Proof Ferguson’s back on the booze

Former Origin star Blake Ferguson leaves Sutherland Court. Picture: John Appleyard Source: John Appleyard / News Limited

EXILED rugby league star Blake Ferguson is back on the grog again, spending Sunday afternoon knocking over schooners instead of opponents.

Just four months after converting to Islam and vowing to give up alcohol, the former Canberra Raiders star is now drinking regularly.

This is the same man who also recently told a magistrate in Sutherland court, when found guilty of indecent assault, that he was no longer drinking.

Ferguson is appealing the verdict in a higher court.

From midday on Sunday afternoon, the State of Origin star was spotted drinking in the beer garden at the Caringbah hotel.

The image shows Blake Ferguson with a friend drinking from a full schooner of beer with another schooner in front in the beer garden. Source: Supplied

Our photo shows him with an unidentified male friend. Witnesses said he was there for several hours.

Only two weeks ago he was also spotted having a late session at a King Cross nightclub.

In fairness Ferguson is not misbehaving and just minding his own business.

He originally converted to Islam because his life was spiralling out of control on alcohol-fuelled benders.

"Alcohol has been my problem for the last five years," he said, "It's brought me down to where I am now. I've had enough. From here on I'm not drinking."

That was in November. He has since been spotted at the Clovelly Hotel, Kings Cross and now Caringbah.

Disgraced Origin star Blake Ferguson leaves Sutherland Court. Source: News Limited

His mate and mentor Anthony Mundine continues to stick by him, despite all the broken promises.

Mundine himself is too busy to keep a 24/7 watch on Ferguson while preparing for his next fight against former world champion Joshua Clottey in Newcastle on April 2.

He stands by the troubled footballer because "he's family."

"Blake's just looking forward to changing his direction in life," Mundine said recently, "No drinking, no drugs, no parties."

At this stage there is no indication if or when the 23-year-old centre will play football again.

Despite interest from a number of clubs, it's highly unlikely the NRL will register a playing contract this year unless he wins an appeal against the indecent assault conviction.

His best hope would be a 2015 comeback.

Ferguson did not return phone calls or text messages on Monday.

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‘Enabled’ Amy dancing her way to the top

An Instagram photo of Amy Purdy. Source: Supplied

AMY Purdy lost both her legs at the age of 19 but in Sochi this week she's snowboarding by day and dancing by night.

American TV series 'Dancing With The Stars' has sent a crew to Sochi so Purdy can practice for her debut on the show in Los Angeles next week.

The 34-year-old from Las Vegas is competing in snowboard cross on Friday as the only double amputee in the field, courageously taking on single amputees and those with both their legs but another physical impairment.

After competition she flies straight to the US for the series premiere which will be shown nationwide.

The snowboarder, motivational speaker, actor and model this week Tweeted a photo of her dance partner Derek Hough:

"Just finished snowboard training for the day and looking forward to meeting this hunk on the dancefloor."

Purdy is one of the most marketable athletes in the US and has inspired thousands of people to overcome their own obstacles.

At the age of 19 she graduated from high school and became a massage therapist when she went home one day with what she thought was the flu.

Within 24 hours she was on life support in hospital and given a two per cent chance of surviving when diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.

In the next two months Purdy lost her spleen, kidneys, hearing in her left ear and both legs below the knee.

"When my parents wheeled me out of the hospital I felt like I had been pieced back together like a patchwork doll," she says in a speech titled 'Living Beyond Limits' which has been viewed more than 625,000 times on YouTube.

"I thought the worst was over until weeks later when I saw my legs for the first time.

"The calves were bulky blocks of metal with pipes bolted together for ankles and the yellow rubber foot with the raised rubber line from the toe to the ankle to look like a vein."

Purdy, who has been snowboarding since she was 15, said her biggest fear at the time was how she would travel the world and ever snowboard again.

After weeks of struggling to get out of bed, she eventually "let go of the old Amy and embraced the new Amy".

She found feet that she could snowboard in, received a new kidney from her father, got back on the snow and in 2005 co-founded an organisation to help young people with disabilities get involved with action sports.

Purdy said she wouldn't change a thing about her journey.

"Because my legs haven't disabled me, if anything they've enabled me.

"They've forced me to rely on my imagination and to believe in the possibilities.

"In our minds we can do anything, we can be anything, it's believing in those dreams and facing those fears head on that allows us to live our lives beyond our limits."

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Rodman vows ‘no return to N. Korea’

Friends ... North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) meets with former NBA star Dennis Rodman in Pyongyang. Source: AAP

DENNIS Rodman has given a tearful interview apologising for his trips to North Korea and vowing never to return to the country.

"I don't want people to look at me as the devil or evil person," he told ESPN. "If I put anyone in harm's way, I apologise.

"If you don't want me to go back there ever again, I won't go back," he said, talking to the camera.

Rodman struck up a friendship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un last year when he first travelled to North Korea.

The 52-year-old basketball star visited North Korea in January for an exhibition game and sung Happy Birthday to Kim.

KIM JONG-UN'S SISTER STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

He attracted criticism when he did an interview with CNN saying that Kenneth Bae, a seriously ill American missionary imprisoned in North Korea, was responsible for his own imprisonment.

Following his return from North Korea, Rodman checked himself into rehab for an alcohol issue while denying he was an alcoholic.

"I don't need to drink,' he said. 'I don't need to do anything. I went to rehab just to sort things out. That's it."

I'm not an alcoholic," he said. "An alcoholic drinks seven days a week. I don't drink seven days a week. When I drink, I don't hurt nobody, I don't have no DUIs, nothing like that."

Rodman said he wished that people understood that he was just trying to broker peace with North Korea.

"I wish (the critics) understood the whole purpose of why I went to North Korea," he said. "You know, I don't want to be a hero. I just wanted to be, just do happy things and do great things in life."

"The people over there are not bad people," Rodman said.

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Troubled Bayern focus on Arsenal

Uli Hoeness in court for the start of his trial on Monday. Picture: Cristof Stache/AFP Source: CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP

PEP Guardiola has said Bayern Munich must ignore their first-leg lead when they host Arsenal this week in the Champions League against the backdrop of club president Uli Hoeness' trial.

Holders Bayern host the Gunners in the Champions League's last 16 second-leg tie at Munich's Allianz Arena on Tuesday, with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in London.

But the return comes amid the distraction of Hoeness' high-profile trial in Munich, which is expected to last until at least Thursday, where he is accused of tax fraud.

On Monday, Hoeness' lawyer revealed the Bayern boss has cheated the taxman out of 18.5 million euros ($28.4 million) — more than five times the amount previously thought.

Guardiola has said his players must not allow Hoeness' case to distract them and forget about their two-goal lead.

"Uli Hoeness is the most important person in this club,'' said Bayern's head coach.

"The best help we can give him is if we win.

"We need to forget what happened in London.

Pep Guardiola says his club should not underestimate Arsenal. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

"If we try to manage the result, based on the first-leg victory, then we will have big problems.

"Everybody thinks that after the 2-0 win in London, they (Arsenal) have no chance, but that is our problem.

"Arsenal are a very good team with a lot of quality in midfield, especially with (Mesut) Ozil, (Mikel) Arteta and others.''

Bayern are all too aware that in an almost identical situation last March they lost 2-0 to Arsenal in Munich having won 3-1 in London at the same stage in the competition.

"We have learnt our lesson, that was a good warning,'' said Bayern's Germany winger Thomas Mueller after Munich only progressed on away goals 12 months ago.

"I am not just going to just assume that we won't lose 2-0 again.''

While the Hoeness case is dominating the German media, midfielder Toni Kroos, who has been linked to Manchester United, said the players will ignore it for 90 minutes.

Bayern Munich have a two-goal lead from the first leg. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP Source: AFP

"Of course, we are following the case, but we are professionals and can blend it out,'' said Kroos, whose contract expires in June 2015.

"We'll be focused on the football, that is what the president also wants.''

And as Mueller put it: "When the whistle blows, no one has any other thoughts than the game.''

Bayern are bidding to reach their fourth Champions League final in five years, having lost in 2010 and 2012 before winning last season's Wembley final.

They have made no secret of their desire to become the first team to defend the title.

But Guardiola, who lifted the trophy as Barcelona's manager in both 2009 and 2011, knows the enormity of the task.

"That's why we're not the favourites (to win the final in Lisbon on May 24) and it's a good thing for us,'' he said.

"This shows the difficulty of winning the Champions League.'

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Pele: Neymar can lead Brazil to glory

Legends ... Pele, left, thinks that Neymar, right, can help lead Brazil to victory in the World Cup. Source: Supplied

PELE is counting on Neymar to lead Brazil to World Cup victory and erase the painful memory of the last time the football-mad country hosted the tournament.

Considered by many to be world's best player, Pele was only 9 years old when Brazil lost to Uruguay in the final match of the 1950 World Cup. Pele then led Brazil to the title eight years later, when he was 17, and again in 1962 and 1970.

With Brazil hosting the tournament this year, the pressure is on the 22-year-old Neymar, who scored a hat trick last week in a friendly against South Africa.

"Neymar is a great player. I know him very well, because he played for Santos and my son was goalkeeper there, and then coached in the youth teams,'' the 73-year-old Pele said a news conference at Paris City Hall, where the World Cup trophy has been on display since Sunday.

"I think the pressure you speak of exists. What's important is that he plays for Barcelona and the fact he left Brazil means that he gained in experience.''

After a difficult start to his career in Spain, Neymar has shown glimpses of his potential, scoring a hat trick in the Champions League against Celtic and a further seven goals in 20 league games.

Pele thinks leaving the comfort zone of Santos will prove to serve Neymar, and Brazil.

"In Europe it's more difficult and it's been a great experience for him to leave Brazil. The six months have been a great opportunity for him,'' Pele said through a translator. "So he will go to Brazil having gained in experience. But the pressure won't just be on Neymar, it will be on the whole of the Brazil team.''

But much of the weight of a nation's expectation will rest on the slender shoulders of Neymar, who has scored 30 goals in 47 matches for his country.

"It's going to be very hard. Brazil has a real football history. The only World Cup held in Brazil was when we lost against Uruguay, so the Brazilians still remember that,'' said Pele, who scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil. "It will be our chance for revenge. I really hope the final is against France and I really want to beat France. It would be great because France has beaten Brazil the last three times they've played in the World Cup.''

Pele's mesmerising performance in 1958 thrust him into the spotlight and, in a career where he scored more than 1000 goals - most of them for Santos - he went on to become the game's first genuine superstar.

Still, that 2-1 loss to Uruguay in 1950 in front of 200,000 disillusioned fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro haunts him.

"The first World Cup memory I have is not the best, I remember hearing my father crying,'' Pele said. "The idea is to wipe away that memory.''

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Sacked Flower gets new cricket gig

Flower back in bloom ... Sacked England coach Andy Flower has been appointed technical director of elite coaching for the England and Wales Cricket Board. Source: FRANTZESCO KANGARIS / AFP

FORMER England cricket coach Andy Flower, who stepped down after their humiliating Ashes defeat, has been handed a new role.

Flower left his post as team director following a dreadful tour of Australia, where England suffered a 5-0 series defeat and proceeded to lose seven of the eight limited-overs contests which followed.

The tour also ended the international career of prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen, after concerns over team unity.

It was immediately indicated that Flower would still be a part of England's future plans and details of his role have now been provided.

The 45-year-old Zimbabwean will be working with the next generation of players and coaches and will be setting up a leadership program, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement says.

Flower's achievements prior to his miserable Ashes farewell were impressive as England won three previous series against Australia under his tutelage, including the 2010-11 series Down Under.

They also claimed the World Twenty20 title in 2010 and reached number one in the world rankings in all three formats. Flower received an OBE in the Queen's 2011 Birthday Honours list.

Flower says he's delighted with the appointment.

"I see this as a great opportunity for me as I start a new phase of my career," he said on Tuesday.

"I am particularly excited about the chance to build and mould a leadership course which is not simply about captaincy but much more.

"This role offers me a chance to make a real contribution to the ability and character of England players and coaches in the years to come."

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Heart fairytale rivals Wanderers

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AS outrageous as it sounds, Melbourne Heart is now a ­contender for this season's A-League championship in what looms as a Steven Bradbury-style finish.

Heart is four points adrift of the top six, but if it makes April's finals series, a grand final appearance on the first weekend of May is a strong possibility.

While Heart has a decent run home that includes games against fellow top-six hopefuls Newcastle, Wellington and Central Coast, John van't Schip's side fears no one. And that's why Heart looms as the team nobody would want to meet in the finals.

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League leader Brisbane Roar succumbed 1-0 to the league's in-form side a fortnight ago at AAMI Park and I wouldn't be surprised if Heart wins again when the sides meet in Brisbane on March 28.

The only blemish during a super consistent seven-game streak that has yielded 19 of a possible 21 points was conceding a last-minute equaliser away to Adelaide United, the team looming as Brisbane's main threat.

With Asian Champions League trio Western Sydney, Melbourne Victory and the Mariners a worry on recent performances, Heart could enter the finals series as the genuine form team.

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Two wins would be enough to propel it to the grand final, a feat that would go close to matching the Wanderers' debut season fairytale.

The mere presence of marquee player Orlando Engelaar lifts his teammates and his quality has been on show. His goal against Victory on Saturday was effortless and one perfectly weighted 50m pass to Mate ­Dugandzic was a ball few A-League players can hit.

With Harry Kewell to give Heart another dimension in attack and youngsters Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk improving every week, anything is possible.

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Revealed: Buzz Rothfield’s top 50

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THE best new signings in rugby league in 2014 won't necessarily be Ben Barba at the Broncos, Sam Tomkins at the Warriors or Will Hopoate at Parramatta.

A player on just a third of their salaries might just prove to be the game's top recruit.

Tyrone Peachey, snapped up by the Panthers from the Sharks, has made The Daily's Telegraph's top 50 player list.

VIEW THE LIST NOW: HERE IS OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!

The 22-year-old has the skill to play five-eighth or the strength and size to play back-row.

Despite only seven first grade appearances, plenty of good judges rate him a future State of Origin player.

The experience he gained in last year's finals series will be invaluable in his debut year at the Panthers.

He has been included at number 50.

Peachey is the only Penrith player to make the top 50. The players I had most trouble leaving out were centre Dean Whare and hooker James Segeyaro.

TAKE PART IN OUR SUPERCOACH CHALLENGE!

Buzz's top 50 NRL players. Source: DailyTelegraph

Jamal Idris, Tim Grant and Jamie Soward didn't do enough last year to warrant inclusion.

It's very much a revamped top 50 from last year with nine newcomers in the list of players between 26 and 50.

Jake Friend, Josh Papalii, George Burgess, Boyd Cordner, Jorge Taufua are among the new players that demanded selection.

All four could have made the top 25 list in tomorrow's edition but have been beaten by more experienced players.

DO YOU AGREE? TELL US IN OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!

Obviously there are casualties from last year's top 50.

The likes of Wade Graham, Michael Ennis, Dave Taylor, Sam Kasiano, Kurt Gidley, Dave Shillington and Tony Williams have missed out.

Their form last year wasn't good enough to warrant inclusion, especially big T Rex.

Others have slipped out of the top 25 but still made the top 50.

Ben Barba, on the back of his Dally M year, was rated the fifth best player in rugby league this time last year.

He's slipped 22 spots to 27 this year.

Manly's Anthony Watmough (19 to 30), the Gold Coast's Nate Myles and Greg Bird have also tumbled.

DON'T MISS: PART TWO, 25-1 WILL BE REVEALED ON WEDNESDAY!

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Eriksson rejects racism claim

Sol Campbell claims the governing FA did not want a black player heading the England team. Source: PAUL BARKER / AFP

FORMER England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has denied Sol Campbell's claim he would have been captain of the national side "for more than 10 years" had he been white.

Campbell, one of the leading black English footballers of his generation, made the controversial allegations in a new biography, extracts of which were serialised in Britain's Sunday Times last weekend.

The 39-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal defender said: "I believe if I was white, I would have been England captain for more than 10 years — it's as simple as that.

"I think the FA (England's governing Football Association) wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise to be captain," added Campbell, who led his country on three occasions.

But Eriksson told Britain's Daily Telegraph that David Beckham had always been his first choice as skipper.

"Not a chance — during my years, not a chance," the Swede said of Campbell's claim of captaincy.

"As you know, from my first to my last game, I had David Beckham (as captain) and there were never, ever any discussions at all in the team or in the FA about the captain."

Sven Goran-Eriksson said Campbell had no chance at the captaincy while David Beckham was around. Source: AFP

Former England striker Ian Wright, like Campbell a prominent black English footballer, also contested his former international teammate's assertion, insisting there were better candidates to lead the national side at the time.

"I think he's got the credentials to be captain, but to be captain for 10 years? I'm not sure when you see some of the players that were around then," Arsenal great Wright, who played alongside Campbell for England in the late 1990s, told BBC Radio Five.

"I want a captain that goes in and gets you going. Sol has never had the demeanour where he is aggressive on the pitch and put people in their place.

"People say David Beckham wasn't like that, but he only had to raise his eyebrows to put someone in their place. Maybe Sol could have grown into it but it's down to the manager who he wants.

"Sol was more than good enough to be a captain but I personally believe there were better candidates at the time."

So far the current FA hierarchy have made no public response to Campbell's remarks and British media reports said it was understood they had no plans to comment.

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Pacemen put Australia in charge

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MICHAEL Clarke will be looking to declare for the second time in two days as Australia presses for a series victory in the third and final Test at Newlands.

With the series tied at one-all Australia will resume on Tuesday on 0-27, a lead of 234 with two days to play.

Australia's cause has been helped by a hamstring strain to the world's best fast bowler, Dale Steyn, but he bowled a few warm-up deliveries before Australia's second innings and then joined his teammates during the 20 minutes South Africa was in the field on Monday evening with the hope of bowling on day four.

MATCH CENTRE: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE STATS AND COMMENTARY

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Clarke continued his tradition of refusing to enforce the follow-on despite bowling South Africa out for 287, giving Australia a lead of 207. At the beginning of the day Clarke declared on Australia's overnight score of 7-494, leaving him on 161 not out.

At 6-146 it appeared South Africa would be bowled out cheaply but a fighting 67 from Faf du Plessis and some rearguard batting from Vernon Philander (37 not out) and Steyn (28) boosted the score.

Du Plessis had plenty of good fortune, including being missed twice in one over off spinner Nathan Lyon when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin fumbled a stumping chance and Alex Doolan missed a difficult catch at short leg.

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The South African batsman also received a collective gob full from the Australians after picking the ball up and tossing it back to bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson enhanced his standing as the leading bowler in the series, finishing with 4-42 from 19 overs to continue a long, golden summer. He has 19 wickets for the series at an average of 15 after claiming 37 wickets at 14 in the Ashes.

His new ball partner, Ryan Harris, was also vastly improved after a slow start to the tour, claiming 3-63 from 22 overs.

The veteran paceman conjured the ball of the match with late reverse swing to bowl the dangerous Hashim Amla for 38 as South Africa's batsmen crumbled.

Harris claimed three of the first six wickets to fall, removing Amla and JP Duminy during a wonderful exhibition of reverse swing bowling.

Australia's pace bowling was a welcome change from the second Test in Port Elizabeth, where they were impotent while South Africa was devastating with reverse swing.

Ryan Harris celebrates after dismissing Graeme Smith. Source: AFP

Harris claimed his first wicket in just the third over of the day when he had South African captain Graeme Smith caught behind for 5, continuing his poor series with the bat.

Smith has scored just 42 runs at an average of eight with a top score of 14.

After exceptional back to back Ashes campaigns Harris has struggled to get going in this series, looking for all the world like a 34-year-old fast bowler with a long injury history.

He had been down on pace and often began spells with juicy short balls outside off stump which were easily dispatched. This explained series figures of just three wickets at an average of 74 going into this match.

But from the outset of South Africa's innings Harris's pace was up and his accuracy was impeccable, constantly asking questions of the batsmen.

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