■ NFL
Titans stomp earns ban
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth received a five-game suspension -- the longest for on-field behavior in NFL history -- for stomping on Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode's head and kicking him in the face on Sunday. The suspension, which is without pay, is effective immediately, the NFL said on Monday. Haynesworth will be eligible to return on Nov. 19 for the Titans' game at Philadelphia. Haynesworth was penalized and ejected from the game early in the third quarter after he stomped on Gurode's head, causing his helmet to pop off, then kicked him again following a five-yard touchdown run by Julius Jones of the Cowboys.
■ Rugby Union
Brian Fitzpatrick dies
Brian Fitzpatrick, a New Zealand rugby union representative and father of former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick, died yesterday, aged 75, his family said. Fitzpatrick played three Tests and 19 other matches for New Zealand on tours to Australia in 1951 and Britain in 1953-1954. He was a strongly built inside back of whom the New Zealand Rugby Union Web site records "but for a wretched run with injuries his international record may have been even more illustrious." The Web site said Fitzpatrick "has a special place in New Zealand rugby [as] the father of the most-capped All Black of all time, Sean." Brian Fitzpatrick made his first-class debut, aged 18, in 1949.
■ Baseball
Cubs let Baker go
Dusty Baker will not be back as manager of the Chicago Cubs next season, the team said on Monday after finishing the campaign with the worst record in the National League. "I guess all things must come to an end, and all things come to pass," Baker told MLB.com. After 10 seasons in San Francisco guiding the Giants to the 2002 World Series, Baker moved to Chicago, where he was expected to work his magic with the Cubs, who have not won a championship since 1908. But after reaching the NL championship series in 2003, the Cubs never returned to the post-season and sunk to new lows this year with a record of 66-96.
■ Rugby Union
Toulouse hold on to Thomas
Wales captain Gareth Thomas will not be allowed to leave French rugby giants Toulouse and return to his former club, Cardiff, the French team's director of recruitment said on Monday. Jean-Michel Rancoule said the 32-year-old 88-times capped fullback had been linked with a return to Cardiff when the Welsh club's coach Dai Young had said on Sunday he wanted Thomas, whose contract runs till June next year, to come back. "Gareth Thomas is under contract till June 2007 and there is no question of us letting him go," Rancoule said.
■ Baseball
Giants sack Alou
Felipe Alou was sacked as the manager of the San Francisco Giants on Monday, culminating a four-year stint that ended with a losing season. Giants general manager Brian Sabean announced on Monday that the 71-year-old Alou will not return next Major League Baseball season. With a veteran roster that included his son, Moises, Felipe Alou guided the Giants to a 76-85 record and a third-place finish in the National League West this season. San Francisco stumbled down the stretch, losing 11 of its last 13 games. The Giants went 342-304 in Alou's four seasons.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just