■ Soccer
Becks may end career in US
England captain David Beckham would like to end his career playing Major League Soccer in the US, a BBC report said yesterday. The Real Madrid midfielder, who still has one year to run on his contract in Spain, said he was attracted by the country's passion for sport. "At some stage, playing in America is possible," the 30-year-old was yesterday quoted as saying by the BBC's sport Web site. "For me, America's so passionate and I'd like to be a part of that. I've one year left at Real, and maybe two more after that, but things can change in football and the American league does interest me," Beckham said. "I want to be part of a country that is passionate about sport. I've got my academy in LA which is important to me because that is my life after the game. America for me is one of the most passionate places. There is an incredible feeling around the country," he said.
■ Rugby
Umaga ready to return
Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga is expected to return from a five-week injury layoff when the Wellington Hurricanes play the Otago Highlanders in a Super 14 rugby match on Sunday. Umaga, who retired from international rugby at the end of last season, has not played since he suffered a knee ligament injury against South Africa's Cheetahs at Bloemfontein on March 5. He made a quiet return to rugby as a replacement in a Wellington club match on Saturday and is likely to be at least on the bench in the Super 14 10th-round match at Dunedin. Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper yesterday indicated that Umaga would be part of the match and said the Wellington-based team would benefit from "just having him back, with his knowledge, what he does and the belief that he'll give the group."
■ Rugby
Fans snap up Cup tickets
More than 100,000 tickets were snapped up in 10 hours on Monday, the opening day of the second release of tickets for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, organizers said. Sales were widened to the public worldwide after the first ticket release on Nov. 5 went to what the International Rugby Board terms its rugby family, including players, volunteers, administrators, officials and club fans. Close on 800,000 tickets of the 1.6 million available have now been sold. Like the first-phase tickets are being sold in packs of three to six matches, with a maximum of six packs per person. Phase three later this year will allow fans to purchase single tickets. The cheapest tickets are 10 euros (US$12.11). Prices for the quarter-finals and the opening ceremony start at 49 euros. Nearly 15,000 seats for the final will be sold for less than 100 euros.
■ Hockey
Robitaille to retire
Luc Robitaille, the highest scoring left wing in National Hockey League history, will retire at the end of the season, the Los Angeles Kings said on Monday. The 40-year-old Robitaille, the Kings' career leader in goals, was to hold a news conference yesterday to discuss his decision. "Tomorrow is the opportunity for the Kings and Luc Robitaille to acknowledge his Hall of Fame-caliber career and give him an opportunity to address his decision to retire from the game of hockey," said Michael Altieri, the Kings' vice president of communications. Altieri declined further comment. Robitaille has 15 goals and nine assists in 62 games this season, his 19th in the NHL.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two