Wing Problem on Airbus A380 Will Be Fixed

Qatar Airways Monday said it won't take delivery of five A380 super jumbos until the airline knows plane-maker Airbus has a permanent fix for faults in the aircraft's wings.

The Middle East airline says they still has reservations about the manufacturer's plans for a stretched version of its new A350 jetliner.  A temporary fix is not good enough for the airliners looking to use the jet.

The chief executive of Airbus says "There will be a permanent fix [for our aircraft]."

Roger Federer Goes Between the Legs Again Today in Qatar

He's done it again, and he makes it look so easy.

Roger Federer had a sluggish first set playing today in Qatar, but the No. 2-ranked Swiss hit his stride in the second. Leading 5-2  over Dutch player Thomas Schoorel and faced with a ball that changed direction after clipping the top of the net, Federer flicked it through his legs for a clean winner into the corner.

“It’s one of the best shots again of my career, one I’m going to look back on and smile, of course,” Federer said. “It was quite fantastic.”

The 21-year-old Schoorel, playing only his second ATP-level match, managed a smile as the crowd applauded. Schoorel went on to hold his serve, but Federer sealed the win in the next game.

Federer successfully pulled off the shot—also known as a “tweener”—at the previous two U.S. Opens, at last year’s Shanghai Masters and at the 2007 Dubai Open.

U.S and England Mourn World Cup Defeats

Two countries with rich soccer histories lost out on hosting future World Cups today, because idiots make the decision where the Cups are to be held.

The United States delegation is crying in its beer tonight, and the all of Great Britain are crying in their ale after both countries were dealt blows today in Zurich.

England has reason to be upset, they lost out to Russia, but Russia has never hosted a World Cup and they were supposed to get one at some point. England only attracted two votes out of the possible twenty-two. Despite strong lobbying efforts, England couldn't make inroads.

England bid vice-president David Beckham said: 'I think the bid team has done everything possible, we couldn't have got a better bid.

The U.S. really has reason to be upset. They lost out to a tiny nation in the Middle East who never even has played in the World Cup. Qatar is an oil producing nation that has been independent since 1971, has a population of about 1.7 million—500,000 less than Houston. At 4,416 square miles, it is smaller than the islands that make up Hawaii.

If the games would've been held in the U.S., it might've drawn 4 million fans. Qatar will be lucky to accommodate half of that.

Here's what is wrong with this whole selection process and Qatar getting the bid.

The FIFA President is named Sepp Blatter. If that doesn't sound like the name of a corrupt individual, I don't know what is. His name sounds like it should be a James Bond villain. His name might as well be Boris Badenov.

Qatar says it will build air conditioned outdoor stadiums. Huh? Is each seat going to have its own personal mister?

The temps in Qatar during the matches will be around 130 degrees. Qatar said the World Cup thrived despite hot temperatures during tournaments in Mexico in 1970 and 1986, and the U.S. in 1994. Ask any U.S. serviceman returning from duty in the Middle East. They will tell you the heat over there is so extreme, we don't have anything in North America that compares.

Qatar has to do a complete overhaul of the nation's current infrastructure. In additon, they have to build nine new stadiums and renovate others. A tall task, even for an oil-rich nation.

An opportunity was missed because soccer is getting more and more popular in America. I think a sleeping giant has awoken and a chance to bring the U.S. to the next level in soccer won't happen now for two more decades.

I may be throwing this out there, but the U.S. still might have a sliver of a chance to still host in 2022. Any world unrest, or if Qatar can't keep its end of the bargain when it comes to infrastructure or construction, there is still hope that the U.S. with all of the stadiums built and a proven track record could still land the games at the last second. It's a long-shot, but it's a shot.