Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Uruguay win World Cup playoff matches
Trinidad-Tobago-Bahrain winLONDON (AP)
Spain, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Uruguay each took a positive step toward qualifying for next year's World Cup
finals by winning their playoff matches on Saturday.
Only Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain, the smallest nations left in the running, were stalemated in a 1-1 draw at
Port-of-Spain.
Spain, which hasn't lost any of its 17 games under coach Luis Aragones, was the biggest winner, getting three goals from
Luis Garcia in a 5-1 rout of Slovakia.
Vladimir Smicer scored the lone goal in the Czech Republic's 1-0 victory over Norway, while the Swiss topped 2002
semifinalist Turkey 2-0 and Uruguay edged Australia 1-0.
Fernando Torres also scored for Spain at the Vicente Calderon stadium by converting a penalty, and substitute Fernando
Morientes added the fifth goal.
Spain is trying to qualify for the World Cup finals for the eighth straight time.
Although Spain is one of soccer's traditional powerhouses, the team has a poor record in international championships.
The Spanish won the 1964 European Championship but have not been past the quarterfinals of the World Cup since 1950.
Slovakia, which is trying to get there for the first time since the breakup of Czechoslovakia, finished the match with nine men
after Marian Had was sent off for protesting.
Slovakia coach Dusan Galis was also red carded.
Smicer, left unmarked in front of the goal, beat Norway goalkeeper Thomas Myhre from eight meters (yards) in the 32nd
minute. Karel Poborsky set up the goal with a cross from the right at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway.
The Czechs have never qualified for the World Cup finals, but Czechoslovakia reached the quarterfinals in 1990 _ three years
before it split from Slovakia.
«We came here to try to win or at least score and we managed to fulfill both,» Smicer said. «Now we have to take a rest and
prepare for the second leg.» Philippe Senderos and Valon Behrami scored a goal each for Switzerland.
Senderos scored first with a glancing header off a free kick from Ludovic Magnin in the 40th minute, and Behrami added the
insurance in the 86th at Stade de Suisse.
The Swiss last played in the World Cup finals in 1994.
Turkey reached the semifinals three years ago in South Korea and Japan.
Dario Rodriguez scored the lone goal for two-time World Cup champion Uruguay in the 35th minute.
Four years ago, Australia won 1-0 at home in the first leg but lost 3-0 in Uruguay.
In the Caribbean, Bahrain's Husein Salman knocked in a header in the 72nd minute and Trinidad's Christopher Birchall
scored from 45 meters in the 77th.
The second legs are scheduled for Wednesday, with the winners claiming the five remaining berths for next year's World Cup
finals in Germany.
The 27 teams already qualified for the World Cup are: Croatia, France, England, Germany (host), Italy, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Serbia-Montenegro, Sweden, Ukraine from Europe; Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay from South America;
Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia from Africa; Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea from Asia; and Costa Rica,
Mexico, United States from CONCACAF.
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Soccer-Hearts appoint Rix as coach By Kenny MacDonald
GLASGOW, November 7, (Reuters)
Former Chelsea assistant manager Graham Rix has been named as the new Hearts coach
and will be unveiled at a news conference on Tuesday, the Scottish Premier League club said on
Monday.
Rix will succeed George Burley, who left the club last month due to "irreconcilable differences"
after leading Hearts to the top of the table.
"Graham Rix is the new coach and the details of his contract will be announced at the
conference," said a spokesman for majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.
The 48-year-old Rix, who has also managed Portsmouth and Oxford United, made his name as a
player at Arsenal and won 17 England caps.
His first game in charge of Hearts, who are now level on points with Celtic at the top but with an
inferior goal difference to the Glasgow side, will be the fixture at Aberdeen on Nov. 19.
Burley was sacked on the eve of the home league game against Dunfermline Athletic on Oct. 22.
Chairman George Foulkes quit in protest 10 days later, branding Romanov "a dictator".
HOSTILE RESPONSE Rix's appointment has met with a hostile response from many Hearts fans
concerned after he served six months of a 12-month sentence for unlawful sex with an under-age
15-year-old girl in 2000.
Martin Laidlaw, chairman of Hearts Supporters Trust, told the Daily Record: "The revelations that
Rix is going to be the new Hearts manager has sparked real concerns among the supporters.
"It would not be appropriate on the basis of his past offence.
"I appreciate Rix was once a highly-regarded first team coach but his star and credibility have
dimished after what has happened to him away from the game." Rix played 464 games for Arsenal,
scoring 51 goals.
He later had spells in France with Caen and Le Havre before returning to Britain to play at Dundee
in 1993.
Rix joined Chelsea the same year as youth team coach before becoming assistant manager to
Ruud Gullit in 1996.
He stayed in the post when Gianluca Vialli took over as Chelsea manager in 1998.
After leaving Chelsea in 2000, Rix had spells in charge of Portsmouth and Oxford.
Soccer-Getafe fans reported for racist chants at Eto'o MADRID
November 7 (Reuters) The referee at
Getafe's Primera Liga match against Barcelona on Sunday has reported the Madrid club's fans for
making racist chants at Barca's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o.
"At various points throughout the game when Barcelona's Eto'o contested the ball, some sectors
of the crowd imitated the sound of a monkey," referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez wrote in his official
match report on Monday.
"The game was stopped once because of this, and an announcement put out on the public
address system, asking people to stop making the noises.
"The club also put a message on the electronic scoreboard saying 'No to racism'." Getafe were
fined 600 euros last year, after the corresponding fixture, following similar incidents of racist
chanting.
Barcelona won Sunday's game 3-1, with Eto'o opening the scoring in the first minute.
"We should all unite to fight these kinds of racist acts," Eto'o said. "What's most important is that
the footballers are united against it.
"I would like to thank the directors of Getafe for the way they acted and hope that other stadiums
will take note of what they did."
Rugby-Pelous on bench against Canada pending hearing
By Jean-Paul Couret MARCOUSSIS, France, November 7 (Reuters) France coach Bernard Laporte named
his captain Fabien Pelous on the replacements' bench for Saturday's test against Canada pending an
IRB disciplinary hearing.
Pelous has been cited by the International Rugby Board (IRB) commissioner for elbowing
Australia's hooker Brendan Cannon in the 49th minute of France's 26-16 win over Australia on
Saturday in Marseille.
The hearing will take place on Wednesday in London. Elbowing can carry a suspension from two
weeks to a year.
"I am not going to defend Fabien but I just hope he will get a fair hearing," Laporte told reporters.
"When Christophe Dominici nearly died on the pitch in Italy last season, the Italian player escaped
punishment. Brendan Cannon finished Saturday's match which means he was not seriously injured,"
he added.
"Pelous has been cited, I can't disagree with that but if he is suspended whereas Perugini wasn't,
we will entitled to doubt the fairness of the disciplinary commissions", Laporte said.
Dominici was unconscious for two and a half minutes after being tackled around the neck by
Italian prop Salvatore Perugini at the Stadio Flamino on March 19.
Team manager Jo Maso said Pelous would be on the bench even if he was cleared by the
commission, leaving his lock slot to Lionel Nallet and the captain's duties to his usual partner in the
second row, Jerome Thion.
The French selectors made six other changes to the starting line-up which defeated Australia in
Marseille.
Saracens fullback Thomas Castaignede was handed his first start since June 2003 after coming on
as a replacement against the Wallabies.
IBANEZ RETURNS "Thomas plays at fullback with his club and we decided to put him in the
best conditions to prove his fans that he is back at his best," Maso said.
"We also keep in mind that he could become our third flyhalf for the World Cup with Frederic
Michalak and Yann Delaigue.
Back rower Julien Bonnaire has been recalled after serving a suspension for violent conduct in the
French championship.
Sylvain Marconnet is back at loosehead prop and hooker Sebastien Bruno takes over from Dimitri
Szarzewski, who appears before a Heineken Cup disciplinary committee on Tuesday, after being
cited after a match between his club Stade Francais and Leicester.
Dimitri Yachvili replaces Jean-Baptiste Elissalde at scrumhalf and David Marty will be at outside
centre in place of Florian Fritz.
Hooker Raphael Ibanez has been recalled to the bench for the first time since the 2003 World Cup
third-place playoff against New Zealand.
Ibanez, 32, has won 72 caps since 1996. He was captain of the France team which reached the
1999 World Cup final but fell out of favour with coach Bernard Laporte soon after he was
appointed in 2000.
"It's wonderful when you see players such as Raphael come and tell you they are available again
and would like to test themselves," Maso said.
"One can only say bravo and thank you, we'll give you an opportunity to prove your worth. I can
already announce that Raphael will start the match against Tonga on November 19.
Team: 15-Thomas Castaignede, 14-Aurelien Rougerie, 13-David Marty, 12-Yannick Jauzion,
11-Cedric Heymans; 10-Frederic Michalak, 9-Dimitri Yachvili; 8-Thomas Lievremont, 7-Remy
Martin, 6-Julien Bonnaire, 5-Jerome Thion, 4-Lionel Nallet, 3-Pieter de Villiers, 2-Sebastien Bruno,
1-Sylvain Marconnet Replacements: 16-Sebastien Bruno, 17-Olivier Milloud, 18-Fabien Pelous or
Gregory Lamboley, 19-Yannick Nyanga, 20-Pierre Mignoni, 21-Yann Delaigue, 22-Julien
Laharrague.
************************
Baseball-White Sox damage Indians post-season bid with 4-3 win
NEW YORK, Oct 1 (Reuters) Rookie Tadahito Iguchi hit a
three-run homer as the Chicago White Sox edged the slumping
Cleveland Indians 4-3 at Jacobs Field on Saturday, dealing the
Tribe's post-season hopes another crushing blow.
The Indians head into the final game of their regular season
against the White Sox on Sunday needing a win and the Boston Red
Sox to lose to the New York Yankees to force a one-game playoff
to decide the American League wildcard berth.
The Red Sox lead the wildcard standings one game clear of
the Indians.
In Boston, the Yankees clinched the AL East title for the
eighth consecutive year with an 8-4 victory leaving the World
Series champions needing to win the wildcard to return to the
playoffs.
At the start of the week the Indians looked headed for the
playoffs as they battled the White Sox for the AL Central title
and set the pace the wildcard chase.
But a late season swoon that has seen the Tribe lose five of
their last six, including back-to-back one-run losses to the
White Sox, has left Cleveland fighting for survival.
Trailing 1-0, the White Sox sent shockwaves through the
Cleveland crowd with a four-run burst in the seventh highlighted
by Iguchi's three-run blast over the wall to deep centre which
scored Geoff Blum and Pablo Ozuna.
The Indians rallied in the bottom of the inning with Aaron
Boone and Casey Blake each driving in a run to trim the deficit
to 4-3.
Cleveland continued to rally, loading the bases in the
eighth with one out, but could not complete a comeback as they
failed to cash in the tying run.
Bob Jenks came on in the ninth to record the final three
outs to clinch the victory and his sixth save of the season.
Chicago starter John Garland (18-10) took credit for the win
yielding two runs on four hits, striking out five and walking
one in 6-2/3 innings.
Jake Westbrook (15-15) suffered the loss allowing all four
runs on nine hits over seven innings.
********************************
Phillies win to move within one of Astros
NEW YORK 1-9-05(Reuters) - Ryan Howard homered and Cory Lidle
delivered a determined effort on the mound as the Philadelphia
Phillies edged Washington Nationals 4-3 on Friday to move
within a game of the Houston Astros in the National League
wildcard race. Houston began the night with a two game cushion
but saw their lead trimmed to one after falling 4-3 to the
Chicago Cubs. Both teams have two games remaining in the
regular season.
Indians wildcard hopes damaged with 3-2 loss
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ross Gload stroked a two-run double in
the 13th inning lifting the Chicago White Sox to a 3-2 win over
the Cleveland Indians on Friday at Jacobs Field, dealing the
Tribe's postseason hopes a crushing blow. It was a
heartbreaking loss for the Indians and their fans who watched
their team rally in the ninth to force extra innings only to
fall one game behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in
the American League wildcard race.
Wie set for move into professional ranks
LONDON (Reuters) - American Michelle Wie, the most
celebrated teenage player since Tiger Woods, will turn
professional on Wednesday, according to Golf World magazine.
The 15-year-old schoolgirl, who has set her sights on becoming
the first woman to play in a men's major, is expected to make
the announcement at the Kahala Mandarin Hotel near Waialae
Country Club in Honolulu.
Murray earns final clash with Federer
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Andy Murray's meteoric rise continued
on Saturday when he ousted home favorite Paradorn Srichaphan to
book a meeting with world number one Roger Federer in the final
of the Thailand Open. The 18-year-old Briton, who broke into
the world's top 100 earlier this week after starting the year
ranked 411, won 6-7 7-5 6-2 to reach his first ATP final.
Former NFL back Timmy Smith faces drug charges
DENVER (Reuters) - Former NFL running back Timmy Smith, who
holds a Super Bowl rushing record, was arrested on Friday after
selling cocaine to an undercover agent, the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration said. As agents moved in with guns
drawn, Smith, 41, fled in a sport utility vehicle, but he was
caught 20 minutes later by police, supervisory agent Jeff Walsh
told reporters.
Clijsters to face Groenefeld in Luxembourg final
LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Top seed Kim Clijsters breezed into
the Luxembourg Open final with a 6-3 6-1 demolition of French
fourth seed Nathalie Dechy on Saturday. The Belgian now faces
Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld, who reached a second successive
final by outslugging Russia's Dinara Safina 6-4 5-7 6-4 in a
battle of the big hitters.
Dickau traded to Celtics for second round draft pick
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New Orleans Hornets dealt guard
Dan Dickau to the Boston Celtics on Friday in exchange for a
second round pick in the 2006 draft. Dickau, who became an
unrestricted free agent following the end of the regular
season, was signed by the Hornets before the trade-in order to
facilitate the deal.
Ali-Frazier fight extracts dreadful price
LONDON (Reuters) - Every element illustrating the heroism,
fascination and moral ambiguity of prize fighting fused in the
incandescent world title clash between Muhammad Ali and Joe
Frazier in the punishing humidity of Manila 30 years ago. After
14 rounds of unremitting brutality and with the two
heavyweights on the verge of collapse, Frazier's corner told
their man it was time to quit.
Piniella and Devil Rays call it quits
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will part
company with manager Lou Piniella at the end of the season, the
team confirmed on Friday. "Lou is a great baseball man and
friend," managing general partner Vince Naimoli said in a
statement.
Huston takes charge at Greensboro Classic
NEW YORK (Reuters) - American John Huston returned an
error-free six-under-par 66 to grab a one-shot lead over South
Korea's KJ Choi after the second round of the $5 million
Greensboro Classic in North Carolina on Friday. Huston, who
began the day at Forest Oaks Country Club four behind overnight
leader Charles Warren, has carded only one bogey on his way to
a 12-under total of 132.
***************
Reuters Sports News 28-8-05
Loaiza helps Nationals equal Expos win record TORONTO (Reuters) - Esteban Loaiza pitched seven strong innings and Brad Wilkerson
led off the game with a home run, sparking the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the St.
Louis Cardinals. The win was the 67th of the season for the Nationals, matching the Montreal Expos total from the 2004 season, as
Washington stayed close in the NL Wild Card race.
Williams' two homers sees Yankees down Royals TORONTO (Reuters) - Bernie Williams hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the New
York Yankees to a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals in American League play Friday at Yankee Stadium. Alex Rodriguez also homered
to account for New York's other run as the Yankees stayed in a three-way tie for the AL Wild Card lead with Cleveland and Oakland
with the win.
Halladay ends his season as broken leg slow to heal TORONTO (Reuters) - Ace pitcher Roy Halladay will miss the rest of the season
after breaking his leg last month, the Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday. Halladay has been sidelined since being hit by a line drive
off the bat of Kevin Mench of the Texas Rangers on July 8. Originally the club expected him to miss just four to six weeks.
Donald, Howell poised for last day battle in Munich MUNICH (Reuters) - Luke Donald and David Howell, two of Britain's victorious Ryder
Cup players, are poised for a head-to-head battle for the BMW International Open on Sunday, although the Nord Eichenried event is no
two-horse race.
Donald, boosted by a chip-in for eagle at the par-five ninth that lifted him from a slow start, fired a five-under-par 67 in Saturday's
third round to finish at 17-under 199.
Davenport too strong for Mauresmo at New Haven NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (Reuters) - Top seed Lindsay Davenport warmed up for
next week's U.S. Open by beating Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-4 in New Haven Open final on Saturday. The American, who will regain the
world number one ranking from Russian Maria Sharapova on Monday, won the title for the first time having lost in the final on four
previous occasions.
Daly hopes to earn Ryder Cup place MUNICH (Reuters) - John Daly is targeting a Ryder Cup debut next year to rid himself of an
unwanted label. "I'll be 40 for the next match and the only guy who has won one major, much less two, who has never played on a
Ryder Cup team," the 1991 U.S. PGA champion and winner of the 1995 British Open said on Saturday.
World record for Bekele but not Isinbayeva BRUSSELS (Reuters) - World and Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele smashed his world
10,000 metres record with a time of 26 minutes 17.53 seconds to the delight of the capacity crowd at the Brussels Golden League
meeting on Friday. Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva was unable to add to her remarkable tally of world records though, failing at 5.02
metres.
Rose bursts four shots clear at Buick TORONTO (Reuters) - Britain's Justin Rose, hunting his first PGA Tour title, hit a seven-under-par
63 to charge four strokes clear of the field after the second round of the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut on Friday.
Without a bogey in the opening two days at the TPC at River Highlands, Rose tops the leaderboard on 12-under 128.
Red Sox fans fret over Schilling's poor start BOSTON (Reuters) - Grumbling among Boston Red Sox fans is growing louder after Curt
Schilling, the team's ace pitcher, was pounded in his eagerly-awaited return to the starting rotation. The Boston Herald ran a column on
Friday with the headline "Schill no thrill," echoing the concerns of Red Sox fans after Schilling allowed six earned runs over five innings to
baseball's worst team, the Kansas City Royals.
Former Mets pitcher Gooden to remain in jail TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Former All-Star pitcher Dwight Gooden was ordered held
without bail on charges he fled from police when asked to take a sobriety test, a Florida judge ruled Friday. Tampa police said they
stopped Gooden on Monday because he was driving erratically. When asked to take a sobriety test, Gooden refused and drove away,
police said. REUTERS
***************
Soccer-Barca win Super Cup despite home defeat by Betis
BARCELONA, 20-8-05 (Reuters)
League champions Barcelona
claimed their first trophy of the new season despite losing 2-1
at home to an under-strength Real Betis in the second leg of the
Spanish Super Cup on Saturday.
Frank Rijkaard's side, who claimed a sparkling 3-0 win in
the first leg in Seville last weekend, looked on course for
another victory when African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o put
them ahead with a trademark opportunist strike on 15 minutes.
But King's Cup winners Betis, who decided to field a shadow
side ahead of next week's Champions League qualifier against AS
Monaco, shocked the home crowd when reserve striker Dani grabbed
two goals in the space of five first-half minutes.
Barca had the better of the play after the break but,
despite several dynamic attacking moves involving Ronaldinho and
Eto'o, they were unable to find a way past an inspired Pedro
Contreras in the Betis goal.
The rare home defeat took the shine off the Catalans' sixth
victory in the Super Cup.
****************************
Inter Milan beats Juventus 1-0, wins Italian Super Cup
TURIN, Italy 20-8-05 (AP)
Inter Milan captured the Italian Super
Cup on Saturday by beating rival Juventus 1-0 in extra
time.
Midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, fed by Brazilian teammate
Adriano, scored the game-winner in the sixth minute of the
first period of extra time with a right-foot shot from the
area edge.
It was the second Super Cup title for the Milan side,
which last won the trophy 16 years ago. Juventus, the Serie
A champion, failed to equal AC Milan's record of five
titles.
David Trezeguet had a first-half goal for Juventus
disallowed for a dubious offside position, while a header
by Patrick Vieira struck the post and bounced out in the
57th minute.
The match at Stadio delle Alpi in front of 35,000 fans was
tense and well played despite battering rain.
«It was a tough match, and my players were almost
exhausted in extra time. Beginning tomorrow we will think
of Shakhtar Donetsk,» Inter coach Roberto Mancini said.
Inter will play Shakhtar at San Siro on Wednesday in the
second leg of the Champions League preliminary round. Inter
has a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
Both teams started strong attacking lineups Saturday with
players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet, Adriano
and Obafemi Martins, but regular time still ended in a 0-0
draw.
Martins missed a scoring chance in the 67th when he beat
Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti but hesitated in front
of the open goal and defender Gianluca Zambrotta came from
behind to make a desperate save.
Ibrahimovic came close to scoring twice in the second half
but his curling shots went just wide. Alessandro Del Piero,
fielded in the second half, squandered a chance in the
73rd, kicking wide.
After Veron's goal, Juventus coach Fabio Capello added
forwards Adrian Mutu and Marcelo Zalayeta, but the Inter
defense withstood the pressure in the second extra time
with Adriano helping in defense on corner kicks.
«Inter had two chances and scored one goal while we were
unable to take advantage of ours. Juventus played well and
produced good soccer. But we must accept the response of
the field,» Capello said.
Veron, who joined Inter last year from Chelsea, said the
victory «is a good start of another difficult season. We
hope it will give the self-confidence and determination we
need to do well in the upcoming campaign.»
The Serie A kicks off on Aug. 27, with Juventus, Inter and
AC Milan as the favorites.
******************************
NEWS 20-8-05
Woods, Perry share lead after wet day in Akron
AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Tiger Woods shrugged off a
three-hour delay for bad weather to tie for the lead with
fellow American Kenny Perry before play was suspended for the
day in the third round of the WGC-NEC Invitational on Saturday.
World number one Woods began a wet and wild day at the
Firestone Country Club in a share of the lead with Briton Luke
Donald and finished it the same way after two lengthy
interruptions.
Federer battles into Cincinnati final
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer was
forced to dig deep to beat American wildcard Robby Ginepri 4-6
7-5 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Cincinnati
Masters. Federer, who has won his last 21 finals, now meets
third seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia or fifth-seeded American
Andy Roddick.
Edmonds' two-run double takes Cardinals to win
TORONTO (Reuters) - Jim Edmonds hit a two-run double,
capping a wild five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning
to give the St. Louis Cardinals a dramatic 5-4 win over the San
Francisco Giants in National League play on Friday in St.
Louis. Trailing 4-0, the Cardinals erupted for five runs off a
shaky Giants bullpen in the ninth, with Yadier Molina hitting a
three-run homer to set the stage for Edmonds' game-winning hit.
Kansas City Royals suffer 19th straight loss
OAKLAND (Reuters) - Rich Harden pitched 6 1/3 shutout
innings and Jay Payton homered as the Oakland Athletics
defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-0, handing the Royals their
19th consecutive defeat in American League play Friday night.
Harden (10-5) allowed just four hits while striking out six and
walking two and four relievers completed the five-hitter,
leaving the frustrated Royals looking for answers.
Clijsters crushes Myskina to reach Toronto final
TORONTO (Reuters) - Seventh seed Kim Clijsters raced into
the final of the $1.3 million Rogers Cup thanks to a 6-4 6-1
drubbing of Russian Anastasia Myskina on Saturday. "I was starting to feel better and better as the match went on," the
former world number one from Belgium told reporters. "I'm very
happy with this win."
U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova eyes New Haven title
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova
spearheads a strong women's field at the Pilot Pen tournament
which begins in New Haven, Connecticut on Sunday. Lindsay
Davenport, who will lose her world number one ranking to
Russian Maria Sharapova on Monday, is top seed while world
number three Amelie Mauresmo of France and number six Elena
Dementieva of Russia also compete.
Lightning forces second halt in play at Firestone
AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Third round play at the WGC-NEC
Invitational was suspended for a second time on Saturday
because of the threat of lightning at Firestone Country Club.
World number one Tiger Woods was tied for the lead with fellow
American Kenny Perry at seven under par when sirens sounded
across the South Course to halt play.
Belkin sells stake in Hawks, paves way for Johnson deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Steve Belkin agreed to sell his
ownership interest in the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, paving the
way for the club to acquire Phoenix Suns forward Joe Johnson.
Belkin sold his 30 percent stake in the Atlanta Spirit, which
owns the Hawks and the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers. He also
resigned "effective immediately" as the Hawks's NBA governor.
Stenson hoping crime pays off with big win
AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - After his wife had her purse stolen
at a restaurant, Henrik Stenson arrived at the $7.5 million WGC
NEC Invitational this week with ideas of pulling off a daring
heist of his own. Playing in his first events in the United
States, Stenson's visit to America has been an eventful and
learning experience on and off the golf course.
Player names Baker-Finch his Presidents Cup assistant
AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - Australian Ian Baker-Finch will
return as assistant captain of the International side for next
month's Presidents Cup team competition against the U.S. "I am
really happy Baker-Finch is going to be my assistant," said
captain Gary Player in a statement on Friday. "Our team is now
complete.
REUTERS
Liverpool wins Champions League
25-5-05 ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP)
Liverpool wins Champions League title after beating AC Milan 3-2 in penalty
Liverpool overcame a three-goal halftime deficit to win its first European Cup title in 21 years, beating AC Milan 3-2 on
penalties after a 3-3 draw in the Champions League final.
Andriy Shevchenko, whose shootout spot kick clinched Milan's sixth title two years ago, failed this time, giving the
English team the title in a match that started Wednesday and finished in the early minutes of Thursday morning.
In the highest scoring final since Benfica beat Real Madrid 5-3 in 1962, Liverpool became the first team to win the
trophy after trailing 3-0.
It was Liverpool's fifth title, meaning it will be able to keep the trophy for good. But it may not be enough to get the
team into next year's competition _ Liverpool finished in fifth place in the English Premier League, and only the top
four gain berths for the next tournament.
Paolo Maldini, who was chasing his fifth title, gave Milan the lead in the 50th Champions Cup final after just 52
seconds and Hernan Crespo added two more goals before halftime. Maldini, who is 36, is the oldest scorer in a
Champions League final.
But three goals in seven minutes by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso made it
3-3.
The match then went to a shootout and Liverpool, which also won its last title on penalties in 1984, did it again.
«Three-0 down at halftime I thought I was going to be in tears at the final whistle,» Gerrard said. «I'm finding it hard
to talk. It's hard to sum up how good I'm feeling at the moment _ I'm just on top of the world.» Milan's Serginho and
Andrea Pirlo both missed and Liverpool went ahead 2-0 through Dietmar Hamann and Djibril Cisse. Milan leveled
when John Arne Riise missed and Jon Dahl Tomasson and Kaka scored for Milan, but Smicer made his shot and
Shevchenko's spot kick was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.
«We played a good match. We had six minutes of craziness,» Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. «It was something
which can't be explained. It's not the moment of regrets. We are sorry, embittered, but this is soccer.» A few minutes
before the shootout, the Polish 'keeper made two stunning saves to foil the Ukrainian at the end of extra time.
«I don't think anyone has seen a game like that. I cannot believe we've just won. People will talking about that game
in 20 or 30 years,» Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said.
The noise level in the 75,000-capacity Ataturk Stadium was already deafening when Milan took an early lead.
Djimi Traore fouled Brazil midfielder Kaka to the right of the Liverpool area and Pirlo aimed the free kick close to
the penalty spot. Maldini, who hadn't scored all season, volleyed past Dudek.
Liverpool almost leveled three minutes later when a powerful shot from Riise struck a teammate and then Sami
Hyypia's diving header was straight at 'keeper Dida.
Luis Garcia rescued Liverpool by blocking Crespo's header on the line in the 14th minute before his team lost
Australia forward Harry Kewell with an early injury.
Shevchenko rolled the ball into the Liverpool net in the 28th minute from Kaka's pass but it was ruled out for
offside. But a second goal came six minutes before halftime with Liverpool appealing for a penalty at the other end.
The Liverpool players believed that Alessandro Nesta had handled the ball while lying on the turf. Spanish referee
Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez waved to play on, and Kaka sent Shevchenko clear down the right. The Ukraine
striker looked up to see Crespo unmarked at the far post and his low cross gave the Argentine an easy tap in.
With two minutes to go before the break, Crespo added the third, taking a through ball from Kaka and running
clear of the Liverpool defense before chipping it over the advancing Dudek.
It appeared that Milan was running away with the 50th final but Liverpool's defiant fans began singing «We're gonna
win 4-3» at halftime. The Reds then hit back with three goals in seven minutes to level at 3-3.
«We were talking at halftime about how we need to do something and change things, if we can score it will be
different. We scored and it was different,» Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said.
Gerrard scored the first with a glancing long-range header from Riise's cross, the England midfielder timing his run
just right to jump and guide his header into the top corner.
«The manager said at halftime to keep our chins up and to try and score early. I think that was the turning point,»
Gerrard said.
Two minutes later, Smicer received a square ball from second-half substitute Hamann and fired a low shot across
Dida and into the far corner.
The third came after a missed penalty.
Liverpool carved open the Milan defense and Gennaro Gattuso was judged to have pulled down Gerrard. Dida
managed to block Alonso's penalty but the Spaniard followed up to score and make it 3-3 with 30 minutes to go.
Dida blocked another firm drive from Riise and Traore cleared off the line from Shevchenko, but the chances at
both ends failed to find the net, sending the match to 30 minutes of extra time.
Shevchenko had a great chance to avoid the drama of penalties when Serginho's cross found him in front of goal
with two minutes remaining. But Dudek managed to block his first shot and then recovered to push his follow up effort
over the bar.
Real Madrid 9 (1956, '57, '58, '59, '60, '66, '98, 2000,2002)
AC Milan 6 (1963, '69, '89, 90, 94, 2003)
Liverpool 5 (1977, '78, '81, '84, 2005)
Ajax 4 (1971, '72, '73, '95)
Bayern Munich 4 (1974, '75, '76, 2001)
Benfica 2 (1961, '62)
Inter Milan 2 (1964, '65) Juventus 2 (1985, '96)
Manchester United 2 (1968, '99) Nottingham Forest 2 (1979, '80) FC Porto 2 (1987, 2004)
Most Finals
Real Madrid 12 AC Milan 10 Bayern Munich 7 Benfica 7 Juventus 7 Ajax 6
Liverpool 6 Inter Milan 4 FC Barcelona 4
***********************************
Reuters Sports News Summary 7/5/2005
Giacomo wins Kentucky Derby
TORONTO (Reuters). Giacomo, the second biggest long shot
winner in Kentucky Derby history, staged a stirring charge down
the stretch to claim the 131st Run for the Roses on Saturday
and first jewel of the Triple Crown. Winless in three starts
this season and a 50-1 long shot, Giacomo was given a perfect
ride by Mike Smith.
Konerko hits two homers for White Sox seventh win
TORONTO (Reuters) - Paul Konerko hit two home runs to guide
the streaking Chicago White Sox to their seventh consecutive
victory with a 10-7 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays in
American League play Saturday at the Rogers Center. Jon Garland
became the AL's first six-game winner as the surprising White
Sox improved to 23-7, the best record in the major leagues.
Sweeney drives in two as Padres edge out Cards
TORONTO (Reuters) - Mark Sweeney's two-run double keyed a
four-run fifth inning as the San Diego Padres edged the St.
Louis Cardinals 5-4 for their sixth straight victory in
National League play Saturday in St. Louis. Adam Eaton survived
a rough start to go 6 2/3 innings for the win and Trevor
Hoffman closed out the game for his 401st career save for the
Padres to hand the Cardinals their third straight loss.
Swedes serve Canada notice, Czechs roll
VIENNA (Reuters) - Sweden served notice to champions Canada
that a gold medal hat-trick is anything but a done deal after
beating them 5-4, while the Czech Republic handed Slovakia a
5-1 drubbing at the world hockey championship Saturday. Kenny
Jonsson scored at 13:47 of the third period to break a 4-4
deadlock as the unbeaten Swedes handed Canada their first
defeat of the tournament.
Coria ends Agassi's run at Rome Masters
ROME (Reuters) - Andre Agassi's Rome Masters bid ended when
he lost 7-5 7-6 to Argentine ninth seed Guillermo Coria in the
semi-finals on Saturday. In the final Coria will play another
claycourt specialist, Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal who beat
compatriot David Ferrer 4-6 6-4 7-5. The match will be a repeat
of last month's Monte Carlo Masters final, which Nadal won in
four sets.
Wizards advance to conference semi-final
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Washington Wizards advanced to the
second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in 23
years, after a combined team effort helped them rally past the
Chicago Bulls 94-91 at home on Friday. With the game tied at
91-91, Jared Jefferies scooped up a Chicago turnover and raced
down the court for the game winning dunk with 33 seconds
remaining, sending the packed crowd into a frenzy.
Chelsea celebrate with late win over Charlton
LONDON (Reuters) - Premier League champions Chelsea needed
a last-minute strike by Claude Makelele to celebrate their
first championship in 50 years with a 1-0 win over Charlton
Athletic Saturday. The relegation battle will go to the final
round of matches after Crystal Palace and Southampton drew 2-2,
Norwich City beat Birmingham City 1-0 and West Bromwich Albion
earned a surprise 1-1 draw at Manchester United.
Spaniard Garcia goes six clear at Wachovia
TORONTO (Reuters) - Spain's Sergio Garcia enjoyed a
sizzling finish to surge six shots clear of the field at the
$5.6 million Wachovia championship after carding a third round
five-under 67 in Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday. Garcia,
who has held the lead at the Quail Hollow Club since the
opening round, made the best possible start to the day with a
birdie at the par-four first.
Ralf Schumacher sets pace in Spain
BARCELONA (Reuters) - Toyota's Ralf Schumacher set the pace
in final practice for Sunday's Spanish Formula One Grand Prix
while local favorite and championship leader Fernando Alonso
kept a low profile. Renault's Alonso was fifth fastest after
completing just two installation laps before his home crowd in
the opening session that saw Italian team mate Giancarlo
Fisichella lead the timesheets.
Henin breezes past Schnyder to reach final
BERLIN (Reuters) - Former world number one Justine
Henin-Hardenne was in ominous form as she demolished seventh
seed Patty Schnyder 6-0 6-1 to reach the German Open final on
Saturday. Henin-Hardenne outclassed her Swiss opponent to
extend her winning streak to 16 matches and will face Russian
sixth seed Nadia Petrova in Sunday's final as she bids to win
her third German Open.
*********************
San José edge MetroStars 7/5/2005
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) Ronald Cerritos scored
in the 60th minute and Pat Onstad made five saves in the
San Jose Earthquakes' 1-0 victory over the MetroStars on
Saturday.
Cerritos beat goalkeeper Zach Wells with a header off Brad
Davis' crossing pass.
The MetroStars' Amado Guevara, who had three goals in a
3-1 victory in Colorado last weekend, had a shot from well
outside the penalty box slam off the right goalpost in the
14th minute, and Sergio Galvan Rey sent a header off the
crossbar in the 31st.
Wells made two good saves, stopping Brian Ching's shot in
the penalty area in the 34th, and another by Dwayne De
Rasario early in the second half.
Soccer-Man United in contract talks with keeper Howard
LONDON, 6/5/2005 (Reuters) Manchester United are having
contract extension talks with U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard,
manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
The 25-year-old Howard, who moved to Old Trafford in 2003,
has struggled to hold down a first-team place this season in
competition with Northern Ireland's Roy Carroll.
"He (Howard) is still a young goalkeeper who needs
experience. That is the area we know we will see improvement in
him," Ferguson told Manchester United TV.
"Tim's people have been in talks with (chief executive)
David Gill, so we are on the move with that one."
Carroll has not yet agreed a new contract with the Premier
League club and there has been speculation that Ferguson will
try to sign a new goalkeeper for next season.
******************************
Edmundo to play with Zinho in Rio de Janeiro's second division
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil 6/5/2005(AP) Veteran striker Edmundo will
join World Cup winner Zinho in Rio de Janeiro's second
division, local media reported on Friday.
Edmundo, a member of Brazil's 1998 World Cup team, reached
a deal with the modest Nova Iguacu club through July, the
Gazeta Esportiva Web site said.
Last month, Nova Iguacu announced it acquired Zinho, who
helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup.
Edmundo was without a team since last year after being
released by Fluminense.
Edmundo and Zinho played together in Palmeiras in the
early 1990s, leading the club to the 1993 and '94 national
titles.
Nova Iguacu, founded with the help of Zinho in 1990, is
trying to reach the first division of the Rio championship
for the second time in its history. It won the state's
second division in 1994.
**************************
(13-4-05) Reuters Sports News Summary
NBA Wrap: Spurs Down Blazers to Take Southwest Title TORONTO (Reuters) - All-star guard Manu Ginobili poured in 30
points and Nazr Mohammed chipped in with 10 points and 14 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs eased past the slumping Portland
Trail Blazers 95-89 Tuesday, clinching the Southwest division title. Locked in a battle with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat for top
spot in the NBA standings, the Spurs have continued to pile up the wins without Tim Duncan, improving to 8-4 without the two-time
league MVP who is sidelined with a sprained ankle.
NL Wrap: Dodgers Rally in Ninth to Win Home Opener TORONTO (Reuters) - Milton Bradley stroked a two-run single and a
fielding error by Jason Ellison allowed the winning run to score as the Los Angeles Dodgers staged a dramatic ninth inning rally to beat
the San Francisco Giants 9-8 in a thrilling home opener Tuesday. Trailing 8-5 with two out in the ninth, Jeff Kent walked with the
bases loaded to score a run then Bradley lined a sharp single off to left off Giants closer Armando Benitez (0-1) that Ellison misplayed.
AL Wrap: Sosa Homers as Orioles Sting Devil Rays TORONTO (Reuters) - Sammy Sosa cracked his first homerun in a Baltimore
uniform and the 575th of his career to help the Orioles to a 7-6 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday in the American
League. Sosa, who appeared before a congressional hearing investigating the use of steroids in baseball, broke out of an early season
slump when he took Scott Kazmir deep over the left field wall in the third inning.
Federer Leads Top Seeds Through in Monte Carlo MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - World number one Roger Federer joined Marat
Safin, Rafael Nadal and Guillermo Coria in the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters Wednesday as the main title contenders flexed
their muscles. The unstoppable Federer went through his full repertoire of shot-making during a useful 59-minute workout against
tricky Spaniard Albert Montanes, winning 6-3, 6-4.
Henin-Hardenne Scrambles Into Third Round CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - Justine Henin-Hardenne was forced to
battle for the second match in succession Wednesday, scrambling to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Chinese Peng Shaui to reach the third
round of the Family Circle Cup. The former world number one, who returned last month after more than six months out due to a
mystery virus and a knee injury, withstood a strong fightback from Peng before reaching the last 16.
North Carolina's McCants Turning Pro CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Sports Network) - North Carolina junior Rashad McCants
announced Wednesday that he will forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the upcoming NBA Draft. 'I have a lot of memories
here,' McCants said at an afternoon press conference, flanked by head coach Roy Williams. 'My teammates, people I love...they will
be truly missed.' Schilling Back for Red Sox LONDON (Reuters) - Curt Schilling, the first pitcher in major league history to win
World Series games with three different teams, returns to the Boston Red Sox line-up against the arch-rival New York Yankees
Wednesday. The No. 1 starter for the world champion Red Sox has fully recovered from the ankle operation he underwent in
November and is raring to go.
Florida's Roberson to Enter NBA Draft GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Sports Network) - Florida junior guard Anthony Roberson
announced Wednesday that he will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the upcoming NBA Draft.
Roberson, though, said he will not sign with an agent, which leaves open the possibility of him returning to school. The early entry
withdrawal deadline is June 21, which is one week before the draft takes place.
Chanticleers Name Buzz Peterson New Head Coach CONWAY, S.C. (Sports Network) - Coastal Carolina announced
Wednesday that Buzz Peterson has been named the new men's head basketball coach. As per school policy, terms of the deal were
not released. Peterson, who was recently fired as the coach at the University of Tennessee, will be formally introduced at a Friday
press conference.
Gripping Masters Ends with Tiger Bagging His Own Big Four LONDON (Reuters) - With Augusta National back to business as
usual, organizers can reflect on a U.S. Masters that featured interminable weather disruptions, a golden farewell by six-time champion
Jack Nicklaus and a gripping Sunday finish.
The opening major championship of the year, an eagerly awaited rite of spring in global sport, will also be remembered for the
much-hyped pre-tournament focus on the 'Fab Four' before Tiger Woods ended it with a 'Big Four' of his own.
************************************
UEFA Cup: Shearer gives Newcastle 1-0 victory over
Sporting Lisboa
NEWCASTLE, England 7-4-05 (AP) Alan Shearer's
first-half goal lifted Newcastle to a 1-0 victory over
Sporting Lisbon on Thursday in the first leg of the UEFA Cup
quarterfinals.
Shearer scored with a header in the 37th minute, his 19th goal of the
season, off a free kick from Laurent Robert. It was
Shearer's 192nd goal for the club. The 34-year-old striker has scored
in every European match he has played this season.
Brazilian striker Liedson had the best chance in the first half for
Sporting, but was stopped by goalkeeper Shay Given in
the 17th minute. Liedson and Newcastle fullback Aaron Hughes will miss
next week's second leg after picking up their third
yellow cards in the competition.
«I'm just glad to get it out of the way, we have not played well but
we've won and kept a clean sheet and that is very
important,» Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said.
«I'm just relieved that we've got through a game and we're talking
about football again.» Souness started midfielder Kieron
Dyer, but left fellow midfielder Lee Bowyer on the bench. In the 63rd,
Bowyer came on when Dyer picked up a leg injury.
The two got into a fight with 10 minutes remaining in the club's 3-0
loss to Aston Villa last weekend. Bowyer was
apparently angry that Dyer didn't pass the ball to him enough.
Bowyer was banned for four domestic games, and Dyer was banned for
three. Bowyer was also fined six weeks wage,
about 210,000 pounds (Dolars $390,000; Euros €305,000).
******************
Reuters Sports News Summary 18/3/05
Burress, Giants Agree to Multi-Year Deal
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Sports Network) - The New York
Giants have signed free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the New York Post
reported it to be worth $25 million over six years. Burress,
who had spent all five of his NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, was
one of the most coveted free agent wide receivers in the league
this offseason. He originally met with the Giants last week,
but the team called off the talks because the asking price was
too high. That prompted Burress to fire his old agent and hire
Drew Rosenhaus, who was with the wideout when he flew to New
York on Thursday to resume negotiations with the Giants.
Lawmakers Grill Baseball Over Steroid Use
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers grilled a
star-studded lineup of baseball players and officials on
Thursday about steroid use in the national sport, and said
Major League Baseball needed to do more to rid itself of
illegal performance-enhancing drugs. In a showdown between
Congress and baseball, lawmakers complained a new drug policy
by MLB and its players association was laced with loopholes,
and accused the sport of abusing the public's trust.
No. 12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee Upsets Fifth-Seed Alabama
CLEVELAND (Sports Network) - Ed McCants and Joah Tucker
both scored 21 points to lead Wisconsin-Milwaukee to an 83-73
win over Alabama in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at
the Wolstein Center. Boo Davis and Adrian Tigert each added 10
points for the Panthers (25-5), who have won 10 straight games
overall, which included capturing the Horizon League Conference
Tournament.
INDIANAPOLIS (Sports Network) - Kelenna Azubuike and Chuck
Hayes both scored 16 points to lead Kentucky past Eastern
Kentucky, 72-64, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament from
the RCA Dome. Kentucky, seeded No. 2 in the Austin bracket,
will face the winner of the Iowa/Cincinnati matchup in the
second round on Saturday. Rajon Rondo provided a big steal down
the stretch and finished with 12 points in the win for the
Wildcats (26-5), who won the Southeastern Conference regular
season title.
BOISE, Idaho (Sports Network) - Brandon Roy scored 17
points to lead a balanced Washington attack, as the Huskies
opened their first NCAA Tournament as a top seed with an 88-77
victory over Montana. Tre Simmons added 15 points, Will Conroy
chipped in 12 and Bobby Jones netted 11 for Washington (28-5),
which was rewarded with a surprising top seed in the
Albuquerque bracket after capturing the Pac-10 Tournament
title.
NBA Wrap: Miami Heat Beat Los Angeles Lakers
TORONTO (Reuters) - Dwyane Wade had 27 points, eight
rebounds and five assists for the streaking Miami Heat in their
102-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday. Shaquille
O'Neal's 25 points and 12 rebounds helped the Heat win their
11th successive game and allowed O'Neal to once again get the
better of his former team mate Kobe Bryant.
Cubs' Wood to Miss Season-Opening Series
MESA, Ariz. (Sports Network) - Chicago Cubs righthander
Kerry Wood is expected to miss the 2005 season-opening series
versus the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to The Chicago
Tribune. The righthander is hampered with shoulder problems and
could possibly pitch a simulated game this weekend. If Wood
proves his arm is strong enough for live action, he may toe the
rubber next week in Cactus League play.
Slutskaya Extends Lead at Worlds
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Irina Slutskaya extended her
lead in the world figure skating championships after the short
program on Friday despite feeling the pressure of being the
home-crowd favorite. Although there were a couple of errors in
her routine to Shostakovich's Tango, she ended the day almost
three points ahead of second-placed Sasha Cohen of the United
States.
Greek Sprinters Cleared of Doping Charges
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and
Katerina Thanou have been cleared of all charges connected with
missing three doping tests including one on the eve of last
year's Athens Olympics, the Greek Athletics Federation
announced Friday. However, their former coach Christos Tzekos
was banned for four years from any participation in athletics.
Federer, Sharapova Notch Up Impressive Wins
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Wimbledon champions
Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova charged into the semifinals
of the Pacific Life Open Thursday. Federer chalked up his 24th
win in 25 matches this year by thrashing Germany's Nicolas
Kiefer 6-4, 6-1, while women's third seed Sharapova blasted
France's Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-3.
REUTERS
********************
More than 40 surfers ride on one board to break world
record
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)6/3/2005 _ More than 40 surfers cruised
into the record books by riding a single giant surfboard
off an Australian beach, newspapers reported Sunday.
A crowd of more than 5,000 gathered Saturday to watch the
riders crowd onto the 12.2-meter (40-foot) -long board at
the Queensland state tourist city Gold Coast, where the
Quiksilver and Roxy Pro surf competitions were held,
newspapers said.
The three-meter (10-foot) -wide board, nicknamed Nev after
its creator, Gold Coast board shaper Nev Hyman, arrived on
a trailer truck and needed more than 20 people to carry it
to the surf.
Another 100 people, each armed with a bucket of wax, then
spent the morning preparing the 50,000 Australian dollar
(US$39,535; ¤29,850) foam and fiberglass super board.
The riders included pro surfers Chris Ward of California
and Australian champion Danny Wills, whose own board was
the model for the oversized replica.
Newspaper reports of how many riders took part varied
between 44 and 47.
But the ride clearly smashed the existing world record of
14 achieved by an English team in Cornwall on an 11-meter
(36-foot) Malibu in 2003.
Hyman said the four-minute ride to shore was worth the
monthlong effort to build the board.
«It was the best four minutes of my surfing life. It went
in strong and straight,» Hyman told Queensland's The
Sunday Mail newspaper.
«To be out there with those guys _ they're my best
friends and pro surfers whom I've known for a long time _
to be just laughing our heads off without a worry in the
world, it's what surfing is all about,» he said.
«I don't think anyone has had more fun on a wave like
that since the dawn of time,» he added.
The surfboard, which lost two of its one-meter (3.3-foot)
-long fins in shallow water on the way to the beach, will
next be taken to the United States as part of a global
fund-raising tour to raise A$200 million (US$158 million;
¤119 million) in aid for victims of the Dec. 26 Asian
tsunami.
The surfboard required 300 liters (79 gallons) of resin,
half a ton of foam and 220 meters (722 feet) of fiberglass.
*****************************************
Reuters Sports News Summary 6/3/2005
Maradona Has Stomach Stapled to Lose Weight
CARTAGENA, Colombia (Reuters) - Former Argentina soccer
World Cup-winning captain Diego Maradona had his stomach
stapled to reduce his ballooning waistline, his Colombian
doctors said on Saturday. Maradona, 44, had the two-hour
operation in the picturesque port city of Cartagena on
Colombia's Caribbean coast.
College Basketball: Louisville Grabs Conference USA Title
ROSEMONT, Ill. (Sports Network) - Larry O'Bannon scored 18
of his 24 points in the second half and finished 5-of-5 from
three-point range to help Louisville capture its first-ever
outright Conference USA title with a 66-62 victory over DePaul
at Allstate Arena. Taquan Dean contributed with 11 points for
the Cardinals (26-4, 14-2 C-USA), who have won 15 of their last
16 games.
Tennis-Davis Cup Champions Spain Ousted
LONDON (Reuters) - Having wielded the Davis Cup sword to
such devastating effect last season, Spain were slain by it on
Saturday as they fell to Slovakia in the first round. The
Spaniards won the 2004 final on an agonizingly-slow Seville
claycourt specially prepared to suit their style but were
treated to a dose of their own medicine by Slovakia as they
skidded out of the competition on a lightning-quick hard court
in Bratislava.
Davenport Outlasts Jankovic to Win Dubai Title
DUBAI (Reuters) - World number one Lindsay Davenport
claimed her first title of the year with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 defeat
of unseeded Jelena Jankovic in the final of the Dubai Open on
Saturday. Davenport, who lost her two previous finals this year
at the Australian Open final and in Tokyo, was given a tough
time by the 28th-ranked Serb before edging the decider.
Maier Wins First Downhill in a Year
KVITFJELL, Norway (Reuters) - Hermann Maier won his first
Alpine ski World Cup downhill race in more than a year on
Saturday as World Cup leader American Bode Miller slightly
extended his overall lead with just a week left of the season.
Miller also kept alive a tiny chance of claiming the downhill
trophy at next week's World Cup finals in Switzerland after
Austrian Michael Walchhofer, leader of the downhill standings,
crashed on the Kvitfjell course.
NBA Wrap: Iverson, Webber Lead 76ers Past Cavs
TORONTO (Reuters) - Allen Iverson scored 31 points while
Chris Webber added 24 points with 12 rebounds as the 76ers beat
the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-89 in National Basketball
Association play in Philadelphia Friday. Samuel Dalembert added
15 points for the Sixers, who won for the second time in four
games since picking up Webber from the Sacramento Kings.
Jimenez Keeps Chasing Pack at Bay with 68 in Dubai
DUBAI (Reuters) - Miguel Angel Jimenez survived a furious
assault by his challengers in the Dubai Desert Classic third
round to stay on track for a second title of the season. The
pony-tailed Spaniard, two shots clear overnight, had his lead
trimmed to one after firing a four-under-par 68 on a calm but
hazy day at the Emirates Golf Club on Saturday.
McKenzie Hits the Jackpot with Giants
NEW YORK (Sports Network) - The New York Giants made a move
to shore up their offensive line on Friday, as they made tackle
Kareem McKenzie one of the highest paid players at his
position. Newsday reports the deal is worth $37.75 million over
seven years and includes a signing bonus of $12.5 million,
almost doubling the $6.5 million the Giants doled out to
linebacker Antonio Pierce on Thursday.
Doping: BALCO Head Changes Lawyers Before Key Hearing
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - In the latest development to a
case full of bizarre twists, the lead defendant in the BALCO
global steroid case abruptly changed lawyers Friday, two weeks
before a key hearing. Victor Conte, the head of the San
Francisco-area BALCO labs, is accused of distributing steroids
in a scandal that has damaged the reputations of top athletes
in baseball, American football and track and field.
Golf: Mickelson Moves Two Clear at Doral Open TORONTO (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson continued his scorching
play at the Doral Open Friday, firing a second round
six-under-par 66 for a two shot lead over Billy Andrade and
into position for a third title in four events. Riding a wave
of momentum from back-to-back PGA Tour strokeplay wins in
Phoenix and Pebble Beach, Mickelson was in flawless form on an
overcast day at Miami's Doral resort going bogey free on the
Blue Monster to sit at 14-under 130.
REUTERS
Reuters Sports Tuesday Feb 22
CRICKET - Pramod Ojha went to Lahore last year hoping to see
the Indian cricket team thrash Pakistan. By the end of his trip,
he had lost his heart to a country he had been brought up to
dislike. "We hear so many negative things about Pakistan but the
love and affection we got there was touching," said the
businessman from New Delhi. Indians now feel obliged to match
Pakistan's hospitality in the test and one-day tour starting
next Monday, the first time Pakistan will play a full series in
India since 1999. The hosts, however, got off to a bad start,
with the tour delayed by three days because of a dispute over
one of the proposed venues, as Kunal Pradhan reports from
Bombay.
MOTOR RACING - Instead of being bitter rivals, McLaren's
Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya could be laughing all the
way to the chequered flag this season. Team boss Ron Dennis
feels they can benefit from the sort of practical jokes that lit
up the late Brazilian world champion Ayrton Senna's partnership
with Austrian Gerhard Berger at McLaren in the early 1990s.
"Humour used in the right way can be a great tension breaker,"
said the man whose team have won more Formula One titles than
anyone except Ferrari. "It's going to be a deliberate weapon in
our arsenal." Alan Baldwin looks at the team's new 'fire and
ice' pairing which promises plenty of thrills with the added
spice of a full-on personality clash even though the taciturn
Finn seems to be hitting it off with the volatile Colombian.
SOCCER - Russia's second city of St Petersburg became known
as the cradle of the revolution after witnessing the events
which triggered the 1917 uprising. Since Czech coach Vlastimil
Petrzela joined local side Zenit, the city has been undergoing
what the local media delight in dubbing a "soccer revolution".
While six premier league clubs compete for attention in Moscow,
Zenit are the lone top-flight team in the city on the Neva River
built by Peter the Great. The club have always enjoyed a huge
following since being founded in 1938 but only recently has
soccer fever in St Petersburg reached a peak unmatched anywhere
else in Russia. Gennady Fyodorov considers the impact Petrzela
has had.
Pacers' Miller to Retire at End of Season
RALEIGH, N. C. (Reuters) - Indiana Pacers guard Reggie
Miller will retire at the end of the season after 18 years with
the NBA team. 'Reggie said that it has been a great run,' his
sister, Cheryl, said on a TNT broadcast on Thursday night.
Mourning Returning to Heat??
MIAMI (Sports Network) - Alonzo Mourning could be returning
to the Miami Heat. The Miami Herald, citing several sources,
reported that Mourning is close to completing a contract buyout
with the Toronto Raptors, a move that would make him a free
agent. The Raptors acquired Mourning in mid-December along with
forward Eric Williams, forward/center Aaron Williams and two
conditional first-round draft picks from the New Jersey Nets in
exchange for All-Star swingman Vince Carter.
Cowboys' Adams Headed to Pro Bowl
HONOLULU (Sports Network) - Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle
Flozell Adams has been selected as an injury replacement for
the Pro Bowl. Adams will take the place of Philadelphia's Tra
Thomas on the NFC roster for this Sunday's NFL All-Star Game in
Hawaii.
Astros Pitcher Oswalt Agrees to $16.9 Million Deal
RALEIGH, N. C. (Reuters) - Houston Astros pitcher Roy
Oswalt has agreed to a two-year, $16.9 contract with the
National League team and avoided arbitration, the Houston
Chronicle reported. The right-handed Oswalt, the only pitcher
in the National League to win 20 games last season, will earn
$5.9 million this season and $11 million in 2006, the report
said.
Canseco Reaffirms He Injected Players with Steroids
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - Jose Canseco is not backing off
claims that he injected several of his team mates, and some of
baseball's biggest names, with steroids. 'I injected them,
absolutely,' the former Oakland Athletics slugger tells the
television show '60 Minutes,' according to a partial transcript
of an interview released by network CBS before the show's
broadcast Sunday.
NBA Wrap: Prince Helps Pistons Overwhelm Lakers
TORONTO (Reuters) - Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points as the
Detroit Pistons crushed the Los Angeles Lakers 103-81 Thursday
in a rematch of last year's NBA finals. Meeting for the first
time since the Pistons upset the favored Lakers in five games
last June, Detroit stormed into an 18-2 lead at Auburn Hills,
Michigan and never trailed on the way to its sixth win in seven
outings.
Red Sox Red Sock Enters Hall of Fame
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - A blood-stained sock
worn by Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling during the World
Series last year has entered baseball's Hall of Fame. Schilling
wore the white sock while winning Game Two of the World Series
against the St. Louis Cardinals last October. As he pitched,
blood seeped through the sock from a ruptured tendon sheath on
his right ankle.
College Basketball: Wake Forest, Washington Win
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Sports Network) - Justin Gray scored
18 points and four other Wake Forest players finished in double
figures, as the sixth-ranked Demon Deacons posted an 86-75
victory over North Carolina State in Atlantic Coast Conference
play at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Eric Williams had 15 points and
seven rebounds for Wake Forest (20-3, 8-2 ACC), which made
35-of-42 free throw attempts en route to its fourth straight
win. Chris Paul compiled 13 points and eight assists while
Taron Downey shot 4-of-4 from three-point range in a 14-point
effort off the bench.
Graf Wins Court Case Over Saucy Radio Quiz
BERLIN (Reuters) - Tennis great Steffi Graf has sued a
German radio station that aired a sketch supposedly of her and
husband Andre Agassi in the throes of love-making. WDR
broadcast a conversation on Dec. 29 in which actors batted
words back and forth before settling on Jaden Gil, the name of
Graf and Agassi's first child. The radio station then asked
listeners to identify the famous pair.
NHL Season in Jeopardy as Talks End Without Agreement
TORONTO (Reuters) - Talks between team owners and
locked-out players broke off without agreement Thursday,
leaving hopes for an ice hockey season hanging by a thread. A
day earlier, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that a new
labor deal had to be in place by the end of this weekend or he
would cancel the season.
REUTERS
Reuters Sports News Summary 2 FEB 2005
Lakers Coach Tomjanovich Reportedly May Resign
LOS ANGELES (Sports Network)
- Los Angeles Lakers head
coach Rudy Tomjanovich continues to be bothered by a stomach
virus and will miss his second straight game Tuesday because of
the illness, but has also apparently considered resigning his
position. ESPN reported that Tomjanovich was set to resign
after Tuesday night's game against Portland, in part because of
health-related issues, although it is not a recurrence of the
bladder cancer that forced him to take a medical leave of
absence as coach of the Houston Rockets during the 2002-03
season.
Owens Says He Will Play in Super Bowl Against Patriots
TORONTO (Reuters)
- Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver
Terrell Owens has declared himself fit for Super Bowl XXXIX
against the New England Patriots despite his ankle injury. 'I
will be here Sunday, I will play,' Owens told reporters Tuesday
during the annual media day frenzy in Jacksonville. 'If you
don't believe in miracles just wait until Sunday. I'm going to
be very effective.
Sosa Expected in Baltimore as Deal Nears Reality
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters)
- Sammy Sosa is expected
to take a physical in Baltimore over the next couple of days as
the deal that would send the Chicago Cubs slugger to the
Baltimore Orioles moves closer to reality, according to
MLB.com. The trade, pending for days, cannot become official
until Sosa passes the physical, which Sosa's agent Adam Katz
and an Orioles official told MLB.com had been tentatively
scheduled for Wednesday.
Hingis Beaten in Three Sets on Comeback
PATTAYA, Thailand (Reuters)
- Former world number one
Martina Hingis slumped to defeat on her comeback after two
years out with an ankle injury on Tuesday and said she had 'no
plans' to play in any other tournaments. The 24-year-old Swiss
lost 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to Germany's Marlene Weingartner in the
first round of the Thailand Open.
Scientists Discover Another Designer Steroid
LONDON (Reuters)
- Sports scientists have discovered a
second, highly sophisticated steroid especially designed to
evade drug-testers, anti-doping officials said on Tuesday.
'Following the THG story, this is the second designer steroid
we have found,' World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) scientific
director Olivier Rabin said from Montreal.
Emmitt Smith Denies Retirement Reports
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sports Network)
- Emmitt Smith, the
NFL's all-time leading rusher and a three-time Super Bowl
champion, apparently is not yet set to retire. Reports from
ESPN on Tuesday afternoon cited sources as saying Smith was
ready to announce his retirement, possibly as early as
Thursday.
Nets' Buford to Miss 4-To-6 Weeks
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Sports Network)
- New Jersey Nets
guard Rodney Buford is expected to miss the next 4-to-6 weeks
with torn ligaments in his left ankle. Buford sustained the
injury in a win over the Utah Jazz on January 29 and is not
expected to undergo surgery.
Warriors' Robinson Suspended for Violating Drug Policy
NEW YORK (Sports Network)
- The NBA Tuesday suspended
Golden State Warriors forward Clifford Robinson five games
without pay for violation of the league's anti-drug program.
Robinson's suspension will begin Wednesday when the Warriors
host Sacramento.
Thomason Seizes Dream Chance for Super Bowl Glory
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters)
- Jeff Thomason still has
to pinch himself that he will be going to the Super Bowl. The
35-year-old retired from the NFL two years ago and now earns a
living in construction, a career that will be put on hold
Sunday when he will don a Philadelphia Eagles helmet one more
time.
Resurgent Woods Faces Short-Term Loss of Regular Caddie
LONDON (Reuters)
- Tiger Woods, who ended a PGA Tour title
drought with victory at the Buick Invitational nine days ago,
is likely to be without his regular caddie when he returns to
action later this month. New Zealander Steve Williams, bagman
for Woods since early 1999, injured his hand in a racing car
accident last Friday and is expected to need two months to make
a full recovery.
Reuters 24 january 2005
FEATURE-Soccer-So far so good for Germany's Klinsmann
By Erik Kirschbaum
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif, Jan 24 (Reuters) - It is a long way
from northern Europe's frozen soccer pitches to southern
California's surfer-filled beaches but Germany coach Juergen
Klinsmann stays tuned to his homeland from half a world away.
Commuting 40,000 km each month, Klinsmann has revitalised
Germany since taking over the faltering team six months ago and
has turned the great distance between his United States home and
German job to his advantage.
Capitalising on technology advances, Klinsmann has no
trouble reaching players, assistants and club trainers by e-mail
or cell phone. He tracks German media reports on internet
websites and watches Bundesliga matches on television.
"At the end of the day the only thing that matters is the
quality of the work you deliver," Klinsmann said in an interview
with Reuters in his adopted hometown of Huntington Beach, south
of Los Angeles. "I see only advantages to this set-up."
A little jet lag, red eyes that come with rising before dawn
to have more time on Europe's schedule, and high phone bills are
negligible drawbacks compared to the welcome side effect that
nine time zones and 9,000 km provide a barrier to Germany's
fickle media.
"The world has changed with modern communications so it
doesn't matter where you are physically," said Klinsmann who
flies back to Germany at least twice a month.
"Wherever in the world I am, I can stay hooked up to
Germany. What difference does it make if I phone a player from
California or Frankfurt?"
Klinsmann -- whose rejuvenated team have impressed with five
wins, a draw and a loss since he took over in August -- has
silenced most domestic sceptics of his long-distance commuting.
A few die-hard critics such as Schalke 04 commercial manager
Rudi Assauer still argue he should be in Germany all the time,
observing players and talking in person with Bundesliga coaches.
"I have no problem with that criticism and respect those who
have differing views," Klinsmann said. "But at the end of the
day I have to decide what's best. And in my view this set-up
benefits the team."
UNCHARTED WATERS
Klinsmann, 40, admits it was a move into uncharted waters
for three-times World Cup winners Germany, even though other
coaches including Greece's Otto Rehhagel and Cameroon's former
trainer Winnie Schaefer commuted long distances from Germany.
Japan coach Zico flies to and from his native Brazil.
"There are a number of other trainers who've been doing this
successfully before me so the model isn't exactly something
new," Klinsmann said. "What ultimately matters is the quality of
the work, or in other words: results."
In between sips of a latte macchiato at a cafe, the former
Germany striker conceded he had been prepared to rethink the
long-distance commute if it turned out it was causing problems.
"The plan was to examine whether it was working well or working at all," he said after taking a quick phone call from
team manager Oliver Bierhof.
"It was my hope that it would work out as well as it has in
these six months. It's an advantage to keep a bit of distance.
It's helping me keep a clear view of the bigger international
picture."
Klinsmann has also avoided the treacherous embraces and
menacing scrutiny of Germany's demanding media, which viciously
turned on predecessor Rudi Voeller just two years after
idolising him for leading the team to the 2002 World Cup final.
"It's important that you not allow yourself to be eaten up
in the daily media coverage," he said, savouring January's
bright California sunshine and temperatures of 27 degrees
Celsius.
"You need to keep a buffer zone. I don't think a national
trainer should make comments on everyday developments in the
Bundesliga.
"Naturally I follow what's going on but I don't want to
interfere and the distance to Germany makes it easier to filter
what's important from what's not important."
CONFERENCE CALLS
Rising at 5:30 every morning, Klinsmann switches on his
computer in his home office. Sometimes when he feels cramped
there he takes his laptop to work on it at a local cafe.
He holds conference calls with assistants in Germany every
other day and spends 11-hour flights tapping away on his laptop.
Klinsmann, who as a player won the 1990 World Cup and the
1996 European championship with Germany, cherishes his anonymous
lifestyle in California, his home for six years, and says it is
better for his family.
"It's quite pleasant," said Klinsmann, who also played for
Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur. He
stays fit by training with a local amateur soccer team.
Whether Klinsmann, who believes Germany can win a fourth
World Cup in 2006, will stay beyond the tournament Germany is
hosting remains an open question to everyone -- including
himself.
"I'm not dependent on long-term job security," he said.
"We'll sit down after the World Cup and analyse what's worked
and what hasn't. Hopefully we'll have had success. Then we've
got time to decide what's next.
"If we don't succeed, the issue will resolve itself. But I
really do sense it's going to go well for us."
*********************
REUTERS 20 JANUARY 2005
College Basketball: Kansas, Duke, North Carolina Win
LAWRENCE, Kan. (Sports Network)
- Wayne Simien was the only
Kansas player in double figures with 12 points, as the
second-ranked Jayhawks held on for a thrilling 59-57 win over
Nebraska in Big 12 action from Allen Fieldhouse. J.R. Giddens
and Keith Langford both had nine points for Kansas (14-0, 4-0
Big 12).
Sixers Hold Off Bobcats
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sports Network)
- Allen Iverson scored 24
points with six assists, Kenny Thomas added 21 points and nine
rebounds, and Philadelphia escaped with a 107-105 victory over
Charlotte. Kyle Korver chipped in 18 points and six rebounds
for the 76ers, who have won two straight and three of their
last four. Korver was 4-of-11 from three-point range.
Meeting Sparks Glimmer of Hope NHL Season Can Be Saved
TORONTO (Reuters)
- Representatives for NHL owners and
locked out players held an informal meeting on Wednesday and
after five hours of talks agreed to reconvene later this week,
offering a glimmer of hope that the season might be saved. With
the lockout in its 126th day and time running out to salvage
the season, the gathering at a Chicago O'Hare airport lounge
was arranged in an attempt to reinvigorate stalled
negotiations.
Davenport Survives Scare to Reach Third Round
MELBOURNE (Reuters)
- World number one Lindsay Davenport
turned in a stuttering performance as she struggled to a 2-6,
6-2, 6-2 victory over Czech Michaela Pastikova in the second
round of the Australian Open on Thursday. The top seed and
former champion looked in trouble when she dropped the opening
set to an inspired Pastikova, but an early break in the second
set lifted the American's confidence and she eased to victory
in one hour, 22 minutes.
Hackett Resigns as Jets Offensive Coordinator
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., (Sports Network)
- Paul Hackett has
resigned as the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets.
Hackett spent a tumultuous four years running the Jet offense
and came under heavy criticism for his play-calling during this
past season. The Jets finished 12th in the NFL in total offense
in 2004, despite having the league's top rusher in Curtis
Martin.
Former Raider Robbins Charged with Attempted Murder
MIAMI (Sports Network)
- Barret Robbins, a former Pro Bowl
center for the Oakland Raiders, was charged Wednesday with
three counts of attempted felony murder. The charges stem from
an altercation with police on Saturday. Robbins was shot and
critically wounded during a struggle with a detective who was
investigating a burglary call at a Miami Beach administrative
office. The office is in a building that also houses a
nightclub, jewelry store and a gym.
Shaky Myskina Reaches Melbourne Third Round
MELBOURNE (Reuters)
- French Open champion Anastasia
Myskina stumbled into the third round of the Australian Open
with an unconvincing 6-4, 6-2 victory over unseeded Israeli
Tzipora Obziler on Thursday. An erratic Myskina had trouble
finding her range and rhythm as 114th-ranked Obziler took an
early 3-1 lead in what should have been a fairly easy outing
for the third-seeded Russian.
Ankle Injury Forces Massu Out of Australian Open
MELBOURNE (Reuters)
- Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu
pulled out of the Australian Open Thursday after aggravating an
ankle injury during his second round match against unseeded
German Philip Kohlschreiber. Kohlschreiber was leading the 18th
seed 6-0, 2-0 when the Chilean pulled out.
Nolan Promises to Return 49ers to Winning Ways
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters)
- Defensive specialist Mike Nolan
took over as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday
and promised to make a winner out of the downtrodden franchise.
'This is a great opportunity to head one of the most storied
and successful franchises in the National Football League,' the
45-year-old Nolan said at his opening press conference in San
Francisco.
Heisman Trophy-Winner Leinart to Undergo Elbow Surgery
LOS ANGELES (Sports Network)
- Southern California star
quarterback Matt Leinart is scheduled to undergo minor surgery
on his left elbow next week. The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner,
who announced he will return for his senior season last Friday,
was bothered by soreness in his throwing arm. Leinart is
expected to go under the knife on Tuesday and it's uncertain if
he will be ready when spring practice begins on March 6.
Red Sox Add Another Arm with Wade Miller BOSTON (Sports Network)
The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Wade Miller agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million on Thursday. Miller became a free agent on Monday
when the Astros failed to offer him a contract for 2005.
Hockey-Mad Canadians Face Disappointing Christmas TORONTO (Reuters)
For hockey-mad Canadians,
tickets to an NHL game are the ultimate Christmas gift. This year, though, they are worthless after NHL owners
locked out players in a labor dispute that is threatening to wipe out an entire season.
Wannstedt Appears Headed to Pittsburgh PITTSBURGH (Sports Network)
Former Miami Dolphins head
coach Dave Wannstedt is reportedly heading to Pittsburgh to take the vacancy at his alma mater. The Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette reported Thursday morning that Wannstedt spoke with athletic director Jeff Long on Wednesday night
and was offered the job.
The paper also said Wannstedt will take the position unless there are problems finalizing contract details.
NBA Wrap: Iverson in Command, 76ers Ease Past Pacers NEW YORK (Reuters)
Allen Iverson scored 40
points one game after back-to-back 50 point efforts as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 102-90 in
Indianapolis on Wednesday. Iverson continued his hot shooting streak, going 12-for-23 from the floor, to give him
145 points in his last three games.
Floyd Reportedly to Coach USC LONG BEACH, Calif. (Sports Network)
Tim Floyd has reportedly agreed to
take over the Southern California basketball program, as long as he can work out a financial deal with the New
Orleans Hornets, his former employer. The Long Beach Press-Telegram said the deal between Floyd and USC is
done, but the school is only waiting for the Hornets to settle the remainder of the coach's contract before making an
announcement.
College Basketball: Illinois, Kansas, Wake Forest Win ST. LOUIS (Sports Network)
Luther Head scored 20
points with seven rebounds, and top-ranked Illinois escaped with a 70-64 victory over Missouri at Savvis Center.
Deron Williams collected 19 points and five assists for the Fighting Illini (11-0), who improved to 16-8 against
Missouri in the annual Braggin' Rights game. Roger Powell added 14 points and Dee Brown had 11 in the win.
Report: J.D. Drew Headed to LA LOS ANGELES (Sports Network)
J.D. Drew will have a new home across
the country after the outfielder and the Los Angeles Dodgers reached a preliminary agreement on a $55 million,
five-year contract. Drew spent last season with the Atlanta Braves and still has to pass a physical exam, which is
scheduled for Thursday. The agreement was first reported by The Record of Hackensack, NJ, while the Dodgers
have scheduled a Thursday afternoon press conference but released no details.
Bowling Green Defeats Memphis in College Football MOBILE, Ala. (Sports Network)
Omar Jacobs completed
26-of-44 passes for 371 yards and five touchdowns to lead Bowling Green to a 52-35 win over Memphis in the
GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Jacobs, whose five touchdown throws set a GMAC Bowl record, was
named the game's MVP for the Falcons (9-3), who closed out the season with wins in eight of their final nine games.
Ex-Coach of Colombian Soccer Club Shot Twice in Neck BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters)
Luis Fernando
Montoya, the former coach of Colombian club Once Caldas, was in intensive care Wednesday after being shot
twice in the neck in an apparent robbery attempt, according to police. The 47-year-old, who quit Once Caldas after
the team lost the World Club Cup to Portugal's Porto on penalties in Japan two weeks ago, was attacked near his
home in Caldas.
Reuters Sports News Summary
NFL: Owens Out for Rest of Regular Season with Leg Injuries NEW YORK (Reuters) Philadelphia Eagles wide
receiver Terrell Owens will miss the rest of the NFL's regular season after he broke his leg and sprained an ankle against the
Dallas Cowboys, the team said Monday. Owens, who has 77 catches and a team-record 14 touchdowns, will undergo
surgery Wednesday but may still play in the Super Bowl should Philadelphia make the championship game on February 6,
the team said on their Web Site.
Kobe Bryant Rape Case Might Not Go to California DENVER (Reuters) - Attorneys for the Colorado woman who
accused basketball star Kobe Bryant of rape are re-thinking a plan to sue the Los Angeles Laker in his home state of
California even though damages there could be greater than in Colorado, one of her lawyers said on Monday. 'We're making
final decisions on that right now. It seems to me the defense is delaying and we want the case to go forward,' Lin Wood, an
attorney for the woman who was 19 when she said Bryant attacked her in a Vail-area resort last year, said. 'The issue we're
looking at is whether this is worth the trade off,' he said.
Syracuse Bags 28th Straight Win Vs. Cornell SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Sports Network)
Hakim Warrick finished with 19
points and 10 rebounds to lead seventh-ranked Syracuse to an 82-69 win over Cornell at the Carrier Dome. Josh Pace and
Terrence Roberts each scored 16 points for the Orange (10-1), who have won 28 straight in the series. Pace pulled down
nine rebounds.
Washington City Council to Look at Baseball Again WASHINGTON (Reuters)
The Washington, D.C., City Council
will debate stadium funding again on Tuesday after a bill passed last week was rejected by Major League Baseball and put
baseball's return to the U.S. capital at risk. Council Chair Linda Cropp, who last week added a deal-breaking private
financing provision to the funding bill, placed the legislation back on the agenda on Monday, according to her spokesman,
Mark Johnson.
Majerus Resigns from Southern Cal Job LOS ANGELES (Sports Network)
As anticipated, Rick Majerus, who was
introduced last week as the head basketball coach at Southern California, has resigned. Majerus cited health issues as the
reason for his change of mind. He reportedly had been working full force since accepting the USC job and had already
experienced physical discomfort. He was slated to officially take over as coach on April 1, but his past heart problems and
an ongoing battle to control his weight prevented him from continuing. Indianapolis Eyes State Gambling for Colts Stadium WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Indianapolis said on Monday it would
ask Indiana's General Assembly to approve electronic gambling devices similar to slot machines to raise money for a new
stadium for the National Football League's Colts team. The $800 million proposal for a new stadium and expanded
convention center involves no bonds or tax increases. NFL Wrap: Chargers Clinch AFC West in Snowy Cleveland NEW YORK (Reuters)
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for
111 yards and two touchdowns as the San Diego Chargers clinched the AFC West title with a 21-0 win over the Cleveland
Browns on Sunday. The Chargers (11-3) won their eighth straight game to clinch their first playoff appearance since 1995,
just one season after they posted the worst record (4-12) in the NFL. NBA Wrap: Raptors Take First Win Without Carter TORONTO (Reuters)
Morris Peterson posted 20 points and
Lamond Murray added 18 to carry the Toronto Raptors to their first victory without New Jersey-bound Vince Carter, a
110-99 win over the Nets Sunday. Murray grabbed 12 points in the fourth quarter as he put together his highest points total
as a Raptor.
IOC's Rogge Says 2004 Was Positive Year in Drug Fight PARIS (Reuters) - IOC president Jacques Rogge believes
2004 marked a breakthrough in the fight to rid sport of drug cheats despite the doping scandals that blighted the Athens
Olympics.
'It's a positive year, if I dare say, for the fight against doping,' the International Olympic Committee chief told French sports
daily l'Equipe in an interview published Monday. Tigers Reach Deals with Inge, Sanchez; Munson Free DETROIT (Sports Network)
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to
one-year contracts with utilityman Brandon Inge and outfielder Alex Sanchez, but third baseman Eric Munson was not
tendered an offer by the club and became a free agent. Inge, who can catch as well as play the infield and outfield, batted
.287 with 13 home runs and 64 runs batted in while playing a career-high 131 games during the 2004 season.
Thursday Deccember 16
MOTOR RACING - One
day Michael Schumacher will be history and Ferrari's incredible reign
as Formula One champions will end. On the evidence of the past
season, that day may still be some way off. Ferrari were miles ahead
of the rest in 2004 and the concern now is that Schumacher, 36 in
January, could be an eight or nine-times world champion before he
hangs up his helmet. There is a real fear that rule changes for next
season will only strengthen Ferrari's hand, even if they say they are
facing a tougher task than ever. Alan Baldwin reviews a one-sided
season in Formula One.
American sports fans
had little else to celebrate as a plague of violence, drugs and labour
strife swept across U.S. ballparks, stadiums and arenas leaving
disillusion and chaos in its wake. A year that began with pop diva
Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" overshadowing the Super
Bowl ends with ugly scenes of NBA players brawling in the stands
with fans and a small San Francisco Bay Area laboratory sitting at the
vortex of the biggest doping scandal in sports history. Steve Keating
looks at a difficult year in North American sport.
OLYMPICS - Winning an Olympic gold medal is supposed to be the
crowning moment for an athlete. For some, it can turn out to be the
start of the biggest battle of their lives -- just ask Paul Hamm, Tyler
Hamilton or Bettina Hoy. All three were crowned champions on
August 18 but within days the trio's jubilation had turned into a legal
nightmare. Americans Hamm and Hamilton discovered their gold
medals lost some lustre when new information suggested they could
have been awarded their gymnastics and cycling golds in error. Hoy's
reign as double equestrian champion lasted just three days after an
appeal hearing ruled she should have incurred time penalties in the
show-jumping final. Pritha Sarkar recalls the legal rows that marred
the 2004 Olympics.
SOCCER - One of soccer's few remaining 'monogamists',
Steven Gerrard is having his fidelity to under-performing Liverpool
tested like never before. January's transfer window is sure to revive
speculation that the all-action midfielder will leave the team he
captains. Six months ago Gerrard agonised over whether to join
Roman Abramovich's rouble-fuelled revolution at Chelsea, eventually
opting to stay at Liverpool. Having been given reassurances that the
club's ambitions matched his own, the midfielder then watched
England striker Michael Owen leave Anfield for Real Madrid and
Liverpool's Premier League challenge duly got off to a stumbling start.
Bill Barclay considers the dilemma facing England's Gerrard.
IOC Sets Up Probe Into Marion Jones Allegations LONDON (Reuters) - International Olympic Committee (IOC) president
Jacques Rogge announced on Tuesday he had set up a disciplinary commission to investigate allegations made against U.S.
sprinter Marion Jones by BALCO chief Victor Conte. 'The allegations made by Mr Conte are extremely serious and the IOC is
fully committed to bringing to light any elements that will help the truth prevail,' the IOC said on its Web Site.
NBA Wrap: Nowitzki Leads Dallas Past Minnesota NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points as the Dallas
Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-87 in National Basketball Association play Tuesday night. Nowitzki scored 23
of his points in the second half to help the Mavericks (13-7) end the Timberwolves' five-game winning streak.
College Basketball: Pitt, Texas Roll to Easy Wins NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Carl Krauser scored 17 points, grabbed
seven rebounds and handed out four assists to lead No.
11 Pittsburgh over Memphis, 70-51, in the Jimmy V Classic from New York's famed Madison Square Garden. Chris Taft
added 13 points for the Panthers (6-0), who won their first six games of the season for the third straight season. Last year, Pitt
rattled off 18 straight wins to start its campaign.
Sprewell Suspended Over Fan-Directed Obscenities NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Latrell Sprewell has been suspended one game without pay for directing obscenities toward fans. Sprewell is being punished for
his actions in a 107-100 win over the Clippers at the Staples Center on December 4.
Cubs Agree to Terms with Garciaparra CHICAGO (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs Tuesday agreed to a contract with
shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. As per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Garciaparra, who filed for free agency just after the season ended, came to the Windy City after being acquired from Boston in
a four-team deal just prior to the trading deadline.
Clippers' Brand Suspended One Game NEW YORK (Sports Network) - Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand was
suspended Tuesday for one game by the NBA for shoving Charlotte's Emeka Okafor during the fourth quarter of Monday night's
game. The incident occurred when Brand turned around and delivered a hard shove to Okafor's face and was immediately
ejected. The foul was judged a category two flagrant foul.
Boise State Extends Contract of Football Coach Hawkins BOISE, Idaho (Sports Network) - Boise State coach Dan Hawkins
signed a five-year, $2.6 million contract extension Tuesday. The deal keeps Hawkins under contract through the 2009 season. In
four years as the Broncos coach, Hawkins has won three consecutive Western Athletic Conference championships and compiled
a 44-6 record, including a perfect 11-0 mark this year. Boise State is currently ranked 10th in both major polls and finished ninth
in the Bowl Championship standings. The Broncos will play December 31 in the Liberty Bowl against No. 7 Louisville.
Houston to Host 2006 NBA All-Star Game HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The NBA announced on Tuesday that the 55th
annual All-Star Game will be played in Houston's Toyota Center during the 2006 season. It is the second time in the event's
history that the Rockets will play host. Back in 1989, a record crowd of 44,755 people saw the West post a 143-134 victory
over the East at the Astrodome. Utah's Karl Malone was the MVP of that game with 28 points.
Rich Reward for Singh After Arduous Journey LONDON (Reuters) - The journey has been long and often arduous but the
rewards in 2004 have been priceless for world golf number one Vijay Singh. The globe-trotting Fijian, who once worked as a
bouncer at a bar in Scotland and was also a struggling club professional in Borneo, is now basking in the afterglow having
produced one of the most successful years in golfing history.
Porto Stays Alive, Arsenal and Bremen Progress LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Porto produced a thrilling
fightback to beat Chelsea 2-1 and grab a Champions League lifeline as Arsenal and Werder Bremen booked their places in the
next round Tuesday. On a tension-filled night in Europe's premier club competition, Bremen beat Valencia 2-0 in a bad-tempered
game at the Mestella and Arsenal thrashed Rosenborg Trondheim 5-1.
