2008 - Top 10 Players Hot List

softball JennieFinch, america

Tennis Maria Sharapova,Russia

Volleyball Piccinini Francesca,Italy

Synchronized swimming twin sisters wenwen Jiang and qinqin Jiang, China


Swimming Amanda Beard, USA

Diving Jinjin GUO, China

Volleyball Logan Tom, USA

Pole vault Yelena ISINBAYEVA,Russia


Table Tennis Ai Fukuhara, JAPAN

Lionel Messi Photos, Bio

Lionel Andrés Messi (born June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Santa Fe Province) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, and Maradona himself named Messi his "successor"

At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for the treatment of the illness that cost $1500 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of Messi's talent, and Barcelona signed him after watching him play, offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to start a new life in Spain. His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams

In June 2004, he got his first chance in Argentina colours, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay. In 2005 he was part of the team that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. Here, he won the prize for best player of the tournament and became top-scorer.

On 4 August 2005, José Pekerman called Messi up to the senior Argentine national team. He made his debut on 17 August against Hungary, but it was a forgettable occasion. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off after just 40 seconds because the referee, Markus Merk, found he had elbowed defender Vilmos Vanczák, who was tugging Messi's shirt. The decision was contentious. Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-meditated. Messi then had his first international start on 3 September in Argentina's 0-1 World Cup qualifier away loss against Paraguay. Ahead of the match he had said "This is a re-début. The first one was a bit short."

With Ronaldinhos departure from the club, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey. On October 1, 2008 during a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Messi scored two goals during the last seven minutes after coming on as a substitute for Thierry Henry, to turn the score from 0-1 to a victory for FC Barcelona 2-1. The next league game was versus Atletico Madrid, a match billed as a friendly battle between Lionel and good friend Sergio Aguero. Messi scored a goal from a free kick and assisted another as FC Barcelona went on to win the match 6-1. Messi netted another impressive brace against Sevilla scoring a spectacular dipping volley after being played through by Xavi and then rounding the keeper and slotting home from a tight angle to double his tally. On December 13, 2008, during the first Clásico of the season, Messi scored the second goal in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Real Madrid.

Tiger woods Photos, Bio, Profile

Tiger woods

Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods(born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the World No. 1, he was the highest-paid professional athlete in 2007, having earned an estimated $122 million from winnings and endorsements.

Woods has won fourteen professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player, and 65 PGA Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour.

Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record nine times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times, and has tied Jack Nicklaus' record of leading the money list in eight different seasons. He has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year a record-tying four times, and is the only person to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once.

Woods was the first African American to win the Masters in 1997 at Augusta National; a tournament where no black player competed until 1975 and a club that didn't admit black members until six years previously.

After winning the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods missed the rest of the 2008 PGA Tour, missing two major championships and the 2008 Ryder Cup, in order to rehabilitate his injured left knee.

Tiger woods with his wife Elin Nordegren image

Tiger wood with his baby

In November 2003, Woods became engaged to Elin Nordegren, a Swedish model. They were introduced during The Open Championship in 2001 by Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, who had employed her as an au pair. They married on October 5, 2004 at the Sandy Lane resort on the Caribbean island of Barbados and live at Isleworth, a community in Windermere, a suburb of Orlando, Florida. They also have homes in Jackson, Wyoming, California, and Sweden. In January 2006, they purchased a $39 million residential property in Jupiter Island, Florida, which they intend to make their primary residence.[11] Their Jupiter Island neighbors will include fellow golfers Gary Player, Greg Norman and Nick Price, as well as singers Celine Dion and Alan Jackson. In 2007, a guest house on the Jupiter Island estate was destroyed in a fire caused by lightning.

Early in the morning of June 18, 2007, Elin gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, in Orlando. The birth occurred just one day after Woods finished tied for second in the 2007 U.S. Open. Tiger chose to name his daughter Sam because his father said that Tiger looked more like a Sam. On September 2, 2008, Woods announced on his website that he and his wife are expecting their second child.

Tiger wood winning shot joy photo

Winter Olympics

Bode Miller Winter Olympics Topper

Hot Girls in cool Winter Games

Winter Olympics

Top gear winter olympics

2010 Winter olympics Logo

Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand Photos Biography

Viswanathan Anand and his wife Aruna

Viswanathan Anand

GrandMaster Viswanathan Anand

World Champion Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian chess grandmaster and the current World Chess Champion.

Anand won the FIDE World Chess Championship in 2000, at a time when the world title was split. He became the undisputed World Champion in 2007 and defended his title against Vladimir Kramnik in 2008. With this win, he became the first player in chess history to have won the World Championship in three different formats: Knockout, Tournament, and Match. He will next defend his title in the World Chess Championship 2009 against the winner of the challenger match between Veselin Topalov and Gata Kamsky.

Anand is one of four players in history to break the 2800 mark on the FIDE rating list. He was at the top of the world rankings five out of six times, from April 2007 to July 2008. In October 2008, he dropped out of the world top three ranking for the first time since July 1996.

In 2007 he was awarded India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan. He is also the first recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1991-92, India's highest sporting honour.

Chess titles
* 1983 National Sub-Junior Chess Champion - age 14
* 1984 International Master - age 15
* 1985 Indian National Champion - age 16
* 1987 World Junior Chess Champion
* 1988 Grandmaster
* 2000 FIDE World Chess Champion
* 2000 FIDE World Bitz Chess Champion
* 2003 FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion
* 2007 FIDE World Chess Champion (Undisputed)
* 2008 FIDE World Chess Champion (Undisputed)

Awards
Anand has received many national and international awards.
* Arjuna award for Outstanding Indian Sportsman in Chess in 1985
* Padma Shri, National Citizens Award and Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1987
* The inaugural Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honour in the year 1991-1992.
* British Chess Federation 'Book of the Year' Award in 1998 for his book My Best Games of Chess
* Padma Bhushan in 2000
* Jameo de Oro the highest honour given by the Government of Lanzarote in Spain on 25 April 2001. The award is given to illustrious personalities with extraordinary achievements.
* Chess Oscar (1997, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2007)
* Sportstar Millennium Award in 1998, from India's premier Sports magazine for being the sportperson of the millennium
* Padma Vibhushan in 2007

Kevin Pietersen Photo Gallery Bio

Kevin Pietersen Pictures

Kevin Pietersen playing in ground
What is his hands symbol?

Kevin Pietersen and Monty Panesar

Kevin Pietersen sweeps

Kevin Pietersen batsman

Jessica Taylor and Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen Bio

Full name Kevin Peter Pietersen
Born June 27, 1980, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Current age 28 years 178 days
Major teams England, Hampshire, ICC World XI, KwaZulu-Natal, Natal, Nottinghamshire
Nickname KP, Kelves, Kapes, Kev
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Height 6 ft 4 in
Education Maritzburg College, University of SA

Expansive with the bat and explosive with the bombast, the South African-born Kevin Pietersen is not one for the quiet life. Pietersen, an enthusiastic, bold-minded and big-hitting No 5, first ruffled feathers by shunning South Africa - he was disenchanted with the quota system - in favour of England; his eligibility coming courtesy of an English mother. He never doubted he would play for England: he has self-confidence in spades but, fortunately, he has sackfuls of talent too. Sure enough, as soon as he qualified in September 2004, he was invited to tour Zimbabwe for that winter's one-dayers, where he averaged 104 in three innings. Success here earned him a late call into England's team against none other than South Africa in early 2005.

Undeterred by hostile receptions from the home crowds, he announced his arrival - loudly, of course - with three centuries in five innings, and in doing so demonstrated his peerless eye for the ball and for making headlines, too. On reaching his maiden ton in the second ODI at Bloemfontein, he kissed his badge with unreserved fervour and afterwards announced his next ambition: getting a tattoo of three lions and his England number. Playing at Test level was next on the Pietersen to-do list, and, as a man who puts his money, if not always his mind, where his mouth is, it was only a matter of time. Overlooked for two Tests against Bangladesh, he made his debut against Australia at Lord's of all places, and responded with a pair of hard-hitting fifties in a losing cause. Six dropped catches in the series appeared to have dented his brash confidence, but with the series at stake, he once again showed his unswerving eye for the limelight by clubbing a phenomenal 158 on the final day at The Oval, to secure the draw that England needed for a first Ashes triumph in 18 years. First to congratulate him on his feat was Shane Warne, his good friend and captain at Hampshire, whom Pietersen had joined at the start of the season after three eventful and fractious years at Nottinghamshire.

Unsurprisingly, that innings proved hard to live up to, but astonishingly Pietersen managed it, clubbing two more big hundreds in his next two Test innings in England, the second of which - against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston - included a remarkable reverse-sweep for six off Muttiah Muralitharan. In Australia the following winter, he once again lived up to his reputation with hard-earned runs, but his tour ended in disappointment when he flew home with a fractured rib, courtesy of Glenn McGrath after the first match of the CB Series. While England's World Cup was a miserable failure for the team it was a personal success for Pietersen who hit two centuries - including his first ODI ton in a winning cause against West Indies - and confirmed his role as England's leading batsman. His dominance continued against West Indies with a majestic 226 at Headingley - finally beating his previous 158, a score he had made three times previously. It was the highest score by an England batsman since Graham Gooch's 333, and his march towards greatness continued.

But then followed the inevitable dip - 10 innings without so much as a fifty - before he bounced back with an uncharacteristically backs-to-wall 129 in England's third Test against New Zealand in Napier. Another tough century followed in the return rubber at Trent Bridge, but that was just the prelude to the innings that he had most craved - a hundred at Lord's in his first appearance against his native South Africa, a performance which quashed once and for all the lingering doubts about his switch of allegiance. After a rapturous reception from the Lord's crowd, he later declared he had never felt "so loved". Just a few weeks later and he had completed his extraordinary journey from naturalised Englishman to England's captain when he took over from Michael Vaughan who announced his retirement just after the third Test against South Africa. As he prepared to lead them in all three forms of the game, Pietersen declared: "I'm going to give it a go like I give everything a go." He was true to his word: a century and a victory in his maiden Test in charge at The Oval, followed by a thumping 4-0 victory in the subsequent ODI series.

Indian Opening Cricketer Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid
Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid continued to punish England, India v England, 2nd Test, Mohali, 2nd day, December 20, 2008

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag

Indian Cricketer Gautam Gambhir

Impressive century Gautam Gambhir
A century by opener Gautam Gambhir has given India a slither of hope as they attempt to chase down Australia's massive total of 317 in their one-day tri-series match at the SCG this evening.

Gautam Gambhir Bio

Gautam Gambhir is a left-handed opening batsman in the Indian cricket team known for his blazing batting style and a uniquely balanced yet aggressive approach to the game. Born on October 14, 1981 in Delhi, he goes by the nickname “Gauti”. Gautam Gambhir comes from an army background and has a younger sister named Ekta.

Gautam Gambhir made his Test debut against Australia at Mumbai on November 3, 2004. So far he has played 17 Test matches and scored 1002 runs at an average of 37.11, and his highest score at this level is 139.

On April 11, 2003, Gautam Gambhir played his first One Day International (ODI) in the TVS Cup against Bangladesh at Dhaka, where he scored 71 runs in his third match of the series and was named Man of the Match. On the tour of Bangladesh in 2007, Gautam Gambhir scored his second century and ensured his place in the ODI team scheduled to tour Ireland, where he scored an unbeaten 80 in the first game and was chosen as the Man of the Match. In 2007-08 Commonwealth Bank (CB) series, he scored an unbeaten 102 runs at Gabba against Sri Lanka and followed it up with a career-best 113 runs off 119 balls against Australia at Sydney to finish as the leading run-scorer with 440 runs in the CB series. As of October 2008, he has played 60 ODIs and has made 1,987 runs, including 5 centuries and 11 half-centuries, at an average of 36.79.

Gautam Gambhir made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut against Scotland at Durban on September 13, 2007. He was selected in Indian squad to play in the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 (T20) Cricket Cup in South Africa. In the final against Pakistan, he made a crucial 75 runs off 54 balls and helped India beat Pakistan to lift the trophy. With 227 runs at an average of 37.83, including 3 half-centuries, Gautam Gambhir was India’s top run scorer in the tournament. So far he has played nine T20I matches and has scored 299 runs, including 4 half-centuries, at an average of 37.37 and a massive strike rate of 128.32.

Gautam Gambhir made his First-class debut during the 1999-2000 season and since then has been a consistent performer for the Delhi team. In 2008, he scored an unbeaten 130 in the Ranji Trophy final to help Delhi beat Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets. Gautam Gambhir has played 98 First-class matches and has scored 7910 runs , including 24 centuries and 34 half-centuries, at an average of 53.80, with 233* being his highest score. He also played his last match for Delhi against Rest of India at Vadodara, India, on September 2008. Gautam Gambhir made his List A debut during the 2000-01 season and has played 162 matches at this level and scored 5,326 runs , including 13 centuries and 29 half-centuries, at an average of 35.98, where 142* is his highest score.

For his impressive performance, Gautam Gambhir was signed by Delhi Daredevils for US$725,000 to play in Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2008 season. He played 14 IPL matches and scored 534 runs, including 5 half-centuries, and was the second highest scorer in the IPL. He scored these runs at an average of 41.07 and an impressive strike rate of 140.89 and his top score of 86 runs came against Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Gautam Gambhir received the ‘Best Asian Batsman T20’ award from Roger Elston Green, Managing Director, Castrol Pakistan Private Limited.

Apart from playing cricket, Gautam Gambhir likes spending time reading and relaxing with his family, and he also sometimes goes on long drives with his friends. He likes playing PlayStation Portable (PSP) games and his favorite television serial is Left Right Left.

Andrew Flintoff, England Cricketer Photo Gallery

Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar in conversation with Andrew Flintoff, Mohali,

Andrew Flintoff has a chat with Rahul Dravid,

Andrew Flintoff is congratulated by Kevin Pietersen for dismissing Rahul Dravid, India v England, 1st Test, Chennai, 5th day, December 15, 2008

Andrew Flintoff answers questions from the media ahead of the England team's departure for Chennai, Abu Dhabi,

Andrew Flintoff keeps focused during training, PCA Stadium, Mohali

Andrew Flintoff and Rachael Wools

Andrew Flintoff Bio

Andrew Flintoff, MBE, (born 6 December 1977 in Preston, Lancashire) is a cricketer who plays for Lancashire and England. A tall (6' 4") fast bowler, aggressive batsman, fine fielder, and according to the ICC rankings, consistently rated amongst the top international allrounders in both ODI and Test cricket. His nickname "Freddie" or "Fred" comes from the similarity between his surname and that of Fred Flintstone. Since his debut in 1998, Flintoff has become an integral player, and has both captained and vice-captained the team. He has been plagued with ankle injuries due to his bowling action, and in late 2007 a fourth operation took him out of cricket until summer 2008.

* Flintoff is the second highest English wicket-taker in one-day international cricket with 159 wickets, and the 11th highest in Test cricket, with 206 wickets. These figures include wickets taken for the ICC World XI.
* He is also the 9th highest English run-scorer in one-day internationals, with a total of 2975.
* Flintoff hit Surrey's Alex Tudor for 34 runs (6-4-4-4-4-6-6-0) in an over at Old Trafford in 1998. The over included two no-balls that, under ECB regulations, counted for two penalty runs apiece, making a grand total of 38.
* The highest score of his career at any level is 232 not out for St Anne's (Under 15) Cricket Club against Fulwood and Broughton. He recalls that "it was a 20 -overs-a-side game, played on an artificial wicket, and I remember getting dropped when I'd scored just six. My opening partner David Fielding scored 60 not out and we got 319 for 0 in 20 overs. You don't forget days like that, whatever the standard you're playing in".
* Flintoff was Lancashire's winner of the NBC Denis Compton Award in 1997.
* Flintoff holds the record for the most sixes scored for England, beating Ian Botham's record of 67 with a six off India's Piyush Chawla in Mohali on 11 March 2006.
* Flintoff is only the seventh player to have batted on all five days of a Test match, achieving this feat at Mohali, in the same match in which he broke the sixes record.

Images :: Getty Images.

Andy Murray Early Favourites For 2009 BBC Sports Personality Of The Year

Andy Murray WallPaper
Lewis Hamilton And Andy Murray Early Favourites For 2009 BBC Sports Personality Of The Year ::With the 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award going to surprise winner and third favourite, Chris Hoy in this Olympics year season, it is now turn for another season ahead in 2009.
Uk Bookmakers have started offering odds on the names of probables for the award in 2009 with Lewis Hamilton and Andy Murray coming in as early favourites with them.


Murray ready for Grand Slam glory ::Andy Murray says he feels closer to breaking his Grand Slam duck after a successful 2008 campaign.
The world number four has enjoyed his most rewarding season so far, winning five ATP championships and reaching the US Open final in September.
"I feel like I'm much closer to winning a Grand Slam now than I was," the 21-year-old Scot told BBC Sport.
"I always dreamt of winning one, but you don't believe it until you get very close, like I did in the US Open."

Andy Murray, Tennis number 4 ranked player
Andy Murray, the number 4 ranked player in the world, plays against Mardy Fish at The Boulevard Village and Tennis Club during an exhibition match for charity .

Andy Murray Pictures

Andy Murray Bio
Nationality: GBR (Great Britain)
Birthdate: May 15, 1987
Birthplace: Dunblane, Scotland
Residence: Dunblane, Scotland
Turned Pro: 2005
Plays: Right-handed

* Full name is Andrew Murray
* Began playing at age three
* Mother, Judy, is a former Scottish national coach and father, William is a Retail Area Manager
* Has one older brother Jamie (born Feb. 13, 1986), who also plays on the ATP circuit
* Grew up playing soccer and tennis and once was offered to play with Glasgow Rangers
* His favorite movie is The Girl Next Door and favorite musician is 50 Cent
* Based in Barcelona since age 15
* Won US Open junior title (d. Stakhovsky) and advanced to doubles SF (w/brother Jamie) in 2004
* Roland Garros junior SF in 2005
* Finished No. 10 in world junior rankings in ‘04
* Won Canadian Open junior title in 2003 and finished No. 6 that year
* Considers US Open best place he’s played
* Awarded 2004 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award
* Twice named LTA’s Young Player of the Year
* Has a 7-5 career Davis Cup record (6-1 in singles) in seven ties
* Favorite surface is clay and considers his serve as best part of his game
* Coached by American and former ATP Top 10 pro Brad Gilbert (since Washington in July 2006).

Novak Djokovic Pics and Biography

Novak Djokovic, born May 22, 1987 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia, is a Serbian tennis player, currently ranked 3rd in the world on the ATP Tour
(as of Oct 2008.)

Novak Djokovic
Mid-2006 Nole has been coached by the Slovak Marian Vajda, and this collaboration has proved to be - a big hit!

Novak Djokovic WallPaper

Djokovic began playing at age four and made his pro debut at 16. His father, Srdjan and mother, Dijana own a pizzeria and pancake restaurant on a mountain in Serbia for the last 15 years. Hisfather, uncle and aunt were all professional skiers and his father was also an excellent soccer player. Originally, his father wanted him to be a soccer player or skier but excelled in tennis at an early age.

Djokovic credits his family as inspiration for giving him so much support and says he wouldn't be able to be where he is without their help.

novak djokovic shirtless

Picture Novak Djokovic
An up-and-coming player at 20 years of age, Djokovic has already proven himself to be an all-court player with an abundance of talent. He started 2006 ranked 78th, but with an excellent run to the quarter-finals in Roland Garros and a 4th round at Wimbledon, he found himself in the top 40. Just three weeks after Wimbledon he won his maiden title in Amersfoort without losing a set defeating Nicolas Massu in the final.

In 2007, his performances in the Masters Series events at Indian Wells and Miami, where he was runner-up and champion respectively, has seen him move well into the world's top ten. His best showing in a Grand Slam was reaching the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon in 2007 where he lost both times to Rafael Nadal.