■FOOTBALL
Burress incurs fine
New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was fined US$45,000 by the NFL on Friday for verbally abusing an official and tossing a ball into the stands during last weekend’s game against San Francisco. Burress was fined US$20,000 for comments to head linesman Phil McKinnely after the official called him for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and $20,000 for inappropriate comments after the game on the officiating. McKinnely had called Burress for offensive pass interference against cornerback Nate Clements on the previous play. After the next play, Burress drew the unsportsmanlike penalty for some choice remarks to the officials. Burress was assessed another US$5,000 fine for throwing a ball into the stands after catching a touchdown in the third quarter.
■COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Boise State holds on to bid
Boise State kept alive its bid for a berth in the collegiate Bowl Championship Series by beating San Jose State 33-16 on Friday. Kellen Moore threw two touchdown passes and Ian Johnson ran for two scores in a matchup of the top two teams in the Western Athletic Conference. San Jose State nearly derailed bids for undefeated seasons by the Broncos in their past two visits to Spartan Stadium and hoped to be able to complete the job this year. But Boise State proved to be too much for the Spartans to handle, winning for the 49th time in its past 51 conference games.
■BOXING
Italian takes WBC belt
Giacobbe Fragomeni became a world champion at age 39 in front of his hometown fans by defeating Rudolf Kraj for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title on Friday. Fragomeni was leading 77-74 on all three judges’ cards when the fight was stopped in the eighth round because of a cut above his eye sustained in the previous round from an illegal headbutt. Kraj, who was attempting to become the first world champion from the Czech Republic, was strong in the first two rounds before ceding to the Italian’s speed. The WBC title was vacated by Britain’s David Haye, who moved to heavyweight recently. Fragomeni’s only defeat to go with his 26 victories was to Haye in 2006.
■YACHTING
Record attempt aborted
British billionaire Richard Branson abandoned his bid to break the trans-Atlantic speed record on Friday after a “monster” wave ripped the main sail of his single-hulled racing yacht two days after setting sail from New York. Branson and his crew made the decision on Friday when the Virgin Money was about 965km out in the Atlantic. No one was injured in the storm, and the sailors hoped to reach St. George, Bermuda — the nearest point of land — later on Friday.
■BASKETBALL
Bulls pick up options
French forward Joakim Noah, Swiss guard Thabo Sefolosha and US forward Tyrus Thomas had contract options for the 2009-2010 National Basketball Association season picked up on Friday by the Chicago Bulls. Noah, the ninth overall selection in last year’s NBA Draft, averaged 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 76 games in his first NBA campaign. Sefolosha, selected 13th overall by Philadelphia in the 2006 draft before being obtained by the Bulls, has spent two seasons with Chicago, averaging 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds. Thomas, a number four selection obtained by the Bulls in a 2006 draft-day trade, has averaged 6.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 146 career games. The Bulls will open this year’s season at home on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
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