The UFL’s Championship Game, featuring the Florida Tuskers and the Las Vegas Locos, will be held on November 27th in Las Vegas at Noon PST. The UFL also announced that its fans will determine the Championship Game MVP using a text messaging campaign to vote. Candidates for the award will be announced at the beginning of the fourth quarter during the VERSUS telecast.

Beginning today, fans can vote online at www.ufl-football.com for the UFL’s Motorola Season MVP and Men’s Wearhouse Coach of the Year. On November 22nd, fans can vote for StubHub’s Fan Favorite Play of the Year. Fans will have the opportunity to vote for the Title ElectroEnergy Drink Championship Game MVP during the game’s fourth quarter via text messaging.

“The UFL is truly about the fans and we wanted to make sure their voices were heard when recognizing coaches and players at the conclusion of our ‘Premiere’ season,” said Michael Huyghue, UFL Commissioner. “By utilizing our website and text messaging platforms, we are integrating all forms of communication to engage our fans.”

The UFL

The UFL was developed to fulfill the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players. The UFL will serve the communities with pride, dedication and passion, and uphold a leadership role in the development of football worldwide. The UFL will provide every fan with an affordable, accessible, exciting and entertaining game experience. Scheduled to debut in October 2009, the UFL’s headquarters is in New York, N.Y. and has satellite offices in Jacksonville, Fla. and Rutherford, N.J. The UFL is led by Commissioner Michael Huyghue, COO Frank Vuono and is being funded by a consortium of private investors. For more information on the UFL and how to purchase tickets for the UFL’s “Premiere” season, visit www.ufl-football.com.

Source: UFL

The Cellular South Cup announced today that former world #4 player Jelena Dokic (AUS), winner of five career singles titles and a quarterfinalist at last month’s Australian Open, has accepted a singles qualifying wildcard in the 2009 Cellular South Cup qualifying event. Dokic will be working her way through the qualifying round in hopes of competing for the Memphis title and a share of more than $200,000 in prize money.

The tournament, which is scheduled February 13-21 at The Racquet Club of Memphis, will also feature one of the game’s all-time greats, Pete Sampras, in a charity singles exhibition match versus two time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt on Monday night, February 16 at 6:30 p.m., to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“Dokic is a huge talent and a fierce competitor, and we are pleased that she will be competing for the opportunity to join an already strong field,” said Jim Richmond, director of Corporate Communications for Cellular South. “We are proud of our partnership with this tournament and the caliber of players that will compete for the Memphis title.”

Dokic has been ranked as high as #4 in the Sony Ericsson WTA singles rankings before injuries and off-the-court issues caused her to miss much of the 2006 and 2007 seasons. She is experiencing a career resurgence, as seen in her run to the 2009 Australian Open quarterfinals.

“Jelena had such an impressive run in Melbourne, and we are so excited that she is coming to Memphis to build on that success,” said Cellular South Cup tournament director Peter Lebedevs. “She is really hitting her stride again as a player, and I expect her to have a strong showing in Memphis.”

As previously announced, the 2009 Cellular South Cup will be headlined by two women currently ranked among the Top 15 singles players in the world. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), #13 in the Sony Ericsson WTA rankings and the first Danish woman to ever win a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title, will be making her fourth appearance in Memphis. Joining her will be Victoria Azarenka (BLR), currently ranked #15 after kicking off the 2009 season by winning the Brisbane International, her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title.

Throughout its history, the Cellular South Cup has hosted some of the biggest names in women’s tennis. Recent tournament winners include two-time defending champion Lindsay Davenport (USA – 2008 and 1997), three-time champion Venus Williams (USA – 1998, 1999 and 2007), Vera Zvonareva (RUS – 2005 and 2004) and Monica Seles (USA – 2002 and 2003).

The Cellular South Cup will be played February 13-21 at The Racquet Club of Memphis. Additional information about the tournaments can be found at www.cellularsouthcup.com. Ticket packages and group tickets to the 2009 Cellular South Cup are on sale now through www.Tickemaster.com, by calling (901) 765-4401 or via email at ticketsales@racquetclubofmemphis.com. Order tickets today to ensure the best available seating.

Source: Cellular South

The story begins in the office of James Mitchum IV, owner of the Houston Tornados. Astounded by the 20 million dollar salary he is expected to pay his number-one draft pick, Mitchum formulates a plan that will involve every NBA team owner and shake the foundation of professional basketball.

After the season’s draft picks enjoy their night in the spotlight at Casey Center in New York, the agents step in to begin the annual bargaining ritual that brings big bucks to their clients. This year, they are in for a shock. Unbeknownst to them, Mitchum has convinced every team owner to support him in revamping the pay structure for incoming players. Every rookie receives a certain amount, no matter their place in the pick. Negotiations are out. The agents cry foul and embark on a mission to fight the conspiracy. In the middle are the players, who must decide what is more important — playing the game they love or making the millions they expected to be part of the package.

Wilken centers her story around two young athletes, Marcus Wilkerson, the number-one draft pick, and Tyson Williams, the number-four pick. The young men come from two different worlds, but they both believe one thing: the NBA owes them millions of dollars.

“Collective Bargaining” also explores the differences between American athletes and those from other countries. For the international draft picks, the unfolding drama about players’ salaries has an entirely different meaning, and Wilken delves into how cultural backgrounds may impact the response to such drastic changes to player contracts.

As the story unfolds, Wilken takes readers from state to state, following the choices each player must make. In the final chapter, decisions come to light and readers discover what wins out — passion for sport or lust for money.

Kelly Wilken was born in Youngstown, Ohio. She served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy, working in London, England, as an administrative specialist. She also lived in Stuttgart, Germany, and Misawa, Japan. Her service in the military included work in intelligence, security and aviation administration. Serving aboard two military ships, the Steamship PFC Eugene A. Obregon and the Motor Vessel 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, Wilken visited foreign ports around the world. She retired from the Navy in 2000 and now works as a classification specialist for the federal government. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in business administration, Bachelor of Science Degree in management, and a Master of Science degree in human resource management. Wilken lives in Carlyle, Ill., with her husband, retired Master Sgt. Alan Wilken of the U.S. Air Force. They have one daughter, Jessica. “Collective Bargaining” is her first novel.

Source: AuthorHouse