SOCCER
Chelsea mourn John Neal
John Neal has been hailed as the man who restored pride to Chelsea after it was announced the former Blues manager had died on Sunday. Neal passed away at the age of 82 after a long career in soccer which took in Hull, Swindon, Aston Villa and Southend as a player and Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea as a manager. He took over Chelsea at a time when financial problems were crippling the club, but the manager’s eye for a bargain — notably the small-fee signings of Kerry Dixon and Pat Nevin — helped get the Blues back on track long before the success sparked by the investment of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich. The club announced the news on Monday morning and gave their own fitting eulogy of his time at Chelsea. “Chelsea Football Club is deeply saddened by the passing of John Neal, one of the most significant and loved managers in our history,” they said. Appointed in 1981, Neal prevented the Blues from slipping to the third tier and in 1984 guided them to the second-tier title. He stood down in 1985 due to heart surgery.
BASEBALL
Red Sox sign Pablo Sandoval
Free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a multi-year contract, and the switch-hitting slugger informed the San Francisco Giants he is leaving. Sandoval, the 2012 World Series MVP with San Francisco, was pondering an offer from the Giants worth close to US$100 million over five years, two people with knowledge of that proposal said, also speaking on condition of anonymity because no deal had been announced. Sandoval, 28, met with the Red Sox last week. Boston finished last in the AL East, one year after winning the World Series.
SOCCER
Games resume after attack
Greece’s soccer federation on Monday announced that professional soccer would resume this weekend following an attack against a top refereeing official. The federation had suspended all matches in the top two divisions last weekend following what it described as “a murderous attack” two weeks ago. Vice president of the federation’s Central Committee of Referees, Christoforos Zografos was taken to hospital after being attacked by two unknown people outside his home near Athens, sustaining injuries to his head and arms.
SOCCER
Real Madrid to play at MCG
European champions Real Madrid are to headline a pre-season international tournament at Australia’s 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) next year, organizers said on Monday. The glamorous Spanish outfit, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez among others, are to play in the International Champions Cup, along with an English Premier League team and Italian Serie A side. Organizers said the other teams, reported to be Manchester City and Inter Milan, would be revealed in the next few weeks.
SOCCER
Racism may push Renteria out
Black Venezuelan soccer player Emilio Renteria says racist chants against him have been so ferocious that he is considering leaving his Chilean club San Marcos de Arica. “I’m not sure I will stay in Chile,” Renteria says. “My mother and various family members called me crying. They said if you have to put up with this, better to leave.” A match on Saturday against Deportes Iquique was stopped for 71 minutes by the referee because of monkey chants and racist remarks directed at Renteria. He scored the only goal in the game.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely