ICE HOCKEY
Leafs’ coach gets extension
Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson got his Christmas wish. Two days after hinting on Twitter of his desire for a new contract, Wilson said the team gave him an extension. “‘He came! He came!’ Remember saying that as a little kid? Well he did: I got a new Red Ryder BB gun and a contract extension!” Wilson tweeted on Sunday morning. The team did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking confirmation. Wilson tweeted on Friday what he wanted for Christmas was a new contract from general manager Brian Burke. “This Xmas could be better if Santa stuffs a certain piece of paper in my stocking. whatcouldthatbe,” Wilson posted on his Twitter account. The 56-year-old Wilson is in the final season of a four-year contract. The Leafs are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 40 points. Toronto have not made the playoffs in three previous seasons under Wilson, who is 119-120-42 with the Leafs.
CRICKET
Pakistan choose Whatmore
Pakistan’s cricket board on Sunday said it invited former World Cup winning Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore to finalize his appointment as head coach of the national team, an official said. The Pakistan cricket team are without a full-time coach since former paceman Waqar Younis left the post in September citing health problems. “We are in the process of finalizing the appointment and in this regard are in discussions with Whatmore,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told local media. Whatmore is expected to reach Pakistan in second week of next month, he added. Former opening batsman Mohsin Khan has been serving as interim coach and was retained for Pakistan’s series next month against England in the United Arab Emirates. The 57-year-old Whatmore, who played for Australia in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is regarded as one of the most successful coaches in international cricket, having guided Sri Lanka to the World Cup title in 1996. He subsequently enjoyed a successful coaching spell with Bangladesh and is currently in charge of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
SOCCER
Kean gets bishop’s support
Under-fire Steve Kean received a Christmas message of support from the Bishop of Blackburn, who urged fans to get behind their beleaguered man in the hot seat as the club try to move off the bottom of the English Premier League. The Right Reverend Nicholas Reade called on supporters to show some compassion ahead of a tough Boxing Day fixture against Liverpool. “I would say please, always remember the human being, always remember that he’s part of a family — that other people will be suffering because people have got him in their sights,” the bishop told the BBC.
SKIING
World Cup slalom canceled
Poor weather has caused the scheduled World Cup men’s and women’s slalom events in Munich on Jan. 1 to be canceled, the International Skiing Federation (FIS) announced on Sunday. The FIS said the weather would be too mild for the planned races, which would not be replaced this season. “Due to lack of snow, too warm temperatures, rain and no positive weather forecast, the event January 1 in Munich had to be canceled. It will not be replaced during this season,” the statement said.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two