SOCCER
Di Stefano in coma
Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano, one of the greatest soccer players in history, is in a coma in a Spanish hospital after suffering a heart attack on Saturday, officials said. Rescuers battled for nearly 20 minutes to revive the 88-year-old after his heart and breathing stopped while he was eating with his family near the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in central Madrid. “He had suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest,” a source at Madrid Emergency Services said. “The emergency services began resuscitation and after 18 minutes managed to get him out of the arrest and he was taken in a serious condition to the Gregorio Maranon hospital.” The Argentina-born forward was lying in a coma in the cardiac ward of the hospital, a hospital spokesman said.
GOLF
Hurley leads Greenbrier
Billy Hurley III moved within sight of his first PGA Tour victory when he opened a two-stroke lead over Angel Cabrera after the third round at The Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia on Saturday. American Hurley carded a tidy three-under-par 67 in delightful conditions on Greenbrier’s Old White course in White Sulphur Springs, but Cabrera loomed large, moving into second place with a sizzling 64. The Argentine veteran has won two major titles, the 2007 US Open and 2009 Masters, but has never captured a regular tour event. American Kevin Chappell (69) was alone in third, three strokes behind.
GOLF
Stadler leads French Open
In challenging conditions, Kevin Stadler shot a one-over 72 and still managed to extend his lead to four strokes over Victor Riu and Thongchai Jaidee after the third round of the French Open on Saturday. Leading since the first round, Stadler endured wind gusts and brief showers and made two bogeys and a birdie for a nine-under 204 total. Riu, of France, wasted a solid front nine after the turn with six bogeys to card a 73, sharing second place with Thongchai, the Thai who shot 69.
CRICKET
Warne breaks hand, plays on
Shane Warne suffered a broken hand after being struck by an unintentional beamer from former Australia teammate Brett Lee in the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) seven-wicket win over the Rest of the World at Lord’s on Saturday. Paceman Lee was quick to hold up his hand and offer his apologies after hitting the 44-year-old leg-spinning great, captaining the World XI, first ball in the exhibition match. Warne, batting at the end of the innings, went on to face four more deliveries as his side amassed 293 for seven in their 50 overs. India’s Yuvraj Singh top-scored with 132. With the Australian unable to field, the MCC romped to victory with 25 balls to spare as Australian Aaron Finch blasted an unbeaten 181 in 145 balls.
CRICKET
Strauss sorry for profanity
Former England captain Andrew Strauss has apologized after being caught on microphone making offensive remarks about ex-teammate Kevin Pietersen during an MCC v Rest of the World exhibition match at Lord’s on Saturday. Strauss was heard by viewers who were watching the coverage on Fox Sports in Australia, but the comments were not broadcast on British television. He made the remarks while speaking to fellow Sky Sports commentator Nick Knight. “I apologize unreservedly, particularly to Kevin Pietersen,” Strauss was quoted as telling British media. “I am mortified and profusely sorry.”
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
HSIEH MAKES QUARTERS: Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens of Belgium won in the women’s doubles and face Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin of the US Top-ranked Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff were knocked out of the women’s singles at the Miami Open on Monday, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced in the women’s doubles. Swiatek lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2, hours after third seed Gauff fell in three sets to No. 23 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Alexandrova beat a top-ranked player for the first time and advanced to face Jessica Pegula, a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 winner over Emma Navarro, in the quarter-finals. Alexandrova recorded her second win over Swiatek, following a 2021 victory in Melbourne. Swiatek had won their three matches since. “We played quite