FOOTBALL
Ray Rice appeal starts
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell testified for more than two hours to start Ray Rice’s appeal hearing on Wednesday, a person familiar with the case said. Rice and his wife, Janay, were to testify yesterday at the offices of former US District Judge Barbara Jones in New York, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Jones has told both sides not to discuss details of the private hearing. The source said Goodell spent much of his testimony under cross examination by Rice’s attorneys. Rice spent nearly 10 hours at the hearing, which took place nearly two months after the former Pro Bowl running back was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and released by the Baltimore Ravens. Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after a video of him hitting his then-fiancee was released publicly.
TENNIS
Oudin to have heart surgery
US tennis star Melanie Oudin, who was diagnosed last month with a heart condition, was to undergo surgery for the problem yesterday. The 23-year-old Oudin said she was recently diagnosed with a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Oudin, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2009 US Open, hopes to be able to continue her tennis career in a few weeks.
RUGBY UNION
Williams named at center
Sonny Bill Williams has been named at inside center in the New Zealand team to play England in Twickenham tomorrow in what may be the toughest test of his stop-start rugby union career. Williams was chosen ahead of Malakai Fekitoa and Ryan Crotty to partner Conrad Smith in midfield in only his second Test since returning to rugby after two years in rugby league. Williams marked his return to rugby by scoring two tries against the US last weekend and now has the chance to establish himself at inside center in the absence of the injured Ma’a Nonu.
SOCCER
FA defends Ferdinand ban
Former England captain Rio Ferdinand “should have known better” than to become involved in a Twitter row, the Football Association (FA) said on Wednesday as it explained why it had controversially banned the Queens Park Rangers defender for three matches. Last month the FA also fined Ferdinand £25,000 (US$40,000) for referring to the mother of another Twitter user as a “sket,” a derogatory slang term for a promiscuous woman. “With nearly 6 million followers, Mr Ferdinand is clearly an experienced Twitter user and he should know better than to respond in the way that he did,” a statement issued on behalf of the FA’s independent regulatory commission said. “It is said on his behalf that he is one of the most high profile sportsmen on Twitter and he is, without doubt, a role model for many young people, no doubt throughout the world. His responsibility is therefore that much greater than many others.
SOCCER
James auctions mementos
Former England goalkeeper David James is to auction more than 150 shirts, shorts and soccer balls from his career later this month after being declared bankrupt. The 44-year-old was declared bankrupt earlier this year despite being estimated to have earned about £20 million (US$32 million) from soccer. Several British newspapers cited an expensive divorce from his wife Tanya in 2005, reported to have cost £3 million, as one source of James’ money troubles.
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