Patriots want to reinstate two suspended employees

       The NFL says it didn't suspend New England Patriots employees John Jastremski and Jim McNally, who were implicated in deflate-gate. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell emphatically denied that the NFL had anything to do with suspending them. But now it's the NFL that solely will decide whether those two employees can be reinstated. Even though it did not suspend them, Goodell said
       Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th. Neither of these individuals may be reinstated without the prior approval of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent. If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day.
       The NFL has said that the Patriots can't reinstate the two employees without approval from NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent. There will be conditions if they are reinstated (but again, keep in mind the Patriots can't reinstate them or it would have happened). This is from the NFL's statement in May:

"If they are reinstated by the Patriots, Jastremski is prohibited from having any role in the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs to be used in NFL games during the 2015 season. McNally is barred from serving as a locker room attendant for the game officials, or having any involvement with the preparation, supervision, or handling of footballs or any other equipment on game day."

       While it's clear to folks who have read the reports on deflate-gate that there was no evidence of Tom Brady's wrongdoing, there's more evidence of the two employees doing something with the footballs, though that's not conclusive either. McNally took the footballs out of the officials locker room on the day of the AFC championship game before he was allowed. Jastremski and McNally sent texts to each other that are hard to explain, such as one in which McNally refers to himself as "the deflator." It's not definitive evidence, but there's reason for the NFL to be suspicious.
       One way or another, before either Jastremski or McNally is reinstated, the Patriots must reach out to Vincent.

Prince Ali wants to try his luck again

       Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan, beaten by Sepp Blatter to the Fifa presidency as the organisation went into meltdown in May, has confirmed he will stand again for the most powerful role in world football.
       Since losing the presidential vote in May by 133 to 73, only to see Blatter promise to stand down days later amid arrests and fraud allegations, Prince Ali has turned on Platini.
       Prince Ali is the third heavyweight to declare following UEFA chief Michel Platini of France, and former Asia vice-president Chung Mong-joon of South Korea.
       Liberian FA president Musa Bility, former Brazilian footballer Zico and David Nakhid, a former Trinidad & Tobago international, and all lightweights in FIFA political circles, have also said they are standing for the position.
       A fresh election to find a successor to Blatter will be held in Zurich on February 26 and Ali will again campaign on an anti-corruption, reform programme.
       In his speech to announce his candidature, one of a number of public appearances this week, Ali aimed a series of pointed remarks at the French Uefa president.
       “Ten months ago, I was the only person who dared to challenge Mr Blatter for the Presidency of Fifa. I ran because I believe that Fifa needs change. And I had the courage to fight for change when others were afraid,” he said.
       “I conceded that election. Not because I was not the best candidate, but because others were using me to make room for themselves. They didn’t have the guts to run, but I did. Ever since President Blatter promised his resignation just a few days later, they have been scrambling to secure the job for themselves.”
       Launching his campaign last month he referred to Platini, the front runner, as the “son of Blatter” - a barbed reference to the fact that the French Uefa president was widely seen as the natural heir to the discredited Swiss before the pair fell out.

Wayne Rooney became the country's top goal-scorer

       England football legend Bobby Charlton has congratulated Wayne Rooney after he became the country's top goal-getter and believes that the Manchester United striker will continue to scale new heights.England captain Wayne Rooney netted a penalty in the 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win against Switzerland to overtake Sir Bobby Charlton as the country's highest ever goalscorer.
       "I obviously cannot deny that I am disappointed that I now don't hold this record, however, I am absolutely delighted that it is Wayne, as captain of my beloved club and country, who now holds this record," Charlton said.
       Charlton is set to present Rooney with a special golden boot before England's match against Estonia at Wembley Stadium in October.
       Rooney lost his record as England's youngest player to Theo Walcott in May 2006, but he remains his country's youngest ever goal-scorer. He opened his England account at the age of 17 years and 317 days with an 18-yard half-volley in a 2-1 win away to Macedonia in September 2003.

Serena Williams comes out on top in Williams sisters match

       World number one Serena Williams, chasing the first calendar Grand Slam since 1988, advanced to the US Open semi-finals Tuesday by defeating 23rd-seeded sister Venus 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
       Three-time defending champion Serena reached a Thursday semi-final against Italy's 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci, who eliminated France's 40th-ranked Kristina Mladenovic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

PSG offers to donate $1.12 million to aid migrant relief amid crisis following footprints of Real Madrid,Bayern Munich and Rma

       The announcement on Wednesday follows a series of donations and projects put into place by top clubs around the world such as Real Madrid, Roma and Bayern Munich after the arrival of thousands of refugees, many from war-ravaged Syria, into Europe over the past weeks.
       All 80 clubs playing in Champions League and Europa League have committed to the initiative with the money -- estimated between 2-3 million euros going into a fund created by the ECA.
       "The Foundation will commit to long term assistance alongside French Popular Relief and the UNHCR with the goal of creating solidarity projects in France and internationally," said the club in a statement on its website.
       On Saturday, Real Madrid announced a donation of one million euros to refugees that have arrived in Spain and provided shelter while Bayern Munich announced a similar proposal and also introduced other money-making projects.Roma's gesture to donate 575,000 euros as well as jerseys worn by stars Francesco Totti, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic to the newly-launched "Football Cares" was also seen.

Djokovic in US Open semis

       Novak Djokovic's U.S. Open quarterfinal was suddenly tied at a set apiece, and he tore off his shirt as he headed to the sideline. He sat, halfheartedly tried to smash his racket, then began screaming. Hardly the first time, nor likely to be the last, that Djokovic has let out a little emotion during a match. Whatever gets you through the day, right?
       Gathering himself after getting pushed around a bit by an opponent with an unconventional style, Djokovic wound up reaching the semifinals at Flushing Meadows for the ninth consecutive year with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory over 18th-seeded Feliciano Lopez that finished a little after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
       "It was frustrating at times," the No. 1-ranked Djokovic said, "but this is the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. This is what you expect."
       For all of his success getting to the closing days of the U.S. Open, though, Djokovic has one championship to show for it, in 2011. His other eight major titles came at either the Australian Open or Wimbledon.
       Still, Djokovic is certainly consistent: He has now made it to the semifinals at 22 of the past 23 major tournaments.
       "I hope I can keep on going," the Serb said.
       On Friday, he will take on defending champion Marin Cilic, who was unfazed by wasting a big lead or match points while holding on to beat 19th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4 earlier Tuesday.
       "A big mental fight," the Croatian called it, "especially after losing that fourth set."
       Djokovic has never lost to Cilic, winning all 13 of their matches.
       The two men's quarterfinals on the other half of the men's draw are Wednesday: No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 12 Richard Gasquet of France, and No. 5 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 15 Kevin Anderson of South Africa.
       Lopez's loss dropped him to 0-4 in Grand Slam quarterfinals; this was his first time that far in New York.
       He is a 33-year-old lefty who is that rare player these days who likes to use serve-and-volley tactics, doing so 41 times against Djokovic, winning the point 28 times. Djokovic, a brilliant baseliner, tried serve-and-volleying twice.
       "There were a few moments in which I had the No. 1 player in the world in a tough spot," Lopez said.
       His only break of the match came in the second set, and he made it count. Serving out that set, he saved a break point, then ended the game with an ace and pounded his chest. That's when Djokovic was soon in his chair, bare-chested and bellowing.
       Yet 40 minutes later, Djokovic was back in control, serving out the second set at love and capping it with a forehand winner.
       Cilic appeared to be heading to a relatively straightforward win after taking the first two sets, considering he was 47-0 in his Grand Slam career when up by that margin. But Tsonga took the third set by finally converting his seventh break point of the match, and then serving it out from 15-30 by taking the last three points with a pair of service winners at 131 mph and 132 mph, followed by a 124 mph ace.
       Tsonga, the 2008 Australian-Open runner-up, then saved three match points in the fourth set to force a fifth. "Jo just came up with amazing shots," Cilic said.
       In the last set, Cilic broke at love to lead 3-2, and didn't falter this time, although he did need another two match points to close it out, double-faulting on one, before finally winning when Tsonga sailed a forehand long.
       "It's a lot of frustration, of course, but that's tennis," Tsonga said.
       Tsonga entered his quarterfinal against Cilic having held in all 56 of his service games in the tournament, a streak that reached 60 before Cilic broke to go up 5-4 in the first set. Cilic broke early in the second, too, and wound up winning three of Tsonga's service games.
       Tsonga helped out by double-faulting 11 times.
       "I just served, I would say, very bad compared to the other days," Tsonga said.
       Cilic, meanwhile, hit 29 aces and saved nine of 10 break points.
       Cilic wore a thick brace on his right ankle, which he tweaked during his fourth-round victory over another Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy. But it was Tsonga who appeared more troubled by an ailment, wearing a thick band of tape under his left knee.
       "I don't really want to talk about this, you know," Tsonga said. "It's part of the game, unfortunately, for me."