Julie Elliott: “It would be an odd thing not to be Labour”

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Sunderland defeat sets up Sunday showdown

Sunderland will face a battle for survival on Sunday after Portsmouth came from 1-0 down to win 3-1 at Fratton Park. Read more

North East website, The Music Magazine, forced to close

A national website based in the North East has been closed down by the Sunderland student who created it two and a half years ago. Read more

Danny Wallace - the finest comedy writer in Britain?

There aren’t all that many British writers that have had their moderately successful tale of a man taking on a weird and wonderful challenge, but mostly sitting around in his flat drinking tea, made into Hollywood movies. Read more

UFC 98: Evans vs Machida Preview

Current Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida put their undefeated records on the line on the 23rd May to determine once and for all who is the pound-for-pound cage fighter.

In the brutal and, somewhat controversial, sport of Mixed Martial Arts, there is only room for king of the cage and this fight is sure establish who this fighter will be.

With both fighters having disposed of ‘Ultimate Fighting Championship’ fan favourites such as Tito Ortiz and poster boy Chuck Liddell in previous fights, the UFC 98 headlining fight is sure to blow the roof off the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Rashad ‘Suga’ Evans boasts an impressive record with 18 wins, no losses and only one draw. Equally impressive is his opponents record, coming into the fight 14-0-0.

UFC President Dana White said: “Neither guy has learned how to lose yet, and I’m interested to see if Rashad is the first fighter to figure out Machida’s style, as well as if Machida can withstand the striking power and wrestling of Rashad.’

Previous fighters have failed to cope with Machida’s unpredictable and unorthodox offence, and like-wise with Evan’s knockout power punches.

On a date yet to be decided, the winner of this battle will face top contender Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in a contest, which is sure to top this bout.

In the UFC 98 co-headliner, long-term rivals Matt Hughes and Matt ‘The Terror’ Serra face off in the ultimate grudge match.

The feud, which has been boiling for years, nearly simmered over the top when both fighters were coaches on UFC contestant show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.

Now, the time for talking is over and both fighters will aim to come out swinging in the Octagon to put and end to this Welterweight dispute.

The event also sees a quick return to the cage for ‘The Polish Experiment’ Krzysztof Soszynski.

Having finished both of his previous fights with impressive arm locks, he is facing of against submission expert Andre Gusmao in a fight that is a strong contender to steal ‘Fight of the Night’.

Should Barton be shown the door?

Joey Barton has been suspended from Newcastle United on an indefinite basis, he
was suspended after being inexcusably offensive towards Manager Alan Shearer and his assistant Iain Dowie whilst also declaring himself the best player at the club!

All of this happened after the troubled midfielder was red carded for the fourth time in his career after a reckless challenge in
Newcastle United’s game against Liverpool on May 3rd.

But, after this latest act of petulance and recklessness, should Barton be shown the door from The Toon - and kicked out of football altogether?

In the context of Newcastle’s season he is a player with undoubted talent that could have been useful in their fight to avoid relegation.

Barton’s career has been tarnished by his inability to curb his anger and childish behaviour. He has been given chance after chance after chance but his volatile temprament always seems to get the better of him.

He has assaulted team mates, members of the public, spent time in jail and has shown complete disrespect for both Manchester City and Newcastle.

If this were a normal member of the public they would have been jailed for alot longer than a few months.

But the terrible thing is, each time the club and manager have stood by him and offered him a chance of redemption.

But in true Barton fashion, he ends up back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

And it looks as if this latest act of petulant behaviour will be his last as a player at Newcastle United.

I mean, if your going to bad mouth anyone in Newcastle, don’t bad mouth Alan Shearer. The man is a God in the town and bad mouthing him is like bad mouthing the 52,000 supporters who cram themselves into St James’ Park every Saturday.

Newcastle are supposedley looking into getting rid of Barton by sacking him on the grounds of gross misconduct. Surely this should be the case? If an employee walks into this workplace and starts being disrespectful and swearing to their manager, shouldnt they be sacked?

It seems that over the last few years, the chances that Barton has been given have shown the public that the rules just don’t apply to this overpaid, overpriced thug!

Being paid £45,000 to spend time most of his time on the treatment table or in jail is an insult to the loyal fans who, in this economic recession, still spend their hard earned money on tickets and merchandise. Money which goes straight into Bartons pockets

Its a breath of fresh air to see Shearer actually standing up and showing the public that the rules don’t apply to Barton. The strict regime that he has implemented has brought back some of the authourity that I feel has been missing from Newcastle United and football in a whole.

As a Newcastle season ticket holder, I really do hope i’ve seen the last of Barton in a Newcastle shirt and in football altogether!

Superb strikes ditch Reading as Burnley march on

Burnley will face Sheffield United in a Roses clash at Wembley for a place in the Premier League after beating Reading 2-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, going through 3-0 on aggregate.

Two stunning goals from Martin Paterson and Steven Thompson early in the second half saw the Clarets through after a nervy and tight first 45 minutes.

Reading had started the brighter side and the visitors had to rely on goalkeeper Brian Jensen to keep them in the game, palming Shane Long’s fierce shot away to safety and generally handling the ball well.

The Clarets were restricted to the odd chance on the break. Twice Reading’s stopper Marcus Hahnemann saved Clarke Carlisle headers from corners comfortably and Wade Elliott’s deflected volley was the only other bright spot for Burnley in a testing opening.

Referee Mike Riley then had a big call to make as Jensen lumbered off his line and out of his area to handle the ball. But Riley deemed it accidental, correctly so, and Jensen saved Dan Harding’s resulting drilled free-kick.

Burnley looked to see out the early stages of the second period but went one better, taking the lead just a few minutes in. Paterson was given far too much room to cut inside from the right touchline, amble forward twenty yards, and smash home a glorious left-foot drive inside Hahnemann’s far post from well outside the penalty area.

Reading manager Steve Coppell, who seemed to offer his resignation in a post-match interview, reacted by throwing on three substitutes, Glen Little, Dave Kitson and Stephen Hunt, but as the team struggled to settle Burnley put the tie to bed.

Jensen booted the ball long to Thompson, who held off Duberry to bring the ball down after it bounced awkwardly. The Scot then looked up and flicked the ball instinctively towards the goal, where Hahnemann was just too far off his line to stop it crashing in off the underside of the bar.

After that hammer blow Burnley’s progression was never in doubt, and they will fancy their chances in the winner takes all game on Bank Holiday Monday at the national stadium having beaten Kevin Blackwell’s Blades twice already this campaign.

Emmerdale Allstars take on Stockton on Tees for charity

Emmerdale Allstars took part in a charity match in aid of the Butterwick Hospice in Stockton on Tees on Sunday. Read more

Familiar face? You’d better get used to it

At just 19, Sunderland University student Jamilah Hassan is a member of ambitious girl band ‘Desire’, a mother to 5-month-old Antonios and now she’s even managed to get her face all over the UK in Vodafone adverts. Read more

Girls Aloud: Out of Control 2009

Britain’s best selling female pop group Girls Aloud exploded onto the North East stage this week with a fantastic tour compromising fashion, fireworks and fabulous music. Read more

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