■Baseball
World Cup considered
Major league baseball's staff made a presentation Tuesday on a proposed World Cup that could start before the 2005 season. The proposal was very broad and there are many details still to be determined. While commissioner Bud Selig has said he is in favor of a World Cup, major league baseball has not made any decisions on whether to proceed with a tournament, how many nations to include and where to play the games. The presentation was made to the task force Selig appointed in January, which is called "Major League Baseball in the 21st century."
■ Boxing
Bruno applies for license
Former WBC world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno has made an official application for the return of his boxing license at age 41 although an eye problem could well lead to rejection. Bruno has not fought since losing his title in two rounds to Mike Tyson in Las Vegas more than seven years ago and has since discovered that he has a damaged retina. But the Southern Area Council confirmed on Tuesday he had applied for his license back with a view to a big money fight with former Olympic superheavyweight champion Audley Harrison who has won his 10 fights as a pro.
■ Extreme sports
Winter X goes to Aspen
The Winter X Games are headed back to Aspen. The games will take place in Aspen-Snowmass for the third straight year. The eighth version of Winter X will be staged Jan. 22 to Jan. 25. About 250 athletes are expected to compete moto X, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobile events. Last year's games drew more than 48,000 to the slopes of Buttermilk Mountain in three days. The X Games were created in 1995 by ESPN. Winter X started two years later at Big Bear Lake, California. The X Games are scheduled Aug. 14 to Aug. 17 in Los Angeles.
■ Rugby
Controversial player fined
Australian rugby league international John Hopoate, who was banned in 2001 for poking his fingers up the backsides of opposition players, was fined by his club on Wednesday after admitting to playing under a false name in a rugby union match. Hopoate received a 12-match ban in 2001 for his crude tactics while playing for Australia National Rugby League (NRL) club Wests Tigers, who sacked him. The 106kg winger, who has returned to his original NRL club Manly, was fined A$5,000 (US$3,350) after admitting he had breached his contract by playing in a fifth-grade rugby union match in Sydney on June 9.
Agencies
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