|
LONDON -- A decade after kicking a boot at David Beckhams head, Alex Ferguson used his autobiography to criticize the stars apparent pre-occupation with fame. Wholesale Jerseys From China . At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the worlds most recognizable sportsmen, but the midfielder left United in 2003 for Real Madrid under a cloud after his relationship with the manager broke down. "David was the only player I managed who chose to be famous, who made it his mission to be known outside the game," the 71-year-old Ferguson wrote in his autobiography, which will be released on Thursday. "I felt uncomfortable with the celebrity aspect of his life." By moving to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007 after four years at Madrid, Ferguson said Beckham "surrendered a part of his career." In the 2002-03 season, Ferguson had concerns that Beckhams "application level had dropped" and his "work-rate was dropping." There was no way back after the February 2003 match against Arsenal. Ferguson was unhappy that Beckham neglected to track back when Arsenal scored its second goal in a 2-0 win. "As usual, with David at that time, he was dismissive of my criticism," Ferguson wrote. "Its possible that he was starting to think he was no longer needed to track back and chase." In the dressing room, Ferguson recalls Beckham swearing nearby before the boot flew. "I moved towards him, and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right above the eye," Ferguson recalled. "Of course he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him." After that, Ferguson told the board that Beckham had to leave. "The big problem for me -- and Im a football man -- he fell in love with (former Spice Girl) Victoria and that changed everything," Ferguson said Tuesday at his book launch. In the book, Ferguson detailed Beckhams insubordination, despairing when he refused to remove a beanie hat at a team dinner. By that time, Ferguson said, Beckham had been "swallowed up" by publicity agents. "David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson," Ferguson wrote. "You cannot have a player taking over the dressing room. Many tried. ... The focus of authority at Manchester United is the managers office. That was the death knell for him." Beckham was sold to Real Madrid in 2003, and made the surprise move away from Europe to the Los Angeles Galaxy. "I imagine he also had his eyes on Hollywood and the impact it would have on the next phase of his career," Ferguson wrote. "There was no footballing reason to go to America." Beckham ended his stint in LA last year, then spent five months at Paris Saint-Germain before retiring. "He is an icon to every kid in the world," Ferguson said Tuesday, stressing that he admired Beckham. Ferguson retired in May after winning his 13th Premier League title, bringing an end to the most successful managerial career in British football history. Among the 38 trophies won between 1986 and 2013 were two Champions League titles. Here are other highlights from Fergusons new autobiography, following up the first published in 1999. ------ WAYNE ROONEY The final days of Fergusons reign were overshadowed by Rooney asking to leave United due to his lack of playing time. The transfer request was refused by successor David Moyes. Rooney, who joined United from Everton in 2004, first stunned Ferguson in 2010 by asking to leave, complaining about the apparent lack of stars in the team. In the book, Ferguson recalled Rooney telling him United should have signed Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil in 2010 before he joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen. "My reply was that it was none of his business who we should have gone for," Ferguson wrote. Ferguson told reporters on Tuesday that Ozil, who joined Arsenal in September, was "not on our radar" in 2010. As for Rooney, Ferguson, who remains at United as a director, is delighted with how the striker has performed this season. "Do you think I would drop Wayne Rooney if he was playing the way he is now? Absolutely no way," Ferguson said at the Institute of Directors in London. ------ ENGLAND JOB As a Scotsman who briefly coached his country at the 1986 World Cup, Ferguson was never going to take charge of rival England. The English Football Association tried -- twice. First, in 1999 before Kevin Keegan took charge, and again the following year before Sven-Goran Eriksson was hired. "It wasnt a bed of nails I was ever tempted to lie on," Ferguson wrote. Later on, Ferguson was irritated by Englands medical staff turning up at Uniteds training ground to check on players. "Often I felt that this was an insult to us," Ferguson wrote. "I wondered whether my Scottishness was a factor, a reason not to trust me." ------ ROY KEANE In the book Ferguson criticizes the "savage tongue" of former captain Roy Keane, who was forced out of United in 2005 after the Irishmans rant against his teammates and assistant coach Carlos Queiroz on Uniteds television channel. The interview has never been aired. "I just couldnt lose my control in this situation," Ferguson said Tuesday. "If I had let it pass and allowed it to happen the players would have viewed me differently ... throughout my career I have been strong enough to deal with important issues like that. Roy overstepped his mark. There was no other thing we could do." Keane accused Ferguson of bringing his dispute with shareholder John Magnier over a racehorse into the club. The legal battle before the club was sold to the Glazer family in 2005 is one issue Ferguson doesnt go into detail on in his memoirs. Similarly, Ferguson only has praise for the American owners despite fans criticizing the cost of servicing the debt resulting from their leveraged takeover. Wholesale Jerseys . Both Lawrie and his manager agree it isnt preferable. What it is: a consequence of a game played without the designated hitter. "Im a third baseman," said Lawrie. Jerseys Wholesale . -- UFC president Dana White has dismissed Georges St-Pierres concerns about drug testing, calling them ridiculous and "a little kooky.LONDON -- The independent panel investigating doping in cycling hopes the chance for reduced bans and even immunity will encourage witnesses -- including Lance Armstrong -- to come forward. Tasked with shedding more light on the sports tainted past, the three-man commission, which is also investigating whether cyclings governing body colluded with Armstrong, has the power to propose reduced sanctions against testimonies. It has been set up with the approval of the World Anti-Doping Agency and will be able to seal deals with cheats offering valuable information. "The reduced bans will obviously apply to people who have not been already sanctioned," commission chairman Dick Marty told a conference call on Tuesday, adding that immunity could also be granted in some cases if the information is of "great importance." Armstrong has already been banned from Olympic sports for life but can still hope his case will be reviewed if he gives substantial information to the panel based in Lausanne, Switzerland. "For those who have already been punished and are still willing to give important information, the commission can advise the competent authorities to reconsider and shorten their bans," Marty said. The panel, which had a UCI-funded budget of 3 million Swiss francs ($3.35 million) was a key element in the manifesto of Brian Cookson, who was elected UCI president last year after defeating Pat McQuaid. It started its work on Tuesday with the aim of producing a comprehensive report within a year. "Its not just about learning from the past, its also learning lessons for the future so we dont make the same mistakes," Cookson said. The commissions main job is to determine how the culture of doping was able to flourish within cycling and to "discover the main providers and facilitators of doping in cycling" since the Festina affair in 1998. Armstrong has said he would co-operate with any international commission on doping inn cycling. Wholesale Jerseys China. He has so far refused to provide sworn testimony to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, whose detailed report in 2012 of drug use by Armstrongs U.S. Postal Service team led to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles. Cookson did not say whether Armstrong or former UCI presidents Hein Verbruggen and McQuaid had been contacted by the commission but added they would be more than welcomed. The UCI and Verbruggen have been accused of protecting Armstrong and helping cover up his doping. The American might be interested in co-operating after telling a British newspaper last year that Verbruggen helped him cover up doping at the 1999 Tour de France. Verbruggen dismissed it as a "ridiculous story." "There will an invitation to anyone who comes forward," Cookson said. "To anybody, Lance Armstrong or anybody else. Please come forward and offer your information to the commission. ... This is a window of opportunity." Both Marty and Cookson said confidentiality will be granted to witnesses but all the criminal offences compiled will be transmitted to the relevant authorities, whichever the country. They added that negotiations will take place with possible witnesses ahead of their testimonies in order to determine if the information they can provide justifies a reduced ban. "There can be preliminary discussions but until the evidence has been heard it is impossible to determine the amount of sanction reduction," Cookson said. "The reduced sanctions will only apply for the period that the commission is operating, and the danger is other people will come forward. If anyone has something to hide now is the time to come forward and tell all of the truth before someone else comes and tells the truth about your activities." The other members of the commission are German anti-doping expert Ulrich Haas and Peter Nicholson, a former Australian military officer and war crimes investigator. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
