Saturday, 14 July 2012
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Your Own Judge Dredd Badge
I have just found a great little site that makes you a Judge Dredd badge. Check it out.
Serena Williams wins Wimbledon
Wimbledon 2012: Serena Williams wins fifth singles title
By Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Wimbledon
Serena Williams overcame a resurgent Agnieszka Radwanska to clinch a
hard-fought 6-1 5-7 6-2 victory and earn her fifth Wimbledon singles
title.
The American, a winner in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010,
had eased through the opener with Radwanska rarely threatening to pierce
her defences.
It is the 30-year-old's 14th Grand Slam title and her first since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
"I can't even describe it. I almost didn't make it a few years ago," she said after her win, referring to her health problems.
"I was in hospital but now I'm here again and it was so worth it. I'm so happy.
"Aggie played so well and that's why she's had such a great career and she's so young."
A brief rain shower appeared to have opposite effects on the pair however, as Radwanska emerged revitalised and Williams's forehand grew increasingly erratic.
Williams broke to love in the third game with a walloped return winner, but her nerves tightened and Radwanska raised her game just in time to avert a seemingly inevitable straight-sets win.
Radwanska forced break point for the first time in the match to level at 4-4 and the crowd threw their support behind her renaissance.
Suddenly Radwanska's scurrying and fetching was asking questions and Williams, apparently beset by mental demons, crashed into the net from midcourt to send the match into a decider.
The American had lost only four of the previous 194 Grand Slam matches in which she won the opening set however, and reasserted her authority to protect that record and accelerate away from Radwanska.
Radwanska saw off two break points to hold for a 2-1 lead, but Williams served out in less than a minute in the following game and was not to be denied in the next.
A cute drop shot moved her a double break and 5-2 clear and Williams kept any lingering jitters at bay to serve out before dropping to the turf in delight.
Radwanska admitted she was at a loss as to how to deal with the Williams serve.
"She was really serving well. This is the thing I can't do anything about it," said the Pole.
"Second set I think was a little bit more windy, she didn't put that much first serves in and I could have my chances to break her back which I did.
"But it's her weapon and that's why she's won the tournament five times.
"These have been the best two weeks of my life. Of course it's always disappointing to lose, especially after a tough and good match but I'm very happy about my final."
But the Pole regrouped as rain delayed the second set, and clawed back a break before swooping late to win the second.
Williams broke twice in the decider to finally kill off Radwanska's comeback.
It is the 30-year-old's 14th Grand Slam title and her first since spending almost a year out of action between summer 2010 and 2011 with a leg injury and subsequent pulmonary embolism.
"I can't even describe it. I almost didn't make it a few years ago," she said after her win, referring to her health problems.
"I was in hospital but now I'm here again and it was so worth it. I'm so happy.
"Aggie played so well and that's why she's had such a great career and she's so young."
Such an absorbing finish seemed highly
unlikely as Williams demolished Radwanska in the opening set, raising
the fear that her opponent was struggling with
a respiratory illness that forced her to call off a news conference on Friday.
The world number three seemed to lack the energy to
realise her hopes of countering Williams's clubbing baseline power with
guile and touch.
A brief rain shower appeared to have opposite effects on the pair however, as Radwanska emerged revitalised and Williams's forehand grew increasingly erratic.
Williams broke to love in the third game with a walloped return winner, but her nerves tightened and Radwanska raised her game just in time to avert a seemingly inevitable straight-sets win.
Radwanska forced break point for the first time in the match to level at 4-4 and the crowd threw their support behind her renaissance.
Suddenly Radwanska's scurrying and fetching was asking questions and Williams, apparently beset by mental demons, crashed into the net from midcourt to send the match into a decider.
The American had lost only four of the previous 194 Grand Slam matches in which she won the opening set however, and reasserted her authority to protect that record and accelerate away from Radwanska.
Radwanska saw off two break points to hold for a 2-1 lead, but Williams served out in less than a minute in the following game and was not to be denied in the next.
A cute drop shot moved her a double break and 5-2 clear and Williams kept any lingering jitters at bay to serve out before dropping to the turf in delight.
Her victory is the first time the title
has been won by a woman over 30 since Martina Navratilova's triumph in
1990 and restores Victoria Azarenka, the Belarussian she beat in the
semi-final, to the world number one spot.
Williams also served a total of 102 aces en route to
lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish - more than any other woman has managed
in a single Wimbledon campaign.
Radwanska admitted she was at a loss as to how to deal with the Williams serve.
"She was really serving well. This is the thing I can't do anything about it," said the Pole.
"Second set I think was a little bit more windy, she didn't put that much first serves in and I could have my chances to break her back which I did.
"But it's her weapon and that's why she's won the tournament five times.
"These have been the best two weeks of my life. Of course it's always disappointing to lose, especially after a tough and good match but I'm very happy about my final."
Rangers: Week of talks will define Ibrox club's future
Scotland's governing bodies have until Friday to agree a package
that will persuade Scottish Football League clubs to allow Rangers into
Division One.
This is revealed in the resolution, obtained by BBC
Scotland, on which they will vote as they consider the new Rangers'
application for membership.
Rangers could enter Division One or the bottom tier, Division Three.
Approval of the resignation of the club moving to the top flight - Dundee or Dunfermline - will also be sought.
Rangers, who are being relaunched by a new company
after the former incarnation could not be saved from liquidation, had
their application to replace the old Ibrox club in the Scottish Premier
League formally rejected on Wednesday.
Later that day, chief executive Charles Green confirmed that Rangers had applied to join the SFL and would enter whichever division the organisation deemed fit.
Scottish Football Association chief executive feels Rangers should enter Division One - the league below the SPL - as he fears placing the club in the bottom Third Division would cause financial difficulty for clubs.
However, several SFL clubs, who will meet at Hampden for Friday's vote, have already stated their preference for Rangers to start in Division Three.
The notice of the special general meeting proposes "that Rangers FC shall play in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League during Season 2012/13 unless the board shall have to its satisfaction negotiated and reached agreement with The Scottish Premier League and The Scottish Football Association on a series of measures which the board shall consider to be in the best interests of the game...
"How it is structured, how it is governed and how it is financed, whereupon the board shall be authorised to provide that Rangers FC shall play in the First Division of the Scottish Football League during season 2012/13".
The document adds: "Details of the series of measures referred to...shall be made available to the members in advance of the meeting and an opportunity for full discussion of those measures will be given prior to the proposals being put to the meeting."
It is not known when the issue of whether Dundee or Dunfermline replace the old Rangers in the SPL will be decided, with the former finishing runners-up to promoted Ross County in last season's First Division and the Pars being relegated from the top flight.
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