LONDON -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday disputed paying a bribe to ensure he stayed in control of the glamorous motorsport series, and then fabricating the reason to pay a banker. [url=http://www.nbaknicksauthority.com/kristaps-porzingis-knicks-jersey- c-20/]Kristaps Porzingis Jersey

LONDON -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone on Wednesday disputed paying a bribe to ensure he stayed in control of the glamorous motorsport series, and then fabricating the reason to pay a banker. Kristaps Porzingis Jersey . Under cross-examination at the High Court in London, Ecclestone said he was blackmailed by the banker tasked with selling a significant stake in F1, and paid him off to avoid being reported to the authorities over his tax affairs. "I made up my mind he needed to be kept quiet," Ecclestone said after claiming he was "shaken down" by BayernLBs Gerhard Gribkowsky. Former F1 shareholder Constantin Medien contests that Ecclestone and his family trust entered into a "corrupt bargain" with Gribkowsky to ensure BayernLBs 47 per cent F1 stake was sold in 2005 to the buyer desired by the sports long-standing commercial chief. Gribkowsky received an alleged bribe totalling US$44 million which led to investment group CVC Capital Partners acquiring the stake. Constantin Medien, a German media company, is suing Ecclestone and other defendants for up to $144 million, claiming F1 was undervalued by the BayernLB deal. Ecclestone maintained Wednesday that at the time of the deal -- and now -- he was not trying to safeguard his own future in F1, insisting he doesnt "want to die as CEO" of F1. "As long as I have got control of the company I will continue to be there ... I am in a fortunate position -- I dont need a job," Ecclestone said. Asked by Constantin Medien lawyer Philip Marshall about the prospect of retirement, the 83-year-old Ecclestone replied: "I dont mind, Ive got plenty of things to do." In a case that could threaten Ecclestones future with F1, a German court is deciding whether he will stand trial on charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust. Ecclestones legal team maintains that a "consultancy package" was paid to Gribkowsky, who was jailed in Germany last year for 8 1/2 years for taking the payment. In the High Court, Ecclestone was asked why he responded to the apparent blackmail threat by seeking the advice of an in-house accountant rather than lawyers, and did not approach the police. "It doesnt make any sense," Marshall said. "You are in a situation where you are being asked to pay millions of dollars over a threat or an insinuation that may cause you tax problems. You dont ask any of the lawyers ... thats just something (a reason) you fabricated. You have made it up." Ecclestone, appearing for the first time in person in the second week of the civil trial, spoke quietly at times and regularly banged the desk as he grew increasingly frustrated with questioning. Ecclestone said he was happy to pay Gribkowsky $22.5 million himself to avoid any potential tax investigation, and saw little point in contacting the police. "I wanted to get rid of (Gribkowsky) making silly statements," Ecclestone said. Ecclestone built his powerbase in F1 from the 1970s and helped to create the Formula One Constructors Association that controlled the business side of the series, including selling the TV rights. The British-based company later became known as Formula One Management. CVC, having amassed a 63 per cent stake of F1, has reduced its holding as other investors have come on board in recent years, although a planned flotation has stalled. Constantin Medien is claiming it lost out due to the deal negotiated by Gribkowsky. Gribkowsky is a defendant in the case along with Ecclestones lawyer, Stephen Mullens, and the Ecclestone family trust, Bambino Holdings. Anthony Mason Jersey . Kevin Martin and Kevin Love paced the Timberwolves like they do so often. Martin had 27 points with some key baskets down the stretch, Love had his usual double-double, and the Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 112-106 victory Saturday night over the suddenly slipping Dallas Mavericks. Willis Reed Jersey . Colorado came up big against Chicago last spring, and repeated that performance Tuesday night. Varlamov stopped 36 shots and Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche in a 5-1 victory over the Blackhawks. http://www.nbaknicksauthority.com/john-starks-knicks-jersey-c-12/ .com) - Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some scoring depth and hell look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers.Eastbourne, England (SportsNetwork.com) - Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and former world No. 1 star Caroline Wozniacki were among Wednesdays second-round winners at the final grass-court Wimbledon tune-up in Eastbourne. The second-seeded 2011 Eastbourne runner-up Kvitova handled American Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-4, while the eighth-seeded Dane Wozniacki waltzed past American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-3 at the Aegon International. Kvitovas quarterfinal opponent on Thursday will be Britains own Heather Watson, while Wozniacki will take on rising Italian Camila Giorgi at Devonshire Park. In other action involving seeds, No. 5 German Angelique Kerber outlasted Frances Alize Cornet 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3) and the wild card Watson ousted No. Mark Jackson Jersey. 6 Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, American Lauren Davis leveled Slovak and 2004 Eastbourne runner-up Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3; American Madison Keys topped Russian Elena Vesnina 7-5, 7-6 (11-9); Giorgi overcame British wild card Johanna Konta 1-6, 7-5, 7-5; and Ekaterina Makarova erased fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 on Day 3. The other quarterfinals will pit Kerber against the 2010 Eastbourne runner-up Makarova and Davis versus her compatriot Keys. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '