Brazilian star midfielder Kaka turned down the riches offered by Manchester City to stay at AC Milan. And the bidding for the 2018 World Cup is already beginning to heat up.
After plenty of deliberations, Kaka rejected an amazingly rich offer from English club Manchester City. The Brazilian midfielder was celebrating his decision and admitted he was moved with the Milan fans’ support. This is a refreshing move that showed money is not the only thing – not that Kaka is poor in AC Milan.
Staying on Manchester City, fellow Brazilian Robinho has been public on who the club should acquire and wanted to be joined by Kaka. And shortly after Kaka turned down the offer, Robinho left Manchester City’s camp in Tenerife for unknown reasons.
Looking ahead to the 2018 World Cup, the bidding is heating up with Russia saying they will make a bid. And Spain and Portugal have confirmed they will have a joint bid. Other candidates for the 2018 and 2022 spectacles include: Mexico, United States, England, Netherlands/Belgium, Japan, Qatar, China and Australia.
Staying on international football/soccer, the Togolese football association has elected Rock Gnassingbe to once again lead the governing body. Gnassingbe, who was sacked after the 2006 World Cup, is the half-brother of President Faure Gnassingbe and son of Togo’s late veteran leader Gnassingbe Eyadema.
And one more football note: Just after the departure of Lukas Podolski to Cologne was announced, Bayern Munich said they will be bringing in for next season Alexander Baumjohann from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Heading over to the hardball, the provisional rosters for the 2009 World Baseball Classic have been released and there is plenty of stars lining up to play.
After talks broke down in December, the Chicago Cubs may still be in the running for star pitcher Jake Peavy.
And the Baltimore Orioles locked up Nick Markakis with a six-year extension through the 2014 season.
A couple of basketball highlights…
The NBA doesn’t get much better than Kobe vs LeBron – won by the Lakers 105-88.
Here is the final 16 breakdown for Europe’s top two basketball club competitions, the Euroleague Top 16 and the Eurocup Last 16.
And three more random items found, with the NFL Super Bowl still a while away, here is a look at Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.
Tennis star Roger Federer admitted he’s become more “human” and enjoying himself more nowadays.
And Lance Armstrong has returned to the bike for a stage race at Australia’s six-day Tour Down Under in Adelaide.