Philippine Azkals among SI's top football stories of 2010

Soccer is never been as popular as basketball and boxing in the Philippines but with Philippine national  football team's quarterfinal victory over powerhouse Vietnam in the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup made it to Sports Illustrated’s Top 10 soccer stories of 2010. It is a magical tournament ride for the Philippine Azkals.

The Philippine Azkals defeated the depending champion Vietnam in a stunning 2-0 upset. The Azkals determination was seen n front of 40,000 Vietnamese spectators at the My Dinh National Stadium on December 5. This is the first time that the Philippines defeated Vietnam in more than 20 years.

SI.com writer Georgina Turner called the win one of the biggest upsets in the Suzuki Cup's history.

The Asean Football Federation's biennial Suzuki Cup might not be too high up on your list of priorities, but this year's tournament produced arguably the biggest upset in its history: Defending champion and federation powerhouse Vietnam lost 2-0 to the Philippines, ranked 151st in the world and without so much as a point off Vietnam in nearly 20 years. Accusing the Azkals of parking the bus, Vietnamese coach Henrique Calisto refused to shake his opposite number's hand after the match. Simon McMenemy was upset by the gesture but wouldn't be drawn into a slanging match after a result that prompted the country's vice president, Jejomar Binay, to promise a national training program.

The Azkals' defense is their key in reaching the semifinal round but they lost to Indonesia.

With this effort, the Azkals became instant celebrities in basketball-crazy Philippines and the government is now planning a national program to develop the athletes in playing the world most popular game soccer.

Bar Refaeli's behind-the-scenes video for Sports Illustrated's 2009 swimsuit issue

After you have seen the photos of sizzling Israel beauty Bar Refaeli in SI: 2009 swimsuit cover, Checkout behind-the-scenes video and interview of her for this Sports Illustrated photoshoot.

Sports Illustrated’s 2009 Swimsuit cover girl Bar Refaeli

This is the body that almost all women is dying to have. Leonardo DiCaprio’s gorgeous and enticing girlfriend Bar Refaeli flaunt her sexy body in the latest 2009 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated.

The 23-year-old Israeli model gave a teasing imaginations to the readers for wearing that string bikini with the cover tagline: "Bikinis or nothing".

Being the cover of SI, She said, "It was my dream. When I was 15 and started modeling, my agent came to my house with Sports Illustrated magazines and taught me to look at the girls and the way they communicated with the camera. I learned from them."

Alex Rodriguez Admits to Steroid Use (video)

After Sports Illustrated reveals that A-Rod in one of the 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, Alex Rodriguez finally admitted that he used steroids during his stint with Texas Rangers and apologizes to fans for his acts.

In a interview with ESPN he said, "When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day," Rodriguez told ESPN's Peter Gammons in an exclusive interview in Miami Beach, Fla.

"Back then, [baseball] was a different culture," Rodriguez said. "It was very loose. I was young. I was stupid. I was naive. And I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time.

"I did take a banned substance. And for that, I am very sorry and deeply regretful."

Sports Illustrated: Alex Rodriguez is tested positive in steroids in 2003

Aside winning the American League home run title and the AL Most Valuable Player award in 2003 with the Texas Rangers, Sports Illustrated reveals that New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez also has a home run in being positive for anabolic steroids.

Rodriguez's name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball's '03 survey testing, SI's sources say. As part of a joint agreement with the MLB Players Association, the testing was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004.

SI reveals that Major League Baseball’s 2003 survey testing found testosterone and an anabolic steroid (brand name Primobolan) in Rodriguez's case.

MLB's drug policy has expressly prohibited the use of steroids without a valid prescription since 1991, there were no penalties for a positive test in 2003. So, he is a lucky guy to escape penalties but not criticism.

Michael Phelps is Sports Illustrated's “Sportsman of the Year" of 2008

Definitely he is the rightful to the throne as the “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated. Swimming champ Michael Phelps broke Olympic history records and gave inspiration to many people.

In the SI article, he answered about her dating activities like the Vegas cocktail waitress, he said, "I'm single. That's the million-dollar question everyone seems to want answered."

Phelps as an inspiration, "By championing the cause of water safety Phelps could save many lives, and the trajectory of others will be changed merely by his inspirational example. In 2012, when we are deep into another presidential election and facing challenges that have yet to reveal themselves, Phelps will once again unite a nation. He does not swim alone. He swims for all of us."

For the full article visit, SI.

Bar Refaeli at Sports Illustrated launch party

Bar Refaeli attends the Sports Illustrated launch party and press conference of the 2008 Swimsuit issue at 7 World Trade Center in New York City last Tuesday.


Bar Refaeli with 19 more models grace this years 2008 S.I. Swimsuit issue.

Heidi Klum and Will Ferrell are fooling around in 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Supermodel Heidi Klum together with comedian Will Ferrell in their fooling around theme photo shoot for the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Creative and funny shots in the pool, red carpet, court and many more....

Some Excerpts from Will and Heidi interview:

When you and Heidi got together for the Swimsuit shoot, the atmosphere seemed ...
Hot! Yeah, she's a wildcat. Pretty much every shot came down to one of us trying to get the other's pants off. The one where I'm biting her -- can I say A-S-S? -- that was one of the craziest moments. She told me, 'You need to just bite my ass.' I was kind of mimicking, half-doing it, so she stopped and said, 'No! Really bite it!' It was one of the most surreal moments in my entertainment life.

You were one of the rare models who had issues about disrobing for SI. Why?
Well, Heidi kept trying to get me in my underwear. Begging, really. I had to say, 'Believe me, I don't have a problem [disrobing]; I do it a lot in my movies. But I'm riding the line of people who celebrate that and the people who are getting sick of it.' There isn't a moratorium on pants removal; I'm just trying to be a little more judicious about it. It put me in the unimaginable position of turning Heidi Klum down when she asked me to take my pants off.

How did Mrs. Ferrell feel about that?
My wife is incredibly accepting of all these things. She just rolled with it. She came by the shoot and walked in right at the moment when I was biting Heidi's butt. Heidi felt slightly self-conscious for a second -- and then she went right back into it. [Will stops to tend to his 3-year-old son, Magnus.]

For the full article interview click,HERE.

Will Ferrell & Heidi Klum video photoshoot,HERE.


more pics after the jump....