■ Basketball
Bryant skips training
Kobe Bryant was not on the private plane which brought Los Angeles Lakers veterans to training camp on Thursday and team officials refused to be more specific than saying the star guard was under the weather. "That's all we have to say," said general manager Mitch Kupchak, who refused to answer any other questions about Bryant, who faces felony sexual assault charges in Colorado. "We're obviously disappointed that Kobe's not here with the basketball club, with his teammates," coach Phil Jackson said after practice for rookies and veterans with fewer than four years of experience. "This is a team thing, it's about us as a basketball team and what the best is for our team," Jackson said. "So we'll commence tonight and go on as usual. No one is bigger than this team or the game. That's the way it is."
■ Golf
Woods on money trail
Tiger Woods is going after an unprecedented fifth straight PGA Tour money title, trailing Vijay Singh by about US$475,000 with six events still on the schedule. But Woods made it clear on Thursday he won't add another tournament to help his chances. That's bad news for Tampa. "I'm playing just two more after this, and then I'm done," Woods said, adding that his two tournaments left will be Disney and the Tour Championship. Woods said the Chrysler Championship in Tampa was never a consideration. Davis Love III, who is second to Singh on the money list, had said he might add another tournament to make up for lost ground. Singh has played 23 times this year, five more than Love. Woods has played only 15 tournaments. Including this week's American Express Championship, two of the three events left for Woods have a US$6 million purse.
■ Tennis
Gibson funeral held
Althea Gibson was eulogized Thursday as an inspiration to people of all races, on the court and off. Former New York Mayor David Dinkins, a tennis enthusiast who played with Gibson, was among the several hundred mourners at a two-hour service at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, an Episcopal church in downtown Newark. "A lot of folks stood on the shoulders of Althea Gibson," Dinkins told the assembly. "I'm not just talking about black folks, but many others who were inspired by what she achieved." As the first black player to enter and win Wimbledon and a US national championship, Gibson helped pave the way for stars such as Arthur Ashe and Venus and Serena Williams. Gibson died of respiratory failure Sunday at a hospital in East Orange, where she had lived for many years. She was 76.
■ Rugby Union
Rugby not too big: IRB
International Rugby Board chairman Syd Millar has moved to quell concern that world rugby is outgrowing its smallest members. The former Irish international told the Christchurch Press newspaper there was no reason a nation of New Zealand's size should not be able to solely host a World Cup. He also moved to salve growing concern over the future of small and cash-strapped nations which are unable to compete with New Zealand provinces or English and French clubs for the services of their top players. Ahead of a World Cup in which some countries are without players who cannot afford to break contracts with foreign clubs, Millar denied the IRB has neglected its smallest members.
■ Soccer
Reid earns reprieve
Peter Reid is staying as manager of Leeds United -- for the time being, at least. With the Premier League team off to its worst start to a season in 22 years, club officials considered dismissing Reid after just 15 games in charge. But the club announced on Thursday morning that Reid would remain at Elland Road. "Obviously everybody connected with Leeds United is concerned about the club's position in the Premier League table and the board has spent some considerable time considering all aspects of the situation," the club said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange. "Our conclusion is that Peter Reid should remain as the team manager to lead the team's recovery performance." Reid met with Leeds chairman John McKenzie on Wednesday to discuss his future. McKenzie also consulted with fans' groups. "We wanted to check out with the fans and players and even the shareholders what their views were," McKenzie said on Sky Sports Television. "We have come to the conclusion that Peter should remain."
■ Cricket
Waugh hints at retirement
Australia test captain Steve Waugh, the sport's most-capped player, has hinted he will retire in the next 12 months after a final attempt at winning a series in India. "You always want to go out on a good note," The 38-year-old Waugh told reporters in Perth. "I'm not exactly sure when it's going to be, but it's a good chance that this will be the last time I play in Perth." Waugh will lead test cricket's top-ranked side in a two-match series against Zimbabwe starting in Perth on October 9, followed by the second test in Sydney on Oct. 17 to 21. Australia will also host a four-test series against India in December and January in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
RSS