UEFA president plans new crackdown on racism

Per BBC Sport, UEFA president Michel Platini announced Tuesday a new plan for dealing with racist chants at football matches--either stopping play or abandoning the match entirely. This announcement comes after Juventus fans racially abused Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli during a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

"We will call for play to be stopped for 10 minutes when these things happen, and for announcements to be made in the stadium," Platini, a former Juventus player himself, said.

"If it continues, then the match will be stopped."

Twitterers had their own reaction to the news. One even reached out to @PTIshow, a daily sports news program in the United States.

1. 
   schram Wonder how my man Momo Sissoko feels while Juve's own fans are singing racist songs against Inter's Mario Balotelli. Idiots. 20 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   MoscowMad SMH at what Mario Balotelli had to go through. I love the sport but futbol has a long way to go to end racism. 21 Apr 2009 from web
3. 
   JulianoModa A diretoria do Juventus, que não teve nada a ver com o ato racista, se desculpou humildemente e mandará um jogo sem a torcida presente (And it seems that the fans of Juventus did not understand the message worldwide that when Obama has risen to power in the United States ...) 21 Apr 2009 from web
4. 
   anthonycbis @PTIShow please address racism in Italian Serie A between Juventus & Inter Milan where crowd made racist overtures to Mario Balotelli 21 Apr 2009 from web
5. 
   ChrBakker Good news; Uefa plans new racism crackdown: Uefa president Platini reacts 2 the racist abuse of Inter striker.. http://tinyurl.com/d2cten 21 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry

The Italian League has also ordered Juventus to play their next game on May 3 against Lece behind closed doors.

UEFA president plans new crackdown on racism

Lions unveil new logo, Twitterverse less than enthused

The Detroit Lions unveiled a new logo Monday afternoon: a profile of a Honolulu-blue Lion on a silver helmet that is strikingly familiar to its old logo.

MLive.com reported the unveiling ceremony and fan reaction left much to be desired.

An eye, sharp teeth and claws.

A couple of white swooshes adorning the mane.

A little more silver and black trim on the helmets and uniforms, an edgier Lions script, same traditional Honolulu blue base color and not much else.

All in all, it's about as original as New Coke

No NFL team needed a facelift quite like the Lions, who finished the 2008 season without a win, but according to team president Tom Lewand, the logo change is not in response to last year's dismal campaign. Lewand said in an interview on WDFN-AM that this change had been in development for over a year. However, that didn't stop fans on Twitter from expressing dissatisfaction with the minimal changes to the logo as well as with the team.

1. 
   pauloctavious @compr1 the detroit lions new logo... didn't they just add eyes and a mouth? 21 Apr 2009 from Tweetie in reply to compr1
2. 
   craigkeller @SuperBowl_2010 I pretty much hate it. The new Lion is O.K., not very good or bad... but the typography used for the word Lions is horrible. 21 Apr 2009 from Tweetie in reply to SuperBowl_2010
3. 
   suss2hyphens It took over a year for the Lions to add white lines to an existing logo. Next year: gradients http://is.gd/tGxF 21 Apr 2009 from twhirl
4. 
   bccreative @thegraphicmac Detroit Lions logo: "“The new identity retains many important aspects of our history.." Yeah, it's blue, says & shows a Lion 21 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   mickposner Re: Lions new logo. Anyone think it looks more closely like this? Both have the same mane and both have no claws. http://bit.ly/yxgHI 21 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
6. 
   thestoryofb yeah.. the problem with the lions was the branding. I will now go about not watching a single game this year. Again. 21 Apr 2009 from web
7. 
   kurtgannon Detriot Lions need a hell of a lot more help than a new logo. Even if it is badass. http://bit.ly/hIRrl 21 Apr 2009 from Tweetie

Lions unveil new logo, Twitterverse less than enthused

Habs on brink of elimination

Per the Globe and Mail, the Boston Bruins came into a hostile Bell Centre and pulled out a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series last night.

The Centennial Season in Montreal has not had the fireworks this postseason that Habs fans expected when the 2008-2009 campaign began. There was plenty of talk of a Stanley Cup and nothing less. The team dealt with a number of issues in the final part of the regular season, including a coaching change, yet still slipped into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed. But Boston now has full control of the Round 1 series.

Habs fans are lamenting their latest loss:

1. 
   c_claudia I am back from Habs hockey game..... lost again... one more and they are eliminated.... 21 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   All_Habs RT @mozy19: Well I guess the #Habs aren't going to win in 7, but man that would make one hell of a centennial year story if they did! 21 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   yourfate The habs lost their 3rd straight game tonight - all I need is a miracle all I need is you! 21 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry
4. 
   JayMorris88 gave up on The Habs. Why the [expletive] is Price still in nets? Who knows. Lets go Jersey!!!! 21 Apr 2009 from TwitterFox
5. 
   RosaPagano The HABS are a lost cause! 21 Apr 2009 from UberTwitter

Meanwhile, Boston Twitterers can taste victory, and not just on the ice:

1. 
   murff05 great day to be a BOSTON sports fan!!! bruins, celts, sox!! and don't forget the marathon... 21 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   ChrisAmendola RED SOX WIN - CELTICS WIN - BRUINS WIN!!!!! Oh yeah, we had a little MARATHON here today too.....who doesn't LOVE BOSTON!!!!??? 21 Apr 2009 from web
3. 
   capricornlee @OneSeasonNHL Bruins beat the Canadians. Lead series 3-0..... They is kickin ass right now.. 21 Apr 2009 from web in reply to OneSeasonNHL

Habs on brink of elimination