Let us begin by asking the Holy Spirit, from this moment on, to give us the grace to understand every word and gesture of Christ. Because we want to live a supernatural life, because our Lord has shown his desire to give himself to us as nourishment for our soul, and because we acknowledge that only he has “words of eternal life.”

Faith makes us profess in the words of Peter that “we have come to believe and to know that you are the Christ, the Son of God.” It is this faith, together with our devotion, that leads us to emulate the daring of John, to come close to Jesus and to rest on the breast of the Master, who loved those who were with him ardently, and who was to love them, as we have just read, to the end…
- St. Josemaria "Fifth Luminous Mystery: The Institution of the Eucharist"

From the club's website...

ARMANDO: «ME VOY CONTENTO DEL ATLÉTICO»

Armando Álvarez fue sincero en la rueda de Prensa. «Me han comunicado que no sigo la próxima temporada y es algo lógico. En el mundo del fútbol nada te pilla de sorpresa. He acabado un buen ciclo en el Atlético».



El zaguero reconoce que se va «contento. Vinimos para un objetivo, que no era otro que ascender a Primera y, aunque parece que no fue un mérito, lo cierto es que fue importante para los que estuvimos en ese proyecto».

Lo cierto es que esta temporada no ha tenido muy buena suerte. «Me lesioné y me tuve que operar al final de la temporada pasada y por eso no pude jugar más en Primera».

Fernando Correa fue operado del hombro izquierdo

El delantero uruguayo del Atlético de Madrid Fernando Correa ha sido sometido a una intervención quirúrgica en el hombro izquierdo en la Clínica Fremap de Majadahonda. Según informa el jefe de los servicios médicos del conjunto rojiblanco, José María Villalón, en un parte médico: "Correa fue intervenido quirúrgicamente de inestabilidad del hombro izquierdo (luxación recidivante)" por los doctores Vicente Concejero y Fernando Laredo.

JAVI MORENO DESEA SEGUIR

Javi Moreno, delantero internacional del Atlético de Madrid, ha afirmado este jueves que su deseo es el de continuar la próxima temporada en el conjunto rojiblanco, tras una mala temporada en el aspecto deportivo.

A Javi Moreno le quedan dos temporadas más en el Atlético de Madrid y dejó claro que quiere cumplir su contrato.

"Estoy muy tranquilo con mi temporada en el aspecto personal. Cada año es una historia y la próxima vendré con las mismas ganas y con la misma mentalidad. Espero que salga todo bien", declaró.

"Tengo dos años más de contrato y mi intención es la de seguir aquí. Creo que puedo demostrar más de lo que he hecho esta temporada. Me ilusiona mucho la campaña que viene".

Rangers tell Atletico Madrid to up Arteta offer

Atletico Madrid have offered Rangers £4 million for midfielder Mikel Arteta.

Gers chairman John McClelland said: "I haven't seen any formal bid from Atletico although I have been busy today with the Capucho deal.

"But we would not be jumping into a deal at £4 million. The player says he would prefer to go if he cannot play in Barry Ferguson's position so we have said we will listen to offers. But we will not settle for any old offer.

"He's our player and he is still under contract."

Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao are also keen.

It still hurt to post this...

Madrid trounces Atletico 4-0, now atop Spanish league

Ronaldo and Raul Gonzalez each scored twice Sunday as Real Madrid crushed crosstown rival Atletico 4-0 to regain the lead over Real Sociedad in the Spanish league with one week to go.

Real Sociedad lost 3-2 at Celta de Vigo and fell two points behind Madrid, which is looking for its record 29th title.

Ronaldo increased his season total to 21 goals and Raul has 16.

Atletico Madrid in talks with Independiente over Milito

Atletico Madrid are stepping up their interest in Independiente defender Gaby Milito.
The youngster is rated the best defender in Argentina and is a target for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

But Atletico sports director Toni Munoz has already opened talks with Independiente following a trip to South America last week.

Munoz has also spoken with Milito's agent, Eduardo Gamarnik. Milito's registration is owned 80 per cent by his club and the rest by Gamarnik.

The youngster can be signed for around £4 million.

Atletico stake claim for Basel ace

Switzerland international Hakan Yakin is on the verge of a move to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, according to the player's agent.

The Basel star, who has also been courted by English outfit Liverpool, is believed to have agreed terms with the capital club, with the deal to be confirmed later this week.

"We have reached an agreement on most of the points of the contract and it is to be signed in the forthcoming days," said Yakin's agent Erzik.

However, Basel president Roger Hegi claimed that the club have had not spoken to the Spaniards. "Nobody has contacted the club yet."

Yakin became a hot commodity this season after impressive performances as Christian Gross' side qualified for the Champions League's second group phase.

It's the Derby!

SOLO HABRA 1.300 MADRIDISTAS EN EL CALDER?N

It's the Derby!

Jorge: "Del Real Madrid me quedo con Raul y Zidane"

It's the Derby!

Torres: "A todo el mundo le gusta ganar al Real Madrid porque es el mejor"

El jugador del Atlético Fernando Torres cree que para ganar al Real Madrid deberán hacer un partido perfecto: "Para vencer hay que realizar un partido perfecto. Con el balón te crean peligro en cualquier momento. Hay que quitárselo como sea, ya que cuando lo tienen es muy difícil pararlos".

El delantero tiene la clave para derrotar a los blancos: "El domingo seremos mejores en ilusión y ganas. Por plantilla, son de las mejores del mundo y conocemos nuestras limitaciones, aunque a noventa minutos los nombres no valen nada".

Preparing next year's roster...

Agent: Atletico Madrid on for Rangers' Arteta

The agent of Rangers midfielder Mikel Arteta says a move to Atletico Madrid is a definite possibility.

Arteta is close pals with Atletico whiz Fernando Torres and is open to a switch to Madrid.

His agent Miguel Santos said, "There have been no official approaches so far. But, yes, it does seem that is the price that they (Rangers) are generally talking about."

Arteta said: "When the moment arrives to make a decision - whether it's about football, my personal life, or anything else - then I will do what I have to do.

"But when I left Glasgow two weeks ago, in my mind I was already thinking about coming back to start training on July 14. That's all I can say at this time."

It's the Derby!

Madrid derby adds spice to title race

Real Sociedad, the Basque upstarts, are in the driving seat, a point ahead of Real Madrid. And while the aristocrats of Spanish football have a massively superior goal difference, they have shown a tendency to slip up at important moments this season.

Madrid's penultimate game could not be much tougher: they must travel across town to the Vicente Calderon Stadium for the clash with Atletico. The Rojoblancos may be sitting in mid-table, all hopes of a place in Europe next season having disappeared, but they will still be going all out to beat their great rivals.

Indeed, the thought that an Atletico victory could deprive Real Madrid of the title is the best incentive they could have. And with 'golden boy' Fernando Torres showing devastating form against Northern Ireland's Under-21s in Lurgan on Tuesday, Atletico fans are already anticipating a night of celebration on Sunday.

It's the Derby!!

And here are the odds...

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid : Match Result

CONTRERAS TIENE UN PRECONTRATO FIRMADO

Talks continue with Luis...this is really looking like he's going to be here next year!

El Atlético ofrece a Luis Aragonés rebajar su suelo o rescindir el contrato

Luis Aragonés, entrenador del Atlético de Madrid, decidirá en breve si continúa en el Atlético de Madrid, una decisión que podría hacer pública al final de la semana. El representante del técnico, Pepe Navarro, se reunió por la mañana con el presidente rojiblanco, Enrique Cerezo, quien le hizo varias propuestas.

En la reunión, Cerezo ofreció al representante la prolongación del contrato de Luis Aragonés una temporada más, hasta el 30 de junio de 2005, rebajando su ficha, o bien la rescisión del mismo. Una tercera alternativa que baraja el técnico sería, en principio, forzar la situación y cumplir el año que le resta sin más. Sobre cualquiera de ellas podría decidir en las próximas horas, aunque un viaje del presidente podría restrasar la decisión del entrenador

Burgos wants to end career at Atletico

The Argentinian goalkeeper Germán Burgos announced that he wants to end his career at Atlético de Madrid.

"My dream is to end my career at Aleti. The negotiations between the club and my agent are going into the correct direction and I will play here a year or more. My contract expires on June 30 but I hope to have the chance to play a year or more and end my career wearing this shirt."

Asked about what happened with the idea of retiring at River Plate playing a football match with all his friends and then giving a concert with his rock band, Burgos answered: "I don't have any doubt that I will do that as well, I never said that I have decided not to do it, the thing is that I will say goodbye to my career in Spain and then I will have that tribute match in Buenos Aires."

Another who wants to stay..

Emerson Wants Atletico Stay

Looks like Silva now won't be joining...

NO SILVA LINING FOR ATLETICO ...from PA SPORT

Atletico Madrid's plans to make a second swoop on La Liga rivals Malaga look to have suffered a blow following the Blanquiazul team`s refusal to negotiate the sale of striker Dario Silva.

Atletico have already captured the signature of left-sided midfielder Kike Musampa and hoped that, by adding Silva to their squad, they would have a player able to take the weight off youngster Fernando Torres and intimidate opposing defences. Silva, a Uruguayan international, has already stated he doesn't want to stay with his current club following a disagreement over prize money from their successful UEFA Cup campaign. However, with Panama star Dely Valdes, Dario's partner in attack, starting to show his age at 36, Malaga are reluctant to let another of their star players leave and deplete their attacking options further for next season. "At the moment, there is no way we will negotiate the sale of Dario Silva," insisted Malaga`s director general, Antonio Mendoza. "We consider him to be a key part of the club and we are very happy with him "If anyone wants to buy him, they will have to pay his buy out clause.''

Hate to say it, but I don't think they would want him...

JAVI MORENO: "NO VOY A VOLVER AL MILÁN PORQUE YO NO QUIERO"

El delantero valenciano del Atlético de Madrid, Javi Moreno, ha dejado claro que no tiene intención de volver al AC Milán y confía en cumplir los dos años de contrato que tiene firmado con el conjunto rojiblanco.

"No voy a ir a Milán. No voy a volver porque yo no quiero. No quiero hablar de este tema y me iré donde crea oportuno, pero no voy a volver al Milan", se ha mostrado rotundo el de Silla.

Sobre el futuro de Aragonés, que parece que ahora quiere cumplir el año de contrato que le queda, prefiere no hablar. "Es un problema del míster y yo no puedo opinar. No voy a decir lo que nos ha dicho, que lo diga él. El sabrá lo que tiene que hacer y hará lo que crea que tiene que hacer", ha destacado.

Beckham to Barcelona?

El Manchester United admite contactos con el Barcelona por Beckham

Roberto Carlos: "Me fío de los jugadores del Atlético"

Roberto Carlos aseguró en alusión a las dudas sobre la profesionalidad del Atlético, sí fiarse de los jugadores rojiblancos porque son "grandes profesionales y personas responsables", y que no le preocupa "nada" la motivación con la que jueguen los dos últimos partidos ya que no son "los jueces de la Liga. El Atlético tiene tanta historia que no les permite en un partido dejarse ganar. Por respeto al fútbol y al profesionalismo no sería bueno dejarse ganar, por todas las críticas que representaría".

Roberto Carlos señaló que no le molestan las manifestaciones provenientes de la ribera del Manzanares, deseando que el equipo blanco pierda el título. "Me sorprendería que dijeran que quieren al Real Madrid campeón de Liga. La afición no aceptaría declaraciones en favor del Real Madrid". Además considera lógico que el equipo colchonero salga a 'morderles' en el Calderón. "Nosotros saldremos a ganar, que es nuestra obligación. El Real Madrid va a seguir peleando y va a ser un partido muy bonito", señaló.

Steam still rising in La Liga

Of course Atleti is key...

ATLETICO COULD BE KEY TO TITLE RACE - From PA SPORT

Atletico Madrid may end up playing the role of executioner this weekend against Real Madrid, and Primera Liga leaders Real Sociedad would like nothing more.

Atletico have had an uninspiring return to the top flight and go into the penultimate weekend in mid-table, but denying bitter rivals Real a single point could end up securing the championship for Sociedad. Most important for Sociedad is that they control their own destiny with games against Celta Vigo and a season-ending clash against Atletico.They are currently one point clear of Real Madrid.

"The league depends on us; we have to face Celta and then Atletico," said Sociedad's Javier de Pedro. However, he conceded: "The fact is they (Atletico) have a derby the week before and I suppose they'll really want to beat Madrid. A Madrid derby is always special, with more rivalry.'' Even more reassuring for Sociedad has been their capacity to put together strong performances against Atletico. "It's very good Atletico are in the middle, they are a team we usually do well against,'' he told Marca.
"If I had to chose a side to be the judge of the league, I couldn't choose one better.'' Atletico's fans would like nothing better than to deny their hated neighbours the league title, and according to Atletico captain Carlos Aguillera, some of the players feel the same. "I wouldn't like Real Madrid to win the league," he admitted, although he doubted just how important his side would be in the final outcome. "We neither give nor take away; we have to fulfil our obligation, but if Madrid lose to us things will be very complicated for them,'' he said.

Why don't they just admit it...

LOS JUGADORES AFECTADOS POR EL "CASO HESPERIA" PIDEN LA EJECUCIÓN DE LA SENTENCIA

Los cinco jugadores de futbol del F.C. Barcelona que demandaron a Telemadrid y micanoa.com (hoy, diariodirecto.com) en el conocido como "Caso Hesperia" han solicitado la ejecución de la sentencia judicial, según fuentes jurídicas consultadas por Europa Press.

Mediante esta sentencia, acordada por el Juzgado de Primera Instancia de Barcelona el pasado 7 de febrero, ambos medios debían abonar a los futbolistas un total de 120.000 euros en concepto de indemnización por intromisión ilegítima en los derechos al honor y a la intimidad.

Ambos medios, entre otros muchos, publicaron que los jugadores habían mantenido presuntamente una fiesta privada en un hotel madrileño durante una concentración previa a un partido con el Rayo Vallecano, que el Barça perdió.

La solicitud de los cinco jugadores (Kluivert, Cocu, Gabri, Gerard y Dani) ante el Juzgado reabre igualmente la polémica periodística en torno a la nueva Ley de Enjuicimiento Civil, que faculta a los jueces para acordar el pago inmediato de las indemnizaciones acordadas en primera instancia, antes de que el condenado haya recurrido a instancias superiores.

Please stay Luis!

CEREZO: "NO SÉ SI LUIS SE QUEDA, SI SE MARCHA O QUÉ HACE"

El presidente del Atlético de Madrid, Enrique Cerezo, no sabe quién será el entrenador del equipo rojiblanco para la próxima temporada, tras las últimas declaraciones de Luis Aragonés en las que señala que podría cumplir su contrato tras la salida de Jesús Gil de la presidencia.

"No sé si se queda, si se marcha o qué hace. No queremos tener a nadie que no esté a gusto con nosotros o que diga que su ciclo en el Atlético de Madrid ha terminado", ha comentado el productor en alusión a las palabras del 'Sabio de Hortaleza'.

Enrique Cerezo, que se estrena al frente de la presidencia atlética, deberá hacer frente al futuro del entrenador. "Todo lo que sé es por la prensa y lo que dijo Aragonés, que se marcha y renunciaba al segundo año de contrato. Siete días después parece que dijo que le gustaría seguir, pero no he hablado con él y nosotros no hemos hecho ninguna declaración al respecto", ha dicho.

My heart goes out...

Hierro, Ronaldo y Flavio no asistieron al entrenamiento ...from EFE

Vicente del Bosque, entrenador del Real Madrid, apenas pudo contar con diez jugadores en el entrenamiento de hoy, ya que a las bajas de los jugadores internacionales se sumaron, por distintos motivos, las de Fernando Hierro, Ronaldo y Flavio.

El capitán acudió al sepelio del padre de Michel Salgado en el cementerio de Pereiró, en Vigo, mientras que Ronaldo y Flavio se desplazaron hasta Amsterdam para asistir al homenaje del jugador holandés Aron Winter.

Ausentes los internacionales españoles: Raúl, Morientes, Guti, Casillas, Michel Salgado, Helguera y Raúl Bravo; Miñambres con la selección sub 21; Figo con Portugal y los argentinos Cambiasso y Solari, Del Bosque sólo pudo contar con: Roberto Carlos, Zidane, Makelele, Tote, Pavón, Portillo, Celades, McManaman y César. Carlos Sánchez fue el décimo.

Aguilera: "No me gustaría que el Real Madrid ganara la Liga"

Raul just stinks, playing the "clean, little boy..."

Raúl: "Los árbitros hacen siempre lo correcto"

Atletico star expects to go

Atletico Madrid striker Jose Mari admits his days at the club look numbered as he prepares for the clash with a Deportivo La Coruna side whose title prospects now look to have fallen by the wayside.

Atletico are in a transition phase after president Jesus Gil ended 16 years in charge of the Rojiblancos when he finally left the club and was replaced by Enrique Cerezo.

ATLETICO MOVE FOR GREGORY

JOHN GREGORY is being lined up to be the next boss of fallen Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

Less than 48 hours after his appeal against dismissal for alleged serious misconduct was thrown out by Derby chairman Lionel Pickering, Gregory's career could be back with a £1million per year job.

With Gregory promising to fight the Rams for £2 million compensation plus massive damages in the High Court, the door seemed temporarily shut in his face regarding a job in English football

In fairness, Deportivo was a team, and deserved to win. Still it hurts.

Deportivo beats Atletico 3-2 in Spanish league

Midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron netted the winning goal Sunday as a 10-man Deportivo de La Coruna came from behind to defeat Atletico de Madrid 3-2 in a 36th-round match to keep its Spanish league title hopes alive.
Deportivo, which survived the ejection of Moroccan international defender Noureddine Naybet after six minutes, moves within three points of leader Real Sociedad to 69 points, but has just two matches to play.

Sociedad, which has three matches remaining, was hosting Valencia later Sunday.

And the signing starts...

Malaga's Musampa agrees 5-year Atletico Madrid deal

Malaga midfielder Kiki Musampa has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid on a five-year contract.
The Holland international was in Madrid yesterday for his medical and will join Atletico at the end of the season.

Musampa has reached an agreement with Malaga that will see him receive 15 per cent of his transfer fee.

However, there is still some disagreement between the parties over image rights fees and bonuses.

His second half was pretty decent, although quite a slow start...

Atletico Madrid in Milan talks over Coloccini

Atletico Madrid are seeking to extend the loan of AC Milan defender Fabricio Coloccini.
The Argentine has been a big hit at Atletico this season and is keen to remain in the Spanish Liga.

Atletico hope to secure Coloccini for another season-long loan and the young centre-half said: "I know that Atletico and Milan are speaking about my future, but it will probably be Thursday or Friday when my representative arrives, when everything is solved."

Gil's going to finally sell his shares in Atletico...

GIL ORDENA LA VENTA DE SU PARTE DEL CLUB

Jesús Gil ya tiene asumida su decisión de dejar el Atlético. Incluso ya ha delegado en su hijo Miguel Ángel para que encuentre un comprador para todo su paquete accionarial. No desea que se le vincule más con la entidad. Se le nota cansado, aunque ayer estaba contento por el triunfo de su partido político en las elecciones de Marbella.

Hoy mismo tiene la intención de estar en la capital de España, después de tres semanas de campaña política. Su intención con vistas al Consejo de Administración del miércoles es reunirse primero por la mañana con sus hijos y posteriormente trasladar su decisión de dejar el club, dejar de ser presidente y desvelar que tiene la intención de vender todas las acciones que tiene en la actualidad.

Sobre el 95 por ciento de las acciones del club, que están embargadas por la Audiencia Nacional, Jesús Gil señala: “La gente no debe olvidarse que sigo siendo el dueño de sus derechos políticos, mientras que lo que tienen los tribunales es el apartado económico. También pongo a la venta las que tengo del pequeño accionariado, en el que tengo la mayoría. No pondré problema. Mi hijo será el encargado de ver la oferta mejor”. Jesús Gil no quiere entrar en mayores profundidades sobre el club y está convencido de que tampoco el grupo Alternativa Atlética va a ser la solución para los problemas económico que tiene el club. No obstante, no dudaría un instante en ayudar a su hijo en las posibles soluciones que pudiera encontrar. Su intención es tomarse un descanso en lo referente al Atlético y dedicarse a atender sus negocios personales.

Good, here's somebody that's going to be sticking around...

Burgos ya sabe que seguirá

Burgos entra en los planes del Atlético para la próxima temporada. Al día de hoy, es el primero de los jugadores que terminan contrato con la entidad rojiblanca que tiene prácticamente garantizada su continuidad. Falta hablar de las condiciones del nuevo contrato. El Atlético prefiere firmar por una campaña más mientras que el portero quiere al menos dos años. En cualquier caso, Burgos ya sabe por boca del propio Miguel Angel Gil que cuentan con él para el nuevo proyecto. Lo mismo que su representante, que hace diez días recibió en Madrid la misma noticia y las dos partes quedaron en empezar a hablar del nuevo contrato la primera semana del mes de junio.

El Nino

Fernando Torres es la ‘bestia negra’ del Villarreal

I like that..."the black beast"...

So the politician says he doesn't want to be head of Atleti...

Ignacio del Río descarta ser presidente del Atlético

Ignacio del Río, consejero delegado de Madrid 2012 y hasta ahora primer teniente de alcalde del Ayuntamiento de Madrid, afirmó que no será presidente del Atlético de Madrid, ya que tiene un compromiso con la candidatura olímpica de la capital española a la que se dedicará exclusivamente.

Del Río estuvo presente en el manifiesto dado por 'Alternativa Atlética', grupo de aficionados, abonados, socios y empresarios afines al club cuyo objetivo es devolver la máxima representación a la masa social en la nueva etapa post Jesús Gil.

Respecto a la situación que atraviesa la entidad rojiblanca, del Río apela a la unidad. "El club tiene arreglo, aunque se encuentra en un momento preocupante y complicado, pero hay que salir de éste desde la calidad y lo que hay que hacer es dar el club a todos los socios. Que el club esté apoyado por los aficionados", sentenció

He's not going to leave...

Torres Would Only Leave To Save Atletico

In case you didn't hear...

Jesus Gil to quit Atletico

Jesus Gil is to step down as president of Atletico Madrid after 16 years in charge of the club.
Gil said he had been considering his position for some time but decided to to make way for potential new investors at the club.

"I can't take any more," he told Radio Marca on Wednesday.

"I am 70 years old and I am being constantly criticised. I am going for the good of Atletico and don't want to remain in the way any longer."

It is not the first time that Gil has said he will be giving up his post as president, and it us unclear whether he will sell his own majority shareholding in the club

It's that last line that has everybody worried

Uh, no kidding..

ARAGONES ADMITS TIMING WAS WRONG .. from PA Sport

uis Aragones has admitted for the first time that he might have mis-timed his decision to quit Atletico Madrid at the end of the season. The 64-year-old announced last week that he would step down in the summer, a year ahead of schedule, after falling out with president Jesus Gil. But his decision came with Atletico in a rut, and Aragones now concedes that the announcement to quit in the summer might have best been delayed until after the final round of games.

He remains in charge at the Vicente Calderon, but Atletico lost 1-0 to relegation-threatened Alaves in the first match since Aragones announced his departure. It has dragged Atletico deeper into mid-table and further away from the top six who will go into next season`s European competitions "I saw that my cycle in Atletico was over and I know the president was not happy with me,'' said Aragones. "The team had gone eight games without a win and I thought the players needed an extra bit of motivation. "Maybe I made a mistake in choosing the moment I announced I was leaving." Approaching the end of his fifth spell in charge of Atletico, a club he graced in his playing days as a prolific striker, Aragones has five games remaining in which to turn around their season. He believes Atletico are wanting to run before they can walk, however, and reckons their first season back in the Primera Liga cannot yet be considered a failure. "Atletico will need three or four years to return to what they once were - battling for titles,'' he said.

"The directors and I agreed that our aims for this season were to finish between sixth and 14th in the league.'' Right now they are 13th, having faded and won none of their last eight Primera Liga matches, and now that Aragones is on his way out, he intends not to go with a whimper. "We are going to fulfil our aims, but maybe I haven't been able to get everything the players have inside of them; maybe I haven't been able to concentrate on the squad,'' he said on Radio InterEconomia

INTERESA MANFREDINI

El Atlético de Madrid, que ya está preparando el equipo para la próxima temporada, está interesado en hacerse con los servicios del jugador del Lazio Christian Manfredini, que está jugando esta temporada en calidad de cedido en el Osasuna.

Manfredini, de 28 años, centrocampista italiano, nacido en Costa de Marfil, está siendo uno de los jugadores más destacados del conjunto navarro esta temporada.

And if you want it in Italian...

Presto un altro italiano potrebbe giocare nell'Atletico Madrid a fianco di Demetrio Albertini. Le belle prestazioni di Christian Manfredini con la maglia dell'Osasuna (dove e' arrivato in prestito dalla Lazio) non sono passate inosservate ed ora il presidente dell'Atletico, il vulcanico Jesus Gil y Gil, ha espresso la volonta' di acquistare il giocatore. "Presto presentero' un'offerta - ha detto Gil - perche' voglio Manfredini. Dopo la fine della Liga tratteremo questo giocatore". Anche l'Osasuna vorrebbe tenersi l'ex ala del Chievo, ma non sembra in grado di competere con l'Atletico Madrid, che potrebbe chiedere alla Lazio anche Diego Simeone

True words...

José Mari: "Con una cena no se arregla todo"

José Mari es el fiel reflejo de las malas relaciones existentes entre la plantilla rojiblanca y la directiva y, aunque agradeció la celebración de la cena de anoche, afirmó que los que deben estar unidos son los jugadores. "Con una cena no se arregla todo, pero es algo positivo porque hubo un acercamiento. Es bueno para el equipo estar juntos y que se escuchen palabras de apoyo".

De la reunión de ayer, el sevillano reconoce que no sacó nada en claro: "Estuvimos todos juntos, pero con el cuerpo técnico ya hemos hecho estas cenas para estar más unidos. Nosotros tenemos que pensar lo máximo posible en el partido del Sardinero y no en cenas, ni nada... Tenemos los cinco sentidos

Although, Stankovic seems to think different...

Stankovic: "Teníamos que haber hecho la reunión hace tiempo"

Valdano: "Será muy difícil que Ronaldo juegue 90 minutos"

Cash-strapped Spanish clubs launch urgent appeal

Spanish soccer clubs have warned their league could ''collapse'' unless they receive government help to reduce their massive debts.

The Spanish Soccer League told the govenment their collective debt reached 1,625 million euros (£1,156 million) by June 2002.

The League said: "We believe that it is absolutely essential that those who bear the highest responsibility of government learn of the true, terribly stark, reality of an activity which captures the interest of half of our fellow citizens.''

They added that a failure to take immediate steps to remedy the situation could cause "a real collapse" which would threaten next season's domestic competitions.

The League want the government to declare a tax amnesty, similar to the one recently announced in Italy.

Fifteen first-division clubs currently face a demand for 288.8 million euros (£205million) following an inspection by the tax authorities.

The leading daily El Pais says Atletico de Madrid topped the list with a 66.5 million euro bill (£47.3million), while Real Madrid and Barcelona were in second and third place with arrears of 61.3 million euros (£43.6million) and 51.3 million euros (£36.5million) respectively.

Spain target Austrian defence

And the bad news continues...

Fernando Torres se resiente de su lesión y es duda ante el Racing

And this from the club's website:

El Jefe de los Servicios Médicos del club, doctor José María Villalón, informó en un parte médico que: el jugador Fernando Torres presentó nuevamente molestias musculares en la zona anteriormente afectada en el entrenamiento del pasado sábado día 10. Por eso se disminuye la intensidad de entrenamiento.

Ah, no kidding...

Javi Moreno: "Hay que dar un giro a la situación"

Javi Moreno confía aún en las posibilidades de su equipo para mantener la categoría e incluso de ascender posiciones y jugar en Europa la próxima temporada. "Hay que dar un giro rápidamente. Creo que nos quedamos en Primera División, pero vamos a seguir y a pelear por meternos en UEFA porque aún hay posibilidades".

Javi Moreno, además, destaca que hay "mucha igualdad" en la competición, pero lo importante es que la plantilla está unida. "Hay mucha igualdad y es difícil para todos. El vestuario está unido y sabemos que estamos pasando por una situación difícil, pero estamos bien".

The pain, the suffering...

More misery for Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid´s miserable centenary year continued with a 1-0 defeat at home to relegation-threatened Alaves on Saturday.

Alaves´ Adrian Ilie provided a rare moment of brilliance in an otherwise less-than-memorable match to score the only goal of the game after 55 minutes.

The Romanian international striker controlled a ball lobbed forward in an Alaves counter-attack with his head, before sending a splendid right foot shot past a helpless Atletico goalkeeper Esteban Andres

Atletico have now lost their last three games and not won in their last eight outings, slipping out of contention for a spot in next season´s UEFA Cup.

Atletico coach says quit decision will benefit club

Atletico Madrid coach Luis Aragones believes his decision to quit at the end of the season was in the Spanish club's best interests.

“I handed in my resignation because I believed it was the best time for the players and for everyone involved at the club,” the 64-year-old told a news conference on Friday.

“My cycle at Atletico Madrid has come to an end and I say that because I have accomplished all my objectives,” he said. “I could have sat it out and got paid, but I have made the decision to leave and that's it.”

Deportivo knock Real off top spot in Spain

Real Sociedad move up to second in Spain

No, just say no!!

LA JUVENTUS QUIERE A FERNANDO TORRES

La Juventus se une al Milán en la carrera por el fichaje de Fenando Torres. En Italia aseguran que las negociaciones con el Atlético las lleva Alessandro Moggi, que no sólo es uno de los promotores de la GEA, la más poderosa agencia dedicada a la intermediación futbolística en todo el mundo, sino que también es hijo de Luciano Moggi, director general deportivo del club turinés. El traspaso, según fuentes próximas a los Moggi, podría cerrarse en las próximas semanas. En principio, la Juventus ofrece 15 millones de euros y al delantero uruguayo Zalayeta, autor del gol que supuso la eliminación del Barcelona en esta Champions League. Zalayeta ya estuvo cedido en el Sevilla la temporada pasada.

Aguilera: "La plantilla acata la decisión de Luis"

Como siempre que ocurre algo importante en el Atlético de Madrid, el capitán Carlos Aguilera se ha convertido en el protagonista del día después, al salir ante los medios de comunicación para dar la versión de la plantilla sobre lo sucedido, en este caso, el anuncio de Luis Aragonés de que no cumplirá el año de contrato que le resta y que en julio se irá del club

Antic: "No tengo nada que reprochar a nadie"

Atletico coach search begins

Luis Aragones' imminent departure from Atletico Madrid has sparked widespread speculation about who will next occupy the hotseat at the Primera Liga outfit.

Aragones has reportedly told the club of his decision not to see out the remaining year on his contract out of frustration over President Jesus Gil's constant criticism of the players.

The decision comes only a week after the club denied any interest in Manchester United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz.

On Tuesday, French newspapers L'Equipe and Le Parisien both reported Atletico were interested in securing the services of Vahid Halilhodzic who has done such a good job at Lille and Rennes.

However, Paris St Germain looks the most likely destination for the Bosnian.

Not Toshack, please...

Mallorca's Manzano, Toshack in running for Atletico Madrid job

Real Mallorca trainer Gregorio Manzano is favourite to replace Luis Aragones as Atletico Madrid trainer next season.

Atletico players have confirmed that Aragones informed them that he would be leaving the club this week.

Adding to speculation that Manzano is set to take over was his appearance with his agent at Atletico's match against Real Valladolid on Sunday.

Former Real Madrid trainer and Liverpool hero John Toshack is also being mentioned as a possible candidate

Kluivert denies United rumors, wants to stay at Barcelona

So it's Manzano?

EL ATLÉTICO VA A POR MANZANO

El Atlético de Madrid ha puesto sus miras en el preparador del Mallorca, Gregorio Manzano, tal y como viene informando este periódico desde hace tiempo. La tensa relación entre Gil y Aragonés puede provocar que el club colchonero opte por contratar a otro técnico para la próxima temporada, pese a que a Luis le resta un año más de contrato. Sin embargo, el Atlético ha pensado en Manzano por si al final se rompe el acuerdo con Aragonés. Según pudo saber ayer este diario, el cuadro madrileño habría sondeado ya a su agente, Manuel García Quilón, para conocer la situación del técnico, que no ha renovado por el Mallorca, e incluso se habría llegado a hablar de condiciones de contrato.

De hecho, la familia Gil ya quiso contratar a Manzano hace algunas campañas aunque en aquel momento no fraguó el fichaje. Ahora, tras el gran trabajo que viene desarrollando el jiennense en el Mallorca (sexto y en la final de la Copa del Rey), y haber salvado la pasada campaña al Rayo, el Atlético parece tener en lugar preferente a este entrenador para dirigir el equipo la próxima temporada.

And in Spanish...

Luis Aragonés asegura a su plantilla que se irá en junio

Luis Aragonés ha confesado a sus jugadores antes del entrenamiento matutino de hoy que no seguirá como entrenador del Atlético de Madrid la próxima temporada, según adelantó en exclusiva Radio MARCA. El 'Sabio' de Hortaleza no cumplirá el año de contrato que le queda con la entidad colchonera.

Posteriormente, el técnico madrileño le comunicó a Miguel Angel Gil, director general del Atlético de Madrid, lo que le había dicho a sus jugadores con el objetivo de motivarlos en los seis partidos que quedan de temporada para, primero, asegurar matemáticamente la permanencia y, posteriormente, intentar clasificar al equipo para la Copa de la UEFA

Another story on Luis leaving...

Atletico boss has had enough

Atletico Madrid will have to start searching for a new coach in the summer after Luis Aragones announced he will leave the club at the end of the current campaign.

Aragones has another year outstanding on his contract, but Radio Marca announced the 64-year-old coach, currently in his fourth spell in charge, informed the players and Atletico's General Director Miguel Angel Gil of his decision during Wednesday's training session.

"Luis has fulfilled his objective. First he has got Atletico promoted from the Second Division and now he has kept them up," explained Aragones' representative Pepe Navarro.

Aragones has always maintained a difficult relationship with Atletico president Jesus Gil, but it seems his patience finally ran out following Gil's criticism of the team after their 1-0 home defeat to Osasuna in the club's centenary game 10 days ago

Sad news...

Aragones to leave Atletico de Madrid at end of season, his agent says

Atletico de Madrid coach Luis Aragones, who has often clashed with team owner Jesus Gil, will step down at the end of the season, his agent said Wednesday.
Pepe Navarro told the news agency Efe that Aragones was leaving because he had met his goal of bringing the team back into the first division after spending the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons in the second division.

"It seems somebody has forgotten that this time last year we were playing in El Ejido," Navarro said, referring to a second-division team.

Aragones has one more year on his contract, but he has often argued this year with Gil, and they clashed again last week when Gil criticized his players for losing to Osasuna 1-0 on the day Atletico was celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The team is in 12th place in the 20-team first division and is 0-3-4 since March 15.

I didn't know it was that bad...

Night of football infamy when Atletico visited Parkhead

IT was probably the blackest, ugliest night in the history of Scottish football the last time Celtic were involved in the semi-final of a European competition.

In April, 1974, Celtic met Atletico Madrid for a place in the final of the European Cup and anyone who was there will never forget the depths of depravity the visitors reached at Parkhead.

It was worse even than a previous match involving Celtic, when they faced Racing Club, of Argentina, for the world club championship in 1967.

Ironically, the Spanish champions also had a strong Argentinian influence - coach Carlos Lorenzo, who had been in charge of his national squad during the World Cup finals in England in 1966, a squad called "animals" by the England manager, Alf Ramsey. Lorenzo was also coach at Italy's Lazio when they were involved in a brawl with Arsenal during a UEFA Cup match.

With a couple of Argentines in their side, Atletico made it clear from the start that they were determined to stop Celtic reaching their third European Cup final at any cost. They had three players sent off - Argentinians Ayala and Diaz, and Quique - and seven more booked. It is the biggest list of punishments ever handed out to a club in a European Cup tie.

If Turkish referee Degan Babacan had done his job properly, he would have sent off a couple more and the match would have been called off. One could never forget how wee Jimmy Johnstone was kicked about the pitch like a rag doll.

At the end, the Spaniards had the temerity to jump for joy knowing that their brutal, cynical tactics had paid off. But their antics did not stop then. Johnstone was kicked in the back by an Atletico player as he left the field and there was brawling in the corridors outside the dressing rooms.

CORREA CREE QUE CONTRA EL ALAVÉS JUGARÁN "UNA FINAL"

Fernando Correa, delantero uruguayo del Atlético de Madrid, ha declarado que el próximo sábado en el Vicente Calderón el conjunto rojiblanco se jugará gran parte de sus opciones de participar en competiciones europeas la próxima temporada.

El futbolista uruguayo puede ser una de las novedades en el once inicial contra el conjunto vitoriano y ha declarado tras el entrenamiento en el Vicente Calderón que, pese a no haber vencido en los últimos siete encuentros, el objetivo de Europa no está lejos.

"Estamos todavía cerca de la Copa de la UEFA, por lo que el partido del próximo sábado es fundamental. Hemos tenido buenos partidos aunque de cara a puerta no hemos estado bien, pero hay que ser positivos y saber que el encuentro contra el Alavés es una final", ha dicho.

LA UEFA MULTA AL MADRID, BARCELONA Y MÁLAGA

El Barcelona, el Real Madrid y el Málaga son los clubes españoles multados por el Comité de Control y Disciplina de la UEFA, que también ha sancionado de la misma manera a la Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF).

El Barcelona ha sido multado con 13.269 euros por el lanzamiento de petardos y bengalas en el partido de vuelta de los cuartos de final de la Liga de Campeones contra el Juventus y con 6.635 euros por las bengalas que mostraron sus seguidores en el choque de ida en Delle Alpi.

El Real Madrid tendrá que pagar 6.635 euros por "violación de las reglas de la competición" en el encuentro de la Liga de Campeones ante el Milán del 12 de marzo, mientras que el Málaga ha sido multado con la misma cantidad por la pérdida de tiempo de los recogepelotas en el partido de ida de los cuartos de final de la Copa de la UEFA contra el Boavista.

My sides are hurting from this silly article...from EFE

El jugador del Juventus David Trezeguet aseguró hoy que ahora el Real Madrid 'respeta' a su equipo, tras destacar la labor del conjunto turinés en el partido de ida de las semifinales de la Liga de Campeones jugado el martes en la capital española.

'Nosotros teníamos respeto por el Real Madrid, quizás demasiado, pero después del partido de ayer también los madrileños nos respetan', aseguró hoy Trezeguet, autor del único gol italiano.

Coloccini says the obvious...

"NO ESTÁS BIEN SI LA DIRECTIVA NO TE APOYA"

EL KILY SUEÑA CON JUGAR EN EL ATLÉTICO

Pese a las buenas ofertas que llegan desde Italia, en especial el Inter de Cúper, Kily González quiere agotar hasta el final sus posibilidades de jugar el año que viene en el Atlético. Este verano estuvo a un paso de conseguirlo, ya que incluso la llegada de Luis García al conjunto rojiblanco era para luego intercambiarlo por el centrocampista argentino. Una operación del agrado de Futre que no fructificó.

SUSPENSIÓN DE DOS AÑOS PARA GURPEGUI

LA JUVE APLAUDE LA LESIÓN EN EL SÓLEO DE RONIE

It's not what you think...

El Atlético también quiere un Ronaldo

El Atlético se dirigió al Sporting de Lisboa para interesarse por tres jugadores, concretamente Cristiano Ronaldo, Quaresma y Jardel. Éste último está prácticamente descartado. Quaresma sigue gustando en el Atlético para reforzar la banda derecha, pero el Manchester United se ha adelantado al Atlético y firmó una opción de compra por este centrocampista. Descartados ambos, el Atlético se centró en Ronaldo, un joven delantero que entra en el perfil de la dirección deportiva. Se trata de un jugador joven y con proyección, que sin embargo no va a salir a cualquier precio puesto que otros clubes importantes en Europa ya han preguntado por él. El Atlético, sin embargo, es el mejor colocado. Los contactos se han retomado recientemente ya que uno de los objetivos del clubes para reforzar la delantera de cara a la próxima temporada.

Halilhodzic Claims Atletico Contact

Vahid Halilhodzic has revealed that Atletico Madrid have asked him to become their new coach for the start of next season.

The Rennes trainer is also being trailed by Paris Saint-Germain, but the Spaniards are prepared to offer him a much larger salary.

Recent turmoil at Atleti has seen their current coach, Luis Aragones, and mercurial president, Jesus Gil, have regular run-ins.

A statement from the Madrid outfit declared that Aragones would not be leaving during the summer, but a poor run of results may see him ousted.

Halilhodzic told French newspaper, L'Equip, that representatives of Atleti had travelled to France to speak to his agent, Marc Roger.

Le Parisien stated that the Bosnian coach will know his future by the end of this week, but Atleti have indeed offered him a substantial deal.

BUT...

El Atlético niega que haya contactos con Halilhodzic

En el Atlético de Madrid ha sorprendido enormemente la noticia que publicaba en su edición de ayer el diario ‘L’Equipe’, según la cual, emisarios de la entidad rojiblanca se trasladaron a Francia para sondear al entrenador franco-bosnio Vahid Halilhodzic, actual técnico del Rennes, para contratarlo de cara a la próxima campaña. El club desmintió categóricamente que se hayan mandado emisarios para negociar con el técnico bosnio y que se esté buscando entrenador para la próxima campaña. El Atlético cuenta con Luis Aragonés, al que le resta un año de contrato, como base del nuevo proyecto rojiblanco para la temporada que viene. En el club no dan crédito a cómo se ha podido producir esta información cuando la única voluntad de la entidad es que Luis Aragonés siga en el banquillo, al menos, durante una temporada más.

Minute 23, and Ronaldo scores

Proof that even portly men can play football, Ronaldo scores in Champions league in minute 23 against Juve to put Real Madrid in the lead, 1-0

I still can´t forgive him for how he played against Atleti when he was on the Barca roster!

Maybe there is some justice though, since Juventut´s Trezeguet tied the score, 1-1 in minute 45 of the first half.

And don´t think that I´m really watching this match. I just happened to switch over to the channel in between commercials ahead of "Family Man" on satellite.

Hierro is an old horse...
Perez Backs Embattled Hierro ... from PA

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has brushed aside criticism of Fernando Hierro following his nightmare night against Mallorca and pledged to give the veteran a contract extension. The 35-year-old defender suffered one of the worst outings of his glittering career on Saturday in the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid's 5-1 mauling. Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o and midfielder Ariel Ibagaza showed that for all of his experience, Hierro is slowing down. He is deemed to be one of the club's most loyal servants, yet that didn't prevent fans from showering the defender with a chorus of boos and whistles. Several writers have questioned the wisdom of extending his contract since that game. Perez defended his captain. "He is one of the best defenders in the world and he has recently been out for a month and a half,'' Perez said. "His behaviour has been an example in the three years I have been president and in the 11 years before then. "His contract will be renewed no matter what happens in the last few games of this season.

Bla, bla, bla

Eriksson: 'Creo que el Real Madrid es el mejor equipo hoy en día' - from EFE

El seleccionador de Inglaterra, el sueco Sven Goran Eriksson, se refirió al Real Madrid como a un equipo 'aterrador' al que enfrentarse y añadió que, en su opinión, hoy en día, 'es el mejor'.

El técnico escandinavo recordó el partido de ida disputado en el Santiago Bernabéu entre el Manchester United y el conjunto español en los cuartos de final de la Liga de Campeones, que se saldó con la victoria del Real Madrid por 3-1.

'Su fútbol en la primera mitad aquella noche fue totalmente de otro mundo', comentó Eriksson, en declaraciones hechas a la página oficial de internet de la Federación de Fútbol inglesa.

De Zinedine Zidane, Eriksson dijo que 'estuvo increíble'; 'Figo marcó aquel gol y luego estaban Raúl y Ronaldo'.

'Ni siquiera estoy seguro de que Ronaldo esté al 100 por cien todavía, pero siempre está creando ocasiones y marcando', señaló el entrenador nórdico.

De las estrategias que emplea la escuadra dirigida por Vicente Del Bosque, Eriksson admitió que es 'difícil' decir qué sistema utilizan los jugadores del Bernabéu, 'porque son así de flexibles'.

'Cuando tienen el control, se trata de un sistema maravilloso' y, en cuanto a la defensa -prosiguió- 'no hay muchos equipos en el mundo que se puedan permitir defender como lo hacen ellos, teniendo a muchos hombres en el ataque'.

El seleccionador de Inglaterra agregó que son los jugadores 'como (Claude) Makelele los que les permiten jugar así. Estos jugadores hacen un trabajo fantástico, sin parar ni un momento', anotó.

'Ver al Madrid jugando es genial. Creo que hoy en día son los mejores', sentenció el sueco.

Eriksson comentó también que, en su opinión, 'lo que más miedo da' de este club es que los madridistas no han llegado aún a su punto álgido

I wonder how much Real Madrid paid Eriksson to speak like this...

Sevilla-Barca match... from Europa Press

El Sevilla se impuso al Barcelona, próximo rival liguero de los sevillistas, en cuatro de las últimas diez ocasiones que el cuadro blaugrana visitó el Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, estadio donde ambos equipos dirimirán el próximo domingo (21:00 horas/Canal Plus)sus opciones de disputar la próxima temporada la Copa de la UEFA.

De hecho, la última victoria blanca sobre el conjunto culé se produjo en la temporada 1999-2000, con un gol 'in extremis' del entonces debutante en Primera División, Víctor Salas, que certificó el definitivo 3-2 en un campeonato aciago para los nervionenses, que terminaron descendiendo a Segunda División.

AP reporting...
Deportivo defender Cesar ruled out for rest of season

Deportivo de La Coruna will be without central defender Cesar Martin for the rest of the season, news reports said Tuesday.

The Spanish international is expected to be sidelined for around eight weeks after tearing muscle fibres in his calf during Deportivo's 5-0 victory over Recreativo de Huelva on Sunday. The Spanish league season ends on June 22.

Cesar, who has played seven times for Spain, returned to action only three matches ago after serving out a four-game suspension for headbutting an opponent.

Deportivo lies second in the Spanish league standings, one point behind leader Real Madrid with six rounds remaining

Atletico Madrid in Mallorca talks over Ibagaza

Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil has approached Real Mallorca about Argentine star Ariel Ibagaza.

The midfield schemer is a priority target for Atletico in the summer transfer market and Gil has already asked about his availability and contract situation.

Mallorca are expected to sell Ibagaza, with the player having only 12 months left on his current deal and showing little sign of wanting to renew.

Though there has been contact between the clubs, it's understood Ibagaza's representatives are still to speak with Atletico about a summer deal.

EL ATLÉTICO CAYÓ EN VALLADOLID (3-1)

Regresó Esteban al equipo pero no pudo evitar la derrota. Cuando el Atlético necesitaba el triunfo para quemar sus opciones europeas cayó en un discreto partido ante el Valladolid por 3-1.

No pudo ser. El conjunto de Luis Aragonés siempre estuvo por detrás en el marcador y sólo dio muestras de reacción tras el gol de José Mari. Sin embargo, el segundo tanto de Aganzo cercenó las ilusiones de los rojiblancos que vieron cómo el Valladolid apuntalaba el partido.

Y es que el Atlético tuvo su ocasión de adelantarse antes del 1-0, pero Bizarri realizó una sensacional parada a remate de Movilla. Llegó el tanto pucelano, obra de Sales a pase de un Colsa que que estuvo sencillamente genial en este partido.

Se llegó al descanso y Luis introdujo el primer cambio, entrando Stankovic en lugar de Albertini. Al poco de comenzar la segunda mitad, Aganzo rompe el fuera de juego para batir a Esteban.

Llegó el gol de José Mari y las esperanzas de los 1.000 seguidores rojiblancos estaban por todo lo alto. No obstante, a un cuarto de hora para el final Aganzo asestó el golpe letal al Atlético.

El sábado a las 17:00 horas espera el Alavés en el Vicente Calderón, un partido en el los rojiblancos deben ganar para lograr la tranquilidad.

From the Atleti website.

Burgos blasts Real Madrid

El portero del Atlético Germán Burgos cree que su imagen no encajaría en un equipo como el Real Madrid: "Yo no podría jugar en el Real Madrid, por mi aspecto. Me harían cortar el pelo a los tres días de estar con ellos. Yo soy muy simple en la manera de vestir, de expresarme, y en el Atlético estoy muy bien porque es mi segunda casa".

Burgos, en una entrevista a 'Don Balón', se declara "católico, apostólico y marplatense, porque estando en Argentina, Roma queda muy lejos y no somos romanos".

Burgos: "No podría jugar en el Madrid; me harían cortar el pelo a los tres días"

Jesus Gil is looking for Luis' replacement...

Emisarios del Atlético de Madrid se trasladaron a Francia para contactar con el entrenador franco-bosnio Vahid Halilhodzic, actual técnico del Rennes, para que se haga cargo del conjunto rojiblanco la próxima temporada, según publica hoy "L'Equipe".

El club madrileño ha propuesto a Halilhodzic ser el sustituto de Luis Aragonés a través del agente francés Marc Roger, aunque el entrenador no ha dado todavía una respuesta, ya que cuenta con otras ofertas y está pendiente de que se asegure la continuidad de su actual equipo en primera división

El Atlético viaja a Francia para contactar con Halilhodzic

And related:

Man Utd No2 Queiroz linked with Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid could move for Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz at the end of the season.
Queiroz has emerged as a candidate to replace Luis Aragones after the Atletico coach had a bust-up this week with fiery president Jesus Gil.

Gil was furious with his players after losing 1-0 to Osasuna last week on the club's Centenary, claiming some of them "didn't deserve to live".

Aragones was angry with the remarks and a growing rift between the two is said to have widened.

Did I say I love the score in this match?

The Real Madrid players were booed off by their fans after the defeat, the club's heaviest since a 5-1 loss to Real Zaragosa in 1999 which led then to the dismissal of former coach John Toshack

Albertini Not Interested In Sampdoria

What else is he supposed to say?

Aragones plays down slump

The tense stand-off between Atletico Madrid president Jesus Gil and coach Luis Aragones will not have been helped by the 3-1 defeat to Valladolid.

The defeat followed the 1-0 setback at home to Osasuna at what should have been the club's centenary celebration and Sunday's match saw the sense of discontent increase.

Gil's criticism of certain players in the squad, who he accused to spending too much time in nightclubs and not caring about the club, brought Aragones leaping to their defence and caused an open argument live on national radio.

It appeared Aragones could walk, before the two papered over the cracks with a late night meeting on Tuesday in the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

However, it remains to be seen how they will react to the latest slip-up.

Aragones maintained his faith in Jose Mari and Demetrio Albertini, two of the players Gil supposedly referred to in his criticism, and although Jose Mari rewarded him with Atletico's consolation goal, Albertini was substituted.

Everything you wanted to know about Atletico de Madrid

Lo que siempre quisiste saber acerca del

A T L E T I C O D E M A D R I D

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This site has moved (a long time ago)

... check out the new and improved ibidem

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Vatican writes 'glossary' on sex terminology

The Vatican wants to prevent cultural manipulation of the family in no uncertain terms. Terms, in fact, are at the very heart of it. ... The Holy See will soon publish a new glossary of 90 words related to sexual and family issues, according to Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, director of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Hmmm...

InterVarsity requires students who lead its chapters — though not the other participants — to adhere to its eight-point doctrinal platform, and the traditional Christian teaching against homosexuality.

And that's got some upset...

InterVarsity status shaken by bias accusations

Which is the religion of love?

An Islamic group asked state religious leaders to repudiate a sign outside a Florida Baptist church reading "Jesus Forbade Murder ... Muhammad Approved Murder", describing it as "hate speech".

Church sign is 'hate speech'

Athletes will use any excuse to explain their failure

But air-conditioning?

Mervyn King launched a scathing attack on organisers of the Embassy World Darts after his 5-2 semi-final defeat at the hands of Raymond Barneveld.

The Englishman said a failure to turn off the air conditioning during his match meant his darts failed to travel in their usual trajectory.

King blames air conditioning

Very disturbing story about how...

'The whole building knew'

The Middletown school board knew of a relationship between suspended Superintendent Robert Sigler and the 15-year-old male high school student he's accused of molesting before Sigler's arrest last week, a source close to the board said yesterday.

Board members talked to Sigler about the boy several months ago in a closed-door meeting called specifically to address concerns about the relationship, said the source, who asked not to be identified.

"Something was brought up in executive session that he [Sigler] may have pulled the kid out of class a lot," the source said. "But there was nothing that would raise a question of impropriety of a sexual relationship.

"The whole building knew Bob Sigler was mentoring the kid," the source said.

Do you know who William James Sidis was?

According to some, he is the brightest human who ever existed on Earth. According to others, he was the biggest failure on Earth. At this site, a few of his feats are listed:

1. Given IQ is a purely anthropocentric means of assessing intelligence, Sidis' IQ is crudely estimated at 250-300.
2. Infant Billy listened to Greek myths read to him by Sarah as bedtime stories.
3. Started feeding himself with a spoon at eight months (after two months of trial and error).
4. Cajoled by Boris, Billy learned to pronounce alphabetic syllables from blocks hanging in his crib.
5. At six months, Billy said, "Door." A couple months later he told Mom he liked things, doors and people, that move.
6. At seven months he pointed to Earth's moon and called it, "moon." He wanted a 'moon' of his own.
7. Mastered higher mathematics and planetary revolutions by age 11.
8. Learned to spell efficiently by one year old.
9. Started reading The New York Times at 18 months.
10. Started typing at three. Used his high chair to reach a typewriter. First composed letter was an order for toys from Macy's.
11. Read Caesar's Gallic Wars, in Latin (self-taught), as a birthday present to his Father in Billy's fourth year.
12. Learned Greek alphabet and read Homer in Greek in his fourth year.
13. Learned Aristotelian logic in his sixth year.
14. At six, Billy learned Russian, French, German, and Hebrew, and soon after, Turkish and Armenian.
15. Calculated mentally a day any date in history would fall at age six. Absolutely fascinated by calendars.
16. Learned Gray's Anatomy at six. Could pass a student medical examination.
17. Billy started grammar school at six, in 3 days 3rd grade, graduated grammar school in 7 months.
18. At age 8, Billy surpassed his father (a genius) in mathematics.
19. Corrected E. V. Huntington's mathematics text galleys at age of eight.
20. Total recall of everything he read.
21. Wrote four books between ages of four and eight. Two on anatomy and astronomy, lost.
22. Passed Harvard Medical School anatomy exam at age seven.
23. Passed MIT entrance exam at age eight.
24. Intellect surpassed best secondary school teachers.
25. At age 10, in one evening, corrected Harvard logic professor Josiah Royce's book manuscript: citing, "wrong paragraphs."
26. Attempted to enroll in Harvard at nine.
27. In 1909, became youngest student to ever enroll at Harvard at age 11.
28. In 1910, at age 11, lectured Harvard Mathematical Club on 'Four-Dimensional Bodies.'
29. Billy graduated from Harvard, cum laude, on June 24, 1914, at age 16.
30. Billy entered Harvard Law School in 1916.
31. Billy could learn a whole language in one day!
32. Billy knew all the languages (approximately 200) of the world, and could translate among them instantly!

Unfortunately, all these accomplishments made Sidis something of a freak in the eyes of the public, fostered in part by the press. According to this site, Sidis...

...graduated cum laude at the age of sixteen. In 1918, he began teaching mathematics at Rice University in Texas. The annoyance of constant media attention finally took its toll. Quitting his teaching post, the young man moved back to Boston and, after a notorious arrest at a socialist march, disappeared from sight.

In 1924, a reporter found him in New York City, working in a Wall Street office for menial pay. Sidis told the reporter that he was not the boy-wonder he once was. He wanted anonymity and a menial job that made no demands on him. Soon afterwards, he dropped out of sight again.
As an adult, Sidis had one great passion. A passion that has intrigued psychologists and writers for years. Sidis spent hours every day in search of street car transfers. He would chase them through windy lots, chisel them from icy sidewalks and rescue them from rainy gutters. During his lifetime, he collected over two thousand of them, all different.

In 1926, he published a book on the subject of his hobby. The book, Notes on the Collection of Transfers, is, to say the least, esoteric. Sidis filled it with page after page of detailed information on how the transfers are interpreted, how to use them to their best advantage and the techniques used by the devoted "peridromophile" (his term for a someone who collects street car transfers) to find abandoned transfers. For those with merely a passing interest in the subject, he provided a chapter of bad street car jokes. Sidis used the pseudonym, "Frank Folupa" to throw the press off the track, but it did not work. The book was quickly ascribed to him and once again, Sidis had to flee from the curious eyes of the press. Losing himself in the crowded streets of New York City.

Sidis managed to stay out of view for many years after that. Until 1937, when a writer working for New Yorker magazine found him in a run down rooming house in South Boston. Sidis told the reporter that he was no longer the mathematical genius he once was. "The very sight of a mathematical formula," he claimed, "makes me physically ill." When the New Yorker article appeared, Sidis sued for invasion of privacy. Acting as his own attorney, Sidis offered to take an I.Q. test to prove just how normal he was. The suit was thrown out of court.
Again the world forgot about him, until 1944, when, at the age of 46, William James Sidis died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

A much more favorable review of Sidis' life is presented by author Robert M. Pirisigin his book, "Lila: An inquiry into morals."

"Back down in the plains, in a country motel one night with nothing to read, Phædrus had found a small dog-eared Yankee magazine, thumbed through it, and stopped on a brief account by Cathie Slater Spence entitled, 'In Search of the April Fool.'

It was about a child prodigy who had possibly the highest intelligence ever observed, and who in his later life went nowhere. 'Born on April 1, 1898,' it said, 'William James Sidis could speak five languages and read Plato in the original Greek by the age of five. At eight he passed the entrance for Harvard but had to wait three years to be admitted. Even so he became Harvard's youngest scholar and graduated cum laude in 1914 at the age of 16. Frequently featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not, Sidis made the front page of the New York Times 19 times.'

"But after graduating from Harvard, the 'Boy Wonder' pursued his own obscure and seemingly meaningless interests. The press that had lionized him turned on him. The most scathing example came in the New Yorker in 1937. Entitled 'April Fool,' the magazine article ridiculed everything from Sidis's hobbies to his physical characteristics. Sidis sued for libel and invasion of privacy. Though he won a small out-of-court settlement for libel, the invasion of privacy charge was dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark decision. 'The article is merciless in its dissection of intimate details of its subject's personal life,' the court conceded, but Sidis was 'a public figure' and thus could not claim protection from the interest of the press, which continued to hound him until his death in 1944. Obituaries called him 'a prodigious failure' and 'a burnt-out genius' who had never achieved anything of significance despite his talents.

"Dan Mahony of Ipswich, Massachusetts, read about Sidis in 1976 and was puzzled. 'What was he really doing and thinking all that time?' Mahony wondered. 'It's true he held low-paying jobs, but Einstein came up with the theory of relativity while working in a patent office. I had a feeling Sidis was up to more than most people thought.'

"Mahony has spent the last ten years looking into Sidis's work. In one dusty attic, he found a bulky manuscript called The Tribes and the States in which Sidis argues persuasively that the New England political system was profoundly influenced by the democratic federation of the Penacook Indians.

"At this sentence, a kind of shock passed through Phædrus, but the article went on.

"When Mahony sent Sidis's book The Animate and Inanimate to another eccentric genius, Buckminster Fuller, Fuller found it 'a fine cosmological piece' that astoundingly predicted the existence of black holes — in 1925!

"Mahony has unearthed a science fiction novel, economic, and political writings, and 89 weekly newspaper columns about Boston that Sidis wrote under a pen name. 'The amazing thing is that we may only have tapped the surface of what Sidis produced,' says Mahony. 'For instance, we've found just one page of a manuscript called The Peace Paths, and people who knew Sidis have said they saw many more manuscripts. I think Sidis may still have a few surprises in store for us.'

"Phædrus set down the magazine and felt as though someone had thrown a rock through the motel window. Then he read the article over and over again in a sort of daze, as the impact of what he was reading sank deeper and deeper. That night he could hardly sleep.

"It looked as though way back in the thirties Sidis had been on exactly the same thesis about Indians. He was trying to tell people some of the most important things that could be said about their country and they were rewarding him by publicly calling him a 'fool' and failing to publish what he had written. There didn't even seem to be any way to find out what Sidis had said.

Phædrus tried to contact the Mahony mentioned in the article but couldn't find him, partly, he supposed, because his effort was only half-hearted. He knew that even if he did get a look at Sidis' material there wasn't much he could do about it. The problem wasn't that it wasn't true. The problem was that nobody was interested."

It's interesting that Pirisig wrote about Sidis, since there seems to be a bit of similarity: both leading hermit type lives, and both interested in the influence of American Indians on American Culture (in terms of democracy and speech patterns i.e. the way cowboys talk.). For more information on Pirsig, you might want to check out this site.

If you haven't seen it yet...

... 2Blowhards has posted a review of the L.A. Cathedral.

The most UK important news story of the day

Beer prices to rise by 10p a pint

And the reason isn't what would have been your first guess...

The cost of a pint of beer is expected to rise by 10p, partly because of increasing pension and national insurance costs

More on the English language and blogs

The other day I posted on Bushisms, and how they are actually "embettering" us. Well, in fairness to President Bush, I've decided to post silly words from the Left...and what could be more Left than the Entertainment industry?

Here are a few new words to try out from the Lost Remote's TV Jargon Dictionary:

anticipointment: What viewers experience when you fall short of their expectations after over-promoting a story or show.
preemptnition: The feeling you have when you realize the story that took you over a week to produce is about to get bumped from the show.
viewser A cross between a viewer and a user: A TV viewer who goes online.

You know, I think I could do this to. How about these, related to St Blogs?

bloggser a person who has more than one blog, such as Pete Vere, who blogs here and here and sometimes here
bloggstic: a mystic-type blog, a person who runs such a blog would then be called a bloggsticker (with a "k"), such as the sites at Flos Carmeli and more last than star
homeblogger: often confused with people who blog from home, rather than from work, but really these are homeschooling type bloggers, such as Oblique House and More Like Mary, Less Like Martha
pogg: a pontificating blog, and a pontificating blogger would then be called a pogger...common decency says that I shouldn't post any examples.

Do you *suffer* whilst sitting at your desk?

Then this product is for you...

GasBGon

Now here's an interesting thought...

Religious education not focused on real Islamic teachings has led to an increased crime rate among Muslims in the country, said Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. ... The Prime Minister said many students who went to religious schools were not taught Islamic values but instead received more emphasis on politics. ... He expressed his embarrassment that over 90% of incest and sexual offenders were Malays although they formed only 60% of the population.

PM: Wrong religious teachings to blame for rising crime rate

French history buff?

A 36-year-old-man has killed himself with a home-made guillotine, a source close to the police investigation of the case said. ... The source said Boyd Taylor had built a timer to activate the device in the early hours of Monday morning and that he had been found by his father.

A timer? And one other question ... didn't the parents find it a bit strange that there son had a guillotine in his bedroom?

Man Kills Himself with Home-Made Guillotine

Australian Bishops back Pope’s ‘no to war’ campaign

BBC discovers that there are some big churches in the US

At a time when British churches are being sold off to developers or bulldozed to make way for something more popular, America's Mega-churches, which can seat thousands of people at a time, are booming. ... And in this new Religi-business some of the Mega-churches market themselves more like shopping malls than places of quiet religious contemplation.

You know, I was thinking that this isn't really so strange...We have here in Madrid - so I've been told - one of Europe's largest mosques. And I've been told that they have a restaurant at the mosque that is open to the public and serves delicious food.

Mega-Churches

Mirror, Mirror ... where's the unluckiest family of all?

- The fire was the third experienced by the Dolamores and the second to destroy a family home. Just last fall the family moved to Wabamun, about 60 kilometres west of Edmonton, from the southern Alberta town of Magrath, where they had lost everything after a fire destroyed their two-storey home on July 15, 2000.

- RCMP said Jessica Dolamore was home with four of the children Saturday evening when a man wearing a dark balaclava burst into the house demanding money. When she refused, he sprayed her and her 18-year-old daughter with what appeared to be gasoline.

- In November 1998, the Dolamores made national headlines when their infant daughter Hannah was accidentally exposed to formalin, a diluted solution of formaldehyde, while in an incubator at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital.

I don't know if this is a poor judgement call on my part, but do you think maybe this family has a problem "misunderestimating," or am I being too "foreign-handed."

Woman set on fire during Alberta home invasion

Is this a new hybrid rooster?

A cockfight has turned deadly in the Philippines -- for a handler. ... Police say a rooster, about to be set loose for a bout in a crowded arena, attacked its handler with razor-sharp steel spikes strapped to its legs. ... The spikes hit the stunned man's thigh and groin, causing him to bleed profusely in front of the shocked crowd. The man died en route to a hospital.

Would it be too much to admit that I've actually attended a few cockfights in Peru...and I didn't find it overly disgusting. I also found out that my wife is very good at selecting winning roosters - her family had raised them. I actually kind of enjoyed the "family atmosphere" (yes, there were entire families attending) at one place we went, where you could eat a meal (broiled chicken?) above the pit, and have a pitcher of beer, while bets were being placed. And we are talking about some big dollars being passed around just over some scrawny birds. Okay, hit me with the flames.

Rooster Kills Handler During Cockfight

Some strange links...

I was surfing and went to the CN, Catholic News site, and saw this article that some have already posted on...Vatican says sex-change operation does not change person's gender

After years of study, the Vatican's doctrinal congregation has sent church leaders a confidential document concluding that "sex-change" procedures do not change a person's gender in the eyes of the church.

Consequently, the document instructs bishops never to alter the sex listed in parish baptismal records and says Catholics who have undergone "sex-change" procedures are not eligible to marry, be ordained to the priesthood or enter religious life, according to a source familiar with the text

But what I really found interesting, was some of the links to the above story on that same Catholic News site...

One quite interesting link was the The Christian Transsexual/transgender Page, hosted by "Anita the Reverent Wena Dian Parry," formerly known as the Rev. Bill Parry, and which spouts "theology" such as this (please note all the mis-spellings, etc. are not mine...

It's not the building, nor the denomination but a people who love and serve God. It is a body of people not the edifice or the organization.

Unfortunately as in any group of people some will want to be 'boss', the 'king of the castle' and this often happens in 'Church'. That person will often want to make his/her own rules just like the Scribes and Phrases did in the time of the New Testament. They made up such rules that where hard for the people to keep, well nay impossible without being a real minister.

That's it blame it on the Phrases, and while we're at it, why not on the grammarians also...

Also, on the Catholic News site, there was a link to Christian transgender resources, which if you play around on the site, you get advise such as this...

How do I reconcile crossdressing with Christianity?

I can't "reconcile" them. In order for there to be reconciliation, there must first be a conflict, and I know of no such conflict!

How convenient....

And the Catholic News site has another link to a BBC article about the "Rev" Parry, titled Sex-change pastor sues Christian centre. In this article besides the suit, we also learn that the journalist are also struggling with their PCness...

- Dian Parry - once known to his congregation as the Rev Bill Parry - is claiming sexual discrimination because she was told to use the gents. ... Father-of-three Ms Parry, 62, turned up for the prayer meeting at the Vine Christian Centre in Maesteg.

- Ms Parry, from Croeserw, near Port Talbot, has been living as a woman for three years and underwent her gender realignment in February 2001.

- But she and his wife of 41 years, Anita, who is standing by her, wanted to carry on worshipping.

Father? Ms Parry? Realignment - isn't that something to do with cars and wheels? She and his wife - shouldn't it be he and his, or she and her?

Everybody's copying Pete these days

Saddam Actually Just Doing Research for Book on Weapons of Mass Destruction

Under President Bush English language shows how flexible it is

The list of most important words of 2002 was drawn up with help from visitors to the yourDictionary.com Web site and from the site's group of linguists, who monitor the use of the English language around the world.

They include the so-called Bushisms; misunderestimate (to seriously underestimate), embetter (to make emotionally better -- the opposite of embitter), resignate (as in "They said this issue wouldn't resignate with the people") and foreign-handed (as in "I have a foreign-handed foreign policy").

I think I should use each of those words in future posts, so that they resignate with the people and embetter them. I realize that this could be quite difficult, but I may be misunderestimating myself, or it may even be as a result of this site being a bit foreign-handed.

Don't Misunderestimate Bushisms; They Resignate

Interesting how Vatican is repeating message every day

Could it be that perhaps they think people aren't listening?

Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states, says he thinks the United States can still change its position on a possible attack against Iraq.

"There is still time to remind all of the need to favor loyal dialogue and the importance of the mechanisms of the United Nations whose objective is to solve conflicts and differences among nations," he said in an interview published today in the Parisian newspaper Le Figaro.

The French archbishop did not exclude the possibility that the Holy See will send mediators to Iraq to help stave off war, although he made it clear that in this connection "there is no plan under way."

Regarding North Korea, which has rejected the agreements on nuclear nonproliferation, Archbishop Tauran expressed his deep concern. "The threat of the use of atomic arms poses a unique challenge," he said.

"A constant dialogue must be maintained at all costs with Pyongyang, avoiding the isolation of North Korea, but at the same time committing the partners to apply the disarmament treaties," the archbishop said.

Holy See Believes War in Iraq Is Still Avoidable

Hmmm...

Israel is embarking upon a more aggressive approach to the war on terror that will include staging targeted killings in the United States and other friendly countries, former Israeli intelligence officials told United Press International.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has forbidden the practice until now, these sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

What do you think? If you're against it, you may want to reconsider US policy as well...

Israel to kill in U.S., allied nations

Interesting read...

A spy who can't come in from the cold.

I’M VERY HAPPY," Reda Hassaine said, a few minutes before almost breaking down in tears. His joy came from his role in gathering evidence against Abu Qatada, an extremist Muslim cleric said to be a key al-Qaeda figure, who had just been arrested in London.
That was last October. Less than three months later, his usefulness compromised after he was told his cover had been blown, Hassaine has been dumped by his former handlers in the intelligence services and left out in the cold, an unprotected target for the Islamist extremists he once spied on.

Hassaine, 41, is an Algerian Muslim who has infiltrated militant Islamist groups for the secret services in Algeria and France, for Scotland Yard’s Special Branch and for M15. He says that Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza, another London-based Islamist, “raise money, encourage people to kill, claim assassinations”. He knows because he has seen them at work.

Muslim spy who infiltrated Bin Laden's terror network in London

Is there going to be an official "smeller?"

Proposed new city rules would ban spitting, defecating, smoking, skateboarding, and stinking on city buses. ... The regulations ban anyone who "emanates a grossly repulsive odor that is unavoidable by other Bend Extended Area Transit customers" from being in the bus station or on a bus.

And how do you measure this? Couldn't it be a bit subjective...for example certain brands of cologne? I'm afraid while I don't enjoy riding next to "smelly" people, this sounds like Big Govt has been smoking something funny...

City Wants To Ban Smelly People From Buses

Demonstrating German health-care sucks

But does this pun work in German?

Dr Johannes Bruck has hired a mobile military clinic and will park it at Potsdamer Platz, the revitalised centre of the German capital, at noon on Saturday. ... He vows to accept anyone who wants to have liposuction. Patients will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis, said the chief physician at Martin Luther Hospital in Berlin

Public liposuction to show health-care sucks

Must be something in the air?

There's a common thread... - in the US Joshua Claybourn for the past few days has been asking "What is an American?" - Which prompted Rachel at Cre8d from the Southern Hemisphere... - And now I see that John at Iberian Notes in Barcelona today has some related comments (on purpose?)

- And me? I posted some comments at Joshua's site yesterday, and which vary a bit from John's, but here is a sampling of them:

There is another issue though that hasn't been mentioned...It's still not correct to say American is a nationality. The truth of the matter is that all you know is that it's a person from the "Americas," and you certainly don't know if that person is a US citizen.

Canadians are Americans, as are Mexicans, and those in South America. I know many Latinos that actually get a bit peeved when some US citizens call themselves Americans and don't even for a minute think about all the others. My wife and all her relatives consider themselves Americans (they're from Peru) - which is correct in Spanish -and in other languages and cultures.

When people ask us, we always say we're Americans, as we are from the Americas - I just happen to be from North America, and my wife from South America. ... Using "American" in any other is inaccurate, and confusing...at witnessed by the confusion of using the term as if it reflected a philosophy.

2) ..... using an "American" dictionary i.e. Webster's, to define what is "American" is a bit tricky...So, using the Royal Academia Spanish language dictionary (the Official dictionary for all Spanish speakers)...an "American," is defined as:

- 1) somebody who is from the "Americas,"2) pertains to the Americas, 3) an indigenous person of the Americas, and its 4) only in the 4th definition that it's a US Citizen. The 5th) definition, and last, is for a blazer (you know a jacket) .... Interestingly enough "Americas" in general is in reference to foreign lands, and people seeking a fortune to later return home...

There is a quality "Americanismo," which is somewhat similary to the "Idea" that some are suggesting: ... - the quality or condition of being an American 2) in character generally American, 3) a love of things typically American, 4) a dedication to the study of things American, etc, etc. - But again, this "idea or love of American things," would have to be understood in light of the definition of what is an American....

All to say, it's difficult to argue as some were of "American" being an idea, because it relates to how that subject is being viewed from a particular culture.