■RUGBY UNION
Cheetahs shock Sharks
Bottom team Central Cheetahs outplayed leaders Coastal Sharks 31-6 in an all-South Africa Super 14 clash in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Saturday. Given no chance even at home after seven consecutive losses in the southern hemisphere championship, the Cheetahs came from behind to lead 10-3 at half-time before dominating the second half at Vodacom Park. The sole consolation for the sluggish Sharks was that they stayed top of the table, three points above Waikato Chiefs of New Zealand, Northern Bulls of South Africa and New South Wales Waratahs of Australia. And even a bonus-point victory for scoring four tries did not lift the Cheetahs off the bottom as they are six points adrift of Queensland Reds of Australia. “Rather late than never,” said Cheetahs captain and 2007 World Cup winner Juan Smith, who returned to the team last week after being injured on a disastrous Australasia tour. “The Cheetahs owed it to the supporters who came here over Easter weekend to back us despite so many losses.”
■ICE HOCKEY
Detroit to keep Franzen
The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Johan Franzen to an 11-year contract that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season, the Red Wings said on Saturday. The contract is worth just less than US$44 million, the Detroit Free Press said on its Web site. It is the second longest ever for the Red Wings after Henrik Zetterberg signed a 12-year contract extension with the team in January. “His production over the past year and a half, both regular season and playoffs, has been remarkable and we feel, at 29 years old, that he is just now entering the prime of his career,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said on the team’s Web site.
■TENNIS
Federer gets hitched
World No. 2 Roger Federer married his long-time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec in his hometown of Basel in Switzerland on Saturday. “Earlier today ... surrounded by a small group of close friends and family, Mirka and I got married,” Federer said on his official Web site. “It was a beautiful spring day and an incredibly joyous occasion.” federer and Vavrinec met at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Federer said last month they were expecting their first child later this year.
■HORSE RACING
Papa Clem wins in Arkansas
Papa Clem, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby by winning the US$1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday. The Southern California-based son of Smart Strike wore down favorite Old Fashioned in the stretch to win the Grade II, mile-and-an-eighth affair at Oaklawn Park in 1 minute, 49.01 seconds. The victory was worth US$600,000 for Papa Clem, giving the colt more than enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby in three weeks. In another Derby prep, General Quarters captured the Grade I, US$750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
■BASEBALL
D’backs to host All Stars
The Arizona Diamondbacks will host the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, MLB commissioner Bud Selig said on Saturday. The 82nd All-Star Game, scheduled for July 12, 2011, will mark the first time the National League club stages the Midsummer Classic. This season’s All-Star contest will be on July 14 in St Louis, Missouri, while next year’s 2010 game is scheduled for July 13 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
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