Forgot to mention that Inter Milan salvaged an otherwise ordinary season, by claiming the Italian Cup last week. They beat AS Roma who have had an even more forgetable seaon. Inter will use this Cup win to boost their hopes for next season where they will try to wrest the title from Juventus and hope that city rivals AC Milam won't win the bragging rights in their hometown as the best club.



Real Madrid have told Inter that Walter Samuel and Santiago Solari will cost 18 million euros. It was expected that Solari would complete his move this week, but the deal has hit problems as the winger has so far yet to agree personal terms as he is keen for a wage increase. Samuel, meanwhile, was last week linked with a loan move to the San Siro, but it appears that any deal would see ’The Wall’ move back to Italy on a permanent basis. Inter apparently want matters resolved by the end of the month otherwise they will look elsewhere. Meanwhile Mateja Kezman declimed a move to Benfica of Portugal, saying that although they were a good club, moving to Portugal was not in his plans at the moment.



Jason Smith #21 D Edmonton Oilers DOB: Nov 2, 1973 Age: 31 Place of Birth: Calgary, Alberta, Canada HT: 6-3 WT: 212 Shoots: R NHL Seasons: 11 Drafted by New Jersey in 1992 (1/18). Has great size and loves to use it. Is an excellent leader by example and usually plays through pain. Knows how to block shots. Like many big-hitting defensemen, he needs to learn to pick his spots better and not leave himself out of position. 1992-93 CHL - First All-Star Team (Canadian Major Junior)
1992-93 WHL - Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Defensemen)
1992-93 WHL - East First All-Star Team
Trades :
23-Mar-99: Toronto Maple Leafs traded Jason Smith to the Edmonton Oilers for a 4th round selection (Jonathon Zion) in 1999 and a 2nd round selection (Kris Vernarsky) in 2000.
25-Feb-97: Toronto Maple Leafs traded Dave Ellett, Doug Gilmour and a 3rd round selection (previously acquired - Andre Lakos) to the New Jersey Devils for Jason Smith, Steve Sullivan and the rights to Alyn McCauley. 20-Jun-92: Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 1st round (18th overall) in 1992. Also played for the New Jersey Devil, Toronto Maple Leafs & junior years with Regina Pats.

In September 2004 the Edmonton Oilers and captain Jason Smith agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $10.4 million. "Obviously, I'm excited about having the opportunity to stay here for a long period of time and to be a part of this team," said Smith, who hails from Calgary. "I appreciate that the Oilers were willing to make a long-term commitment to me. I'm three hours up the road from where I grew up and where my wife grew up, so there's no better place to be for family and friends."
Smith, 30, who earned $2.3 million last season, and agent Art Breeze first talked with the Oilers about a long-term deal several weeks ago. It's a pact that pays $2.6 million in all four years and will take Smith, who arrived in a trade with Toronto March 23, 1999, through the 2007-08 season. That's the good news. "The team showed a strong commitment to keeping me here for the long term," said Smith, who has played 348 of his 710 NHL games with the Oilers. "That was the focal point for my family and I. We truly enjoy being here. ''This is where we want to be. We looked at it and talked about the opportunity to work out a long-term deal from, basically, the first day." The bad news was that by the time Smith's deal was announced, NHL president Gary Bettman had already stated the position of his 30 governors that Smith and other players won't collect another nickel until a new economic order is established. "We're trying to keep positive on the situation and, hopefully, we'll get an opportunity to get the season going," Smith said. "We have to sit back and mull things over." Smith, who'd have been an unrestricted free agent after this season had he not re-signed, was at Clare Drake Arena and didn't hear Bettman's news conference, so he wasn't about to wade in on details of the many issues that'll have to be overcome to strike a new deal yesterday. "Hopefully, we'll be able to get things straightened out," said Smith, who emerged from a skating session cancelled by a fire drill at the University of Alberta to find himself surrounded by news crews looking for sound bytes. "We're willing to make changes to the system we have. We're just not willing to go the direction the league wants. We believe there's a lot of room in the system we have to make changes that are for the good of the game. ''The direction the league wants isn't where the players want to be."






Song for the day - "Don't Want You To Go" - CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON