■ Boxing
Laila Ali marries NFL star
Boxer Laila Ali and retired NFL star Curtis Conway were married on Sunday, her manager, Eric Kaufman, said on Monday. Kaufman wouldn't release any details of the wedding in Los Angeles. Guests included Ali's parents, Muhammad Ali and Veronica Porsche Anderson; her sister Hana Ali; Conway's 12-year-old twin sons, Cameron and Kelton; and his eight-year-old daughter, Leilani, People magazine reported on its Web site. The 29-year-old four-time super-middleweight champion wore a champagne-colored silk charmeuse strapless mermaid gown, the magazine reported.
■ Soccer
Kangaroo cleats banned
The California Supreme Court has banned the sale of soccer cleats popularized by David Beckham and other goods made from kangaroo leather. But the statewide prohibition -- the only one of its kind in the US -- may be short-lived. Legislation allowing kangaroo-derived products made by the sporting goods maker Adidas and other companies passed the state Senate this year. It's expected to clear the Assembly and land on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk as early as September. Still, animal rights activists who sued Adidas were emboldened by Monday's ruling, which overturned two lower court decisions holding that California's kangaroo ban interferes with federal support of Australia's wildlife management plans.
■ Rugby Union
School year changed for Cup
New Zealand will change its school year to allow as many people as possible to watch the final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, after the proposed date of the Auckland match was announced yesterday. The final will be played at Auckland's Eden Park on either Saturday, Oct. 22 or Oct. 23, 2011, a Labor Weekend public holiday in New Zealand, Rugby World Cup organizers said. The date is likely to be finalized during this year's World Cup in France. New Zealand's Labor Party government has consulted with education sector groups over the change and reached agreement that the final term of New Zealand's four-year school term should be shortened to fit in with the Cup final.
■ Soccer
Fiszman keeps Arsenal stake
Arsenal's largest shareholder, Danny Fiszman, intends to hold on to his stake in the Premier League club in the face of rumored interest from American billionaire Stan Kroenke. The ownership of the club has been discussed since vice president David Dein was ousted from the board in April, but Fiszman said on Monday he would not be tempted into any deal. Fiszman, who is also a director of the club, said the agreement the board entered into in April to hold onto their interests for at least a year still held. "I have no intention of selling my shares in Arsenal for the foreseeable future," Fiszman said.
■ Cricket
Black Caps retain Bracewell
John Bracewell will continue as New Zealand cricket coach for another two years, while former India mentor John Wright joins the national team in a new high-performance role. "We believe that John [Bracewell] has made good progress with the [New Zealand team] and we are delighted to retain him as the team's coach," New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said yesterday. Bracewell, a former Test off-spinner, has coached the team since 2003 when he succeeded Denis Aberhart. His new contract will see him steer the team until April 2009.
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
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two