■ 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."
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani is the record-breaking baseball “superhuman” following in the footsteps of the legendary Babe Ruth who has also earned comparisons to US sporting greats Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. Not since Ruth a century ago has there been a baseball player capable of both pitching and hitting at the top level. The 30-year-old’s performances with the Los Angeles Dodgers have consolidated his position as a baseball legend in the making, and a national icon in his native Japan. He continues to find new ways to amaze, this year becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases
Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
Francesco Bagnaia yesterday profited from a mistake by rookie Pedro Acosta to win the Japan MotoGP sprint and close the gap on overall championship leader, Jorge Martin. Spaniard Acosta crashed with four laps to go while leading the field at Motegi, allowing defending world champion Bagnaia to take first ahead of Enea Bastianini and Marc Marquez. Spain’s Martin finished fourth and saw his overall lead over Italian Bagnaia in the championship standings cut to 15 points. “I am very happy because with these conditions, it’s not very easy to win and gain points,” Bagnaia said after a sprint race that took place under
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