SOCCER
Magath cuts players’ break
Schalke 04 coach Felix Magath has cut his players’ winter holiday after Saturday’s 5-0 Bundesliga defeat at Kaiserslautern. “The winter holidays of Schalke players will be short,” the club said on its Web site on Sunday. “They will start their holidays a day after the German Cup third round on Dec. 21. It will end only four days later, with the first training session set for Dec. 27.” Last season’s runners-up suffered their worst defeat in 18 years when they lost to Kaiserslautern and dropped to 15th place, two points above the relegation spots. Other German teams have given their players time off until early January, with the season resuming on Jan. 15 after the winter break. “This result cries out for consequences,” Magath said after the loss to Kaiserslautern.
SOCCER
Ex-Barca head claims seat
Former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta won a seat in Catalonia’s parliament in a regional election on Sunday representing a new party calling for independence from Spain. The Catalan Solidarity for Independence party which he launched in July after leaving the Barca presidency won a total of four seats in Catalonia’s 135-seat local parliament. It captured just over 100,000 votes. “We must choose between being a region that pays a lot of taxes and has no significant powers or being a leading state of Europe,” Laporta said on Friday during a campaign rally in Barcelona. Laporta, a 48-year-old lawyer, was the chairman of Barcelona until June, when his second term came to an end. Under his guidance Barcelona won the Champions League twice and the Spanish league four times, making it the most successful period in the club’s history.
SOCCER
United draw Liverpool in Cup
Manchester United and Liverpool, England’s two most successful clubs, will do battle in the third round of the FA Cup after the draw was made on Sunday. United, winners of the trophy 11 times, will in January host their rivals who have won the competition on seven occasions. Holders Chelsea will entertain Championship side Ipswich Town, and 10-times cup winners Arsenal host Leeds United. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will lead Leicester City against his old club Manchester City. Minor league FC United, the breakaway club founded by Manchester United fans upset at the Glazer family’s takeover at Old Trafford, will host Portsmouth if they win a replay against Brighton and Hove Albion. Minor league York City travel to Premier League Bolton Wanderers. The ties will be played on the weekend of Jan. 8 and Jan. 9.
CRICKET
Star’s family receive threats
The family of Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider have told police they have received threatening calls after the player said he would expose people involved in corruption in Pakistan cricket. “Zulqarnain’s wife got three calls today, two from an unknown number and one from a number in Greece in which the caller speaking in Urdu threatened her of dire consequences if Zulqarnain said anything about anyone,” Aqeel Haider, the player’s brother said. He said the calls came after Zulqarnain said on his Facebook page on Sunday that he would soon expose people who had taken bribes. The wicketkeeper left the national team earlier this month and fled Dubai for London where he has applied for asylum, saying he was under threat from people who wanted him to cooperate in fixing matches.
FOOTBALL
Fan falls to death in Chicago
Authorities say a man has died after falling at least 6m from a ledge at Soldier Field in Chicago while attending a football game. Chicago police say the man fell during the NFL matchup between the Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Chicago Fire chief Joe Roccasalva says the man landed on a small rooftop on the outside of the stadium. Witnesses told authorities the man ran to a ledge and jumped. Roccasalva says the man was in his 20s, but his name hasn’t been released.
FOOTBALL
Alouettes win Grey Cup
The Montreal Alouettes won their second straight Grey Cup title on Sunday, handing the Saskatchewan Roughriders another heartbreaking loss in the Canadian Football League’s championship game. Montreal, who edged the Riders in last year’s Grey Cup with a field-goal on the final play, had a fourth--quarter rally and held off a late Saskatchewan surge for a dramatic 21-18 win. With the victory, the Alouettes become the league’s first back-to-back winners since the Toronto Argonauts in 1996-1997. Montreal’s Avon Cobourne ran for two touchdowns, while Anthony Calvillo, playing his eighth Grey Cup in 11 years, completed 29 passes for 336 yards and then told the media he has a lesion on his thyroid that will require surgery.
GOLF
Jordan named as a captain
Michael Jordan is returning as one of US captain Fred Couples’ Presidents Cup assistants for next year’s November matches at Royal Melbourne in Australia. Couples said yesterday at Royal Melbourne that Jordan and Champions Tour player Jay Haas will return as assistant US captains after helping lead the winning US team last year in San Francisco. International captain Greg Norman selected Frank Nobilo as one of his two assistants, with the second to be determined next year. “I can’t wait,” Jordan said. “I had such a good time in San Francisco with Freddie, Jay and the team back in 2009.”
BASKETBALL
Scott fined for knocking refs
The NBA fined Cleveland coach Byron Scott US$35,000 on Sunday for publicly criticizing game officials. NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson announced the sanction for remarks Scott made after the Cavaliers’ 110-100 loss at Orlando on Friday. Scott criticized officials Ed Malloy, Bennie Adams and Kevin Fehr, saying it was difficult to play an opponent where “there’s five white jerseys and three with stripes ... It’s hard when you’re playing against eight people.” He also complained about what he called the crew’s inconsistent officiating. Scott had never been fined in previous coaching stints, but had admitted on Saturday he was expecting the punishment.
MOTOR RACING
Kovalainen stunned in crash
Finnish Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen needed a precautionary trip to hospital after being knocked out in a big crash at the Race of Champions in Duesseldorf, Germany on Sunday. The Lotus Racing driver, a former winner of the annual exhibition event, lost control of his Audi R8 sportscar and ploughed into the barriers and a concrete wall. “Hardcore shunt with throttle jammed and rear suspension damaged, got knocked out, now some medical checkups,” Kovalainen said on his Twitter feed before later reporting all was well. Portuguese GT racer Filipe Albuquerque was the surprise winner of the event after beating France’s seven-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb in the final.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely