■ SOCCER
Ronaldo has knee examined
AC Milan forward Ronaldo traveled to Belgium on Thursday to have his left knee examined by a specialist. The Brazil striker's knee problem ruled him out of Milan's first two games of the Serie A season -- as well as the European Super Cup win over Sevilla last week. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he expects Ronaldo back for the team's next game against Siena on Sept. 15 -- or when the squad opens defense of its Champions League title against Benfica three days later. Ronaldo transferred to Milan from Real Madrid in January and was ineligible to play for the squad when it won the Champions League last season.
■ BASEBALL
Card sells for US$2.8m
A rare Honus Wagner card has been sold for a record US$2.8 million, just over six months after it was bought for a then-record US$2.35 million. Referred to as the "Mona Lisa" of baseball cards, it's in the best condition of the few known T206 Wagner cards, released in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company. It was purchased by an unnamed private collector in a deal brokered by SCP Auctions, the firm that handled the previous sale to a California private collector and took a minority ownership position in the card at the time. Past owners of the card include Wayne Gretzky.
■ SOCCER
Baros out for Euro qualifier
Czech Republic striker Milan Baros has injured his back and will not be available for this week's European Championship qualifier at San Marino. Baros had to cut short his training session Wednesday and doctors ruled him out of tomorrow's game after discovering a muscle injury in his back, Czech Republic spokesman Lukas Tucek said Thursday. Baros was set to undergo a treatment but it was not immediately clear whether the Lyon player would be available for another qualifier against Ireland in Prague on Wednesday, Tucek said. Baros has scored 31 goals in 58 international games.
■ CRICKET
Ponting to play in Twenty20
Australia captain Ricky Ponting will fly out to lead his team in the Twenty20 world championship in South Africa after an improvement in his wife's health. Ponting is expected to arrive in South Africa in time to attend the International Cricket Council Awards ceremony at Johannesburg on Monday ahead of the start of the tournament, he said yesterday. Ponting had been in doubt for the inaugural Twenty20 championship after staying behind when the Australian team flew out on Monday because of a "private family reasons." Yesterday, he revealed that the issue was a health problem for his wife, Rianna, which he did not specify.
■ CYCLING
Freire takes Vuelta stage
Spanish rider Oscar Freire won the sixth stage of the Vuelta on Thursday in a sprint finish, taking his second leg in as many days and third overall. Vladmir Efimkin retained the overall lead. The three-time world champion finished the mostly flat, 184.3km leg from Reinosa to Logrono in 4 hours, 24 minutes, 10 seconds. The Rabobank rider edged Koldo Fernandez of Spain and Angelo Furlan of Italy. They finished with the same time as Freire. Team Milram had worked sprinter Alessandro Petacchi into position to take the sprint finish but Freire stayed close to his tail and edged his way through the pack.
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