Erika’s World

Last night, Ding Junhui became the first player from mainland China to reach the last 16 of snooker’s premier event.

Ding showed real battling qualities. He lost five frames in a row from 5-1 up, but kept in touch with Fu in the finishing stretch and played a strong final frame, closing with a break of 76. He now faces Stephen Hendry in arguably the tie of the second round, and the 21-year-old still has the chance to eclipse Hendry as the youngest ever winner of snooker’s biggest title.

Less than 24 hours later, he has been followed by Liang Wenchong, who played superbly to send 1997 champion Doherty crashing out at the first hurdle for the second consecutive year.

Liang led 7-2 after the first session thanks to breaks of 77, 58, 68, 51 and 95, and he added the first frame tonight with a 56. Doherty pulled one back and cleared from the brown in the next for a respotted black, but then went in-off attempting safety to fall 9-3 behind.

The 38-year-old battled on and pulled two frames back with a top run of 69. But Liang was not to be denied and got the better of a scrappy 15th frame for victory

A headed own goal deep into added time by Liverpool FC substitute John Arne Riise who has not scored for Liverpoll all season long, gave Chelsea a 1-1 tie heading into next Wednesday’s second leg at Stamford Bridge in London.

It was a vital away goal, since those goals count double if the teams end up tied on total goals after the second leg. This own goal at Anfield yesterday has helped visiting Chelsea take a major step toward the Champions League final.

Until the own goal, it looked as if Liverpool would have a slender advantage after Dirk Kuyt’s goal in the 43rd minute, but… anyway, I hope my favorite and the best team Liverpoor can gey in the final and win the championship.

Before joining the Lakers, Gasol had never won any of postseason games, but last night, Gasol established career playoff highs with 36 points and eight assists, and he also had 16 rebounds and three blocked shots as the Los Angeles Lakers took command in the third quarter and beat the Denver Nuggets 128-114.

Gasol, a 27-year-old forward/center acquired from Memphis on Feb. 1 after spending 6 and half seasons with the Grizzlies, was 0-12 in three previous postseasons.

“It’s tough to match up against us for a variety of reasons. We have guys that can finish, we have a a great 1-2 punch, and all of our guys can pass all ball.” Indeed, the Lakes played more like a team right now. Bryant, who said he made himself a decoy through most of the game, scored 18 of his 32 points in the final 8 minutes to keep Los Angeles safely ahead. Lamar Odom added 17 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, moreover, Luke Walton added 16 points for the Lakers.

The Lakers outscored the Nuggets 39-22 in the third quarter after leading 58-56 at halftime. Leading by 19 at the begining of fourth quarter, and finished easily.

Roger Federer aims for his first title of the season, facing Nikolay Davydenko in the final of the Estoril Open.

The top-ranked Federer rallied to defeat Denis Gremelmayr 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 yesterday in the semifinal. It’s been eight years since Federer needed five tournaments to get a shot at his first trophy of season. Federer’s previous best result in 2008 had been a semifinal loss to eventual champion Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January.

Gremelmayr broke Federer in the first game, and another break in the seventh put the German on course to win the first set. But the Swiss star improved in the second set , he held for 6-5 and raced to a triple-break chance in the 12th. What’s more, he recovered to break the 104th-ranked player four times in the match, cruising in the third set.

Federer hung back at the baseline to start the final set and broke the his opponent in the second game with a smash at the net. He lobbed Gremelmayr in the fourth game for another break and soon led 4-0.

Federer, who had 10 aces, used a strong serve that forced Gremelmayr to hit a return into the net to clinch the match.

Shaquille O’Neal scored 16 points and grabbing a team-high nine rebounds to lead Phoenix, but it was the Suns’ defense that shined in a stunning 96-79 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

In a changing of roles, the usually high-octane Suns stepped up the defensive intensity in the deciding fourth quarter. San Antonio hit just two field goals in the opening eight minutes, and Phoenix took advantage of the cold streak.

With the Spurs focusing on the Suns’ perimeter game, O’Neal received easy looks in the post and scored eight straight points. The O’Neal-led 13-0 run put the game out of reach, as Phoenix led, 92-73 with 3:52 left in the game.

Duncan went over 12 minutes in the second half without a single point, and the Spurs looked beaten well before the final whistle blew.

Recently The Sun elected the fatest top ten guys in the soccer field.Of course this is none of the professional skill’s business just for fun.So when you read it don’t trate it so serious.

The Tenth,John Hartson. In his various professional carrer his weight has  fluctuated frequntly just like a yo-yo.After he left Arsenal to West Ham United , his weight kept going up.He also kept anounce he will lose his weight but people just saw he was getting fater and fatter.The coach persuaded him to lose weight. But he just shouted back:”It’s none of your buisness!”

The Ninth,Tomas Brolin. There is none of words to discribe this guy except fat.Somebody said he looks really like the characters on the back of poker.

The Eighth, Andy Reid. He has not only the deft left foot but also the big belly.Although his foot skill is outstanding, his type of build is as same as judo athletes.

Wesley Sneijder scored in the 43rd minute and Real Madrid held on to tie Mallorca 1-1 on Saturday, despite a second-half red card to Sergio Ramos.

Ramos was shown his second yellow card in the 66th minute, resulting in a soft red and an ejection - his third of the season and Mallorca took advantage to level the game in the 72nd minute on a beautiful goal by Borja Valero, who bent the ball into the upper right corner from inside the penalty area.

Mallorca continued to pressure over the final 20 minutes, but Real Madrid held on to secure one point and extend its lead in Spain’s La Liga to seven points.

April 3rd, the Torch Relay began from the biggest city of Turkey–Istanbul. It proceeded nearly 5 hours, ended at 4:00 AM of Beijing time. And then the torch will relay to the second biggest city of Ruassia–St.Petersburg.

Istanbul is the unique city which acroos Europe and Asia. It is also the shining point in the Torch Relay.The Torch Relay in Istanbul is composed of three parts. First, 31 torchbears board a craft at 20:35 of Beijing time. And then, the second part began. 6 torchbears were relaying the torch in the boat that was sailing to Asia. When the boat was docked in Asia the Torch Relay just accomplished the first relay between Europe and Asia.

There are 80 torchbears in Istanbul in total. They are not only athletes but also super stars and even goverment leaders.

Today afternoon Yao arrived at the Beijing Airport form Houston.He will live in his department near the Temple Of Heaven.And there will be a press conference to anounce about the sistuation of his injury.

As far as we know, this time he came back won’t stay for long time. The main purpose is to cure his injury.There is a group of doctors of traditional Chinese medicine to proceed a consulation to his left injury foot.

An officer of  General Administration of Sport said:”Yao won’t go back to the National Basketball Team until his injury is fully recovered.”

Although Jonas has already prepared the emergency plan with Chinese coach group for two sistuation that the national team will have Yao or not in the Olympic Games,  the influence is brought by Yao is self-evident.

Anyhow, the General Adiministration of Sport will assist Yao’s recovery with the most positive attitude.

Manchester United moved to within striking distance of the European Champions League semifinal yesterday with shutout victory on the road in Italy.

In Rome, a superb headed goal by Cristiano Ronaldo, an opportunistic strike by Wayne Rooney and a couple of breathtaking saves by Dutch goalkeeper Edwin VanDer Saar gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory over AS Roma.

Afterward, Alex Ferguson, the team’s manager, said he was confident his side could secure a place in the semifinals next week when the second leg of the quarterfinal series is played in England with Roma may have injured talisman and captain Francesco Totti back for the second leg and Ferguson isn’t getting carried away.