Shepherd gets tough with Owen

Freddy Shepherd has threatened striker Michael Owen with a few home truths about his Newcastle career - and says he has to 'prove himself'. The Magpies chairman is furious at reports linking the club's record £17million signing with a move away from St James' Park and has urged him to publicly declare his commitment to the cause.
The injury-plagued England hitman has played just 13 senior games for Newcastle since his 2005 transfer and Shepherd believes he owes them some loyalty.
The St James' Park supremo has warned those who purport to speak on behalf of the 27-year-old to stop trying to "flog Owen from under our feet".
Responding to reports he could be available for as little as £9million, Shepherd said in the Daily Express: "These suggestions will not impress our fans after what has happened in the last couple of years.
"This report was a very thinly-disguised attempt to flog Owen from under our feet, sourced very close to the player or those who look after him. The information must have come from there, not from our club."
Shepherd issued Owen with an ultimatum, in which he claims none of the Premiership's 'big four' would want to buy him.
He said: "I'm telling Michael he has two choices: he either comes out and tells our fans, who have taken him to their hearts, that he is happy here - or I tell him that not one of the big four clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool are interested in him. Because that's the case.
"The loyalty this club has shown him over the last two years, when he had injury problems in his first season and had missed virtually all of this season, deserves something in return. "He has to prove to everyone, himself and Newcastle United included, that he is fully recovered and not about to break down again."
Shepherd also played down suggestions Sven-Goran Eriksson is a candidate for the Newcastle manager's vacancy.
Eriksson's agent Athole Still has claimed the former England boss had the support of 51% of Geordies.
Shepherd said: "Where he gets that figure from, I can't imagine. I think 51% of Geordies might like the idea of Sven's girlfriend Nancy Dell'Olio on the Newcastle Quayside."
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Brazilians Win First Career Team Title

Marcelo Melo & Andre Sa

Brazilians Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa claimed their first career ATP team title with a 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 (Match TB) win over Argentine duo Martin Garcia and Sebastian Prieto in one hour and 12 minutes.
Garcia and Prieto cruised through the first set with three breaks of serve in 27 minutes, but Melo and Sa responded quickly opening a 4-0 lead that helped them to the second set.
The Brazilians opened up a 4-1 lead in the Match Tie-break and sealed the championship on their third point.
The 23-year-old Marcelo and Sa, who celebrated his 30th birthday today, were playing in their fifth ATP-level tournament as a pair.
They have an 8-5 career record together, since making their debut at Vina del Mar in February.
Sa improves to 2-6 in ATP finals, having captured his first career title in 2001 at Hong Kong (w/ Braasch). The victory gives Melo his maiden doubles crown.
The pair has also enjoyed success on the ATP Challenger Circuit, winning their fourth title in Bermuda three weeks ago.
Garcia and Prieto, who won the Buenos Aires title in February (d. Montanes-Ramirez Hidalgo), fall to 7-8 this year. They first made their team debut at Prague in 1999.
Garcia has a 7-11 record in ATP doubles finals, while Prieto falls to an 8-13 mark.

©2006 ATP Tour inc.