Friday, July 16, 2010
World Cup 2010: Paul the psychic octopus who became one of the stars of the World Cup after correctly predicting results of games
It's Spain! Oracle Paul the Psychic Octopus predicts Spain will beat Holland and win the World Cup. The world-famous octopus could be seen sitting on a tank marked with a Spanish flag for only a few minutes before grabbing out a mussel and devouring it, while completely ignoring the Dutch tank indicating a Spanish victory in Sunday's final match in the World Cup. Paul correctly predicted Germany's wins over Argentina, England, Australia and Ghana and the country's loss to Spain and Serbia.
Paul the psychic octopus 'could transfer to Spain' after bidding war
By Andrew Hough
Madrid zoo announced a transfer bid for the oracle octopus, which became a worldwide sensation after correctly predicted the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs.
The invertebrate is due to retire after predicating all of Germany's World Cup. He finished his career by calling Spain’s final 1-0 win over Holland in the final at the weekend.
The one blemish on its record was when he wrongly predicted Germany would beat Spain in the Euro 2008 final.
In what may prove to be this year’s biggest transfer story, negotiations have began for the world's most famous cephalopod to head to Spain, still giddy from its win.
Officials from Zoo Aquarium in Madrid told Paul’s aquarium in Germany it would trump all others and give him a warm welcome in gratitude for predicting Spain's World Cup win.
They believe the eight legged creature, named after a German children's book by Boy Lornsen, will attract thousands of visitors and become a star attraction.
Madrid zoo contacted the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen "to ask them to transfer the animal" while making, what they said, was an offer to the Germans they could not refuse.
Officials promised to “improve on any offer received so far". It said the bid to came in response to "dozens of petitions from all over Spain".
They have offered an unspecified amount of cash and have also attempted to negotiate through an animal exchange programme.
"The zoo also guarantees that Paul will receive the best attention, reflecting the great affection in which he is held by all the Spanish people since he predicted that the Spanish team would win the football World Cup," said Zoo spokeswoman Amparo Fernandez.
"We hope that within the next few days we will be able to confirm news that the admirable Paul will be part of the club of the most loved and charismatic animals of the Madrid Zoo.”
But a spokeswoman for Paul said he was not for sale.
"We are not in contact with Madrid Zoo. And we know nothing about swapping Paul for another animal or him going to Madrid Zoo for a transfer sum," Sea Life spokeswoman Tanja Munzig said.
In octopus terms, Paul is already a pensioner, at the grand old age of two-and-a-half. Octopuses generally live three years at most.
Paul is so popular in Spain that a northwestern Spanish town tried to borrow him.
Officials in O Caraballino, population 14,000, also declared the octopus an honorary citizen.
It mayor is due to travel to Oberhausen next week to present him with a commemorative plaque and sculpture while Paul has also been presented with a miniature World Cup trophy.
He had also become at the centre of an international bidding war, after Spanish businessmen offered 38,000 euros to bring him to Spain.
Andres Iniesta, who scored the goal which won the World Cup final for Spain, said after the game: “As for the octopus, what can I say? We won. The octopus will be very popular in Spain".
Octopus is a delicacy in restaurants throughout Spain, but Mrs Fernandez insisted there was no way Paul would end up being served up on a restaurant plate if he is moved to the Madrid Zoo.
The art of match predicting became a dangerous job for the clairvoyant cephalopod with bitter fans sending death-threat emails to his German aquarium, saying "we want Paul for the pan”.
Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, even jokingly suggested sending in a squad of octopus bodyguards.
Some people, however, won up to half a million pounds between them during the tournament by placing bets based on the octopus's predictions.
Madrid zoo announced a transfer bid for the oracle octopus, which became a worldwide sensation after correctly predicted the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs.
The invertebrate is due to retire after predicating all of Germany's World Cup. He finished his career by calling Spain’s final 1-0 win over Holland in the final at the weekend.
The one blemish on its record was when he wrongly predicted Germany would beat Spain in the Euro 2008 final.
In what may prove to be this year’s biggest transfer story, negotiations have began for the world's most famous cephalopod to head to Spain, still giddy from its win.
Officials from Zoo Aquarium in Madrid told Paul’s aquarium in Germany it would trump all others and give him a warm welcome in gratitude for predicting Spain's World Cup win.
They believe the eight legged creature, named after a German children's book by Boy Lornsen, will attract thousands of visitors and become a star attraction.
Madrid zoo contacted the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen "to ask them to transfer the animal" while making, what they said, was an offer to the Germans they could not refuse.
Officials promised to “improve on any offer received so far". It said the bid to came in response to "dozens of petitions from all over Spain".
They have offered an unspecified amount of cash and have also attempted to negotiate through an animal exchange programme.
"The zoo also guarantees that Paul will receive the best attention, reflecting the great affection in which he is held by all the Spanish people since he predicted that the Spanish team would win the football World Cup," said Zoo spokeswoman Amparo Fernandez.
"We hope that within the next few days we will be able to confirm news that the admirable Paul will be part of the club of the most loved and charismatic animals of the Madrid Zoo.”
But a spokeswoman for Paul said he was not for sale.
"We are not in contact with Madrid Zoo. And we know nothing about swapping Paul for another animal or him going to Madrid Zoo for a transfer sum," Sea Life spokeswoman Tanja Munzig said.
In octopus terms, Paul is already a pensioner, at the grand old age of two-and-a-half. Octopuses generally live three years at most.
Paul is so popular in Spain that a northwestern Spanish town tried to borrow him.
Officials in O Caraballino, population 14,000, also declared the octopus an honorary citizen.
It mayor is due to travel to Oberhausen next week to present him with a commemorative plaque and sculpture while Paul has also been presented with a miniature World Cup trophy.
He had also become at the centre of an international bidding war, after Spanish businessmen offered 38,000 euros to bring him to Spain.
Andres Iniesta, who scored the goal which won the World Cup final for Spain, said after the game: “As for the octopus, what can I say? We won. The octopus will be very popular in Spain".
Octopus is a delicacy in restaurants throughout Spain, but Mrs Fernandez insisted there was no way Paul would end up being served up on a restaurant plate if he is moved to the Madrid Zoo.
The art of match predicting became a dangerous job for the clairvoyant cephalopod with bitter fans sending death-threat emails to his German aquarium, saying "we want Paul for the pan”.
Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish Prime Minister, even jokingly suggested sending in a squad of octopus bodyguards.
Some people, however, won up to half a million pounds between them during the tournament by placing bets based on the octopus's predictions.
Paul the Octopus : Psychic Octopus Gets Spanish Citizenship
Psychic Octopus Gets Spanish Citizenship
Paul the octopus, who rose to fame with his flawless predictions for the 2010 World Cup, has been made an honorary citizen of Spain.
Since he displayed 100 percent accuracy in predicting the winners in the tournament, offers to take the animal have been coming in daily from betting offices and zoos.
The Madrid Zoo has offered to buy Paul to ensure that he spends his years in Spain. The octopod successfully predicted Spain's win over his home team Germany in the semifinals, as well as its win over the Netherlands in the final.
Spain's last attempt at bringing Paul over from his home in Germany's Sea Life aquarium was an offer for an animal exchange, but it was turned down.
The country's next move was to offer Paul honorary Spanish citizenship. The mayor of a small Spanish city will visit Germany to award him a badge and a sculpture.
Paul the octopus, who rose to fame with his flawless predictions for the 2010 World Cup, has been made an honorary citizen of Spain.
Since he displayed 100 percent accuracy in predicting the winners in the tournament, offers to take the animal have been coming in daily from betting offices and zoos.
The Madrid Zoo has offered to buy Paul to ensure that he spends his years in Spain. The octopod successfully predicted Spain's win over his home team Germany in the semifinals, as well as its win over the Netherlands in the final.
Spain's last attempt at bringing Paul over from his home in Germany's Sea Life aquarium was an offer for an animal exchange, but it was turned down.
The country's next move was to offer Paul honorary Spanish citizenship. The mayor of a small Spanish city will visit Germany to award him a badge and a sculpture.
Henry looks to rebound with Red Bulls
Ian Begley
ESPNNewYork.com
HARRISON, N.J. -- Thierry Henry isn't looking at his tenure with the Red Bulls as a prolonged retirement tour.
Henry, who will turn 33 in August, is instead looking to put a disappointing year of soccer in his rear-view mirror and help lift the Red Bulls to their first MLS title in 14 years.
"I can assure you that I came here to try to win, that is the most important thing," Henry said at a Thursday afternoon news conference at Red Bulls Arena. "I am a competitor."
Henry was asked to assess where he is as a player, nearly a month removed from a subpar showing at the World Cup and two weeks after being released by FC Barcelona, his club team. He decided instead to focus on the present.
“
Henry We're not here to compete. We're here to make football better.
” -- Thierry Henry, on comparisons between him and David Beckham
"[I'm] right here with the New York Red Bulls trying to win a title," Henry said. "I'm just looking forward to coming here and representing the New York Red Bulls."
Henry, who earlier in the day announced his retirement from the French national team, signed a 4½-year deal to play in Harrison.
The former World Cup champion is coming off a disappointing season with FC Barcelona. He scored just four goals for the team last season and fell out of the starting lineup. He was released by Barcelona last month. Henry said on Thursday that he played for four months with a nagging knee injury.
"I didn't recover well from it. I suffered," he said.
He was a reserve on the French team which was engulfed in controversy in the form of a player revolt and failed to make it out of the first round of the World Cup in South Africa.
So Henry is looking for a fresh start of sorts in Harrison. He will play his first game for the Red Bulls on July 22 against Tottenham Hotspur, in the Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena. Coach Hans Backe expects him to play 45 minutes in that match.
Backe said Henry will team with star forward Juan Pablo Angel on the front line for the Bulls, who are 8-5-2 and in second place in the Eastern Conference. Angel and Henry have the potential to form the top-scoring tandem in the league.
"He is definitely hungry," Backe said of Henry. "He will lift our game [and] he will lift our players."
Henry, who said he will live in the area, hesitated to compare his arrival to MLS with that of David Beckham, who joined the Los Angeles Galaxy with great fanfare in 2007 but did little to help the franchise on the pitch.
"We're not here to compete," he said of Beckham. "We're here to make football better."
There's little doubt that Henry, in name recognition, is one of the biggest soccer stars to play in the New York market since Pele joined the Cosmos in 1975. MLS commissioner Don Garber called Henry's arrival "a very historic day for soccer in America."
The commissioner believes the former Arsenal star gives the Red Bulls a chance to gain a stronger share of the saturated local sports market.
"Our expectations are high that Thierry will help us break through some of the clutter in the New York market," Garber said.
But Henry wasn't interested in quantifying his impact on ticket sales for the Red Bulls or the game's popularity in the Big Apple.
"I know people are going to mention me as the guy who changed soccer, but I am just the next guy coming," Henry said.
He's been seriously considering playing in the MLS for "five months" and said that joining the Red Bulls was "a dream come true."
"Finally I am here," Henry said. "I hope you can enjoy my game and let's hope we can enjoy a title also."
ESPNNewYork.com
HARRISON, N.J. -- Thierry Henry isn't looking at his tenure with the Red Bulls as a prolonged retirement tour.
Henry, who will turn 33 in August, is instead looking to put a disappointing year of soccer in his rear-view mirror and help lift the Red Bulls to their first MLS title in 14 years.
"I can assure you that I came here to try to win, that is the most important thing," Henry said at a Thursday afternoon news conference at Red Bulls Arena. "I am a competitor."
Henry was asked to assess where he is as a player, nearly a month removed from a subpar showing at the World Cup and two weeks after being released by FC Barcelona, his club team. He decided instead to focus on the present.
“
Henry We're not here to compete. We're here to make football better.
” -- Thierry Henry, on comparisons between him and David Beckham
"[I'm] right here with the New York Red Bulls trying to win a title," Henry said. "I'm just looking forward to coming here and representing the New York Red Bulls."
Henry, who earlier in the day announced his retirement from the French national team, signed a 4½-year deal to play in Harrison.
The former World Cup champion is coming off a disappointing season with FC Barcelona. He scored just four goals for the team last season and fell out of the starting lineup. He was released by Barcelona last month. Henry said on Thursday that he played for four months with a nagging knee injury.
"I didn't recover well from it. I suffered," he said.
He was a reserve on the French team which was engulfed in controversy in the form of a player revolt and failed to make it out of the first round of the World Cup in South Africa.
So Henry is looking for a fresh start of sorts in Harrison. He will play his first game for the Red Bulls on July 22 against Tottenham Hotspur, in the Barclays New York Challenge at Red Bull Arena. Coach Hans Backe expects him to play 45 minutes in that match.
Backe said Henry will team with star forward Juan Pablo Angel on the front line for the Bulls, who are 8-5-2 and in second place in the Eastern Conference. Angel and Henry have the potential to form the top-scoring tandem in the league.
"He is definitely hungry," Backe said of Henry. "He will lift our game [and] he will lift our players."
Henry, who said he will live in the area, hesitated to compare his arrival to MLS with that of David Beckham, who joined the Los Angeles Galaxy with great fanfare in 2007 but did little to help the franchise on the pitch.
"We're not here to compete," he said of Beckham. "We're here to make football better."
There's little doubt that Henry, in name recognition, is one of the biggest soccer stars to play in the New York market since Pele joined the Cosmos in 1975. MLS commissioner Don Garber called Henry's arrival "a very historic day for soccer in America."
The commissioner believes the former Arsenal star gives the Red Bulls a chance to gain a stronger share of the saturated local sports market.
"Our expectations are high that Thierry will help us break through some of the clutter in the New York market," Garber said.
But Henry wasn't interested in quantifying his impact on ticket sales for the Red Bulls or the game's popularity in the Big Apple.
"I know people are going to mention me as the guy who changed soccer, but I am just the next guy coming," Henry said.
He's been seriously considering playing in the MLS for "five months" and said that joining the Red Bulls was "a dream come true."
"Finally I am here," Henry said. "I hope you can enjoy my game and let's hope we can enjoy a title also."
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