BOXING
Tommy Morrison dies at 44
Former world heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, who was widely known for his power-punching style and role in Rocky V, has died at the age of 44. The boxer’s former promoter, Tony Holden, told the Tulsa World that Morrison died on Sunday night in a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, but no official cause of death was given. Morrison, 48-3-1 with 42 knockouts, reached the pinnacle of his career when he beat George Foreman in 1993 to win the World Boxing Organization title. Renowned for his lethal left hook and movie-star looks, Morrison had other notable wins over Razor Ruddock, Carl “The Truth” Williams and James “Quick” Tillis. Prior to a bout in 1996, Morrison tested positive for HIV and had his boxing license suspended before returning to the ring 11 years later and winning his last two professional bouts.
SOCCER
Man U Herrera bid a hoax
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera’s proposed US$47.5 million move to Manchester United turned out to be a hoax after three men attempting to broker the deal were labeled imposters, British media reported on Monday. “Reports in Spain claim three men dressed in black suits and claiming to be United ‘representatives’ spent an hour at the La Liga offices attempting to negotiate a deal. The move collapsed at the 11th hour,” the BBC reported. The Basque club last week rejected an offer which Spanish media reported at US$40 million for the 24-year-old Herrera, with club president Josu Urrutia adamant that United had to meet a US$47.5 million buyout clause.
SOCCER
Austrian Scharner retires
Former Austria international Paul Scharner announced his retirement on Monday, 10 days after the defender and Hamburg SV decided to part company by mutual consent. Scharner told Austrian broadcaster ORF he wanted “to end my career to show respect to myself and my family... The last couple of months have been pretty turbulent.” Scharner played just four matches for Hamburg after signing a two-year contract last year. He joined Wigan Athletic on loan for the second half of last season and became the first Austrian player to win the FA Cup. The 33-year-old Scharner, who also had stints at Austria Vienna, Salzburg and West Bromwich Albion, played 40 times for Austria.
SOCCER
Ex-Bayern boss Csernai dies
Pal Csernai, who coached Bayern Munich to a couple of Bundesliga titles in the early 1980s, has died. He was 80. Csernai died on Sunday from an undisclosed illness. His death was announced on Monday by Bayern and the Hungarian Football Federation. Csernai was a midfielder and played briefly for Hungary before defecting in 1955. After retiring as a player in 1964, Csernai earned a coaching diploma in Germany and coached there and in Belgium before working with Bayern between 1978 and 1983. While coaching North Korea in 1991, the team earned a politically charged 2-1 victory over the US in a friendly.
ICE HOCKEY
Blackhawks keep Crawford
Goaltender Corey Crawford agreed to terms on a six-year contract extension to stay with Stanley Cup champions the Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL club said on Monday. The deal, reportedly worth US$36 million, will keep the 28-year-old Canadian with the club until the end of the 2019-2020 season. Over 152 career games, the Montreal native is 83-43-19 with eight shutouts, a 2.40 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
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