Dein erstes Forum » speculated that Colangelo could take his fa

In conversation with?Robbie Fowler, who talks about his love for sport, the importance of practice and to never lose touch with the game one loves.How has sport shaped your life? Ive played football for as long as I can remember. It has probably made me the person I am. I never had the intention of doing anything other than sports, so I practiced and practiced hard.When you set your mind to do something, I think it makes you a more spirited person. If youve got ambitions and you go for it; I think thats all Ive done. Ive sorely wanted to play football, and Ive tried everything I could to get where I was. It obviously took a long time; it didnt happen overnight. But everything Ive done was down to football.Ive travelled the world, and Ive seen just about everything. Its all through football...some wonderful places of the world that I have visited, and its all from working hard as a kid, to get to where I wanted to be.Do you think sometimes people underestimate the value of sport in a persons life?I think it depends on where you are, in what country. Certain countries value their education more; I feel that I have had a wonderful education out of football. Ive seen certain things that I thought I would never see, and through football. You cant obviously do without an education also, but its not about the job aspect alone. Any involvement in any sport is also healthy. It keeps you fresh, and your mind and body active.Look, not everybody is fortunate enough to go and do it professionally. But I have no doubt in my mind that if I werent playing football, I would have been in some other sport. I always wanted to stay in shape - through sport, any kind of sport. Whether youre walking, running or jogging, I think its final.As you started off playing football, who were your biggest influences?My parents played a huge role in helping me at the start. Coming to Liverpool, we had a coach called Steve Ayre, who was a massive player there. He has achieved everything, and was my first coach. He helped me get through the teams. He was tough, but fair. He was fantastic.When youve got parents driving you on, and when you have coaches like Steve Ayre, theyre always striving for you to be the very best you can. With their help and with my own ambition and desire to do well, I became the player that I wanted to be.How important is team spirit in a sport like football?It is important without a shadow of doubt... in football, and in team games. Individual sports are different because you are on your own, but in a team game, it is massively vital. You need your five or seven or 11 players with you. Were all fighting for the same outcome, and with that team spirit and togetherness that you have to have. We see it all the time with kids, and even with players. Even at these European Championships, youve got all the best players - dont get me wrong; theyre all excellent players - but you still need a team around you, and its massively important.What are the two best memories of your playing career?I think the first one would be making my debut. That took years and years of hard work...years of practice to get where I wanted to be. It is never easy being a professional sportsman - whether in cricket, golf or football. There are many hours of practice that have gone in before that. So before anything, making your debut is certainly one, and obviously having made your debut, you want to be successful. You want to win things.I think winning my first trophy as a professional footballer was special. To make your debut is brilliant, but to actually win your first trophy, when there are thousands of people who have tried before but havent really done it, that gives you so much satisfaction.One moment that stands out from your career is when you tried to convince the referee in an Arsenal-Liverpool game that David Seaman hadnt fouled you when you got a penalty? Did you dive?Did I dive? No (laughs). It was one of those moments where you run for the ball and lose your footing. It certainly wasnt a dive, and I didnt think it was a penalty at the time. The more I think about it, the more I feel it probably was a penalty, because I ran into him. I could have got injured really badly.So my jumping over, losing balance and falling over was probably a good thing, because I could have hurt myself, or I could have hurt the goalkeeper. It certainly wasnt a dive, but...(smiles) youre the first person to have said that! Ive been called many things, but Ive never been called a diver. So I dont really like that (smiles).How was it being a part of the European Championships when they were played at home in 1996?It was brilliant. What was special about it was that it was at home; we played all our games at Wembley. No matter where we were - in the hotel, on the way to London, the support that we got with people coming out of their houses... it lifts you as a player. It makes you want to do that little bit more. It reminds you that its not about you or your team, its about the country.We as players stuck together, and the country got behind us. Its probably the best tournament that England have had since they won the World Cup in 1966. The team spirit was then absolutely fantastic, as was the atmosphere from everyone within the country.You have now seen football from a different perspective??How do you think the game has evolved since your playing days?It is very difficult when you retire - dont let anyone tell you (anything) different. Youve suddenly gone from being a top-class player in a top-class team to doing nothing, and thats difficult. It really is. This is why I like doing what I do now. I work for Liverpool football club, doing television shows. It keeps me involved in football.So, even when I am not playing anymore, I still like to keep myself involved in the game. I think its massively important. Maybe your advice to the youngsters will help them become the future Robbie Fowlers and the future Decos. Thats what we really want - we cant play anymore. But we can still help the next generation.What would your advice be to youngsters in India who might be picking up the sport? Whether you are playing football, cricket or golf, or anything, the first thing is to try. Whatever it is that you feel comfortable in, just give it everything. Practice is massive...I cant really stress on how important that is. Listen to your parents and your coaches. Listen to people who have may have been in that position. Understand where you could go right and identify the wrongs. Try and improve that.?You think of all the Messis and Ronaldos - these type of players - they have forever practiced. They dont wake up and suddenly become a great player. They have practiced everyday - from the time they were children till today.Drew Brees Womens Jersey . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Archie Manning Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. http://www.saintsrookiestore.com/Saints-Morten-Andersen-Jersey/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Willie Roaf Saints Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Willie Roaf Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday.240-318. That is the Toronto Raptors win-loss record in seven seasons since Bryan Colangelo took over as the teams President and General Manager. In that time the Raptors have just one winning season to speak of. Theyve won three playoff games in just two postseason appearances. You can argue that after seven years of faithful service to the organization Colangelo is entitled to nothing. But youd be wrong. He is entitled to respect. The two-time Executive of the Year was hailed as a franchise saviour when he was lured away from the Phoenix Suns and brought to town in February of 2006. He was supposed to bring NBA legitimacy to a city that desperately craved it, and a fan base that had been teased - only briefly - with the taste of success. Fast forward to 2013. That taste has turned bitter. The results, division title aside, have fallen well below expectations and the promise of building a winner in Toronto has fallen on skeptical ears. Here we sit, the franchise at another crossroads as Colangelo -- like everybody else -- awaits the next step, the chosen path. In many ways this is the calm before what appears to be an inevitable storm. Throughout his tenure Colangelo, a beacon of class and professionalism, has represented the front office in a way any ideal executive should. He has and continues to treat the city, its fans and media alike with respect. In terms of his work, he hasnt been shy, swinging for the fences and engineering the type of bold moves hes become synonymous with. Agree or disagree with his personnel decisions, his unwavering dedication to the job has been commendable. In the end its a results driven business and the results have not been good. The Raptors GM knows that as well as anyone. He may be given one final opportunity to deliver those results in the option year of his contract. He may not. In either scenario there should have been a better, quicker way of coming to a resolution. Nearly four weeks ago Colangelo addressed the mediaa in his annual season ending post-mortem.dddddddddddd For over 38 minutes he answered questions regarding the immediate and long-term future of the team, its players and coach without knowing where his own fate in the organization lied. Now he and his staff head to Chicago for a draft combine that begins on Thursday. There -- assuming a resolution has not been made by this point -- hell represent a team (likely) without a pick, a team he may not even be a part of when the draft takes place in late June. The question is, who steps in to do right by the GM? Thats where things get tricky. Tim Leiweke, the incoming CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owes Colangelo nothing. Unofficially, hes been on the job for just over two weeks. Officially he wont take over until June 30. Understandably, his allegiance is to this franchise and its future, as he sees it, not to GM he inherited. It is widely believed that the MLSE board has ceded the decision making to its new chief executive. Its Leiwekes call to make, whenever he is ready to make it. Many believe a resolution is just around the corner. Leiweke has been weighing his options, doing his due diligence and could presumably be seeking out potential alternatives should he decide to steer the franchise in a new direction. Although it remains plausible that Colangelos one-year option is picked up, that scenario appears to be a fallback at this point. If that was "Plan A", wouldnt it be done by now? Some have speculated that Colangelo could take his fate in his own hands and resign. It shouldnt come to that. Colangelos seven-year tenure with the Raptors has been a roller coaster. Despite all the bumps, drops and turns he remains one of the most well regarded executives in the association. If his time in Toronto is nearing its end no one should be surprised, these marriages tend to expire in the absence of sustained success, but how long can you keep the GM in limbo? He deserves better. ' ' '