■ Basketball
Shaq goes into property
Shaquille O'Neal, the superstar center who led the Miami Heat to the NBA title in June, unveiled his newest project on Tuesday -- a US real estate firm with nationwide plans. The O'Neal Group is eying projects and properties around the US, the first of them being a deal with a developer for a three-tower complex in downtown Miami with 1,100 condominiums, a hotel, office and entertainment area. "This is not only a real estate deal," O'Neal said. "We want people to live how they want to live."
■ Cricket
China gets cash boost
China's cricket association has been given US$400,000 to accelerate cricket's growth in the country, Asian Cricket Council chief executive Syed Ashraful Huq said yesterday. Of the sum, US$200,000 comes from the Asian Cricket Council and is matched by US$200,000 from the International Cricket Council. "This represents an opportunity for everyone involved with cricket in China," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said in a statement. "There's been a very good start in China. This is a 10-year project and no one should be under any illusion that results will appear overnight."
■ Soccer
Juve net Serie B win
A double by Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov inspired disgraced Italian giants Juventus to a 3-0 victory over Serie B rivals Crotone on Tuesday. The 20-year-old's brace, plus one from France international defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, saw Juventus' points deficit -- they were deducted 17 points and relegated for match fixing -- reduced to minus 10 having started out the campaign with a draw and two wins. Bojinov struck his first in the 30th minute. Boumsong headed the second in the 36th minute from a Camoranesi corner. Juventus wrapped up the match 13 minutes from time when Bojinov slotted the ball home.
■ Rugby Union
Smith has dreads shorn
The most famous dreadlocks in Australian sport, belonging to Wallabies forward George Smith, have been chopped off and put up for sale for charity. Smith had his first haircut in eight years and has donated his trademark braids to a charity for young people with cancer. "I wouldn't expect much for the [dreadlocks], but anything for the charity would be great," Smith told the Daily Telegraph. Smith's distinctive dreadlocks have been one of the more bizarre talking points in international rugby for years. New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins was caught on television yanking them in a match this year while South Africa once denied claims they had been betting amongst each other as to who could pull one out.
■ Ice Hockey
Leafs' enforcer Domi retires
Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Tie Domi announced his retirement on Tuesday, bringing an end to 16 fight-filled seasons in the league. With 3,515 penalty minutes, Domi leaves as the third most penalized player in NHL history behind only Dale Hunter (3,565) and Dave `Tiger' Williams (3,966). Domi, a second round draft pick in 1988, began his career in Toronto and after stints with the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, returned to the Leafs where he established himself as one of the NHL's most willing and feared fighters. "I may not have been the most talented player but I played the game with every ounce of my commitment and determination to win," Domi told reporters. "If I could have a career in professional hockey, then every kid can dream the dream."
SSC Napoli’s Italian Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale with closest rivals Inter just one point behind. The hosts remain top with 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday, with two rounds remaining. To make matters worse for Napoli, midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, struggling with an ankle injury, was forced off just minutes after the match began. Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got
Harry Kane opened the scoring ahead of lifting his first career silverware as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0, with veteran Thomas Mueller playing his last home game for the club. Bayern officially won the title on May 4 when defending champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg, but were presented with the Bundesliga shield in front of their home fans at full-time. Dripping wet after being showered with beer by teammates, Kane said the title win was “an incredible feeling,” and hoped it would be “the first of many.” “It’s been lot of hard work, a lot of
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Taiwanese e-sports veteran Lin “ET” Chia-hung yesterday successfully defended his King of Fighters XV title at this year’s Evolution Championship Series: Japan (EVO Japan), securing his second consecutive championship. Lin claimed victory with a 3-1 win over Japanese pro gamer “mok” in the grand final, repeating his earlier 3-1 win against the same opponent in the winners’ final. The 40-year-old earned a ￥1 million (US$6,897) cash prize at the two-day tournament, which drew 294 competitors. Mok, Lin’s toughest rival in the bracket, took home ￥400,000 as runner-up. Lin remains undefeated in match sets against mok in King of Fighters XV, holding a 10-0 record,
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