Mon, Jun 29, 2009 page19

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■BASEBALL

  Phillies player in fight

  The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies confirmed one of their players was involved in a confrontation with a fan following Thursday’s game at the Tampa Bay Rays. The Phillies did not identify the player on Saturday in their statement. The Rays also confirmed the incident but did not release details. The St Petersburg Times reported on its Web site on Saturday that Phillies reliever J.C. Romero grabbed and shoved 25-year-old fan Robert Eaton after he made two comments about steroids. Romero was suspended for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for androstenedione, a substance that Mark McGwire used in the 1990s that was later banned by Major League Baseball.

  ■ICE HOCKEY

  Flames acquire defense

  The Calgary Flames have acquired smooth-skating defenseman Jay Bouwmeester just four days before he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. The Flames sent defenseman Jordan Leopold and a third-round pick in Saturday’s NHL entry draft to the Florida Panthers to complete the deal. The trade gives Calgary a window of exclusivity in negotiating a new contract with Bouwmeester and his agent, Bryon Baltimore. Bouwmeester can become a free agent on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Bouwmeester has spent his entire career with Florida, which drafted him third overall in 2002. Bouwmeester had 15 goals and 27 assists last season.

  ■ATHLETICS

  Bolt bolts down 100m win

  Beijing Olympic double sprint champion Usain Bolt won the 100m at the Jamaican Athletics Championships on Saturday in 9.86 seconds, the fastest wind-legal time in the world this year. Bolt, running into a 0.2m/sec headwind and racing in lane four next to rival Asafa Powell, eased down with a finger across his lips at the finish as he booked a berth in the World Championships in August at Berlin. In the women’s 100m, Shelly-Ann Fraser showed she has recovered from her appendix surgery in April by posting 10.88, the fastest wind-legal time in the world this year, into a 1.5m/sec headwind.

  ■ATHLETICS

  Record eludes Chambers

  British sprinter Dwain Chambers failed to beat Leroy Burrell’s 16-year Dutch record, but still won the men’s 100m at the Mondo Keien meet on Saturday. Chambers won in 10.22 seconds, failing to beat Burrell’s time of 10.08 seconds, set in 1993. Kim Collins was second in 10.42 seconds. Chambers, who completed a sprint double at the European Team Championships in Portugal last week, also won the 200m with a season-best time of 20.50 seconds. The 31-year-old Chambers tested positive for the steroid THG in 2003 and served a two-year suspension.

  ■BOXING

  Abraham defends title

  Undefeated Arthur Abraham successfully defended his IBF middleweight boxing title with a technical knockout of fellow German Mahir Oral in the 10th round in Berlin on Saturday. Abraham improved his record to 30-0 with his 10th consecutive defense, though none have been against top-level challengers since he won the title in December 2005. US-born Abraham knocked down Oral in the fourth, sixth and 10th rounds, the last forcing the referee to call the fight. The defeat was Oral’s first in 19 bouts since his only previous loss to Malik Dziarra in 2004.

  ■SOCCER

  Palmeiras sack Luxemburgo

  Former Brazil and Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo has been sacked by Palmeiras in a row over striker Keirrison’s future. “After a board meeting on Friday night, Vanderlei Luxemburgo is no longer trainer of the professional team,” the Sao Paulo-based club said on their Web site. Palmeiras said on Friday they had received a big money offer from Barcelona for Keirrison, who has only been at Palmeiras for six months, and that the 20-year-old would not play for the team while negotiations were ongoing. Luxemburgo was angered by this decision and told Palmeiras that under his charge, he would not pick Keirrison again even if the striker’s transfer did not go through. “Keirrison showed a lack of professionalism and respect toward me and the squad so, while I’m coach, he will no longer play for Palmeiras,” Luxemburgo had said on his blog. The sacking had nothing to do with results on the pitch, the club said.

  ■SWIMMING

  Pellegrini reclaims record

  Italy’s Federica Pellegrini reclaimed the women’s 400m freestyle world record when she took gold in the final at the Mediterranean Games in Pescara on Saturday. Pellegrini swam 4 minutes, 00.41 seconds to snatch the record back off Britain’s Joanne Jackson, who swam 4 minutes, 00.66 seconds in Sheffield, England, in March. “Even I am surprised by the record. Clearly I underestimated myself,” she told Rai television. The 20-year-old, also the 200m freestyle world record holder and Olympic champion, was the 400m record holder before Jackson bettered her mark. She finished out of the medals in the 400m in Beijing last year, but is now an even bigger favorite for gold at next month’s world championships in Rome. Pellegrini, who suffered a panic and asthma attack at a race last year, has often filled the gossip pages of Italian newspapers rather than the sports section in recent years.

  ■RUGBY UNION

  Skipper Parisse suspended

  Italy captain Sergio Parisse was suspended for eight weeks yesterday over an eye-gouging incident in his team’s 27-6 loss to New Zealand on Saturday. Parisse was cited to appear before an International Rugby Board judiciary after he appeared to briefly make contact with the eyes of New Zealand lock Isaac Ross during the second half of the match. The judiciary viewed television footage of the incident and listened to evidence from players and officials at an inquiry in Christchurch, New Zealand. The judiciary found that Parisse had not acted intentionally, but deemed his actions were reckless and warranted a penalty, the New Zealand Press Association reported. Parisse was charged with a lower-range offense which carried a recommended sentence of 12 weeks, but that was reduced to eight weeks because of mitigating circumstances.

  ■GOLF

  Ishikawa qualifies for Open

  Japanese teenage golfer Ryo Ishikawa qualified for The Open yesterday with a win at the Mizuno Open. The 17-year-old Ishikawa shot a final round 73 to secure a place at the July 16 to July 19 Open at Turnberry, England, with his first win of the year. Ishikawa’s round included a nine on the par-four 12th hole and a chip-in eagle on the par-five 16th. He closed out with a birdie on the par-five 18th to finish at 13-under 275. Yesterday’s win was the third of Ishikawa’s career on the Japanese Tour. He missed the cut at the Masters and has received a special invitation to play in the PGA Championship in August.
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