CHAMPIONSHIP
Snoop Dogg welcomed
Snoop Dogg on Tuesday was welcomed with a blaze of whirling white towels and a guard of honor in his first visit to Swansea since becoming a co-owner of the Welsh club. The American rapper became a minority shareholder in the Championship club last year alongside other celebrities such as former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and US television host Martha Stewart. The 54-year-old had jetted into south Wales fresh from his role as “honorary coach” for the US at the Winter Olympics in Italy. Dressed in the club’s all-white colors, with a Swansea crest on his jacket, dark glasses and a beanie hat, Snoop made a pre-match lap of honor as fans twirled their complimentary towels above their heads — copying a tradition at his favorite NFL franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his presence was not enough to inspire the Swans to victory as they needed a stoppage-time equalizer from Liam Cullen to draw 1-1 against Preston North End.
Photo: Reuters
FRIENDLIES
Portugal wary of trip
The Portuguese federation on Tuesday said that it was monitoring the situation in Mexico amid a surge in violence ahead of its friendly against Mexico next month. The federation said it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation currently unfolding in Mexico” following the killing of a drug lord by the Mexican army on Sunday. The killing sparked a surge in violence and put the country on edge. The FIFA World Cup warmup match is scheduled for March 28 at the renovated Azteca Stadium, which is scheduled to host the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. Mexico was to play Iceland in a friendly yesterday in Queretaro, with the Icelandic soccer federation on Tuesday saying that it expected the game to go ahead as planned. The Portuguese federation said it was honored by the invitation to participate in the reopening of the renovated venue, but added that “the recent evolution of events requires continuous evaluation of the conditions” that the national team and its delegation will find.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Fans kept out of Italy
Borussia Dortmund said that some of their fans were not able to attend yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Atalanta BC after being denied entry to Italy, while others had been visited by police at their accommodation. “Borussia Dortmund are currently unaware of any detailed background information regarding the measures taken by the authorities,” the club said in a statement. “While Borussia Dortmund understand the need for security-based risk assessments for football matches, the club is more than surprised by the scope and scale of the police measures taken.” Dortmund were leading 2-0 heading into the second-leg match, which began after press time last night.
A dominant Cade Cunningham on Thursday scored 42 points as the NBA-leading Detroit Pistons swatted aside the New York Knicks 126-111 on the NBA’s return from its brief All-Star Game break. Billed as a must-watch clash between two Eastern Conference rivals each in red-hot form, the game at Madison Square Garden became an exhibition for Cunningham, who also provided 13 assists and eight rebounds. The 24-year-old burnished his credentials as a Most Valuable Player contender, helping a young, surprise-package Pistons side to improve the best record in the entire NBA this season so far, to 41-13. After the game, Cunningham said that he
Amanda Anisimova on Thursday ended a tearful Mirra Andreeva’s Dubai title defense with a comeback 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory in the quarter-finals. The second-seeded American trailed fifth seed Andreeva by a set and a break before rallying to complete a 2 hour, 38 minute win. She booked a place in the semi-finals of a WTA 1000 event for the fourth time in her career. “I was almost in tears there at the end,” Anisimova said. “It made me emotional seeing her like that. I feel we both won today.” Anisimova was to face fellow American Jessica Pegula, who beat Denmark’s Clara Tauson 6-3,
LATE RALLY FAiLS: Jalen Duren led a late Detroit Pistons fightback, but it ultimately fizzled as a resolute San Antonio Spurs saw out the game Victor Wembanyama on Monday led a defensive masterclass as the San Antonio Spurs outmuscled the Detroit Pistons 114-103 in an intense and aggressive clash between the NBA’s two most in-form teams. Sitting second in the Western Conference, the Spurs were pushed hard for their ninth straight victory by the East-topping Pistons, who had entered the home court matchup on a five-game winning streak of their own. Defenses dominated the first meeting between the two sides this season, with Wembanyama making six blocks and 17 rebounds to fuel transitions as the Spurs pulled clear in the latter stages. While the Pistons’ shooting was at
CHAMPS DETHRONED: Megan Keller’s spectacular overtime strike secured the US 2-1 win over defending champions Canada in the women’s ice hockey final Alysa Liu on Thursday saw off her Japanese rivals to claim the US’ first Olympic women’s figure skating gold in a generation, while the US beat fierce rivals Canada in the women’s ice hockey final. Liu danced her way to the top of the podium in the free skate, surging from third place behind Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto after Tuesday’s short program. Liu, the reigning world champion, scored 150.20 for a career-best overall total of 226.79 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, denying Sakomoto a fairy-tale triumph in her final competition. The 20-year-old put the US women back on top of
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