Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 27, 2008 Cheshvan 29, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:37 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Premier League Roundup By Haaretz Sports Staff The Curmudgeon Advertisement If Arcadi Gaydamak were to come home one day and discover that his cleaner had forgotten to clean the top shelves, would he call her up and shout at her? Maybe he would, and maybe he would treat her with more respect. In any case, it doesn't matter - as long as he gets his daily dose of exposure to the cameras. He needs it bad, and is even willing to tear apart his club, as he recently said in an interview. But the press is no longer interested in the businessman's antics. Out of desperation, Gaydamak thought he would make a fuss and get back the media's attention, and maybe this would win him the Jerusalem mayorship or some other election. Indeed, a brilliant strategy. One cannot but wonder whether he came up with it himself or was it the creation of his close adviser Yossi Milstein? (Elad Lipshitz) The New Age Man This is a man's world, sang James Brown. It may or may not be, but in any case the Maccabi Haifa coach has not lost touch with his feminine side as evident in the fourth-round match. Ten minutes into the game and with one man down after Dekel Keinan was sent off, Levi decided to sub his project player Lior Rafaelov with another defender. Rafaelov looked crushed and left the pitch sadly. Suddenly, on his way out, Levi embraced him and almost shed a tear. Rafaelov was probably never treated that way under former Maccabi Haifa coach Rony Levi. Maybe that's Levi's secret of success. (Shlomi Barzel) The Comeback During a visit to my mother's house my kid suddenly sprinted on the lawn waving his hands in the air and shouting "are you guarding him or what?" Then he said: "That was my impersonation of Liran Strauber," the Maccabi Netanya goalie. We all laughed and he did it one more time before I told him that was enough. He was given his first Maccabi Netanya scarf, which was originally bought by a family relative in the 70s when, when he was born. Since then he became a supporter of a number of clubs: Hapoel and Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and others. Only in recent months has he supported Maccabi Netanya, and it seems he's sticking to it. Last Friday dinner he showed up wearing a complete Maccabi Netanya uniform, and at the dinner table he sang the praises of Strauber and Netanya owner Daniel Jammer. (Eitan Beckerman) The Sage After Maccabi Tel Aviv's first match under new coach Avi Nimni ended with a tight, yet important, win last week, he senthis assistant coach Marco Balbul to talk to the press instead of him. "He said I'll answer your questions instead of him," a surprised Balbul told reporters. Meanwhile, Nimni kept out of the spotlight. Why did Nimni decide not to take the opportunity to talk to the press after a victory? Was it an act of humility or largesse toward Balbul, his forgotten aide? Or was it a tactic: After all, sending Cesar's second-in-command to speak on his behalf makes him seem even more important. Maybe he's preparing an excuse for when his team loses. "I didn't give interviews after victories either," he'll say. Another option is that Balbul's responsibilities have been expanded and he will now function as a spokesperson as well. In any case, the former Maccabi Tel aviv player Avi Nimni does not plan on losing his position as coach anytime soon. (Shai Golden) The Fumbler If there's one position you would expect to be filled by a competent player at SC Ashdod it's goalkeeper. With three former goalies serving as either coach or assistant coach, you would think they have the right man for the job. Then they brought in a Polish goalkeeper called Grzegorz Szamotulski, whose name alone betrays a sense of clumsiness. So coach Yossi Mizrahi created a very interesting team to watch after all, one that scored 19 goals but also conceded 18. Curisouly for a 33-year-old player, Szamotulski does not seem to know how to position himself or sometimes even how to catch a ball. But who cares? The team's matches are fascinating, filled with amusing moments and goals. Lots and lots of goals. So maybe Szamotulski can't keep, but he still can be called a good acquisition. (Nir Wolf) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Who's missing? Haredi parties absent from Jerusalem coalition for first time in decades. 'Kavosh 2' Amid nuclear tensions, Iran says it successfully launched rocket.

Read & React Documents reveal IDF killed wanted Palestinians against court guidelines Responses: 178 Israel asks Bush to explain its 'special relationship' with U.S. to Obama Responses: 115 Settler teens rampage through Palestinian neighborhood in Hebron Responses: 126 Aluf Benn: Obama's challenge will be to persuade Netanyahu to advance peace Responses: 57 Judea Pearl: Israel and Palestinians should apologize to each other Responses: 52 More Headlines 01:11 At least 80 people dead, hostages taken in multiple Mumbai attacks 23:55 AG seeks to indict Olmert over double-billing affair 22:07 Pines-Paz: It's a tragic day for Israel when a PM is indicted 23:44 Barak: We will evacuate settlers from Hebron house, by force if necessary 18:30 Lebanon asks Iran to supply its army with midsize weapons 23:40 UN watchdog clears Syria bid for atomic aid, despite world doubts 01:30 Who stole Hitler's golden bookmark? 17:27 Holocaust survivor to meet her Polish savior after 60 years 19:25 Haredi parties absent from Jerusalem coalition for first time in decades 18:29 Amid nuclear tensions, Iran says it successfully launched rocket 21:46 Borat's brother - a.k.a. Erran Baron Cohen - releases Hanukkah CD 18:28 Livni urges Thailand to commute Israeli drug smugglers' death sentence 18:28 Hamas, Fatah women brawl in Gaza as factional tempers flare 18:19 Short on fuel, Gazans use car batteries to restart power plant 13:31 Ban: Israel, Lebanon must 'seize the moment' and make peace 18:22 Settler rabbi: Peace Now chief should be jailed for treason Previous Editions Select Day 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov

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