Pacquiao - Barrera II

As a direct result of the settlement between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, the Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera rematch is now calendared on October 6, 2007 at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Pacquiao, at 28, is on his prime while Barrera, at 33, is considering this fight to be his last. Will Barrera, badly beaten by Pacquiao in their first encounter, muster enough tricks from his brilliant boxing career to make this a competitive fight or will Pacquiao, like what he did to Morales in their 3rd encounter, bulldozed an aging Barrera into an early submission?

After being taken apart by Pacquiao, many believed that Barrera was finished. Seven months after losing to Pacquiao, Barrera stopped Paulie Ayala in 10 rounds. After fighting Ayala, Barrera agreed to fight fellow Mexican rival Erik Morales for the WBC super-featherweight title. Barrera and Morales had a bad history in and out of the ring with each other. In this fight everything was on the line, and both knew the winner would be viewed as the better fighter. And fighting at 130, Morales was thought to hold just about every advantage over Barrera as the fight approached.

Philippines Pride

Efren Reyes requires no introduction to any fan of the game today. The winner of more major events than can possibly be named here, a member of the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame and known as possibly the greatest 9-ball player alive today.

A native of the Philipines, Efren Reyes first introduced himself to the US pool scene by showing up for the 1985 Red' s 9-Ball, an imposing field of many of the best players of the time, which he blitzed through under the temporary pseudonm Cesar Morales. Not yet aquainted with One Pocket, Reyes was conspicuously absent from the One Pocket event that immediately followed (won by Grady Mathews). However, Reyes quickly found the game very much to his liking after spending some extended visits to the Chicago area, including time with One Pocket sage Freddy Bentivegna, and to Philadelphia, where he developed a long-lasting friendship with his state-side advisor, Mike LeBron.

Often called the 'Magician' because of his knack for delivering impossible looking shots in key game situations, Reyes certainly displays an uncanny imagination, drawing on his solid background in a variety of cue disciplines, including Rotation and Billiards. He may have been late discovering One Pocket, yet the game is clearly tailor made for his unique combination of talent and creativity.

As a tournament player, Efren has won six major One Pocket events, including topping the huge and talented fields at the Derby City Classic all five times he has entered:

• 1999 Derby City Classic One Pocket
• 2000 US Open One Pocket
• 2004 Derby City Classic One Pocket
• 2005 Derby City Classic One Pocket
• 2006 Derby City Classic One Pocket
• 2007 Derby City Classic One Pocket

DAVID - an american football icon

David Beckham's bid to redefine football's place in the US sports landscape begins in earnest on Friday, when the Los Angeles Galaxy introduce their sleek European import.

The former England captain and his pop-star wife Victoria arrive amid a swirl of publicity befitting their new Hollywood home.

But it will likely be Beckham's abilities on the pitch that determine whether his tenure here will ultimately be judged an experiment or an era in Major League Soccer's development.

In America Beckham will face a twin challenge - infusing oft-overlooked football with enough glamour to attract new fans, while playing at a level high enough to satisfy serious sports spectators.

Some 14.5 million Americans play football, but its popularity pales in comparison to the top three sports: American football, basketball and baseball.

Sharapova pulls out of Fed Cup semifinal against U.S.

MOSCOW (AP) -Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Fed Cup semifinals against the United States because of a right shoulder injury.

In a statement posted on her Web site Tuesday, the 2006 U.S. Open champion said she had a "tremendous amount of swelling'' and doctors advised her to rest her shoulder for the next 10 days.

Sharapova reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last week, losing to eventual champion Venus Williams. Venus and Serena Williams are expected to play for the United States against Russia this weekend in Stowe, Vt.

"I know this withdrawal is very frustrating for all my Russian fans, but I promise you it is way more frustrating for me,'' Sharapova said. "Nothing would (have) made me happier than beating the Americans on American soil.''

Russia's remaining roster includes Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova and Anna Chakvetadze.

It's the second time this year Sharapova has withdrawn from the Fed Cup. She was expected to make her debut for Russia in April, but pulled out citing shoulder and leg injuries

No. 1 Draft Pick

An early entry candidate for the 2007 NBA Draft.

Career Highlights: Named to The Associated Press All-America First Team. Was the first Buckeye named to the first team since Jim Jackson in 1991-92. Named a 2007 Wooden All-American. Named the NABC National Defensive Player of the Year and the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year. Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and was selected First-Team All Big Ten by the coaches and media.

Strengths: Legit seven-footer with all the physical attributes to develop into a dominant NBA center. A game-changer on defense with his ability to block shots and rebound. Runs the floor exceptionally well. Plays with a calm and confident demeanor.

Personal: Son of Zoe and Greg Oden Sr. Has a brother Anthony who is a junior at Lawrence North High School.

EUFA 08 @ Moscow

July start - The ceremony will be staged at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland from 12.00CET and is to be conducted by David Taylor, UEFA General Secretary, and Michele Centenaro, UEFA head of club competitions. The first qualifying round will be staged over two legs on 17/18 and 24/25 July, with the second qualifying round taking place on 31 July/1 August and 7/8 August. The final list of participants as well as the draw procedure will be confirmed in due course. The final will be staged in Moscow on 21 May 2008.