■ Motorcycling
Rossi rocks in Doha
Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy won Saturday's Qatar Grand Prix in Doha for his second victory in three visits to the event. The defending champion, who finished 14th in last month's season opener in Jerez, Spain, won in 43 minutes, 22.22 seconds on the 5.3km Losail International Circuit in Doha. The Italian's Yamaha finished ahead of Nicky Hayden of the US and Jerez winner Loris Capirossi of Italy. Hayden, on a Honda, finished the 22-lap race in 43:23.12. Ducati's Capirossi finished third in 43:23.72. Sete Gibernau of Spain finished fourth on a Ducati, one place ahead of Honda rider Casey Stoner, who started only his second ever MotoGP race from pole position. Jorge Lorenzo of Spain secured his second successive win of the 250cc season, completing the 20-lap race in 41:29.94 after starting from pole. Andrea Dovizioso and fellow Italian Roberto Locatelli finished second and third respectively. Dovizioso had 41:30.02, more than 19 seconds ahead of Locatelli.
■ Sailing
Yachts head off to US
Dutch entry ABN AMRO ONE retook the lead of the Volvo Ocean Race on Saturday after the yachts left Sao Paulo Brazil en route to the US in the fifth leg of the around-the-world competition. ABN AMRO ONE, -- winner of three of the first four legs -- overcame Spain's movistar shortly after the boats crossed the scoring gate at the Fernando de Noronha isle off Brazil's northeastern coast. It led movistar by 24km as the yachts headed toward the next stop in Baltimore. US yacht Pirates of the Caribbean was third, 48km behind the leader, followed closely by Sweden's Ericsson Racing Team and Brasil 1. ABN AMRO TWO was last, 146km back from ABN AMRO ONE.
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
Donyell Malen on Monday scored in each half as AS Roma beat Cagliari 2-0 to stay in touch with the chasing pack at the top of Serie A. Leaders Inter are eight points clear of city rivals AC Milan and nine ahead of reigning champions SSC Napoli. Roma are three points further back along with Juventus. Dutch centerforward Malen had scored only once in four appearances since joining on loan from Aston Villa last month, but he proved his worth on Monday with two excellent finishes. He ran on to a clever through-ball from Gianluca Mancini and his deft chip over the goalkeeper
FIRST MEDALS: Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland secured the first gold medal of the Milan Games yesterday, winning the men’s downhill ski race The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opened on Friday with a glittering ceremony at the San Siro stadium echoed by festivities at Games venues across the snow-capped Italian Alps. The extravaganza reflected the most geographically widespread Olympics in history. It culminated in the lighting of two cauldrons, one at Milan’s Arch of Peace and one in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the chic resort 400km from Milan that is hosting the women’s alpine skiing. Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni, two Italian skiing Olympic champions of the past, lit an intricate cauldron inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s knot patterns at Milan’s Arch of Peace. In the freezing mountain air of
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