RUGBY UNION
Haskell out of England squad
Veteran Wasps back-rower James Haskell was left out of England’s squad announced by coach Eddie Jones yesterday for next month’s three internationals at Twickenham, London. The 75-times capped Haskell, a member of the British and Irish Lions squad in New Zealand earlier this year, started the season with a hand injury and has been replaced by uncapped Exeter Chiefs rising star Sam Simmonds. England play Argentina at Twickenham on Nov. 11 before facing Australia and Samoa on successive weekends.
SOCCER
Captain gets airline license
Ghana national team captain Asamoah Gyan has secured a license to open an airline that will be named after his on-field nickname, Baby Jet. Gyan “is working feverishly to establish an airline, called Baby Jet Airlines,” Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said yesterday, according to a copy of a speech delivered at an aviation industry show in Accra. “I want to appeal to other Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, to invest in the rapidly growing aviation sector.” Gyan, 31, is the leading goalscorer for Ghana’s national team with 51 goals and has represented the country at three World Cup finals. He is currently playing for Turkish club Kayserispor. His previous sides include Udinese in Italy and English team Sunderland.
BASKETBALL
Calls for changes to pot laws
Former NBA commissioner David Stern believes medicinal marijuana use should be allowed, but the league says it would not allow players to use it for recreational use. Stern was interviewed by former NBA player Al Harrington for the Web site Uninterrupted’s documentary Concept of Cannabis. Stern said he thought there was “universal agreement that marijuana for medical purposes should be completely legal.” Adam Silver, who replaced Stern as commissioner in 2014, has said he is interested in studying more about the safety of medicinal marijuana, but Stern, who spent 30 years as commissioner, seemed ready to go a step further in his interview. “I think we have to change the collective bargaining agreement and let you do what is legal in your state,” he said. “If marijuana is now in the process of being legalized, I think you should be allowed to do what’s legal in your state.”
GOLF
Golfer motivated by funeral
Kiradech Aphibarnrat dressed in black and played with purpose yesterday in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He ran off 10 birdies to offset a sloppy start and wound up with a seven-under 65. Kiradech choked back tears talking about his beloved late king. “It’s not an easy situation, because it’s hard to explain how deeply our king was loved and how sadly he is missed,” Kiradech said. “When he passed away last year, it caused a lot of upset to all the Thai people. He will always hold a special place in my heart, but he loved sport and he would have been the first to say the show must go on.” Bhumibol loved sport so much that he donated the trophy for an event called the Royal Trophy, matches between golfers from Asia and Europe that took place from 2006 through 2013. Europe won the final edition by one point, through Kiradech went 3-0 that week.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE: Sabalenka aims to follow up with a third Australian Open win, while Taiwanese Joanna Garland claimed a WTA 125 title in Canberra Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row yesterday, a week ahead of the Australian Open. Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world No. 1. However, Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes to face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final. “I struggled against her a couple of times [in
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
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