michael ballack pictures images wallpaper and biography

Michael Ballack (born 26 September 1976) is a German professional footballer, who is currently playing for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen[3]. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of his international team. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA's 100 Greatest Living Players, and as the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year in 2002. He has won the German Footballer of the Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Ballack began his career as a youth at Chemnitz, his local team, and made his professional debut in 1995.[3] Although the team were relegated in his first season, his performances in the Regionalliga the following season led to a transfer to Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the Bundesliga in his first season at the club; his first major honour. He became a first team regular in 1998–99 season and also earned his first senior national cap for Germany. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €4.1 million in 1999. The 2002 season saw him win a slew of runners-up medals: Bayer Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga, German Cup, UEFA Champions League and Germany lost to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final.

A €12.9 million move to Bayern Munich led to further honours: the team won the Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Ballack had become a prolific goalscorer from midfield, scoring 58 goals for Bayern Munich between 2002 and 2006. He joined Premier League club Chelsea in mid-2006 and won his first English honours, the FA Cup and League Cup, in his first season at the club. Injury ruled out much of 2007 but he returned the following season, helping Chelsea reach their first ever Champions League Final.

Internationally, Ballack has played in the European Championships in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006. Jürgen Klinsmann appointed him captain of the national team in 2004. Ballack scored consecutive game-winning goals in the quarter-final and semi-final to help his country to the 2002 World Cup Final, and led his team to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and the Euro 2008 Final.

Early life
Michael Ballack was born in Görlitz, a town in the historical region: Upper Lusatia and Silesia, present-day in the Free State of Saxony. He is the only child of Stephan and Karin Ballack, an engineer and a secretary. The family moved to Karl-Marx-Stadt when Ballack was very young and it was there that he started to play football.

[edit] Club career
[edit] Chemnitzer FC
Michael Ballack's parents sent him to train with the side when he was seven years old. He later moved on to FC Karl-Marx-Stadt (renamed Chemnitzer FC in 1990). His father had played second-division football himself in Germany. Unusual for his early age was Ballack's ability to use both feet with equal authority.

In 1995, Ballack earned his first professional contract, thanks to his performances in the role of central midfielder. He was dubbed the "Little Kaiser", in reference to Franz Beckenbauer, who was nicknamed "Der Kaiser". His professional debut came on 4 August 1995, on the first day of the new 2. Bundesliga season. Chemnitz lost the game 2–1, against VfB Leipzig.[4]

At the end of the season, during which Ballack made fifteen appearances, Chemnitz were relegated to the multi-tiered, regional third division.[3] On 26 March 1996, Ballack made his debut for Germany's Under-21 side.

The following season, Ballack became a regular first-team player as Chemnitz missed out on an immediate return to the Bundesliga. He did not miss a game and scored ten goals for the "Sky Blues". It was not enough for Chemnitz to be promoted, but in the summer of 1997, coach Otto Rehhagel of just-promoted 1. FC Kaiserslautern signed Ballack at their return to top flight football.

[edit] Kaiserslautern
It was during the seventh game of the 1997–98 season, away to Karlsruhe, that Rehhagel decided to throw Ballack into the Bundesliga for the first time, if only for the final five minutes of the encounter.[5] On 28 March 1998, Ballack made his first-team debut-start against Bayer Leverkusen.[6]

Ballack made 16 appearances for his new team during the season as the club became the first-ever newly promoted team to lift the league title. In the following season, Ballack became both a regular (he made 30 appearances, scoring four goals in the league) and one of the side's leading players. Kaiserslautern reached the quarter finals of the Champions League, but were knocked out by Bayern Munich.

On 1 July 1999, Ballack moved to Bayer Leverkusen at the age of 22, for a transfer fee of €4.1 million.
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Manuel Lepe’s legacy to Puerto Vallarta

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Puerto Vallarta and Mexico are known for the quality of its beaches and a variety of canopy tours, water sports and other activities. Whether you´re seeking adventure or just a tranquil week of rest at the beach, Puerto Vallarta is definitely a great option. No disappointments here. What many visitors still don’t know is that Vallarta and Mexico are recognized internationally as a mecca of art and culture.
Puerto Vallarta was catapulted into the international scene during the shooting of the acclaimed John Huston film, “The Night of the Iguana”. Queen Elizabeth II sparked international media coverage when she arrived in Vallarta during the 1960’s. The queen; now the longest reigning monarch in British history, caused a sharp surge of interest in local art when it bought Los Pescadores, an elaborate painting by renowned artist Manuel Lepe (1936-1984).
He was an epic painter, often compared with Russian artist Marc Chagall. His paintings depict scenes of innocence and unprecedented natural beauty. Lepe has been responsible for the arrival of international artists to Puerto Vallarta. His legacy continues until today. He was recently honored with the presentation of a mural at the Naval Historical Museum of Puerto Vallarta, with a replica of his masterpiece, Los Pescadores (The Fishermen), 26 years after his death.
The rich and colorful tradition of Lepe art is still alive in his paintings and murals, visible all over the city, especially at City Hall in the heart of the Historic Center, where two stunning murals of his cityscapes are shown
Currently, major international artists such as Martha Gilbert and Rogelio Diaz, find inspiration for their majestic works in colorful sunsets, the rich heritage and unique characters that have made Puerto Vallarta a unique destination in Mexico.

The Sierra Madre Occidental

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When I first arrived in Puerto Vallarta, I was awestruck by the massive Sierra Madre mountain range that greeted me. To this day, I still find myself admiring the majestic peaks and rich biodiversity of this panoramic wonder.
Sierra Madre literally means “mother mountain range” and it includes a number of ranges throughout Mexico: Sierra Madre Oriental (northeast), Sierra Madre del Sur (south), Sierra Madre de Oaxaca (south-central), Sierra Madre de Chiapas (southeastern) and the Sierra Madre Occidental, which runs from southern Arizona into northwestern Mexico.
With an approximate length of 1,500 km (931 miles) and elevation of 3,311 m (10,863 feet), the Sierra Madre Occidental continues to give Puerto Vallarta a dramatic backdrop. You, too, will be awed by its high crests, deep canyons, pine-oak forests, stunning desserts and rivers, including the longest river in Mexico, the Rio Grande de Santiago.
While you are visiting, take some time to discover the Sierra Madre Occidental. Your family will love conquering its rough terrain with an ATV tour or flying through the trees on a zip-line adventure. Go for a hike or visit the many villages sprinkled throughout the mountainside. Whatever you choose, be sure to bring a camera. You will certainly want to capture the Sierra Madre’s 517 species of plants and wildlife.
To help your family learn more about the creatures of the Sierra Madre Occidental, try a little crossword fun. You may just discover some new and exciting mammals, reptiles and insects, oh my!

Teenagers make a CompassioNet Impact in Puerto Vallarta

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Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco - For an entire week, a group of eleven students and their chaperones from Fort Collins, CO, relaxed and enjoyed our beautiful Mexican beaches, local taco stands, and wonderful sunshine. This group came to Puerto Vallarta with a greater purpose however: to donate their time to the under-resourced.
By making arrangements with a local non-profit organization, CompassioNet Impact, this group was able to participate in a number of on-going community outreach projects during their stay. The group also worked closely with one of CompassioNet’s partner organizations, New Beginnings Ministry, located on Madre Selva Street right next to the dump.
This group arrived on June 4, and left on June 12. In those eight days, Mark Stiger, Paulo Brito, Jill Brito, Tucker Lehman, David Garcia, T.J. King, Jamie Gilbreath, Bill Larson, Connor Larson, Lauren Smailes, and Ben Pollock helped construct houses, bought, cooked and served over 750 hamburgers, hot dogs and quesadillas, taught English, and played with the children at the Casa Hogar Orphanage. I met up with this group at Madre Selva, part of the community that has formed around the now closed city dump beyond Pitillal.
One half of the group was busy working alongside the locals replacing walls made from sheets and cardboard with stronger corrugated tarpaper. The other half was cooking 120 hamburgers and slicing tomatoes and onions. The team, in a show of solidarity and friendship, also ate with their new friends and gave leftovers to those working in the dump. After lunch, they joined a CompassioNet English teacher to help with the English classes. Lauren Smailes paid $650 of her hard-earned babysitting money to make this trip. “It has been very eye-opening,” Lauren said, “that, despite the conditions, the people I’ve met here are smiling. Yesterday, I met a 13-year-old boy digging through garbage in the dump to get cans for recycling.” Shaking her head, Lauren said, “I’m in school, and he’s in trash.”
While this group of volunteers was affiliated with their church, Vineyard Church of the Rockies, anyone can volunteer for CompassioNet Impact while in Puerto Vallarta. Some of the volunteer opportunities include:
Teaching English
Hot meal outreaches
The Vallarta Bookmobile
Home building and remodeling
One of the volunteers in this group of eleven was Tucker Lehman, a graduate of the Anglo-American School here in Puerto Vallarta. Tucker moved here when he was 12-years-old with his parents, Ric and Joy Lehman, the founders of CompassioNet Impact. Tucker spent his junior and senior years of high school volunteering with the Vallarta Bookmobile. Tucker is now 20-years-old and a Theater major at Colorado State University. Pastor Ric Lehman says, “CompassioNet Impact exists to form strategic partnerships and initiate programs that provide opportunities for people living in chronic poverty to rise above their circumstances. We like to call it ‘planting seeds of hope for the future.’” He went on to say, “We spell it CompassioNet because we want to form a Network of compassion here in Vallarta.”
A big part of forming the network is using Paradise Community Center as a fund-raising tool for CompassioNet Impact and other non-profits serving the area. The community center is currently hosting concerts, dinners, coffee with the author, and many other events in a campaign called, “Say no to low (season).” As the saying goes, “Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.” If you would like to donate time or money to CompassioNet Impact, please visit their website at www.4compassion.org or e-mail compassionet@gmail.com. Check out www.paradisecommunitycenter.com to see a calendar of upcoming events and to sign up for the newsletter.

SPCA Weekly Newsletter

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ADORABLE DOG SPOTLIGHT....JORDAN
Meet Jordan. He is approximately nine months old and weighs 13.5 kilos. He is a very sweet tempered Labrador mix.

An ideal sporting and family dog, the Labrador retriever thrives as part of an active family. A double-coated breed which sheds seasonally, regular grooming keeps his coat at its water-resistant best. Because of his even temperament and trainability millions own a Labrador retriever as a pet. He’s a perfect pal for romps at the playa!

ADORABLE CAT SPOTLIGHT...SERAFINA
We have a number of young adult cats available for adoption. Serafina is a wonderful example who deserves a loving home.
There are a number of advantages when adopting a young adult cat versus a kitten. Although still playful, a young cat is less likely to get underfoot as a kitten. They are healthy, having been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. At this age they are housebroken, i.e. litter trained, socialized and less likely to get into “trouble”. Also importantly, you will know your cat’s basic personality, his likes and dislikes. (Believe me, he’ll let you know.) Bonding continues to be important, and your continued good care will strengthen your cat’s trust in you, which is vital to your relationship.
To see all the animals available for adoption, visit our website (www.spcapv.com or www.spcapv.blogspot.com). The SPCA PV will continue to host adoption events at Biblioteca Los Mangos every Saturday from 10am - 2pm. Biblioteca Los Mangos is located on Francisco Villa around the corner from Costco.

ADOPTION REPORT
We had an OK day at adoptions. Two dogs (Shiloh and Rolo) were adopted as well as three cats (Boots, Manchas and Ricky).
Special thanks to our volunteers who braved the hot/humid day: Peggy and her daughter Angelia, as well as our staunch supporters Luz and Marj.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
With summer upon us, we are experiencing a shortage of volunteers at the library each Saturday. Please consider helping us out. If we were able to get a number of volunteers, it could be possible to split the day into two shifts making it easier on everyone. We realize it is hot and humid out there but we need to give all our animals the opportunity to find their forever homes. If you could consider helping, even a few Saturdays a month, please contact us at spcapv@gmail.com.
Photos courtesy of Sandra Briones (www.sandorafoto.com)

What’s in a name?

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… That which we call rain by any other name would be as wet.

According to popular belief, the Inuit have over a hundred or so words for snow. While that may or may not be true, as the rainy season takes hold of Vallarta, it becomes apparent that rain expressions and idioms are not limited to the British (and those living in Seattle). Indeed the Spanish language is also rich in rain vocabulary and has many creative alternatives to our favorite English language rain expressions.
You no longer need to limit yourselves to está lloviendo or llueve (it’s raining). Below is a short selection of the most common ways of describing the rain in Spanish (some of which are specific to Mexico). Impress your Mexican neighbors during the next downpour with the accuracy of your description.
 Spanish                                                        English
Está chispeando                                         Light spotting of rain
Está chipi-chipi                                          Light spotting of rain
Agua espanta tontos                                   Light spotting of rain
                                                                     (lit. rain that frightens fools)
Llovizna (está lloviznando)                       Drizzle (it’s drizzling)
Brizna (está briznando)                             Very light misty drizzle
Agua moja tontos                                       Drizzle that gets you really wet without
                                                                     realizing it (lit. rain that gets fools wet)
Aguacero                                                     Downpour
Dios lloró sobre la tierra                          Downpour (lit. God cried on the earth)
Chubasco                                                    Very heavy rain / cloudburst
Diluvio                                                        Heavy downpour / deluge
Está cayendo el cielo                                Heavy downpour (lit. the sky is falling
                                                                    / the heavens open)
Los cielos rasgaron                                  The heavens tear apart
Se exprimieron las nubes                        The clouds are squeezed / wrung
Lluvia torrencial                                       Torrential rain
Tormenta                                                   A storm
Llueve a cántaros                                     Raining buckets
Lluvia monsónica                                     Monsoon rains