Nike's 4Q profit jumps 14 percent



View PhotoIn this March 15, 2011 photo, Nike shoes are displayed at a shoe store in San Francisco.Pengarah Kajian dan Penyelidikan PAS Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad berkata dengan semakan perjanjian itu, tempoh masa perjanjian akan berdasarkan.This could be done by changing the duration in which a toll is imposed, so that it is based on the amount of money a highway. A source close to the Catholic Church had told Malaysiakini that Bishop Murphy Pakiam's (right) resignation o Billiga Nike Free Run n Dec 6 was promptly accepted by the Vatican, perhaps reflecting disappointment with Pakiam's softer stance on the Allah issue.The prime minister said he was convinced that with the cooperation of the 1.4 million civil servants who support such an aspiration, Malaysia would progress into the desired high income.Nike warned investors recently that higher manufacturing costs would cut into its profit margins through the rest of the year and into 2012. The company raised its prices in the past year to offset the cost pressures, but the popularity of the swoosh remained strong and shoppers continued to buy more Nike products even at higher prices."We delivered exceptional results in extraordinary times," Mark Parker, Nike's CEO said Monday.Nike reported that it earned $594 million, or $1.24 per share, for the quarter that ended May 31. That's up from the $522 million, or $1.06 per share, it earned in the same quarter last year. Revenue rose 14 percent to $5.77 billion.The results handily beat the $1.16 per share on revenue of $5.53 billion that analysts polled by FactSet were anticipating.Nike's shares jumped $3.65, more than 4 percent, to $85.27 in after hours trading.Nike's revenue improved in every market around the globe except Japan, which is struggling in the tough economic times and the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunaumi.Revenue in North America, its largest market, increased 22 percent to $2.1 billion as it sold more of its running, training and basketball products. The company said that improved product lines and earlier shipments of summer products helped drive sales. Revenue in China, its second largest market, rose 21 percent.Nike also continued its growth in emerging markets such as Brazil and Mexico where revenue rose 25 percent. Business was much softer in Western Europe, where revenue rose 5 percent, and other parts of Europe, where it rose 1 percent due largely to the benefit of exchange rates.For the full year, Nike earned $2.13 billion, or $4.39 per share, compared with $1.9 billion, or $3.86 per share, for the prior year.Nike, unlike many other consumer products companies, has weathered the tough economic times well.While the company's revenue and profit slowed during the down the global economy, consumers have continued to flock to its popular brand name around the world. Nike's emphasis on innovative products and connection with consumers, along with global reach and tight operations, have given it the edge it needed to thrive, analysts say."Consumer confidence is still a little tepid," said Morningstar analyst Paul Swinand. But "sporting goods are less volatile."Nike officials are relying on strength in the brand to propel it forward. T he company plans to expand its price increases to a broader array of products beginning this spring to balance out higher costs for freight, labor, materials."The global appetite for sports has never been stronger," Parker saidNike said orders for products to be delivered between June and November are up 15 percent compared with the same period last year. Investors typically look at this as a measure of what retailers think consumers may have an appetite to buy in the coming season.

Nike want England fans to get behind new shirt



England's new shirt suppliers Nike are to launch a marketing campaign aimed at persuading fans to put their support for the national team ahead of club allegiance.



The slogan First Club Second will be used to help sell the idea when the shirts are unveiled for England friendly against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Wednesday week and the away strip for the game against Brazil in the Maracana Stadium four days later.



Nike face an uphill task as the majority of football fans, unlike their rugby and cricket counterparts, favour their club team well ahead of Roy Hodgson side.



The suppliers say they are keeping their shirt designs and strategy secret ahead of the launch. Yet they gave the FA council an advance viewing yesterday, with m Air Max Sverige odels showing off the home outfit white with a round neck and the red away version, which has a collar. Both feature a gold FA 150 motif below the England crest.



A Nike executive said a lot of the promotion will be on social media and they want to stress the pride in wearing the shirt for both players and fans. Another key campaign message is: make the shirt, you make it matter



The biggest outrage at Lord on Thursday was not England slow scoring rate but the 20 cost of a steak sandwich in the fast food village at the Nursery End.



The steak sarnie as it described, is on the takeaway menu of Jamie Oliver event caterers Fabulous Feasts, whose three year franchise for the food court started yesterday, with the super chef attending the opening.



Expensive taste: Jamie Oliver is charging 20 for a steak sandwich at Lord's



Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, who was strongly critical of Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore at the Football League clubs meeting for threatening to withdraw all solidarity payments, was also a fierce opponent of heavy handed PL tactics in the rows over football academy reforms.



Focused on the play offs: Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish was critical of Richard Scudamore



However Parish does not want to inflame the conflicts between the FL and PL any further, saying he is concentrating all his attention on the Championship play off final against Watford on Monday week, after which Football League finances may no longer be Palace problem.



Robertson ups ante



Stephen Aziz, a former Manchester City



kit man who described sacked manager Roberto Mancini as vain



and self centred on Twitter, is inevitably the subject of an internal



investigation at his new club Sunderland. It is understood Aziz could



face club disciplinary proceedings.



Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson, who has threatened to impose an independent football regulator unless governance reforms are in place by the start of next season, has increased the pressure by informing the FA of his priorities.



These concern club licensing, supporter involvement and the structure of the FA board.



But FA board changes are not included in the latest FA proposals, which been received with acclamation by PL and FL chiefs Richard Scudamore and Greg Clarke, according to National Game boss Roger Burden.



However, growing Government interference didn stop Roy Hodgson meeting the all party parliamentary football group this week, with chairman Clive Betts showing the England manager around the House of Commons.



MAD DOG ON MONDAY: Moyes needs to get rid of RVP. Arsenal must drop Wilshere to win the title. and why Clarke knew the writing was on the wall at West Brom



EDGE OF THE BOX: 'Premier League great' Henry broke all the rules but was coolness personified on his Match of the Day debut



THE FOOTBALL GRAPEVINE: Young lined up for United exit and wonderkid Barkley to commit future to Everton. but which Premier League giants will snap up German starlet Draxler?



GARY NEVILLE: It's an insult even to ask the question about David M oyes' future. Give him time to adapt to this monster of a job and he'll be a success at United



PATRICK COLLINS: Football must face the truth about its gambling addiction



JAMIE CARRAGHER: Roberto's Everton are as good as Liverpool



MARTIN KEOWN: Loans are the ultimate form of financial doping! How Lukaku and Co are skilfully placed to cause maximum damage to rivals



THE TRANSFER COLUMN: Cavani's move to Chelsea isn't dead, Porto slap 40m tag on United target Mangala and Liverpool could beat City to Feyenoord wonderkid Kongolo

NIKE UNVEILS ITS NEW AIR JORDAN 2012 BASKETBALL SHOES



"The inspiration from the Zoot Era was important for us as an anchor to focus on the Audacious, Confident and Daring Style that the Youth and entertainers brought forth during that time. see a new wave of this mind set today. Luedecke acknowledges that Air Jordans aren't known for specific design cue carryovers from year to year or d Air Max Sverige ecade to decade, like your average Porsche, but are defined by "combining performance and soul" and "attention to the crafted details."Click Images To EnlargeThe new shoe is more modular than its predecessors, with the most premium version ($223) including two for inner sleeves and three new options for midsoles, meaning the shoe can be configured six different ways by play style. Thus, in the days of a hyper competitive marketplace and increasingly fickle sneaker heads, the Jordan brand/Nike is opting for the strategy of mass customization something akin to the Nike ID program, but this time, with the very fit of the shoe.Click Images To EnlargeThe midsoles are branded to "fly through, fly over, or fly around opponents." As a consumer, it's a tough choice to make, inducing the Pokemon "gotta catch 'em all" syndrome. I don't even play ball at my local Y, but now I have an extreme compulsion to fly every which way my 12 inch vert will take me. In practical terms, Nike is offering various configurations and shock absorption, suggesting tacitly that every player probably shouldn't be wearing the same shoe. Whereas a center may be more likely to land somewhat flat footed (and thereby benefit from "Air Bag" heel to toe air pockets), a point guard flying for the hoop may be more likely to land hard on the heel (and thereby benefit from a "Nike Zoom" in the heel tensile fibers within a pressurized bladder). It is performance customization brought to life in footwear and puts the athlete in control of the fit and feel of the product."If nothing else, the customization looks fun, though let's all acknowledge that it's hard to imagine Dwyane Wade switching out a midsole before the last play of the game. He's circled with his team around the coach during their final time out, studying a clipboard intently whilst hopping on one foot, sweaty particles of cotton sock dropping on the court while one of those dry mop assistants scurries around him to gather up the tidbits.Click Image To EnlargeBut what a fantastic clause it would make in Wade's next endorsement renewal.COMMENTARY: Nike Air Jordan 2012 modular and customizable basketball shoes have to be the best I have seen so far. I like the "zoot suit" inspired wing tip design, modular design and ability to customize the shoes for big and small basketball players and different playing situations. Nike has done a truly masterful job of combining great design, color, technical innovation and foot comfort into the design of these new shoes.Here Nike official press release:BEAVERTON, OR (February 7, 2012) Today, Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., unveiled the AIR JORDAN 2012, the 27th shoe in the AIR JORDAN franchise. The all new AIR JORDAN 2012 is designed to encourage today's athletes to rethink performance. The AIR JORDAN 2012 DELUXE will be available in two colorways nationwide on Wednesday, February 8 for a suggested retail price of $223, with the AIR JORDAN 2012 Flight System launching on Saturday, February 25 for a suggested retail price of $180.The AIR JORDAN 2012 draws inspirational cues from the legacy of Michael Jordan and continues to be one of the best performance shoes available by combining innovative technology and premium materials. The AIR JORDAN 2012's modular system gives athletes the ability to customize for their unique playing styles and for fit preference by offering 6 different configurations."Through comprehensive r esearch we saw an increasing need for footwear that could be customized to meet the needs of the world's best athletes," said Tinker Hatfield, AIR JORDAN 2012 co designer and Vice President, Special Projects and Creative Design for NIKE, Inc. "Last year's AIR JORDAN 2011 began the modular story for the brand with two interchangeable midsoles, but we took it a step further this year by introducing two interchangeable inner sleeves and three interchangeable midsoles to help players through over or around their opponents."

Politician Hasn't Stopped Running



He enjoys the latter a lot more than he misses the former.



"One of the (great) things about running is, if you train hard and make a real effort to lose weight, it produces results," says McNeill, 67, who on Monday will be among some 50 New Mexicans to line up for the 110th Boston Marathon.



In 1986, McNeill previously an aide to Sen. Joseph Montoya and chief of staff for Gov. Toney Anaya lost the race for New Mexico attorney general to Republican Hal Stratton in one of the closest elections in state history.



"I lost by a third of a vote per precinct statewide," he says. "It took them three weeks to figure out who won."



Two years later, McNeill ran for Bernalillo County district attorney. Republican B Billiga Nike Free Run ob Schwartz defeated him handily, 57 43 percent. "This is more of a Republican county, and Bob's a very clever, glib guy."



McNeill, however, isn't running from his political past when he laces up his shoes. He maintains a busy law practice, races sports cars and volunteers his time to a number of community concerns.



"I started in the late '70s, seriously around '79, and I was reasonably consistent," he says.



McNeill ran his first half marathon at the Duke City Marathon in 1985 and ran it again in '87.



"I think I had a time of 1:55, and I was in my 40s," he recalls. "So that was nothing outstanding by any means."



Fast forward to January 2006, when McNeill ran the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half Marathon in 1:46 placing third in the men's 65 69 age group.



"You're supposed to get slower as you get older, and I've gotten faster," he says. "So, that's encouraging news."



How has McNeill gotten faster? With a little help from his friends, and with considerably fewer pounds to carry.



"In 1999, I saw a notice in the Journal about a club called Master Runners Unlimited," he says. "I wound up going to a meeting."



McNeill began doing Saturday morning runs with members of the club, which since has merged with the Albuquerque Roadrunners.



"That was really helpful," he says, "because a key ingredient is to have some structure. Otherwise, it's too easy not to go out in the dark or the cold at some ungodly hour and go running."



More recently, McNeill began running Tuesday and Thursday afternoons with a smaller group coached by Patrick Morrissey, a local runner and cyclist.



"That has provided more structure and more vigorous training," McNeill says. "We do speed work and intervals and all those running terms that I barely understand the meaning of."



Meanwhile, McNeill began sipping fruit smoothies for lunch and gave up his post workout beer. His weight dipped from around 185 to 168 on a 6 foot, 2 inch frame.



As a result of the weight loss and the more intense training, he expects to break four hours in the marathon for the first time Monday.



Last year, only three men age 67 or older bettered four hours at Boston.



"I don't t hink the marathon is that hard, frankly," McNeill said, "at least the ones that I've trained reasonably well for.



"I've trained much better than ever for this one, so I'm anxious to see if it will make a difference."



GONZALES SIGNS: Former Lobo Matt Gonzales has parlayed an eye popping start to his road racing career into a shoe and apparel contract with Nike.



It's his first such contract, said UNM track and field coach Matt Henry, who coaches Gonzales with Art Azevedo.



"It's huge," Henry said. "Those guys (professional distance runners) will go through 12 pairs of shoes in a year, at $100 a pair or so. To get those for free is really important."



In the past six months, Gonzales has finished second in the 10K national championships; helped the United States take third in the Chiba (Japan) Ekiden Relay; and taken second place in the Gate River Run 15K.

Overseas growth and price hikes boost PepsiCo bottom line



companies, recently have faced a balancing act during this period of global economic uncertainty. Many consumer brands from McDonald's to Nike have raised prices as they try to offset their higher costs for ingredients, packaging and fuel. have cut back on spending.



PepsiCo, maker of such products as Mt. Dew soda, Gatorade drink and Lay's potato chips, showed Wednesday that the emphasis on higher prices and growing its overseas business paid off in the third quarter. The company reported that its profit rose 4 per cent for the period, beating analyst expectations. 3. That's up from $1.92 billion, or $1.19 per share, in the same quarter last year. Excluding charges related to its acquisition of Russian juice and dairy company Wimm Bill D Air Max Rea ann and other one time items, earnings were $1.31 per share. PepsiCo's revenue climbed 13 per cent to $17.58 billion.



The results beat analyst expectations of $1.30 per share on revenue of $17.11 billion, according to FactSet.



The company increased its sales volume in both snacks and beverages during the period. Its biggest revenue gains came from overseas, with Europe reporting a 37 per cent revenue increase because of higher prices and the addition of Wimm Bill Dann. Revenue for Asia, the Middle East and Africa rose 25 per cent on increased prices and volume growth, particularly in emerging markets. The Latin America Foods unit posted a 19 per cent increase in revenue, led by Mexico and Brazil.



In North America, the company's Frito Lay business reported a 4 per cent increase in revenue on strong sales of its Lay's Doritos, Cheetos and Ruffles brands. Revenue for Quaker Foods North America edged up 2 per cent on higher prices and cost controls.



PepsiCo Americas Beverages has been its softest segment as consumers have cut back on spending and shown a preference for other drinks. The business posted a 3 per cent revenue increase, largely on higher prices. Gatorade led volume growth for non carbonated beverages such as juices and sports drinks in North America. Company leaders said the North American beverage business remains a terrific business and a tough business, as it competes fiercely with companies such as Coca Cola and Dr. Pepper Snapple.



PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi said Wednesday that PepsiCo may have pushed volume too much in years past rather than develop the identity and popularity of its brands more. The company has worked to improve the popularity of some of its brands such as Pepsi Max, which has no calories and has greatly increased its sales.



PepsiCo will now turn to doing the same for its other brands. consumers who may still want to buy PepsiCo's drinks but have cut back on their spending. The company also said it will take further pricing increases in the fourth quarter on select products and certain markets



"It's not going to take an awful lot to get this thing going again," said E dward Jones analyst Jack Russo. "This quarter it was good to get some stabilization and hit the number."



PepsiCo reaffirmed its guidance for the year, but company leaders said they would wait until December to provide 2012 guidance to see how commodity prices, the economy and consumer response to higher prices play out.



PepsiCo leaders also dispelled any potential concern that it might go the way of Kraft Foods Inc. or Sara Lee Corp., which have recently announced plans to split up their businesses.



"I firmly believe that PepsiCo's value is maximized as one company," Nooyi told investors Wednesday. "It was created as an integrated snack and beverage business and its success is tied to this combination. This has been true in the past and will remain in the future."

Outlet shopping in Kildare Village



I love it when you feel as if you discovered something new, even though it not new at all, especially to you. Kildare Village is (now) one such gem. I been a few times (20 minutes from Rathcoole on the N7; Avoca for breakfast, Kildare Village for shopping) with my mother and sister; my sister lives in New York, so whenever she home she has several things on her hit list, including but not limited to a trip to Penneys and a trip to Kildare Village, usually not in the same day, thank God.



Anyway, my trips have always (sorry, ladies) been just that little bit stressy. Sister wants to see everything; mother wants to see nothing. Sister wants to buy things; mother wants to buy nothing (but will break for a coffee in S Air Max Rea tarbucks so that she can complain about the quality of their croissants). It kind of like a tug of war where nobody wins, and where I get entirely turned off shopping, which is no mean feat, I tell you.



But on Tuesday afternoon, when I took a trip out west, all was different. First off, I was on my own, so under no pressure to do anything at all. Secondly, it was a weekday, and it wasn coming up to Christmas, so the shopping area itself was delightfully chilled. Plus, and yes I dead inside, there were no children. Deep, deep breath of satisfaction.



The brands I previously focused my attentions on a few choice stores in Kildare Village: the Nike outlet yes, it seems unlikely, but sometimes I exercise, and I like to look as good as one can possibly look while exercising, while spending as little money as possible Reiss and Monsoon. But this time, I got to have a good look around, and saw a whole lot more than at first glance.



Firstly, there a Wolford outlet. For any of you who wear opaques, you realise how amazing this is. Then there Jack Wills (do you know Jack Wills? You should it like the cuter, kookier, better kitted out Abercrombie, and has gorgeous picnic rugs, in fact rugs not unlike the one I now sitting on, picked up there for around 59);Molton Brown (yes, I a snob and now have Molton Brown handwash in my bathroom, so be warned, if you come to my house I will make you wash your hands); Anya Hindmarch, where I saw thesweetest business card holders take note, Santa, but I need some business cards first; Aquascutum, which had a huge range of gorgeous macs; a beautiful Bally store where I saw a breathtaking lambskin shearling lined jacket (swooooon!); not to mention Coast, which, as you know, has some really gorgeous items that aren just for weddings.



The place Kildare Village is really, really lovely, in that Edward Scissorhands kind of way. It all very picture perfect buildings, paths and benches, and is a lovely chilled out place (except at Christmas). Bring a coat if it chilly, because it is all outdoors, but it is really, unbelievably pretty.



Supporting Irish designers The Style Gallery is a store dedicated to Irish designers and at the moment they have an amazing range of designs by Joanne Hynes (hello, directional shouldered cropped jackets) as well as some gorgeous wedding (or debs!) appropriate dresses by Helen McAlinden. The Joanne Hynes stuff, though, honestly, blew me away and I generally really f ussy about smaller designers, as, while I support fledgling designers, I often think that the production quality of their garments isn quite up to scratch.



Dunne and Crescenzi Hello, pasta. Hello, pizza. Hello, salads. Well, not really salads, who am I kidding? But anyway. DELISH. Plus Starbucks, obvs.



Homewares I just moved into a new place, on my own, for the first time ever, and I felt a little like nesting. Kildare Village was so perfect for it, because it has various homewares stores at huge discounts. I picked up a gorgeous Le Creuset casserole dish (Google has just shown me that they do a HEART SHAPED CASSEROLE DISH!) and some mugs all at a cut of the original price, plus some knives and a corkscrew in Oneida. A corkscrew! I so grown up . . . Oh AND, to prove that I really childish at heart, I bought some adorable tea towels and napkins in Cath Kidston, where they do a huge selection of items, and from which I will be purchasing 99% of my Christmas presents this year. So sweet!

other Hokies football coaches get a pay bump



Wednesday links: A story about the 1947 Sun Bowl, Stinespring interviews at JMU and moreSome thoughts about the Hokies' quarterback outlook post Logan ThomasOhio quarterback Chris Durkin flips '14 commitment from Michigan State to Virginia Tech



Join the Hokie football conversation on Andy's blog



BLACKSBURG What's the price tag for assembling a high end ACC caliber coaching staff? For Virginia Tech in 2012, it'll be $4.93 million, according to figures released by the school.



Head coach Frank Beamer's total compensation before bonuses will be $2,288,204, a figure that includes his base salary, a retention incentive, courtesy car/country club p Air Max 90 rivileges, and additional income from sports marketing rights and Nike.



The nine full time assistant coaches will make a combined $2,341,796 after an 8 percent pay bump based on the team's appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game last season. That's an $182,851 increase from last year.



Former assistants Billy Hite and Jim Cavanaugh, who were reassigned to administrative roles last season, had their salaries trimmed from $280,044 and $245,213, respectively, in 2011 to $150,000 apiece in 2012.



Because of that, the pre bonus pay of Beamer, his nine on field assistants, and Hite and Cavanaugh will be only slightly higher in 2012 than the $4.87 million the school paid for those 12 in 2011.



Beamer was paid $2,188,204 last year and earned another $157,500 in bonuses, although he asked that the $75,000 for making a BCS bowl game be put back into football operations.



Beamer's total pay from the 2011 season was $2.345 million. Using figures from USA Today's salary database for last year, that would put him third among ACC coaches, behind Florida State's Jimbo Fisher ($2.75 million) and Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson ($2.369million). Miami, as a private institution, did not report a figure for Al Golden.



The contract extension for Beamer that the school announced in August begins Jan. 1, 2013, and runs through the end of 2016. His guaranteed income in the first year of the contract is $2,305,672, not including postseason bonuses or additional money tied to marketing rights and Nike.



With the recent pay increase, all nine of the Hokies assistant coaches will make more than $200,000 next season.



Defensive coordinator Bud Foster leads the group at $471,762, followed by offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring at $349,980.



The nine assistants earned $322,000 in bonuses last season for the team making both the ACC championship game and a BCS bowl game, payouts that were negotiated into Beamer's contract.



The $2,341,796 Virginia Tech will pay its on field assistants in 2012 puts it near the top of in the conference. Of ACC schools that reported assistant salaries to USA Today last year, only the staffs at Florida State and Clemson made more.



The Seminoles staff was paid about $ 2.894 million, while Clemson's staff made $2.874 million.



The figure for the Tigers reportedly will shoot up to $4.185 million in 2012 after the school renegotiated a contract with offensive coordinator Chad Morris ($1.3 million) and brought in defensive coordinator Brent Venables ($800,000).

Oscar Pistorius charged with murdering girlfriend



JOHANNESBURG South African "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius, a double amputee who became one of the biggest names in world athletics, was charged on Thursday with shooting dead his girlfriend at his upscale home in Pretoria.



Police said they opened a murder case after a 30 year old woman was found dead at the Paralympic and Olympic star's house in the Silverlakes gated complex on the capital's outskirts.



Pistorius, 26, and his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, had been the only people in the house at the time of the shooting, police brigadier Denise Beukes, told reporters, adding witnesses had been interviewed about the early morning incident.



"We are talking about neighbors and people that heard things earlier in the evening and when the shooting took place," Beukes said outside the heavily guarded residential complex. Earlier, police said a 9mm pistol had been found at the scene.



Beukes said police were aware of previous i Air Max Sverige ncidents at the Pistorius house. "I can confirm that there has previously been incidents at the home of Mr Oscar Pistorious, of allegations of domestic nature," she said.



Pistorius, who uses carbon fiber prosthetic blades to run, is due to appear in a Pretoria court on Friday.



"He is doing well but very emotional," his lawyer Kenny Oldwage told SABC TV, but gave no further comment.



A sports icon for triumphing over disabilities to compete with able bodied athletes at the Olympics, his sponsorship deals, including one with sports apparel group Nike, are thought to be worth $2 million a year.



South Africa's M Net cable TV channel said it was pulling adverts featuring Pistorius off air immediately.



Steenkamp's colleagues in the modeling world were distraught. "We are all devastated. Her family is in shock," her agent, Sarita Tomlinson, tearfully told Reuters. "They did have a good relationship. Nobody actually knows what happened."



Pistorius, who was born without a fibula in both legs, was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics and reached the 400 meter semi finals in London 2012.



In last year's Paralympics he suffered his first loss over 200 meters in nine years. After the race he questioned the legitimacy of Brazilian winner Alan Oliveira's prosthetic blades, though he was quick to express regret for the comments. (AP)



In 2004, Springbok rugby player Rudi Visagie shot dead his 19 year old daughter after he mistakenly thought she was a robber trying to steal his car in the middle of the night.



Before the murder charge was announced, Johannesburg's Talk Radio 702 said the athlete may have mistaken Steenkamp for a burglar.



Recent media interviews with Pistorius revealed he kept an assortment of weapons in his home.



"Cricket and baseball bats lay behind the door, a pistol by his bed and a machine gun by a window," Britain's Daily Mail wrote in a profile published last year.



Pistorius was arrested in 2009 for assault after slamming a door on a woman and spent a night in police custody. Family and friends said it was just an accident and charges were dropped.



"He's very quiet and very modest but he's a big party animal," one of South Africa's top runners, who knows Pistorius, told Reuters. "I've been with him when we've been smashed and he never seemed violent," said the runner, who declined to be named.



OLYMPIAN UNDERGOES POLICE TESTS



Steenkamp, a regular on the South African social scene, was reported to have been dating Pistorius for several months.



In the social pages of last weekend's Sunday Independent she described him as having "impeccable" taste. "His gifts are always thoughtful," she was quoted as saying.



Some of her last Twitter postings indicated she was looking forward to Valentine's Day on Thursday. "What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow???" she posted.



Pistorius was on Thursday being processed through the police system. "At this stage he i s on his way to a district surgeon for medical examination," the police brigadier said.



"When a person has been accused of a crime like murder they look at things like testing under the finger nails, taking a blood alcohol sample and all kinds of other test that are done. They are standard medical tests," Beukes said.



Pistorius is also sponsored by British telecoms firm BT, sunglasses maker Oakley and French designer Thierry Mugler.



"We are shocked by this terrible, tragic news. We await the outcome of the South African police investigation," a BT spokeswoman said before Pistorius was charged.



A Nike spokesman in London said before hearing of the murder charge that the company was "saddened by the news, but we have no further comment to make at this stage".

OSA deserves a hooray



Smooth production, big names and some nice touchesUniversity of Oregon heptathlete Brianne Theisen, in accepting the coveted Hayward Award, called it an 'amazing evening.'



But that's what we've come to expect from the Oregon Sports Awards, which fired up its latest edition of the ESPYs like production Sunday night at the Tiger Woods Center on Nike's World Campus.



Jim Etzel and his SportsOne, Inc., production crew one and the same that staged the Bud Light Fiesta in Phoenix during BCS National Championship week have the OSA event down to a 'T.' SportsOne's full time staff o Air Max Rea f 12 put in 250 to 300 staff hours beginning in mid October, and it showed.



Michael Doherty's Nike Global Presentations staff is unparalleled, too, in providing the technical direction and polishing the finished product for the show telecast on Comcast SportsNet Northwest.



It's the people who made the whole deal special, though, for the overflow crowd of 800. There was plenty of star gazing to be had, with broadcasting legends Ahmad Rashad and Bill Schonely, award recipients such as Theisen, Chip Kelly and Mariel Zagunis and presenters such as Terry Porter, Darwin Barney, Shalane Flanagan, Patty Mills, Rudy Fernandez, Merritt Paulson, Brett Ponich and Craig Cunningham.



Dozens of past award winners and notables on the Northwest sporting scene were in attendance, including Larry Miller, Mike Golub, Mac Wilkins, Michael Harper, Dale Schlueter, Ad Rutschman, Mouse Davis, Dean Crouser, Pat Casey, Jay Locey, Rob Mullens, Lance Deal, Charlie Sitton, Steve Johnson, Eric Reveno, Joe Etzel, Torre Chisholm, Nigel Burton, Tyler Geving, Jack Dunn, Pete Ward and Jack and Mary Cain.



The great Dick Fosbury, who lives in Ketchum, Idaho, thinks enough of the event that he flew in from El Salvador, where as president of the World Olympians Association, he met with leaders of that country's Olympic movement. Thanks for coming, Foz.



Then there was ESPN's Neil Everett, a first time presenter and very much a Northwest guy. Everett, 48, was born in Portland, raised in Spokane and a 1984 UO grad whose first job was as news director of KGGU radio in Florence. State of Oregon knowledgable and irreverently witty, Everett ought to be brought back as an emcee some day.



It was a Duck lovefest, with Kelly and his football team, Theisen and Ashton Eaton hauling away major hardware and deservedly so. What a year it was for football and track and field at the Eugene school.



Fun, though, that Barney the dynamo in the middle of Oregon State's back to back national baseball championships was moved to remark, 'Go Beavs!' It drew one of the biggest cheers of the night.



Before the event, I asked Kelly if after four years in Eugene, he considers himself an Oregonian.



'I don't know,' said the New Hampshire native. feels like. If that means I'm an Oregonian, then I am one.'



So he hasn't experienced the state?



'I go to work every day,' he said. 'I can't tell you the last day I went fishing or hunting.'



Kelly looked at Davis now an assistant coach at the University of Hawaii and smiled.



'I was in Hawaii (recruiting) for six hours on Monday,' he said. 'I'm thinking, 'Shouldn't I be here a little longer? Maybe sitting on the beach for awhile?'



'I want to get a high school job there. Maybe D line coach at Punahou.'



In the 54 years of the Slats Gill Award, Kelly became the eighth multiple winner, joining Rutschman (five times), Casey and Rich Brooks (three apiece) and two time winners Clive Charles, Rick Adelman, Ralph Miller and Pokey Allen.



It was good to see the other four finalists for the 2010 Gill award in the audience Scott Brosius, Vin Lananna, Chris Casey and Mike Johnston.



I loved the special awards that went t o Brian Parrott, Mauro Potestio and Harry Merlo. And that Merlo dedicated his Les Schwab Award to two late, great gentlemen Jack LaLanne and Charles. Merlo, 85, served as corporate sponsor for many of LaLanne's birthday rendezvous excursions.



There were more awards this year than ever, but the show moved quickly, thanks in part to some great music provided by Louis Pain and his All Star Band.



I'd have enjoyed some sort of recognition to those we lost on the state's sports scene in 2010. And to see the in house camera hone in on some of the past greats, such as Fosbury, Wilkins and Casey, during commercial breaks.

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