■ Cricket
Windies dispute nearly over
The latest contract dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and players could be resolved by the weekend, according to players' representative Dinanath Ramnarine on Thursday. "We have been talking and things are progressing slowly. In fact, I'm optimistic that we can make an announcement of a settlement within the next 24 to 48 hours," Ramnarine said. The West Indies Players Association threatened action last month when star allrounder Dwayne Bravo did not receive a retainer contract because of his personal endorsement with a telecommunications competitor of WICB's main sponsor.
■ Champ Car
Deer injures Champ driver
Champ Car driver Cristiano da Matta was airlifted to hospital after his race car collided with a deer that wandered onto the track during a test session at Road America on Thursday. Da Matta was airlifted to Theda Clark Memorial Hospital in Neenah. Champ Car series spokesman Steve Shunck said da Matta was unconscious when he was airlifted. The 32-year-old Brazilian is has 12 career victories and is sixth in the series points standings this season.
■ Rugby Union
Drunken Fijians banned
Five Fijian rugby players, including national sevens captain Semisi Naevo, have been banned from international matches until Dec. 31 for taking part in a drunken party after a test match last month in Japan. Naevo will miss the first two rounds of the IRB world sevens series in Dubai and South Africa while Maleli Kunavore, Joeli Lotawa, Emosi Vucago and Sekove Leawere will not be considered for international selection until Jan. 1 under the ban imposed on Thursday by the Fiji Rugby Union. The five players were alleged to have been involved in an all-night drinking session, to have fought among themselves and damaged a hotel room after Fiji's Pacific Five Nations test against Japan at Osaka on July 1.
■ Basketball
Stoudemire out of team
Amare Stoudemire was dropped from the US roster on Thursday for their trip to Asia, leaving 14 players available for the 12 spots on the world basketball championship team. USA Basketball announced Stoudemire's departure hours before it played Puerto Rico in a friendly. The Phoenix Suns forward was to miss that game and return home to help his right knee recover and await the impending birth of a child. Stoudemire entered camp as somewhat of a long shot to make the final 12. He was limited to only three NBA games last season after a pair of knee operations, and was still well off his top form after an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in April. But a strong finish to the first segment of camp paved the way for him to make the second week after Suns teammate Shawn Marion developed a knee injury.
■ Spain
Ronaldinho staying put
Barcelona star Ronaldinho brushed aside media reports of interest from AC Milan on Thursday by saying he was very happy at the Nou Camp. "I feel very happy" at Barcelona, Ronaldinho told the Barca Web site amid reports that AC Milan were ready to break the bank for him. "Right now I'm not thinking of anything but Barca," said the Brazilian playmaker who led the Catalan club to the Champions League and the Spanish title last season. Ronaldinho, now in Mexico with Barca on a pre-season tour which will take them on to the US, denied knowledge of a potential Milan move for him but said simply: "It's always good to know a big team with great supporters likes you and admires you."
■ England
O'Neill tipped as Villa boss
Martin O'Neill, the former Celtic and Leicester City manager, was expected to be named Aston Villa boss yesterday. The ex-Northern Ireland international midfielder, who won the European Cup with Nottingham Forest as a player, was named by all British national newspapers as the next manager at Villa Park after the exit of David O'Leary in the close season. O'Neill quit Celtic after five years in May last year to care for his sick wife. The reports come amid interest from several parties in buying chairman Doug Ellis' controlling share in the former European champions. US billionaire Randy Lerner and a consortium by local businessman Michael Neville have been linked with the Birmingham club.
■ England
Van der Sar needs to impress
Edwin van der Sar has been told that he still has to earn a new contract at Manchester United, despite his impressive debut season at Old Trafford. The 35-year-old was an ever-present fixture in the Premiership for United last term following his arrival from Fulham 12 months ago. He signed a two-year deal when he arrived at United and no talks have yet taken place over an extension to that contract. However, Old Trafford manager Sir Alex Ferguson has made it clear that the Dutch keeper's chances of earning a new deal are high if he continues to perform as he did last season. Ferguson said: "When we signed Edwin last year, the proviso on his future was that, if he does well, keeps his fitness and wants to carry on then we would look at extending his contract. That still applies."
■ Italy
Toni wants out of Fiorentina
Italy striker Luca Toni said on Thursday he wants to meet with Fiorentina owner Diego Della Valle to talk about his future, hinting he would be interested in a move to Serie A rival Inter Milan, according to Italian news agency reports. "I want to meet Diego Della Valle to explain my motivations and goals," Toni said, according to Apcom. "I'm not 20 and I want to make the most of the last years of my career ... by challenging for the Italian title and the Champions League," the 29-year-old said. "Inter ... is a team that can give me that possibility." Toni, Serie A's top scorer last season with 31 goals, led Fiorentina to a fourth-place finish and a spot in the Champions League in his first year at the club last season. But as a result of the country's match-fixing scandal, Fiorentina has been barred from European competition and docked 19 points this season, making it unlikely to challenge for the league title. Della Valle said on Tuesday that Toni was not for sale. Inter owner Massimo Moratti has repeatedly expressed his interest in signing Toni in recent weeks.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about £2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from