Monumental blunder sparks call for video decisions
Wed 05 Jan, 12:17 PM

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Three of the English Premiership's leading managers united in a call for the introduction of video technology to help referees after Tottenham were denied victory over Manchester United by an astonishing blunder by officials.

Spurs boss Martin Jol was left almost speechless after watching a speculative stoppage time shot from Pedro Mendes bounce out of United goalkeeper Roy Carroll's arms and cross the line by as much as a yard.
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Carroll clawed the ball back into play but even the Northern Ireland international looked shocked when referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on to deny Tottenham what would have been a decisive goal in a match that finished 0-0.

Replays of the incident clearly showed that a goal should have been awarded and Jol reacted by saying the case for using video tape to review such decisions was now unanswerable.

"Before the game we would have taken this result because we had a few key players injured and this was our fourth match in nine days," Jol said after the match.

"But after the game you have to say that technology needs to be introduced because we feel robbed - and rightly so."

Even United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted Spurs had been dealt a harsh blow. "It just adds weight to the point about technology being brought in.

"I don't think you can blame the referee or the linesman because I wasn't sure myself that the ball had crossed the line."

Ferguson said he would back a system where video evidence could be consulted provided it allowed for a decision within 30 seconds of an incident taking place.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger weighed into the debate. "When the whole world apart from the referee has seen there should be a goal at Old Trafford, that just reinforces what I feel - there should be video evidence," he said.

"It's a great example of where the referee could have asked to see a replay and would have seen in five seconds that it was a goal."

Jol refused to condemn the officials for their error. "It was hard for both the referee and linesman to see what had happened which makes it even more important for changes to be introduced," the Dutchman said.

"We talk about new technology all the time but nothing seems to happen yet it would be so easy to put something there on the line to help the game.

"But I'm pleased with the way we played. We made it difficult for United to score.

"The ball was definitely over the line. I thought it was from where I was standing and I suppose it has cost us the game.

"Looking at the incident now the ball was 2ft over the line. We are in the year 2005 and shouldn't have to be having these discussions. Where is the technology?

"I'm proud of my team. We got a point but should have had all three."

The result left United 11 points adrift of Premiership leaders Chelsea and Ferguson knows his side face an uphill battle to overhaul their London rivals, not least because Ryan Giggs will miss the next three weeks of the season with a damaged hamstring.

"I sometimes think this is when the season starts in earnest because there is an added pressure as you reach the point of no return," said Ferguson.

"I think we are better under pressure because there is a great sense of urgency in the team as they realise that they will have to grind out results now.

"It is consistency in terms of results that wins league championships and I've told the players this is the most relevant quality now."

Current Needs Outweigh Advances in Technology

By Jonathan Weisman and Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 5, 2005; Page A01

Rising war costs and a stubborn budget deficit have forced the Pentagon to propose billions of dollars in cuts to advanced weapons systems, as the military refocuses spending from its vision of a transformed fighting force to the more down-to-earth needs of its ground troops.

An internal defense budget document for fiscal 2006 shows a vivid shift of emphasis from procuring the weapons of the future to fighting the wars of the present, numerous defense analysts said yesterday. The Air Force and the Navy -- once favored by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld -- would have to sacrifice some of their high-tech weapons development for the humble needs of the Army, such as tank treads and armor.

The internal budget document was approved by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz.

"The Air Force and the Navy are paying the bills to fix the Army's shortfall in resources," said Loren B. Thompson, defense industry analyst with the Lexington Institute.
( Read more... )

Hannigan 'Game' for ABC Sitcom
Wed Jan 5, 1:28 AM ET

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "American Pie" star Alyson Hannigan is set to join Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ed O'Neill on ABC's upcoming comedy series "In the Game."

Hewitt plays an up-and-coming producer who unwillingly becomes an on-camera reporter on a sports TV show. Hannigan will play the reporter's best friend. O'Neill co-stars as the show's executive producer.

Hannigan co-starred on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and most recently starred as Sally in the London stage version of Rob Reiner's 1989 film "When Harry Met Sally... ."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Britney quits pop music to become a forensic scientist
January 4, 2005, 12:55:25

Britney Spears is reportedly set to quit pop music - to become a forensic scientist.

The sexy star has allegedly told friends she is considering swapping her singing career for student life and enrolling at university to study for a degree after being motivated by a TV series.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "It sounds ridiculous but she's been inspired by TV's 'Crime Scene Investigation', which shows scientists solving crimes.

"Brit has been growing tired of all the media attention and is thinking about taking a break from it all. Insiders have revealed that the 23-year-old star, who launched her music career aged just 16, has even consulted 'Star Wars' beauty Natalie Portman - who graduated from prestigious Harvard University two years ago after studying psychology - about her plans to return to education.

And friends claim the pop babe's second husband, Kevin Federline, who she wed in a surprise ceremony last year, is also backing her decision.

The source added: "She's taking this university idea quite seriously." "She's happy with Kev and he'd support her in anything she wants to do. If she decides she wants to study then he'd be fine with that."

Bush Eyes Plan Using Bulk of Payroll Taxes
By LEIGH STROPE, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush is expected to unveil his plan for a Social Security overhaul in late February, with administration officials eyeing investment accounts that would hold two-thirds of workers' annual payroll taxes.

An administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the size of the private accounts could be similar to those in a proposal by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and the main plan from Bush's 2001 Social Security commission.

The White House cautioned Tuesday that Bush had not decided on a specific plan.

But the administration is leaning toward letting workers divert 4 percentage points of their 6.2 percent in payroll taxes — almost two-thirds — into investment accounts, up to $1,000-$1,300 a year, the official said. The remainder of the workers' payroll taxes would continue going into the system.

Graham's plan calls for annual contributions to be capped at $1,300, while the commission proposed a $1,000 cap.
( Read more... )