■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.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Marcus Rashford’s first goals for Aston Villa on Sunday inspired a 3-0 win against Preston North End that sent his side into the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 10 years. Rashford struck twice in the second half at Deepdale to end Preston’s stubborn resistance before Jacob Ramsey wrapped up Villa’s long-awaited return to the last four. Villa are to face Crystal Palace — 3-0 winners at Fulham on Saturday — in the semi-finals at Wembley Stadium in London. Revitalized since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United during the January transfer window, Rashford is beginning to show the form that
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