ESPN Goals app passes 1m downloads

ESPN Goals app passes 1m downloads - The landmark was reached last weekend with viewers generating over 63.1m minutes of viewing time via the app.

Harper makes her debut at an LA Galaxy game as the Beckham clan rallies together to support David

Daddy's little girl: Victoria Beckham tends to baby Harper during the LA Galaxy match against Chivas USA at the Home Depot Centre, California.

She may have been more interested in her bottle than watching her father in action on the pitch.

But David Beckham's daughter Harper was a notable addition to his legion of fans during yesterday's LA Galaxy Awards.

Becks, 36, was on the field at the Home Depot Centre in California taking part in a match against Chivas - while, in their private box, his wife Victoria tended to their little girl.
The look of love: Mrs Beckham holds her daughter up...
...and appears to give her a kiss

Victoria made sure Harper was well protected, keeping her on the right side of the glass in their VIP area, while the Beckham boys, Brookyln, Romeo and Cruz cheered on their father outside in the stands.

Ever the proud, doting mother she fed the 2-month-old milk from her bottle and held her lovingly as the boys kept a keen eye on David.

Also in the stands, bolstering the family's support for David, were the footballer superstar's mother Sandra and his sister Joanna.
Wasn't Mel B the Scary one? Victoria looks a little gloomy - perhaps a little tired from performing her motherly duties
Family affair: Victoria looks after baby Harper while her sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz cheer on their father David
Singing along: David's mother Sandra and his sister Joanna look on as Romeo and Cruz sing the American national anthem before the football match commences
Voice of an angel? Cruz appears to bellow out the anthem, but older brother Romeo doesn't look impressed

The women took charge of the boys as they frolicked and got very involved in the game, even singing the national anthem before the match kicked off.

Sandra and Joanna were like Ying and Yang in their matching, yet opposing, outfits.

Mother Beckham wore a black jacket with a beige top underneath while Joanna, who appeared to have slimmed down somewhat, wore a beige jacket with a black top under it.
Yes!: The Beckham boys jump up excitedly while their aunty Joanna also revels in their happy moment
Celebrating: Romeo and Cruz punch the air as they enjoy their father's performance against Chivas USA
Footballing family: David Beckham is joined on the pitch after LA Galaxy's match yesterday by his sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz

Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, ten, and six-year-old Cruz, surrounded their famous father as they ran on the pitch after the match between La Galaxy and Chivas USA.

Beckham looked every inch the proud dad as he stood next to his boys, hugging them close, kissing them and larking about with Cruz on his shoulders.

And they stood as good as gold as the team handed out its end-of-year awards, which saw Landon Donovan being handed the Golden Boot.
Love you, Daddy! Beckham showers his boys with kisses as he gather round him for hugs
banging heads: Beckham leans in close to his middle son Romeo who proudly wore his goalkeeper's gloves

LA Galaxy won the match 1-0 and Beckham's boys were seen hugging each other and jumping up and down in their private box after the goal.

However, if reports are correct, neither the boys or Victoria will be watching any more games there and will probably have to learn a little French.

Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy ends after the current Major League Soccer season and reports last week have suggested that Beckham has been linked to French outfit Paris Saint-Germain.
I want in on that! Cruz goes to join his father who engulfs his oldest two in a hug
He's all mine! Cruz gets a lift on David's shoulders as they walk round the pitch

But Fox News also reported that David is keen to return to Manchester United as a sporting director.

So Beckham's future appears to still be up in the air, even though he himself has suggested that he'll stay in Los Angeles, though will clearly consider what's best for his family.

'My family is the number one priority, family comes first and where they are happy is where I stay, it's that simple. My children go to school in LA and have done for five years,' he said.

He added: 'They are at the age where stability is important, so we'll see. I always said I will wait until the end of the season, see how I feel physically and then decide.'
We won! The brothers hug and dance around as LA Galaxy win 1-0 over Chivas USA

source:dailymail

Lewis Hamilton pays tribute to 'inspirational' British racing driver killed in IndyCar

Father-of-two, 33, pushed himself to win as the only competitor to take up the $5million challenge
I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff,' says fellow racer Dario Franchitti
Driver was 'frustrated' with car problems in the days before the race but promised 'pure entertainment'

Voiced concerns about the speeds cars were reaching and crowded 1.5-mile long track
Shocked Lewis Hamilton says Wheldon was an 'inspirational guy and talented driver'
Former racing driver Mark Blundell brands Las Vegas track as a 'recipe for disaster'

Tragedy: Dan Wheldon's number 77 car, far left, launches into the air after clipping a vehicle that was in front of it. Moments later Mr Wheldon smashes into the fencing to his right


The fiery pile-up, on the 11th lap of the 300-mile race, was caused by contact on Turn 2 and sucked in almost half of the race’s 34 participants.

Mr Wheldon, a former private school pupil originally from Buckinghamshire, was rushed to hospital in a helicopter but died as a result of his severe 'unsurvivable' injuries.

As the racing world today came to terms with the death, leading figures from the sport paid tribute to the 'talented and inspirational driver'.

Lewis Hamilton, who was the 2008 Formula One World Champion, said: 'This is an extremely sad day. Dan was a racer I'd followed throughout my career, as I often followed in his footsteps as we climbed the motorsport ladder in the UK.

'He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy, who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500, he was an inspirational guy, and someone that every racing driver looked up to with respect and admiration.

'This is a tragic loss at such a young age. My heart goes out to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time.'

Jenson Button wrote on Twitter: 'Just woken up to the most horrific news. Dan Weldon RIP. I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90s, a true fighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy.'
Mr Wheldon's blue and white car takes off in the air. It appears to have hit the back of the green vehicle in front, which acted like a ramp and launched the British driver upwards
Out of control: A close up of the moment of impact shows the rear left wheel of the green car pushed up by Mr Wheldon's vehicle, which reaches a steep angle
Milliseconds after the initial impact, Mr Wheldon's car has spun upside down as it hurtles towards the fencing. Will Power's car, right, is just beginning to take off
Will Power's car is flung into the air as a large number of vehicles collide in the pile-up and sparks fly. Mr Wheldon's vehicle has gone ahead of them and can no longer be seen in this shot
Will Power's number 12 car is seen flying through the air. The vehicle was not crushed against the fencing in the same manner as Mr Wheldon's and he survived the accident
Will Power's car lands close to the barrier facing backwards without suffering the severe damage inflicted on Mr Wheldon's vehicle, which is further down the track
Smashed to pieces: Wheldon's car, only identifiable by the B & W logo, is shown in the far left of the picture. The car is upside down and the driver's head has clearly been in contact with the barrier
The severe extent of the damage to the number 77 car, left, can be seen. Wires and shards of metal are hanging loose from it as flames engulf the taleFire: Mr Wheldon's car is momentarily lost is a ball of flames as it hits the barrier. Wheels and parts of the body of the vehicle are flung onto the track
Flames: Mr Wheldons car skids across the asphalt on its nose having lost both front wheels and the rear spoiler in the crash. Will Power's vehicle is seen behind him against the fence
'Unsurvivable injuries: Mr Wheldon's head is flung to the left as his 77 car, now without any wheels, spins away from the fence towards the centre of the track
Medics rush Mr Wheldon's damaged car as it becomes clear that he is severely injured. Some workers are seen waving, frantically trying to get more assistance
The race to save his life: Dan Wheldon is loaded into a medical helicopter and airlifted to hospital

Questions were also being asked about the safety of the course amid speculation that Mr Wheldon was pushing himself too hard after a difficult season. He had started in last position but with offer of a $5million bonus for drivers who win from the back of the gird, had already weaved his way through ten cars before going into the back of another vehicle.

Trails of sparks could be seen across the asphalt before Mr Wheldon's car was flung into the air and struck part of the 'catch fence' outside the bend.

Debris from the cars was strewn across the track as they spun into each other and careered into the fencing. Flames then engulfed Mr Wheldon's shattered vehicle which skidded on its nose across the tarmac.

Three other drivers, including championship contender Will Power, were hurt in the pile-up.

Rescue workers were at Mr Wheldon's car quickly, some furiously waving for more help to get to the scene. A helicopter descended onto the track moments later and airlifted Mr Wheldon's body to the University Hospital in Las Vegas.

The former champion's injuries were so bad that there was little that the medics could do to save him. He was pronounced dead a short while later and officials were informed two hours after the initial crash.

Mr Wheldon Susie, and two sons, Sebastian, two, and six-month-old Oliver, are understood to have been at his bedside when he died, as well as his two brothers and a sister. His parents are believed to have witnessed their son's tragic death while watching the race on TV.
Proud family man: Wheldon poses with wife Susie, who is holding baby son Oliver, and older son Sebastian on the day after he won Indianapolis 500 in May of this year. With them is the Borg-Warner trophy
Devastated: Team mates Jenson Button, left, and Lewis Hamilton, right, have both paid tribute to Wheldon who they have called 'inspirational'

The driver had weaved his way through ten cars to place himself in a promising position close to the middle of the field in the early stages of the race. He was in a strong position to push for a victory and as a proud family man, the $5m would have been a big help to support his wife and children who had started a new life with him in the U.S.

Organisers of the race had offered the massive bonus to any non-regular IndyCar driver, such as Wheldon, who had started at the back of the field. He was the only racer to accept the challenge.

Despite his previous success, Mr Wheldon was not a regular driver this season and accepted the offer, leading to speculation this caused him to drive faster than normal. A win would have helped to restore him to the heights of the series and helped with sponsorship. He had struggled this season with financial backing and had topped up his income with commentary work.

The race was abandoned after the tragedy and as news of Mr Wheldon's death spread there were emotional scenes track side.

Some of his colleagues and friends broke down in tears while others looked on in a stunned silence, still coming to terms with the news that the vibrant driver had gone.

IndyCar chief executive Randy Bernard confirmed Mr Wheldon’s death at a press conference.

He said: ‘IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today.’

Fellow driver Dario Franchitti, Wheldon’s former teammate and friend since the age of six, said: 'I’m numb and speechless. One minute you’re joking around in driver intros and the next Dan’s gone.'

Franchitti claimed there had been warning signs of potential danger due to the number of cars in close confinement at such high speeds.

He added: 'I could see within five laps people were starting to do crazy stuff.

'I love hard racing but that to me is not really what it's about. One small mistake from somebody...

'We put so much pressure on ourselves to win races and championships, and it’s what we love to do. Days like today it doesn’t matter.

'I think everybody in the IndyCar series considered Dan a friend. He was one of those special, special people.

'He was six years old when I first met him. He was this little kid and the next thing you know he was my team-mate. '

Moments before the start of the race, popular Wheldon, a two-time winner of the famously tough Indy 500, sent his last Twitter message. It was just one word - 'Green!!!' - the colour on the lights that signals the start of the race.

Although officials had decided to end the race, after learning of his death, 19 of Mr Wheldon’s fellow drivers went on to perform a five-lap salute in his honour.

Many of them were visibly shaken and almost all of them covering their eyes with dark sunglasses after being told that their colleague's injuries were fatal.

When the drivers solemnly returned to the track, Wheldon's No. 77 was the only one on the towering scoreboard.

Franchitti sobbed uncontrollably as he got back into his car for the tribute laps.
Over speakers at the track, the song Danny Boy blared, followed by Amazing Grace as hundreds of crew workers from each team stood solemnly on the side of the course. Supporters in the stands stood up in silence for the tribute.

Television cameras captured Ashley Judd, the wife of Mr Franchitti, dabbing at her eyes shortly before the official word came.

Video replays showed Wheldon's car turning over as it was airborne and sailed into what's called the 'catch fence,' which sits over the safety barrier that's designed to give when cars make contact.

IndyCar officials also cancelled its season-ending banquet following the death. They had planned to hold a celebration for the 2011 season tonight at Mandalay Bay Resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Today it emerged that Mr Wheldon had become 'frustrated' before the race with technical problems in the number 77 Bowers & Wilkins Magnolia/William Rast Dallara/Honda. He complained that the vehicle was 3mp off the pace but said adjustments were being carried out.

'If we start the race that far off the pace, it's going to be difficult to keep up,' he wrote on USA Today.

It's actually been a very difficult weekend for us so far. But I've been watching these guys work their tails off trying to fix this problem, and I believe they'll turn it around before Sunday's race.

'It is incredibly frustrating, both for me and them. All the boys are working as hard as possible, but so far we haven't pinpointed what it is.

'Honestly, if I can be fast enough early in the race to be able to get up there and latch onto those two, it will be pure entertainment. It's going to be a pack race, and you never know how that's going to turn out.'
Sheer disbelief: Brazilian driver Vitor Meira at a drivers meeting after the deadly crash and, right, crew members look at the remains of one of the crashed cars
Tangled mess: Members of driver Paul Tracy's team inspect the remains of his car
Shocking aftermath: Cars are scattered on the track after a 15 car crash during the Las Vegas Indy 300
Stunned and tearful: Drivers take five tribute laps in Las Vegas on Sunday in honour of Dan Wheldon
Dazed: IndyCar racer Danica Patrick walks away from pit road after the tribute laps
Choking back tears: Stunned fans weep as drivers pay their five-lap tribute
Touching tribute: Teams line up on pit row as drivers take five laps in honour of Wheldon


IndyCar said information on a public memorial for Wheldon will be released at a later date.

Mr Wheldon is the first IndyCar driver to die on the track since rookie Paul Dana was killed in practice on the morning of race day at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006.
IndyCar chief executive Randy Bernard will now face tough questions on safety as analysis begins of the fatal crash.

There were suggestions that too many cars were crammed onto the course. Thirty four were competing in all, but the oval-shaped track in Las Vegas is just 60 per cent as long as races where 33 cars are used.

Former Formula One driver Mark Blundell said after the accident that the 1.5 mile long Motor Speedway track was a 'recipe for disaster'.

Martin Whitmarsh, the team principal of McLaren, said the death highlighted 'the bitter contrast that sometimes exists between the highs and lows of motorsport.' He added: 'The motorsport world is now in mourning following Dan’s passing.'

The tragedy comes just months after Mr Wheldon won the famous Indianapolis 500 in May for the second time.

Mr Wheldon, who lived in St Petersburg, Florida, won the entire IndyCar series championship back in 2005, when he also enjoyed his first triumph in the Indy500 race.

Born in Emberton, Buckinghamshire, Mr Wheldon attended the fee-paying Bedford School and started karting at the age of four.

After an early racing rivalry with contemporary and Formula One ace Jenson Button, he left the UK in 1999 for the more lucrative racing scene in the USA.

Wheldon's first Indianapolis 500 victory was in 2005 - he passed Danica Patrick with less than 10 laps to go that year - and his win at the sport's most famed race this year was one to particularly savour.

It came in perhaps the oddest of fashions, as he was the beneficiary of a huge gaffe by someone else.

Mr Wheldon was in second place, far back of rookie J.R. Hildebrand approaching the final turn - when Hildebrand lost control and clipped the wall.

He zipped past, and the only lap he led all day at Indianapolis was the last one.

He returned to the track the next morning for the traditional photo session with the winner, kissing the bricks as his two-year-old son Sebastian sat on the asphalt alongside him, and wife, Susie, held their then two-month-old, Oliver.

Mr Wheldon was almost resigned to finishing second at Indy for the third straight year, before misfortune struck Hildebrand.

'It's obviously unfortunate, but that's Indianapolis,' he said.

'That's why it's the greatest spectacle in racing. You never know what's going to happen.'

Such was the case again today.

Mr Wheldon was well behind the first wave of cars that got into trouble on the fateful lap, and had no way to avoid the wrecks in front of him.

With the incredible speeds reached by the cars, there was no time to brake or steer out of trouble.
Popular: With his love of racing and golden boy looks, Wheldon was loved among followers of the sport

source:dailymail

SF Giants sued over team logo

SF Giants sued over team logo

SF Giants sued over team logo_It was a deeply dissatisfying year on the diamond for the World Champion San Francisco Giants, who seemingly gave up hits and runs for Lent and toppled right out of playoff contention. So it was eerily symbolic — if no less frustrating — when the team was actually barred from trademarking its ubiquitous script "San Francisco" logo.

The trademark instead went to Gogo Sports of Hayward, which creates the "San Francisco"-emblazoned jackets and fleeces snapped up by tourists who don't realize it gets chilly in this city. Despite first moving merchandise with its San Francisco script in 1993, neither the Giants nor Major League Baseball ever moved to trademark the logo. Gogo, meanwhile, trademarked its script logo in March of this year. MLB's subsequent attempt was spurned by a Patent and Trademark examiner, who found the team logo "virtually identical" to the one on the fleeces sported by visitors from Kankakee, Ill.

A series of letters between Gogo's counsel and MLB's can be summed up thusly: "Cease and desist." "Show us your trademark." "We don't want to sue you." "We don't want to be sued." "So, cease and desist."

Having reached an impasse, Gogo late last month sued the Giants and Major League Baseball in federal court, asking for declaratory judgment — essentially a judge's blessing that they have done no wrong and can continue legally swathing San Francisco's tourists in their omnipresent fleeces. Gogo attorney Al Mohajerian did not return our messages. Calls to the Giants were shunted to MLB spokesman Matt Bourne, who declined to discuss active litigation — so it remains a mystery why the team failed to trademark its own logo for 18 years, then hurriedly tried to do so in April.

Half a dozen trademark attorneys tell SF Weekly, however, that the Giants are actually in a commanding legal position. Federal law "also protects unregistered trademarks," says Golden Gate University law professor William Gallagher. "If the Giants have been using the script logo on their merchandise for years, it's likely they'll have strong trademark rights based on use alone."

In fact, since the team can assuredly establish prior use of a logo deemed "virtually identical" to Gogo's, it's the clothing company that may be facing the legal equivalent of a Brian Wilson heater. Asked to assess the Giants' legal position in baseball terms, trademark attorneys Milord Keshishian and Anthony Malutta both said the G-Men have loaded up the bases with no one out. To this scenario Keshishian added that Barry Bonds is at the plate. An earlier iteration of Bonds, say 1993 — back when the team could have trademarked its logo and avoided this whole mess.

source:sfweekly

Matador Cheats Death at Festival After Bull Gores His Face

A Spanish matador was left fighting for his life after he was gored through his face during a bullfight.The bull's horn pierced Juan Jose Padilla's jaw and emerged through his left eye socket during the grizzly incident at the northeastern city of Zaragoza's Fiestas Del Pilar event yesterday with blood gushing from his head, he was helped out of the ring screaming 'I can't see, I can't see'.


Caught: The bull's horn pierced Juan Jose Padilla's jaw and emerged through his left eye socket during the grizzly incident at the northeastern city of Zaragoza's Fiestas Del Pilar

He then underwent a life-saving five-hour operation to repair severe damage to his eye, bone, muscle and skin.

The bull, called Marques and from the Ana Romero ranch, quickly took its revenge after Padilla slipped and fell in the sand after the placing of the banderillas (barbed sticks).

Doctors had initially thought the goring, of which footage exists on Youtube and was shown on Spanish TV channel Canal+ Toros, would be fatal.

But the bullring's doctor Antonio Val-Carreres told El Pais newspaper that Padilla was in serious condition and was staying at Zaragoza's Miguel Servet hospital.
Before: Padilla moves to place the banderillas into the bull
During: But he slips as he turns around from the ball and falls to the floor

It is not the first time Padilla, a popular matador who has won many fans for his courage and willingness to face the toughest bulls, has been gored.

In 2001 the Jerez native suffered serious injuries to his neck during a fight in Pamplona.

Yesterday's incident happened at one of the final bull festivals of a season that saw the spectacle come under increasing pressure from anti-bullfight activists.

Opponents of the bullfight say it is a barbaric ritual which has no place in a modern society. Supporters say it is a unique art form which epitomises Spanish culture.
During: The bull then takes its revenge on Padilla by goring him in his face
After: With blood gushing from his face, and his assistants distracting the bull, Padilla is helped from the ring

The Catalonia region has banned the bullfight from next year and 20,000 fans packed Barcelona's Monumental bullring on September 25 to see the last corrida to be held there.

Although matadors are regularly hurt, the last two fatalities of senior matadors were those of Francisco Rivera Paquirri in 1984 and Jose Cubero Sanchez 'El Yiyo' in 1985.

Those events triggered national mourning and led to a resurgence of interest in the bullfight. The six bulls fought at each corrida inevitably are killed.

Marques was later put to the sword by the senior matador on the bill, Miguel Abellan, who killed it with tears streaming down his face.
Before: Juan Jose Padilla pictured three months before the goring during July's San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona

source:dailymail