Wayne Rooney the best player in the world right now

Is Wayne Rooney the best ever striker in the English premiership?

That is quite a title given the greats like Alan Shearer but against Arsenal today he surely looked the part.

Consider United's second goal. Rooney got the ball deep in his own half , slipped a pin point perfect pass to Nani, racing down the right. Rooney then ran about 70 yards as Nani approached the Arsenal box. Nani's pass to Rooney was met with the perfect first touch, and Arsenal's keeper had no chance.

It was an exquisite goal from a still very young striker, celebrating his 100th premiership score.

The best thing that has happened to Rooney is the departure of Ronalado.

He is now the king of Old Trafford and everywhere else he plays. He has the lungs of a great racehorse, the engine of a Maserati and the finishing touch of a killer assassin.

He is simply the best player in the world right now.

John Terry will be dropped as captain for World Cup

John Terry's future with England may depend on Wayne Bridges, the player whose girlfriend he stole and made pregnant. She later had an abortion.

In a dignified statement, Bridges, now with Manchester City, stated he did not want to discuss the affair which has dominated the British tabloids all weekend. If he sticks to that, Terry has a chance to survive the tabloid storm.

English captain Terry showed his on-field brilliance when he scored the winner against Burnley in an 2-1 away win for his club Chelsea.

But insiders at the Football Association are saying there is no way that Bridges and Terry can both be in the English squad for the World Cup, and that the inevitable focus away from football would deeply damage the team.

But can Fabio Capello afford to leave out "Captain Fantastic" when the rubber hits the road and the squad has to be chosen?

The guess here is that he will omit Bridges altogether, that Terry is simply too important to the team -- but that he will drop him as captain.

That might satisfy everyone concerned -- except Bridges, of course, but in the real world of World Cup success that may be the inevitable outcome.

Robbie Keane, Spurs and Irish captain on way to Sunderland

Robbie Keane is on his way to Sunderland the British media are reporting.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce made the offer on Friday and Harry Redknapp,who has wanted to get rid of Keane almost since the striker rejoined the club from Liverpool, has accepted.

Spurs made it clear they had a striker too many after they bought Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Monaco.

He is a similar goal poacher player to Keane. Keane did not help his cause after a wild party trip to Dublin with his teammates which he organized recently without telling Harry Redknapp.

As team captain that was not considered a very smart thing to do.

He has also lost a yard or two of pace according to experts and the drop down to Sunderland is not unexpected.

Spurs are battling for a spot in Europe but Sunderland, while improved this season, may yet find themselves in a relegation zone.

Keane had also been linked to Celtic but it is understood he wanted to keep playing in the premiership.

John Terry scandal as big as Tiger Woods in Britain

England's soccer captain John Terry is in disgrace because it has emerged that he slept with the girlfriend of a teammate, Wayne Bridges. One tabloid even alleges she got pregnant and had an abortion.

The news has hit British soccer like a hurricane, given that Terry is about to captain England in their World Cup challenge in South Africa later this year. In British terms, it is almost as big as the Tiger Woods scandal is over here.

The English captain was so determined to save face that he tried to have the High Court block publication of his name.

When that failed then the tabloids took after him with a vengeance. Hell hath no fury like the tabloids scorned and Terry has really set them alight.

All this creates a familiar sinking feeling for English soccer fans. Since 1966 when they won at Wembley Stadium, England has failed to make the World Cup final, let alone win it.

Every time they look good, like this year, under splendid Italian coach Fabio Capello something crazy seems to go wrong. During the last World Cup it was the WAGS, short for wives and girlfriends, who provided the off field distraction, while key player Wayne Rooney got sent off against Portugal ending their hopes.

In previous years everything from a stomach bug, which cost them their key goalkeeper, to revelations about the sex life of then-coach Swede Sven Eriksson, have upended the team.

Put simply,. when it comes to the World Cup, England are snake-bitten, and this latest Terry controversy seems certain to increase that feeling. Now Capello must decide whether to keep him as captain, whether to pick Bridges for the team, and how to handle the fallout. All less than five months from the World Cup.

This Irishman almost feels sorry for them.

Brian Kelly says Notre Dame no longer a ball control offense

Brian Kelly has thrown a monkey wrench into the works at Notre Dame by announcing ball control offense is no longer a priority.

Keeping the ball as long as possible on offense has been as Irish a ploy as the Notre Dame leprechaun.

Now it will be Cincinnati on the lake, not Notre Dame Du Lac, as quick strike offense becomes the cornerstone of the team that Kelly builds.

It is an extraordinary vote of confidence by Kelly in his new team. Notre Dame last year was one of the worst defenses in college football. This year three and out no problem?

Kelly thinks so.

Just get the ball back. "I think we all think in terms of a defense being aggressive, you have to have that mindset that from an offensive standpoint right away, before we even talk about the first X or O or the first play call, it's about having an aggressive mentality," he said. "It's not about anything else but scoring points."

So what about keeping the pressure of the defense that last season leaked more than the Titanic when it hit the iceberg?

Offensive coordinator Charley Molnar said, "The defense is going to do what the defense is going to do. If we score fast and it's three and out and then we get the ball, hopefully we can score fast again. That's the idea," he said.

In 2006, Notre Dame went 9-3 and were third in college football in terms of time of possession at 32:51. Last season, they held 12th position at 31:55.

Cincinnati was stone last in terms of time of possession last year yest scored 38 points a game. Molnar, though, said Kelly is not giving up on ground football.

"I would be disappointed if we go through this season without a 1,000-yard rusher at the running back position," Molnar said, who pointed to Kelly's ability to change things up.

"If we looked at where we were in 2006 to where we are in 2009, there were so many areas that are done in the same way yet there's so many new things. We're always evolving," he said. "We're always trying to stay a step ahead of the opposition and really being in the forefront of new ideas in the spread offense."

"We know the nuts and bolts of this offense. We know the DNA of this offense. So we know right what to get to, the building blocks, what we need to teach first that everything else is going to build off of," Molnar said.

Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly organizes fantasy football camp

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his assistant coaches have begun to organize a fantasy football camp, scheduled to take place from June 7-10.

Interested participants will learn from some of the best Irish players, former and current, the skills required to make a great footballer.

Footie fanatics, who will stay on campus, will have the use of the Notre Dame facilities and follow the same schedule of events as the current program, including travel to the South Bend Marriott the night before the Blue-Gold fantasy game.

The skills weekend will set participants back $4,950. If this is the second year attending, the cost is reduced to $4,825.

Aside from learning offense and defense methods, footballers will attend a special team meeting.

Participants will receive Notre Dame memorabilia including a team photo and a keepsake DVD from the Blue-Gold fantasy game.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly keeps fans updated on Twitter

No sooner has Brian Kelly put the finishing touches to his coaching staff than he is getting himself and his family ready for the new chapter in their life.

Coach tweeted that things were progressing nicely on the homefront when he posted the following update on Saturday:

“Spent the day looking at houses and schools narrowed down the search should be able to settle in,” tweeted the Fighting Irish boss.

Kelly is a frequent Tweeter and keeps Irish fans updated on the latest developments.

His Twitter bio reads: “Thrilled to be the coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Committed to stirring People with PASSION and PURPOSE.”

On January 19, Kelly let fans know he was happy with the coaching staff he was putting together when he tweeted: “Finished putting together staff and couldn't be more pleased.”

Keep on Tweeting the good news Coach!

The Saints' Sean Payton and his link to Irish miracle priest

Patrick Sean Payton is going to the Super Bowl. The New Orleans coach, a Chicago area native, is named after the Irish Catholic priest, Fr. Patrick Peyton, known as the famous "rosary priest."

Fr. Peyton, a Mayo native who died in 1992, would be pleased that a boy named after him ended up leading a team called the Saints to the Super Bowl.

Fr. Peyton was famous for his devotion to the Knock Shrine in County Mayo where Our Lady is said to have appeared to locals in 1879. Pope John Paul showed up there in 1979 to celebrate the miracle.

Now Sean Payton has pulled of another miracle, leading the hapless Saints who have been in the NFL since 1967 and never been to the Super Bowl. Not only that, they were the worst team in the league for many of those years.

Now comes the miracle worker called Peyton. Will he join other great Irish coaches, Bill Parcells (birth name Bill O'Shea) Tom Coughlin and Mike Shanahan to name a few who have lifted the Super Bowl trophy?

Louk Sorensen beaten in the second round of the Australian Open

Louk Sorensen’s fantastic run to first qualify for the 2010 Australian Open and then become the first Irishman in 25 years to win a match at a Major tournament came to an end when American John Isner beat him in their second round match in straight sets in Melbourne on Wednesday, 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.

Sorensen’s success in the first round went down well with all the Irish Down Under, and court eight was full of spectators following the Irishman as he sought to claim another scalp at the first Major of the year, but it was not to be.

Isner hit 21 aces over the match, and despite being taken to a tiebreak in the second, was able to fend off the Irishman to set up a third round clash with Gael Monfils.

Louk Sorensen wins his first round match at Australian Open

Dubliner Louk Sorensen became the first Irish man to win a match at a major since Matt Doyle did so at the 1985 Australian Open when he beat Yen-Hsun Lu 6-4 3-6 6-2 6-1.

The 25-year-old will never forget his day on Court 14 when the 287th ranked player in the world beat his Chinese opponent.

Sorensen got off to a great start by taking the first set 6-4, but Yen-Hsun Lu squared the match by taking the second set 6-3 before the Irishman found his rhythm to take the next two sets 6-2, 6-1 for a famous win.

Sorensen, whose father played in the 1997 Wimbledon mens singles and is now captain of the Irish David Cup team, can look forward to a second round match against bean pole American John Isner on Wednesday.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly urges fans to help Haiti

Notre Dame head Coach Brian Kelly took time out of his busy schedule of recruiting to ask all Irish fans to keep the tragedy that is occurring in Haiti in mind, as well as respecting the huge part Martin Luther King played in shaping this country

"Support Clinton/Bush relief but don't forget the legacy of MLK!" tweeted Coach Kelly.

It's good to know that the Irish have a conscientious leader at the helm.

Go Irish!

Quarterback Andrew Hendrix commits to Notre Dame

Four-star quarterback Andrew Hendrix has decided that his college future lies in the blue and gold of Notre Dame.

The much touted slinger out of Moeller Cincinnati had been accepting overtures from Urban Meyer and Florida, but despite praising the Gators’ set up, Hendrix has decided to join the new Fighting Irish revolution under head coach Brian Kelly.

In his blog on Irishsportsdaily.com, the 6’3” 220lb Hendrix outlined the reasons for his decision:

“It was Notre Dame that was keeping me from heading to Gainesville. It was the people; Dayne Crist and Kyle Rudolph, and even big ol Mike Golic Jr! I thought about the Basilica and The Grotto, and Touchdown Jesus. Florida’s campus was beautiful, but Notre Dame’s campus is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my life.

“My gut got it started, but when I got to thinking, my head started to follow. Coach Kelly has a staff that I know and like. It is a very good staff and Kelly himself is a proven winner. He runs an offense I know I can develop and prosper in, and most of all have fun in.

“I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again, Notre Dame is the best place for me academically, athletically, and spiritually, I just wanted to make sure that is what I wanted. And it is. No doubt! It is the best University on the face of this planet, and I am so proud to be a part of it. Like coach Kelly always says, let’s go win a championship! Go Irish!”

With Hendrix now on board at quarterback and wide receiver Austin Collinsworth already committed since December, in a few years will the partnership of Hendrix/Collinsworth be one to rival that of Clausen/Tate from last season?

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly to court offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson

Brian Kelly will join the chase to lure offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson to Notre Dame when he pays an in-home visit to meet the prospect next Monday.

Henderson, out of St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall, is one of the most coveted players coming out of high school and Iowa, Ohio State, Florida, Oklahoma, USC and Miami are among the other suitors vying to bring him to their school.

Newly hired Assistant Coach Mike Denbrock made the trip to Henderson’s family home and visited with Seantrel’s father Sean Henderson while his 6’8” 345 pound son was playing in the Army Bowl.

“He was hired on Sunday, called me on Monday and came on Tuesday. I liked the tenacity he brought as he was trying to get this done. He was working hard and working fast,” Henderson senior told Irishsportsdaily. “Notre Dame has always been right in our eyesight as a top player for us."

Henderson made his official visit to South Bend earlier this year when he took in the Notre Dame USC game, so Kelly’s visit could be the school’s last chance to make a pitch to the giant offensive tackle.

First test of Kelly’s powers of persuasion as leader of the Fighting Irish? Stay tuned.

WWE Champion Sheamus takes on Shawn Michaels this weekend

WWE champion Sheamus will try to keep Irish eyes smiling this weekend when he takes on Shawn Michaels in a WWE Championship match this Sunday in Minnesota.

Sheamus is just off back to back wins against John Cena, first taking the title off him and then defending his belt against the golden boy of WWE.

Now the flame-haired Dubliner will take on the wily veteran that is Shawn Michaels, who has been around the WWE for many a year.

Can Sheamus rally and beat the veteran, or is there enough life in the old dog to tame the wild Irishman!

Sheamus abu, Gaelic for Victory to Sheamus!

Celtic refuse Wigan loan offer for Scott McDonald

Glasgow Celtic has refused an offer from Wigan athletic to take Scott McDonald on loan for the rest of the season.

Just as well, because he is one of the few players able to score for the Bhoys, and with them trailing Rangers by a whopping seven points, they need all the goal poachers they have.

"We did make an approach to Celtic to sign Scott McDonald but it was turned down," Wigan’s Spanish manager Roberto Martinez told the Scottish Daily Express. "We had wanted Scott on loan with a view to paying the full transfer in the summer.

"I think if they are to sell Scott McDonald then they will want any transfer fee up front but we are simply not in a position to do that.

"I tried to get him in the last window but that was also turned down."

The only speculation of any striker coming in was Stoke misfit Paul Kitson talking up how he would love to play for the Hoops.

No offense Paul, but are you having a laugh? Celtic need an in form striker who can haul them back into the title race, not a journeyman who is struggling to find a home and some consistent form.

Mowbray is bridled by a serious lack of funds, but the business he does in this transfer window, and the shrewdness and Harry Redknapp-like ability he needs to implement to do some serous wheeling and dealing could have a crucial effect on his team hauling back their biggest rivals in the title race, and untimely make or break his job

Irish midfielder Stephen Hunt staying put, says Hull manager Phil Brown

Hull City manager Phil Brown has publicly shot down any rumor of Irish midfielder Stephen Hunt leaving ht club in the January transfer window.

The winger, who has had a very solid first season with the Tigers, netting five times in 20 starts, has caught the eye of some Premier League clubs, but Brown says the curly haired firebrand is going nowhere

"Stephen, as far as I'm concerned and as far as the chairman is concerned, will be going nowhere," Brown is quoted in the Hull Daily Mail. "I have had the lad in yesterday morning and asked him where he wants to be.

"His heart is firmly at Hull City and I would like to keep it that way in the January transfer window and for the rest of the season."

That said, if Hull don’t avoid the drop at the end of the season, Hunt is doing his chances of staying in the Premier League ,come what may, no damage at all.

Glasgow Celtic says winger Aiden McGeady is not for sale

Glasgow Celtic have politely told Birmingham City to sod off and keep away from Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady.

He's not for sale, says manager Tony Mowbray.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish confirmed that they approached the Bhoys. "We made an enquiry but we were told he is not for sale."

"The situation won't change until someone says he is up for sale."

However, two of McGeady's international colleagues ARE on the sales rack.

Want-away striker Caleb Folan has been looking to get out of Hull City for some time and now looks to be on the move with several clubs expressing interest in him.

And team-mate Kevin Kilbane could also be on his way out as Wolves are keen to take him to Molineux.

Former Notre Dame coach Weis heads to Kansas City Chiefs

Former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis is going back to the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Weis will take on the role of offensive coordinator at the Chiefs in a move which will see him reuniting with head coach Todd Haley who shared an office with Weis when they were both tyros at the New York Jets.

Weis also worked with Chiefs current general manager Scott Pioli at the New England Patriots when, as offensive coordinator, Weis helped guide the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles between 2000 and 2004.

Weis' alma mater Notre Dame sought him out after his success in New England and offered him a lucrative 10-year contract.

However, as fans know, Weis spectacularly failed to live up to his promise and was fired after just five years.

Maybe there was something in the transition from New England to Fighting Irish which didn't work for Weis?

Anyway, suffice to says that Chiefs fans will be looking for much more from Weis than his dreadful final season of 6-6 at the Irish which dropped his record at the school to 35-27.

Speaking Wednesday, Haley said he has a "great amount of respect" for Weis. "He’s a coach that system-wise, I would say we’re as close as you can be. Charlie’s a guy I consider a friend and I’ve talked to throughout the year, no different from some of the other guys I lean on for things and advice.”

Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen injury may affect his draft prospects

Jimmy Clausen is out for at least three months and needs surgery on the toe he injured at the midway point of the season with Notre Dame.

What was thought to be turf toe is instead a nasty ligament injury and Clausen now needs surgery to repair it. In retrospect, the fact that he was able to battle the injury and play so well is a tribute to his guts.

This could possibly affect his status in the NFL draft. He will not be available to throw until April at the earliest, and NFL scouts will not like the idea of him recovering from an injury before draft day, which falls on April 22.

Clausen has been mooted as a definite first round pick in the draft, with the St. Louis Rams possibly picking him. The Washington Redskins are also in dire need of a quarterback and would likely trade up for Clausen or Oklahoma's Sam Bradford if they got the chance.

Clausen has also chosen agent Gary Wichard to represent him, which removes the last possible chance that he would reconsider and play for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame.Wichard's agency is located not far from Clausen's family home in Southern California.