■ TENNIS
Roddick to skip Olympics
World No. 6 Andy Roddick has decided to miss this year's Olympic Games in Beijing to defend his Washington Open title. Both events take place from Aug. 11 to Aug. 17 and Roddick wants to remain in his home country to help his build-up for the US Open, which begins two weeks later. "My goal every summer is to win the US Open," the 25-year-old US player said in a statement released on Tuesday by Washington Open organizers. "I have won the Legg Mason Tennis Classic three times and feel defending my title in Washington best prepares me for another grand slam title."
■ CRICKET
Harmison and Hoggard axed
England have axed experienced pace bowlers Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard in a bid to save the Test series against New Zealand after their humiliating 189-run first Test loss. Harmison was widely expected to lose his place for the second Test starting here today but the dropping of Hoggard was more of a surprise. James Anderson returns for his 21st Test after getting some match practice last week playing for Auckland in New Zealand's first class cricket. Also back is Stuart Broad, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last year. Harmison and Hoggard, with 124 Test caps between them, struggled in the first Test, taking a combined two wickets at the cost of 278 runs.
■ BASEBALL
Selig earning US$14.5m
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig earned about US$14.5 million in its latest fiscal year, roughly the same as the previous year. Selig received US$14,515,071 in compensation during the 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2006, according to MLB's tax return, which the commissioner's office released on Tuesday. That was up from exactly US$14.5 million in the 12 months that ended Oct. 31, 2005. MLB's contribution to Selig in its benefit plan was US$400,999, up from US$82,843 in the previous fiscal year, and Selig received US$140,603 in expense account and other allowances, an increase from US$20,184. MLB's return did not list compensation for other top officials.
■ FORMULA ONE
FIA to use hybrid technology
Formula One teams will start using hybrid technology next year to help the automotive industry build more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cars. Max Mosley, the president of world motor racing federation FIA, said at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday that F1 will introduce a new kinetic energy recovery system in engines in two years, which is meant to lead to better energy use in regular vehicles. Mosley also launched the FIA's "Make Cars Green" campaign, which calls on the UN to adopt a worldwide target for carbon emissions in passenger cars.
■ SOCCER
Bayern plan Asian tour
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have announced plans for a 10-day tour of Asia in May as the German giants look to raise their profile in the region. On May 18, the day after their final Bundesliga game, Bayern will fly to Indonesia to play the national side on May 21 before taking on the Chinese Olympic side on May 24 and will play Indian side Mohan Bagun on the way home. The tour will be the last appearance of former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who will finish his career at the end of the season. "The Asian market is very important, if not the most important in the world," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
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