/20090129

PY O C E FRE LOOKING FOR

A JOB? SEE PAGES 19-20

XPRESS

DAILY

Thursday, January 29, 2009 VOL 2, NO 268 dailyxpress.net

GOOD MORNING BANGKOK!

The trick to finding your style

By Saruda Nimpipakpong DAILY XPRESS/TATCHADON PANYAPHANITKUL

TV producer

T

CEASEFIRE Feuding students from two vocational schools are brought together to shake hands in an unspoken truce.

Will this end their decades-old blood feud? >PAGES 2&3

he biggest fashion tip I have for Thais is be original: find your own style rather than follow the trends. Bangkok could be a world fashion city to rival Tokyo or anywhere else in Asia, but only if individuals are daring enough to discover their individuality. Find a look from an era you like, study it, and experiment.

What’s on Celebrate love with Vie Trio or catch a Concert in the Park, check out a romantic retreat, dig your teeth into tasty Sardinian fare and much more... >PAGES 9&10

2

HAPPENINGS

Thursday, January 29, 2009

THE CITY D PA

T

hailand’s Supreme Court yesterday upheld a 14year prison sentence for British national Maurice John Praill on charges of sexually abusing an eight-year-old boy eight years ago.

The ruling was read out to Praill, 77, at a court in Chon Buri.

Praill was arrested in 2001 on charges of sexually abusing a minor in Pattaya. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but was allowed to live freely in Pattaya on bail for the past eight years as he appealed the case.

Since his 2001 arrest, at least six new child-sex-abuse charges have been filed against Praill, Supreme Court officials said.

The initial sentence ordered by a lower court was upheld first by an appeals court and finally by the Supreme Court in Bangkok.

Yesterday’s ruling was welcomed by ECPAT, or End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes.

EDUCATION MINISTER ON THE FEUD AMONG VOCATIONAL STUDENTS

“I believe we will need to use both harsh punishment and serious preventive measures.”

Police have been surprised at the mild manners and obedient attitudes of the feuding students – even those suspected of murder.

“Their behaviour during police detention is a big contrast to the bloody fights,” Pathumwan police station superintendent Colonel Paisal Luesomboon revealed.

Bragging rights His police station sees the highest number of student brawlers, partly because big vocational institutes such as Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan and Pathumwan Institute of Technology are located nearby.

“Among their peers, the students tend to show off,” Paisal said. “They apparently believe that the more casualties they can cause, the greater their bragging rights among their friends.”

Peer-group influence was a big factor in the violence, Paisal concluded.

“When the brawlers are separated from their friends, they are not aggressive,” he added.

D A I LY X P R E S S

DAILY XPRESS/TATCHADON PANYAPHANITKUL

Jail term upheld

JURIN LAKSANAWISIT

Unsmiling students from Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan and Pathumwan Institute of Technology exchange roses as a symbol of peace as deputy national police commissioner General Jongrak Juthanont looks on.

Students showing off

Briton Maurice Praill had been on bail pending an appeal after he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of sexually abusing an eight-year-old boy.

DAILY XPRESS

UNEASY

Students from Bangkok’s two warring colleges meet face to face after murders last week

TRUCE

D A I LY X P R E S S

>>DAILY XPRESS is edited by Tulsathit Taptim and published by NMG News Co Ltd, at 1854, Bang Na-Trat Road, Bangkok 10260, and printed by WPS (Thailand) Co Ltd, Tel (02) 338 3000, Fax (02) 338 3334. EDITORIAL: Tel (02) 338 3333. ON THE WEB: DAILYXPRESS.NET >>DAILY XPRESS is a supplement to subscriber copies of THE NATION with bonus distribution in selected areas of Bangkok and its environs every Monday to Friday. Subscription rates for THE NATION: one year Bt4,900 within regular delivery areas; please contact Customer Service on (02) 338 3000. For bulk copy subscription rates please call (02) 338 3532.

S

ome of the heat was taken out of the simmering feud between two Pathumwan district colleges yesterday when students from both sides were invited to meet in the office of deputy police commissioner General Jongrak Juthanont.

Six students from Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan (Uthen Thawai) and four from the Pathumwan Institute of Technology showed up to shake hands and exchange flowers in a gesture of peace.

The move came after decades

of bloody brawls between the two sides that seem to have culminated in two murders last week.

No eye contact “These students come here today voluntarily because they too want reconciliation,” Jongrak said.

The students, however, were unsmiling. Although both sides shook hands, no eye contact was made.

When asked whether such a ritual could end their grudges, Arom Samaknarong from Uthen Thawai

Thursday, January 29, 2009

HAPPENINGS 3

DAILY XPRESS

14,550

1,000

Bt

Bt

THE COST OF 15.2 GRAMS (one baht in weight) of gold yesterday; the buying price was Bt14,450.

THE INCREASE IN in a baht-weight of gold within a week in Bangkok.

Santika rap sheet grows Two district chiefs suspended for negligence that led to 66 deaths in fire D A I LY X P R E S S

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bluntly replied, “I believe so”.

Last Friday, a Uthen Thawai student was shot dead in front of passers-by outside a convenience store. The murderer is suspected to be a Pathumwan Institute student.

Just a few days later, a Pathumwan Institute student was gunned down while riding a motorcycle back home. So far, no arrests have been made in either case.

The violence has prompted serious attention from various authorities.

“I have recommended eight measures,” Police commissioner Lt-General Suchat Muankaew said.

They include thorough searches of the colleges, having policemen man their exits/en-

trances, and installing closedcircuit cameras.

“We will also monitor the behaviour of students identified as the gang leaders,” Suchat said.

Suchat added that students from different colleges should be encouraged to do activities together so that they get to know each other.

Asked whether police will send brawling students to military camps, Suchat said, “We are considering it. But we have to check first whether the move is legally possible.”

In a related development, Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit warned that institutes that failed to prevent their students from brawling could be closed.

EDUCATION MINISTER JURIN LAKSANAWISIT WARNED THAT INSTITUTES THAT FAILED TO PREVENT THEIR STUDENTS FROM BRAWLING COULD BE CLOSED.

he directors of Bangkok’s Wattana and Pathumwan district offices were suspended from active duty today, accused of negligence in regulating the Santika Club.

So far six suspects have been charged as a result of the ongoing police investigation into the Santika Club inferno, which killed 66 partygoers and injured many others on New Year’s eve.

The suspended are Pathumwan district office director Surakiat Limcharoen, who approved the opening of Santika Club in 2003, and Wattana district office director Worapot Inthulak, who was deemed negligent over club inspections. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the two would remain in inactive posts until the BMAassigned committee’s investigation was complete.

Surakiat said he was shocked by the order for his suspension, which he called “a matter of life and death” that affected his career, but declined to give details.

Floor plans discovered BMA Public Works Department chief Chatinai Naowaphut, who heads the BMA-assigned committee, said they needed 15 more days for the probe.

The committee recently got hold of the Santika floor plans, which the district office had said were lost, and found that the building had

THE RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES PROTECTION DEPARTMENT CHIEF SAYS THAT THE FAMILIES OF 45 WHO DIED IN THE FIRE WOULD BE COMPENSATED WITH ABOUT BT80,000 EACH. been modified from a residential building to an entertainment venue without permission, a source said.

Case not yet closed Deputy Police commissioner General Jongrak Juthanon yesterday said police hadn’t closed the Santika case yet, despite the arrest of Burn lead singer Saravuth Ariya, who was accused of lighting the fireworks that caused the inferno.

Investigations into possible tax evasion and allegations that a senior policeman had shares in the club’s businesses are ongoing.

Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD) chief Suwana Suwanjutha said yesterday that the families of 45 who died in the fire would be compensated with about Bt80,000 each.

GLOBETROT

4

Thursday, January 29, 2009

THE WORLD Cold comfort A family poses in front of a Spider Man snow sculpture at the popular snow festival in Taebaek, South Korea, yesterday.

DAILY XPRESS

32

YEARS AGO TODAY 23-year-old comedian Freddie Prinze died after he put a gun to his head and shot himself

briefly Dead girl’s organs ‘destroyed’ Authorities in the Indian resort state of Goa have destroyed most of the organs of a British girl who was found dead on a beach almost a year ago, her mother’s lawyer said.

Fiona MacKeown has been fighting for the return of her daughter Scarlett Keeling’s full remains since her death so that she can be buried.

Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday that the destruction was deliberate to prevent the British coroner from contradicting Indian police claims that Scarlett drowned after taking a cocktail of drugs.

EPA

Whisky a saviour

QUEEN ESCAPED TRAIN ASSASSINATION PLOT Ex-detective claims royal train hit large wooden log during monarch’s 1970 visit to Australia; culprits were never caught

west of Sydney, but failed to shoot off the tracks and into an embankment as it was going too slowly at the time.

“They put a log on the line, about six feet (1.8 metres) or seven feet long,” McHardy, now 81, told Australian commercial radio yesterday.

A F P , Sydney

B

Why she was saved

AP

ritain’s Queen Elizabeth II escaped possible assassination in Australia nearly 40 years ago when plotters tried to derail her train in mountains near Sydney, a retired detective has claimed.

Former detective superintendent Cliff McHardy said a large wooden log was placed on the winding track in front of the train carrying the monarch and her husband Prince Philip to the town of Orange on April 29, 1970.

The royal train hit the log at Bowenfels in the Blue Mountains, 150 kilometres north-

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II chats with children in Hobart, Australia, during her visit Down Under in April 1970.

“The royal train hit it and dragged it about 137 metres up towards the Bowenfels railway station... but fortunately it didn’t derail,” he said.

Railway specialists told police at the time that the queen was only saved from catastrophe because her train was not travelling at full speed.

“According to the experts, if he [the driver] had been doing maximum speed he would

have derailed,” McHardy said.

The train continued on under brakes, with the log still wedged under the front wheels, before finally coming to a halt at the level crossing near the station.

The locomotive remained on the tracks and escaped serious damage, while the log did not splinter upon impact.

McHardy, who was a detective sergeant at the time, said he was breaking his silence on the alleged plot, which he said has been kept under wraps for nearly four decades, in a bid to flush out information on the culprits, who were never arrested.

“It was one of the big regrets of my police service,” McHardy told his local paper, the Lithgow Mercury.

A British man survived more than two days trapped under his sofa by sipping from a bottle of whisky.

Joe Galliott fell against the sofa during a power cut at his home in Somerset, England, and could not free himself because of back problems.

He remained stuck for 60 hours – during which time a bottle of whisky rolled close enough for him to open it.

After the ordeal he told the BBC that he now kept a bottle of whisky next to the sofa “just in case”. – AFP

Accent on accent A woman who wanted a job as a bikini-clad barmaid at a New York City eatery says managers rejected her because she has a “Latin accent”.

Melody Morales has sued, seeking unspecified damages and saying she applied 15 times for a job at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone restaurant and bar.

Her lawsuit says one manager told her that her “Latin accent” would ruin his business. She says another told her “You don’t speak white”. – AP

Author Updike dies at 76 Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist John Updike died of lung cancer, aged 76, his publicist said.

Updike, creator of the memorable small-town character Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom and novelist Henry Bech, drew much of his inspiration from personal experience growing up near Reading in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Considered one of the most important writers in post-war American literature, Updike won the Pulitzer twice – first for “Rabbit is Rich” and later for “Rabbit at Rest”.

Born on March 18, 1932, Updike lived a solitary life as an only child, spending his teenage years on a secluded farm with his parents and grandparents, before winning a scholarship to study English at Harvard University. – D P A

GLOBETROT 5

DAILY XPRESS

Man kills wife,five children and himself

GLOBAL WARMING ‘IRREVERSIBLE’ FOR NEXT 1,000 YEARS A F P , Washington

C

limate change is “largely irreversible” for the next 1,000 years even if carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are abruptly halted, according to a new study led by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The study’s authors said there was “no going back” after the report showed that changes in surface temperature, rainfall and sea level are “largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years after CO2 emissions are completely stopped”.

NOAA senior scientist Susan Solomon said the study showed that current human choices on carbon dioxide emissions are set to “irreversibly change the planet”.

AP

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Melting icebergs float in a bay off Greenland’s Ammassalik Island. A study has found that CO2 levels are irreversibly having an impact on climate change, which will contribute to a global rise in sea levels and rainfall changes in certain regions.

Researchers examined the consequences of CO2 building up beyond present-day concentrations of 385 parts per million, and then completely stopping emissions after the peak. Before the industrial age CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere

amounted to only 280 parts per million.

The study found that CO2 levels are irreversibly having an impact on climate change, which will contribute to a global rise in sea levels and rainfall changes in certain regions.

A father who may have recently been fired from his job shot dead his wife and five young children before killing himself.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman said the family of seven was found dead at a home in the suburb of Wilmington south of Los Angeles at around 8.30am.

Police believe the man killed his family and then committed suicide. The identities of the dead have not been released.

“Right now we’re investigating on the lines that the father killed his wife and five kids and then turned the revolver on himself and killed himself,” LAPD deputy chief Ken Garner said.

Garner said police were originally contacted by a local television station, which apparently received a telephone call and a fax from a man saying he was going to kill his family and himself.

Garner said the fax indicated the man may have recently lost his job. – A F P

6 ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, January 29, 2009

THE FUN

DAILY XPRESS

JAMES L NEDERLANDER, PRODUCER, ON ADAPTING MICHAEL JACKSON’S “THRILLER” VIDEO FOR BROADWAY.

“I love the idea of making ‘Thriller’ a musical. Girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy has big secret, now what?”

SHOWBIZ

SCREENED FOR SUCCESS UIP general manager Anthony Vogels is optimistic about 2009, and says movies that should be big include ‘Monsters vs Aliens’, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Revolutionary Road’.

XTRA TA L K I N G P I C T U R E S >> UIP’s top grossing film in 2008 was “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, which brought in Bt122 million. >> Releases for 2009 include JJ Abrams’ “Star Trek”, Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds” starring Brad Pitt, and “The Soloist” with Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr.

After a great 2008, distributor UIP is confident that 2009 will see Thailand’s filmgoers shelling out at the box office

By Parinyaporn Pajee D A I LY X P R E S S

W

hile film going has traditionally been fairly recession-proof, many in the movie industry are worried that the global economic downtown will see audiences turning to their home theatres for entertainment.

But Bangkok-based United International Pictures Thailand (UIP), which distributes for Paramount, Universal, Dreamworks as well as DC Comics and Marvels, and which made Bt647 million in 2008 – its most successful year to date – is quietly confident it can draw the crowds in 2009.

Last year, UIP, which holds

the top market share over Sony Pictures, Fox, Warner Bros and Colombia Tristar Buena Vista, brought in everything from blockbusters “Iron Man” and “The Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, to award-winners “Atonement” and “No Country for Old Men” and even the small drama, “The Kite Runner”.

“We deliberately release blockbusters on the same day as in the States as we can earn more money that way. Thai audiences have very immediate feelings towards movies. They don’t want to wait for something they’ve read about on the Internet,” says UIP general manager Anthony Vogels.

Mature audiences After five years in the post, the Australian manager has changed the company’s direction and there’s now more variety in the movie line-up.

“We can easily reach 14 to 24 year olds but we wanted to reach out more to mature audiences, so we have quality films for them in well planned releases at the right locations,” he says.

Distribution deals with DC Comics and Marvel have added more blockbusters to UIP’s line up, which has been boosted by the successful revival of comic superheroes like “Iron Man” and “Hulk”.

This year, UIP is following

the same path, bringing to Thai audiences such potential blockbusters as “The Fast and the Furious 4”, “Watchmen” and “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” along with awardwinners like “Revolution Road”, “Frost/Nixon”, and Clint Eastwood’s “The Changeling”.

Vogels is also confident about the new film rating system, which is likely to be more strictly enforced. While local filmmakers are worried about the government’s conservative mentality, he feels it will be good for distributors.

“It happens in every country,” he says.

,, THAI AUDIENCES DON’T WANT TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING THEY’VE READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET. Anthony Vogels, UIP general manager

Thursday, January 29, 2009

3%

ENTERTAINMENT 7

DAILY XPRESS

SECOND READING

WAS THE INCREASE in box-office revenue in 2008 over 2007 in London’s West End. Theatres earned £480.5 million.

‘Business is still okay’ for Bangkok’s oldest Japanese used bookstore. > Page 12

Tina the

soopsip

terrific

AFP

Tina Turner, right, performs at the O2World venue in Berlin on Monday night. The 69-yearold R&B singer is in Europe as part of “Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour”.

HOW AND WHAT would you like your love to be? Just describe your wishes in brief, in Thai or in English, and send your message by e-mail to parn_saha@hotmail.com with a note that you’re taking part in Daily Xpress contest. Don’t forget to include your contact information.

The best descriptions win one of 25 pairs of tickets for an 8pm screening of the romantic drama “Na Khanarak” (A Moment in June”) on February 11 at Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.

The deadline for the contest is February 6.

Magical words IN “INKHEART”, opening in cinemas today, reading aloud has a magical effect on a book’s characters. In real life, reading aloud also a magical effect – on the lives on the visually challenged.

That’s why Mongkol Film and the Thailand Association of the Blind are inviting everyone to work a little magic by read aloud at the voice library booth at SF World Cinema at CentralWorld anytime between 11 and 7 through Sunday.

Sunansa ‘Joy’ Jiramaneekul is

among the celebrities lending their voices to the charity audio books promotion for the new Brendan Fraser movie ‘Inkheart’.

All in the game A new action movie that opens today was almost grounded by last year’s airport closure D A I LY X P R E S S

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he hard-hitting action in “Tarchon” (“Fireball”) not only offers viewers a look at an unusual blend of basketball and muay thai but also introduces a new film company, albeit one manned by familiar faces.

Directed by Thanakorn Phongsuwan of “Opapatika” fame, the movie is produced by Bangkok Film, a new studio under the tutelage of Adirek “Uncle” Watleela and Sa-nga Chatchairungruang, formerly of Film Bangkok, the big names behind such big flicks as “Bang Rajan” and “Fah Talai Jone” (“Tears of the Black Tiger”).

“Fireball” tells the story of a young man who gets out of jail and jumps straight into a violent underground game.

“Most action films show muay thai in the boxing arena. We’ve chosen to blend the moves with a basketball game,” says Thanakorn. “And

Apart from football, Premier

Abhisit Vejjajiva’s big passion is rock music. He was probably among the very first politicians to own an iPod. Top-rated titles on his playlist are the Eagles’ “The Long Run”, REM’s “Automatic for Abhisit the People”, U2’s “Joshua Tree”, Oasis’ “Morning Glory” and Bruce Springsteen’s “The River”.

But don’t despair, Thai artists. Songs by Carabao, Pongthep Kradonchamnan and Rittiporn Insawang are not lost in the shuffle.

Not so mighty

‘ F I R E B A L L’

Winning moments

He’s listening

XTRA C L A S H O F TA L E N T S >> Preeti “Bank” Barameeanant of the rock band Clash stars as the hero, Tai. >> “Tarchon” (“Fireball”) opens in cinemas today.

Football columnist and diehard Manchester United fan Bouranij “Bor Boo” Rattanavichien says writing isn’t as much fun since he took a pay cut.

Fans say Bor Boo’s articles in Star Soccer seem a bit dull without his usual sharp Bor Boo satire. But editors had warned him about the creeping politics, and they reduced his salary after one jab too many.

Still curious? it’s not foolish fighting like in other action flicks. Every character fights for a reason.”

The movie was to be distributed by Adamas, the promoter of Bangkok concerts by Korean mega-stars Rain and Super Junior.

However, Adamas dropped out after losing more than Bt50 million on the cancellation of the SM Town super concert, cause by the closure of Bangkok’s airports by political protesters.

Uncle and Sa-nga closed a deal in December for Phranakorn Film to take over domestic distribution.

Brad Pitt has done the arith-

metic on his ever-growing family with Angelina Jolie. “We average two [kids] a year, so I guess we’re overdue,” figures the star of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

That’s sarcasm, in case you couldn’t tell. “Somehow you’re not supporting your film if you don’t talk about your personal life,” says Pitt, who’s just as tired of all the publicity as we are.

Contact Soopsip at veenxpress@gmail.com.

8

ART

Thursday, January 29, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

shows

The photos that Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn took at the opening ceremony of last summer’s Beijing Olympics are on view at the China Town Heritage Centre until February 8.

Included are overview shots of the ceremony and some of the action in the “Bird’s Nest” stadium, with Thailand’s weightlifters putting on a fine show.

The Princess’ collection of Olympic souvenirs is also on display, along with her journals describing her impression of the Games.

The centre is on the second floor of the Golden Shrine at Wat Trimitr Witayaram, and is open daily from 8.30 to 4.30.

Call (02) 670 2525.

DAILY XPRESS/EKKARAT SUKPETCH

The Princess at the Games

The installation ‘Into the Perspective of an Empty Sky’, with strings of celadon beads.

How everything is linked In sculptor Xawery Wolski’s ‘Empty Sky’, it’s the emptiness that’s full

By Khetsirin Pholdhampalit D A I LY X P R E S S

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Crazy about love Inspired by cartoons, Wisut Ponnmit has his drawings and paintings on view in “Love Story” at J Gallery from February 2 to 16.

The drawings depicting various kinds of love have been published in Thailand and Japan, distinctive for their minimal dialogue and bizarre look.

On February 8 at 6.30 there will be a piano recital and a screening of Wisut’s animation, and on Valentine’s Day at 3.30, 20 couples can have their portraits done.

The gallery is on the fourth floor of J Avenue on Soi Thonglor 15, and is open daily from 11 to 8.

Call (02) 662 2266.

here’s a humble, almost feminine look to the slight sculptures of Xawery Wolski currently on view at the Jim Thompson Art Centre, but there’s complexity too in these signposts along a road that leads out of turmoil and, as the exhibition’s name says, “Into an Empty Sky”.

The show is a pleasure to move through, sharing Wolski in his Moon Cathedral its calm.

The Pole, now a Mexican citizen, is says, “is related to my homeland, known around the world for making Poland, which is always full of drama magical things with terracotta and and being torn apart. This one is for his intertwined chains that sigwhite, as a symbol of peace, and it’s nify infinity and the really about the emptiness between ephemeral. the lines.”

Wolski’s resiDresses and necklaces made of dency at the black and white beads hang alongside Thompson cennew versions creattre last summer ed from leftover gave him a silk. They retain chance to see the form of the what Central, wearer, suggesting North and Northeast both her presence Thailand might add and absence. to his arsenal of ‘Black A criss-cross of Necklace’, ideas. beads hangs from He visited the made with ter- the ceiling like a Thompson silk facto- racotta beads. huge chandery and several kilns lier.

Wolski ‘B la and foundries, and the studied traditional o nket’ is mad e f raw sil k new pieces in the show celadon techniques in a are the results. small northern factory, Greeting visitors at and found a way to say something about ‘White Dress’ the door is his 1998 ter- timelessness and continuity. racotta sculpture In a separate room called the Moon Cathedral “Chain”, a white tangle are suspended Buddhist prayer bells and hunsnaking across the floor. dreds of Bodhi-shaped leaves made of zinc and The chain concept, he iron.

The terracotta sculpture ‘Chain’

XTRA POLAND TO THAILAND >>The exhibition continues until April 5. The Jim Thompson Art Centre is on Soi Kasemsan 2 opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road. It’s open daily from 9 to 5. >> Call (02) 612 6741 or (02) 219 2911 or visit www.JimThompsonHouse. com.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

EVENTS 9

DAILY XPRESS

WHAT’S ON/WHAT’S UP see it!

Moments with Kob Saowanit “Kob” Nawaphan will let loose her powerful voice in “A Moment Like This”, part of the Judprakai concert series at the Thailand Cultural Centre’s small hall on February 8 at 5. She’ll be accompanied by Den Euaprasert on piano, Siripong Thipthan on violin and Apichai Liemthong on cello. Tickets are Bt500 from Thaiticketmajor.

he Films at t Fringe ’s annual Fringe

ve r on Valentine’s Day at H, thardenReonckjoy o l t u o b a l e Al nificant oth t at the Spa Pool Deck ine and a ith your sig e fw ve w ss o l buff if Celebrate lo with an internationa t a complimentary gla ild eats free e ya g ch a l 00. One Trio. You’l ,2 Hotel Patt t1 ie B V t a m o rt fr s sta usic romantic m surprise gift too. Price ) 428 755-9 or visit a 8 3 s lu (0 p ll a se C red ro ults. d by two ad ie n a p m o acc ls.net.

Theatre eekend in Patravadhi nues this w dance and ti n co l a iv Fest with , and along ere will be Ratchaburi th s, ce n a the orm theatre perf and indie shorts from s ie v o m e b ic class They’ll oundation. outdoor setThai Film F ey im -t an old screened in mian market. ad t Sa s “Koh Saw ting in Che ow include sh ’s w a , o rr ”) o d Tom e Islan ” (“Paradis i in Had Sawan edy set on Koh Samu m e co e c romanti bat Metan arring Som 1969 and st mwong. It starts at Na and Aranya travadi it www.Pa is V .

5 d n u ro a om.

Theatre.c

or visit www.BACC.or.th.

Kam and Ruj, winner and runner-up of the 2008 season of “The Star”, go up against the winners and runners-up of the three earlier seasons in a battle for best singer in a show at 7 on Saturday at Impact Arena. Tickets are Bt500 to Bt2,500 at Thaiticketmajor.

Sumptuous Sardinia

extension 1416.

Discover two centuries and the imagined future of Bangkok in “Krungthep 226” at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre until February 15. Among the highlights is a map of Thon Buri drawn by an 18th-century Burmese spy and another of Bangkok commissioned by French priest Bishop Pallegoix in 1854. The art centre at the Pathumwan intersection is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 9. Call (02) 214 66301

Star Wars

Hote HardRock

Italian restaurant Brio at the Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa goes “Inside Sardinia” with a Mediterraneanthemed promotion through February. Chef Antonio provides Italian cheeses, vegetables and fresh game as well as rabbit ravioli with braising juices and traditional whole roasted suckling pig that’s just perfect for sharing. Call (02) 476 0022

Bangkok over time

Sculpted from silk treat e r c i t n a Rom r an intimate getaway

king fo and If you’re loo d one, the Asara Villa ve lo r u ce with yo “Roman a Hin has a days and Suite in Hu ering three ff o , e g a long ck a p vate pool a Valentine” illa with pri candlelit v a in ts h two nig ent plus spa treatm availwith food, e beach. It’s to 16. th n o e in w dinner with February 13 3,000 from nsion 307. able for Bt2 0 exte 661 680 Call (02)

Sculptor Xawery Wolski, a Pole based in Mexico and New York, has works on view in “Into an Empty Sky” at the Jim Thompson Art Centre until April 5. Wolski will debut sculptures made during his stay in Thailand, some Jim Thompson silk. The center is on Soi Kasemsan 2, opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road. It’s open daily from 9 to 5. Call (02) 216 7368 or visit www.Jim ThompsonHouse.com.

10 EVENTS

Thursday, January 29, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

WHAT’S ON/WHAT’S UP do it!

A greener globe Thai Green Design Network under the National Metal and Materials Centre of Thailand, invites you to try your hand at creating an ecofriendly package design for its “Reduce Global Warming with EcoDesign” contest. To submit your creation, go to www.MTEC.or.th/EcoDesign 2009. The deadline is April 3. Call (02) 564 6500 extension 4565.

Cultural Singapore The Siam Society is organising a trip to Singapore from March 27 to 29 with Asian art expert Patricia Bjaaland Welch leading a tour of museums, cultural sites and historical places. Call (02) 661-

Music in t he Park Chill out w ith the Ban g ko Bh k

Symphony akdi at Lum and guest vo pini Park. Enjoy pop cl Orchestra’s Concert in the Park se assics, musi calists every ries c fr Sunday at 5.30 until F om the movies and B in the relaxed atmosp ro ebruary 15 here of Sala . Admission adway plus favourite Thai songs Bhirom is free. by the BSO

6470-7 extensions 504 or 506.

English summer

Friends a future nd the N

The British Council teams up with TIECA to provide an opportunity for students aged nine to 20 years to experience English culture and practise their language skills at English-language institutions in “UK English Summer School 2009”. Meet school representatives at the British Council in Siam Square on February 14 between 2 and 4pm. Call (02) 657 5678 or

aked Mask T manga “20 heatre adapts the scith Century fi Boys” for “Phuean” (“ Friend”), w hich runs fr until Febru om ary 15 at th e playhouse Phayathai Plaza. It’s th in e school chu ms who are story of linked to a aster that b disefalls Bang kok. Tickets are Bt300 (Bt150 for students).

(086) 88 Call 1 0287

or visit www.Nak edMasksN etwork.co m.

visit www.BritishCouncil.or.th.

Savings at Bossini Bossini celebrates the Chinese New Year until February 9 with a sale that slashes prices by up to 70 per cent. Bossini and KTC cardholders spending Bt3,000 also get extra bonuses and a T-shirt.

Creative with Caravan Caravan Theatre is bringing French dance instructor Lucie Nerot to Bangkok. She’ll conduct workshops in improvisational, creative movement from February 12 to 15 at the GM Mansion, Sukhumvit Soi 30.Fees start from Bt600. Call (089) 689 3789 or e-mail caravantheatrethailand@yahoo.com.

Love in th country e Son

gwriter Nit close and p iphong “Dee” Hornak ersonal wit gets up h 7 when he ’ll present th nature on February e “Arom De at Chokcha e” i Farm in N akhon Ratc concert Among the hasima. guests are Sumeth an Lula, Maew d the Pang Jira , Acappella 7, sak, Nicole, Nuvo, Bo y Trai, Marsha, Am Hydra, Ben Saowalak, Ch Mai, Pongsak. T alatit, Patcha AF2 an d Aof ickets cost Bt2,200 at Thaiticketm ajor. Visit w ww.IAmYo ungDee.co m.

Full of Korean cheer Good news for Korean music fans. The SM Town Live concert, cancelled when Bangkok’s airports were shut down at the end of November has been rescheduled for February 7 at Rajamangala National Stadium in Hua Mark. The five-hour festival, which starts at 5, features Dong Bang Shin Ki, Super Junior, SHINee and the girl groups Cheon Sang Ji Hee The Grace, Zhang Li Yin, and So Nyeo Shi Dae. Tickets are Bt800 to Bt4,500 at Thaiticketmajor.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

SOCIETY

DAILY XPRESS

Happily ever after

Her Royal Highness Pri ncess Sirivannavari Na the wedding ceremon riratana graciously pre y of Veerawan, daug sided over hter of Maetee and W second and far right, ilairut Jirasophin, and Chanchai, son of Prasert and Pranee Na ond and far left, at th kalertkavee, sece Royal Ballroom, Ma ndarin Oriental, Bang kok.

s Birthday wishe tre, recently celebrated en-Rajapark, seated cen Dr Charoen Charo tinental Bangkok, Fireplace Grill, InterCon his 88-th birthday at the g the intimate ily. Among those attendin among friends and fam rachun, seated nya prime minister Anand Pa gathering were former including ily fam the Charoen-Rajapark n and Pol Col right, and members of wa da La ee, ran atchawin, Da Sirinda, seated left, Dr Ch to right.

Norawat, standing left

t e environmSuen r t Superintendent fo or Shoring upndth pp erm, right, Onshore vernor

Sophon Rakti Songkhla Deputy Go esents Bt1 million to pr d, an ail Th rium, a learning ron ev Ch pport Songkhla Aqua su to t, lef g, on hp tists and young peoWittaya Panic ai and regional scien Th r polifo life ine ar m centre of rporate responsibility ion is a part of its co ut rib nt co ’s . ron ion ev at ple. Ch t and educ inable developmen cy focusing on susta

Protecting their copyright Soopachai Nillawa n, seco

nd right, managing business and Sutth director of R Siam isak Prasatkrarukar ’s music n, third right, direct Suppression Depa or of Laws and rtment of Thai Co pyright Collection by singers and acto , were recently joine rs in distributing ha d ndbills and brooch Department of Inte es as part of the llectual Property’s “Stop Piracy” cam paign.

Stepping gracefully into th e New Year Burin Wongsanguan, director of

Bangkok International Dance Aca demy recently organised the Chinese New Year Dinner & Dance at the Napalai Ballroom, Dusit Thani Bangkok to celebrate the Year of the Ox. The event was attended by Khunying Premjit Jamornchan and Khunying Pat charee Rattakul.

a stage t proThe world’s en of the world’s foremos tly welcomed a group to attend

re in Bangkok Siam Niramit rec rs of tapioca, who we rte po ex d an e Ministry. rs rte po ducers, im anised by the Commerc org ”, 09 20 ce ren nfe th delegates the “World Tapioca Co d at Siam Niramit, wi ste ho s wa r ne din la Niramit Show.

The conference ga rformance of the Siam pe a to d ate tre en th it, is shown greeting and officials left, CEO of Siam Niram nd co se , orn rap ipa Pannin Kit left. rntiwa Nakasai, third Commerce Minister Po

11

12

SECOND HAND

Thursday, January 29, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

Turning

the pages A Japanese customer looks at books in DD Bookshop, Thaniya Plaza branch.

Bangkok’s oldest second-hand Japanese bookstores are selling a roaring trade

By Parinyaporn Pajee D A I LY X P R E S S

S

tarted by a husband and wife team 13 years ago and now run by Supaporn Sakane, the widow of the Japanese man who dreamed up the idea, DD Bookshop has long been responsible for keeping a smile on the faces of businessmen and housewives whose lives have brought them to Bangkok.

With two branches, one at Thaniya Plaza off Silom and the other on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1, DD Bookshop was the first store to sell second-hand Japanese books and also offer comics for rent to thousands of fans.

Prices start at Bt20, with hardcover titles going for Bt300, around 70 per cent less than a new book at a local commercial bookstore.

While Japanese books are not costly back in Tokyo, by the time they arrive in

A lovely design for the famous how-to book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”

‘Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban’ in Japanese version.

Thailand, transportation and tax have pushed the price sky high.

“A magazine in Japan is as cheap as a bowl of noodles and it doesn’t carry as many ads as a Thai publication. That’s why Japanese read more than Thais,” says Supaporn.

Today, all DD’s books are bought from Japanese readers who bring them to the shops once they’ve finished with them.

“We used to import titles but the process is very complicated and it’s expensive. We get new releases quicker by buying them from readers,” she explains.

Most of her clients are Japanese, although DD Bookstore also gets Thai customers, mainly students and comic lovers fascinated by the illustrations.

“Some translators comes here too, as they know they’ll find interesting books,” she adds.

For the first 10 years, the bookshop had no competitors so profits were high.

Now, there are more second-hand Japanese bookshops in town, though DD remains a favourite with regulars.

“Competition is high. Sometimes the other shops pay higher prices for used books, so our stores have fewer new books coming in,” she says.

Running the bookshop can be a headache at times, especially with more second-hand stores opening each year, but Supaporn isn’t giving up.

“I don’t want to quit. Business is still ok,” she says.

Some books are selected for a special promotion.

The novel ‘Closed Note’ is in almost mint condition. The story was made into a film in 2007.

Some comic book series are on sale in packs.

XTRA BETWEEN THE LINES >> DD Bookshop’s Sukhumvit branch is on Soi 33/1. Call (02) 662 0590. >> The Silom branch is on the third floor of Thaniya Plaza next door to Asia Books. Call (02) 231 2122.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

HEALTH & FITNESS

DAILY XPRESS

13

When curly can be caustic

By Krissah Thompson THE WASHINGTON POST

J

ulia Coney, 36, can still remember her first chemical burn. A teen who’d been getting her hair straightened since she was eight, she recalls the creamy white colour and smell of the sodium-hydroxide-based paste that left her with easy-to-manage, silky straight hair.

The burns came later, when Coney went to sloppy hair stylists or disobeyed the cardinal rules of relaxing, which include not scratching the scalp or washing the hair too soon before the application.

Once Coney got a burn so bad that it left the area behind her right ear raw.

With a pH of about 12, similar to that of household ammonia, chemical relaxers are among the most caustic cosmetics products on the market, according to the Environmental Working Group, a non-

ask

the pros

Dr Pakpilai Thavisin

profit environmental organisation. Along with hair dyes, hair straighteners are the source of more complaints to the US Food and Drug Administration than almost any other product.

And though millions of African American women have used relaxers, often for many years, there is a growing push among consumer advocates for gentler products that are no less effective.

In recent years, some manufacturers, including Colomer USA, the maker of Creme of Nature, have been listing at least one “certified organic ingredient” in their products, including their sodium-based relaxers. The French company Phyto markets its PhytoSpecific line as a “non chemical relaxing system” and charges about $60 (Bt2,000) for a tub of its straightener, more than triple the price of a traditional relaxer.

According to the company, the Phyto relaxer uses a substance called guanidine carbonate derived from mushroom salts as its straightening agent.

Coney, who now runs a beauty blog called All About the Pretty warns that products labelled “natural” or “organic” are not necessarily much gentler than other ones.

Even the hair relaxers that incorporate plant products, such as Phyto’s guanidine carbonate, contain naturally occurring chemicals strong enough to break her hair’s tightly coiled bond and make it straight. But she says she’s noticed with the Phyto relaxer “a difference in the smell, which isn’t as chemical-ly.”

WASHINGTON POST/ MARVIN JOSEPH

Women push for more gentle hair relaxers

Julia Coney avoids strong chemicals

and uses gentler products on her hair.

Colonic sceptic flushed out The claims made for colon hydrotherapy in this column earlier this month don’t wash with one reader: Dear Editor, Regarding the “Ask the Pros” column published on Thursday, January 15, in Daily Xpress, how can Dr Pakpilai Thavisin, president and founder of S Medical Spa, be considered an unbiased professional to answer the question of the safety and efficacy of colon hydrotherapy?

Her spa specifically provides that service, so her

opinions on the subject are heavily biased because she and her company stand to profit from a positive answer.

The claims she makes are greatly disputed within the medical and scientific communities.

Regards, Chris Schultz Bangkok

Dr Pakpilai responds:

Dear Chris, I write from my own experiences using colon hydrotherapy and am sorry to hear you think my opinion biased.

I would point out that S Medical Spa is not the only company offering colon hydrotherapy in Thailand and we don’t profit from recommending the treatment if a

consumer decides to go elsewhere.

Colon irrigation is, in my experience, an effective way of treating skin conditions like eczema. Along with adjustments to the patient’s diet, it can cut the accumulation of toxins in the bowel that seem to be a factor in eczema attacks.

Best Regards, Dr Pakpilai Thavisin

14 THE SCREEN

Thursday, January 29, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

TO SEE on tv

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising A boy discovers he’s the last of an ancient race of immortal warriors.

Star Movies (TrueVisions), 6.15pm

The Baade r Meinhof C Set in 1970s omplex G

ermany, rad ica ation led by Andreas Baa lised children of the Na zi generder (Moritz Meinhof (M Ble artina Gedec k) and Gudru ibtreu), Ulrike Wokalek) fig n Ensslin (Jo ht a violent hanna wa In German with English r against American im perialism. and Thai subtitles a t House. ★ ★★

Men in Black A slick young New York City policeman joins the ranks of a top secret agency that keeps tabs on aliens living on Earth.

Most are friendly, but some aren’t. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones star.

HBO (TrueVisions), 8pm

A Mexican maid (Salma Hayek) wants to marry a wealthy American, while a poor Italian immigrant (Colin Farrell) hopes to land a blond wife. They’re stuck in a stormy relationship.

r-old daughter ) and his 12-yea er as Fr an nd re oks to life when Mo Folchart (B aracters from bo ch t to g in br t) et aracter is brough (Eliza Benn t each time a ch Bu . ud lo t ou ★ they read pages. ★★ ppears into the life, another disa

Wild Ocean

Red Cliff 2

Defiance

gency in 1976. With English

This 3-D documentary follows the migration of sardines up the coast of South Africa, capturing breaching whales, frenzied sharks, herding dolphins and diving gannets competing in an epic underwater struggle for survival. At Krungsri IMAX.

In the second instalment of John Woo’s epic based on “Three Kingdoms”, armies led by strategists Zhou Yu (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) are vastly outnumbered by Cao Cao’s forces. In Mandarin with

Three Polish-Jewish brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) join the resistance against the Nazis. ★★★

Tok Tra Phee

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Ask the Dust

Inkheart

The Disney teen franchise continues, with basketball team captain Troy (Zac Efron) and brainy beauty Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) facing the prospect of being separated as they head off to college. ★★★

English and Thai subtitles at some cinemas. ★★★★

Hode Na Hiaw Gangster Song Klongtoei (Jaturong Mokjok) is out of prison after 20 years and is hunting down his old friend (Nui Chernyim). Nattaveernuch Thongme, Khom Chuanchuen and Kotee Aramboy also star.

The Elephant King Two American brothers (Tate Ellington and Jonno Roberts) find trouble in Chiang Mai. Ellen Burstyn and Florence Faivre also star. At Major Cineplex,

subtitles at some cinemas.

A mentally disturbed Taiwanese man (Kenji Wu) wakes up out of a coma in the body of a Thai civil servant. Trouble is, he can’t speak Thai, and he’s seeing dead people. What ensues is the battle for his soul. With Thai and English subtitles. ★★

Paragon, Esplanade. ★★★

Snakes and Earrings

Fah Sai Huajai Chuenbaab

A young woman (Yuriko Yoshitaka) embarks on a selfdestructive path of eroticism, tattoos and body modification.

Comedy hijinks and romance combine in this story of youths joining the communist insur-

In Japanese with English and Thai subtitles at House.

Apex Lido: (02) 252 6498 Siam: (02) 251 3508 Scala: (02) 251 2861

True Movie Hits (TrueVisions), 11.30pm

Century – The Movie Plaza

Rak Nee Kieng Tawan

House

(02) 247 9940

(02) 641 5913-4

Thana “Oil” Sutthikamol, Siriluk “Joy” Phongchok and Bowonpoj Jaikantha star in this new drama about a handsome photographer who falls in love with a village girl.

Major Cineplex/EGV Bangkok: (02) 515 5555 Chiang Mai: (053) 283 939

Major Hollywood Bangkok: (02) 718 7999

Channel 7, 6.45pm

Paragon Cineplex Bangkok: (02) 129 4635 IMAX: (02) 129 4631

Channel links www.NationChannel.com Channel 3 – www.ThaiTV3.com Channel 5 – www.TV5.co.th Channel 7 – www.CH7.com Modernine – www.MCOT.net NBT – NBTTV.prd.go.th Thai PBS – www.ThaiPBS.or.th True – www.TrueVisionsTV.com

SF Cinemas

Tarchon A recently released convict (Preeti “Bank” Barameeanan) finds that his twin brother has been badly injured in an violent underground basketball game, so he joins the Fireball team to unearth the truth.

Bangkok: (02) 268 8888 Phuket: (076) 209 000

Vista Chiang Mai: (053) 894 415

DAILY XPRESS

Thursday, January 29, 2009

CHIANG MAI 15

CITYSCENE IN PICTURES

COURTESY OF FAT RADIO

Around 30,000 people attended Chiang Mai’s second Fat Fest on Saturday at Central Airport Plaza.

Acts at this year’s Fat Fest in Chiang Mai included, from left, Paradox, Slur, Apartment Khunpa and Slot Machine.

Rockin’ in Lanna land Attendance is up but sales are down at the northern city’s second Fat Festival

By Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul D A I L Y X P R E S S , Chiang Mai

T

he second Chiang Mai-based Fat Festival held last Saturday at Central Airport Plaza was infinitely superior to the debut, drawing in an audience of 30,000, mostly teens, and lots of indie vendors. Sadly, though, not many people were willing to part with their cash.

“Last year, we sold more than 200 CDs. This year, only 60 went,” complained one of the artists on the “No Signal Input” compilation who is also a partner in Minimal, a pub and restaurant on Nimmanhemin Road.

The festival kicked off at 4, with the Musketeers, Better Weather, the Papers, Soundlanding and Portrait performing their sets on the two stages in front of just a small crowd.

The Plaza started to fill as night fell, and was rocking by the Krungthep Marathon and Brand New Sunset took their turns on stage one and Playground and Knock the Knock played their hits on stage two.

Later in the night, concert-goers visited the booths selling handmade books and danced to the sets of their favourite bands, among them Flure, Slot Machine, Scrubb, Paradox, Friday, Sqweez Animal, Apartment Khunpa and Slur.

The festival wrapped at midnight.

Wacky games, left, and furry costumes worn by Friday, kept the crowds entertained.

16

Close to Home

By John McPherson

LEISURE

Pooch Cafe

The Buckets

Adam

Calvin and Hobbes

By Brian Basset

By Paul Gilligan

By Scott Stantis

By Bryan Basset

By Bill Watterson

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Comics&Games

Red and Rover

DAILY XPRESS

Thursday, January 29, 2009

LEISURE

DAILY XPRESS

Games&YourStars SUDOKU

The last word in

ASTROLOGY

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

By Eugenia Last

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

Today’s Birthday: Don’t overreact, overindulge or overdo this year. Stick to simple and conservative methods and you will not suffer losses or consequences. Let go of the past and start with a clean slate. You will see growth, leading to longterm success.

ARIES *** March 21-April 19 Speak from the heart with honesty and integrity and you will overcome any professional problem you face. Don’t let jealousy cloud the real issues. Be observant rather than defensive.

TAURUS **** April 20-May 20 Don’t share your secrets. Someone will gossip, leaving you with the task of explaining what you are up to and why. A surprise will play out to your advantage. Emotional issues can be resolved.

DIFFICULTY RATING ★★★★

GEMINI ** May 21-June 20 It’s time to start all over again. Open doors that have been closed for some time, set aside jealousy and grudges, and learn from past experience so that you handle situations better in the future.

CANCER ***** June 21-July 22 Your life is changing for the better so stop trying to make things stay the same. Let go and give in. Don’t spend money foolishly or you will be upset by the results for some time to come.

LEO *** July 23-Aug. 22 Love can turn into a costly affair. Think twice about being generous when all that’s required of you is to confirm your true feelings and talk about your future intentions.

VIRGO *** Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Don’t confuse what needs to be done with what you want to do. A love relationship can turn into a partnership that is not only beneficial emotionally but professionally as well.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY

LIBRA *** Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Someone who loves you is likely to be pushy regarding what he or she thinks you should do with your future. Take heed of the suggestions made but consider what’s best for you.

SCORPIO ***** Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Don’t be caught up in someone else’s plan, especially if it will cause problems with the ones you love. Expect someone to be deceptive with his or her assessment of a job you want done.

SAGITTARIUS ** Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Stick close to home and avoid anyone putting demands on you. Be honest about what you want to see happen. A change in your vocation can be made if you pick up some new skills.

Oprah Winfrey Actor Tom Selleck is 64.

Drummer Tommy Ramone of The Ramones is 57.

Drummer Louie Perez of Los Lobos is 56.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey is 55.

Actress Judy Norton Taylor is 51.

Guitarist Johnny Spampinato of NRBQ is 50.

Drummer David Baynton-Power of James is 48.

Bassist Eddie Jackson of Queensryche is 48.

Actor Nicholas Turturro is 47.

Director-actor Ed Burns is 41.

Actress Heather Graham is 39.

Actor Sharif Atkins is 34.

Actress Sara Gilbert is 34.

Actor Andrew Keegan is 30.

Guitarist Jonny Lang is 28.

CAPRICORN **** Dec. 22-Jan. 19 There are options and opportunities, so don’t think you have to stay in a position that really doesn’t suit you. A contract or legal settlement can change your life instantly. Make the changes.

AQUARIUS *** Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Sizing down doesn’t have to be a bad thing, especially when it can bring you the freedom you need to do something that is important to you.

Consider your options and make your move.

PISCES *** Feb. 19-March 20 Something will be brought to your attention that causes a reality check. Open your eyes and make amends. Someone from your past can do damage if you don’t fix the problem.

17

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7) 2,500-5,000 sq.m.

8) 1,000-8,500 sq.m.

Tel:

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THE SPORT

Thursday January 29, 2009

THE SPORT

DAILY XPRESS

SAN JOSE SHARKS vs AVALANCHE

3-0 Evgeni Nabokov stopped 31 shots for his 43rd career shutout and Milan Michalek scored two goals as San Jose trounced Colorado.

briefly Williams unstoppable, Cavs stay unbeaten

Mo Williams

Mo Williams was unstoppable, and the Cleveland Cavaliers remained unbeatable at home this season Williams poured in a career-high 43 points with seven three- pointers, eight rebounds and 10 assists, as the Cavaliers extended their unbeaten streak to 21 at Quicken Loans Arena, with a 117-110 victory over the struggling Sacramento Kings. “It’s great to do it when you get a win,” Williams said. – DPA

Monty to captain 2010 Ryder team Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie was named yesterday to captain the European team to contest the Ryder Cup against the United States at Celtic Manor in Wales next year.

Montgomerie said: “I will do everything I can do to claim back the Ryder Cup in 2010.”

The 45-year-old Montgomerie is the second most successful European Ryder Cup golfer of all time and he said he expected another hugely popular Ryder Cup figure Jose Maria Olazabal to be alongside him as part of his background staff in October 2010. “I have an understanding and respect for Olazabal, and I’m sure he will be part of my team at Celtic Manor.” – AFP

Joy of six for India against Sri Lanka Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir cracked halfcenturies to upstage Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya as India posted a six-wicket win in the opening one-dayer yesterday. Opener Gambhir made 62 and skipper Dhoni an unbeaten 61 to help India achieve a 247-run target with 11 balls to spare for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Gambhir set up the win with a 113-run stand for the second wicket with Suresh Raina (54) before Dhoni completed the job with his 26th half-century. Rohit

Sharma remained unbeaten with 25. The Indian batsmen overshadowed opener Jayasuriya, who made a robust 107 to become the oldest batsman to smash a one-day century and the second to complete 13,000 runs. - AFP

Maradona: ‘I won’t resign’ Diego Maradona says he will not resign as the coach of Argentina’s national team if his former team-mate Oscar Ruggeri is not accepted as his assistant.

“I’m not going to Maradona resign. It cost me a lot to get here, so it’s one-time opportunity,” said Maradona at a press conference in Venezuela’s capital on Tuesday. “I want to have Oscar Ruggeri at my side as a coach, but if that’s not possible, I’m not going to resign.” – AFP

Sevens maestro Serevi dumped Fiji rugby hero Waisale Serevi, regarded as one of the world greats of sevens rugby, has been sacked as Fiji’s sevens coach just four months into his contract.An official said they had difficulty working with the sevens maestro. – AFP

Nadal and Verdasco joined by hot Serena in the Australian Open semis AFP, Melbourne

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afael Nadal booked an allSpanish Australian Open semi-final against Fernando Verdasco yesterday as Serena Williams clawed back from a set down in searing heat to keep her dreams alive.

The world No 1 fought off a determined rear-guard action by battling French six seed Gilles Simon to win 6-2 7-5 7-5 as he goes in search of his first title here.

The victory earns him a crack at Verdasco for a place in the final against Roger Federer or Andy Roddick after the left-hander sent French fifth seed and last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga packing 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-3 6-2.

“For Spain it is incredible to have two of us in the semi-finals.

It means at least one Spaniard will be in the final and we have to happy for that,” said Nadal.

“But I know it will be a tough match against Fernando.”

Verdasco, previously best known as Ana Ivanovic’s boyfriend, has shot from nowhere to join a long line of players to make a name for themselves at the year’s opening Grand Slam, powering into his first Major semi in 23 attempts.

“What I’m thinking right now is that I’m playing good, I’m feeling good,” said Verdasco. “I just think that I can beat anyone.

“I don’t put a limit in this tournament. I’m in the semi-finals right now and I think that I can

lose in the semi-finals but also be in the final or win the tournament.”

In contrast to Verdasco’s seven-year wait to make the business end of a Grand Slam, Williams booked her 15th Grand Slam semi-final as temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius (106 F).

The roof was finally closed on the Rod Laver Arena and Williams was a beneficiary.

The three-time champion was a set down to Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova at the time but recovered her composure against the fuming eighth seed to run out a 5-7 7-5 6-1 winner.

It earned the experienced American a shot at ice-cool Russian Elena Dementieva, who powered past unseeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-2.

The other semi-final sees

THE SPORT 23

DAILY XPRESS

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Roger Federer

ON CLOSURE OF THE ROOF

ON TIME-OUTS ABUSES BY PLAYERS

“I’m definitely angry, why shouldn’t I be? The game’s going my way. I’m fine playing without the roof. It was the same weather for the guys on Tuesday [but] everybody was playing without the roof. Why did they have to close it today?”

“I’m almost in favour to just say, you know what, if you’re not fit enough, just get out of here. But if something really bad happens, it is just unfortunate. I really felt when I was coming up, the young players abused it, especially against a player like me.”

Put a lid on it – Open’s heat policy sparks anger

I’M PLAYING GOOD AND I’M FEELING GOOD.I JUST THINK THAT I CAN BEAT ANYONE. Fernando Verdasco

third seed Dinara Safina play her Russian compatriot Vera Zvonareva.

Williams looked in serious trouble as she struggled in the first set of her match but was granted a reprieve when the stadium roof was closed early in

the second set under the tournament’s extreme heat policy.

The 28-year-old admitted the move made a huge difference.

“I was in a lot of trouble today but I just relaxed and I really wanted to fight and at least go three sets,” she said.

“I said ‘Serena you can do it’ – it’s when I play my best.”

Despite making the last four, she said she was yet to hit top form. “It’s really encouraging [to win] because this whole tournament I felt I’ve been off and I haven’t been playing my best,” she said.

Dementieva, who is now on a 15-match unbeaten streak, was untroubled by giantkiller Suarez Navarro. “You don’t know what to expect from her. All the matches that we play, all the last three matches, were completely different games,” she said of Williams.

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BLOOMBERG

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Fernando Verdasco of Spain returns the ball to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

AFP, Melbourne

he Australian Open heat policy came under fire from top players and Australian great Rod Laver yesterday as organisers finally closed the roof on the main arena after days of scorching temperatures.

Laver and Russia’s Elena Dementieva both questioned why the Open’s “extreme heat policy” was not enacted sooner, while three-time champion Serena Williams said she was having an “outof-body” experience before the roof was closed.

“It was really an out-ofbody experience. I felt I was watching someone play in a blue dress, and it wasn’t me, because it was so hot out there,” said Williams, who was playing a semi-final with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

“And I kept trying to tell myself that it’s not hot, but it got hotter.”

The main Rod Laver Arena’s electronic roof was closed at around 2.30pm and play stopped on outside courts as temperatures rocketed to 41 C (106 F), with forecasters predicting the worst heatwave this week since 1908.

Laver and Dementieva both questioned why the roof was not closed earlier, with men’s champion Novak Djokovic sensationally withdrawing in severe heat on Tuesday and Victoria

Azarenka forced out ill a day earlier.

“The mechanics say we’re going to have this sort of heat for the next three days, why not just close it right now and leave it closed?” Laver said.

“You’re going to see your best tennis. It’s going to be hot anyway. I imagine they can air-condition it. It’s just wonderful that they have a roof they can close, so take advantage of it.”

Dementieva said few players understood the heat policy, introduced after a series of complaints in 2007, which relies on a so-called “Wet Bulb Globe Temperature” combining heat, humidity and solar radiation.

“It looks like nobody really knows how it works here. I think when it’s 40 and over you have to close the roof,” Dementieva said, after struggling through her match with Carla Suarez Navarro.

“When you see the forecast, like it’s going to be 41 today, 43 tomorrow, the hottest week in a month, why not close the roof? Not only for the players, but for the spectators as well,” she added.

Tournament director Craig Tiley said the heat policy was explained on entry forms and in the players’ guide, but conceded the measures may be revised.

“This is something we do take seriously,” Tiley said.

AFP

SPANISH ARMADA SAILS ON

Spectators walk past the Hisense stadium yesterday.

Chinese money floods in AFP, Melbourne

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BLOOMBERG

Thursday January 29, 2009

Serena Williams takes a rest during her match yesterday.

veryone in Melbourne has now heard of Hisense.

Not so many know ANTA. But we should all be familiar with them soon.

Encouraged by the Olympics, Chinese brands are increasingly seeking a presence on the world sporting stage, scooping up big-name sponsorships as their foreign competitors retreat.

Hisense, a Chinese consumer electronics firm, scored a coup last year when it signed a six-year title sponsorship deal for a main stadium at Melbourne Park venue for the ongoing Australian Open tennis Grand Slam.

Vodafone Arena became Hisense Arena, ending an association with the Britishbased mobile phone firm.

Separately, world No 1 and aspiring model Jelena Jankovic unveiled a signature range made by Chinese sports firm ANTA, which announced the tie-up as the Open began. “You’re going to see more and more of this coming up,” Greg Paull, principal of the Beijing-based R3 marketing consultancy, said.

R3 research shows seven Chinese firms – Yili, Li Ning, Lenovo, Meng Niu, China Mobile, Qingdao and Haier – were among the top 10 companies with best returns from their Olympic investment.

24

THE SPORT

Thursday, January 29, 2009

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

With God on their side

FRIENDS TO FOES Coaches showdown becomes theme of the Super Bowl AFP, Tampa, Florida

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AP

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hat was once a casual bragging-rights rivalry between assistant coaches at the end of practice sessions has become the compelling theme behind a friends-turned-foes showdown in Super Bowl 43.

When the Arizona Cardinals meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in Sunday’s National Football League championship game, former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt will be coaching the Cardinals against his former club.

“I love Whiz. He’s a credit to a lot of my success,” Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. “It’s going to be weird seeing him on the other sideline.”

Whisenhunt and Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who held the same post at Pittsburgh, lost out to Mike Tomlin for the head coaching job in 2007 and both went to Arizona, where the staff has nine men with Steeler ties.

“There was never any sting for leaving the Steelers,” Whisenhunt said. “I didn’t have any bitter feelings.”

Now Whisenhunt and Steelers’ 71-year-old defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, architects of Pittsburgh’s 2006 Super Bowl triumph, are adversaries in quest of a title as they were in late-practice drills years ago for only pride. “We had our battles,” Ward said. “Just as much as Whiz knows us, we know Whiz. It was very competitive when Whiz was here going against coach LeBeau. He is a

Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt says he doesn’t have bitter feelings against Pittsburgh’s Dick LeBeau, inset. mastermind. Coach LeBeau is going to have something in store for Whiz.

“It is going to be like a chess match. Those guys are going to see who can get checkmate.”

Such ties were the talk of Tuesday’s Super Bowl “Media Day. “It’s crazy but you enjoy it,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “The first time I was nervous not really knowing what goes on. This time I’m having fun. You don’t want it to overwhelm you, bog you down and be annoying.”

Grimm denied there was any extra motivation to pay back the Steelers for the coaching snub.

“Any time you make a run at

IT IS GOING TO BE LIKE A CHESS MATCH. THEY ARE GOING TO SEE WHO CAN GET CHECKMATE.

Hines Ward something and don’t get it you’re disappointed, but that’s the nature of the business. A de-

cision was made. I respect that.

There are no hard feelings,” Grimm said.

“I imagine if we weren’t here I’d be rooting for the Steelers.”

Whisenhunt’s familiarity with Roethlisberger is seen as a factor that could trip up “Big Ben”, whose nerves led to a subpar Super Bowl performance four seasons ago when the Steelers won the crown. “Ben had a huge impact on me and is a big reason why I’m here today,” said Whisenhunt. “I have great respect for the way Ben has grown into a dangerous player.”

Roethlisberger and Whisenhunt dismissed talk of strained feelings.

DAILY XPRESS

Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower had just finished a thoughtful explanation of his religious beliefs when one of the media types who found their way into the Super Bowl stadium decided he needed more proof.

“Can you pray right now?” he asked.

“I can pray that whatever is going on in your life right now that you find God,” Hightower said.

Hightower handled the question with the same ease he handled would-be tacklers to score the winning touchdown that lifted his team into the Super Bowl, which by itself was somewhat surprising since he was a rookie on the biggest stage of his young life.

Even more surprising at this Super Bowl, though, was how so many players on both teams aren’t hesitating to invoke the name of God as they prepare to play a violent game where there will be no mercy shown on either side. Usually that has writers setting down their pens and cameramen hitting the pause button until talk returns to the game itself.

Expect plenty of those prayers before and after Sunday’s game from plenty of different players. Expect to see Kurt Warner with a Bible in hand as soon as he’s done throwing a football with it.

And if the Cardinals win, expect his first thanks to be given to God. AFP

Steelers’ secret Samoan weapon A F P , Tampa, Florida

AFP

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Pittsburgh’s’ interception specialist Troy Polamalu.

ittsburgh Steelers star defensive back Troy Polamalu embraces his Samoan heritage with his trademark long dark hair to provide a Polynesian punch for a squad on the verge of a Super Bowl crown.

Polamalu, second in the National Football League with a career-high seven interceptions this season, will spark the stingiest defensive unit in the

NFL on Sunday when the Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43.

“Me being Samoan, obviously it feels very special, especially with the fact there are not very many big Samoan players who have a shot at making the Super Bowl,” Polamalu said. “It’s really an honour.”

The 27-year-old American began embracing his Samoan

heritage when he moved from California to Oregon at age eight to live with an uncle. It has been seven years since Polamalu trimmed his hair, which sticks out the back of his helmet.

“I do it for all the bald men over 40,” Polamalu said with a laugh.

The safety’s only rival for folicular supremacy this week will be Arizona receiving

leader Larry Fitzgerald, whose dreadlocked mane has drawn comparisons since Polamalu will be called upon to shut down the speedy Fitzgerald.

“He is a great athlete,” Polamalu said. “No one has been able to contain him yet.”

Asked whose mane was superior, Polamalu replied, “Him, by far. It probably takes him a much shorter time to get prepared than me.”

Thursday, January 29, 2009

THE SPORT 25

DAILY XPRESS

FOOTBALL

ROBINHO ARRESTED Man City striker held over ‘rape in nightclub’ claims

career

DAILY XPRESS

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AFP, London

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AFP

anchester City and Brazil striker Robinho has been arrested over allegations of a serious sexual assault in a British nightclub, police and his spokesman said yesterday.

The spokesman for 25-yearold Robinho, Britain’s most expensive player, said he “strenuously denied” the allegations.

Criminal investigation “We can confirm that Robinho met the police today, as pre-arranged and as part of a criminal investigation,” spokesman Chris Nathaniel said in a statement on Robinho’s official website.

“He strenuously denies any allegation of wrongdoing or criminality and is happy to cooperate with the police if fur-

Wrist fracture could end Paradorn’s

Robinho was arrested on Tuesday after allegations made against him by a female student. ther required.”

West Yorkshire police in northern England confirmed a man was arrested on Tuesday and was questioned in connection with a serious sexual assault in a Leeds nightclub on January 14.

Released on bail A spokesman said the man had been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Reports said the alleged incident involved a student at The Space nightclub in Leeds in the early hours of January 14.

A student reported the alleged incident to the police later in the day. The two-room club holds around 800 people and is popular with footballers.

Manchester City made no immediate comment on the arrest.

aradorn Srichaphan will have a second operation on his wrist, raising doubts over whether the former world No 9 will ever return to the professional circuit.

The winner of five ATP trophies was diagnosed with a fractured right wrist by a doctor at Chuklalongkorn Hospital, an injury he suffered playing in an exhibition match with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

Paradorn is scheduled to meet a specialist this morning for a final check-up before undergoing an operation on February 2. He had his first operation, for tendonitis, in the United States in December 2007 but showed no signs of improvement.

Paradorn, who played his last competitive match in March 2007, has not announced his retirement but says he’ll make a decision in the middle of this year.

26

THE SPORT

Thursday, January 29, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

FOOTBALL

HIGH FIVES AFP, Birmingham, England

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ir Alex Ferguson has warned his Premier League rivals that Manchester United have rediscovered their ruthless streak after Tuesday’s 5-0 hammering of West Brom took the champions three points clear of closest rivals Liverpool.

Goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Carlos Tevez, Nemanja Vidic and two from Cristiano Ronaldo completed an emphatic rout of bottom club West Brom, whose flickering hopes were snuffed out with the 40th minute dismissal of captain Paul Robinson for a late challenge on South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung.

But with United now clear of the pack and with goal-

Beckham closer to Milan deal

keeper Edwin van der Sar breaking his Chelsea counterpart Petr Cech’s shut-out record by taking his run without conceding a goal to 1,032 minutes, Ferguson insisted that his team are now back to their destructive best.

He said: “We have shown a real ruthless streak tonight which has maybe not been there this season.

“We always expected it to come simply because of the forwards we have, but tonight was the first indication that it is there.

“Hopefully we will start to motor now. We have good form, which is important, but March and April are the key months.

“Even Cristiano scored in the league again and I actually said to him, ‘Oh, you’re

,,

AP

Man United rediscover ruthless edge with a table-topping destruction of West Brom

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo grimaces after being fouled during the match against West Brom.

WE HAVE SHOWN A REAL RUTHLESS STREAK TONIGHT WHICH HAS MAYBE NOT BEEN THERE THIS SEASON. Alex Ferguson

scoring again. That’s very good of you!’ But he is delighted to have got himself back on the scoresheet.”

United’s recent surge up the table, on the back of eleven successive clean sheets and seven league wins on the bounce, has been largely down to their defensive record.

And Ferguson paid tribute to Dutchman Van der Sar, who can break the all-time Football League record, currently held by former Reading goalkeeper Steve De’Ath, if he surpasses the 1,103 minute record set by De’Ath in 197879, when United face Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Ferguson said: “Edwin has achieved everything in the game, but he is as delighted in the dressing room as he was after his penalty save against Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow last season.

“Despite his achievements and experience, he still has that competitive streak and it shows with his record.”

Ferguson insisted that Robinson was “careless and reckless” with the challenge that resulted in his dismissal and West Brom manager Tony Mowbray refused to criticise referee Rob Styles for his decision to send his player off five minutes before half-time.

O’Neill backs Heskey to fire Villa AFP, Portsmouth, England

AFP

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artin O’Neill has backed Emile Heskey to forge a killer strike partnership with Gabriel Agbonlahor after the England forward marked his Aston Villa debut with the winner against Portsmouth.

Heskey scored a superblytaken first-half goal to secure a 1-0 victory and repay a big chunk of the £3.5 million Villa paid to take him from Wigan last week.

Villa boss O’Neill, who worked with Heskey at the start of his career at Leicester, said the two forwards showed that they will dovetail effectively.

“I’m delighted with Emile, he was excellent. Please God he’ll stay fit because then it should be a great partnership with

AP

AC Milan moved a step closer to a permanent purchase of loan-signing David Beckham after saying they would buy him outright if discussions with his advisors bore fruit, Sky Italia reported yesterday.

The 33-year-old former England captain, who signed a five-year contract with LA Galaxy in 2007, is on loan in Milan until early March but club chief executive Adriano Galliani said they were willing to buy him should they get the permission to do so.

“If Beckham comes to an agreement with Galaxy, we are ready to pay a figure. In the coming days we will meet his advisors,” Galliani told Sky Italia.

Aston Villa’s Emile Heskey, centre, gets praises from his manager.

Gabby who has had to work himself into the ground over the last few weeks.”

Villa were perhaps fortunate to take all three points but a run of six away wins on the trot

must be built on something more solid than luck and it has prompted suggestions that the Midlands team might actually challenge for the title, rather than simply fighting to stay in

the top four until the end of the season.

“At least we are making it a bit interesting,” O’Neill said.

“I’m delighted with how we are performing and the spirit in the side is first class.

“We’ve been without John Carew for two months and now Martin Laursen and Ashley Young are missing as well. If you had told me at the start of the season we would be doing so well without players like this then I’d just never have believed you.”

Heskey’s decisive intervention on Tuesday night came after the England centre forward latched on Agbonlahor’s flickon from a Brad Friedel clearance and fired past David James from just outside the area.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

THE SPORT 27

DAILY XPRESS

F O O T B A L L – A S I A N C U P Q UA L I F I E R

THAIS SCARE IRANIANS Hosts prove the sceptics wrong with a draw

By Kitinan Sanguansak DAILY XPRESS

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hailand’s chances of qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup received a major boost when they got an unlikely goalless draw against a powerful Iran in the Group E match at Rajamangala National stadium yesterday.

Although the Iran side was missing its European-based players due to club commitments, few gave the Thais a chance against the group’s favourites, who trounced Singapore 6-0 in the opening match a fortnight ago.

However, the hosts can count themselves unlucky not to have taken all three points: Thailand’s dominating secondhalf performance had the visitors staggering against the ropes.

Thailand’s Natthapong Samana is brought down by an Iranian player during the game yesterday.

The game started off at a frenetic pace, with both teams looking to impose themselves early.

The home side had its first sight of goal when Sutee Suksomkit broke into the area before pulling the ball back for Pichitpong Choeichiew lurking near the penalty spot. The mid-

RESULTS basketball NBA Yesterday’s results: Orlando 135, Indiana 111; Cleveland 117, Sacramento 110; Denver 100, Memphis 85; San Antonio 106, Utah 100; Charlotte 117, LA Lakers 110 (2OT) .

ice hockey NHL Yesterday’s results: Columbus 3, Detroit 2 (OT); NY Rangers 3, Carolina 2; Boston 3, Washington 2 (OT); Florida 3, Philadelphia 2; New Jersey 4, Ottawa 1; Tampa Bay 5, Montreal 3; Minnesota 6, Toronto 1; Dallas 2, Atlanta 0; San Jose 3, Colorado 0; Anaheim 7, Phoenix 3; Buffalo 10, Edmonton 2.

soccer English Premier League Tuesday’s results: Portsmouth 0 Aston Villa 1 (Heskey 21); Sunderland 1 (Jones 55) Fulham 0; Tottenham 3 (Lennon 8, Defoe 21, Dawson 25) Stoke 1 (Beattie 57); West Brom 0 Manchester United 5 (Berbatov 22, Tevez 44, Vidic 60, Ronaldo 65, 73) Scottish League Cup Tuesday’s result: Semi-finals: Rangers 3 (Novo 8, 40, Boyd 88) Falkirk 0 German Cup Tuesday’s last 16 results: Hamburg SV 3

3-2

fielder failed to connect with the pass, but the ball ran loose to left-back Natthapong Samana, who dragged his effort wide of the post.

Moments later, however, it was the visitors who came close to opening the scoring after the Thai defence could only half-clear a corner. The ball fell

into the path of an Iranian midfielder, who forced the keeper into a fine save from just outside the penalty box.

Buoyed by their escape, the hosts counter-attacked immediately, but their flowing move ended up with Sutee hitting an angled shot into the side netting.

The home crowds’ hearts missed a beat when Natthapong was judged to have fouled an Iranian striker just outside the penalty area. The visitors, though, failed to make the most of the resulting freekick.

Captain Datsakorn Thonglao could have put the home side in front on the stroke of halftime when, teed up by the lively Sutee, he fired a powerful longrange shot which fizzed just wide of the far post. The hosts came out firing in the second half, forcing the Middle East side on the back foot right from the restart.

With the visitors visibly wilting under the intense pressure, the Thais threw caution to the wind and altered their shape.

Three strikers were pushed forward in the closing stages in a bid for the winner.

The gamble didn’t come off and the Iranians heaved a sigh of relief when the referee blew the whistle for full-time.

Bruins beat the Capitals in overtime David Krejci scored a power-play goal off the leg of Washington defender Shaone Morrisonn with 3:05 left in overtime as theBruins beat the Capitals.

(Olic 44, 78, 85) 1860 Munich 1 (Bierofka 87); Iena 1 (Schembri 67) Schalke 04 4 (Farfan 19, 66, Rakitic 71, Kuranyi 90+1) ; VfB Stuttgart 1 Bayern Munich 5 (Schweinsteiger 14, 55-pen, Ribery 16, Toni 43, Ze Roberto 59); SC Freiburg 1 (Krmas 71) Mainz 3 (Bungert 47, Bance 65, Soto 80)

Steady Noppawan trounces her rival

tennis

DAILY XPRESS

Australian Open Yesterday’s results (x denotes seeding): Men’s singles: Quarter-finals: Fernando Verdasco (ESP x14) b Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x5) 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-3 6-2; Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) b Gilles Simon (FRA x6) 6-2 7-5 7-5 Women’s singles: Quarter-finals: Elena Dementieva (RUS x4) b Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-2 62; Serena Williams (USA x2) b Svetlana Kuznetzova (RUS x8) 5-7 7-5 6-1 Men’s doubles: Quarter-finals: Leander Paes (IND)/Lukas Dlouhy (CZE x4) v Simone Bolelli/Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-1 7-6 (7/5) Mixed doubles: Quarter-finals: Sania Mirza/Mahesh Bhupathi (IND) b Aleksandra Wozniak/Daniel Nestor (CAN) 3-6 6-4 10-5 (match tiebreaker); Anabel Medina Garrigues/Tommy Robredo (ESP x7) b Patty Schnyder (SUI)/Wesley Moodie (RSA) 5-7 6-4 12-10 (match tiebreaker); Nathalie Dechy (FRA)/Andy Dam (ISR) b Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 7-5 6-1

orld junior No 1 Noppawan Lertcheewakarn extended her run at Melbourne Park with a third-round victory over Australian Olivia Rogowska 6-3 6-1 yesterday.

The tournament’s top seed encountered few problems in the match, wrapping it up in just 58 minutes on court No 3.

“I was playing better than in the previous round. I stuck to my game plan and served well, making it difficult for her to attack,” said Noppawan, who is in on a quest for her first Grand Slam singles trophy before kissing goodbye to the junior circuit at the end of this year. Up next is unseeded Anna Orlik of Belarus, a player Noppawan is not underestimating despite wrapping up each of her three matches against her in less than an hour.

“She takes the ball early. It’s going to be tough from now on. A

W

quarter-final match is never easy,” said Noppawan, whose doubles match with Indonesian partner Beatrice Gumulya against Briton Laura Robson and Orlik was postponed to today under the tournament’s heat policy.

ON TV

Dementieva

Nadal

Economy class looms Serena Williams says she is using the global financial crisis as motivation in her Australian Open campaign, threatening herself with a 16-hour flight in economy class if she is eliminated.

The three-time Australian champion was staring down the barrel as Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova served for the match in their quarter-final Wednesday but came back to win and advance to the semi-finals. “I was thinking ‘Okay, if you lose, you’re going to fly coach [economy] all the way back to Florida,” she said when asked what she was thinking as Kuznetsova served.

Tennis Australian Open 9.30am &3.30pm /Star Sports