■TENNIS
ITF fines Australia
Australia were on Friday fined US$10,000 and ordered to pay costs by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for failing to fulfill a Davis Cup fixture against India in Chennai. The Australian team refused to travel to India for the May 8 to May 10 match after expressing concerns over security arrangements. The tie clashed with India’s month-long parliamentary elections and the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, which was scheduled to begin at the same time, and was moved from India to South Africa because of a subsequent lack of police resources. Australia will not, however, be banned from participating in the tournament.
■FOOTBALL
Dog bites Harrison’s son
A pit bull owned by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison bit his two-year-old son in the thigh. The boy is expected to recover though he remained hospitalized on Friday, the player’s agent said. Harrison’s agent, William Parise, said that James III was bitten after his mother let the dog out of its pen on Thursday. Parise wouldn’t identify the woman, but said she and Harrison’s massage therapist also were hurt trying to help his son. The massage therapist needed three stitches, Parise said. Parise said Harrison was not home at the time, but was nearby and alerted after the dog attacked.
■ICE HOCKEY
Flames fire Mike Keenan
Mike Keenan was fired as coach of the Calgary Flames on Friday, almost a month after his team lost in the first round of the NHL playoffs for the second straight year. Keenan spent just two seasons with Calgary and general manager Darryl Sutter said expectations were not met. “Taking into consideration all factors affecting our season-ending result, we believe this is a necessary change required to allow our team to continue toward our objective of winning the Stanley Cup,” Sutter said. The Flames finished the regular season with 46 wins and 98 points, but they were ousted in the first round in six games by the Chicago Blackhawks.
■BASKETBALL
FIBA wants more in 2012
Basketball’s global governing body has asked the International Olympic Committee to include four more teams at the 2012 London Games. FIBA said on Friday that having 16 instead of 12 countries would deliver bigger audiences and a more efficient tournament. “The game has exploded and it’s time to recognize that,” FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann said. “The ratings will just skyrocket and it’s going to be good for the IOC, good for us.” The men’s tournament has had 12 teams since the 1976 Montreal Games but has grown in stature since NBA players were first allowed to play, at the Barcelona Games in 1992.
■BASKETBALL
Johnson may sell Bobcats
After losing tens of millions of dollars, the first black majority owner of a major US professional sports team is exploring selling the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats. Bob Johnson’s decision could pave the way for minority investor Michael Jordan to take control of the team — if he’s willing to meet Johnson’s price. The NBA confirmed on Friday that Johnson is using a New York-based sports financial services firm to seek additional investors. Jordan said in February that he’d be interested in someday getting majority control of the team.
■SAILING
Swedes regain the lead
Sweden’s Ericsson 4 regained the lead on Friday as yachts in the Volvo race around the world entered the final sprint toward Ireland and rough Atlantic waters broke the rudder of US entry Puma Ocean Racing. The seven yachts taking part in seventh stage of the event, which left Boston on May 16, are advancing at speeds of nearly 25 knots and could arrive early today at the port of Galway on the west coast of Ireland, organizers said. Ericsson 4, the overall race leader, was on a more northerly route than its rivals and was about a 22km ahead of Spain’s Telefonica Blue, followed by Dutch team Delta Lloyd, which was the surprise leader on Thursday. Puma Ocean Racing were in fourth place after they lost time on Thursday when its leeward rudder snapped off shortly after it took the lead and needed to be replaced. “We had to literally stop the boat and take down the sails to fit our emergency rudder. We’ll race as best we can. Our emergency rudder system is pretty slick,” Puma skipper Ken Read said in a statement.
■FORMULA ONE
No progress on budget cap
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said no agreement was reached between Formula One teams and FIA president Max Mosley in talks on Friday over a planned budget cap. The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) met with Mosley after Ferrari threatened to pull out of the series following the FIA president’s plans to introduce a voluntary team budget cap of US$60 million starting in 2010. “We had a very long, productive meeting,” Di Montezemolo said. “FOTA will have another meeting tomorrow to discuss and then we will meet Mosley again.” Mosley said “little progress” was made. All 10 F1 teams attended the three-hour meeting at Monaco Automobile Club.
■SOCCER
Onieva to quit Real election
Candidate Juan Onieva will reportedly withdraw from Real Madrid’s presidential election, boosting the chances of former president Florentino Perez regaining control of the club. Local media said yesterday that Onieva will officially withdraw tomorrow, just four days after announcing his participation in the poll of some 65,000 club members. Onieva’s prospective vice president, Carlos Gonzalez, quit the campaign on Friday because of what he said was the poor quality of Onieva’s presentation of his candidature the previous day. The withdrawal of Onieva, a sports business consultant and former club vice president, would leave Perez as the only candidate.
■RALLYING
Latvala leads in Sardinia
Ford’s Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen secured the top two places in Friday’s opening day of the Rally of Sardinia. Latvala finished in 1 hour, 24 minutes, 15 seconds after six stages. Hirvonen was 39 seconds back. Citroen occupied the next three places with Sebastien Loeb third, Petter Solberg fourth and Evgeny Novikov in fifth.
■CYCLING
Trussov wins fifth stage
Nikolai Trussov of Russia won the fifth stage of the Volta of Catalunya on Friday, while Alejandro Valverde of Spain retained the overall lead. Trussov, cycling for the Katusha team, finished the 201km leg between La Seu d’Urgell and Torredembarra in 4 hours, 28 minutes, 58 seconds. Thor Hushovd of Norway, who won Monday’s first stage, was second. Fabio Sabatini of Italy finished third. Valverde leads by 15 seconds over Daniel Martin of Ireland.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care