ICE HOCKEY
Forsberg eyes comeback
Swedish standout Peter Forsberg was to practice yesterday with the Colorado Avalanche as he attempts to see if he is fit enough for a NHL comeback at age 37. The Avalanche announced on Friday that Forsberg, the 2003 NHL MVP who last played in the league in the 2007-2008 season, would participate in the morning workout ahead of a game against Boston. “I need to see where I am physically and practicing with NHL players is the best way to find that out,” Forsberg said. Forsberg helped the Avalanche capture two Stanley Cup titles, but has struggled in recent seasons because of a nagging right-foot injury.
ATHLETICS
Hurdler seriously injured
Former world athletics champion Stephane Diagana of France suffered serious head injuries in a road accident on Friday, police confirmed. The 41-year-old, the first French male athlete to become world champion when he won the 400m hurdles title in Athens in 1997, was riding his bicycle when he was involved in a collision with a car in Vence, southern France. He was airlifted to hospital in nearby Nice and was reported to be suffering from head injuries. “He is in a serious condition, but he is conscious,” a police source said. “He has hurt his head and body, but is conscious,” French Athletics Federation chairman Bernard Amsalem said.
FOOTBALL
Simms rejects plea deal
Tennessee Titans quarterback Chris Simms, whose father Phil is a former Super Bowl-winning NFL quarterback, rejected a plea deal on Friday on charges of driving in New York under the influence of marijuana. Simms could have pleaded guilty to charges of driving while impaired, a traffic violation that would have brought a US$500 fine and five days of community service, plus a 90-day driving ban. Instead, he turned down the offer and a March 1 trial date was set. Simms, 30, will face a misdemeanor charge that could send him to jail for a year if he is convicted. Simms was stopped in July last year by police, who claim he admitted to them he had smoked marijuana.
SOCCER
Santander sale approved
Spain’s sports ministry has given its approval for Indian businessman Ahsan Ali Syed to complete his takeover of Racing Santander. Ali Syed, who failed in a bid to buy Premier League club Blackburn last year, said on Friday in a statement that the Cantabrian government had also accepted his proposal. Cantabria has a stake in the northern coast club. Ali Syed said “an active and long-term commitment” will now begin, vowing to “invest all my knowledge and financial strength to elevate the club to the highest level of success in Spain and Europe.”
GOLF
Nurse sues over Woods row
A nurse fired for allegedly looking at the medical records of Tiger Woods is suing for defamation and says he never saw the golf star’s files, the Orlando Sentinel reported on Friday. David Rothenberg is seeking US$400,000 in damages plus reinstatement and a letter of explanation from officials at Health Central, the hospital where Woods was taken after a November 2009 car crash that spawned his sex scandal. Woods was treated for several hours at the hospital after an early morning crash near his home. Hospital officials fired Rothenberg in December 2009 for looking at Woods’ medical records three times within 10 minutes on his computer, according to the lawsuit filed on Friday.
SSC Napoli’s Italian Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale with closest rivals Inter just one point behind. The hosts remain top with 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday, with two rounds remaining. To make matters worse for Napoli, midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, struggling with an ankle injury, was forced off just minutes after the match began. Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got
Harry Kane opened the scoring ahead of lifting his first career silverware as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0, with veteran Thomas Mueller playing his last home game for the club. Bayern officially won the title on May 4 when defending champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg, but were presented with the Bundesliga shield in front of their home fans at full-time. Dripping wet after being showered with beer by teammates, Kane said the title win was “an incredible feeling,” and hoped it would be “the first of many.” “It’s been lot of hard work, a lot of
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Taiwanese e-sports veteran Lin “ET” Chia-hung yesterday successfully defended his King of Fighters XV title at this year’s Evolution Championship Series: Japan (EVO Japan), securing his second consecutive championship. Lin claimed victory with a 3-1 win over Japanese pro gamer “mok” in the grand final, repeating his earlier 3-1 win against the same opponent in the winners’ final. The 40-year-old earned a ￥1 million (US$6,897) cash prize at the two-day tournament, which drew 294 competitors. Mok, Lin’s toughest rival in the bracket, took home ￥400,000 as runner-up. Lin remains undefeated in match sets against mok in King of Fighters XV, holding a 10-0 record,
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