ManU will mark ALEX FERGUSON’s 26th anniversary as "the club's most successful manager" by unveiling a statue outside Old Trafford in his honor this month, according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES. The statue was commissioned in '11 when the club celebrated Ferguson's 25th anniversary at ManU by renaming the north end at Old Trafford as the “Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.” The ceremony will take place at 2pm London time on Nov. 23. ManU already has erected statutes of former Manager MATT BUSBY and the so-called “holy trinity,” consisting of former players BOBBY CHARLTON, GEORGE BEST and DENIS LAW (LONDON TIMES, 11/6).

A LONG LEGACY: In London, Jamie Jackson reported ManU issued a statement that read: "The statue, by renowned sculptor PHILIP JACKSON, will be positioned in a prominent position near the entrance to the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand." Ferguson's major trophies won at ManU include two European Cups, 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the Cup-Winners' Cup and one Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and Club World Cup. He was also voted the League Managers Association Manager of the Decade for the '90s, has won three LMA Manager of the Year awards and the UEFA Manager of the Year for '98-99. On 10 occasions, he has been voted the Premier League Manager of the Season (GUARDIAN, 11/5).

MANY FIRSTS: Also in London, Colin Young published a story under the header "Fergie's Firsts," which recounts the first accomplishments of Ferguson's career at ManU. In Ferguson's first game, ManU lost 2-0 at the old Manor Ground against an Oxford side that "were to drop out of the Football League" during Ferguson's 26 years at Old Trafford. Ferguson's first win was Nov. 22, 1986 when ManU beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 at Old Trafford. Ferguson's first away win was "where else but Anfield?" Ferguson's first signing was Viv Anderson, who came from Arsenal for just £250,000 (DAILY MAIL, 11/6).

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ALEX MCLEISH "has distanced himself from the vacant Scotland job and has backed GORDON STRACHAN for the position instead," according to the SCOTSMAN. Former Rangers, Birmingham and Aston Villa Manager McLeish "has been linked with a return to the national team after CRAIG LEVEIN was sacked" Monday. However, McLeish, who had a spell as Scotland manager in '07, believes that "he would be seen as a hypocrite if he were to take on the role again." He said, "I left the national team to take up club football, I felt I was missing the day-to-day stuff. I'm still of that mind." Strachan has quickly emerged as the bookmakers' favorite to succeed Levein. McLeish said, "Gordon Strachan is a pretty good candidate to me. He’s had success at club level with Celtic" (SCOTSMAN, 11/6).

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday rejected former Bollywood actress SHARMILA TAGORE's "demand to name the ensuing India-England series after her husband," the late former India captain ALI KHAN PATAUDI, according to the IANS. The BCCI said that the series has been named after first secretary of the board ANTHONY DE MELLO since '51 (IANS, 11/6). The PTI reported Tagore has written a letter to BCCI President N SRINIVASAN "expressing her displeasure" over the board's decision to not name the India-England series after Pataudi. Tagore also wrote about "the delay in formalising a Pataudi Memorial Lecture" in his honor (PTI, 11/6).

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Golf Inc. magazine recently released its '12 list of the most powerful people in the sport, and this year's ranking "reflects an industry that is seeing tepid improvement." The people who made the biggest movements this year "are the developers, buyers and operators who have money to invest." But the top of the list is "still dominated by operators and organization leaders," including Troon Golf Chair & CEO DANA GARMANY at No. 1 for the second consecutive year (GOLF INC., fall issue).

35 MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN GOLF
RANK		NAME
1		Troon Golf Chair & CEO Dana Garmany
2		Nicklaus Cos. Chair Jack Nicklaus
3		ClubCorp President & CEO Eric Affeldt
4		PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem
5		R&A CEO Peter Dawson
6		Trump Organization Chair Donald Trump
7		European Tour Chief Exec George O'Grady
8		Billy Casper Golf CEO & Chair Peter Hill
9		PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka
10		Gary Player Golf CEO Gary Player
11		Developer Mike Keiser
12		USGA Exec Dir Mike Davis
13		KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner & President Josh Lesnick
14		Century Golf Partners/Arnold Palmer Golf Management CEO Jim Hinckley
15		TaylorMade-adidas Golf CEO Mark King
16		China Golf Assoc. Vice Chair and Forward Management Group President Wang Jun
17		Fore Golf partners Charlie Staples, Tom Bennison and Mike Miraglia
18		Faldo Enterprises Chair Nick Faldo
19		World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona
20		Architect Gil Hanse
21		Acushnet Co. Chair & CEO Wally Uihlein
22		Mission Hills Group Chair Ken Chu and Vice Chair Tenniel Chu
23		Sequoia Golf Group President & CEO Joe Guerra
24		Golfer Tiger Woods
25		ClubLink Chair & CEO Rai Sahi
26		Great White Shark Enterprises Chair & CEO Greg Norman
27		Heritage Golf Group CEO Bob Husband
28		Coore & Crenshaw co-Founders Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
29		Pacific Golf Management President Arihiro Kanda
30		Golfer Rory McIlroy
31		ISM Founder Chubby Chandler
32		Kohler Co. President & Chair Herb Kohler
33		Concert Golf Partners Managing Partner Peter Nanula
34		The National Golf Foundation President & CEO Joe Beditz
35		Arnold Palmer Design Co. President Arnold Palmer

THEIR PICKS: Golf Channel’s Damon Hack said the USGA's Davis is the “most influential leader in golf today” because he “rules with intelligence and humility. He’s respected across the board.” Golf Channel’s Gary Williams: “I think it's Mike Davis. He’s accessible. He’s changed the persona that most people have of the USGA. He’s willing to talk. He’s willing to listen.” Golf Channel’s Ryan Burr said, “It’s easy. It’s Tiger Woods. Tiger is the leader. When Tiger speaks, people listen. If Tiger wants something, he can get it done” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 11/6).

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Great Britain's JESSICA ENNIS, the U.S.' ALLYSON FELIX and New Zealand's VALERIE ADAMS, all Olympic champions, "have been named on the shortlist for the Female Athlete of the Year Award" by the Int'l Association of Athletics Federations (REUTERS, 11/6). ... Reigning world snooker champion RONNIE O'SULLIVAN "has pulled out of the remainder of the '12-13 season because of 'personal issues,' and his manager has warned he may not return" (BBC.com, 11/6). ... Former world cycling champion EMMA POOLEY "has joined Swiss women's team Bigla Cycling for the '13 season" (ROADCYCLING.com, 11/6). ... Swimmer CHAD LE CLOS won South Africa Sports Award for Sports Star of the Year. The SA Sports Award Sports Star of the Year honor is "voted for by the South African public." Other category wins and highlights included VERNON PHILANDER as Sportsman of the Year. OSCAR PISTORIUS was named as the Sportsman of the Year with a disability, "whilst the recently retired swimmer NATALIE DU TOIT was Sportswoman of the Year with a disability." CASTER SEMENYA was voted Sportswoman of the Year, and "up-and-coming rugby star SIYAMTHANDA KOLISI was Newcomer of the Year." The South African Rowing Team "affectionately known as the 'awesome foursome' was the Team of the Year."  (ALLAFRICA.com, 11/6).

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