CYCLING
Nike fights subpoenas
Athletic apparel giant Nike Inc is fighting subpoenas for documents and witness depositions in the US federal government’s lawsuit against former cyclist Lance Armstrong. Armstrong and the government have both subpoenaed Nike, which was one of Armstrong’s major sponsors until dropping him in 2012 after his use of performance enhancing drugs was exposed. The government is suing Armstrong to recover more than US$30 million the US Postal Service paid to sponsor his teams. Damages could reach US$100 million. The subpoenas seek Nike financial records and documents of any discussions about Armstrong’s doping. In a filing in Oregon federal court, Nike says its financial records are irrelevant to Armstrong’s Postal Service sponsorship. If ordered to provide documents, the company says trade secrets should be kept private by a court order.
ICE HOCKEY
Former Blackhawk dies
Ron “Chico” Maki, a member of the Chicago Blackhawks 1961 Stanley Cup champions, has died. He was 76. A notice on the Blackhawks’ Web site said that Maki died on Monday at his home in Port Dover, Ontario. The right wing spent 15 seasons with the Blackhawks (1961-1976), playing in three All-Star games. Maki had 143 goals and 292 assists in 841 regular-season NHL games. He had 17 goals and 53 points in 113 playoff games. Maki’s late brother Wayne played two seasons with the Blackhawks and also played for St Louis and Vancouver. Chico Maki played junior hockey with St Catharines, and was the captain of a Memorial Cup-winning team. A visitation is to be held today in Simcoe, Ontario, followed by a private family funeral tomorrow.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Billy Slater signs with Storm
Australia Test fullback Billy Slater is to join skipper Cameron Smith in playing out their National Rugby League careers with the Melbourne Storm after signing a new two-year deal yesterday. The contract will take 32-year-old Slater through to the end of the 2017 season, his 15th with the club he joined as a teenager.
SOCCER
Japan’s Inui to join Eibar
Japan midfielder Takashi Inui has requested to leave Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt for Spanish club Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, the German club announced on Wednesday. Eintracht, 12th in the Bundesliga after two games, said in a statement they had agreed to the 27-year-old’s request to cut short his contract, which runs until June next year. “I’ve had three wonderful seasons here. My time at Eintracht will always remain a wonderful memory,” Inui said.
SOCCER
Fans threaten boycott
Borussia Moenchengladbach fans are threatening to boycott the derby against Rhine rivals Cologne on Sept. 19 because of ticket purchase requirements imposed after incidents during the previous edition in February. Moenchengladbach fan groups are furious that they must now register their name, address and date of birth when they purchase a ticket. “In our view, it’s not right that we have to register weeks before a match and that all fans should be punished despite refusing to be drawn by the provocation” during the previous match against Cologne, a statement from one of the concerned fan clubs read. February’s game was overshadowed by numerous incidents with about 30 of Cologne’s extreme ultras fans invading the pitch at the end of the game to try and provoke rivals in their stands.
While British star Jack Draper spent the past week trying to find rhythm and comfort in his first grass tournament of the season at the Queen’s Club Championships in London, Jiri Lehecka on Saturday bulldozed everything in his path. After more than two furious hours of battle, their form was reflected in the final scoreline as Lehecka toppled a frustrated Draper, the second seed, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to reach the biggest final of his career, against Carlos Alcaraz. Lehecka is also the first Czech to reach the men’s title match at Queen’s since Ivan Lendl lifted the trophy in 1990. Draper, who
REUNION: Former Barcelona players Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Miami coach Javier Mascherano are to face their former coach Luis Enrique Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi faces a tantalizing reunion with former club Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup last 16 after both sides on Monday progressed to the knockout phase. Miami drew 2-2 with Palmeiras to go through second in Group A, after the Brazilian side fought back from two goals down to seal top spot. They now face an all-Brazil clash against Botafogo, who lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid, but progressed from Group B in second at the expense of the Spaniards. Champions of Europe PSG won the group with a 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders, paving the
Dale Earnhardt Jr might already be NASCAR’s most popular crew chief. He is certainly an undefeated one. Pressed into unexpected service, Earnhardt on Saturday called the shots for 18-year-old prospect Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 Chevrolet, as they landed in victory lane in the second-tier Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway. “It felt good to have some input and decisionmaking power,” Earnhardt said. “And then helping Connor understand what our plan was so he knew when to push and what he was expected to do.” Earnhardt — who won NASCAR’s most-popular driver award 15 times — made a pit stop from his
Taiwanese women’s doubles star Hsieh Su-wei and Australian teenager Maya Joint on Tuesday eased into the Eastbourne Open quarter-finals in England as Hsieh prepares for the Wimbledon Championships next week. Four-time Wimbledon women’s doubles champion Hsieh and 19-year-old Joint fired two aces and converted five of eight break points to defeat Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Poland’s Katarzyna Piter 6-3, 6-3 in 58 minutes on the grass court. Hsieh and Joint are today to face fourth seeds Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, who advanced on Monday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Quinn Gleason of the US and
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