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Notebook Bergkamp may go to court over use of his name
Posted: Wednesday June 28, 2000 01:42 PM
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Dutch star forward Dennis Bergkamp is not happy to see his name linked with beer and has threatened to take the creator of a beer song to court. A television presenter produced the song "Dennisbier" (Dennisbeer), and even though the Arsenal player did not like the idea, he would have let it pass if all proceeds from the sales went to charity. But Bergkamp claims the artist will only give 5,000 guilders ($2,200) to charity. "I'm looking into the possible legal steps I can take," Bergkamp told the newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. "The combination Bergkamp-alcohol is ridiculous as is the combination top sport-alcohol," Bergkamp said. "I feel badly treated by someone who tries to make money off my back," he said. It is not the first time sports and alcohol don't mix at Euro 2000. Belgian coach Robert Waseige took whisky maker Johnnie Walker to court claiming it did not have his permission to use his likeness in front page newspaper ads. A judge ruled this week that the company had to stop using the ads, and warned that if the picture continued to be used, a fine would be imposed.
Friends and foesBRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- They'll be foes on the field, but for many of the French and Portuguese players will face friends across the pitch in Wednesday's Euro 2000 semifinal. Portuguese defender Dimas remains a firm friend of French superstar Zinedine Zidane from the time they played together at Juventus. "We're good friends, and he knows the great respect I have for him is not only as a player, but also for his personality off field. He's a great example of young people everywhere," Dimas said. "Zizou" repaid the compliment. "There are three great Portuguese players that I know well, Figo, Rui Costa and Dimas," he told reporters. Theirs is not the only crossfield friendship. Portuguese midfielder Costinha called AS Monaco teammates David Trezeguet and Fabien Barthez after France beat Spain to win its semifinal place against the Portuguese. French fullback Lillian Thuram is a teammate of Paulo Sousa at Parma, and Everton fullback Abel Xavier told the Lisbon sports daily he regularly chats with England with Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. The links between the two teams don't stop there. French midfielder Robert Pires' parents come from the almost 1 million-strong Portuguese community in France, and Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho has a French wife. "You'll have to ask her who she's supporting," Coelho joked with reporters on the eve of the game. "But I think she'll be for Portugal." The baronROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Finally, Louis van Gaal has emerged at Euro 2000. Not as a coach but as a baron. On Tuesday, the outgoing Barcelona coach was named "Baron of Ooit," elected by a poll of kids at the Dutch children's entertainment park Land van Ooit. "It is great fun being chosen by kids," he told Het Algemeen Dagblad. Apart from a knight's helmet, he was confirmed as baron by a tap of a sword on the shoulder. After keeping a low profile during the first two weeks and keeping any of his trademark vitriolic criticism to himself, a relaxed Van Gaal even called Dutch play "fantastic." "It is a very attractive tournament and that is very important," he said.
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