■ CYCLING
Schleck out after crash
Saxo Bank’s Frank Schleck has been sidelined with several injuries from a training ride crash, compromising the Luxembourg ace’s chances of being in prime condition for next month’s spring classics. Schleck, the older brother of Tour de France white jersey winner Andy, skidded with his front wheels during a training ride and crashed in a curve going downhill, a team statement said. “Seven stitches on the chin and a heavy contusion on his left wrist was the immediate damage, but further examinations were needed yesterday afternoon at a clinic in Luxembourg to rule out any fractures,” it said. Schleck, who would normally be aiming to be fit for one-day classics such as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, is now scheduled to return to action at the two-day Criterium International in France at the end of this month. “This doesn’t come at a convenient time, since I’m in really good shape after Paris-Nice and I hope to get back into racing as soon as possible,” Schleck said.
■ SOCCER
Gerrard’s charges dropped
Prosecutors dropped accusations of assault against England and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard yesterday but the player will still face a charge of affray over a bar brawl. The Liverpool captain was arrested in the early hours of Dec. 29 after police were called to the Lounge Bar nightclub in Southport, England. Company director Marcus McGee, 34, required hospital treatment after receiving facial injuries in the incident. At Sefton magistrates court yesterday, Gerrard, 28, was told he would no longer face a charge of assault occasioning bodily harm. The incident occurred following Gerrard’s man-of-the-match performance in a 5-1 win over Newcastle United, in which he had scored twice. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said the club are fully behind Gerrard.
■ BASEBALL
Kawakami’s start delayed
Atlanta Braves right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was scratched from his scheduled spring training start on Thursday because of arm fatigue. Kawakami, the first Japanese player signed by the Braves, is expected to be Atlanta’s No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the rotation behind Derek Lowe when the season begins. “The regular season isn’t here yet, so I wanted to take it easy,” Kawakami said through an interpreter. “Yesterday [Wednesday] something just didn’t feel right. Today, it’s usual. I’m not concerned at all.” Kawakami has pitched in four games this spring, allowing seven runs and 14 hits in 13-and-two-thirds innings. He has a 1.86 ERA in three starts. “He could have pitched today,” Cox said. “So I’m not concerned at all.” Cox said he expected Kawakami to make his next start on Tuesday.
■ HOCKEY
Court rules against Brodeur
Days after breaking the NHL record for wins by a goalie, the Devils’ Martin Brodeur has been dealt an alimony setback by a New Jersey appeals court. The court ruled that Brodeur must pay his ex-wife US$500,000 a year until 2020. A lower court originally awarded Brodeur’s ex-wife, Melanie DuBois, limited alimony. Brodeur appealed, asking that he only be required to pay alimony until he retires, which he estimated to be in 2012. DuBois asked for alimony payments until 2024, when their youngest is anticipated to graduate from college. The court ordered Brodeur to pay alimony until 2020, the year the youngest child graduates from high school.
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