A local television station in Green Bay is doing its part in the gamesmanship war between the Packers and the New York Giants by scrubbing its usual showing of Seinfeld -- a favorite show of Giants quarterback Eli Manning -- on the eve of tomorrow's NFC championship clash. The station was asking viewers to vote on what should replace the show in the 5:30pm slot today. Giants veteran defensive end Michael Strahan was stunned. "Do they realize they have Seinfeld DVDs? We can always watch Seinfeld," Strahan said. "If they think that's going to mess him up, I've got to move to Green Bay. I could be very successful there with some of my ideas."
■ SOCCER
Americans not selling Reds
Liverpool's US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, whose relationship with the Anfield fans has become increasingly fraught, have denied reports they are planning to sell the club. Potential investors Dubai International Capital, who tried and failed to buy the club last year, were reported to have been planning a bid for the 50-percent stake owned by Hicks. The Liverpool Echo said that senior executives at the Dubai-based international investment company were given the go-ahead by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum to launch a second bid to buy into Liverpool in a year and that an offer has been agreed in principle. But a spokesman for the two Americans said there was nothing in the reports. "Any suggestion Hicks and Gillett are contemplating a sale of the club or any portion of it is categorically untrue," a spokesman told the BBC.
■ FORMULA ONE
Teams face budget cap
Formula One teams will face a cap on expenditure from next year, the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Thursday. FIA President Max Mosley confirmed in a letter, sent to all team principals on Wednesday, that the cap would apply to all costs other than engines, drivers and expenditure exclusively for promotion and marketing. "Because of the variety of arrangements, particularly shareholdings, team principals' remuneration will not be included in the cap," he said. The arrangements were agreed at a meeting with the teams in Paris on Jan. 11. Another meeting will be held in Paris on Jan. 31.
■ SOCCER
Inter earns quarters berth
Inter Milan kept on its winning ways and earned a birth in the Italian Cup quarter-finals by defeating Reggina 3-0 on Thursday. Hernan Crespo scored in the 34th minute, Reggina midfielder Emmanuele Cascione conceded an own goal in the 45th and midfielder Cesar's second-half injury time goal wrapped up a 7-1 aggregate victory. Most of the regular starters, including Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were rested by Inter, which leads the Serie A, 32 points ahead of second-to-last Reggina. Inter will meet Juventus in the quarter-finals. In Thursday's other game, Napoli and Lazio drew 1-1, a result that pushes Lazio through to the quarter-finals on 3-2 aggregate. Lazio's Albanian striker Igli Tare scored for the visiting team in the 55th while Napoli's Maurizio Domizzi hit the equalizer in the 79th. Lazio held off a desperate Napoli in the last 11 minutes. Lazio will play Fiorentina in the quarter-finals, scheduled for Jan. 23 and 30. In the other quarter-finals Roma meets Sampdoria and Udinese plays Catania.
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