BUDVA, 27. januara 2012. (Beta) - Fudbaler Crvene zvezde Kristijan
Borha rekao je u petak da mu je trener Robert Prosinečki namenio novu
ulogu u timu i da će u prolećnom delu sezone igrati na poziciji
centralnog na..

BEOGRAD, 27. januara 2012. (Beta) - Košarkaši Bostona pobedili su
Orlando u gostima sa 91:83, dok su Los Andjeles Klipersi na svom
terenu bili bolji od Memfisa sa 98:91, u jedinim utakmicama američke
NBA lige igran..

NOVI SAD, 27. januara 2012. (Beta) - Na društvenoj mreži Fejsbuk
(Facebook) korisnici su pokrenuli akciju podrške dobrosusedskim
odnosima Srbije i Hrvatske, nakon incidenata i napada na navijače
Hrvatske u Novom S..

BEOGRAD, 27. januara 2012. (Beta) - Rukometna reprezentacija Srbije
igraće u petak u 20.15 u Beogradskoj areni polufinale Evropskog
prvenstva protiv selekcije Hrvatske.

Pobednik tog duela sastaće se u fina..

AJNDHOVEN, 27. januara 2012. (Beta) - Vaterpolo reprezentacija Srbije
igraće u petak u 18.00 protiv selekcije Italije u polufinalu
Evropskog prvenstva koje se održava u holandskom Ajndhovenu.

U drugom polu..

The teams for the U.S. National Football League's Super Bowl XLVI championship game are set with the New England Patriots facing the New York Giants.  

In the first of two conference championship games Sunday, the New England Patriots defeated the visiting Baltimore Ravens 23-20.  The Patriots claimed the American Football Conference title when the Ravens missed a short field goal attempt with just 11 seconds remaining in the game.

The second game provided an equally exciting conclusion.  The New York Giants kicked a field goal in overtime to defeat the host San Francisco 49ers 20-17 and claim the National Football Conference title.

The Giants and Patriots will play in the 46th Super Bowl on Sunday, February 5, inside the domed stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.  The same two teams played in the 2008 Super Bowl, with the Giants shocking the Patriots, 17-14.

As the African Cup of Nations kicks off in Equatorial Guinea, January 21. Human Rights activists are sharply criticising the country for pouring millions into the football, soccer, tournament amid widespread poverty. With poor press freedoms and one of the worst human rights' records in the world, some are asking can Equatorial Guinea justify putting on a show for the world's media?

With the 28th African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, human rights campaigners, event organizers and media people are asking if this repressive nation is capable of dealing with the arrival of hundreds of foreign journalists.

Sports reporters from around the world arrived this week in the capital Malabo and match venue, Bata, to cover the three-week football, soccer, event, co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and neighboring Gabon.

Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang, who has been in power for 33 years, says he views the games as an opportunity to sell the country’s image.

But repression has been a hallmark of Obiang’s rule - with political opponents and the press routinely subject to harassment. Human Rights Watch says torture also remains a serious problem.

Lisa Misol of Human Rights Watch believes Mr. Obiang simply wants photo-op images to showcase the country in a positive light - but doesn’t want the truth to come out about poverty levels.

“The government of Equatorial Guinea and President Obiang himself seem to be convinced that, because they have thrown so much money to build such impressive monuments and buildings, that if they invite foreigners to come see them they will get good coverage. And yet they are very nervous with any journalists who show interest in telling the story of the poverty that still exists in the country - so that’s when they react very strongly,” Misol said.

The Obiang government has undertaken a massive building spree in preparation for the sports event, financed by oil revenues.  New buildings include a $77 million presidential guesthouse and an $830 million conference center, resort and artificial beach.

Much of the construction is for the enjoyment of the country’s tiny elite and foreign guests - but the lavish spending offers little apparent benefit to the majority of the population.

Statistics about poverty levels in Equatorial Guinea are notoriously scant, as the government does not update records. But World Bank figures put three quarters of the population below the poverty line.  Misol says the statistic is surprising.

“That’s astounding in a country that has some of the highest wealth per capita on the planet. It’s a very tiny country with a small population and enormous oil revenues,”  noted Misol.

Journalists who have tried to report in the country on political and development issues before now have been arrested, made to delete footage and deported.

Philipe Nanga is a Human Rights Activist in the region. He says the African Cup of Nations is an opportunity to highlight the problems in Equatorial Guinea.

The situation is serious, he says. It is a country where people are beaten up, pushed around and hunted like dogs. He says, it is a country where foreigners are refused; you cannot work there.

Human Rights Watch says it is not calling for a boycott of the games. But instead  it wants journalists to see behind the story and try to cover the less air-brushed side to Equatorial Guinea.

“To the contrary, it’s useful for people to go to the country. We are just trying to encourage everyone who attends - including sports journalists - to open their eyes to what’s behind the new stadiums and the monuments and the presidential palaces and look for the poverty that is extensive in the country and report on what is really going on there," Misol added. "As a chance to shed a light on the terrible contradictions of life in Equatorial Guinea.”

The Africa Cup of Nations competition continues until February 12.

Jai Alai might be the fastest ball sport in the world - or the fastest ball sport failing to gather a crowd.  It was born in Europe's Basque country and transported to the United States, where, for a time, it was a popular betting sport, especially in Florida.  But jai alai is struggling to bring in the fans, despite the high dangers involved in playing.

Jai Alai is not child's play.  The ball weighs about 150 grams and flies at high speed around a playing court, called a "fronton."  

That speed is dangerous and it is what powers the sport.

Long time player John Silvia says the speed of the ball is what first drew him to jai alai.

“The ball averages about 140 miles an hour [about 225 kilometers per hour].  It kind of comes at you like a snake in the air, so it is very difficult to catch.  It's very exciting, very fast.  I love it!,“ Silvia said.

The players catch and throw the ball with a wicker basket glove called a "cesta" wrapped tightly around one hand.

That, and the ball itself, are features of the game that hark back centuries to the game's origins.

The rules have also changed very little over the years.  Players have to keep the ball in motion by hitting it against a wall.

If a player lets the ball go out of bounds or bounce more than once, he is replaced by the next player in line.

The game used to be very popular in many parts of the United States.

“My mom took me when I was a kid to watch, and ever since then I was hooked.  The guys were running around and jumping up the wall, and the crowd was screaming when they made good catches.  And I was just very excited to see it; I always wanted to do that,” Silvia said.

During its heyday during the mid-20th century, frontons could be found across the country.  

Fans turned out by the thousands to be entertained by the sport.

And betting helped make it popular.

Today, Florida is alone in retaining a fan base.

And even here, it is on the wane.

Most bettors have gone elsewhere, says long-time fan Rob Craig.

"Nowadays, a lot of times you come and it's a very empty building, very few players.  I think the sport just hasn't invested a lot in rebuilding itself.  There is a lot of new competition in the area.  There is gambling, there are casinos, there are slots.  It's just one of those things where the sport needs to make a true investment and invest into itself," Craig said.

Manager Simon Jackson says Orlando Jai Alai is trying to do that.  He says one aim is to help people understand the game more clearly.

"What we are trying to do is explain the sport in its fullest to give people better understanding and help them with their wagers, which is part of what this sport is about.  So we are trying to get out more information so that people are not scared," Jackson said.

Jackson says he would like to see the game recapture its popularity.  And he says, he believes that can be done with proper marketing and public education.