■SOCCER
World Cup tickets on sale
Tickets for the 2010 World Cup went on sale on the Internet and in bank branches around South Africa on Friday, with organizers declaring it was irrevocable proof that the finals would go ahead in the country. Some 700,000 tickets for the first World Cup hosted in Africa are available for purchase out of a total of just more than 3 million for the 64 games between June 11 and July 11 next year. Fans have until the end of next month to apply for tickets before going into a random draw lottery in April to determine the successful applicants. Ticket prices range from US$20 to US$900, a drastic increase in the standard US$1.50 to US$2.50 supporters pay for entry to South African premier league matches.
■SOCCER
Ronaldo crash claim mulled
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo may face an insurance claim for thousands of dollars over damage to Manchester Airport when he crashed his Ferrari, officials said on Friday. Ronaldo, 23, was uninjured but wrote off his US$286,000 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Spider when he smashed into a roadside barrier near the airport on his way to training last month. But now he or his insurance company may have to pay out up to £20,000 (US$28,900) to repair brickwork, railings and a door damaged in the crash. A spokesman for the airport said: “Part of the airport’s infrastructure was damaged in a road traffic accident and as is normal practice, our insurers are talking to the other party’s insurance company.”
■SOCCER
Jubilation sparks ruckus
After scoring the fifth goal in Ulbra’s 5-2 win over Brasil in the Rio Grande do Sul state soccer tournament, midfielder Rogerio Pereira apparently lost his sense of direction. Instead of the traditional celebration in front of team fans, who packed Bento Freitas Stadium in the southern Brazilian city of Pelotas on Thursday, he frolicked in front of the fans of the losing team. Enraged by what they considered a taunt aimed at humiliating them, Brasil players pounced on Ulbra players in a free-for-all with team officials also going at each other with punches and kicks. The 15-minute brawl ended when helmeted police troops wielding rubber truncheons rushed into the field to separate the two sides. No one was seriously injured.
■TENNIS
Nadal in Davis Cup squad
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was named in Spain’s Davis Cup squad on Friday for next month’s opening round match at home to Serbia. Nadal’s inclusion came a day after he withdrew from next week’s Dubai tournament on the advice of his doctor, to recover from the knee complaint that hindered his performance in the final in Rotterdam last weekend. Spain’s new captain Albert Costa also included David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Feliciano Lopez, as well as Nicolas Almagro as a reserve. Spain will play Serbia on clay in Benidorm, Spain, from March 6 to March 8.
■FIELD HOCKEY
New Zealand, India draw
New Zealand and India battled out a 1-1 draw in the first field hockey test in Wellington yesterday, setting the scene for a tight four-match series. The New Zealand Black Sticks dominated the first half and led 1-0 at the break before India fought back and equalized in the 55th minute. A hard hit into the circle, and the employment of a short passing buildup caught New Zealand unawares and Shivendra Singh capitalized from close range.
■FOOTBALL
Murder suspect enters plea
A judge entered a not guilty plea on Friday for a man charged with the murder of former Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams. Willie Clark, 25, faces 39 counts — including two of first-degree murder — in the death of Williams, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on Jan. 1, 2007. Denver District Judge Christina Habas entered the plea on Clark’s behalf after rejecting a request for a two-month delay from defense attorneys. Williams was shot in the neck as he left a Denver nightclub in a limousine. The killing came hours after the popular cornerback played in the 26-23 overtime loss to San Francisco that ended the Broncos’ NFL season.
■BASKETBALL
Garnett to miss three games
Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett will miss the last three games of the team’s West Coast road trip after straining his right knee against Utah on Thursday. The reigning NBA champion Celtics said Garnett returned to Boston on Friday for an MRI exam. Garnett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will miss games at Phoenix, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Celtics then return home to face Indiana on Friday. Garnett was hurt late in the first half of Thursday’s 90-85 loss to Utah, landing awkwardly while going up for a rebound.
■BASKETBALL
Jazz owner Miller dies
Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller died on Friday at the age of 64 from complications of type two diabetes, the NBA team said. The Jazz said Miller died at his home, surrounded by family members. Miller had endured severe health problems recently and last month had both of his legs amputated below the knee. Miller, who owned the Jazz for the last 23 years, first purchased 50 percent of the franchise in 1985, then bought the remaining half one year later. A prominent businessman, Miller owned 39 auto dealerships and several movie theaters, among many other business ventures.
■NORDIC SKIING
US win two golds
Todd Lodwick won the opening Nordic combined event at the world championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, to give the US two golds in one day. Lodwick defended his slim lead from the cross-country portion by completing jumps of 100.5m and 97.5m in difficult conditions in the ski jump, which was postponed from Thursday. Lodwick finished with 276 points, while Tino Edelmann of Germany was second with 273.7 points. Earlier on Friday, Lindsey Van became the first ever women’s ski jumping world champ. The US had not won a gold at a Nordic skiing worlds since 2003.
■LUGE
Germans sweep top spots
Natalie Geisenberger set a course record on the track that will host the Olympics in a year and her German teammates swept the rest of the top spots in a World Cup race at Whistler, Canada, on Friday. Tatjana Huefner wrapped up the overall Cup title by taking second, 0.357 seconds behind Geisenberger’s 1:38.012. Andre Florschutz and Torsten Wustlich continued the German medal trend by capturing gold in the men’s doubles race with teammates Alexander Resch and Patric Leitner finishing second. Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger placed third and were the only non-Germans to reach the podium. Germany came roaring back after its streak of 99 straight wins in World Cups, Olympics and World Championships was interrupted two weeks ago by American Erin Hamlin’s title at worlds in Lake Placid, New York.
SIBLING RIVALRY: Marc Marquez was locked in a duel with his little brother, falling behind at one point before recovering for his first season-opening victory since 2014 Six-time world champion Marc Marquez yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening Thailand Grand Prix to complete a dominant debut weekend at his new Ducati Lenovo Team, having also romped to Saturday’s sprint. The Spanish great took the 26-lap grand prix by 1.732 seconds for his 63rd MotoGP victory from younger brother Alex Marquez, who is still seeking a first checkered flag, with Francesco Bagnaia third to complete an all-Ducati podium. It completed a perfect weekend for Marc Marquez, who took pole position, the sprint victory and the grand prix win for a maximum 37 points to open the 22-leg 2025 campaign. He led from
AC Milan’s slender hopes of reaching next season’s UEFA Champions League took another hit on Thursday with a 2-1 defeat at Bologna which left them eight points from Serie A’s top four. Sergio Conceicao’s team sit eighth, some way behind fourth-placed Juventus after losing an entertaining contest at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, a match which was rescheduled from October last year due to torrential rain and flooding. Swathes of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy, much of which is fertile agricultural land, had been left under water following a massive autumn downpour. Dan Ndoye prodded home the decisive goal in the 82nd minute
Former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-golfer Ryan Peake, who served a lengthy jail term for assault, yesterday produced a “life-changing” maiden win to qualify for The Open Championship. Peake held his nerve for a one-stroke victory at the New Zealand Open, earning him a berth at the major in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, pending clearance to travel as a convicted criminal. The 31-year-old from Perth celebrated animatedly and was showered with champagne by friends on the 18th green of the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown after a redemption story rarely seen in the refined sport of golf. Peake held back tears as he
MILWAUKEE PREVAIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points as the Bucks withstood Nikola Jokic’s 27th triple-double of the season to beat the Nuggets Golden State star Stephen Curry on Thursday drilled 12 three-pointers in a scintillating 56-point display that carried the Warriors to a 121-115 victory over the Orlando Magic. Curry’s explosive performance helped the Warriors dig themselves out of a 17-point hole, with the point guard signaling the start of the fightback with a three-pointer from beyond the half-court line to end the first half that pulled the Warriors within 66-52 at the break. In the third quarter, he single-handedly outscored the Magic with 22 points to Orlando’s 21. The four-time NBA champion finished two three-pointers shy of former teammate Klay Thompson’s record for most
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