■ Basketball
Teen fans brawl in New York
Teenagers brawled in the stands at a high school basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday night before police cracked down on the melee, which spilled into the streets. Gunfire was heard as the crowd went from the arena northward about eight blocks to Times Square, police said. No injuries were reported. About 21 people, mostly teenagers, were arrested, police said. A local television news camera crew inside the arena caught images of fights breaking out in the stands, including a girl slapping a boy, who in turn hit her. Other boys then jumped him, and police intervened. The Public Schools Athletic League's AA division city championship high school basketball game was between Brooklyn rivals Lincoln and Boys & Girls.
■ Soccer
Game falls in holy week
The first leg of Tottenham's UEFA Cup quarter-final in Sevilla, Spain, has fallen in the middle of a holy week and the town's mayor is trying to change the date. Alfonso Rodriguez Gomez de Celis even joked at a press conference he could invite UEFA president Michel Platini to the holy procession on Thursday April 5, the date of the match, to show him how important it was. The return match is a week later at Tottenham's White Hart Lane ground.
■ Football
Porter nailed for punch-up
Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter has been issued a summons by Las Vegas police for punching Cincinnati Bengals lineman Levi Jones in the face in an incident at a blackjack table, Las Vegas' Review-Journal newspaper reported. Porter, who left the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign a five-year, US$32 million contract with Miami earlier this month, was cited for misdemeanor battery on Sunday after a brief fight following a testy exchange of words at the Palms Hotel, police said. "Apparently these two have a history with each other, a history of trash talking on the field," Las Vegas police Lieutenant Kevin McMahill told the newspaper.
■ Cricket
Pakistan's selectors quit
Pakistan's chief cricket selector and the rest of the national selection committee have resigned following the national team's humiliating exit from the World Cup, a statement said yesterday. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would not comment on newspaper reports that PCB chairman Naseem Ashraf had tendered his resignation to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Protests erupted in several Pakistani cities after the team lost to outsiders Ireland on Saturday. A PCB statement said chief selector Wasim Bari had tendered his resignation and those of the rest of the national selection committee to the board.
■ Diving
Chinese lead men's 1m
Two Chinese divers led the men's 1-meter springboard preliminaries at the world diving championships yesterday. They weren't quite in the order the team expected. Luo Yutong (羅玉通) upstaged his world No. 1-ranked teammate He Chong (何沖) by a big margin -- 466.50 points to 423.30 -- to give Luo a good chance of upsetting He in today's final. Based on recent performances, He should have been on top. The favorite for the event, He is ranked first on the 1m springboard, won the Canada Cup, USA Diving and International grand prix events last year. Siarhei Kuchmasau of Belarus was a long way back with 387.75 points to qualify third yesterday, followed by Chris Colwill of the US (387.05).
■ Soccer
Juve thrash Triestina
Juventus cruised six points clear of Napoli at the top of the Serie B on Monday after a 5-1 drubbing of Triestina. Raffaele Palladino, 22, standing in for the suspended French striker David Trezeguet, was in blistering form for the promotion hopefuls, netting a hat trick. The visitors got off the mark first after seven minutes but veteran midfielder Mauro Camoranesi leveled a minute later. Palladino scored the next three for Juventus in what became a one-sided affair and 21-year-old Bulgarian international Valeri Bojinov wrapped up the game nine minutes from time.
■ Ice Hockey
Tootoo gets five game ban
The Nashville Predators, who have the best record in the NHL, will try to play without Canadian right wing Jordin Tootoo for the next five games. The NHL suspended Tootoo for five games here on Monday for striking Dallas defenseman Stephane Robidas in a 3-2 home victory over the Stars on Saturday. Tootoo will lose US$16,032 for the roughing blow, which came with 3:39 remaining in the third period and resulted in a double minor penalty. "Stephane Robidas appeared to be initiating a confrontation by approaching Jordin Tootoo," NHL vice president Colin Campbell said.
■ Curling
US sneak past Germany
The US rallied from a five-point deficit yesterday to defeat Germany 8-7 at the women's world curling championship. In the 10th end, German skip Andrea Schopp had a chance to win the game with the last-rock advantage but her shot hit a piece of debris on the ice and skidded off to the side, leaving a US stone in the house. The US improved to 5-2 in the round robin draw and was to face Scotland yesterday. Germany fell to 2-5.
■ Soccer
Beckham launches Web site
David Beckham has launched a new Web site to provide coaching advice to teachers and pupils. The Web site is an extension of Beckham's soccer academy which hosts free educational days. So far more than 12,000 children in the UK have benefitted from those open days but now Beckham is hoping anyone, anywhere can take advantage of what his academy has to offer. Beckham, visiting Bristol's City Academy School, said: "I have seen first-hand how boys and girls respond to the coaches at the academy. I am proud of the work we have achieved to date with schools and community groups who visit the academy."
■ Cricket
Gibbs' feat helps charity
West Indian cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers and South African Herschelle Gibbs remembered their feats of six sixes in an over during a charity function here on Monday. Gibbs became the first man to hit six sixes in an over in one-day cricket during South Africa's Group A match against the Netherlands at Warner Park on Friday. His historic feat cost Johnnie Walker US$1 million after the company said it would donate the money to charity in honor of the first player to register the landmark. "Gibbs' feat was a wonderful achievement and more cherishing is the fact that it going to help charity," said Sobers, who hit six sixes in an over in a first-class match for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan at Swansea in 1968. The donation will help Habitat for Humanity in Trinidad to build 70 houses for 500 homeless people, a cause Gibbs said he was happy to contribute.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care