■BASEBALL
Woman offers sex for tickets
Police charged a 43-year-old woman with prostitution on Tuesday after she offered sexual services in exchange for tickets to the upcoming World Series. Susan Finkelstein of Philadelphia was arrested after police responded to an advertisement she posted on online classified site Craigslist, the Bensalem, Pennsylvania, police department said on its Web site. Finkelstein’s ad, which was still posted on Craigslist on Tuesday, described her as a “desperate blond” in need of tickets to the World Series featuring her hometown Philadelphia Phillies against the New York Yankees. “Diehard Phillies fan — gorgeous tall buxom blonde — in desperate need of two World Series tickets. Price negotiable — I’m the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!” it said. Bensalem police said they responded to Finkelstein’s ad and filed prostitution charges against her after she “solicited an undercover police officer to perform various sex acts in exchange for World Series tickets.”
■RUGBY
Henry names strong line-up
New Zealand coach Graham Henry expects Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia to be a full-blooded encounter and has signaled his intentions by naming a strong lineup for the match at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and center Conrad Smith have returned to the starting side from injury after they missed the game against Australia in Wellington last month, while stalwart Rodney So’oialo returns to the back of the scrum. So’oialo replaces Kieran Read, who was dropped to the bench, in the only change from the forward pack who demolished the Wallabies in the 33-6 victory at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. New Zealand have already retained the Bledisloe Cup after their three victories over Australia in this year’s Tri-Nations. The team will be: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Cory Jane, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma’a Nonu, 11-Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10-Dan Carter, 9-Jimmy Cowan, 8-Rodney So’oialo, 7-Richie McCaw (captain), 6-Adam Thomson, 5-Tom Donnelly, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Neemia Tialata, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock. Replacements: 16-Corey Flynn, 17-John Afoa, 18-Jason Eaton, 19-Kieran Read, 20-Brendon Leonard, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Tamati Ellison.
■ICE HOCKEY
Avs goalie has swine flu
The Colorado Avalanche confirmed that backup goalie Peter Budaj has swine flu. Budaj did not accompany the Avalanche on their four-game road trip that began late on Tuesday in Edmonton. There’s a chance the Slovak could rejoin the team later in the trip if he’s cleared by team doctors. The team said no other players have come down with the virus.
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