■ Olympics
Hu invites Bush to ceremony
Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) has invited US President George W. Bush to attend the opening ceremony of next year's Beijing Olympics, a news report said yesterday. Beijing also hopes to host a summit between Bush and Hu during the visit if he accepts the invitation, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unidentified diplomats. "Beijing has sought a state visit by the leader of the world's only superpower to coincide with the Games, which would give a great boost to the staging of the most important global event ever hosted in China," the daily quoted a diplomat who declined to be named as saying.
■ Soccer
Getafe crushes Barcelona
Getafe crushed Spanish league leaders Barcelona 4-0 on Thursday night to advance to a Spanish Cup final showdown with Sevilla on June 23. Getafe lost 5-2 in the semi-final, first-leg tie at the Nou Camp, but overcame their three-goal deficit to advance 6-5 on aggregate. Sevilla, who are still on course for a treble of titles, beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 on Wednesday night to qualify 5-0 on aggregate. Getafe, a side from the suburbs of Madrid, ran rings around a lethargic Barcelona whose stars Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho looked content to sit back on their advantage. Francesco Casquero opened for Getafe after 37 minutes with Dani Guiza scoring the first of his double two minutes before the break.
■ Baseball
Arizona player arrested
Arizona Diamondbacks rookie infielder Alberto Callaspo was arrested on Thursday in Phoenix, Arizona, on charges of assaulting his wife. Venezuelan-born Callaspo, 24, was taken into custody on suspicion of assault and criminal damage, police said. He still was being interviewed by detectives late on Thursday. Police officers responded to a call at Callaspo's home about noon on Thursday and said the player's 22-year-old wife, Marianny Paola, had minor injuries. Callaspo did not accompany the team on its flight to Houston, where the Diamondbacks where scheduled to start a nine-game road trip yesterday.
■ Hockey
Players' union fires director
The NHL Players' Association fired executive director Ted Saskin on Thursday, two months after placing him on a paid leave of absence following allegations that he and senior director Ken Kim read players' e-mail. The union's executive board, made up of 30 player representatives and the six-member interim executive committee, voted to fire Saskin on a conference call. "All I am going to say at this time is that I remain proud of all the work I did for NHL players over the last 16 years and particularly in negotiating the new CBA [collective bargaining agreement], which has been working out well," Saskin said.
■ Soccer
Rincon arrested in Brazil
Former Colombian soccer player Freddy Rincon has been arrested in Sao Paulo by federal police at the behest of Panamanian authorities as part of a probe into international drug trafficking and money laundering. According to the Globo Web site, the 39-year-old former Real Madrid and Corinthians player was arrested at his house and taken to federal police headquarters pending a legal decision on an extradition request. Rincon is accused of laundering money coming from an international drug trafficking organization headed by fellow Colombian Pablo Rayo Montano.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
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