FOOTBALL
Packer released on bail
Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden was released in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on US$1,000 bond on Monday after spending three days in jail following his arrest on Friday on suspicion of domestic violence. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Brown County Court was closed for the weekend, so Walden was behind bars after returning home with his teammates following a 27-15 victory against Detroit on Thursday. Prosecutors said they needed more evidence to decide whether or not to file charges against Walden, who allegedly assaulted his live-in girlfriend at the couple’s apartment. John Zakowski, Brown County district attorney, said the alleged victim has changed her story about what happened on Friday, now saying she initiated the attack and Walden hurt her while defending himself.
ICE HOCKEY
Pronger sidelined by knee
Chris Pronger, a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers and two-time Olympic champion with Canada, will be sidelined for the next month following knee surgery, the Flyers said on Monday. The 37-year-old NHL star, who won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and Olympic gold with Canada in 2002 and last year, was to undergo left knee surgery yesterday, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. “The procedure will clean out some loose particles that have given Chris some problems over the last month or so,” Holmgren said. “We expect Chris will be back playing in four weeks.” That would be a welcome Christmas gift for the Flyers, who have 13 wins in 23 games to stand third in the Eastern Conference and second in the Atlantic Division on 29 points, three adrift of NHL overall leader Pittsburgh.
SOCCER
Police quiz John Terry
British police have quizzed Chelsea and England soccer captain John Terry over claims that he racially abused Queen’s Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, British media reported on Monday. A Metropolitan police spokesman confirmed that a 30-year-old man, named as Terry by BBC and Sky News sources, had been interviewed under caution on Friday. Terry has strongly denied hurling a racist slur at Ferdinand during the stormy west London derby at Loftus Road on Oct. 23. The claims against Terry emerged after video footage circulated on the Internet appearing to show the England star using racist language. Terry denied abusing Ferdinand, saying that footage had caught him asking Ferdinand if he mistakenly believed he had racially abused him. “I thought Anton was accusing me of using a racist slur against him. I responded aggressively that I never used that,” Terry said.
ICE HOCKEY
Pacioretty banned for hit
Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty has been suspended three games for an illegal hit that left Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang with a broken nose, the National Hockey League (NHL) said on Monday. Pacioretty slammed into Letang while the defenseman was following through on a slap shot during Pittsburgh’s 4-3 win on Saturday. “Letang makes the decision to sacrifice his body and must accept the possibility of taking a hit to make the play,” NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan said in a video posted on the League’s Web site. “However, what no player should expect is that his head will be picked and made the principal point of contact on such a hit.”
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