■ Boxing
Coke lands champ in hospital
Five-time world boxing champion Johnny Tapia was hospitalized in critical condition on Monday after an apparent cocaine overdose, the latest episode outside the ring in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, fighter's turbulent life. Police spokeswoman Trish Hoffman said the 40-year-old Tapia was taken to Presbyterian Hospital after paramedics responded to an early morning call about a person who wasn't breathing at a hotel room. "It appears to be an overdose. He will be charged with possession of a controlled substance," Hoffman said. Police found a plastic bag containing a white substance, which Hoffman said was confirmed by tests as cocaine.
■ Soccer
PSV's Alex out for six weeks
PSV Eindhoven defender Alex, whose goal against Arsenal last week put the Dutch side into the European Champions League quarter-finals, has a torn hamstring and will miss at least six weeks, the club announced on Monday. "An MRI scan ... this afternoon confirmed that defender Alex's left hamstring is partially torn," the club said on its Web site. "This injury will keep the Brazilian out of action for six weeks and he misses among other matches, the ... [two-leg] meeting with Liverpool." PSV faces Liverpool in first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at home on April 3. The Brazilian, who has been linked to a possible move to Chelsea at the end of the season, was carried off the pitch on Sunday during PSV's 0-0 draw with Excelsior Rotterdam.
■ Sled Dog Racing
Mackey keeps Iditarod lead
Lance Mackey maintained his lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday -- but just by minutes. Mackey was the first musher to arrive in Koyuk, Alaska, taking about a three-hour rest. He and his 13 dogs left Koyuk at 12:13 pm, 14 minutes before Paul Gebhardt arrived. Gebhardt didn't rest long; the 50-year-old musher had his 10 dogs back on the trail for the 77km segment to Elim after resting just 9 minutes. Meanwhile, Martin Buser and Zack Steer arrived later Monday in Koyuk, 275km from the race's end in Nome. Also, Canadian musher Karen Ramstead scratched from the race at the Grayling checkpoint after one of her dogs died. Race officials said she wanted to be with her family to grieve the loss of Snickers, a six-year-old female.
■ Olympics
Beijing mulls smoking areas
The 2008 Beijing Olympics are under pressure to be smoke-free, falling into line with other Olympics. Beijing Organizing Committee officials have talked with Health Ministry officials "about setting aside special smoking areas in Games venues so as to ensure most parts of these venues are free of tobacco smog," Xinhua news agency reported yesterday. Enforcing such a ban will be difficult in China, where about 350 million people -- about one-quarter of the population -- are smokers.
■ Swimming
Dutch champion retires
Four-time Olympic swimming champion Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands retired on Monday. "My career is over," De Bruijn told Dutch news agency ANP. "It can't get any better. I'm at the ceiling and see no more challenges. I'm 33 years old -- in swimming that's a grandmother." She hadn't competed in any major events since the 2004 Athens Olympics, and completed her career with eight Olympic medals overall, and five world championships.
■ Basketball
Isiah Thomas extends deal
New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has been signed to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced on Monday. The Knicks are 29-34 in Thomas's first year as coach and are in the playoff hunt with the eighth best record in the Eastern Conference. "The Knicks have grown tremendously, both in terms of team performance and player development, and much of the credit goes to Isiah and his staff," James Dolan, chairman of team owner Madison Square Garden, said in a statement. Thomas was the team's president last year but became coach in June following a disastrous 23-59 season that cost Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown his job.
RSS