Talking Balls: Snooker Vs. MMA, Guangzhou Get Lippi & Swamp Soccer Dating

It's been pretty quiet in the sports world but not for tubby potter Ding Junhui. He's been keeping busy now he's away from the green baize and back in China. He's been trying to lose a few pounds by training with Zhang "The Mongolian Wolf" Tiequan. Ding looks fitter for it, as you can see in this video here. The video is apparently so tough that it won't be embedded, which makes it twice as tough as that prettyboy Chuck Norris.

Michael Owen is now out of contract as his deal with England's record champions has run down. He's not being offered a new one at Old Trafford but what of his mooted move to Shanghai? Owen was coy, saying "I don't think the Championship would be an option. I certainly feel I can play in the top level. We will wait to see where that is. If it's not in the Premier League I may look further afield, but I don't think I will be going into the Championship." Is the CSL top level? Erm, let's see if the diminutive horsefancier turns up before deciding.

In an actual, real life, big name signing for Chinese football, Marcello Lippi has arrived in Guangzhou to take the reins at Evergrande. It will be interesting to see what the Italian does as the team are hanging on a thread in the AFC Champions' League and have just dished out an RMB 1 million fine to Dario Conca for comments made about Lippi's predecessor. Should be interesting to watch what happens down south.

And finally, local swamp soccer legend and WTA employee, Sam Pearson, is on China's remarkably popular You Are The One. Here's a teaser below - be warned, a woman does cry - and the show screens on Sunday night on Jiangsu TV.

Photo: China Daily