Entries from July 2004 ↓

Arsenal’s first game of the Amsterdam Tournament ended in a drab goalless draw on Friday night.

Arsene Wenger’s side just about shaded the game against Argentinian outfit River Plate at the Amsterdam ArenA. But, in truth, the game hardly moved out of second gear throughout the 90 minutes.

Returning hero Dennis Bergkamp came closest to breaking the deadlock in the final few minutes. First, he steered a header just wide. Then his 89th-minute shot was blocked by Eduardo Tuzzio from close range.

Arsenal will complete their Amsterdam fixtures against hosts Ajax on Sunday night.

Wenger’s squad was virtually the same as it was for the games in Slovenia and Austria. None of the Euro 2004 players were used but midfielder Mathieu Flamini was named on the bench. It was the first match for the new signing from Marseille.

It was thankfully a cool night in the Amsterdam ArenA for this early evening kick-off. This was the first of two games tonight in the four-team tournament.

It was to be followed by Panathinaikos v Ajax at 9.15pm (local time). With the Ajax crowd waiting for their heroes, the impressive stadium seemed only half full at kick-off.

In previous pre-season games, Robin van Persie had figured mostly on the left of midfield. Tonight, Jose Antonio Reyes started in that position so the Dutchman began just behind Jeffers. To many that position is simply known as the “Bergkamp role”. The originator, a former Ajax hero, was on the bench.

It was Van Persie who fired the first ’sighter’ on goal, a rising shot from distance that flew a few yards over the crossbar in the sixth minute. Triallist Marco Ne had a similar effort a few minutes later, but otherwise it was a low-key affair.

Cuevas conjured up the first real effort for River Plate, but the fast-covering Jermaine Pennant rushed back to block his firmly-struck shot.

Reyes did his best to lift the tone in the 24th minute when he won the ball in midfield only to lose it and tumble to the floor. However, he recovered, robbed his tackler and skipped past a challenge before being denied by the keeper.

On the half-hour, Van Persie charged down a clearance and the ball ricocheted across the area to Pennant at the far post. The winger beat his marker and clipped a low cross for Jeffers at the near post. However, the former Everton striker, under pressure from Tuzzio, scrambled his effort wide.

River Plate had their moments as half-time approached. Daniel Luduena cracked a shot wide when he should have made the keeper save and 20-year-old Maximiliamo Lopez went close as well.

The Argentinian side continued to look more forceful after the interval with Cuevas darting to the byline before flashing a dangerous ball across the face of the goal.

Arsenal responded on the hour when Gael Clichy cleverly weighted a left-wing pass for the scampering Reyes, who cut inside before finding Jeffers 10 yards out. The striker swivelled neatly but could not find the target. Seconds later, Reyes set up fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas, who fired a few feet wide of goal.

It was the former Barcelona midfielder’s last contribution as he may way seconds later for Flamini, who slotted into central midfield.

That may have been a significant moment for the numerous travelling Arsenal fans but the home support were more interested in Bergkamp’s arrival. The Amsterdam ArenA afforded the warmest of welcomes to the 35-year-old striker when he replaced Jeffers.

However, even the legendary Dutchman could not lift a drab affair. Another substitute, Gilberto, nodded wide from Reyes corner but it was an isolated incident. This game had a distinctly pre-season feel.

Bergkamp nearly stole the plaudits, and the game, at the death when he headed just wide from Justin Hoyte’s cross in the 86th minute.

Three minutes later, the Dutchman controlled Reyes’ cross but, as he was about to pull the trigger, Tuzzio threw himself forward to block.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees have pitched a proposal to city officials to build a new baseball park across the street from Yankee Stadium at a cost of $700 million, officials and media reports said Friday.

A spokesman for Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner said the team would pay for the entire cost of the new park, and city and state government would pay for improving the infrastructure around the stadium in the borough of the Bronx.

A spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that the city has been in talks with the Yankees about the possibility of building a new stadium.

“The city’s position has always been that any stadium has to be built with private money and the investment in infrastructure that the city could make would have to be paid back so that it doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime,” said Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman for Bloomberg.

Crain’s New York business magazine and The New York Times reported that the cost of the project would be $700 million or $750 million. Steinbrenner’s spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, declined comment on the amount. The reports said an announcement would be made in the coming weeks.

“The Yankees have been in discussions with officials in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration and in the Bronx about this proposal,” Rubenstein said. “Details are being considered but we are not going to put a timetable on an announcement.”

The plan is cheaper than previous proposals and would fulfill a nearly two decades-long goal of owner Steinbrenner, who has frequently complained about the shortcomings of the aging stadium, which opened in 1923 and has hosted 33 World Series.

Parts of Yankee Stadium, known as the “House that Ruth Built” after baseball legend Babe Ruth, would be demolished and converted for other purposes, the reports said.

Crain’s New York said the team would seek to finance the new stadium by issuing tax-exempt Industrial Development Authority bonds. The bonds would be paid off with revenue from the new stadium.

The new ballpark would be slightly smaller than Yankee Stadium with 50,000 seats and 50 luxury boxes, according to the proposal.

Eight members of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees organizations have been disciplined for their participation in an on-field altercation during the top of the third inning of the Red Sox-Yankees game on Saturday, July 24, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Bob Watson, Vice President of On-Field Operations for Major League Baseball, made the announcement.

Catcher Jason Varitek of the Red Sox was suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount for inciting a bench-clearing incident and fighting. Outfielders Gabe Kapler and Trot Nixon were each suspended for three games and fined undisclosed amounts for fighting and for aggressive actions during the bench-clearing incident. Varitek’s suspension is scheduled to begin on Friday, July 30, while Kapler’s is scheduled to start Tuesday, August 3. Nixon is scheduled to begin serving his suspension immediately upon his reinstatement from the disabled list.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was suspended for four games and fined an undisclosed amount for inciting a bench-clearing incident and fighting, while pitcher Tanyon Sturtze was suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed amount for fighting and for his aggressive actions during the bench-clearing incident. Both suspensions are scheduled to begin on Friday, July 30.

The following participants were fined an undisclosed amount but were not suspended: David Ortiz (Designated Hitter - Boston), Curt Schilling (Pitcher - Boston) and Kenny Lofton (Outfielder - New York).

Arsenal made it four wins from four pre-season games with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz at the Bad Waltersdorf Stadium on Wednesday night.

Jose Antonio Reyes scored from a penalty on the half hour and Francis Jeffers added another 16 minutes from time as the Premiership champions enjoyed the best of a game with few chances.

Arsene Wenger employed the same sort of squad to that in his previous games on the Austria/Slovenia tour. That meant no Euro 2004 players were used.

The visitors had the early pressure but in fact the first chance fell to Sturm. Ronald Brunmayr’s pass sent fellow striker Klaus Salmutter clear in the area but Manuel Almunia rushed out to block with his chest.

Captain Dennis Bergkamp responded a few minutes later by expertly controlling a chip over defence by Francesc Fabregas. The Dutchman then attempted to drift a shot over the backtracking keeper Radovan Radakovic but it fell on to the top of the net.

Bergkamp’s next major involvement was to prod a pass into the path of Reyes, who tumbled under the challenge of Gunter Neukircher. The Spaniard’s penalty was struck cleanly but keeper Radakovic choose the right way and the ball sneaked under his body.

Towards the end of the half, Strum perked up and Francisco Rojas sent Almunia scrambling across his goal with a deflected shot. There was no need, the ball sped well wide.

Both sides made wholesale changes at the break. Arsenal kept on four players, Sturm just one. As a result there was little flow in the second half. Experienced striker Mario Haas caused problems with his muscularity. For Arsenal, both Beveren triallists, Marco Ne and Emmanuel Eboue impressed, so did 17-year-old striker Arturo Lupoli, who replaced Van Persie midway through the half.

Eboue sent Aliadiere scurrying down the right in the 74th minute and the Frenchman’s cross was not cleared by the Sturm defence. Jeffers pounced to hook home from the edge of the six-yard box.