout in the fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a 1–0 win which gave Nigeria its first win at the tournament since the 1998 edition.[12] He conceded three goals in the last match of the first round against Argentina, a game which ended in a 3–2 defeat for Nigeria, placing them second in the group and thus qualifying them for the second round for the first time in 16 years.[13]
On 26 March 2015, Enyeama won his 100th cap for Nigeria in a 1–0 loss to Uganda.
Enyeama made his second FIFA World Cup participation in the 2010 tournament in South Africa. In Nigeria's opening match, he was named man of the match, producing a defiant display to restrict Argentina to a 1–0 win. Enyeama, who was playing his 56th international for the Super Eagles, made six fine saves against the two-time world champions, four of them from Lionel Messi. Argentine coach Diego Maradona praised him as the reason Messi was not able to score a goal. Enyeama was also awarded man of the match in the team's next fixture, a 2–1 loss to Greece, but was at fault for Vasilis Torosidis' winning goal.[8]
At the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Enyeama deputised for regular captain Joseph Yobo, who stayed on the bench for most of the competition.[6] On 10 February, Enyeama led Nigeria to its third continental victory, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 defeat of Burkina Faso in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Final. He was named to the team of the tournament as first choice goalkeeper, conceding only four goals in six matches.[9]
In June 2014, Enyeama was named in Nigeria's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[10] In the Super Eagles' first fixture, he kept the second FIFA World Cup clean sheet of his career as the team drew 0–0 with Iran.[11] He subsequently recorded a second consecutive shutout in the fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a 1–0 win which gave Nigeria its first win at the tournament since the 1998 edition.[12] He conceded three goals in the last match of the first round against Argentina, a game which ended in a 3–2 defeat for Nigeria, placing them second in the group and thus qualifying them for the second round for the first time in 16 years.[13]
On 26 March 2015, Enyeama won his 100th cap for Nigeria in a 1–0 loss to Uganda.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Mircea Crișan, actor, cabaretist, regizor și umorist, celebru în România anilor 1950-1960
Mircea Crișan (n. Mauriciu Kraus la 8 august 1924, CFR – d. 22 noiembrie 2013, Düsseldorf, Germania) a fost un actor, cabaretist, regizor și umorist, celebru în România anilor 1950-1960 și în Germania restul vieții.
Evreu[3] născut în România (într-un vagon de tren care traversa Maramureșul) și declarat la oficiul stării civile la 9 august[4]).
Când era copil, mergea în turneu cu părinții (angajați la un parc de distracții ambulant).[5]
La 19 ani s-a angajat ca vânzător de mezeluri și, tot pe-atunci, a debutat mai mult figurant decât ca actor, la Teatrul Barașeum, actualmente Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat, în spectacolul Lozul cel mare de Sholem Aleichem. A studiat apoi la Conservatorul de Artă Dramatică, clasa Maria Filotti (1944-1946).
După absolvire a jucat la Teatrul Armatei, la Teatrul Savoy, la Teatrul de Estradă, în spectacole de varietăți alături de actorii Nicolae Stroe, Gogu Trestian, Ion Antonescu-Cărăbuș, Horia Căciulescu, Zizi Șerban, Elena Burmaz, Tanți Căpățână, Puiu Călinescu. Multe din textele din perioada din România au fost compuse în colaborare cu Alexandru Mandi.
Prin Decretul nr. 514 din 18 august 1964 al Consiliului de Stat al Republicii Populare Romîne, actorului Mircea Crișan i s-a acordat titlul de Artist Emerit al Republicii Populare Romîne „pentru merite deosebite în activitatea desfășurată în domeniul teatrului, muzicii, artelor plastice și cinematografiei”.[6]
În 1968, cu ocazia unui turneu la Paris la teatrul Olympia, a rămas în Occident[7] și s-a stabilit ulterior în Germania, unde a început să-și scrie numele Mircea Krishan[8]
În Germania a colaborat, sub acest nume, cu mulți artiști de scenă cunoscuți, între care Rudi Carell și Gisela Schlüter.
Mircea Crișan și-a petrecut ultimii ani de viață internat într-un azil pentru vârstnici din Düsseldorf, suferind de boala Alzheimer. A fost înmormântat în cimitirul evreiesc din Düsseldorf.
Evreu[3] născut în România (într-un vagon de tren care traversa Maramureșul) și declarat la oficiul stării civile la 9 august[4]).
Când era copil, mergea în turneu cu părinții (angajați la un parc de distracții ambulant).[5]
La 19 ani s-a angajat ca vânzător de mezeluri și, tot pe-atunci, a debutat mai mult figurant decât ca actor, la Teatrul Barașeum, actualmente Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat, în spectacolul Lozul cel mare de Sholem Aleichem. A studiat apoi la Conservatorul de Artă Dramatică, clasa Maria Filotti (1944-1946).
După absolvire a jucat la Teatrul Armatei, la Teatrul Savoy, la Teatrul de Estradă, în spectacole de varietăți alături de actorii Nicolae Stroe, Gogu Trestian, Ion Antonescu-Cărăbuș, Horia Căciulescu, Zizi Șerban, Elena Burmaz, Tanți Căpățână, Puiu Călinescu. Multe din textele din perioada din România au fost compuse în colaborare cu Alexandru Mandi.
Prin Decretul nr. 514 din 18 august 1964 al Consiliului de Stat al Republicii Populare Romîne, actorului Mircea Crișan i s-a acordat titlul de Artist Emerit al Republicii Populare Romîne „pentru merite deosebite în activitatea desfășurată în domeniul teatrului, muzicii, artelor plastice și cinematografiei”.[6]
În 1968, cu ocazia unui turneu la Paris la teatrul Olympia, a rămas în Occident[7] și s-a stabilit ulterior în Germania, unde a început să-și scrie numele Mircea Krishan[8]
În Germania a colaborat, sub acest nume, cu mulți artiști de scenă cunoscuți, între care Rudi Carell și Gisela Schlüter.
Mircea Crișan și-a petrecut ultimii ani de viață internat într-un azil pentru vârstnici din Düsseldorf, suferind de boala Alzheimer. A fost înmormântat în cimitirul evreiesc din Düsseldorf.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Tony Adams, an English football manager and former Arsenal player. With Arsenal, he won four top flight division titles, uniquely captaining a title-winning team in three different decades, three FA Cups, two Football League Cups, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and three FA Community Shields
Tony Alexander Adams, MBE (born 10 October 1966) is an English football manager and former Arsenal player.
Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal.[1] He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans [2] and was included in the Football League 100 Legends. With Arsenal, he won four top flight division titles, uniquely captaining a title-winning team in three different decades, three FA Cups, two Football League Cups, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and three FA Community Shields. A statue honouring Adams was unveiled at Emirates stadium on 9 December 2011, along with statues of Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman.
When his playing career finished Adams went into football management, spending periods in charge of Wycombe Wanderers, Portsmouth and Azerbaijan side Gabala.
Adams made his debut for England against Spain in 1987, and played in Euro 88,
scoring one of England's two goals. He was the first player to
represent England who had been born after the 1966 World Cup win.
After a highly promising start to his international career, Adams
suffered a series of setbacks during the early 1990s. He was
surprisingly left out of the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad by manager Bobby Robson, and missed Euro 92 due to injury. However, he still maintained a regular place in defence, and after the retirement of Gary Lineker in 1992, Adams unofficially shared the captaincy of England with David Platt, though Adams became England captain outright before Euro 96, as Platt's place in the side became less secure. England reached the semi-finals of Euro 96, before losing on penalties to Germany.
When England manager Glenn Hoddle took the Captain's armband from Adams and gave it to Alan Shearer it was a bitter pill for Adams to swallow. Speaking at a fans' forum in 2008 Adams remarked "I have some resentment over the way Glenn Hoddle gave the captaincy to Alan Shearer instead of me but I can let that go. I reacted positively. I disagreed with him [Hoddle] and he thought Alan could get more penalties being a centre forward. People know my reaction to that".
Adams continued to play for the national side, however and he finally appeared in a World Cup finals in 1998. His international swansong was England's largely unsuccessful Euro 2000 campaign. With Shearer retiring from international football after the tournament, Adams regained the captaincy. However, within months, England lost a World Cup qualifier to Germany in October 2000, the match being the last to be staged at Wembley Stadium before the stadium was torn down for rebuilding. That match was Adams's 60th Wembley appearance, a record. With Sven-Göran Eriksson eventually taking the helm and under increasing pressure for his place from the emerging and improving Rio Ferdinand, Adams retired from international football before Eriksson picked his first squad. He was the last England player to score at the old Wembley Stadium when he scored England's second goal in a 2–0 friendly win over Ukraine on 31 May 2000. This was also his first goal since he scored in a friendly against Saudi Arabia in November 1988, thus making the record for the longest gap between goals for England.
Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal.[1] He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans [2] and was included in the Football League 100 Legends. With Arsenal, he won four top flight division titles, uniquely captaining a title-winning team in three different decades, three FA Cups, two Football League Cups, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and three FA Community Shields. A statue honouring Adams was unveiled at Emirates stadium on 9 December 2011, along with statues of Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman.
When his playing career finished Adams went into football management, spending periods in charge of Wycombe Wanderers, Portsmouth and Azerbaijan side Gabala.
When England manager Glenn Hoddle took the Captain's armband from Adams and gave it to Alan Shearer it was a bitter pill for Adams to swallow. Speaking at a fans' forum in 2008 Adams remarked "I have some resentment over the way Glenn Hoddle gave the captaincy to Alan Shearer instead of me but I can let that go. I reacted positively. I disagreed with him [Hoddle] and he thought Alan could get more penalties being a centre forward. People know my reaction to that".
Adams continued to play for the national side, however and he finally appeared in a World Cup finals in 1998. His international swansong was England's largely unsuccessful Euro 2000 campaign. With Shearer retiring from international football after the tournament, Adams regained the captaincy. However, within months, England lost a World Cup qualifier to Germany in October 2000, the match being the last to be staged at Wembley Stadium before the stadium was torn down for rebuilding. That match was Adams's 60th Wembley appearance, a record. With Sven-Göran Eriksson eventually taking the helm and under increasing pressure for his place from the emerging and improving Rio Ferdinand, Adams retired from international football before Eriksson picked his first squad. He was the last England player to score at the old Wembley Stadium when he scored England's second goal in a 2–0 friendly win over Ukraine on 31 May 2000. This was also his first goal since he scored in a friendly against Saudi Arabia in November 1988, thus making the record for the longest gap between goals for England.
Friday, April 17, 2015
Serena Williams, an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. 1 in women's singles tennis. he became the World No. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002, and regained this ranking for the sixth time on February 18, 2013, becoming the oldest world no. 1 player in WTA's history
Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26, 1981) is an American professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. 1 in women's singles tennis. The Women's Tennis Association
(WTA) has ranked her World No. 1 in singles on six separate occasions.
She became the World N She is the only female player to have won over $60 million in prize money, and is the reigning Australian Open, US Open, WTA Tour Championships and Olympic ladies singles champion.
o. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002, and regained this ranking for the sixth time on February 18, 2013, becoming the oldest world no. 1 player in WTA's history. Williams is also regarded by some experts and former tennis players to be the greatest female tennis player in history.
Frequently hailed as the Queen of the Court by the general media, Williams holds the most major singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles combined amongst active players, male or female. Her record of 34 Grand Slam titles puts her seventh on the all-time list: 19 in singles, 13 in women's doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (2002–03), and the fifth woman ever to do so. She is also the most recent player together with her sister Venus Williams to have held all four Grand Slam women's doubles titles simultaneously (2009–10). Her total of 19 Grand Slam singles titles is tied for third on the all-time list with Helen Wills Moody behind Margaret Court (24 titles) and Steffi Graf (22 titles), and second in the Open Era, behind only Graf. She has won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus and the pair are unbeaten in Grand Slam finals. Serena Williams is also a five-time winner of the WTA Tour Championships. The arrival of Venus and Serena Williams has been credited with launching a new era of power in women's tennis. Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in women's singles and three in women's doubles, an all-time record shared with her sister Venus.
o. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002, and regained this ranking for the sixth time on February 18, 2013, becoming the oldest world no. 1 player in WTA's history. Williams is also regarded by some experts and former tennis players to be the greatest female tennis player in history.
Frequently hailed as the Queen of the Court by the general media, Williams holds the most major singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles combined amongst active players, male or female. Her record of 34 Grand Slam titles puts her seventh on the all-time list: 19 in singles, 13 in women's doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles. She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (2002–03), and the fifth woman ever to do so. She is also the most recent player together with her sister Venus Williams to have held all four Grand Slam women's doubles titles simultaneously (2009–10). Her total of 19 Grand Slam singles titles is tied for third on the all-time list with Helen Wills Moody behind Margaret Court (24 titles) and Steffi Graf (22 titles), and second in the Open Era, behind only Graf. She has won 13 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister Venus and the pair are unbeaten in Grand Slam finals. Serena Williams is also a five-time winner of the WTA Tour Championships. The arrival of Venus and Serena Williams has been credited with launching a new era of power in women's tennis. Williams has won four Olympic gold medals, one in women's singles and three in women's doubles, an all-time record shared with her sister Venus.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Marcel Răducanu, a Romanian former footballer who played for Steaua Bucureşti, Borussia Dortmund, FC Zürich and the Romanian national team
Marcel Răducanu (born 21 October 1954 in Bucharest) is a Romanian former footballer who played for Steaua Bucureşti, Borussia Dortmund, FC Zürich and the Romanian national team.
Between 1976 and 1981, he played 21 games for Romanian national team, during which he scored three goals.[1] He played nearly 80 matches scoring many goals for Romania's Under-16, U-18, national youth sides, respectively for the U-21 and U-23, being the team's best all-around player and also made two appearances for the Olympic team.
In 1980, he was voted as the best Romanian football player.
After playing for Steaua Bucureşti in the '70s, when he won two championships and also two Romanian Cups, Răducanu defected following a match in Dortmund, West Germany in 1981.[2] In his native Romania this act was considered a desertion, as he was a Captain in the Romanian army. Therefore he was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in his absence.[2]
Once in Germany he signed with both Hannover 96 and Borussia Dortmund clubs, and as a result was suspended by UEFA for one year.[3] In order to have his services, Borussia Dortmund paid half a million deutschmarks to the Hannover club, and Răducanu made his debut in Bundesliga in 1982. Between 1982 and 1988, he played a total of 163 games in the German federal league and scored 31 goals.[4] He also spent time in Switzerland at FC Zürich where he played until his retirement.[5]
Răducanu retired from football in 1990. Since 1994, he has run a football school in Dortmund. Mario Götze trained at his academy whe he was 10 years old.
Between 1976 and 1981, he played 21 games for Romanian national team, during which he scored three goals.[1] He played nearly 80 matches scoring many goals for Romania's Under-16, U-18, national youth sides, respectively for the U-21 and U-23, being the team's best all-around player and also made two appearances for the Olympic team.
In 1980, he was voted as the best Romanian football player.
After playing for Steaua Bucureşti in the '70s, when he won two championships and also two Romanian Cups, Răducanu defected following a match in Dortmund, West Germany in 1981.[2] In his native Romania this act was considered a desertion, as he was a Captain in the Romanian army. Therefore he was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in his absence.[2]
Once in Germany he signed with both Hannover 96 and Borussia Dortmund clubs, and as a result was suspended by UEFA for one year.[3] In order to have his services, Borussia Dortmund paid half a million deutschmarks to the Hannover club, and Răducanu made his debut in Bundesliga in 1982. Between 1982 and 1988, he played a total of 163 games in the German federal league and scored 31 goals.[4] He also spent time in Switzerland at FC Zürich where he played until his retirement.[5]
Răducanu retired from football in 1990. Since 1994, he has run a football school in Dortmund. Mario Götze trained at his academy whe he was 10 years old.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Thomas Muster, a former World No. 1 tennis player from Austria. Muster is one of only three players to win Masters titles on three different surfaces (clay, carpet, and hard court)
Thomas Muster (born 2 October 1967 in Leibnitz, Styria, Austria) is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Austria. One of the world's leading clay court players in the 1990s, Muster won the 1995 French Open and at his peak was known as "The King of Clay." In addition, he won eight Masters 1000
series titles, placing him seventh on the all-time list. Muster is one
of only three players to win Masters titles on three different surfaces
(clay, carpet, and hard court).
When Muster was on the ATP Tour in the Twentieth Century, he wore Lotto clothing. From 1986 to 1993, Muster played with the Head Prestige Pro 600 racquet. In the summer of 1993, Muster switched for a few months to playing with the Head Prestige 600 racquet. In 1994 and 1995, Muster played with the Head Pro Tour 630 racquet. At the start of 1996, Muster switched to using a Kneissl racquet, which was closely modelled on his old Pro Tour 630. At the start of 1997, Muster switched his racquet again to the white Kneissl Tom's Reach Machine racquet, which had a longer handle and a 28 inch frame. In 1998, Muster used his Kneissl Tom's Reach Machine racquet on hardcourt, grass and carpet, but went back to his old 1996 Kneissl racquet on clay. When Muster played on the ATP Champions Tour, he used the Kneissl Tom's Reach Machine racquet.
When Muster came back to the ATP Tour in 2010, he used the Head Pro Tour 630 racquet, then switched to the Babolat AeroPro Drive GT racquet, and then went back to the Head Pro Tour 630 racquet again before playing his last matches in late 2011. Muster always wore Adidas clothing in his matches in 2010 and 2011.
When Muster was on the ATP Tour in the Twentieth Century, he wore Lotto clothing. From 1986 to 1993, Muster played with the Head Prestige Pro 600 racquet. In the summer of 1993, Muster switched for a few months to playing with the Head Prestige 600 racquet. In 1994 and 1995, Muster played with the Head Pro Tour 630 racquet. At the start of 1996, Muster switched to using a Kneissl racquet, which was closely modelled on his old Pro Tour 630. At the start of 1997, Muster switched his racquet again to the white Kneissl Tom's Reach Machine racquet, which had a longer handle and a 28 inch frame. In 1998, Muster used his Kneissl Tom's Reach Machine racquet on hardcourt, grass and carpet, but went back to his old 1996 Kneissl racquet on clay. When Muster played on the ATP Champions Tour, he used the Kneissl Tom's Reach Machine racquet.
When Muster came back to the ATP Tour in 2010, he used the Head Pro Tour 630 racquet, then switched to the Babolat AeroPro Drive GT racquet, and then went back to the Head Pro Tour 630 racquet again before playing his last matches in late 2011. Muster always wore Adidas clothing in his matches in 2010 and 2011.
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