or an exciting time in the Premier League | Forum

DAKAR, Senegal -- Former British police officer Ben Hooper hopes to make history by swimming every mile of the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to South America. Discount Salomon Shoes Online Shop . After more than three years of preparation, he set off on Sunday.The 38-year-old walked down a beach in Dakar and into the Atlantic Ocean, launching a swim for 1,635 nautical miles, or nearly 2,000 land miles (3,200 kilometers), from Senegal to Brazil.This is for my daughter, said Hooper, who filled a water bottle with sand to keep for the 8-year-old who he said inspired the swim. Its been a long time coming.Flanked by two boats and a crew of less than a dozen, Hooper aims to be the first person to swim every mile of the Atlantic Ocean from continent to continent, stepping on land again in March.He says he trained three years as he gathered a crew for the Big Blue, the main boat on which he will eat and sleep when he is not swimming for about eight hours each day through waters infested with sharks and jellyfish.Water has loomed large in his life.I nearly drowned when I was 5 in a swimming pool in Belgium, Hooper told The Associated Press. Ever since ... Ive had this affinity with water. It was the calmest Ive ever felt.Hooper said he had a bout of depression about 3 1/2 years ago and decided to turn his life around for his daughter. So he looked to water.Nobody had swum a full ocean. More people have landed on the moon than have tried this, so at that point I thought maybe this is my calling, said Hooper. If I can inspire myself, other people and raise money for charity, why not do it?Inspired by British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Hooper said he hopes to motivate others, especially children, to swim.Funding for the expedition has taken time, and the launch was set back several times as various crew members dropped out and the boats faced mechanical issues.This will be a major achievement overall, said Nigel Taylor-Schofield, the captain of Big Blue. If anybody can accomplish this, it would be Ben. He is very determined.The crew, including a paramedic, will track the miles, and Hooper has said if he gets to Brazil with the help of currents, he will swim until he fulfills the full Atlantic mileage.The challenges, be it marine life, dehydration, and more, will be vast, but Hooper says his biggest fear is letting the team and his daughter down. Hell listen to a playlist on customized earphones that he said will include eurotrash music, Eminem and The Scripts Hall of Fame. Hooper will also wear various gear that helps camouflage him from sharks, and a tracking device so supporters can follow his nearly five-month swim online.Around 10:30 a.m. on the beach outside the Monaco Plage hotel in Dakar, Hooper and the crew were ready.See you in Brazil, he said, before eventually swimming off into the sunlit waters toward his goal.---http://www.swimthebigblue.com/--Follow Carley Petesch on Twitter at www.twitter.com/carleypetesch Cheap Salomon Shoes Outlet . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Buy Salomon Shoes Outlet . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. http://www.salomonoutletstore.com/ . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.Manchester United should go for former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho after Man City made a statement by getting Pep Guardiola, says Jamie Redknapp. When the news was announced that Guardiola will join Manchester City in the summer, shockwaves were sent around the Premier League. It was a real statement.Manchester United, and Chelsea to some extent, need to respond. The news marked a changing of the guard. United are no longer able to attract any manager, and that would have hit them like a juggernaut. They need to react; they cannot just sit back. Ryan Giggs has the makings of a great manager but is he the right man to take the challenge to Pep? At the moment, the answer is no - he hasnt got the experience. Theyve got to get someone that has a proven track record of winning trophies, and that man has to be former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Hiddink v LVG Sky Sports examines Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddinks recent meetings A year or two years ago, I wouldnt have said it, but United havent really got a choice now - theyve got to make a statement. Jose brings a lot of coverage to your club, both good and bad, but he is still box office and I see him at United next season, unless Louis van Gaal can go and win something.I fear the fans may have lost love for Van Gaal and he has to do something, whether it be winning the Europa League, FA Cup or finishing in the top four. There is no reason why United couldnt come second in the league - thats the sort of thing he needs to achieve, and that starts with Sundays trip to the Bridge. Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlin to preview Sundays fixtures in the Premier League Uniteds performance against Stoke showed that they are not as bad as we think; there just wasnt a lot of love or enjoyment in their game. The manager has struggled to really embrace what United fans want. They hadnt scored a first-half goal in the Premier League at Old Trafford in 11 games. That is not what Manchester United were brought up on.However, it seems United have readdressed things. Maybe the players thought to themselves lets go out there and enjoy playing football. Wayne Rooney has done what all good players do - hes bounced back and rammed peoples words back down their throats.Before this run, his place in the England team was in doubt, with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy ahead of him. Hes shown there is still life in him and thats probably helped Roy Hodgson, who hasnt got a difficult decision to make any more. Rooney has found form, and this is what we want to see. Watch as United beat Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge in October 2012 United havent beaten Chelsea in all competitions since 2012 and I see that run continuing, although I do fancy Sundays game to end level. Wholesale Salomon Shoes For Sale. Im sure Van Gaal will take a draw, as too will Hiddink, who continues to build his reputation after a damaging spell in charge of the Netherlands.Saying that, with both managers having coached the Dutch national team, Im sure theyll be keen to get one over each other. I can see there being goals in an evenly-matched game. There isnt a great deal between the two sides, although the league table would tell you differently. Why Mikel for Hiddink? John Obi Mikel is starring for Chelsea under Guus Hiddink. How is he doing it? Chelsea have been much better since Mourinho left and Hiddink has done a really good job. It hasnt been exciting but hes gone in there and settled things down. A time will come, though, when he will have to have a go to win games and see how high they can get up the table. At the moment, he is doing his best to make sure they dont lose games, but it hasnt been great.The announcement that John Terry is to leave the club at the end of the season adds to the feeling of transition under Hiddink, although Ive gone on record to say Im not convinced this will be his final season. Chelsea havent got a single defender better than him, so why would they let him go? Guus Hiddink doesnt see any difference in Chelsea captain John Terry after he claimed his contract will not be renewed I dont see the announcement making any difference to the way Chelsea have performed in recent weeks. John is going to give 100 percent. He is trying to win another contract as that will be in the balance for him.John will get the same reception he has got at Stamford Bridge since he was 17 years of age. He has become an icon at the club and I dont expect anything different. If Terry does go and Hiddink is replaced, there will be a lot of new players and a complete overhaul at the club.New managerial appointments at Chelsea and United, coupled with Peps imminent arrival, mean it all makes for an exciting time in the Premier League.Watch Chelsea v Manchester United on Super Sunday live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 3.30pm. Also See: Sky Live: Chelsea v Man Utd Sky Live: Soton v West Ham Man Utds stylish response Man City v Leicester ' ' '