■BOXING
Bullets flew around Forrest
Former champion Vernon Forrest exchanged gunfire with robbery suspects before being shot to death, Atlanta police said on Monday. The 38-year-old former two-division champion was killed on Saturday night. Investigators believe between 20 and 24 shots were fired from two guns, said Lieutenant Keith Meadows. Police recovered Forrest’s gun and one shell casing belonging to that gun, he said. Forrest was putting air in his car tires at a service station when a man asked for money, his manager Charles Watson said. When he pulled his wallet out, the man snatched it and started running, and Forrest took off after him, Watson said. Meadows would not confirm those details and said investigators have no new leads on suspects.
■SOCCER
Ronaldo has double fracture
Three-time FIFA player of the year Ronaldo will be sidelined for at least five weeks while he recovers from a double fracture of his left hand, his Brazilian club Corinthians said on Monday. The 32-year-old striker — a two-time World Cup winner and all-time leading World Cup finals scorer — suffered the injury when he fell during a match against rivals Palmeiras, the club’s doctor Paolo de Faria said.
■SOCCER
Obama backs World Cup bid
US President Barack Obama offered support on Monday for the US bid to host the World Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said after a meeting at the White House. Blatter told Obama that as FIFA chief he had to stay neutral on the issue of bids — there are 11 contenders so far for the 2018 host country — but said that Obama appealed for Blatter to “make another move toward United States soccer.” According to Blatter, Obama said that being able to host the competition might boost the US profile of the sport. Blatter said he played a little soccer with the president, who is better known for his basketball skills than his soccer talent. But the FIFA chief said the US president managed to control the ball, kicking it twice with his feet and once with his head, and said he was “impressed” by Obama’s skills.
■BASEBALL
Mets fire combative VP
The New York Mets, who have had a frustrating, injury-plagued season, made a front office move on Monday by firing vice president of player development Tony Bernazard for some combative behavior. Mets general manager Omar Minaya dismissed Bernazard, telling reporters that “his behavior in his interaction with others was inconsistent with our organization’s values.” Bernazard had the spotlight on him after a Daily News report that he had ripped off his shirt and challenged members of the Mets’ struggling Double-A Binghamton team to a fight during a post-game tirade this month. Other incidents were also reported, including a profanity-laced complaint about another team’s scout sitting in a seat he wanted at New York’s Citi Field, and a run-in on the team bus with Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez.
■BASKETBALL
Suns extend Nash contract
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash has been signed by the Phoenix Suns to a two-year contract extension through the 2011-2012 season, the club said on Monday. The 35-year-old point guard has averaged 14.4 points and eight assists over his 13-year NBA career. Nash is one of only nine players in the NBA to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards (2005, 2006) and is a six-times All-Star.
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
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,
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
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS