Michael Phelps suspended for three months

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps is in suspension after being snapped smoking a bong at a party. The awesome swimmer was barred from participating in swimming competitions for a period of three months by the United States Swimming team on 5th of February. The 23-year-old ace swimmer had apologised for his 'inappropriate behaviour'.
He will get no financial support temporarily from the association during that time. The controversial picture was reported to have been taken at a party at the University of South Carolina. Phelps won a record eight gold medals at the last year's Beijing Olympics. The picture apparently showed the Olympic record-holder using illegal drugs.
In 2004, Phelps was taken into custody on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury, Maryland. He appealed guilty and was sentenced to 18 months trial period. He also apologized after that incident.

Beckham wants to stay at AC Milan, leave LA Galaxy

David Beckham told reporters on 4th February 2009 that he desires to play preferably for AC Milan than the LA Galaxy as he enjoyed the experience with Milan so much. The 33 year old footballer has scored two goals with Milan in six matches. AC Milan acquired him on loan from LA Galaxy till March 8.
David Beckham, who rose to high status with Manchester Utd, Real Madrid and even captained England in World Cup, shocked the football fans when he signed a record-breaking, five-year agreement with the LA Galaxy on Jan. 11, 2007.Beckham's deal with Major League Soccer is worth US$32.5 million in salary, but profit sharing and doing advertisements raised the total to US$250 million over the life of the contract — possibly the richest in soccer history. He has five goals and 10 assists in 30 matches over two MLS seasons with the Galaxy. One of Beckham's important reasons for joining Milan on loan is to help himself retain a spot on the England squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Muttiah Muralitharan becomes highest wicket-taker in ODIs

Muttiah Muralitharan, the greatest spin legend of all time from Sri Lanka has created history and had broken the world record by becoming the highest wicket-taker in one-day international cricket, surpassing Pakistani pace bowler, Wasim Akram. Previously, Akram hold the record of 502 ODI wickets, but now the world record is being snatched after a long time by Muralitharan.Muralitharan, who had equaled Akram's record in the 3rd ODI match against India by dismissing Yuvraj Singh, took his record wicket when Gambhir edged to the Sri Lankan wicket-keeper, Kumar Sangakkara. Muralitharan already holds the world record in test cricket for 769 dismissals.
The 36-year-old cricketer accomplished this feat playing 328 matches while Akram had played 356 one day matches to take 502 wickets. Now Murali has 1272 wickets in his pocket in both forms of cricket. Muralitharan is really a legend in the game of cricket and is a boon to Sri Lanka.

West Indies v England 1st Test

Andrew Strauss, in his first test match as England's captain, after five stand-in performances in 2006 and 2007, won the toss on a distinct dry and brown wicket. Strauss himself cut a troubled figure in a queer 15-ball stay. He scored just seven runs and Alistair Cook was dismissed for only four runs. Ian Bell endeavored to 28 off 72 balls and Collingwood was trapped lbw by Benn.Kevin Pietersen missed out a 16th Test ton on day one of the opening Test match against the West Indies in Kingston. Pietersen was caught on 97 trying to hit over the fielder, but miscuing it off the ball from Sulieman Benn. Pietersen received patient support from Andrew Flintoff at the other end, who ended the day on 43* off 138 balls. The all-rounder put on an unbeaten 56 run partnership with Matt Prior (27 not out) to help England reach 236-5 at the close.

IPL Auction to be held

The IPL franchises are anticipated to spend over US$3 million on Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, at the auction in Goa. But following the exit of Michael Clarke, the other star cricketer who could have got well over a million dollars, most franchises concur that this year's most intelligent pick would be JP Duminy, of South Africa.

Duminy's base price is $300,000 but what has made him an inviting purchase, is that he will be free for most of the IPL season. Kevin Pietersen will resume his regular position as the centre of attraction when the 2009 Indian Premier League auction gets under way. At $1.35m (£890,000), Pietersen has the highest backlog price.
The mark to beat is the $1.5m (£1.04m) paid by Chennai to India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Mumbai last February. Manoj Badale, owner of last year's winners, the Rajasthan Royals, told "I would not be surprised if KP or Flintoff goes for $2m”.

Octopush (Under Water Hockey)

One sport which is most probably not to have been perceived by anyone is Octopush. This is a 'fancy' word for under-water hockey ( UWH ). The game is a cross between hockey and football because the goals are weighted to the floor of the pool, and the situation is almost like a game of football - but with water.

Protection gear includes a water polo style cap, goggles/mask, snorkel, a mouth guard, a rubber glove for the playing hand (to safeguard against pool-bottom attrition and knuckle protection against puck impact) and the 'hockey-stick'.
Before the start of play the puck is placed in the middle of the pool, and the players wait in the water, touching the wall above the goals they are defending. As the game starts, the players of both teams are free to swim anywhere in the play area and attempt to hit the puck into the opponents' goal. The game is divided into two halves, normally ten to fifteen minutes in length. After a goal is scored, players return to their wall to start a new point.