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Liverpool FC Sell To Red Sox

29 Oct

The 300 million sale of Liverpool Football Club was finally completed this week as New England Sports Ventures (NESV) replaced former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillette. NESV’s other ventures include Boston’s highly successful basketball team the Red Sox. All acquisition debts have been written off, significantly reducing the clubs debts from a total of 30 million a year to just 3 million.

Former owners George Gillette and Tom Hicks took out a loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland to purchase the club in 2007 which has since caused a series of crises. The club had till 15 October this year to repay debts or face being taken as an asset by the bank. RBS’s position on the loan had deterred potential buyers from placing a formal bid and to make matters worse Hicks and Gillette refused to budge on their massive 800 million asking price for the club.

Hicks and Gillette attempted to block the RBS’s sale of the club to NESV by obtaining a restraining order from a Texas court, but this was lifted to allow the sale. As the process went on it became clear that the owners priority was to maximise returns for themselves. They fell out with independent members of the board whose aim was to secure the best deal for the long-term future of Liverpool FC. They will only receive a small amount of the sales proceeds due to the massive debts owed by the club. Hicks and Gillette have now announced their intentions to claim $1.6 billion in compensation.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans are delighted at the takeover and are eagerly awaiting improvements at Anfield. NESV are also looking into moving the club to a larger and more modern ground. Primary owner, John W. Henry announced the company’s commitment to winning, and promised to return Liverpool FC “to greatness on and off the field for the long-term”.

However, Liverpool’s performance showed no signs of improving on Sunday as they were beaten 2-0 by rivals Everton at the Merseyside Derby match.

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Vikings Lure Brett Favre Out Of Retirement

08 Mar

The retirement and un-retirement of Brett Favre is becoming an annual rite of the NFL preseason, and this year is no different. A few months after retiring from football after playing last season with the New York Jets, The Gunslinger is back in the NFL. This year he’ll be slinging balls for the Minnesota Vikings, who’ll pay Favre $12 million bucks if he’s on the opening day roster.

Favre made his announcement at a Tuesday press conference where he spoke of the decision to come back for another NFL season:

“I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be. You’re 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don’t have to do that much and I agree with that. If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too. I don’t know how I’ll feel a year from now, five years from now, but I didn’t want to say what if.

The Vikings will pay Favre $12 million this season and $13 million next season. If he makes the opening day roster in either year, he gets the full amount of the contract though the payments themselves will be deferred.

Favres mother was even asked for her thoughts on the matter:

“I have mixed emotions, but I have always loved to watch him play. This time, however, I thought he would stay retired and stay home. I guess he could not do it. They Minnesota seem to have a good team in place, and he liked that. I guess I need to get a Vikings jersey now.”

After consulting with noted sports physician James Andrews, he had a change of heart despite suffering a slight rotator cuff tear last season:

“I just kept thinking I didn’t want to go through what I did last year. Between three weeks ago and the phone conversation yesterday [with Vikings coach Brad Childress], I talked to Dr. [James] Andrews and he assured me it wouldn’t be an issue. I felt if everyone was going to take that chance, I was to. As friends and family has told me, you never know until you take the chance,”

Favre said that he’s optimistic that the Vikings can make a deep run in the NFL playoffs:

“I felt from my standpoint that I could offer some experience and leadership, and I have to admit through this whole process after I said no three weeks ago, sometimes I was OK with it, and other times I said. I can really help this team.”

Favre will wear his iconic #4, thanks to Vikings fourth string QB Josh David Booty who graciously gave up the number. Booty will wear #9. Viking QBs Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson who were competing for the starting job will now be relegated to backup status.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and World Cup betting sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

 
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