8.43am: Good morning and welcome to our daily sports news blog. You probably know the drill by now, but if not, the idea is this: throughout the day we will update this page with news, links, and what's expected to happen in the hours ahead. Time permitting, we'll also try to wade in below the line, answering your questions and comments. However we'd like your input as much as possible – please send us your favourite links to stories/clips on YouTube etc and we'll flag up the best above the line.
8.43am: Good morning and welcome to our daily sports news blog. You probably know the drill by now, but if not, the idea is this: throughout the day we will update this page with news, links, and what's expected to happen in the hours ahead. Time permitting, we'll also try to wade in below the line, answering your questions and comments. However we'd like your input as much as possible – please send us your favourite links to stories/clips on YouTube etc and we'll flag up the best above the line.
9.51am: Great Britain reached the final of the Hopman Cup for the first time as Andy Murray and Laura Robson defeated Russia 2-1 in Perth. The number three seeds maintained their perfect record in the competition and will now play Spanish pairing Tommy Robredo and María José Martínez Sánchez in tomorrow's title decider. Does Andy Murray, Laura Robson and also Heather Watson's success reflect an improvement in the development of young British tennis players or are they exceptions who have floated to the top in a pool of mediocrity? GR
10.16am: Today's Rumour Mill is here, starring a certain Belgian sleuth. Players on the move, possibly, include Younes Kaboul, Kevin Kuranyi and a return to Arsenal for Sol Campbell. Yes, we aren't entirely convinced by that final one either. JW
10.25am: OK, morning meeting update:
• We'll have all the latest team news and previews for what remains of the weekend's football action. And we will keep you updated with the latest fixture postponements around Britain.
• The latest news from Portsmouth, regarding the 'complete mismanagement across the board' at Fratton Park.
• If it beats the weather, second place hosts third as Nottingham Forest visit West Brom in the Championship at 7.45pm tonight. You can follow live updates with our match centre.
• We're due an England press conference from South Africa in the wake of their latest Test great escape. And what about the Proteas? Do questions need to be asked of them after their second failure to close out a Test in three games?
• We've already mentioned the tennis, but also of note is the upcoming Brisbane international final, which will pit Justine Henin against Kim Clijsters.
• There will be more Mayweather-Pacquaio.
• And on the sportblog: Rob Smyth is back with the Joy of Six: great solo goals, while Amy Lawrence will be on hand with a look forward to the Africa Cup of Nations. We'll also have a gallery of the major players to keep an eye on in Angola. JD
10.40am: The Mayweather-Pacquiao non-fight debate is rumbling on. Mayweather has now described himself as "thoroughly disgusted" with the situation, adding: "First and foremost, not only do I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to whip his punk ass". And make millions of dollars into the bargain presumably. JW
11.06am: Roberto Mancini has taken the final step towards becoming a part of the English football landscape by starring in this week's edition of You are the Ref. JW
11.16am: Football in North America is set for continued growth after a deal was reached to introduce a second tier professional league to complement the MLS.
"We are extremely pleased that we were able to come to a solution that ensures we will have Division 2 professional soccer in the United States in 2010," said the US Soccer president Sunil Gulati. "This agreement allows us to continue to develop the professional game in many important markets around the country, while at the same time working towards the long-term stability of Division 2 professional soccer."
The second tier will consist of two conferences including teams from Austin, Minnesota, Portland, Puerto Rico, Rochester, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver. Will growth in the United States damage domestic football in Mexico or is this advert featuring Landon Donovan dressed in a sombrero replete with comedy mustache more harmful? GR
11.43am: Goals, goals, goals, six to be exact. That's right, it's today's Joy of Six solo goals. Maradona, tick. Best, tick. Baggio, tick. Le Tissier, nowhere to be seen. Remember, it is not a definitive list etc etc. JW
11.51am: The first of the weekend's Premier League games to fall foul of the snow is Fulham v Portsmouth, with Liverpool asking for their match with Tottenham to also get the chop. All the latest matches to be called off can be found here, it is going to be a quiet weekend.
12.04pm: Racing has also been hit hard by the recent arctic weather but Lingfield is on. You can keep up to date with the latest news and tips in today's Talking Horses blog. GR
12.12pm: Napoli have finally relieved Liverpool of the Italian left back Andrea Dossena. He has signed a four-year deal with the Serie A side. Rafael Benítez signed Dossena from Udinese two years ago for around £7m and after looking overweight and heavy of touch it was soon apparent he'd made a bad decision. "I'm happy to be able to wear the Napoli shirt," Dossena told Napoli's official website. "I chose a prestigious club that has an important plan." GR
12.40pm: Burnley v Stoke is the latest top-fllght match to be postponed this weekend due to the cold weather conditions. A statement on the Clarets' official website reads:
"Burnley Football Club regrets to inform supporters that Saturday's Barclays Premier League game against Stoke City has been postponed for safety reasons."
GR
12.53pm: The former Preston manager Alan Irvine is set to be appointed as Sheffield Wednesday's new manager. Irvine guided Preston from the relegation zone to safety in his first season before taking them to the play-offs in his second. With Wednesday second from bottom in the Championship Owls fans will be hoping he can do something similar at Hillsborough. GR
1.13pm: Another one bites the dust, Sunderland v Bolton is off, giving Owen Coyle a bit more time to get his feet under the desk before starting his work in earnest. JW
1.30pm: This story about Arsène Wenger having "money to burn" this January has prompted talk in the Guardian office of the time when The KLF put £1m on the fire (watch from 2mins 49secs) in the early 90s. A wonderful artistic statement or a huge waste of cash? The same could be asked of this I suppose. JW
1.50pm: Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken inspiration from Usain Bolt as he enters the new decade with a new approach to his snooker. Ahead of the UK Masters O'Sullivan said: "Usain Bolt has proved you don't have to be so intense about everything you do. You can make things fun and still break world records and be the best at what you do in the world. I think I've performed my best when I've had that attitude." Is O'Sullivan still snooker's best player? Or would a little modesty do him no harm? GR
2.22pm: "The Africa Cup of Nations has for decades kept local football fans absorbed, but never before has it assumed such significance. This edition, the prelude to the first World Cup to be hosted on the continent, pulls the curtain on the most important year in the history of African football." This is the opinion of Amy Lawrence. Who do you think will win the Africa Cup of Nations? Ivory Coast are 9-4 favourites followed by Ghan at 9-2 and then Cameroon at 11-2. Get over to the Sportblog to read Amy's blog and have your say. GR
2.42pm: Coming up we'll have live updates from Patrick Vieira's press conference as he is presented as a Manchester City player at Eastlands. That's due to get underway at 3pm, but in the meantime if you could think of the perfect candidate to fill the vacancy of Cheerleading Manager at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel free to post your suggestions below. Here are some of the job spec requests:
• Coordinate and produce annual swimsuit calendar; including shoot location, staffing, swimsuit selection, shoot scheduling and production
• Oversee selection and purchase of all uniform and apparel needs
• An outgoing personality and a professional demeanor
• The ability to work long and flexible hours including evenings and weekends and occasional national and international travel
Ron Atkinson's not doing much these days is he? GR
3.00pm: Over to Eastlands now for Patrick Vieira's return to the Premier League after a four-and-a-half-year hiatus. Rumour has it that he is going to be paid over £100,000 a week at City - not bad for a 33-year-old defensive midfielder with dodgy knees. Didi Hamann must be kicking himself that he never got a similar deal. GR
3.04pm: Empty chairs the nervous coughing of hacks and rustling paper in Manchester. Yup, we're still waiting ...
3.12pm: Well, we might have jumped the gun with this one. Either that or Garry Cook, Manchester City's chief executive, is frantically making finishing touches to his list titled 'Things Patrick Vieira Can't Say'.
3.17pm: Ho hum. Maybe Patrick's perusing the Manchester City club shop for a mug, alarm clock or calendar to put in his flat. I've got a mate who's moving out of his two-up-two-down in Levenshulme next month. Could be ideal. Yes, we're still waiting ...
3.27pm: Vieira's here and he's flanked by the Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. Born in Senegal, standing 6ft 3 1/2in tall Vieira began his career at Cannes in the south of France where he made his debut at the age of 17 (Wikipedia's great isn't it?). Let's see what he has to say ...
3.31pm: "I'm delighted to be back in the Premiership. City is a really ambitious club."
3.31pm: He admits he's "not 20' but "not 45" either and believes he still has lots to offer. "I know that I can give something to the club and hopefully we can be successful this year."
3.32pm: With a glint in his eye he admits that getting back into the French national team is a chief motivating factor. On Roberto Mancini: "He will bring the club the discipline of the game. That every single player will give everything for the club. He will be a benefit for the club."
3.33pm: "I strongly believe we are not out of the race for the title." On playing against Arsenal: " I will play the same." Enlightening stuff.
3.34pm: Roberto Mancini is carrying a casual look today. Mourinho-esque even. He has this to say: "Patrick wins a lot of trophies at Arsenal and Inter. He will be a regular player and improve our performances." So perhaps he will feature more often than many think.
3.35pm: Mancini says the spending is not over at City yet and other big names will join him. Vieira might not face Blackburn on Monday however as he is carrying a kick on the calf.
3.36pm: On having a player who he knows in his team Mancini says: "His mentality is most important for the team. He scores goals with his head. He can improve our performance in the future and in our next games."
3.38pm: Mancini stresses the importance of finishing in the top four and believes Vieira is somebody who can help the club achieve this.
3.39pm: Vieira on rivals Manchester United: "It is a special game but I won't think about it. It's important to go out and win any game. I am lucky to choose the right team that I hope will be successful. Hopefully this [success] can happen."
3.41pm: On competition for places in City's midfield: "I will show to the manager that I can play and show in every training session that I can play. There are a lot of big names here."
3.41pm: Vieira admits to missing the Premier League and seems grateful to be back at a top club at the age of 33.
3.42pm: That's it for the press conference. It wasn't all that revealing but not bad for a freezing Friday afternoon. So will Vieira be a key player? Or is he just there to help Mancini get a hold of the dressing room? You can have your say below. Cheers. GR
4.39pm: Keep up to speed with all the latest football fixtures to be postponed right here. Liverpool v Spurs is the most recenr casualty which presents Sky Sports with a blank at 4pm on Sunday. For the Fiver's take on SNOW CHAOS! click here. GR
5.05pm: OK, time on the blog. Thanks for all your posts. We'll be back on Monday, but, in the meantime, here's our (current) live plans for the weekend. Tomorrow: Hull v Chelsea MBM (12.30pm), football clockwatch (2pm), Birmingham v Manchester United MBM (5.15pm). And for Sunday: West Ham v Wolves MBM (1.15pm) and Angola v Mali (6.30pm) in the Africa Cup of Nations opener. Have a great weekend. JD
