BASEBALL
MLB takes over LA Dodgers
Major League Baseball (MLB) is taking the extraordinary step of assuming control of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team increasingly paralyzed by its owners’ bitter divorce. Once among baseball’s glamor franchises, the Dodgers have been consumed by infighting since Jamie McCourt filed for divorce after 30 years of marriage in October 2009, one week after her husband fired her as the team’s chief executive. Frank McCourt accused Jamie of having an affair with her bodyguard-driver and performing poorly at work. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig told Frank McCourt on Wednesday he would appoint a MLB representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the club. At the same time, Frank McCourt was preparing to sue MLB, a baseball executive familiar with the situation said.
BOXING
Klitschko-Haye set for July 2
Britain’s WBA heavyweight champion David Haye and Ukraine’s WBO, IBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko have set their title fight for July 2 in Hamburg’s soccer arena, Klitschko said on Wednesday. “I am happy that Haye is finally coming into the ring. He has twice avoided a Klitschko fight in the past,” Klitschko, whose brother Vitali holds the WBC crown, said in a statement. A Haye-Wladimir Klitschko clash has been on the cards for two years, but twice the two sides failed to finalize a deal after disagreeing on how to split revenues. Haye pulled out of a scheduled fight with Wladimir in 2009, citing an injury, although it was more likely a case of the two sides and their promoters failing to reach a deal. A Haye-Vitali Klitschko match also failed to materialize.
TENNIS
Li Na continues losing streak
China’s Li Na has vowed to learn the lessons from her defeats as her post-Australian Open misery continued on Wednesday when she exited Stuttgart’s WTA tournament in the second round. The 29-year-old sixth seed lost 6-4, 7-5 to Germany’s Sabine Lisicki to suffer her fifth defeat in six matches since losing the Australian Open final to Kim Clijsters in January. Since her Melbourne loss, Li suffered defeats in her opening matches at Dubai, Doha, Indian Wells and Miami, despite holding match points in two of those defeats. She beat Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova in Monday’s first round match in Stuttgart to stop the rot, but was then beaten by Lisicki in the second round.
STOCK CAR RACING
Brazilian driver dies
Hospital officials say a Brazilian stock car driver who suffered head injuries in a crash at the weekend has died. The Alvorada Hospital said in a statement that 67-year-old Paulo Kunze died on Wednesday morning as a result of the injuries from Sunday’s crash at the Interlagos track in Sao Paulo. Kunze reportedly lost control at a high-speed corner during a stock car race and his car rolled several times. The accident occurred two weeks after 29-year-old Brazilian driver Gustavo Sondermann died in a crash at Interlagos.
SOCCER
Cole fined for Twitter joke
West Ham striker Carlton Cole was fined by the Football Association on Wednesday for jokes he made on Twitter during England’s friendly against Ghana last month. The association said Cole was warned about his future conduct and fined £20,000 (US$32,800). Cole joked that the match at Wembley Stadium was a trap by the British government to find illegal immigrants. He deleted the comment, but was still charged.
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