SPORTS CHINA DAILY WEDNESDAY MARCH 28, 2007 23 TOPSHOT Brilliant Bryant energizes Lakers push Maradona movie set for Italian release ROME: A movie biopic based on the rise and fall of Argentine football Kobe scoring consistently high to keep legend Diego Maradona is set to be released in cinemas throughout his team on course for playoff berth Italy on Friday. Directed by Marco Risi, Maradona La LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers the court.” Mano di Dio, or The Hand of God, the superstar Kobe Bryant, stung by two Even more important, however, phrase the Argentine used to explain National Basketball Association sus- is that Bryant’s heroics have turned how he scored a controversial goal pensions, has responded by writing things around for a Lakers team that against England with his hand in the himself into the record books. had fallen to 33-32 as they battled to 1986 World Cup quarter-fi nals, takes Last week Bryant joined Wilt overcome injuries to four key players. in different phases of the player’s life Chamberlain as the only player in Bryant’s 65-point outburst against including his drug problems. NBA history to record four or more Portland on March 16 saw the team Risi said that he wanted to show the straight games of 50 points or more. end a seven-game losing streak. humanity of a player regarded as In the process he turned in per- “If we don’t win games now, we one of the all-time greats, but who formances of 65 and 60 points, tying miss the playoffs, which means we’re has battled drugs and ill health. Michael Jordan for second in most home in April watching the playoffs,” “Of course he took cocaine but he 60-point games with four. Bryant said. “That’s just unacceptable wasn’t a member of government,” Explosive scoring is nothing new to me.” said Risi. “Maradona was a genius for Bryant. In the 2002-03 season Bryant followed up that effort with who basically thoughout his life on- he scored at least 40 points in nine a 50-point effort against Minnesota ly harmed himself,” added Risi, who straight games. the next night before dropping 60 on discribed the goal scored against His 81-point performance against Memphis on March 22. England as “an artistic gesture”. Toronto last season is the second- The fi reworks continued with the Regarded as one of the world’s highest single-game points total in 50-point performance against New greatest-ever footballers, Maradona NBA history, outstripped only by a Orleans, and while he couldn’t hit shares FIFA’s title of the 20th cen- 100-point performance by Chamber- the half-century mark against Golden tury’s best player with Brazil’s Pele lain in 1962. State on Sunday, he scored 43 in a after a sparkling career with Boca Lakers coach Phil Jackson lent 115-113 victory that gave the Lakers Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli. credence to the theory that Bryant’s their fi rst fi ve-game winning streak latest rampage was sparked by the of the season. NFL star rusher Faulk retires two suspensions handed down - not Bryant was widely reckoned to have PHOENIX, Arizona: Marshall Faulk, by game offi cials but by NBA brass the opportunity to put up another a versatile threat as a rusher and - for hitting Manu Ginobili and Marko gaudy number yesterday, when the pass catcher who helped the St. Louis Jaric as he attempted to shoot. Lakers took on Memphis, but pun- Rams win the 2000 Super Bowl, an- “Do you remember there was a dits predicted he would find the nounced his retirement from Ameri- suspension about two weeks ago?” going tougher on Friday against the can football on Monday at age 34. Jackson said. “I think there is some defensive-minded Houston Rockets. Faulk missed all of last season fol- motivation behind that. He has that Of course, that could be just the lowing reconstructive knee surgery kind of passion.” motivation Bryant needs. and spent 2006 as an analyst for Jackson himself was fi ned when “He’s a player that really loves a the National Football League’s cable he called the punishments a “witch challenge,” said Dallas Mavericks television network. hunt.” coach Avery Johnson. “He really loves The Rams obtained Faulk from the Bryant has acknowledged that he putting the team on his shoulders, Indianapolis Colts in 1999 for two was angered by the implication that and that’s what he’s done. draft picks and the running back he is a dirty player. “Jordan was so skilled, and Kobe claimed NFL Most Valuable Player “You’ve got to understand what is so skilled. They don’t have many honors in 2000, the same year the I put into preparing myself for this fl aws in their games. Then on top of Rams beat Tennessee 23-16. game to understand how motivated I it, they are ruthless. In the fourth Faulk helped the Rams to the 2002 am right now,” he said. quarter, they do it consistently. It’s Super Bowl as well, where the New Mavericks forward Devean George, all about his fi nishing.” England Patriots edged them 20-17 who played with Bryant for six years Jackson, who once crossed swords to begin their dynasty run. in Los Angeles, said the guard was with his superstar over his tendency Faulk ranks ninth on the NFL’s all- among those who, like tennis player to shoot rather than share the ball, time rushing list with 12,279 yards John McEnroe, can channel anger into now says admiringly: “If he smells and is sixth in all-purpose yards with an outstanding performance. blood in the water, he’s going to go 19,190. He made 767 catches for 6,875 “There are a lot of things that can light after you.” yards, among the greatest reception a fi re under his butt,” George said. Bryant says it’s all about winning, efforts for any rusher in NFL history. “He uses everything. He uses key and honing his skills. players. He uses losses. Guys trash “The goal is not to have a weakness Anton keen to emulate big talking. What coaches say. How teams in my game, to do everything I can to brother Rio play him. If he doesn’t get double- ensure there are no weaknesses in LONDON: West Ham centre-back teamed, he takes it as an insult. my game,” he said. “I’ve got a ways Anton Ferdinand insists that he “I think he takes everything going to go, personally. I don’t think I’m wants to put his recent troubles wrong, anything, and he’ll just save fi nished.” behind him and follow his older it and let it out on the game. He’ll at- brother Rio’s career path into the tack and get all of his anger out on AFP England team. The England Under-21s player was disciplined earlier in the month for breaking club rules and travelling to the USA to celebrate his 22nd birthday. His brother Rio had a reputation for Wright: Life is tough for int’l coaches Police struggle for clues poor discipline early in his career before becoming the cornerstone of CRICKET lieves international cricket coaches selfi sh. You don’t see your family for in Woolmer murder probe the England senior team. must constantly worry and be self- long, long periods of time. So it’s a bit “It would defi nitely be nice to play GROS ISLET, St Lucia: A two-month ish in order to do well. harder but you do it by choice.” alongside Rio, that would be one for long World Cup is hard on everybody, Bracewell’s side have progressed His achievements with the New CRICKET videotape frame by frame to identify the family, me and Rio to look back especially the team coaches who re- to the World Cup second stage Super Zealand cricket team, in a sparsely- everyone on the 12th fl oor from the at,” he said. turn home too early or stay until the Eights in impressive fashion, winning populated country obsessed with KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaican po- time Woolmer went to his room on “It’s down to me because Rio’s there end. all three group matches including a rugby, are impressive. lice were still looking at match-fi xing Saturday night to when he was found already. He’s made mistakes and The murder of Pakistan coach Bob simple six-wicket win over England. Their recent 3-0 whitewash of on Monday as a possible motive for the on Sunday. he’s one of the best defenders in the Woolmer has shocked cricket, but They are many people’s dark Australia in the one-day Chapell- murder of Pakistan cricket coach Bob “We’re going to do it properly, world, if not the best.” the fact many fi rst assumed he had horses for the title because of their Hadlee series was great preparation Woolmer but have found no reference thoroughly and professionally and at suffered a heart attack after losing to team ethic, all-round game and de- for this tournament, but a defeat by to it on his computer. the end of it, it may be that we might, outsiders Ireland shows the pressures termined attitude, a trait Bracewell Bangladesh in the World Cup warm- The cricket world has been rife might identify a suspect from that ONTV of the job. has in abundance. ups brought them back down to with speculation that the strangula- process,” he said.