■ Soccer
Player arrested over insults
An Argentine soccer player was detained after a Copa Libertadores match in Brazil on Wednesday because of alleged racist insults, local media reported. Quilmes defender Leandro Desabato was escorted off the field by police and later arrested after allegedly insulting Sao Paulo striker Grafite with racist remarks in Sao Paulo's 3-1 victory over Quilmes in Group 3 of the South American club competition. Grafite and Desabato got into an altercation in the 44th minute at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo after Desabato's alleged racist remarks, police agent Oswaldo Nico Goncalves said. Desabato was expected to be charged with racist insults, and could face from one to three years in prison if convicted, Goncalves said. Desabato was escorted into the locker room after the match, and then was taken to a police department for interrogation. Grafite ended up pushing Desabato during the altercation and was ejected by Uruguayan referee Martin Vazquez.
■ Golf
Eco-friendly courses touted
Golf courses can be designed in ways to provide a refuge to rare plants and animals, the German Federal Office for Nature Protection in Bonn says. Small lakes or ponds provide moisture, and the roughs -- the long grass between the fairways -- can make a home for a variety of plants and animals such as reptiles and small mammals, the office said. It has issued a brochure in partnership with the country's Golf Association providing golfers, city planners and landscape architects with advice on how to go about it.
■ Basketball
Garmin to sponsor Yao Ming
NBA star Yao Ming signed a two-year deal with consumer electronics maker Garmin International Inc to help promote the company's global positioning satellite system. The 2.29m center for the Houston Rockets is one of the most popular personalities in his native China, an exploding economy Garmin wants to tap into. Garmin, incorporated in the Cayman Islands but headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, says it wants to use Yao to not only push the Garmin brand but expand awareness of GPS technology in general. Yao will begin appearing in print and television ads for Garmin next month. In his first ad, Yao uses the company's latest in-car navigation system to find a gas station in a remote part of southeast Texas, where his size shocks the locals. When asked if he needs directions, Yao responds, "No, I've already got them," before touching the screen of the device.
■ Auto racing
Champ Car signs promoter
The Champ Car World Series has signed a memorandum of understanding with Li Aiqing, the chairman of Beijing State-owned Asset Management Co (BSAM), to act as the promoter of the inaugural race in China in 2006. Last month, Champ Car took the first step toward putting on the race by signing a three-year agreement with Beijing Auto and Motor Sports Association to put on an event at Goldenport Motor Park. Li said that having the Olympics in Beijing definitely played a part in bringing auto racing to the area. "Specifically, we are working with the Beijing Sports Bureau to build Beijing into the sports capital of China and to be recognized worldwide as a leader in hosting international sports events," he said.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
Italian Luca de Aliprandini described Saturday’s World Cup giant slalom at Val d’Isere as the hardest race of his life, coming two days after his Swiss partner Michelle Gisin suffered a heavy fall in training which required neck surgery. De Aliprandini finished 26th in the men’s event won by Loic Meillard, but the result paled into insignificance with two-time Olympic ski champion Gisin in hospital with injuries to her wrist, knee and cervical spine (neck). “It was Michelle’s wish that I race here. I couldn’t say no to her, but it was the toughest race of my entire life,” an emotional De
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
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