D Friday, December 4, 2009 METROSPORT 21 These fed-up New Jersey fans cannot bear to show their faces as the Nets lose an 18th straight match. They went down 117-101 to the visiting Dallas Mavericks 117-101 to set a record for the worst start to an NBA season. Guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who scored 24 points for the Nets, said: At this point I feel like the streak has definitely gotten the best of us. Its almost like we give up. Thats what it looks like to me. We sort of give up and just lay down instead of trying to fight. Browned off, bags on and beaten Picture: Reuters basketball Gaa Cusack keen to write new chapters in careerBy pAul keANeDonal g Cusack insists specu- lation that he may hang up his hurl after publishing his autobiography could not be further from the truth. The Cork goalkeeper, 33 in March, was in Dublin yesterday where his book, Come What May, was named the William Hill Irish Sports Book of the Year award. Most books are published near the end of players careers or when they are finished entirely, but treble all-Ireland win- ner Cusack plans to play on for several years. I would like to think so and I would like to think that other people think so too, said Cu- sack. But you never know, hurling is like any other sport at the top level. You take every game as it comes. Cusack became the first Irish sports personality to come out pub- licly as gay in his book. He said the reaction has been mainly positive. I have been very surprised at the sheer amount of reaction and I have been very surprised at the amount of interest in the story, he said. Most of it has been overwhelmingly posi- tive and it is something that I appre- ciate very much and I am delighted that it turned out that way. aside from playing for Cork, Cu- sack doubles as gPa chairman and had a key role in talks that led to the gaa agree- ing to formally recognise the body. The gaas Central Council will meet tomor- row and, despite some opposition, are expected to agree to back the move, which includes funding the gPa to the tune of 1.6million. Whats very pleasing is that it ap- pears the majority of people think that this is a very fair agreement and something that seeks compromise on both sides, added Cusack. The write stuff: Cusacks autobiography Come What May won the William hill Irish sports Book of the year award yesterday TODAy CRICkeT Fifth One Day International: South Africa v England (Durban) hORse RACING Exeter, Lingfield, Sandown Park, Wolverhampton RuGBy uNION Magners league: Ulster v Glasgow (8.00), Scarlets v Edinburgh (7.05) TeNNIs (until Sunday) Davis Cup World Group Final: Spain v Czech Republic (Spain) sATuRDAy sOCCeR (3.00 unless stated) Barclays premier league Arsenal v Stoke ................................ Aston Villa v Hull............................... Blackburn v Liverpool....................... Man City v Chelsea ................... 5.30 Portsmouth v Burnley.............. 12.45 West Ham v Man Utd ....................... Wigan v Birmingham ........................ Wolverhampton v Bolton.................. Coca-Cola Championship Blackpool v Barnsley........................ Bristol City v Ipswich........................ Cardiff v Preston............................... Crystal Palace v Doncaster .............. Derby v West Brom .......................... Newcastle v Watford ........................ Nottm Forest v Leicester........... 1.00 Peterborough v Swansea ................. Plymouth v Sheff Utd ....................... QPR v Middlesbrough ...................... Sheff Wed v Reading........................ Coca-Cola league One Charlton v Southend ........................ Colchester v Bristol Rovers.............. Exeter v Brighton.............................. Gillingham v Carlisle......................... Hartlepool v Millwall ......................... Leeds v Huddersfield .............. 12.15 Milton Keynes Dons v Yeovil ............ Norwich v Oldham............................ Swindon v Leyton Orient.................. Tranmere v Brentford........................ Walsall v Southampton..................... Wycombe v Stockport...................... Coca-Cola league Two Accrington Stanley v Torquay........... Aldershot v Chesterfield................... Bournemouth v Shrewsbury............. Bury v Barnet.................................... Cheltenham v Northampton............. Crewe v Lincoln City......................... Darlington v Bradford ....................... Grimsby v Dag & Red....................... Hereford v Notts County .................. Port Vale v Morecambe .................... Rochdale v Macclesfield .................. Rotherham v Burton Albion.............. Clydesdale Bank premier league Celtic v Aberdeen............................. Dundee Utd v St Mirren.................... Falkirk v Rangers..................... 12.30 Hibernian v Motherwell..................... St Johnstone v Kilmarnock .............. hORse RACING Chepstow, Sandown Park, Wetherby, Southwell, Navan RuGBy uNION International: Barbarians v New Zealand (2.15) Magners league: Ospreys v Munster (6.30) A I B league Division One (2.30)-- section A: Dolphin v UL Bohemians, Garryowen v Clontarf, Shannon v Cork Con, St Marys v Blackrock section B: Ballymena v Galwegians, Buccaneers v Ballynahinch, Old Belvedere v Dungannon, Young Munster v UCC suNDAy sOCCeR Barclays premier league Everton v Tottenham.................. 4.00 Fulham v Sunderland ................ 3.00 Coca-Cola Championship Scunthorpe v Coventry.............. 1.15 Clydesdale Bank premier league Hamilton v Hearts.................... 12.45 hORse RACING Kelso, Lingfield, Warwick, Punchestown RuGBy uNION Magners league: Cardiff Blues v Connacht (3.00), Newport-Gwent Dgons v Leinster (5.00) weekend fixtures I would like to think I can play on for several years Harte calls for Rules break MICkeY HarTe has urged the gaa to seize the moment and end the International rules series forever. Ireland are effectively managerless after word leaked out that Sean Boylan will not be retained for next years anticipated series. asked who should replace Boylan in the hot seat, three-times all- Ireland winning Tyrone boss Harte, a noted opponent of the series, wants nobody to be asked. Instead, he claimed this is the perfect time to end the series, which was not even played this year due to australias inability to travel to Ireland. I dont think another series should even be considered so I dont think they should be considering any new manager, said Harte. That game should have been left behind a long time ago. lets get real and promote our own games and leave this hybrid stuff behind. Hartes coaching philosophies and training ground techniques, along with those of Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody, are featured on a new DVD, Passion and Glory. See jwtv.co.uk for details. ARMAGh legend Oisin McConville has revealed he would be interested in coming out of retirement for new manager paddy ORourke. The Orchard legend quit in 2008 following limited appearances for then boss peter McDonnell. he was troubled by a persistent back injury but has remained playing for club Crossmaglen. If it was going well at club level, if my fitness was right and there were no injuries, then if I was asked I would consider it, McConville said. McConville considers comeback FORMER world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo has announced her retirement from tennis. The Frenchwoman (pictured), who won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006, burst into tears at a news conference in Paris. I came here to announce the end of my career, the 30-year-old said. I made this decision after careful consideration. It was becoming tough mentally. What happened is I simply did not want to go training anymore. My tennis life lasted 25 years, there were extraordinary things and tough moments. I had three main goals, becoming world No.1, claiming a grand slam title and a Fed Cup. I achieved all of them. When I look back I have no regret and great pride. Mauresmo first topped the world rankings in 2004, and at her best was a fearsome competitor. But her career was blighted in recent years by a succession of injuries. She won the Paris Open title in February, but has not played since the US Open in September. Mauresmo, 30, opts to retire tennis AUSTRAlIAN Robert Allenby took the lead, but local favourite Retief Goosen was the one with something to celebrate in the opening round of the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South Africa yesterday. Goosen won a Volvo for an eagle two at the 480-yard 17th and reacted by throwing the ball out into the lake and hitting what, by then, was his car. The double US Open champion finished with a three-under 69 to be alongside compatriot Tim Clark and only one behind pacesetter Allenby (pictured). Rory McIlroy had an inconsistent round, mixing six bogeys with five birdies to sit tied for tenth. u GARY Murphy and Simon Thornton secured their European Tour cards for next year after finishing in the top 30 at the Tour qualifying school in Catalunya yesterday. Murphy started the day just outside the cut- off but shot a four-under 68 to finish tied for 16th, while Thornton tied for 25th after a 71. Allenby in front in South Africa Golf index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html