BASEBALL
Donaldson traded to Tribe
Josh Donaldson’s rough season has taken a positive turn. The 2015 American League MVP was traded on Friday night by Toronto to the Cleveland Indians, who are hoping he can bolster their lineup and help them get back to the World Series. The Indians sent a player to be named to the Blue Jays for cash considerations and Donaldson, who has been limited to 36 games this season because of injuries. The 32-year-old was the league’s top player in 2015, when he batted .297 with 41 homers and 123 RBIs. It is not clear if Donaldson is to join the Indians right away or continue to rehab in the minors.
GYMNASTICS
Tracy fired after blowback
USA Gymnastics has parted ways with recently hired elite development coordinator Mary Lee Tracy, because she tried to contact Aly Raisman, one of Larry Nassar’s most outspoken victims. Only three days after being hired, Tracy on Friday said on Facebook that she was asked to resign after trying to contact Raisman to apologize in the hopes that “we could work together to make our sport better and learn from all the mistakes of the past.” USA Gymnastics said in a statement that Kelly inappropriately contacted Raisman, who is suing the organization and was critical of Kelly’s hiring, because she had previously defended Nassar.
E-SPORTS
EA starts fund for victims
Video game company Electronic Arts (EA) has donated US$1 million to the victims of a shooting at a Florida Madden NFL 19 tournament. GoFundMe on Friday announced that EA’s Jacksonville Tribute Fund has a goal of US$2 million. Authorities say 28-year-old Taylor Robertson and 22-year-old Elijah Clayton were killed at a Jacksonville mall on Sunday last week, when a fellow gamer opened fire. Eleven others were injured. EA said it has partnered with GoFundMe and the National Compassion Fund to give all of the collected funds to the wounded and the families of Robertson and Clayton.
BASKETBALL
Smith turns himself in
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith on Friday turned himself in to police in relation to an accusation of throwing a fan’s cellphone into a construction site near a New York City restaurant in July. Joined by his lawyer, Alex Spiro, Smith walked into the New York Police Department’s 10th Precinct to discuss what happened, the New York Post reported. Smith received a desk appearance ticket and is to face misdemeanor criminal mischief charges later this year. “This is nonsense and we’re not going to respond to nonsense,” Spiro said. In the alleged incident, a 20-year-old man accused Smith of taking his phone and throwing it because he tried to take a photograph of the player. He then used someone else’s phone to call the police and open a criminal mischief complaint against Smith, the Post said.
SOCCER
UEFA head backs 2030 bid
Britain should host the World Cup in 2030, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said, adding that it “would be a wise idea” for the UK’s federations to work together, rather than England bid alone. “Infrastructure in the [UK] is very good and, in a way, if more countries bid, there is more chance to win,” he said. Initial talks were held in June by officials from England — which hosted and won the 1966 World Cup — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. “After all these years, it’s time for that part of Europe to get the World Cup,” Ceferin added.
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