HOCKEY
Fans help with anthem
Fans came to the rescue of a girl who apparently forgot the words while singing the US national anthem at a New Jersey Devils game. Lauralie Mufute started singing The Star-Spangled Banner before the Devils’ game on Friday night against the Sharks, when she stumbled after the words “whose broad stripes and bright stars.” She paused for a moment, then restarted the stanza, but stumbled again before reaching “through the perilous night.” The crowd of more than 14,000 at the Prudential Center jumped in, picking up where she left off and finishing the anthem. The Jersey City girl mouthed the rest of the lyrics as the crowd sang, then flashed an appreciative smile. Afterward, the Devils said on Twitter: “Tonight at @PruCenter, the Jersey crowd picks up the primary assist during the national anthem.” New Jersey lost to San Jose 3-0.
GYMNASTICS
Ex-coach pushes trial move
Attorneys for a former Michigan State and US Gymnastics doctor accused of molesting dozens of athletes are pushing to have his trial moved out of the Lansing area. The Lansing State Journal reported that attorneys representing Larry Nassar filed a change-of-venue request because of what they called “inflammatory and sustained media coverage” that they say has made it difficult for Nassar to get a fair trial in the area. The media attention grew more intense last week when 21-year-old 2012 Olympic gold medal gymnast McKayla Maroney wrote on Twitter that Nassar started assaulting her when she was 13. Nassar has pleaded not guilty to nearly two dozen charges in Michigan. He has pleaded guilty to three child pornography charges in an unrelated case, but has not been sentenced.
RUGBY UNION
Lopez out with broken ankle
French fly-half Camille Lopez is to miss the autumn internationals as well as the Six Nations after breaking his ankle in Clermont’s 24-7 European Cup win over Northampton on Saturday. The 28-year-old Lopez, capped 16 times by France, was left writhing in agony after a sickening clash with Northampton’s Nick Groom in the 23rd minute of the game. The injury was later diagnosed as a broken left ankle which will sideline Lopez for “around five months,” coach Franck Azema said.
RUGBY UNION
Folau will miss tour to rest
Star fullback Israel Folau will miss Australia’s end-of-season tour to Japan and Britain following a long, demanding season, coach Michael Cheika said yesterday. Folau was to play for the Wallabies against the Barbarians on Saturday, but that will be his final match for the year in a bid to freshen him up for next season, Cheika said.
BASKETBALL
Paul’s injury ‘week-to-week’
The Houston Rockets might be without All-Star point guard Chris Paul for weeks because of an injured left knee. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni on Saturday told reporters in Houston that the team will hold Paul out until the knee is completely healed. The team has not offered any specifics on the injury, other than the knee is bruised. D’Antoni said that Paul’s status is “more week-to-week” than day-to-day, and that there is no firm timetable for a return. Paul labored through Houston’s season-opening win at Golden State on Tuesday. He did not play when the Rockets faced Sacramento on Wednesday. Houston defeated Dallas 107-91 in their home opener on Saturday night.
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
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
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
PINA BRACE: Claudia Pina scored in the 61st and 74th minutes, while Vicky Lopez added one as Spain notched their third victory in a final in the past four tournaments Claudia Pina scored twice and Germany crumbled on Tuesday as Spain retained the UEFA Women’s Nations League title with a 3-0 victory in the final’s second leg. Vicky Lopez also scored after Pina finally broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with Germany stubbornly hanging on as Spain had done in the first leg, a 0-0 draw in Kaiserslautern on Friday. Spain were without three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who broke her leg in training on Sunday. Lopez took Bonmati’s place and Spain dominated from the start. Esther Gonzalez swept the ball just past the post and Mariona Caldentey forced a save
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