FOOTBALL
Peterson faces new trouble
Suspended Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson faced new legal trouble on Thursday after Texas prosecutors in his child abuse case asked a court to order his arrest on a possible drug-related bond violation. Peterson, 29, who has been accused of injuring his four-year-old son while disciplining him with the thin end of a tree branch, allegedly told a drug-testing administrator on Wednesday he had smoked marijuana before submitting to a urinalysis test, court papers said. “During this process the defendant admitted ... that he smoked a little weed,” according to the motion filed by Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon. A court date has not been set on the possible bond violation. Peterson’s next scheduled court date is Nov. 4. Peterson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, declined to comment. Neither the Vikings nor the National Football League (NFL) immediately responded to requests for comment.
FOOTBALL
Dre headphones lead to fine
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said on Thursday the NFL had fined him US$10,000 for appearing at a post-game press conference with Beats by Dre headphones around his neck. Kaepernick has a sponsorship deal with Beats by Dre, but rival manufacturer Bose has a league-wide deal that makes it the “Official Sound of the NFL.” Last year Kaepernick was asked not to wear his headphones during a press conference in London — a request he ignored, although it is not known if he was fined that time. On Sunday, Kaepernick sported bright pink headphones — reported to be a nod to Breast Cancer Awareness — as he addressed the media following the 49ers’ victory over Kansas City. Asked if Beats by Dre paid his fine, Kaepernick said: “We’ll let that be unanswered.”
RUGBY UNION
Aussies recall Cooper
Quade Cooper has been recalled to Australia’s training squad for the first time this year for next week’s third Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand. The 26-year-old Cooper, who is coming back from surgery on his left shoulder, was included in a 32-man squad yesterday, a day after Kurtley Beale was dropped pending the outcome of a code-of-conduct tribunal hearing. Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said he wanted to see how Cooper, a 50-Test veteran, trained and performed after nine months out of the national team. He is to cut the squad to 23 players next week, with Cooper likely to take a spot on the bench if he is fit. Fiji-born winger Henry Speight was also included in the squad, among four uncapped players, but is unavailable due to a hamstring problem. Center Matt Toomua was not considered due to a recent concussion.
RUGBY UNION
Fruean dropped for Williams
Center Robbie Fruean, who has defied a chronic heart condition to play Super Rugby for three New Zealand teams, has lost his contract with the Chiefs to make way for code-hopping star Sonny Bill Williams. Fruean has played for New Zealand at junior level, played provincial rugby for Wellington, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay, and Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, the Crusaders and the Chiefs. He came close to winning All Blacks selection two years ago before illness intervened. The Chiefs yesterday announced Fruean will not be contracted next season. Head coach Dave Rennie said Williams’ return after two years in rugby league forced the change.
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