ICE HOCKEY
Lamoriello to manage Leafs
Lou Lamoriello was hired Thursday as the new general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, ending an almost three decade stint with the New Jersey Devils, the National Hockey League teams announced. Lamoriello, 72, resigned as president of the Devils and was introduced later on Thursday as the general manager of the Maple Leafs. “I have worked with Hall of Fame coaches, and players and a great staff, all of whom contributed to our success. In the end, it’s about the people which makes this decision so difficult,” Lamoriello said. His new task is to turn around one of the league’s Original Six franchises. Toronto has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967. The Devils won three Stanley Cup titles during Lamoriello’s 28 years there, but they missed the playoffs each of the past three years and four times in the past five seasons.
ICE HOCKEY
Coyotes, Glendale reach deal
The Arizona Coyotes reached an agreement with the city of Glendale that is to cut taxpayer subsidies for the National Hockey League team and allow it to keep playing in Gila River Arena. The Glendate City Council was scheduled to vote on the agreement yesterday, the city and team said in press releases posted on their Web sites on Thursday. The deal promises to end a legal dispute between the Coyotes and the Phoenix suburb, which tried to terminate its contract with the team ahead of the next season. According to city documents, the management fee paid to the team under the new agreement will be cut to US$6.5 million a year from US$15 million. “This revised agreement represents a positive outcome for both the city and the Coyotes,” Glendale Acting City Manager Dick Bowers said in a statement. The Coyotes sued the city last month after the council voted to cancel the team’s lease over a purported conflict of interest during contract negotiations. A judge issued a temporary restraining order last month, which temporarily let the team continue playing in the arena.
CRICKET
Oman into World Twenty20
Oman’s fairy-tale rise as a cricket nation continued on Thursday when they qualified for next year’s World Twenty20 in India. A five-wicket win over Namibia at the ICC qualifying event in Malahide near Dublin saw the Gulf minnows reach their first major international tournament. Victory also saw the ICC grant Oman, coached by former Sri Lanka captain Duleep Mendis, and with ex-England all-rounder Derek Pringle recently recruited as a technical advisor, full Twenty20 status. Oman had previously beaten Canada, the Netherlands and Afghanistan, all far more experienced associate or non-Test cricket nations, at the qualifying tournament. Afghanistan sealed the other qualifying spot on offer Thursday with a six-wicket win over Papua New Guinea.
CRICKET
Chittagong Test rained out
Heavy rain washed out the entire fourth day’s play in the opening Test between Bangladesh and South Africa at Chittagong yesterday. Rain and bad light had also forced early finishes to the second and third days, eating up time and making a result unlikely. South Africa made a slow start to their second innings after conceding a first innings lead of 78 runs. Opening batsmen Stiaan van Zyle was on 33 with Dean Elgar on 28, with South Africa 61 without loss. The Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur is to host the second and final Test from Thursday next week.
American rugby sevens star Ilona Maher is to join 15-a-side club Bristol next month in a bid to play in next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, the English club announced on Monday. Maher, 28, helped the US to a bronze medal at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris and is the seven-a-side sport’s most popular player on social media. “This is a huge coup to be able to bring Ilona Maher to Bristol Bears on a short-term deal,” Bristol head coach Dave Ward said. “She is one of the biggest names in women’s sport, let alone rugby, and we believe she will
US skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she sustained an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of an Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom race on Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just
CLASH OF MANAGERS: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Russell Martin of Southampton accused each other of disrespect, while both were booked Southampton on Friday were denied a priceless victory by a controversial decision as they drew with hosts Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 in the Premier League. Kaoru Mitoma spectacularly headed Brighton into a first-half lead and Flynn Downes hammered home an equalizer an hour in. Minutes later teammate Cameron Archer converted a cross from Saints substitute Ryan Fraser. A video assistant referee check of more than four minutes eventually decided that Archer was onside, but then penalized Adam Armstrong, who was offside, but did not touch the ball, for interfering with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. “I find it hard to accept,” Southampton manager Russell Martin
HISTORIC VICTORY: Botafogo are the last of the four big Rio clubs to win the Copa Libertadores and they earned a spot in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup Botafogo on Saturday overcame playing with 10 men to win their first Copa Libertadores title after beating fellow Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro 3-1 in the final at Estadio Monumental. After just 30 seconds, midfielder Gregore, one of Botafogo’s best players, hit the head of Fausto Vera with his foot and was given a straight red card. “It was so hard to have one less so early in a final. It was an unfortunate move,” Botafogo defender Alexander Barboza said. “But Gregore deserves this title as much as we do. We made history and that won’t ever be erased.” Winger Luiz
RSS