■ Tennis
John Newcombe recovers
John Newcombe, a seven-time Grand Slam titlist and victorious Davis Cup captain, says he's recovered from a ``mild stroke'' but will have to curb his drinking and socializing as he gets back into the swing of things. "One of the minor blood vessels came out the left side of my brain and just blocked out," Newcombe, 59, told the Australian Associated Press on Saturday. "Fortunately, it was a minor one and I wasn't left with too much damage, which is repaired now. I'm doing everything I was before and I'm only on very minor medication." Newcombe is renowned in Australia for his big mustache and for enthusiastically embracing celebrations. "I can do those things in moderation. If I'm smart, I won't have any big ones [drinking sessions] any more," he said.
PHOTO: AP
■ Soccer
Roque Junior gets injured
AC Milan defender Roque Junior will miss next month's FIFA Confederations Cup in France after sustaining an injury in the Champions League final, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation (CBF) said Friday. Roque Junior suffered a "serious injury" during Wednesday's final against Juventus in Manchester, England, according to a statement sent Friday afternoon by the Italian club to the CBF. The player was limping for most of extra time in the Juventus match, which Milan eventually won on penalties. At the eight-nation Confederations Cup, World Cup champions Brazil are favorites in Group B, where they play World Cup semifinalist Turkey (June 19), the United States (June 21), and African champion Cameroon (June 23). The Confederations Cup runs between June 18-29 and will also feature France, Colombia, Japan and New Zealand in Group A.
■ Basketball
Shaq says he messed up
Shaquille O'Neal acknowledged he "messed up" by not attending his season-ending meetings with the Lakers' staff, a snub that had angered coach Phil Jackson. The players were expected to meet with the coaches before taking off for the summer. All attended their interviews except O'Neal, Rick Fox, who was undergoing surgery for a foot injury, and Samaki Walker, a free agent who won't be back with the team. The meetings were held two days after three-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles was eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. O'Neal told Fox Sports Net's Southern California Sports Report he should have gone to his interview at the team's El Segundo headquarters.
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
The journey of Taiwan’s badminton mixed doubles duo Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur came to an end in the semi-finals yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 loss to China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. Ye, 25, and Chan, 20, teamed up last year and are currently ranked No. 23 in the world. The Taiwanese shuttlers took on China’s second seeds in the mixed doubles event, but proved no match for Feng and Huang, losing the match 10-21, 7-21. In the first half of the first game, the pairings were neck and neck at 6-7 until Ye
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
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