The much maligned Pro Bowl, NFL’s answer to an allstar game is in jeopardy after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said changes had to be made to the event, even dropping the game altogether.

The comments came about after Goodell was dissapointed by the quality displayed at the event. The event has always been considered an exhibition but the lack of interest from fans brought on from the lacklustre efforts of the players in the game has started to concern the NFL.

Even the introduction of tweeting during the game failed to spark enough interest to satisfy the NFL chiefs.

Speaking on ESPN Radio, Goodell says this year’s Pro Bowl wasn’t “the kind of football we want to be demonstrating to our fans, and you heard it from the fans, the fans were actively booing in the stands.”

Goodell made his remarks on Sunday, hours before the start of the Super Bowl.

Goodell has spoken to the NFL Players Association about his disappointment, adding, “We are going to either have to improve the quality of what we are doing in the Pro Bowl or consider other changes, or even consider eliminating the game if that is the kind of quality of game we are going to provide.”

The AFC won this years game 59-41.

Jerome Valcke, general secretary of world soccer’s governing body FIFA, has confirmed he will attend this year’s Soccerex Global Convention in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, running from November 26-30.

The event will be the second to be held in Rio after last year’s inaugural event in the city, which will host the 2016 Olympics as well as games during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Representatives from all 12 Brazilian 2014 World Cup host cities will be in attendance, as well as leading clubs and rights holders from across the globe.

Valcke stated: “I have attended many Soccerex events in several different countries. I have heard that the move to Rio was a great success and I look forward to meeting my friends and colleagues from across the industry at Soccerex in Brazil this year.”

After last weeks ticketing controversy at the kiosks of the Chinnswamy Stadium in which queuing, frenzied fans were beaten by police, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Saturday that a ballot process will be used for the public sale of tickets for the semi-finals and the final.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said that there will be a public ballot system similar to that which is used in the majority of global sporting events, which will open today, 28 February.

The website was overloaded when the tickets were initially programmed to go on sale on 21 February due to the demand being so great, however Lorgat gave Kyazoonga.com, the official online ticketing partner a clean slate.

Lorgat said: “It was most unfortunate and no blame should be directed at Kyazoonga, the ICC’s official ticketing partner, as no one could have anticipated that tens of millions people would be trying to access the site an hour before it went live. In truth Kyazoonga have been an innocent third party in all the issues we have had with ticketing.

“In conjunction with the hosts, we have now agreed that a ballot system is the best means of releasing any available tickets for the semis and final. The high demand clearly proves the massive attraction of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and format of 50 overs cricket.”

Lorgat continued to downplay the issue regarding the rueful scenes at the Chinnswamy Stadium last Thursday, dismissing media perceptions about a letter addressed to ICC President Sharad Pawar.

Lorgat added: “To help resolve our ticketing challenges we have also engaged the offices of the ICC President Mr Pawar to assist us as he has done with several other issues related to World Cup planning.”

The two semi-finals will be held in Colombo and Mohali on 29 and 30 March respectively, while the final will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 2 April with the ballot process beginning today.

Fans need to apply for the ICC CWC 2011 Ticket Public Ballot from 28 February 2011 to 6 March 2011 at cwc2011ballot.kyazoonga.com. A ticket limit of two tickets per applicant applies. Only one application per person. Please do not submit more than one form: Kyazoonga will void your applications. On submission of ballot form fans will receive a Ballot Confirmation Number once you complete and submit your application. No up-front payment is required at this stage.

The draw will be made by computer on 10 March 2011 and successful applicants will be informed by email on 11 March 2011. Successful applicants will be able to pay for their tickets through Kyazoonga’s secure payment processing website where they will be shown the transaction amount and asked to pay online using credit card/debit card/net-banking. If transaction is not successful, place in the draw will be offered to the next polled applicant from the draw.

Upon successful payment completion, fans will receive a confirmation page and email, tickets will be made available from the third week of March 2011.

The Arena Football League (AFL) have announced today that Jerry B. Kurz has been appointed the AFL’s first-ever League President.

Kurz, doctor who just completed his fifth year as Commissioner and his 28th year with the AFL, is credited with the rebirth of the League following its bankruptcy filing in 2009. Under his leadership, the League has expanded to Los Angeles, Portland and Las Vegas. He also brought in David Siegel of Westgate Resorts as new ownership for the Orlando Predators.

During his tenure as Commissioner, the AFL enjoyed three national broadcast partnerships with CBS Sports Network, ESPN, and NFL Network. In 2014, the League had two national broadcast partners in the same season – CBS Sports Network and ESPN – for the first time in its history. Kurz also secured an agreement to show all non-nationally televised AFL games on ESPN3.

With the growth of the AFL, the Board of Directors agreed at League meetings during ArenaBowl XXVII week that this newly created leadership position should be filled by Kurz. He will continue dedicating his life to furthering the sport by providing his unmatched football knowledge and strong business ethic. Kurz will continue his efforts to bring the highest quality product to the ever-growing population of Arena Football fans.

“I’m pleased that our Board of Directors has asked me to continue doing what I love to do,” Kurz said. “It’s such an honor that I get to continue helping the AFL move towards its bright future.” 

The AFL and Kurz have agreed to a three-year contract. His areas of emphasis will include football operations, game rules, player personnel and development, coaches, game officials, compliance, relationships and negotiations with the AFLPU and AFLOA, international development of the game and continued oversight of the Arena Football Hall of Fame.

The tropical destination of Kenting, cialis Taiwan, ampoule has been selected to host the third Ironman triathlon in Asia.

The inaugural Ironman Taiwan triathlon will take place on 12 April 2015.

Ironman Taiwan will be hosted throughout the stunning Kenting region. Kenting has not only become a major triathlon destination in Taiwan but also provides a vacation paradise for families and couples alike. Kenting will welcome athletes for its first Ironman race with full support from the government and the local community.

The Ironman Taiwan event will complement Ironman 70.3 Taiwan, which was first established in 2010. With the growing popularity of Ironman 70.3 Taiwan, local and international triathletes will now enjoy the additional option of a full distance Ironman branded race.

“Ironman 70.3 Taiwan has been very successful and we are thrilled to expand the Ironman brand in Asia by adding another long distance race to the region,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer for Ironman. “As we continue to grow globally, we want to find destination locations where there is a strong triathlete base – and Kenting is the perfect addition to our race calendar.”

Renny Ling, the CEO of Taiwan Triathlon Co Ltd, said he was honoured and delighted to bring the Ironman series into Taiwan: “Taiwanese triathletes have yearned for an Ironman race for years. It’s a historic moment for us to launch Ironman Taiwan. We would like to welcome triathlon-lovers from all around the world and will show you the beauty and strength of this island.”

IMG Worldwide has announced a landmark partnership with the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) to develop and grow Nigerian basketball, cough including on a professional level, ampoule for up to 20 years.

The NBBF, an affiliated member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), is the official governing body for the sport of basketball in Nigeria, Africa’s largest country by population, and one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

NBBF President Tijjani Umar said: “Nigeria has always had the potential to be a dominant power in basketball, one of the two great global games. But we can only reap what we sow. Today we begin investing in our long term success as a basketball power, with this step in partnership with IMG, a pioneer in world sport, bringing to bear its industry-leading expertise and strategic planning to help unlock Nigeria’s true long-term potential.”

Nigerian Sports Minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi echoed President Umar’s remarks. “We could not be happier to have IMG, one of the most admired and respected companies in the world, invest its time and resources in Nigeria. We share a common vision for the sport of basketball in this country, and for the country itself, primarily based on the greatest strength Nigeria has – its people.”

Mike Dolan, IMG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the largest and fastest growing economic regions in the world today, led by Nigeria and its 170 million population, the largest and youngest on the continent. Nigeria is one of the great sporting nations in the world and has already produced some of the greatest athletes across a variety of sports. We believe there is an enormous appetite for basketball on the continent, and led by the economic and cultural force of Nigeria, we have only begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible.”