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ekansekans's blog: "df"

created on 10/29/2012  |  http://fubar.com/df/b351055

MADRID, Spain -- Barcelona provided manager Pep Guardiola with the perfect send-off by thrashing Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the Copa del Rey final on Friday, earning the clubs most successful coach a 14th trophy. Pedro Rodriguez scored either side of Lionel Messis 73rd goal of the season as the Catalan club demonstrated the virtues -- quick-touch passing, intricate combinations and clinical finishing -- that marked Guardiolas four seasons at the helm. Barcelonas record 26th domestic cup gave the bittersweet season some shine, partially making up for its failure to repeat as Champions League and Spanish league winners. "We had a very good year, we won four titles and winning this cup gives them better value," Guardiola said. "Im happy to close out the season this way." Athletics chase for its first silverware since 1984 again faltered as the young Basque team showed little improvement from the side beaten 3-0 by Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final this month, leaving its first season under coach Marcelo Bielsa without silverware. Pedro likely secured a spot in Spains Euro 2012 squad by scoring in the third and 25th minutes, five minutes after Messi extended his season goal tally -- unprecedented in European football. The fans filling the 55,000-seat Calderon Stadium were united moments before the start as Catalan and Basque spectators -- many self-defined by their hostility to the centralized national government -- jeered the playing of the Spanish anthem, just as they did in Valencia three years ago when Barcelonas 4-1 win over Bilbao provided Guardiola with his maiden title. Barcelona won the Club World Cup, European Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup this season to make it 14 of a possible 19 titles for the 41-year-old coach -- who now stands aside to be replaced by assistant Tito Vilanova -- since taking charge in 2008. "I feel like I left some good things behind for the club and that others will continue the good work," Guardiola said. "Now I will rest and try in the future a new challenge." Barcelonas defence coped without injured trio Carles Puyol, Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves, while Pedro got the nod in attack over Cesc Fabregas. Bielsa pushed Javi Martinez up from centerback in a bid to contain Messi, but that strategy failed miserably as Barcelona went ahead early and Bilbao looked nothing like the team that beat Manchester United and Schalke this year. "I envisioned and prepared a game where we look to be protagonists with intensity, dynamism, and today we werent able to achieve that," said Bielsa, who revealed nothing about his future with his contract about to expire. "We didnt plan right." Barcelona opened when Ibai Gomez failed to clear Gerard Piques flick-on from a corner, with Pedro well-positioned inside the area to slot home. Messi, who curled just wide in the opening stages, received an exquisite cross pass from Andres Iniesta and the Argentina forward fired with his weaker right foot over goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz into the roof of goal. The only other player to have scored 70 goals in a first-division season was Archie Stark of Bethlehem Steel in the American Soccer League in 1924-25. "Hes a more competitive player now than when I arrived. In finals, hes always a determining factor," Guardiola said of the 24-year-old, who has become the clubs all-time leading scorer under his tutelage. "Its been a privilege to have coached the best player that Ive ever seen or will ever see." Barcelonas high pressure and up-tempo play were rewarded with a third goal as Xavi Hernandez laid off for Pedro to scream a low roller beyond the fingertips of the diving Iraizoz. "Im very happy because its been a tough and difficult year for me," said Pedro, who found himself on the substitutes bench for much of the season. Bilbao had chances from the close of the first-half when Barcelona keeper Jose Manuel Pinto saved from Iker Muniain after turning it over, while Ibai Gomez shot wide at an open goal in the 53rd. But the Basque side was clearly outmatched as Iraizoz stuck out a foot to deny Messi late on. None of the 10 potential Spain squad members between the teams were seriously injured, although Xavi limped off to be replaced by Fabregas in the 81st. Spain opens its European Championship title defence against Italy in just over two weeks. The victory ensured a Spanish Super Cup clasico in August when Barcelona will play league champion Real Madrid. 19:40ET 25-05-12 Wholesale NFL Jerseys From China . I got flooded with trade scenarios and opinions, so that is touched on in this weeks Tweet Bag, along with some talk about perceived sleights by the referees. Wholesale Jerseys China . Hundley homered, tripled and drove in a career-high four runs, leading Anthony Bass and the San Diego Padres past the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 Sunday. http://bloodcopy.org/wholesale.html . TSN 1290s coverage begins with Hustler & Lawless live from the PNC Arena in Raleigh at 3pm ct.  Rick Ralph hosts the official Jets pregame show at 5pm ct.ROME -- World record-holder Usain Bolt put his poor performance in the Czech Republic behind him with a seasons best 9.76 seconds in the 100 metres at the Golden Gala on Thursday. Bolt ran a relatively slow 10.04 in Ostrava last week, raising questions about his Olympic preparations. His previous worlds best of 9.82 was set at home in Jamaica this month. "My drive was better and I started well," Bolt said. "The transition was also better. After Ostrava a lot of people questioned me, but I never questioned myself. "Everyone has a bad race, you just got to go back to the drawing board." Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Whitby, Ont., was fifth in the 100-metre hurdles. The Olympic bronze medallist, who took last season off to have a baby, ran 12.81 seconds. American Dawn Harper won the gold in 12.66. Hilary Stellingwerff of Sarnia, Ont., shrugged off a stomach bug to run the Olympic A standard in the womens 1,500 metres. Stellingwerff crossed in a personal best four minutes 5.08 seconds to finish eighth in the race won by Ethiopian Abeba Aregawai in a world-leading 3:56.54. While Bolts start in Rome still wasnt exceptional, he quickly pulled in front and broke the previous meet record of 9.77 set by Tyson Gay three years ago. Former world record-holder Asafa Powell crossed second in 9.91 and European champion Christophe Lemaitre was third in 10.04. There was virtually no wind. Powell didnt hear "set" or "go" from the starter. "Im very upset with my race tonight. Im not upset that I lost but that I ccouldnt execute like I wanted to," Powell said.dddddddddddd "I didnt get out of the starting block like I should. I was all over the track. "Im not even going to complain," Powell added. "Usain ran a great race, I just have to go home, work on it and come back." Bolt attributed his problems in Ostrava to fatigue for his first race of the season in Europe. This time, he appeared energized even two hours before his race, when he warmed up the crowd with a lap around the track on a golf cart, wearing the shirt of Italys football team as he danced and posed for the cameras. The crowd of nearly 60,000 cheered Bolts every move. "I appreciate a great crowd, they gave me a lot of love," Bolt said. "I feed off the crowd, so that was good." When he came back out to run, Bolt chatted with the race worker behind his lane before he stepped into the starting blocks. After the race, he grabbed an Italian flag as he celebrated with another lap around the track that hosted the 1960 Olympics. "Since I arrived in Rome I made sure to be in bed early. So I got a lot of rest and slept a lot," Bolt said. "In Ostrava I had not had enough sleep. This race was much better." This was the third Diamond League meet of the year but Bolts first. Bolt will also compete in a Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway, next week before returning to Jamaica for national trials. He then plans to return to Europe for a 200 in Monaco on July 20, his last race before the London Games start a week later. ' ' ' 

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