■ Soccer
Scotland coach resigns
Berti Vogts has resigned as Scotland coach after two-and-a-half years in charge, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) said on Monday. "The Scottish FA confirms that Berti Vogts has today offered his resignation as Scotland's national coach. His resignat-ion has been accepted by the Scottish FA Board and he leaves his position by mutual consent," the SFA said in a statement. Vogts, who led his native Germany to victory at Euro 96, had been under increasing pressure after a poor start to Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign when they picked up just two points from their first three games. Former Rangers and Everton manager Walter Smith and ex-Southampton coach Gordon Strachan are among the men tipped to take over.
■ Soccer
Mutu doesn't want to quit
Disgraced Romanian international Adrian Mutu, who faces an FA hearing tomorrow after being sacked by Chelsea following a positive test for cocaine, says he has no intention of quitting soccer. "Mr. Mutu intends to accept whatever is the outcome of the FA hearing and to work hard to return to the game, if banned, as a stronger player all-round, and at the highest possible level," said a statement from his lawyers Campbell Hooper on Monday. "Our client sincerely regrets having taken a prohibited substance. Although he believes and appreciates that this behavior was unacceptable, he had been suffering severe personal difficulties at the time." Mutu was sacked by the Premier League club last month for gross misconduct after he tested positive for the drug.
■ Soccer
Bert Trautmann gets OBE
German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, who famously played in the 1956 FA Cup final for Manchester City with a broken neck, on Monday received the Order of the British Empire honor from Britain's ambassador to Germany, Sir Peter Torry. Trautmann, 82, made a stunning transformation from Prisoner of War (which brought him to Britain) to fan favorite at Manchester City and English Footballer of the Year in 1956. "I am proud and feel very honored," Trautmann said. "It is a great honor but not the most important thing in life." Trautmann's hiring by City just four years after the end of World War II in 1949 led to an outcry and massive protests. But Trautmann won the hearts of the fans with strong showings and his Cup final heroics in 1956 when he played the last 15 minutes of Manchester City's 3-1 win at Wembley over Birmingham City. A few months later Trautmann became the first non-English player to win the Footballer of Year award.
■ Athletics
Not guilty, says Kenteris
Greek doping suspect Kostadinos Kenteris said early on Monday he was looking forward to facing possible charges over avoiding a pre-Olympics drugs test, seeing it as a chance to prove his innocence. "If a decision is taken to have charges filed against me, I will accept it gladly," the 200m sprinter told Greek private television station Alter. "A prosecution means that the case will be cleared ... I want to go to the end and then we'll see who's right and who isn't," said the 2000 Sydney Olympics champion. Athens prosecutors Spyros Mouz-akitis and Athena Theodor-opoulou, and senior pros-ecutor Dimitris Papangel-opoulos is widely expected in the coming days to file charges against Kenteris and training partner Ekaterini Thanou.
BOUNCE BACK: Curry scored 46 points in the Warriors’ victory over the Spurs, after ‘everybody stepped up’ following Tuesday’s blowout loss to Oklahoma City Nikola Jokic scoring 50 or more points had never been enough for the Denver Nuggets to win — until now. Jokic on Wednesday night tied the highest-scoring performance in the NBA this season with 55 points, as the Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 130-116 for their sixth straight victory. The Nuggets were 0-4 in his previous 50-point outbursts. “It’s a good feeling,” the three-time NBA Most Valuable Player said. He equaled Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 55 in a double-overtime game at the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 23. Jokic has been on a roll during Denver’s winning streak. He is the
The tri-nation Twenty20 international series featuring hosts Pakistan, as well as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, is to be played entirely in Rawalpindi from Tuesday next week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said yesterday, after this week’s suicide bombing in the capital, Islamabad. The change came after at least eight Sri Lankan players asked to leave over security fears following Tuesday’s bombing that killed 12 people and wounded 27. Their country’s cricket board issued a stern directive to the team to stay put or face consequences. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said the decision to stay was taken after “close consultations” with hosts Pakistan who
France’s Kevin Aymoz snatched the men’s title at Skate America on Saturday, winning his first grand prix title with a battling free skate, while short program leader Kazuki Tomono faltered. It was an emotional triumph for Aymoz, who made his grand prix level debut in 2017, with seven prior podium finishes, but no gold. He had struggled with a painful foot injury since a disappointing 10th-place finish at Skate Canada last month. “It was so difficult,” the 28-year-old said. “After Skate Canada I wanted to give up so much and today I’m here and it’s so beautiful to be with my friends competing
Australian restaurant chain Grill’d has made a cheeky apology for putting a “curse” on Oscar Piastri’s Formula One title hopes with their offer of a free burger for every time the McLaren driver gets on the podium. The Melbourne native has not finished in the top three since the promotion relaunched five races ago, losing the championship lead to teammate Lando Norris and now 24 points behind. Online conspiracy theorists have been quick to put two and two together. The chain’s Piastri 81 Burger debuted ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in March, with his endorsement, and was relaunched in September after he
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