U.S. marketing expert and Madrid 2020 adviser TERRENCE BURNS said that Madrid Mayor ANA BOTELLA's "relaxing cup of coffee" phrase was his idea. Botella was widely criticized for saying, "nobody enjoys life the way that the Spanish do" and adding that the "best way to appreciate this is to drink coffee in Madrid's Plaza Mayor." Burns said, "Botella was perfect in her tone and she did exactly what I asked her to do. If people did not like her speech or how she made it, blame me, not her" (AS, 9/12). ... Former NBA player DOMINIQUE WILKINS surprised people playing basketball at a park in Bilbao, Spain when he "showed up and asked to join them in a game on Tuesday." Wilkins is in Spain this week promoting an exhibition match that will be played on Oct. 6 between the NBA Philadelphia 76ers and Spanish Basketball League (ACB) side Bilbao Basket (AS, 9/11). ... The Barcelona Federation of Neighborhood Associations (FAVB) "has communicated that it is opposed to renaming Olímpico de Barcelona Avenue in honor of deceased former IOC President JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH" (EFE, 9/12). ... Spanish Olympic steeplechaser ÁNGEL MULLERA has spoke out through his Twitter account against accusations that he used prohibited substances. Mullera tweeted, "I have chronic asthma, and the substance, Pulmicort (BUDESONIDA), is totally legal" (AS, 9/12). ... Axis Bank "has finally apologised to India's top women's squash player," DIPIKA PALLIKAL and "also retracted a remark questioning her mental toughness."
However, Dipika "still intends to pursue a case of 'deficiency in service' against the bank 'on principle'" (TIMES OF INDIA, 9/12). ... Cyprus national football coach NICOS NIOPLIAS "has resigned after a spate of disappointing results left his side languishing at the bottom of their World Cup qualifying group" (REUTERS, 9/12). ... Former S-League footballer ADRIAN DHANARAJ died Wednesday night, "losing a battle against Hodgkin's lymphoma" (STRAITS TIMES, 9/12).
