■ Soccer
Top ref to accept doctorate
PHOTO: AP
Just call him Dr. Collina. Pierluigi Collina, widely considered the world's No. 1 soccer referee, will be awarded an honorary doctorate by England's University of Hull. The Italian will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Science degree at Hull city hall in July 2004, recognizing his contributions to the game. Collina, who officiated the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan, is easily recognizable for his shaved head and piercing stare.
■ Rugby Union
Wilkinson injured
England star Jonny Wilkinson is expected to overcome a shoulder injury and be ready for the Six Nations rugby championship. The fly-half was helped off the field on Sunday after attempting a tackle for his club team Newcastle, his first match since kicking the winning drop goal in England's victory over Australia in the World Cup final five weeks ago. Wilkinson kicked three penalties before leaving the match Sunday, which Newcastle won 23-19 over Northampton. An X-ray afterward showed no broken bones. "It's a bit early to say at this stage how long he will be out, probably the next 48 hours will tell," Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew said. "I don't expect him to miss the Six Nations. He may well not play next week, but we're talking a few weeks probably rather than anything serious."
■ Baseball
Steinbrenner doing fine
New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was released from the hospital on Sunday, one day after he fainted at a memorial service, and his doctor described his health as excellent. The 73-year-old Steinbrenner was picked up by family members, hospital spokeswoman Lyn Cassan said. "He wanted to go home," Cassan said. "He wasn't very happy sitting in a hospital bed." Dr. Andrew Boyer, Steinbrenner's personal physician, said in a statement that Steinbrenner recovered in a few minutes after collapsing during the church service for football great Otto Graham. "He's doing well ever since," the doctor said. "To be sure that it was nothing more than a fainting spell he has had a very extensive cardiac and neurological work-up. All the diagnostic studies were normal," he added. "He's feeling well and his general health is excellent."
■ Olympics
S Korean official quizzed
Prosecutors questioned International Olympic Committee Vice President Kim Un-yong yesterday over allegations that he collected illicit money from former South Korean Olympic officials and embezzled funds from taekwondo organizations. "I will explain everything to prosecutors," Kim told reporters before entering the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office. Kim, the world's taekwondo chief, has been plagued by scandals involving him and his family. He has denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, South Korean prosecutors raided Kim's house and offices, seizing a private safe and documents. The move was highly unusual because Kim was a national legislator.
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
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,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
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