Tuesday, March 31, 2009

maria sharapova biography

Maria Sharapova Tennis player
Blonde, leggy, and beautiful. If those are the only adjectives you use to describe Maria Sharapova, then you’re selling the tennis world’s newest star short. While she may compare favorably to Anna Kournikova on the modeling runway, Maria is most dazzling when she steps on the tennis court. Her serve is overpowering, her ground strokes are penetrating, and her will to win is punishing. Maria officially arrived with her 2004 Wimbledon title—and she’s not likely to leave anytime soon. This is her story…
Maria Sharapova personal details:

Date of Birth
19 April 1987, Nyagan, USSR [now Russia]

Birth Name
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova

Nickname
Masha
The Siberian Siren

Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)

Mini Biography
Maria started hitting tennis balls at the age of four. At the age of six, Maria Sharapova participated in a exhibition in Moscow that featured Martina Navratilova. So, at the age of nine, she began training at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy located in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Therefore, during those two years, she was separated from her mother for two year due to visa restrictions and finances. Maria occasionally travels with her father and works with tennis coach managers Michael Baroch and Robert Lansdorp. During her leisure time off court, Maria's interest includes modeling in fashion, singing, jazz dancing and movies (Pearl Harbor (2001)). Maria enjoys reading books of her interest in the "Sherlock Holmes" and "Pippi Longstocking" collection series. Basically, Maria's favorite dessert is 'anything'. Maria favors Russian music and food, but except for Italian bread.

Trade Mark

Plays right -handed

2 handed backhand

Grunts loudly when striking the ball

Maria Sharapova Trivia:
tennis beauty Maria Sharapova images
2004 women's Wimbledon champion. Defeated two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.

Born in Siberia, Russia, and raised in the United States since age seven. Father Yuri brought her to the U.S. in 1994, but mother Yelena didn't join them until two years later due to visa problems.

She was (and still is) so ambidextrous that she almost became a left-handed tennis player.

She won the 2004 WTA Championships, defeating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final to pocket one million dollars and win a new Porsche Cayenne to donate to a charity of her choice.

Her loudest grunt was measured at 101.2 decibels (louder than a motorcycle or a lawnmower) on 21 June 2005 at Wimbledon Centre Court. Previously the loudest grunt was by Monica Seles at 93.2 decibels.

According to the LA Times and Orange County Register, Maria said at a press conference she has grown a few cm this year and is now 6' 2". She's been having back pains and has had to pull out of some tournaments due to the pain which she thinks is from a growth spurt.

Became number 1 in the world in August 2005 & is the first Russian player to become the best player in the world

On the Forbes 2006 Richest Young Celebrities List, it is reported she earned $18.2 million in 2005. She was the highest-paid female athlete of the year.

Named #19 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Very close friends with fellow tennis player Maria Kirilenko.

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2005.

She defeated world #1 'Amelie Mauresmo' 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semifinals and world #2 Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the 2006 US Open to win the title and $1.7 million in prize money.

Named #8 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

Ranked #17 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $23 million.

Personal Quotes

"I wouldn't say I'm in love with them." (about her endless legs)

Of course, because another three Slam titles will bring a lot more than $25 million, they would be worth even more [than $100 million]. (On whether she would give up her millions for more slam titles)

more maria sharapova
maria sharapova pictures

Monday, March 30, 2009

More sex please, I'm the Home Secretary's hubby...


Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is facing severe embarrassment after "mistakenly" claiming second home expenses for two adult films watched by her husband.

The Sunday Express reported that the two films, which cost £5 each, were viewed on 6th and 8th April 2008 at Ms Smith's constituency home in Redditch, Worcestershire. Ms Smith claimed for these movies - watched by husband Richard Timney (who also doubles as her paid parliamentary aide), under her second homes allowance. She has apologised, adding that "in claiming for my internet connection, I mistakenly claimed for a television package alongside it". She has promised to pay the amount back in full.
Smith's husband sorry over films

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered his support for the Home Secretary, stating that this was a "personal matter", which ought not to "detract" from her "great" work.
Brown backs Smith in expenses row

Well I have to salute Richard Timney - parliamentary aide to his missus on a £40k a year salary, and adult movies paid by the taxpayer...definitely a cushy job in these recession-hit times.
Except that as a taxpayer, I have better things to do with my hard-earned money than pay for someone else's titillation (I'd rather spend it on MY own titillation, thank you very much).
What Jacqui Smith's husband chooses to do in the privacy of his own home is his own affair. However, the Home Secretary & Prime Minister should remember that his private pleasure has been paid for out of the public purse.

The Prime Minister should also remember that it was the perception of sleaze that led to the downfall of John Major's Tory government in 1997....

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Birthday ladies...


I'm back folks, hale and hearty, fit as a fiddle!
So, what did I miss? Let's see...

The world's most popular doll, Barbie turned 50 years old on March 9th.
Fifty years of Barbie

Adult industry icon Nina Hartley also celebrated her half century on March 11th.

Happy belated birthday to you both, ladies....

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Dive! Dive! Dive!

I may be on my sickbed, but I'd still like to briefly congratulate Arsenal for their recent good fortune - I only hope it lasts...

PS: I think Morten Gamst Pedersen should get an award for the worst dive of the season....
I wasn't trying to con a penalty, insists Highbury 'diver' Pedersen

Monday, March 16, 2009

Back again...


...we'll not exactly...

Been unwell recently, so I'm taking things easy. See you soon...
Ω


Saturday, March 7, 2009

"The Satanic Verses" 20 years on...


Currently watching "The Satanic Verses Affair" on BBC2. It is over 20 years since the fatwā (religious edict) requiring the execution of Sir Salman Rushdie over his book The Satanic Verses, was announced by Ayatollah Khomeini, then ruler of Iran.
If it wasn't for this programme I'd have forgotten that it was the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Satanic Verses and the fatwā on its author. I suppose everyone now wishes the book had never been published in the first place and hoped the whole issue would quietly fade away.
Except that The Satanic Verses won't fade away. It exposed a cultural schism which is still here today - one only has to look at the controversy surrounding the Danish Cartoons and recently, Fitna.
Anniversary of Rushdie book fatwa
Satanic Verses' polarising untruths

Thursday, March 5, 2009

icc women worldcup 2009 pictures

Charlotte Edwards of England leaves the field after being dismissed during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009
Lisa Sthalekar of Australia is run out with with a direct hit by Nicky Shaw of England during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009
Nicky Shaw of England celebrates after she ran out Lisa Sthalekar of Australia with a direct hit during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009
India's Mithali Raj plays a shot against Sri Lanka during their match in the ICC Womens World Cup cricket in Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 12, 2009. Raj top scored with 75 not out helping India set a target of 137 run.
The Australian team celebrate after a wicket during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 round two group stage match between Australia and South Africa
(L-R) Jodie Fields, Alex Blackwell and Erin Osborne of Australia celebrate the run-out of Susan Benade of South Africa during the ICC Women's World Cup 2009 round two group stage match between Australia and South Africa at Newcastle No.1 Sports Ground on March 10, 2009 in Newcastle, Australia
australian team is favourite at icc women worldcup 2009
pakistani woman cricket player
irish women cricket team
women cricket worldcup
pakistani women cricket team at australia
newzealand best women cricket team
australian women cricket enjoy worldcup at home ground
icc women world cup english cricket team
england women cricket team at australia

Women's World Cup 2009 A three-way battle to stand on top of the world


Australia may have home advantage for the 2009 World Cup and the statistical benefit of being unbeaten in a one-day series since 2000, but as the world at large has been learning, numbers can mask a truer picture. They had to come from 2-0 down in their series with a strong New Zealand in February, while England have emerged as a force and held them to a draw in their backyard last year.

Being uncertain as to who will be the winner this time indicates a time of strength for the women's game. Australia, New Zealand and England are the three main contenders and have sides brimming with talent, desire and ability. They are the only teams to have won the tournament since its inception in 1973.

It would be foolish to write off India, the fourth main contender, and the beaten finalist in 2005. However, they have been on the wrong side against the three big players, with a 12-match losing streak stretching back to 2007.

This is where another number clouds the truth. India head into the tournament ranked at No. 2, based on their final appearance four years ago. Since then they have won eight and lost 35 against the top three. A more realistic billing on current form would be a distant fourth.

Australia are rightly No. 1 for their consistent record, and it is hard to split England and New Zealand for the No. 2 spot. What of the other contenders? Sri Lanka are only in their 12th year, but have already won more of their 70 games than they have lost, albeit against the lesser teams.

West Indies surprisingly took the final qualifying place last time ahead of the hosts South Africa. Since then they have hardly played international cricket, meaning that during last year's European tour the majority were debutantes. Their raw talents had a steep learning curve - and were boosted by further experience in Sri Lanka - and will head into the World Cup with some confidence and nothing to lose.

South Africa usually present a decent challenge, and have beaten some of the top teams already this decade, while the fellow qualifier Pakistan have managed only two wins from their past 23 matches. It's hardly inspiring.

Though many teams have not faced each other this millennium, video recordings of the warm-ups should assist with last-minute analysis. Not that any upsets are really expected.

As for the format, for the first time in World Cups there is a Super Sixes stage. The two groups of four will compete to move into the last six, with points from the group games carrying over. It means fewer matches of lower quality, with the bottom two sides knocked out quickly.

New South Wales won the right to host the tournament, although some group-stage games will be played in Canberra, which sits in the Australian Capital Territory. All of the matches at North Sydney Oval will be televised globally, giving the largest exposure for the women's game. They have put the most attractive fixtures up for showcasing, with only one contest there not featuring a top-four team.

Though North Sydney Oval is only the second non-Test ground to host a women's World Cup final the choice is sound. The ground offers intimacy and grassy banks and its smaller capacity should allow for better pictures of the crowds, rather than swathes of empty seats.

While we can't be sure how many will turn up, and we can't hope to know the eventual winner, one thing is for certain: this World Cup has the potential to be the most exciting yet. The batsmen are hitting harder than ever before, the fielding is generally of high quality and the mark for winning totals gets higher and higher. There is plenty of anticipation surrounding the most important tournament of all for the women's game.

by Jenny Roesler
for full information and live updates about icc women worldcup visit Cricinfo

women cricket worldcup pictures

Musical interlude...

Art of Noise - Beat Box (Diversion One)

This classic by the Art of Noise takes me back...

Monday, March 2, 2009

Staring into the abyss (continued)...


Insurance giant American International Group (AIG) has reported a loss of $61.7bn (£43bn) in the final three months of 2008 - the largest quarterly loss in corporate history.

The firm will receive an extra $30bn from the US government as part of a revamped rescue package. AIG has already received $150bn in financial support - the biggest bail-out by far of any US company.

The news of AIG's historic loss comes as HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, seeks to raise £12.5bn ($17.7bn) to strengthen its finances. The bank's pre-tax profits for 2008 were $9.3bn (£6.5bn), down 62% on the previous year after it wrote down the value of US assets by more than $10bn.

Stock markets worldwide slid sharply as AIG's plight underscored fears about the health of the global financial system, with the Dow Jones index falling below 7,000 points for the first time since 1997 and the UK's FTSE 100 briefly hitting a six-year low.
Stocks plunge on financial fears

US BAIL-OUTS RECEIVED:

  • AIG - $180bn
  • Bank of America - $45bn
  • Citigroup - $50bn
  • JP Morgan Chase - $25bn
  • Wells Fargo - $25bn
  • Goldman Sachs - $10bn
  • Morgan Stanley - $10bn
  • State Street - $3bn
  • Bank of New York Mellon - $3bn


According to the Federal Reserve and the Treasury, AIG posed a "systemic risk" to the global financial system. AIG has 30 million US policy holders and besides sponsoring Manchester United, it plays a vital role in insuring risk for financial institutions around the world. Quite simply, it's too big a company for the American government to let it fail.