I'd play for David Beckham's new Miami club, but "not for a few years" : LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan

I'd play for David Beckham's new Miami club, but "not for a few years" : LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan - Landon Donovan made a charismatic appearance on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday, chatting amiably with the veteran sports pundit on a wide variety of topics ranging from the World Cup to Boyz II Men to hair plugs – including a potential future move to the upcoming MLS expansion club in Miami.

“Everyone's got a price, Dan,” said the LA Galaxy and US national team star when Patrick asked if he'd join the project being supervised by former teammate David Beckham. “Potentially. Not for a few years. I'm in LA for a few more years.”

I'd play for David Beckham's new Miami club, but "not for a few years"  : LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan

After Patrick broached the topic of Donovan's relationship with Beckham, Donovan playfully revealed that the English icon had recently made a “weird” visit to the LA locker room. 

“He was a teammate of ours, so he comes around from time to time. But now he walks in the locker room as an opposing owner. Is that OK, or no?” said Donovan, who signed a contract extension with the Galaxy last year. “That's not OK, right? I sort of felt that. [New England Revolution owner] Robert Kraft wouldn't walk in our locker room.”

Patrick asked why he didn't intervene to eject the ex-Galaxy midfielder.

“Well, it wasn't up to me, unfortunately,” said Donovan. “I love David, I want him around but it's a little weird, [him] walking in the locker room now. I told him that, too. I told him, 'You're an owner now, you can't do that.'” 

Donovan also played it coy when asked whether he intended to retire from international soccer after this summer's World Cup – even though he steadfastly insisted that he's not certain of a place on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad. 

“I don't know. We'll see,” he said. “Depends on how I feel.” ( mlssoccer.com )

READ MORE - I'd play for David Beckham's new Miami club, but "not for a few years" : LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan

Vince McMahon, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vice

Vince McMahon, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vice - There are always a lot of dumb rumors going around that media outlets are all too eager to spread and that people are all too willing to believe. So as a public service, we here at DT bring you the reality check that will keep you from looking like a gullible Guti. 

WWE chairman Vince McMahon interested in buying Newcastle! (A website no one's ever heard of) — What's not to believe about a report on a random website citing an anonymous source? For starters, it makes no mention of this rumor being around since 2011 and the fact that the Guardian debunked it last month. 

Cristiano Ronaldo with Detective Sonny Crockett. (Getty)

David Beckham might name his MLS team "Miami Vice"! Like the TV show! And the less popular Colin Farrell movie! (Palm Beach Post) — This is one even I want to believe because it would be wonderful, but NBC Universal, which owns the rights to the show and film, would probably sue the David Beckham brand underpants off of MLS if they tried this. Plus Beckham's publicist, Simon Oliveira, already denied it and basically said you're stupid if you ever believed it. 

David Beckham wants to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for the Miami Vice in 2017! (The Sun) — I'm sure he also wants to sign Lionel Messi, all of Bayern Munich and 1958 Pele. You know, like every other football club owner on the planet. But the man doesn't even know the name of his club, when they will start playing or where they will do it, so signing Ronaldo or a reanimated George Best in three years is pretty far down the list of priorities. 

Mario Balotelli to Arsenal! With the help of Puma! (Daily Express/Metro) — Rumors of sportswear companies engineering megadeals to bring their sponsored athletes and their sponsored clubs together pop up from time to time. This one was inevitable since Arsenal and Balotelli both signed with Puma very recently, but if these things happened, Nike's biggest footballer (Cristiano Ronaldo) wouldn't be playing for Adidas' Real Madrid and Adidas' biggest footballer (Lionel Messi) wouldn't be playing for Nike's Barcelona. 

So that's the Puma angle out. But what about Mario to Arsenal anyway? Well, he can't stop saying how happy he is to play for Milan "especially in difficult moments" and he also says the only thing he misses about England is Man City fans. He's probably not going to Arsenal (or any other English club) then. 

David Moyes resigns himself to just winning the Champions League this season! (Dirty Tackle) — False. Moyes actually still believes Man United can win the FA Cup even though they were knocked out way back in the third round. Being optimistic helps limit the Sir Alex Ferguson night terrors to just the hours he's asleep. ( yahoo.com )

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Beckham was in cruise control against Messi and Co... so, should England really bring him back?

Beckham was in cruise control against Messi and Co... so, should England really bring him back? - Say what you like about David Beckham’s return to the Champions League in Paris on Tuesday night but one thing is beyond question. There was never any doubt that, at 37, the former England captain would look entirely at home.

As the dust settled on PSG’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes the debate over Beckham’s influence on the game began.

Some thought the midfielder's contribution had been enough to catapult him straight back in to the England team. Others – rather less generously – suggested PSG had actually improved once he was substituted with 20 minutes left.

Greatness: Lionel Messi and David Beckham shake hands before the game

Holding his own: There was never any doubt that Beckham could handle this kind of occasion

BUT IT'S A 'NON' FROM L'EQUIPE

Beckham seemed to hold his own against the celebrated Barcelona midfield last night, but he failed to impress leading French sports newspaper L’Equipe.

In the player ratings he was given only three out of 10 – the worst of any player on the pitch. The verdict claimed: ‘He sometimes found some precision with his right foot to create an opening or two. But he didn’t make much impact, he lacked rhythm and he is was sometimes off the pace.

'He lost the ball to allow Barca to open the scoring (38th minute). He was replaced by Verratti (70th), who was more resolute.’

Personally, I was somewhere in the middle.

Beckham certainly did enough to warrant his surprising selection. It remains a privilege to witness him pass a football and his understanding of time and space remains sharp.

For what it’s worth, I thought the late PSG rally that came after his removal was merely a home team summoning one last push and gaining some momentum, as often happens

Nevertheless, I think the argument – if indeed there is one – about a return to the England set up remains fatuous. Beckham is no longer an international footballer. It’s as simple as that.

To really help England – and goodness they need it – Beckham would perhaps need to be a few years younger and a little more mobile. He would need to be able to play a couple of games in short succession. Are we back to the Rio Ferdinand debate again? Maybe we are.

Beckham would not look out of place. He can still play. He can still find a pass. His presence in an international dressing room and on the training field may certainly lift a few chins.

Quarterback: Beckham operated from a deep position and helped PSG reduce Barcelona's attacking threat

Deep-lying playmaker: Beckham spent most of his time against Barcelona in his own half but covered a lot of ground

But England coach Roy Hodgson needs to look forwards. He needs to look beyond a World Cup in Brazil for which we may not even qualify.

Beckham has already given his country more than it ever asked of him, certainly more than it ever deserved. The memories of his stellar moments remain pin sharp. He has his place in the pantheon and he certainly worked hard for that.

Let us leave it there, though. Let’s not sully the legacy.

Taking names: Beckham receives a yellow card from Wolfgang Stark

Seeing Beckham returning to the Nou Camp – scene of his greatest club moment with Manchester United in 1999 – next week will be a wonderful thing. As only he can, Beckham has managed to stage manage one last farewell to some of football’s greatest venues.

But let us leave it at this. Let Beckham eek the last drops of energy and life out of his club career. That is entirely his prerogative. But let us not see him in the white of England again.

We perhaps do not quite need him, no matter how mundane we are. And – just as pertinently – he surely does not need us.

Eek it out: Beckham should continue at club level but England do not need him - and he does not need them

Dailymail.co.ukBy Ian Ladyman : 08:58 GMT, 3 April 2013 | : 12:33 GMT, 3 April 2013

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Champions League - PSG snatch late draw at home to Barcelona

Champions League - PSG snatch late draw at home to Barcelona - Champions League quarter-final, first leg, Parc des Princes - Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Ibrahimovic 79, Matuidi 90) Barcelona 2 (Messi 38, Xavi 89 pen.) - Lionel Messi scored once again but went off injured before Blaise Matuidi netted with the last kick of the game to give Paris Saint-Germain a 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Matuidi's deflected effort was somehow leaked through by Victor Valdes after over four minutes of time added on in an eventful last-eight first-leg tie.

Xavi had restored Barcelona's lead from the penalty spot in the 89th minute shortly after Zlatan Ibrahimovic cancelled out Messi's first-half opener.

Messi, however, did not come back out for the second half after tweaking his hamstring moments before the interval.

Messi's fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano also sustained an injury, of a more serious nature. He left the pitch on a stretcher later in the game with a ligament tear in his right knee.

Despite the disappointing finish to their away leg and an inconsistent performance by their usual high standards, Barcelona very much sit in the driver's seat in the race to the last four with two away goals and the excellent Matuidi suspended for the trip to Camp Nou.

It did not take Barcelona very long to establish a stronghold on the ball, but the home side came with a disciplined gameplan to combat the tiki-taka suffocation – and it almost reaped big rewards.

Eurosport - Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) celebrates with Blaise Matuidi after scoring against Barcelona during their Champions League quarter-final first leg soccer match at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, April 2, 2013 (Reuters)

After weathering early Barca control and easing into their formation - complete with former England captain David Beckham in a central midfield role in place of Thiago Motta - PSG had the first real chance of the contest when Ezequiel Lavezzi galloped into the danger zone and sent his shot across Victor Valdes and onto the far upright.

Javier Pastore was next to come close to breaking the deadlock as the Ligue 1 leaders continued to pick off their guests on the break, and only a good stop from Valdes kept his low drive out on the quarter-hour mark.

The keeper had to be alert again four minutes later when Ibrahimovic pulled rank on Beckham to take a 20-yard free-kick. He too went low and across Valdes, who once again met the strike well.

But having found himself well marked for the opening half hour, Messi began to grow into the game and found his 59th Champions League goal in 77 appearances on 39 minutes, courtesy of his side’s best player at that point, Dani Alves.

Alves’s exquisite lofted assist picked out Messi’s run perfectly after PSG had only half-cleared a corner, and the Argentine’s low volleyed finish across Salvatore Sirigu was befitting of the set-up.

After holding off the PSG back line to send another effort just past the top corner, however, Messi required a trip to the sidelines for an injury to his leg.

Though he returned for the dying embers of the half, Messi would be taken off by the Barca management team – which included Tito Vilanova in his return from a 10-week medical absence – with Cesc Fabregas on in his place.

Though the former Arsenal man helped keep the away side on top early in the second 45, PSG soon began to push them back once more after Alexis Sanchez blew a golden chance for 2-0 on 63, taking one touch too many six yards from goal.

And as Barcelona defended their lead into the closing stages, frustration at dealing with heavy pressure and a number of contentious decisions got the better of them.

Ibrahimovic may have been offside when he converted the loose ball after Valdes saved a Thiago Silva header, but 1-1 had been coming for some time.

Nonetheless, it appeared to be mission impossible for Carlo Ancelotti’s men when Sanchez was brought down in the box by Sirigu in the 88th minute and Wolfgang Stark pointed to the spot.

Xavi converted from 12 yards in Messi’s absence but there would be one late twist just as Herr Stark was ready to blow for full-time.

Ibrahimovic showed good vision to head an awkward cross into the path of Matuidi, and though his low strike came off substitute Marc Barta’s leg it really should have been kept out by Valdes.

Instead, the ball flapped past the limp hand of the goalkeeper and the French big-spenders will head to Catalonia hoping to pull off a massive result and reach the semi-finals.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain): Once again, PSG's defenders shone on the European stage and none more so than the Brazilian who helped prevent a typical Barcelona scoreline despite the real test yet to come at Camp Nou.

PLAYER RATINGS

PSG: Sirigu 7; Jallet 5, Alex 7, Silva 8, Maxwell 5, Moura 7, Beckham 6, Matuidi 8, Pastore 7; Lavezzi 7, Ibrahimovic 7. Subs: Menez 6, Gameiro 5, Verratti 5.
BARCELONA: Valdés 7, Alves 8, Mascherano 7, Piqué 6, Alba 6; Busquets 7, Iniesta 7, Xavi 8; Villa 6, Messi 7, Sanchez 5. Subs: Bartra n/a, Fabregas 7, Tello 6.

By Liam Happe - @liamhappe | Eurosport – 6 hours ago

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Bi-polar Barca and the UEFA Celebrity League

Bi-polar Barca and the UEFA Celebrity League - After over 24 hours of tedious political agendas infecting our beautiful game in response to one managerial appointment, it was with a massive sigh of relief that I sat down in a comfortable chair for a mouth-watering double bill of high-end Champions League action.

Though both games delivered - especially PSG-Barcelona - there was nonetheless a touch of the 'Di Canios' about the Parc des Princes contest, or more specifically how it was generally portrayed.

The minute whispers escaped the stadium that a certain 38-year-old marketing powerhouse had been given the nod by Carlo Ancelotti to start the match, anticipation of a rare meeting between two of the world's most powerful clubs was masked by giddy yelps of "BECKHAM STARTS! BECKHAM STARTS!"

And as said contest fascinated purists for this much-maligned sport from start to finish, appreciation of the entertainment on offer became tellingly more difficult at the halfway stage amid widespread fears the world's best footballer had a boo-boo on his leg (Javier Mascherano was injured too, y'know).

Much like with Paolo Di Canio making tabloid front pages for eight-year-old news, the actual matter at hand found itself drowning in a sea of headline-grabbing 'celebrity' names that drummed up more mainstream attention than just trying to get a football over a goal line would do.

Don't get me wrong: I hope Lionel Messi is fine, and doesn't deprive any upcoming Barca fixtures of his brilliance. And I have always appreciated what Becks has brought to the pitch beyond his prime.

But there was so, so much to enjoy about this quarter-final first-leg outside of a lifestyle magazine-esque celebrity quest.

And when the Argentine performs well for approximately 10 minutes of a 45 minute display while the Englishman puts in nothing more than a passable 70-minute shift, do they really warrant the headlines coming out of such a game that they kinda-understandably do going into most matches?

Messi and Barcelona are of course no strangers to this shallow spotlight. Remember when their era was deemed 'over' because they dropped a first-leg 2-0 to Milan last time out?

Yeah. That came from the same Chinese whispers which declared them stronger than ever for beating a frankly poor and wasteful Rossoneri side 4-0 to advance, after all.

It is actually pretty amusing to hear declarations that 'naysayers have been proven wrong' - which are in fact the very same voices performing to a bathroom mirror.

And talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity, so I hear.

Forget their blissful possession, world class youth development and generation-defining approach to football, Barcelona's biggest asset in their golden era could well be their ability to ignore an endless stream of bi-polar hype from narrow-minded numpties who want glamour and gossip rather than great sporting action.

I do wonder how many times the consensus swayed from 'dominant' to 'doomed', as far as the Catalonians are concerned, as their back-and-forth opener against PSG went one way, then the other.

Meanwhile, those of us who did not have our view of the forest blocked by all those pesky trees enjoyed tidy possession, exhilarating counter-attacking, some superb point-blank goalkeeping, a few eye-catching errors, a monster performance from Thiago Silva and the very best (and very worst) of Dani Alves.

More often than not, second legs are even more gripping than the first. In that case, roll on April 10. Even if Paris Saint-Germain's chances of advancing are slim, evidence suggests they will go out with a bang if they fail to pull off a huge result.

Lionel Messi may not be fit to start. David Beckham may not get picked for the XI. Hopefully both feature, but if not... so what? It's not make or break for Barcelona. It's not the acid test of PSG's big spending. One team advances, the other will just have to try again next year. And they will.

It's one game of football. One that will (hopefully) keep all us sports freaks entertained. So sit back, relax, and try to appreciate it for what it is.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There should be no law that says any particular player should play. No one should play for what they have won in the past." - Jose Mourinho lays down the law to Iker Casillas, who will not tend goal for Real Madrid against Galatasaray tonight.

COMING UP

Real-Gala is complemented by Borussia Dortmund v Malaga as the Champions League's last eight round out the first legs. Los Galacticos and the Bundesliga champions will look to join their compatriots in holding the advantage ahead of next week's return fixtures. Join us for LIVE text coverage from 18:45 GMT, with kick-offs at 19:45 GMT.

By Eurosport | Early Doors – 1 hour 35 minutes ago

READ MORE - Bi-polar Barca and the UEFA Celebrity League

Fakta-fakta Menarik Jelang PSG Vs Barcelona

Fakta-fakta Menarik Jelang PSG Vs Barcelona - Duel seru bakal tersaji di Stade de France, Rabu, 3 April 2013, dinihari nanti. Pemuncak klasemen Liga Prancis dan Liga Spanyol akan saling berhadapan. Paris Saint-Germain, klub bermaterikan pemain bintang, akan berhadapan dengan Barcelona, klub yang dianggap sebagai tim terbaik dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Berikut fakta-fakta menarik yang menghiasi pertandingan PSG melawan Barca.

-PSG tak terkalahkan dalam 23 pertandingan kandang di kompetisi Eropa. Kekalahan terakhir PSG di kandang terjadi ketika takluk 4-2 dari Hapoel Tel-Aviv, dalam laga penyisihan grup Piala UEFA, pada November 2006.

-PSG sudah sembilan kali menjamu tim asal Spanyol. Rekor mereka adalah lima kali menang, tiga kali imbang, dan sekali kalah.

Pemain Paris Saint Germain meluapkan kegembiraannya, setelah pertandingan 16 besar Liga Champions berakhir 1-1 di Paris (7/3). PSG lolos ke babak selanjutnya karena menang agregat 3-2. AP/Christophe Ena

-Barca sudah 14 kali tampil dalam pertandingan perempat final kompetisi Eropa. Barca merebut 12 kemenangan dan hanya menelan dua kekalahan.

-Kekalahan terakhir Barca di babak perempat final terjadi pada musim 2002/2003. Ketika itu Barca dikalahkan Juventus. Sementara kekalahan tandang terakhir di babak perempat final terjadi pada musim 2001/2002.

-Barcelona telah tujuh kali bertandang ke markas klub Prancis, dengan rekor tiga kemenangan, dua kali kalah, dan sisanya berakhir imbang.

-Stadion Stade de France memiliki kenangan indah buat Barca. Di tempat itu, Barca sukses mengalahkan Arsenal 2-1, dalam partai final Liga Champions 2005/2006.

-Gelandang PSG, Thiago Motta, adalah pemain didikan akademi Barca. Selama enam musim bermain di tim senior Barca, pemain internasional Italia itu sukses merebut dua gelar Liga Spanyol, satu Liga Champions, dan dua Piala Super Spanyol.

-Maxwell bergabung dengan Barca pada 2009, dan kemudian hijrah ke PSG pada Januari 2012. Maxwell tampil dalam 57 pertandingan di Liga Spanyol dan merebut dua gelar Liga Spanyol, tiga Piala Super Spanyol, satu Liga Champions, dua Piala Super Eropa, dan dua Piala Dunia Antarklub.

-Zlatan Ibrahimovic menghabiskan musim 2009/2010 di Barca. Pemain asal Swedia itu merebut satu trofi Liga Spanyol, satu Piala Super Spanyol, satu Piala Super Eropa, dan satu Piala Dunia Antarklub.

-Eric Abidal dan Alex Song memulai karier profesonal di Liga Prancis. Abidal pernah memperkuat AS Monaco, Lille, dan Olympique Lyon. Sementara Song memulai kariernya bersama Bastia.

-Pemain tertua Liga Champions di musim ini, David Beckham, pernah tujuh kali melawan Barcelona. Beckham, ketika itu berkostum Real Madrid, merebut tiga kemenangan, sekali imbang, dan tiga kali kalah ketika melawan Barca.

tempo.co : Selasa, 02 April 2013 | 20:12 WIB

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