SOCCER
Insurers pay Gerrard’s wages
The Football Association’s insurers will pay compensation to Liverpool after midfielder Steven Gerrard sustained a hamstring injury on England duty. The FA confirmed on Friday it has a comprehensive voluntary insurance scheme that covers injuries to England players during international matches. The organization said the scheme would cover Gerrard’s wages as the Liverpool captain will be out for a month after limping out of Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to France at Wembley with a grade two hamstring tear. British media reports said Liverpool would receive about ￡500,000 (US$800,000) in compensation as a result. The loss of their captain will be a big blow to Liverpool, who recently found some form to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone and up into the top half of the table. The 18-time champions had picked up 10 points out of a possible 12, before losing at Stoke City last Saturday, and are now 11th in the standings. “I’m frustrated and disappointed to lose such an important player for such a long period of time after a friendly game,” Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson said on Friday.
SOCCER
Nagoya claim J-League title
Nagoya Grampus claimed the J-League title for the first time when they blanked Shonan Bellmare 1-0 yesterday, as nearest rivals Kashima Antlers ended their match with a scoreless draw. Nagoya’s sole goal came from Japan international striker Keiji Tamada, who headed home a cross from Keita Sugimoto from the right in the 66th minute. “We are the champions for the first time. It’s a very emotional and very special moment for me. It’s really a nice feeling to be the champions,” Nagoya’s Serbian coach Dragan Stojkovic said. “Every game was very hard, but to make this kind of result for the first time in the history of the club, it’s really something special — so I’m very happy and I’m proud for the people of Nagoya and everybody. This is completely different, when I was a player and when I manage the team. This time I have a lot of responsibility and I’m very satisfied with my work, and a nice fight from all the players. Three games before the end of the J-League, we are already the champions. It’s a great result.”
TENNIS
Benneteau to miss Cup final
Julien Benneteau on Friday pulled out of the France squad to face Serbia in the Davis Cup final in Belgrade from Dec. 3 to Dec. 5 after judging that a wrist injury had not sufficiently healed. “After a last try out this morning, my wrist has not sufficiently improved,” Benneteau said. “I am very sad to have to announce that I am pulling out of the final.” His withdrawal adds to that of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has a knee problem. Benneteau picked up his injury at the US Open playing Spain’s Tommy Robredo and he then missed out on the Davis Cup semi-final win over Argentina in September in Lyon. In the quarter-final, he had teamed up with Michael Llodra to land the decisive rubber in the doubles against Spain. Arnaud Clement is set to step in for the French.
SPEEDSKATING
Kato edges Smeekens
Olympic bronze medalist Joji Kato of Japan won the 500m race on Friday at a speedskating World Cup meet in Berlin for his second victory of the season. Kato edged Jan Smeekens of the Netherlands by 0.01 seconds. Jenny Wolf of Germany won the women’s sprint on Friday for her 53rd career World Cup victory. Lee Seung-hoon of South Korea won the men’s 5,000m, while Christine Nesbitt of Canada clinched her second win in two races over 1,500m.
ICE HOCKEY
Coach Pat Burns dies
Pat Burns, a tough-talking Quebec cop who coached the New Jersey Devils to a Stanley Cup and became the only man to win NHL coach of the year honors with three teams, died on Friday aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. “Just as they will remember Pat for his success as a coach, hockey fans also will remember his humor, his honesty, his humanity and his courage,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “As it mourns the loss of an outstanding contributor to the game, the National Hockey League sends heartfelt condolences to Pat’s family and friends.” A blue-collar hero to hockey fans across Canada and the US, Burns went from pounding a police beat to become one of the NHL’s most successful coaches capturing the Stanley Cup in 2003 with the Devils. The following year, however, Burns was diagnosed with colon cancer and then in 2005 liver cancer, which he managed to overcome before contracting lung cancer last year.
ICE HOCKEY
Maple Leaf Stewart dies
Gaye Stewart, who won NHL Stanley Cup titles with Toronto in 1942 and 1947, has died at the age of 87, the Maple Leafs said on Friday. In 1943, Stewart became just the second Maple Leafs player to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. “Our organization is saddened by the passing of Gaye Stewart,” Brian Burke, Maple Leafs president and general manager said. “On behalf of everyone with the Maple Leafs, I extend our condolences and prayers to Gaye’s family and friends.” Stewart’s most productive season in Toronto came in 1945 to 1946 when he scored an NHL-leading 37 goals while leading the Maple Leafs with 52 points in 50 games. He also played for Chicago, Detroit, the New York Rangers and Montreal in an NHL career that ended when he retired in 1955.
BASKETBALL
Injury sidelines Yao Ming
Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is expected to be sidelined for at least another two weeks because of a bone bruise in his left ankle, the team said on Friday. The 2.3m Yao injured his ankle during the first quarter of Houston’s 98-91 loss to the Washington Wizards on Nov. 10 and has not played since. “… the area of the surgery in and around the bone is completely healed and the structural integrity of the foot is intact,” the Rockets said on their Web site. “[Yao] is expected to be out a minimum of two weeks.” The 30-year-old Chinese missed all of last season after suffering a fractured bone in his left foot and having an operation on the injury. Seven-times All-Star Yao has averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in five games during this campaign with Houston, limiting his minutes in an attempt to prevent injury.
BASEBALL
Astros up for sale
Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane announced on Friday that he was selling the baseball team he has owned since 1992. During his 18 years of ownership the Astros have experienced some of the greatest moments in the franchise’s history, including winning the National League pennant in 2005 and the opening of Minute Maid Park in 2000. “It’s been a wonderful experience, a great ride and something we have thoroughly enjoyed,” McLane said. “Our family has loved being involved with the Houston Astros.” Forbes Magazine earlier this year valued the Astros at US$451 million and McLane has hired Steve Greenberg of Allen & Company, a New York based investment bank, to work with potential buyers.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
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