FOOTBALL
Favre’s ankle fractured
Vikings quarterback Brett Favre has a fracture in his left ankle that could end the 41-year-old’s NFL-record consecutive games streak. Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress said on Monday an MRI on Favre’s ankle revealed the injury after Minnesota’s loss at Green Bay. Childress says Favre is wearing a walking boot. Childress says Favre’s streak will not affect his decision whether to play him on Sunday at New England. The coach says they have to do what what’s right for the Vikings. Favre threw three interceptions against his old team, the Packers, and hurt the ankle when he was hit on one the interceptions.
RUGBY UNION
Wilkinson’s shoulder injured
Jonny Wilkinson is one of five players to report injured for England duty ahead of next month’s internationals. The Toulon flyhalf, who is the record points scorer in Test rugby, complained of soreness in his shoulder when he joined up with the England squad on Monday. Sale’s Charlie Hodgson has been called up as cover for Wilkinson, who led England to the 2003 World Cup title. Four players — prop Joe Marler, flanker Tom Wood, No. 8 Dan Ward-Smith and center Brad Barritt — were called up earlier on Monday as injury cover for David Wilson, Hendre Fourie, Simon Shaw and Riki Flutey. The injured players are battling to be fit for the first of England’s four matches next month — against New Zealand at Twickenham on Nov. 6.
BASKETBALL
Blazers sign center Oberto
The Portland Trail Blazers signed free agent Fabricio Oberto of Argentina to help the team at center while Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla rehabilitate from injuries. Terms of the deal were not announced. Oberto, 2.08m, played last season with the Washington Wizards after four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He was starting center when the Spurs won the NBA championship in 2007. Earlier on Monday the Blazers let go second-year forward Jeff Pendergraph, who injuries his knee in the preseason and will require surgery.
ROWING
Disease kills gold medalist
Former Olympic rowing champion Andy Holmes, who won gold medals with Steve Redgrave at the 1984 and 1988 Games, died aged 51 on Sunday, British Rowing announced on Monday. Holmes was taken ill last week with what media reports said was suspected to be a case of the rare bacterial disease leptospirosis, also called Weil’s disease. In a statement on its Web site, British Rowing said it was announcing his “tragic and untimely death with great sorrow.” Holmes won gold at Los Angeles in 1984 in the coxed four with Redgrave, Martin Cross, Richard Budgett and Adrian Ellison. Four years later in Seoul he won gold in the pair, again with Redgrave, and bronze in the coxed pair, steered by Pat Sweeney.
CRICKET
Ponting back for Sri Lanka
Australian captain Ricky Ponting will return to action against Sri Lanka next week as Australia enter final preparations for the Ashes series against England, officials said yesterday. Ponting and opening batsman Shane Watson were both named in the 15-man squad for three one-day internationals next week after being rested for the 2-0 limited-overs defeat in India. Ponting faced calls for his resignation after returning from the Test series defeat to India, which pushed Australia down to fifth in the rankings — one spot below archrivals England.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two