■BASKETBALL
Gun-toting West arrested
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West was arrested after police pulled him over for speeding on a motorcycle while carrying two handguns and a shotgun in a guitar case in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Prince George’s County police spokeswoman Sergeant Michelle Reedy said on Friday West was arrested late on Thursday. Reedy said West was riding a motorcycle north on the Capital Beltway in Upper Marlboro when he cut off an officer, who pulled him over. Police said a handgun was found in his pocket, another in his pant leg and a shotgun in a guitar case strapped to his back. The 26-year-old West was charged with speeding and weapons counts. Reedy said West was released on his own recognizance early on Friday. Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry said the team was aware of the situation. “We have been in communication with Delonte and his family,” Ferry said in a statement. “We are gathering more information and will not have further comment until the appropriate time.”
■BOXING
Rigondeaux floors Andrade
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux stopped Brazil’s Giovanni Andrade in three rounds in Miami Beach, Florida, on Friday night. Rigondeaux (3-0, 3 KOs), who defected from Cuba earlier this year, was the superior fighter in the scheduled 10-round super bantamweight bout, frustrating Andrade (52-12) with repeated rights and lefts to the head. A solid Rigondeaux left to the body ended the fight late in the third round. Andrade fell to the canvas and although he reached his feet before the 10-count, he told referee Sam Burgos he couldn’t continue fighting. Burgos stopped the fight at 2:53 of the round. The 28-year-old Rigondeaux, who won gold at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, weighed 55kg. Andrade weighed 56kg.
■CYCLING
Valverde retains Vuelta lead
Spain’s Juan Jose Cobo of the Fuji team won the 179.8km 19th stage of the Tour of Spain between Avila and La Granja on Friday, with Alejandro Valverde consolidating his overall lead after finishing second. Caisse d’Epargne rider Valverde did well to resist a series of attacks from his closest rivals, notably compatriot Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel), during the last stage in the mountains. Dutchman Robert Gesink of Rabobank was the biggest loser on the day. Starting the day in second place overall, 32 seconds behind Valverde, Gesink was hindered by the after-effects of a fall on Wednesday and finished over four minutes off Cobo’s pace. Valverde now has a comfortable 1 minute, 26 seconds lead over Sanchez, the new second-placed rider, going into yesterday’s 27.8km individual time-trial in Toledo.
■ICE HOCKEY
Leafs snag Olympian Kessel
The Boston Bruins dealt American Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for three top draft picks on Friday, the National Hockey League clubs said. Canadian media reported that the 21-year-old Kessel signed a five-year, US$27 million deal with the Leafs. Boston will receive Toronto’s first-round pick in both next year and 2011 in addition to its second-round pick in next year. Kessel and Boston could not reach an agreement on a contract. In 70 games, Kessel recorded a team-high 36 goals and 24 assists with the Bruins last season. Kessel is one of the best US-born players in the NHL and a member of the US Olympic team.
■SOCCER
Messi signs new contract
Argentine star Lionel Messi on Friday signed a new two-year deal with Spanish and European champions Barcelona that will keep him at the club until 2016, the team announced on its official Web site. A buy-out clause for Messi, 22, has also risen from 150 million euros (US$221 million) to an even more staggering 250 million euros. “I’d like to finish my career here at Barcelona,” Messi told the club’s Web site. “I feel like I am playing with a formidable squad, with a strong, unified team.” Although the club did not reveal details of Messi’s salary, Spanish press have reported that he is currently paid between 7 million euros and 8 million euros a year. Sports daily Marca claimed recently that Messi’s annual wages will rocket to around 10 million euros to 12.5 million euros a year under the new contract agreement. Messi, who has been at Barcelona since he was 13, is one of the world’s most sought-after players. Last year, he helped Barcelona to a treble trophy haul and scored in the Champions League final win over Manchester United.
■SOCCER
Ronaldo to make comeback
Ronaldo is expected to play for Corinthians today in the Brazilian league after missing almost two months with a broken left hand. Ronaldo, in the midst of another comeback from a knee operation, was Corinthians’ leading scorer with six goals in five matches before he was injured. Team doctor Paulo da Faria said on Friday that Ronaldo was cleared to play. He was expected to wear some minor protection on his hand against Goias. Ronaldo is the leading goalscorer in World Cup history and has played in the last four, but he has not played with the national team since they were knocked out of the 2006 World Cup by France in the quarter-finals. Brazil have already qualified for next year’s tournament in South Africa and coach Dunga is likely to come under increasing pressure to call up one of Brazil’s greatest players.
■RUGBY UNION
Bath clinch first victory
Australian center Matt Carraro scored two tries as Bath beat Sale 25-12 on Friday to clinch their first English Premiership win of the season and their first victory at Edgeley Park in six years. After defeats to Gloucester and Wasps, Bath were bottom of the table, but a brace from Carraro and one try from Matt Banahan gave them a much-needed triumph. Bath coach Steve Meehan said: “There has been a cloud over the club at various times, but, as a squad, we certainly haven’t felt that it has been a weight and we’ve tried to move on. I think we have been building toward this result. The guys really applied themselves tonight and I don’t think you could fault anybody in terms of commitment.”
■RUGBY LEAGUE
Leeds see off Hull KR
Defending champions Leeds ran in eight tries to see off Hull KR 44-8 on Friday to move into the Super League semi-finals and just 80 minutes away from a third successive Grand Final. Leeds were only 10-8 ahead at the break, before scoring 34 unanswered points as injury-hit Hull KR wilted. Lee Smith and Ali Lauitiiti both scored two tries, with Keith Senior, Ryan Hall, Brent Webb and Jamie Peacock also crossing for Leeds. Daniel Fitzhenry grabbed Hull KR’s only try of the game. In a revolutionary new play-off system, Leeds will get the chance to choose their semi-final opponents, while Hull KR will have another chance to make progress with a preliminary semi-final.
Elena Rybakina’s Kazakhstan yesterday dumped defending champions Germany out of the United Cup with world No. 2 Alexander Zverev sidelined by an arm injury barely a week away from the Australian Open. The upset in Perth sent the Kazakhs into the semi-finals of the 18-nation tournament. In Sydney, women’s world No. 2 Iga Swiatek led Poland into the last eight by winning a rematch of her 2023 French Open final against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic. Britain also progressed to the quarter-finals with Katie Boulter’s dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australia’s Olivia Gadecki enough to guarantee they won their group. The US and
HAT-TRICK PREP: World No. 1 Sabalenka clinched her first win of the season, as she aims to become the first woman in 20 years to win three Australian Opens in succession Coco Gauff, Jasmine Paolini and Taylor Fritz yesterday all clocked impressive wins as tennis powerhouses Italy and the US surged into the quarter-finals of the mixed-team United Cup. World No. 3 Gauff swept past Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-2 to avenge a loss at the Paris Olympics, while Fritz took care of Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2 in searing Perth heat. That was enough to put the Americans — last year’s winners — into a last-eight clash with China today, while Elena Rybakina’s Kazakhstan today are to meet defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, in the other Perth quarter-final. In Sydney, the in-form
Taiwanese e-sports team Ban Mei Gaming (BMG) claimed second place at this year’s Arena of Valor International Championship (AIC 2024) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, after losing to the Thai team Bacon Time (BAC) in the finals on Sunday In the final match, BMG faced BAC, who finished top in the winners’ bracket, but lost 0-4. However, BMG still walked away with US$100,000 in prize money for finishing runners-up. The AIC 2024 began with 16 teams competing in the Swiss Stage, where teams played up to five rounds. Those securing three wins advanced to the Knockout Stage, while teams
Japan’s national high-school soccer tournament is thriving after more than 100 years, attracting huge crowds, millions watching on TV and breeding future stars, despite professional clubs trying to attract young talent. The annual tournament kicked off on Saturday and is still regarded as the pinnacle of amateur soccer with young players dreaming of playing in the final in front of tens of thousands at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Matches are a massive occasion for the whole school as student cheering squads wave flags, bang drums and roar on their teams in a spectacle of noise and color. “All the
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