SOCCER
Afellay completes transfer
Midfielder Ibrahim Afellay said he was prepared to fight for his place in the Barcelona team after completing his transfer from PSV Eindhoven on Friday. Speaking in perfect Spanish to the media, the 24-year-old said joining the Spanish giants was like a dream, adding “when I was a kid, I wanted to play for Barca.” Andoni Zubizarreta, Barcelona’s sporting director, said Afellay signed a four-and-a-half year contract and PSV were paid 3 million euros (US$4 million) for the player. The two clubs reached an agreement over the transfer on Nov. 15. “We have absolutely no plans to sign anybody else during this transfer window,” Zubizarreta said. Afellay is one of a long line of Netherlands players to have joined Barcelona, beginning with Johan Cruyff and including Johan Neeskens, Ronald Koeman, Patrick Kluivert and former coach Frank Rijkaard. “Players from Holland have always been welcome here,” Afellay said. “Players like Cruyff or Kluivert are very well known and they have told me this is the best club in the world.” Afellay acknowledged it will be tough to make his mark within the team. “That’s normal at a club like this where there are so many quality players, but I’ll fight for my place,” he said. Afellay was in the Netherlands squad which reached this year’s World Cup final, making three substitute appearances.
CRICKET
Smith has Test cap stolen
South Africa captain Graeme Smith appealed for help on Twitter on Friday after discovering his much-loved match cap had been stolen ahead of the second Test against India. Smith said his green Proteas cap, which he was given for his first Test in 2002, had gone missing while he traveling from Cape Town to Durban for the match, which begins today. “Realise this is a long shot, but had my test cap that I’ve used since my 1st test for proteas stolen on travel up to durbs,” Smith tweeted. “Cap means a lot to me so if you know anything pls give me a shout......thx.” Many players attach sentimental value caps awarded on their Test debuts. Former Australia star Steve Waugh kept the same cap throughout his 168-Test career.
SOCCER
Besiktas snap up Almeida
Besiktas have signed Portugual striker Hugo Almeida from Werder Bremen on a three-and-a-half-year contract. In a statement posted on their Web site on Friday, Besiktas said they will pay Werder Bremen 2 million euros (US$2.6 million). The 26-year-old Almeida joins compatriot Simao Sabrosa at the Turkish club after the winger signed from Atletico Madrid earlier on Friday.
SOCCER
Diego threatens legal action
Diego Maradona threatened legal action against Argentine soccer association president Julio Grondona on Friday. “I am not going to go on about Grondona. I am going directly to see my lawyers to start an action after all he has said. He has lost control,” Maradona told the Clarin newspaper. Maradona and Grondona have been at loggerheads since the Argentine soccer legend was deposed as coach following the team’s defeat by Germany at the World Cup quarter-finals. On Thursday, the 79-year-old Grondona hit back at Maradona for describing him as “senile.” “I am not senile, I am not an informer and I never will be,” he said. “One day he [Maradona] loves you, the next he hates you. There are reasons for this, we all know what they are,” added Grondona, alluding to Maradona’s battle with drugs. Maradona insisted on Friday that he is free of drug and alcohol problems. “I haven’t taken anything for six years, not even a glass of wine.”
BASEBALL
Marlins lock up Nolasco
The Florida Marlins finalized a three-year extension for starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco worth US$26.5 million, the Major League Baseball Web site reported on Friday. Nolasco, 28, was 14-9 with a 4.51 earned run average in 26 starts last season. He struck out 147 and walked just 33. The deal locks up Nolasco for what would have been two more arbitration-eligible seasons, along with the first season he would have been eligible for free agency.
FOOTBALL
NFL hands out fines for hits
The NFL on Friday handed down fines to 16 players for illegal hits in last week’s games, including penalties of US$15,000 apiece to Atlanta’s Kroy Biermann and Cincinnati’s Dhani Jones. Falcons defensive end Biermann was docked for helmet-to-helmet contact on Seattle quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, Biermann’s third illegal hit this season. Jones was fined for the same infraction against Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. A total of seven players were fined for roughing the passer and three for flagrant fouls on defenseless receivers, both of which have been emphasized by the NFL this year as it cracks down on unnecessarily violent play. Baltimore free safety Ed Reed was fined US$10,000 for hitting New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees in the face. Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher was docked the same amount for striking defenseless Minnesota tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the neck and head area. Another Bears defender, rookie Major Wright, also lost US$10,000 for hitting Vikings rookie quarterback Joe Webb in the head and neck area and leading with his helmet. Indianapolis defenders Robert Mathis and Antoine Bethea were both fined US$10,000, Mathis for hitting Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard in the head and neck area and Bethea for helmet-to-helmet contact with Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas. New England rookie cornerback Devin McCourty was fined US$10,000 for unnecessary roughness for hitting Packers tight end Andrew Quarless when he was defenseless. Another five players were fined US$7,500 each and three more were docked US$5,000 for tackles or actions such as grabbing a facemask that violated league rules.
FOOTBALL
Sanchez expected to start
The New York Jets, who can secure an NFL playoff berth with a victory at Chicago today, expect quarterback Mark Sanchez to start despite a sore right shoulder. The second-year signal-caller was listed as probable on New York’s injury report on Friday and coach Rex Ryan said Sanchez looked better in practice than he had earlier in the week. “Today, I don’t think there was any question that he was out to say, ‘Hey look, I’m fine,’” Ryan said. “He threw it good. He never grimaced or anything else,” the coach added. “He really feels good right now.” Sanchez hurt his shoulder early in the Jets’ 22-17 victory at Pittsburgh last Sunday.
HOCKEY
Roy out for season
The Buffalo Sabres’ leading scorer Derek Roy will miss the rest of the NHL season after tearing his left quadriceps tendon. General manager Darcy Regier announced on Friday the center is expected to miss between four to six months, and will have surgery to repair the injury within the next few days. Roy was hurt on Thursday in the first period of a 4-3 loss to Florida. Carrying the puck into the Panthers’ zone, Roy was driven into the boards by defenseman Dmitry Kulikov.
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