HOCKEY
No date for Crosby’s return
Sidney Crosby is still feeling the effects of his concussion and it is too soon to discuss a possible return date for the NHL’s leading scorer, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said on Wednesday. Bylsma initially said on Jan. 6 that Crosby, who leads the NHL with 66 points, would be sidelined for at least a week. Crosby fell to the ice following a blindside hit to the head during the Winter Classic outdoor game on New Year’s Day, but his injury is being linked to a hit by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman during a Jan. 5 game. The Penguins have lost all three games played without their captain and have been outscored 10-3. Pittsburgh are three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
BASKETBALL
James says tweet not a dig
LeBron James insisted on Wednesday his apparent Twitter dig at Cleveland wasn’t an attempt to kick his former team when they were down, but just a comment on “how I was feeling at the time.” The struggling Cavaliers suffered a stunning 55-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, and a tweet from James appeared to be a dig at his former team and its owner, Dan Gilbert. “Crazy,” James tweeted. “Karma is a b----. Gets you every time. It’s not good to wish bad on anybody.” The tweet appeared to refer to infuriated comments Gilbert made in July, after James announced he was departing Cleveland as a free agent for the Miami Heat. However, prior to Miami’s game at the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, James said the tweet wasn’t aimed at Gilbert or the Cavs at all. In fact, he indicated he was passing on a comment from someone else, although there wasn’t an indication on his Twitter account that it was a retweet.
SOCCER
Bellamy charged with assault
Wales soccer star Craig Bellamy has been arrested on suspicion of assault, a police source said on Wednesday. The Manchester City striker, currently on loan at hometown club Cardiff City, was bailed pending further enquiries. He was questioned after two men, aged 20 and 26, suffered facial injuries during an incident in central Cardiff, south Wales, in the early hours of Sunday. “A 31-year-old man has today been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed pending further enquiries,” a police statement said.
SOCCER
Bentley loaned to Birmingham
Birmingham City have signed David Bentley on loan from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season, it was announced on Wednesday. The former Blackburn and Arsenal midfielder joined Spurs in July 2008 for a fee of £15 million (US$23.6 million), but has since failed to nail down a regular place with the London high-flyers.
SOCCER
Bridge loaned to West Ham
Wayne Bridge has joined bottom of the table West Ham on loan from fellow Premier League side Manchester City until the end of the season, the Hammers announced on Wednesday. The 30-year-old former England international has found himself out of first team reckoning at title-chasers City following the pre-season arrival of both Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng. “It will be great to play a part in helping keep West Ham in the Premier League,” left-back Bridge told West Ham’s official Web site “It would be a big achievement.”
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