■ Basketball
Yi breaks Yao's dunk record
Rising star Yi Jianlian (易建聯) has broken NBA center Yao Ming's (姚明) record for the most slam dunks by a Chinese player in the China Basketball Association, a Chinese sports Web site said yesterday. Yi, 19, who plays for the league champion Guangdong Tigers, surpassed Yao's CBA record of 302 dunks by a Chinese player, according to Sina.com. Yi overtook Yao's dunk milestone two weeks ago and, following Guangdong's 102-91 victory over Shandong on Wednesday, the 2.12m Yi has 314 dunks. Yi, who is averaging 24.3 points and 12.1 rebounds per game this season, is expected to be a top pick in the National Basketball Association's June draft, following his famous countryman into the world's toughest league.
■ Cricket
McGrath and Lee recalled
Australia have recalled fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee for today's tri-series one-day international against England at the Gabba in Brisbane. The pair will replace Stuart Clark and Ben Hilfenhaus in a reshuffled team for the fourth match of the triangular series. Australian captain Ricky Ponting will miss the match as part of the team's rest and rotation policy to keep their players from burning out before the March 13-April 28 World Cup. Brad Hodge will fill Ponting's place at No. 3 in the batting lineup, while Adam Gilchrist will take over as skipper in his 250th limited-overs international.
Lee missed Australia's first matches of the series with bronchitis while McGrath played in Australia's eight wicket win over England but missed the 105-run victory over New Zealand.
■ Soccer
David Vanole dies aged 43
David Vanole, a goalkeeper who started for the US at the 1988 Olympics and helped the US team qualify for the 1990 World Cup, has died. He was 43. No reason was given for his death. Vanole, who lived in New York, collapsed at dinner on Monday in Salt Lake City during a family ski vacation and died later that day, National Basketball Association spokesman Brian McIntyre said on Wednesday. Vanole's wife, Kerry Tatlock, is the NBA's senior director of global marketing partnerships. "Vanole was one of the pioneers at the start of a new era for US soccer," US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. Vanole was a member of UCLA's 1985 US college championship team and helped the US national team qualify for its first World Cup in 40 years. He made 13 appearances and was unbeaten in five qualifiers, winning three, from 1986-1989.
■ Soccer
Man U lend Rossi to Parma
Parma acquired Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi on Wednesday on loan until the end of the season. "We've done a deal for the loan of Giuseppe Rossi," Parma board member Roberto Cappelli said. "Our sporting director [Gabriele Zamagna] did brilliantly. He managed to complete a swoop for a player, who was sought after by many clubs. ... We are particularly happy because he [Rossi] is an important reinforcement until the end of June," he said. Rossi, who was born in the US but has played for Italy's under-21 team, joined the Red Devils from Parma in July 2004, making 14 appearances. The 19-year-old recently completed a four-month loan to United's premiership rival Newcastle. Rossi was due to arrive in Parma yesterday and could play against Torino in Italy's Serie A this weekend.
■ Soccer
Sheva denies favoritism
Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has denied accusations that he has a special relationship with billionaire Russian manager Roman Abramovich which is destabilizing the English Premier League champions. "Those rumors are all lies," the Ukrainian told the Times. "A lot of things have been said which aren't true. We might have a quick word with each other but that is natural as we both speak Russian. Maybe I shouldn't speak Russian." Shevchenko has scored only five goals this season and manager Jose Mourinho has made veiled references to a lack of effort. British newspapers have reported that Abramovich's backing for the out-of-form striker is one of several issues which have created a rift with Mourinho and might persuade him to leave at the end of the season.
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