USA: Why Americans Know So Much About Sports But So Little About World Affairs - by Noam Chomsky:

QUESTION: Do you think people are inhibited by expertise?

CHOMSKY: There are also experts about football, but these people don't defer to them. The people who call in talk with complete confidence. They don't care if they disagree with the coach or whoever the local expert is. They have their own opinion and they conduct intelligent discussions. I think it's an interesting phenomenon. Now I don't think that international or domestic affairs are much more complicated. And what passes for serious intellectual discourse on these matters does not reflect any deeper level of understanding or knowledge.

Read more: Noam Chomsky: Why Americans Know So Much About Sports But So Little About World Affairs | Alternet

EU Economy: Sport as a growth engine for EU economy

Sport is an important economic sector in the EU in its own right, with a share in the national economies which is comparable to agriculture, forestry and fisheries combined. Moreover, its share is expected to rise in the future. 

Overall the sports sector accounts for 2% of the EU global GDP, while the total employment generated by sports activities is 7.3 million-equivalent to 3.5% of the total EU employment. Despite these impressive figures, the economic impact of the sport-related industries is often underestimated.

To underpin the role of sport-related industry as an economic driver, a High Level Meeting of stakeholders on the impact of sport and sport-related industries took place in Brussels. The meeting was aimed at taking stock of the progress made since the first meeting of the European Sport Industries on 21 January 2014. 

Furthermore, the meeting offered the opportunity to present an industry-led Action Plan on the economic impact of sport and sport-related industries. The meeting highlighted the role of sport as a powerful lever for innovation, industrial competitiveness and employment.

Read more: EUROPA - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - Sport as a growth engine for EU economy

US Economy: Show Me The Money: What Super Bowl Economics Means From Coast To Coast - by Michelle FlorCruz

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J

Stadium beer: $9. Last-minute ticket to the game: $3,000. Super Bowl XLVIII T-shirt: $25. The Super Bowl experience in New York/New Jersey: $600 million?

There’s no doubt the public will be paying inflated prices if you have any plans of attending the Super Bowl this year, but do the numbers really add up to as much as the NFL claims?

The Super Bowl, one of America’s greatest pop-culture phenomena, has transformed from just a football game into a major economic event. This year’s Super Bowl XLVII -- to be held at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J this evening February 2., will be no different, drawing attention and dollars from all corners of the country. 

Read more: Show Me The Money: What Super Bowl Economics Means From Coast To Coast By International Business Times

European Soccer Championship: Bayern Munich vs Chelsea - by Cheyenne Hollis

The one thing Chelsea do have in its favor is the fact the team have flourished in Europe, especially under Di Matteo. The Blues have tripped over every hurdle in the Premier League this season but look a different class in the Champions League since that dreadful February night in Naples.

Everyone at Chelsea knows the final will define their legacy at the club and shape the future of the Blues.

Chelsea can overcome Bayern Munich in the final, however, the team is going to need to improve.

Read more: Bayern Munich vs Chelsea: 4 Things Blues Must Improve for Champions League Final | Bleacher Report

Netherlands: Dutch clean ice to raise chances of skating race - Mike Corder

Volunteers poured onto frozen rivers and lakes in the northern Netherlands on Tuesday to shovel away snow that is one of the major hurdles in the way of a grueling speedskating race being held for the first time in 15 years.

Helpers arrived from as far afield as Amsterdam, more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) away, to clear the ice after organizers of the Elfstedentocht, or 11 Cities Tour, warned that snow that fell Friday was hampering ice growth.

Their enthusiasm reflected the Elfstedentocht fever that has gripped the Netherlands amid speculation that the cold snap that has brought misery to much of Europe could deliver ecstasy to the Netherlands in the form of the race being skated for the first time since 1997.

The ice must be at least 6 inches (15 centimeters) thick over the entire 125-mile (200-kilometer) track that winds along canals, rivers and lakes in the northern province of Friesland before the 16,000 competitor event can go ahead.

For more: Dutch clean ice to raise chances of skating race - KTAR.com

The Super Bowl - "Panem et Circenses" - US In Party Mode As Super Bowl Spending To Hit $11 billion

Christina Cheddar Berk writes in USA Today: "Pollsters are estimating a record number of people, perhaps as many 173 million, will be watching as the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.

That means the event could generate significant consumer spending as sports fans head out to buy food, decorations, and perhaps even a new television to watch the two teams go head to head. According to a survey from the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association conducted by BigInsight, the average game-watcher will shell out $63.87 on game-related merchandise, apparel and snacks, up from $59.33 last year.

About 5.1 million people are planning to buy a new television, specifically to watch the football game, according to the survey. Last year, BigInsight estimated 4.5 million people were planning to buy TVs. That means total Super Bowl spending is expected to reach as much as $11 billion.

And as for that other Super Bowl tradition — the commercials — nearly three-quarters of the viewers say they see them as entertainment."

For more: Party time: Super Bowl spending could hit $11 billion – USATODAY.com

Golf: Europe claim one-two in world rankings

Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - an eight-shot winner in Abu Dhabi today - now top the World Golf Rankings, the first time two Europeans have been there since Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer in July 1993. Tiger Woods falls out of the top two for the first time since October 2004.

Holywood-man Rory McIlroy has also shot up the rankings from 12th to seventh, joining Portrush's Graeme McDowell in the top ten. Kaymer, 26, relegated Woods to world number three when he successfully defended his Abu Dhabi title and captured the event for a third time in four years.


For more: RTÉ Sport: Europe claim one-two in world rankings

Spiegel Online: 'Muhammad Knows Nothing About Football': Muslims Angered by Verse in German Soccer Club Song

For the complete report from Spiegel Online click on this link

'Muhammad Knows Nothing About Football': Muslims Angered by Verse in German Soccer Club Song

The verse "Muhammad Was a Prophet Who Knows Nothing About Football" in the official song of German soccer club Schalke 04 has sparked more than 100 complaints from Muslims. The club says it's looking into the matter. German Bundesliga soccer club Schalke 04 has received more than 100 complaints from Muslims about its club song which contains the verse: "Muhammad was a Prophet who knows nothing about football."

The song with the title "White and Blue, How I Love You" has been around for decades but only recently came to the attention of Turkish media which said it insults the Prophet.

NFL.com - Eight NFL Europa vets playing in Super Bowl XLI

For the complete report from the NFL.com click on this link

Eight NFL Europa vets playing in Super Bowl XLI

Eight players with NFL Europa experience -- including three-time Super Bowl-winning kicker Adam Vinatieri (Amsterdam 1996) -- will be featured on the rosters of the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI this Sunday, capping a season in which 201 NFL Europa veterans occupied spots on NFL rosters.

The NFL Europa veterans in Super Bowl XLI:
Indianapolis Colts (4)
Bryan Fletcher TE Berlin,
Adam Vinatieri K Amsterdam, 1996
Kory Chapman RB Cologne, 2005 (Practice Squad)
Aaron Halterman TE Rhein, 2006 (Practice Squad)
Chicago Bears (4)
Brendon Ayanbadejo LB Amsterdam, 2001
John Gilmore TE Amsterdam, 2002
Israel Idonije DE Berlin, 2004
Anthony Oakley G Frankfurt, 2005