■BOXING
Calzaghe admits cocaine use
Former undefeated super-middleweight world boxing champion Joe Calzaghe apologized for using cocaine on Sunday after being caught out by a British newspaper. Calzaghe, 38, who retired from boxing a year ago having won all 46 of his professional fights, released a statement on his Web site apologizing to fans for his “occasional use of cocaine” since retiring. “I’m not proud to say that I have joined a list of royals, sports and showbiz stars who have been scammed by the News of the World’s notorious Fake Sheikh,” Welshman Calzaghe said, explaining how he had been secretly filmed by the newspaper’s reporters speaking about his drug use. The News of the World, whose leading undercover reporter sometimes poses as a sheikh to befriend celebrities, carried the story on its front page on Sunday. “In talking directly to my fans, I would only add that I am deeply sorry if anyone feels let down and I will make sure that nothing like it happens again,” Calzaghe said.
■SOCCER
Gazza in trouble again
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and without a license or insurance. Gascoigne, who has been plagued by alcohol and mental health problems since he quit the game in 2005, was charged on Sunday following the incident in Leeming Bar, north Yorkshire, last month. Gascoigne scored 10 goals in 57 matches for England before his career was cut short by injuries and off-field troubles. Gascoigne — nicknamed “Gazza” — was detained three times for mental health problems in 2008. Considered one of the most talented English players of his generation, he is best known for his exploits at the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, where he helped England reach the semi-finals.
■SOCCER
Match lasts 60 seconds
A Bulgarian third-division match was abandoned after less than a minute on Sunday when injury and suspension-hit Gigant Belene were reduced to six men shortly after kickoff. Gigant made the 200km trip to the northwestern town of Belogradchik for the match but could only field seven players. Referee Boycho Boychev was forced to abandon the match after less than a minute when Gigant’s Momchil Vraikov informed him he had picked up an injury and could not continue. Teams have to field at least seven players according to the rules of the game. Balkan Belogradchik were awarded a 3-0 win.
■RUGBY UNION
Delve heading Down Under
Welsh forward Gareth Delve has become the Melbourne Rebels’ second international recruitment ahead of their debut Super 15 season next year. Officials announced late on Sunday that Delve, the Gloucester captain, will join England flyhalf Danny Cipriani at the Rebels. “The opportunity to test myself alongside the best players in world rugby in a competition I have grown up admiring was one I couldn’t refuse,” Delve said in a statement. “I am delighted to join the Melbourne Rebels for their entrance into Super Rugby in 2011.” Delve, 27, who has played 11 times for Wales, said one of the key factors in his decision to move to Melbourne was the opportunity to work with Australian World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen. “For Rod Macqueen to come out of retirement, this must be something special,” he said. “The chance to be involved with the building of a club from the ground up has great appeal. I’m looking forward to it immensely.”
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
A baseball team from New Taipei City won the US Pony Palomino Division World Series yesterday in Laredo, Texas, defeating the US West representative team from Azusa, California, 2-1. Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School earned the right to represent Taiwan in the Pony Palomino (17 to 18 age group) World Series after winning this year's Wang Chen-chih Cup, a competition named after Taiwanese-Japanese baseball legend Wang Chen-chih (王貞治), also known as Sadaharu Oh. In the championship game against Azusa, Ku-Pao's starting pitcher Luo Yu-yan (羅于晏) was erratic early, giving up two hits in the bottom of the first inning, followed
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
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