BASEBALL
Ozzie Guillen released
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has been released from his contract with two days remaining in the season, the team announced on Monday after a 4-3 victory over Toronto. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins, who last year spoke with the White Sox about obtaining Guillen, announced that they would have a managerial vacancy, with 80-year-old Jack McKeon saying he is going to retire at the end of the season. The White Sox said they retain the right to be compensated if Guillen accepts a managerial job with any other major league club next season. Guillen, who had one year remaining on his contract, met White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf earlier on Monday and said he wanted to return, but only for a contract extension with a pay increase.
BASKETBALL
Nets to change their name
The New Jersey Nets are going to change their name to the Brooklyn Nets when they move into a new arena next year, hip-hop singer and Nets part-owner Jay-Z said on Monday. Across the street from the site where the team plans to play next season, Jay-Z announced he would open the arena by performing there next September in at least two or three concerts. He also said the team, owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, would change its name to reflect the borough of New York City where he grew up. “I’m from Brooklyn,” Jay-Z said. “Opening this arena will mean more to me than anywhere else.” The Nets hope to become title contenders once they move across the Hudson River from their current home in Newark, New Jersey.
FOOTBALL
Vick’s hand not broken
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick did not fracture his hand as initially feared and he could play in the team’s next game against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Andy Reid said on Monday. Fresh scans showed Vick suffered a bruise to his right, non-throwing hand rather than a break, which was the initial worry from X-rays taken shortly after the injury. Vick, who was playing a week after being knocked out of a game with a concussion, suffered his latest setback during the third quarter of a 29-16 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday and he was removed from the game.
SOCCER
Wilshere out for five months
England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has undergone a successful operation on his right ankle, but he could be out for up to five months, the Premier League giants announced on Monday. The 19-year-old suffered a stress fracture to his right ankle in a pre-season friendly against the New York Red Bulls. “The initial indications are that the surgery has been successful and Jack will now undergo a prolonged period of rehabilitation. It is envisaged that Jack’s rehabilitation will take a period of four to five months,” the team said in a statement.
CRICKET
Cooley named interim coach
Troy Cooley was yesterday appointed interim coach for Australia’s upcoming tour of South Africa following Tim Nielsen’s resignation, but Cooley said he was not interested in the position full-time. “Troy has filled this role successfully in the past and has worked extensively with all players within the Australian set-up,” Cricket Australia general manager Michael Brown said. Cooley, 45, is currently head coach at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane and since 2006 he has been the country’s bowling coach, as well as its assistant coach for the last two years.
SEESAW CONTEST: The Pistons remain top of the Eastern Conference after battling to a win over the Hawks in a game that saw the lead change 27 times The Phoenix Suns on Monday shrugged off an injury to Devin Booker to end the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with an emphatic 125-108 victory on the road. Booker exited in the first quarter, but the loss of the star point guard did little to halt the flow of Phoenix points over the remainder of the game. Dillon Brooks led the Phoenix scoring with 33 points, while Collin Gillespie added 28 — including eight three-pointers — as the Suns romped to victory. The Lakers were left ruing a colossal 22 turnovers — at a cost of 32 Suns points — on a
New Zealand yesterday reached 231-9 at stumps on a first day of the first Test against the West Indies shortened by rain after Justin Greaves triggered a middle-order collapse with the wicket of Kane Williamson. New Zealand tumbled from 94-1 to 148-6 on a bowler-friendly wicket after Williamson was dismissed for 52, his 38th Test half-century. Michael Bracewell and Nathan Smith arrested the slide with a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket. Smith eventually fell for 23 and Bracewell for 47. After Matt Henry went for 8, Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy were both on 4 when bad light stopped play after 70
Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday scored twice and had an assist as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to end a three-match winless streak in La Liga. Eduardo Camavinga also found the net for Madrid as they moved back within one point of Barcelona, who beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday. Both 19th-round matches were moved forward because Real Madrid, Barcelona, Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid are to play in the Supercopa de Espana semi-finals in Saudi Arabia next month. Real Madrid were coming off league draws against Girona, Elche and Rayo Vallecano. It was their second win in their past six matches in
IN-HOUSE BUSINESS: LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that the reason for the team’s poor form was not due to Paul, but the player was not a good fit for them Chris Paul’s return stint with the Los Angeles Clippers has come to an abrupt and stunning end, with the franchise parting ways with one of its greatest players in a late-night meeting on Wednesday that adds another layer of drama to the team’s terrible start this season. The news was delivered in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, that ended at about 2am, Clippers basketball operations president Lawrence Frank said. Frank said he made the decision to sever ties with Paul on Sunday then told the franchise’s career assist leader that he needed to see him on Tuesday in Atlanta. Frank did not confirm
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