■FOOTBALL
Facility collapse probed
US government investigators began sorting through the Dallas Cowboys’ flattened practice facility in Irving, Texas, on Monday, trying to figure out why fierce winds sent the tentlike structure crashing down during a rookie workout session. Twelve people were hurt. Records obtained by reporters show the city of Irving granted the Cowboys’ request to replace the fabric roof last year, five years after the structure was built. The team listed itself as the contractor for the roof replacement, but Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team would not comment about the work. The records do not show the Cowboys sought an inspection of the facility after replacing the roof, although city code requires it, according to Gary Miller, Irving’s director of planning and inspections.
■CRICKET
Strauss player of the year
England captain Andrew Strauss, 32, was named as the team’s player of the year for 2008-2009 by sponsors Vodafone on Monday. The award, given to the opening batsman just two days before he leads England into the first Test against the West Indies at his Lord’s home ground, was a reward for some heavy run-scoring by the Middlesex left-hander. Claire Taylor won the corresponding award for the England women’s team.
■BASEBALL
Player’s mom in drugs bust
The mother of New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain was jailed in Nebraska and facing a felony charge after being arrested on suspicion of selling methamphetamine to an undercover police officer in February. Lincoln Police Captain David Beggs said Monday that 44-year-old Jacqueline Standley was arrested at her apartment on Saturday night. Beggs said she allegedly sold 1 gram of a substance believed to be meth to an uncover officer for US$110 on Feb. 11. The substance tested positive for meth in testing at the state laboratory. She was charged on Monday with delivery of an exceptionally hazardous drug. Her bail was set at US$5,000, and she was assigned a public defender. Chamberlain found out about the arrest after arriving at Yankee Stadium on Monday night. He said he hadn’t spoken with her in a while. “You’ve only got one mom, man, and you’ve got to be thankful for her,” he said. “I still love her.”
■RUGBY UNION
Kockott ‘slapped’ with ban
Coastal Sharks scrum-half Rory Kockott has been suspended for one week and will miss a crucial Super 14 fixture against the New South Wales Waratahs in Durban on Saturday. Kockott, second-highest scorer in the southern hemisphere championship this season with 110 points, pleaded guilty to slapping flanker Adam Thomson from visiting New Zealand side Otago Highlanders at the weekend. The incident four minutes from full-time had a comical edge as diminutive Kockott floored much taller and stronger Thomson with a strike to the face and South African referee Phillip Bosch raised a red card. A lawyer representing Kockott on Monday at the Durban hearing argued the sending off was sufficient punishment, but the judicial officer deemed the action reckless and imposed a ban. The suspension means Sharks’ New Zealand coach John Plumtree cannot field his first-choice half-back partnership just one week after fly-half Ruan Pienaar returned following a lengthy injury absence. Sharks, runners-up to the Northern Bulls two seasons ago, lie fourth and Waratahs fifth, three points behind with two rounds to go and nine franchises in a scramble for semi-finals places.
‘REMARKABLE’: Gaelic football is a traditional Irish sport that blends the skills of soccer and rugby, and hurling is an ancient sport played with a wooden stick and ‘sliotar’ The Taiwan Celts Gaelic Football Club marked a milestone achievement at the Asian Gaelic Games in Bangkok on Nov. 23 and 24, with two sides advancing to the knockout stages and competing at hurling for the first time. The event brought together 68 teams from 16 clubs across Asia, with more than 800 players in men’s and women’s tournaments. Gaelic football is a traditional Irish team sport that blends the skills of soccer, rugby union and basketball. Hurling is an ancient Irish sport played with a wooden stick, called a hurley, and a small ball, or sliotar. The Taiwan Celts’ women’s team reached
LIVERPOOL WIN: The 50th Champions League goal by Mohamed Salah helped the leaders of the Premier League to keep their perfect record intact Real Madrid’s big stars on Tuesday turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering UEFA Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win against Serie A leaders Atalanta BC. However, Madrid still had to ride their luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage-time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champions in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. “It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins
Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen yesterday exited at the BWF World Tour Finals in China, losing in the semi-finals to China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi. Shi, who was named the BWF Men’s Singles Player of the Year, had a 9-4 record against Chou going into the match. He extended that record to 9-5 with a 21-14, 21-18 victory. Chou advanced to the men’s singles semi-finals on Friday by upsetting top-seeded Anders Antonsen of Denmark in a must-win match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. The 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 victory saw Chou secure his second semi-finals appearance at the tournament, despite his relatively older
TO NO AVAIL: The Denver Nuggets’ Serbian center Nikola Jokic surpassed his 53-point performance in the 2023 Western Conference semi-finals against Phoenix The Washington Wizards withstood a 56-point explosion from Denver star Nikola Jokic to beat the Nuggets 122-113 on Saturday and snap their 16-game NBA losing streak. Jokic, who won his third NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award last season, posted a career scoring high — surpassing a 53-point performance in game four of the 2023 Western Conference semi-finals against Phoenix and a 50-point regular-season best against Sacramento in 2021. The Serbian big man added 16 rebounds and eight assists, but it was all to no avail as Washington, buoyed by 39 points from Jordan Poole, won for the first time
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