■FOOTBALL
Facility collapse probed
US government investigators began sorting through the Dallas Cowboys’ flattened practice facility in Irving, Texas, on Monday, trying to figure out why fierce winds sent the tentlike structure crashing down during a rookie workout session. Twelve people were hurt. Records obtained by reporters show the city of Irving granted the Cowboys’ request to replace the fabric roof last year, five years after the structure was built. The team listed itself as the contractor for the roof replacement, but Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team would not comment about the work. The records do not show the Cowboys sought an inspection of the facility after replacing the roof, although city code requires it, according to Gary Miller, Irving’s director of planning and inspections.
■CRICKET
Strauss player of the year
England captain Andrew Strauss, 32, was named as the team’s player of the year for 2008-2009 by sponsors Vodafone on Monday. The award, given to the opening batsman just two days before he leads England into the first Test against the West Indies at his Lord’s home ground, was a reward for some heavy run-scoring by the Middlesex left-hander. Claire Taylor won the corresponding award for the England women’s team.
■BASEBALL
Player’s mom in drugs bust
The mother of New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain was jailed in Nebraska and facing a felony charge after being arrested on suspicion of selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer in February. Lincoln Police Captain David Beggs said Monday that 44-year-old Jacqueline Standley was arrested at her apartment on Saturday night. Beggs said she allegedly sold 1 gram of a substance believed to be meth to an uncover officer for US$110 on Feb. 11. The substance tested positive for meth in testing at the state laboratory. She was charged on Monday with delivery of an exceptionally hazardous drug. Her bail was set at US$5,000, and she was assigned a public defender. Chamberlain found out about the arrest after arriving at Yankee Stadium on Monday night. He said he hadn’t spoken with her in a while. “You’ve only got one mom, man, and you’ve got to be thankful for her,” he said. “I still love her.”
■RUGBY UNION
Kockott ‘slapped’ with ban
Coastal Sharks scrum-half Rory Kockott has been suspended for one week and will miss a crucial Super 14 fixture against the New South Wales Waratahs in Durban on Saturday. Kockott, second-highest scorer in the southern hemisphere championship this season with 110 points, pleaded guilty to slapping flanker Adam Thomson from visiting New Zealand side Otago Highlanders at the weekend. The incident four minutes from full-time had a comical edge as diminutive Kockott floored much taller and stronger Thomson with a strike to the face and South African referee Phillip Bosch raised a red card. A lawyer representing Kockott on Monday at the Durban hearing argued the sending off was sufficient punishment, but the judicial officer deemed the action reckless and imposed a ban. The suspension means Sharks’ New Zealand coach John Plumtree cannot field his first-choice half-back partnership just one week after fly-half Ruan Pienaar returned following a lengthy injury absence. Sharks, runners-up to the Northern Bulls two seasons ago, lie fourth and Waratahs fifth, three points behind with two rounds to go and nine franchises in a scramble for semi-finals places.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put
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