brUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - The European Commission said it has decided to end disciplinary measures against Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and the Czech Republic now that their deficits no longer breach the stability and growth pact limit of 3 percent of GDP and are projected to remain below this ceiling in 2008 and 2009, a source at the monthly EU finance ministers’ meeting said.
Only two countries, Poland and Hungary, now remain in excessive deficit procedures (EDP).
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lse.co.uk

I didn’t get around to the roundtable this time, but here are my picks so that you may mock me. Hey, at least I am honest. I either do really good or really bad:
-LIVE from O2 Arena, in London England!
-Mike Goldberg welcomes us to the show and goes into a discussion of Matt Hughes. 6-years ago Hughes went to the UK and became a dominator, but tonight he returns to regain that glory. Rogan joins them and they discuss that Alves didn’t make weight. They speculate on why he didn’t make weight and commend Hughes for accepting the fight, as well as taking the fight on short notice. They move onto hype the Day vs. Bisping bout, as well as the rest of the live card.
The first fight is Fabricio Werdum vs. Brandon Vera, and we head to a video package for that fight.
HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT - Fabricio Werdum (10-3-1) vs. Brandon Vera (8-1):
ROUND ONE: The official is Big Dan Miragliotta. Vera is out with a leg kick and a quick flurry of punches that land pretty well. They clinch, to the cage and they work for position, Werdum with a big left that backed off Vera. Werdum in with a combo, they clinch and knees are traded. Werdum shots, gets the takedown and is in half guard and then into full. He tries to work some hammer fists and elbows, some blocked, some landing to the body. Vera kicks him off, to the feet, knee thrown and caught, Werdum pulls him down but Vera with good defense, lands a shot and backs off. Back standing, a good left hook by Vera, an elbow and they clinch to the cage. They get broke up after like 5-seconds, Vera blocks a kick and they clinch, knees thrown and to the cage again. Werdum with another takedown into the guard. Werdum stands and drops into the half guard. He mounts Vera and starts to unload on Vera! Hammer fists and Big Dan stops the fight. Vera is NOT happy and neither is the crowd.

411mania.com

Okay. It looks like Hillary is out, so that leaves McCain vs. Obama in the next presidential election. It should be a donnybrook of epic proportions. So much at stake for America, so much at stake for both parties. Plenty of mud to be slung in both directions. But let’s have some fun.
What kind of game plan would the great coaches of our time, Wooden, Auerbach, Lombardi put together in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. How would they attack?
The coaches would note that one of the many attributes cited by McCain supporters is his heroic service to the military. A McCain strength magnified by Obama’s lack of military service.
For the Obama team, McCain hasn’t demonstrated nearly the strength that Obama has in communicating his message to people of color or woman. He has also been less than diplomatic at times in contrast to the more urbane Obama.
I’m guessing Coaches Lombardi, Wooden and Auerbach might ask what do we need to neutralize our opponent’s strengths. Well, there is a draft of sorts coming up. The Vice Presidential draft. Each Presidential Candidate gets a first round draft pick.
I could see it now. Red Auerbach stepping up to the Podium and declaring, “with the first round pick of the Vice Presidential draft, Senator Barack Obama selects General Wesley Clark.”
Clark, a retired four-star general was valedictorian of his class at West Point. A former declared candidate for the Democratic nomination, Clark spend 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense. Clark commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War during his service as the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe of NATO from 1997 to 2000.
With the Republicans now on the clock, the Obama lack of military experience is the trump card that McCain had been holding is now totally neutralized by this deft move by the Democrats.

blog.hofmag.com

By: Doug From Upland
A hearing was held Friday morning, April 25, in the chambers of Judge Aurelio Munoz in Los Angeles Superior Court. The way has been opened for discovery and depositions in Paul v Clinton. They can start immediately.
Hillary will not be deposed until after the election. Don’t panic, it will be okay. Yes, of course, it was a political consideration. Disney did not release THE PATH TO 911 on DVD to protect Hillary.
Judge Aurelio Munoz, who appears rather friendly with Clinton attorney David Kendall, requested that Kendall say hello to a friend named Bill at Kendall’s firm, Connolly and Williams. Munoz went to law school with him. Isn’t that nice.
Even though Hillary will be delayed, there will be numerous witnesses who have important things to say. They include defendants former President Bill Clinton and Jim Levin, Chelsea Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, Gov. Ed Rendell, Gray Davis, Howard Wolfson, Kelly Craighead, Andrew Grossman, Patti Solis Doyle, Larry King, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Diana Ross, John Travolta, Brad Pitt, Stan Lee, Haim Saban, and many others.
Even before her testimony, the voters will learn about her obstruction of justice and the false FEC reporting. Perhaps a sitting federal judge and an assistant US Attorney will be subpoeaned. Are you listening Clinton-appointed Judge A. Howard Matz, you who pulled off the legal equivalent of the 1919 Black Sox in the David Rosen trial?
People who were never called in the Rosen trial or before the FEC will finally be grilled. Hillary turned in a false declaration to the court. It is hoped that testimony from other witnesses is going to show that. We hope that Obama people will start asking questions and making demands of her. Why isn’t Hillary coming forward to give testimony voluntarily before the Superdelegates choose? What is Hillary hiding? The primaries end in June. She has plenty of time to come forward and testify. Hillary, how is it that everyone at Stan Lee Media, including Disney execs ready to come aboard, knew about your husband’s new employment, but you didn’t know? How is that possible? Your daughter knew. You lied in your sworn declaration.

hillaryproject.com

BloodyElbow.com Predictions for UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2
Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre
Luke Thomas : You look at the styles, their performance in the professional MMA competition, their preparation for this fight and other factors large and small and it becomes clear that it’s hard to see a way for Serra to win this fight. I also wonder how long a year long layoff after recovering from back surgery will hinder Serra’s performance. More importantly, Serra’s unexpected pressure will be expected. Serra’s tough and very hard to put away, but GSP can mix takedowns into his stand-up exchanges to keep Serra off balance and to prevent him from sitting on his punches. While on the floor, GSP’s defense is good enough and GNP vicious enough to do damage and avoid trouble. Serra won’t go quietly into that good night, but he won’t leave the champion either. GSP, by unanimous decision .
Kid Nate : No way Serra catches him standing again. GSP by ground and pound .
Brent Brookhouse : I like Serra, so I hate to sound like I’m giving him no chance to win the fight. But I’m giving him next to no chance to win the rematch. Georges is going to bust Serra up on the feet this time around and if it goes to the ground it’ll be Serra on bottom where I don’t think he will be successful working submissions. I’m going to go ahead and take GSP by TKO in the second round .
Michael Rome : While I don’t think this is a slam dunk win for St. Pierre, I do expect him to win. I think he can use his reach and wrestling to avoid Serra’s looping punches. I do think this will be a tougher fight though for St. Pierre than Hughes was, but I think GSP is just too much. GSP by stoppage, round 3 .

bloodyelbow.com

The Phoenix Suns travel to San Antonio to take on a Spurs team that is only 1 game behind the New Orleans Hornets for the top seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Even though the BetUS sports betting community knows the Spurs don’t have to play at home to win in the playoffs make no mistake, they definitely would love home-court advantage. The Spurs have been on fire lately going 7 and 3 against the BetUS sportsbook spread and 9 and 1 straight-up in their past 10 games. The Big 3 of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been outstanding.
The Suns let a key game versus the Dallas Mavericks last Sunday get away from them. Against the BetUS spread the Suns have been less than stellar going 5 and 5 in their last 10 games. Straight-up the Suns have been alright going 6 and 4 in their last 10. If this team played in the Eastern Conference I’d be singing their praises, but they don’t. They play in the Western Conference where every game means something. Here are more trends.
The Phoenix Suns are 8-2-1 against the spread in their last 11 games versus a team from the Western Conference.
The San Antonio Spurs are 4 and 1 against the spread in their last 5 games at home.
The Under is 5 and 1 in the last 6 meetings between these two teams.
The Underdog is 4-1-1 against the spread in the last 6 meetings between these two teams.
Trends say San Antonio. Trends also say under. I’m going to do something that I rarely do and that’s forget about the trends. Usually, I am a very conservative BetUS bettor preferring to study stats and trends before making a decision.
I’m not going to do that in this game because I’ve got the feeling that the Suns will step it up. Why? For a couple of reasons. First, the Suns’ backs are against the wall here. They know that they let the game get away from them this past Sunday. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Shaquille O’Neal will be itching to duke it out with the Spurs. Second, the Spurs are one game behind the Hornets. Every time the Hornets open the door for the Spurs to grab the top seed in the Western Conference, the Spurs fail to open it wider.

betus.com

FC DALLAS vs. CHIVAS USA
PIZZA HUT PARK, Frisco, Texas
March 30, 2008 | 2 p.m. CT (TeleFutura; FSN-PT)
WEEK # 1 | GAME # 6
A pair of clubs aiming to go deeper in the MLS Cup Playoffs do battle to kick off the 2008 campaign when Western Conference foes FC Dallas and Chivas USA meet at Pizza Hut Park. FC Dallas reached the postseason in Steve Morrow’s first year in charge last year, but again didn’t get past the first hurdle, a streak stretching from 1999. Chivas USA won the conference regular season title last year in just the club’s third season, but also saw their year ended in the conference semifinals.
REFEREE: Mauricio Navarro. SAR (bench): C.J. Morgante; JAR (opposite): Craig Lowry; 4th: Richard Heron MLS Career: 9 games; FC/gm: 36.6; Y/gm: 4.9; R: 3; pens: 0
Games involving FC Dallas: P1 W1 L0 T0; FC/gm: 39.0; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 0; pens: 0
Games involving Chivas USA: P1 W0 L0 T1; FC/gm: 27.0; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 0; pens: 0 INJURY REPORT: FC DALLAS - OUT: FW Ricardinho (R ankle); DOUBTFUL: DF Duilio Davino (L knee); MF David Wagenfuhr (concussion) … CHIVAS USA - OUT: DF Alex Zotinca (R knee ACL surgery)
SUSPENDED: DAL: Drew Moor (through March 30); Arturo Alvarez (through March 30)
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): FC Dallas 5 wins, 17 goals … Chivas USA 3 wins, 14 goals … Ties 3
AT DALLAS: (6 meetings): FC Dallas 3 wins, 8 goals … Chivas USA 1 wins, 5 goals … Ties 2
• This is the first of two meetings between the teams this season, with both encounters coming in the opening month of the campaign. This is the only meeting set for Pizza Hut Park; FC Dallas will make their lone visit to The Home Depot Center to face Chivas USA on April 20.

web.mlsnet.com

ENGLISH PREVIEW: After embarrassing FA Cup exit, Chelsea turns back to league
LONDON _ Chelsea is turning its focus back to the Premier League after another cup disappointment. Chelsea manager Avram Grant is under pressure after the Blues were beaten by lower-league Barnsley 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup on Saturday _ two weeks after a 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the League Cup final. BC-EU-SPT-SOC–ENGLISH PREVIEW. Has moved. By Krystyna Rudzki.
UEFA CUP PREVIEW: Ramos trying to hang on to UEFA Cup as Tottenham treats PSV match as final
LONDON _ Juande Ramos needs something special if he is to hang on to the UEFA Cup for an unprecented third straight season. While Bayern Munich looks to have secured a quarterfinal place even before this week’s matches, Ramos’ Tottenham side needs to recover a 1-0 defecit at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday if it is to advance in the competition its coach won with Sevilla the past two seasons. BC-EU-SPT-SOC–UEFA CUP PREVIEW. Has moved. By Stuart Condie.
_ PARIS _ BC-EU-SPT-SOC–FRENCH ROUNDUP. Expected by 2000 GMT.
_ ZUG, Switzerland _ BC-EU-SPT-SOC–FIFA-MARKETING TRIAL. Has moved.
_ MADRID, Spain _ BC-EU-SPT-SOC–SPAIN-DEL BOSQUE. Has moved.
_ BOGOTA, Colombia _ BC-LA-SPT-SOC–COLOMBIA-VIOLENCE. Has moved.
PARIS-NICE: Paris-Nice race enters third day despite UCI threats, Hushovd looks to stay in yellow jersey
BELLEVILLE, France _ Despite threats of sanctions from cycling’s governing body, riders enter the third day of the Paris-Nice race, a 201-kilometer (124.6-mile) trek from Nevers to Belleville. Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd looks to keep hold of the yellow jersey but only has a slender lead of six seconds over Belgian rider Gert Steegmans. BC-EU-SPT-CYC–PARIS-NICE. Expected by 1700 GMT.

pr-inside.com