THE Marvin Lee Foundation got a $27,000 kick start when it was launched yesterday. And among the first contributors was star West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago batsman Brian Lara, who along with sister Agnes handed over a cheque for $5,000 almost matching his world record 501 in a first-class innings.

The foundation was launched at the offices of CONCACAF president Jack Austin Warner, to celebrate the life of Marvin Lee, the ex-under-20 national football captain who suffered a crippling injury during a World Cup qualifying match against the United States at the Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence two years ago. The 22-year-old Lee died of pneumonia on March 9 and was buried on March 14 after a funeral service at the site where he was injured, and has since been re-named Marvin Lee Stadium.

Foundation chairman Clive Pantin made a stirring plea for all footballers to make a pledge to the foundation “however small.” He said: “Give generously, especially all those who play football.” Pantin said, “I never met Marvin Lee, but after hearing what was said and what was written about him, and seeing him so cheerful in adversity, I really admired his courage. He is a role model for all young people.” Apart from contributions, Pantin suggested that tins or boxes should be placed at all venues and encouraged fans to put in their loose change.

Warner made the first contribution of $10,000 and was followed by the Laras and board member Ameer Edoo chipped in with another $10,000. Later, Warner revealed that ex-national footballer Jerren Nixon had called and sent a cheque for $2,000 which was collected yesterday. He also read an e-mail from ex-national goalkeeper Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips, commending the launching of the foundation and said he would support it in a big way. He recalled an incident in which ex-national Hylton Watts was injured in Guyana, never received proper treatment and ended up begging on the streets of Port-of-Spain. 

Launching the foundation yesterday, Warner said: “Often out of tragedy come acts of great hope, of great charity, of great humanity. “I think this is one such occasion. Marvin Lee’s death as a result of his playing so well in the sport he so loved and in the service of his country, has made us all stop and think.” Warner made it clear the purpose of the foundation is to help any and all future Trinidad and Tobago football players, at any level, who may suffer serious injury in the service of their country. Lara urged all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to see the need to extend a helping hand to the unfortunate people of the country. And he pledged: “I will help whenever necessary.” The foundation is to be managed, as a public service, by Kenny Rampersad & Co, a firm of chartered accountants.

Apart from Pantin, other members of the board of which ex-President Sir Ellis Clarke has consented to be patron are Senator Dr Eastlyn McKenzie, deputy chairman Oliver Camps, Petrotrin corporate communications manager  Oliver Flax, ex-chairman of WISE Ameer Edoo, First Citizens Bank manager Winston Glen, specialist medical officer, Ministry of Health Dr Peter Poon King, Lincoln Phillips  and media consultant David Lamy.

A WONDERFUL all-round team effort enabled St Augustine campus to capture the 2003 UWI Games netball silver medals.

The host team downed Mona (Jamaica) 34-22 in the second place play-offs at the new multi-millon dollar Sports and Physical Education Centre (SPEC), St Augustine, on Thursday. The Antoinette Gaskin-coached St Augustine team fought bravely to conquer their opponents after the first quarter ended 6-6. They led 15-8 and 25-14 at the half and three-quarter stages. Goal-attack Nicole Laptiste who scored 24 goals from 37 attempts and goal-shoot Heather Woodrooffe 10 from 17 combined beautifully inside the shooting circle to despite the much taller goal-defence Tame-ka Blenman and goal-keep Sitara English.

Melanie Gilchrist had 16 of 23 attempts while Anneka Thomp-son scored six of 10 for Mona. In the volleyball silver-medal match  played prior to the netball game, the St Augustine were beaten 3-1 Cave Hill after taking the first set 25-22.  They lost 20-25; 21-25, 15-25, And yesterday, St Augustine and Cave Hill played to a 0-0 draw, and will share the gold medals at the games which ends today with the Track and Field competition at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 8 am.

DERBY: Derby County manager John Gregory was suspended by the Division One football club yesterday pending an investigation into “serious allegations” against him. The former Aston Villa manager pulled out of a news conference scheduled yesterday afternoon. Three hours later, the club announced he had been relieved of his duties.

“As has been widely reported recently, serious allegations have been made against John Gregory,” a club statement said. “These allegations have had a major adverse effect on the club and, in the light of these and in order to expedite a thorough, fair and objective investigation, the club has decided to suspend John Gregory while the investigation is undertaken.” The club said reserve team coach Mark Lillis would take over first-team affairs. Derby, relegated from the Premier League after last season, have gone eight matches without a victory and are hovering near the Division One relegation zone. The Rams lost 3-0 to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night. Gregory have been at the centre of controversy over midfielder Craig Burley, who is considering legal action against the club. Burley claims his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury was delayed because Gregory and physiotherapist Stuart Walker ignored the advice of the club’s former physio, Alan Watson. 

LONDON:  Manchester United face the toughest possible test in their quest to regain the Champions League title they won in 1999 after being drawn against current holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will be away to the Spanish giants — nine-times winners of the competition – in the first leg of the double header, on April 8, with the return taking place at Old Trafford on April 23. Then if they pass that test the Reds will play the winners of the quarter-final between Juventus and Barcelona in the last four. There was a strong feeling at Old Trafford that United would face Real, European champions in three of the last five years and the current holders, who booked their place in the last eight on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia.

The pairing with Real will see European football’s two biggest names go head-to-head for the fourth time. Their joint history dates back to United’s very first European campaign when they were bundled out of the European Cup semi-finals by Alfredo di Stefano’s brilliant side back in 1957. Many United fans believe that had it not been for the Munich air disaster the following year, their team would have challenged Real’s dominance of a competition they won for five successive years at its inception. Under the guiding hand of Matt Busby, the Old Trafford outfit gained some revenge for that earlier defeat when they eliminated the Spaniards in the semi-final en-route to capturing of the trophy for the first time in 1968.

JOHANNESBURG: Ricky Ponting says India’s new brand of fast bowlers poses as many dangers for his Australian lineup in the World Cup final as batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

Ponting singled out India’s firebrand leftarmers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra as major threats to Australia retaining the World Cup in tomorrow’s final at Wanderers. Australia have already beaten India once in the tournament, a nine-wicket win on February 15 at the Centurion, but the result will mean nothing in the final, said Ponting. Khan, 24, and Nehra, 23, have spearheaded India’s campaign after a slow and less dramatic start. The two pacemen have been a revelation and, with veteran Javagal Srinath in charge of the new ball, the attack has been the most potent India have ever had and collected 49 wickets so far.

Zaheer has taken 18 wickets, Nehra has 15 and Srinath, who was coaxed out of retirement by skipper Sourav Ganguly, has taken 16 scalps. “Sachin (Tendulkar) and their seam bowlers,” are the biggest threats to Australia, Ponting said. “They’ve been the ones that have done particularly well throughout this tournament —- Nehra and Khan have been very good for them. They are the main threats as far as we’re concerned.” While Australia are planning for a brutal assault on targeted Indian batsmen, they remain equally vulnerable against the Indian seam and swing attack that has overshadowed the illustrious spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. Offspinner Singh has taken nine wickets in as many matches while legspinner Kumble has played only five matches as the seamers have dominated.

Some inconsistencies in Australia’s top-order have been exposed during the tournament. The Australians were reduced to 86 for four by Pakistan at the Wanderers; 135 for eight by England; 84 for seven by New Zealand; and 51 for three by Sri Lanka. Despite those shaky starts, Australia have escaped with the results and added 10 consecutive wins here to the six they had ahead of the tournament for a world record winning roll in One-Day internationals. Although the Australians are happy to take the wicket of Tendulkar quickly, they also delight in removing Ganguly early in his innings. The Indian skipper is second only to Tendulkar in runs scored in this tournament which equalled Mark Waugh’s record from 1996 with his third century of the World Cup in the semi-final win over Kenya.

Ponting said Australia will unleash a relentless pace attack on Ganguly. “The fast bowlers have caused a few problems. Sheer pace got him out in the match against us when (Brett Lee) got him,” Ponting said, adding that New Zealand paceman Shane Bond also caused trouble for Ganguly in a Super Six match. And Lee is expected to be at his explosive best, possibly even topping the 100 mph barrier. Ponting expects the Indians to take the attack to Glenn McGrath, Lee and Andy Bichel in the same way they hammered subcontinental rival Pakistan’s pace trio —- Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis —- at the Centurion Park in the Super Sixes.

LONDON: Adiemus may not be an original choice but he has so much in his favour that it could prove costly to avoid the obvious in the ?100,000 Freephone Stanley Lincoln at Doncaster today.

Fit from three excellent efforts on the all-weather this winter, the five-year-old went within a head of taking this Showcase Handicap over the straight mile 12 months ago and will actually carry 6lbs less than last March. In fact, Adiemus just made the cut for the first big race of the new turf season and he can make the most of his luck to allow trainer Jeremy Noseda’s hard work to pay dividends. Adiemus was last in action only last Saturday on Lingfield’s Polytrack where he failed by a neck to peg back Parasol in a Listed race, the Littlewoods Bet Direct Winter Derby. He now goes from that lofty contest where he carried 9st 10lbs to bottom weight in a Class B event. The going should suit and rider Shane Kelly should be able to place him where he likes from stall 10. 

Pick of the opposition look to be last year’s sixth Norton, who went on to lift the Royal Hunt Cup, and Colisay, who was a staying-on seventh to Millennium Force in a valuable seven-furlong handicap at Ascot in September. Orientor, third in the Cammidge Trophy last year, can lift this Listed race over six furlongs for trainer Jim Goldie this time round. Rocket Ship created a favourable impression on his only start as a two-year-old and can get the new campaign off on a winning note in the Greenham Classified Stakes at Kempton. Roger Charlton’s son of Pennekamp stayed on strongly when beating Prince Of Gold by two and a half lengths on his belated debut over a mile at York in October. And this nine furlongs should suit.

Royal Storm has shown his well-being with placed efforts on the all-weather this year and can open his account in the New Season Handicap. Amanda Perrett’s four-year-old scored three times last term and does not appear harshly-treated. Glenmoss Tara can take the day’s feature race over jumps, the EBF Crandon Park Stud Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Final (Limited Handicap) at Newbury. Nicky Richards’ charge could well be a cut above handicap company if she maintains the progress she has shown so far. Unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, Glenmoss Tara has been aimed at this race since she completed a hat-trick over two-and-a-half miles at Musselburgh in January. She got up on the run-in to beat Lingham Bridesmaid by four lengths and the extra furlong at Newbury should see her in even better light.

At Bangor, Amberleigh House can show he is on course to up a bold show in the Martell Cognac Grand National by winning the Weatherbys Insurance Handicap Chase. His trainer Ginger McCain, famous for his association with triple National hero Red Rum, had been giving the 11-year-old a few outings over hurdles including here before switching him back to fences for his latest start. That was in the highly-competitive Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock in which Amberleigh House ran well until fading in the straight in the race won by Shotgun Willy. Today’s distance of two-and-a-half miles may be short of his best but the opposition does not look taxing.

SELECTIONS: DONCASTER: 1.55 Bond Becks, 2.30 Darasim, 3.05 ADIEMUS (NAP), 3.40 Orientor, 4.10 Ridgeback, 4.40 King Tara, 5.15 El Coto.
KEMPTON: 2.20 Miss Brookie, 2.55 Capital Access, 3.30 Royal Storm, 4.05 Bonus, 4.35 Rocket Ship, 5.10 Reminiscent.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 7.00 Kentucky Ballet, 7.30 Blackmoll, 8.00 African Sahara, 8.30 Prince Tulum, 9.00 Teyaar, 9.30 Yorker.
NEWBURY: 1.40 Reviewer, 2.10 Spinofski, 2.45 Hot Produxion, 3.20 Glenmoss Tara, 3.55 Dene View, 4.30 Nawamees, 5.05 Lord Buckingham.
BANGOR: 2.00 Inn Antique, 2.35 Superb Leader, 3.10 Jacdor, 3.45 Amberleigh House, 4.20 Beeches Girl, 4.55 Bicycle Thief, 5.25 Imperial Dream.
DOUBLE: Adiemus and Glenmoss Tara.

AUBURN HILLS: Chauncey Billups scored 29 points on Thursday despite playing only three minutes in the fourth quarter to lead six double-figure scorers as the Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 113-85 for their sixth win in seven matches.

Allen Iverson scored just five points — snapping a 186-matches streak of scoring in double figures. It was his lowest output since scoring five points on March 2, 2000, against Washington. The Pistons held him to a career-low four points on March 23, 1998. Iverson, who went just two-for-11 before sitting out the fourth quarter, averaged 32.1 points in the previous eight matches.  Detroit (43-24) is two and a half matches ahead on New Jersey for the best record in the Eastern Conference and three and a half matches ahead of Indiana in the Central Division. Philadelphia (40-27) had won 17 of 19 since the All-Star break and are just a half-matches behind New Jersey.