12 SPORTSFRIDAY MARCH 23, 2007 INBRIEF Wife: It could have been murder Joubert SOCCER

Romario draws a blank, stays on 998 goals king of RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Bra- Woolmer death probe continues zil striker Romario failed to with family starting to fear worst add to his career tally of 998 the ice goals as Vasco da Gama were held 2-2 at second division LONDON: Gill Woolmer, wife interview her husband was “de- FIGURE SKATING Gama in a Copa Brasil tie on of Pakistan cricket coach Bob pressed” after Pakistan’s defeat Wednesday. Woolmer who died in Jamaica but ruled out suicide, adding that TOKYO: ’s Brian Joubert Romario, 41, came on as a on Sunday, said yesterday she he was fi t and had been trying to added the world gold medal to second-half substitute and had not ruled out the possibil- lose weight because of diabetes. his European title after a hit the crossbar in the move ity that her husband had been “He was very depressed breath-taking free program at which led to Vasco’s fi rst goal murdered. and he sent me an email to the world fi gure skating cham- in the second round, fi rst-leg Jamaican police said on that effect, but he always got pionships yesterday. match. Tuesday that the 58-year-old’s depressed and down when the Joubert had led after Wednes- “I didn’t have any luck today, death was being treated as boys didn’t do as he expected day’s short program and was a I’ll try again on Sunday,” “suspicious”. and hoped,” she said. class above his rivals again Romario, who openly admits Former England batsman “But that was normal in any with a flawless routine that that his total includes goals Woolmer was found uncon- competition, he was a very com- brought the Tokyo crowd to his scored in youth and testimo- scious in his Kingston hotel petitive person. But there’s no feet and left the Frenchman in nial games as well as club room less than 24 hours after way that suicide was involved, tears. friendlies, told reporters. Pakistan’s shock World Cup de- he would never ever...” “I worked hard for this gold,” His next attempt to emulate feat by Ireland which knocked Conspiracy theories have said Joubert, who posted a win- Pele and reach the 1,000-goal them out of the tournament. abounded since Woolmer’s ning total of 240.85 points. “It’s milestone will be against He was pronounced dead in death, with claims in some me- been a great season. I gave it arch-rivals Flamengo at the hospital later that day. dia that he had been murdered everything I had. But waiting Maracana stadium, his favor- “I suppose there is always by a match-fi xing syndicate. for the scores was torture.” ite stage, on Sunday. the possibility, I mean some of Japan’s Daisuke Takahashi the cricket fraternity fans are Tearful farewell also broke down after taking BASKETBALL extremely volatile and passion- Inzamam-ul-Haq ended his the silver with a total of 237.95 ate about the game and about tenure as captain with a tearful while two-times defending Kings forward Artest faces what happens in the game... farewell in Pakistan’s emotional champion Stephane Lambiel four charges so I suppose there is always fi nal match at the World Cup. of was third with SACRAMENTO, California: the possibility that it could be The 37-year-old contributed a 233.35. Sacramento Kings star that (murder),” she said in an fl uent 37 off 35 balls as his side Czech Tomas Verner was forward Ron Artest faces four interview with Sky Sports. honored the memory of Wool- fourth with 226.25 with charges, including battery and “It fi lls me with horror. I just mer with a convincing 93-run American Evan Lysacek fi fth corporal injury to a spouse, in can’t believe that people would victory over Zimbabwe. on 222.18. connection with allegations of behave like that or that anyone Inzamam, one of only four Earlier, Bulgaria’s golden domestic abuse. would want to harm someone players in the tournament to couple Albena Denkova and Artest will also be arraigned who has done such a great ser- have played every World Cup Maxim Staviski edged closer on misdemeanor charges vice to international cricket.” since 1992, left the field in to a second straight ice dancing of false imprisonment and A statement from Jamaican tears after being given a guard world title with a spell-binding dissuading a witness from police on Wednesday said that of honor by his teammates. original dance routine. reporting a crime, the a second pathologist’s opinion “First of all, thanks to Bob, Denkova and Staviski, whose Sacramento Bee reported on was being sought. we dedicate this to Bob because resemblance to former England Wednesday. “Following consultations to- he was a wonderful person, an soccer captain David Beckham “There are four misdemeanor day involving representatives elder for us and he’s not in this has made him a big fan favor- counts – infl icting corporal from the government of Jamaica world now,’’ the well-respected ite in Tokyo, were given a rare injury on a spouse, battery on and the police, a decision was Inzamam said, again choking standing ovation. a spouse, false imprisonment taken to seek the opinion of back tears. “It’s nice they think I look and preventing or dissuad- a second pathologist,” police The right-handed batsman like David Beckham,” a beam- ing a victim or witness from spokesman Karl Angell said in notched 11,739 runs at an av- ing Staviski said. “Thank you reporting a crime,” Deputy the statement. erage of 39.52 in 378 one-day- very much. If only I could get as District Attorney Dan Quick “Arrangements are currently ers, behind only India’s Sachin much money as Beckham that told the Bee. being made to engage the ser- Tendulkar. would be great!” Artest’s wife called emer- A Pakistani cricket fan holds out a sign in memory for the team coach Bob Woolmer during the vices of this pathologist.” gency services on March 5 to World Cup cricket match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Kingston on Wednesday. Reuters Gill Woolmer said in the Sky Agencies Agencies report an incident with Artest at their Sacramento area home. Artest was arrested at the home and the charges were fi led on Tuesday. Dedieu breaks Russian gold streak SWIMMING Dedieu’s victory broke up prepare for the worlds after Chong into second and third, Roddick and Blake head US Russia’s hold on the gold. The coming out of retirement. The respectively. team MELBOURNE, Australia: Russians had won the fi rst four 28-year-old swimmer captured That’s not a familiar place NEW YORK: , Magnifi que! events, and they are heavily fa- the world title at Montreal two for the Chinese, who had James Blake and the doubles French star Virginie Dedieu vored in the remaining two. years ago, then left the sport to led 11 straight rounds of pair of Bob and Mike Bryan won her third consecutive world “The competition with Vir- pursue interior design. diving while winning the will form the US Davis Cup synchronized swimming title ginie is very tough,’’ Ischenko, After Melbourne, Dedieu first four events, including team that will host Spain next in the solo free event yesterday who won the solo technical gold, plans to tour Japan with a Qin’s gold with Wang Feng month in the quarterfi nals, night, spoiling Russia’s bid for said through a translator. “She’s music and water show before in the 3-meter synchronized captain Patrick McEnroe said a golden sweep. an outstanding performer and a resuming her interior design springboard. on Wednesday. Wearing a black V-neck suit great athlete.’’ career. He Zi later helped restore the The tie will be played indoors and swimming to music fea- Gemma Civil Mengual of Mengual thought she had Chinese domination, leading at the Joel Coliseum in Win- turing an operatic aria, Dedieu Spain earned the bronze, her seen the last of Dedieu two all 37 qualifi ers in yesterday ston-Salem, North Carolina, dazzled the judges. third consecutive bronze-medal years ago in Montreal. night’s 1-meter preliminaries on April 6-8. She received three perfect fi nish at the worlds. Saho Ha- “It was a surprise she came ahead of today’s semifi nal. The competition will be a re- scores of 10.0 for artistic merit rada of Japan was fourth and back. It’s the last time, I think,’’ Despatie had 486.54 points match of the 2004 Davis Cup and technical marks of 9.9. Her American Christina Jones Mengual said, laughing. in the prelims. The top 18 Final, which Spain won 3-2 total of 99.500 points bettered fi nished fi fth. Earlier, Alexandre Despatie advanced to today’s semifi- over the visiting Americans. Natalia Ischenko of Russia, When she realized she had caused a few double-takes – the nals, with the fi nal set for the “We all have vivid memories who had 98.500 and settled for won, Dedieu began weeping. Canadian was leading a diving evening. of what happened in Spain,” silver for the second straight She ran across the deck and event and a couple of Chinese Qin fi nished with 474.70, fol- McEnroe said in a teleconfer- world meet. climbed into the stands for a were trailing. lowed by He Chong at 470.75. ence call. “I’m pleased we’re “The third (title) was the long, lingering embrace with Despatie, winner of the 3- Close behind was another playing at home in front of an hardest because I retired her boyfriend, Jeremy. meter springboard in his home- veteran, Russia’s Dmitry Sau- awesome crowd. and came back,’’ Dedieu said “I said to him, ‘I did it,’ but we town of Montreal in 2005, got tin at 470.70, while American Virginie Dedieu of France performs in the “The guys are really pumped through a translator. “I made a actually did it together because off to a good start in defending Troy Dumais, who won silver in synchronized swimming solo free routine up about it. We desperately bet with myself. It wasn’t easy he really helped me getting his title by leading the prelimi- Montreal, was fi fth at 456.00. fi nal at the World Aquatics Champion- want to win and move on.” to come back to the top. I’m re- back to the top,’’ she said. naries in Melbourne, relegating ships in Melbourne yesterday. Reuters The winner will face either ally, really happy.’’ Dedieu had four months to Chinese divers Qin Kai and He Agencies Sweden or Argentina in the semi-fi nals on Sept. 21-23. Spanish captain Emilio San- chez is expected to announce SCOREBOARD his squad on Monday. BADMINTON BASKETBALL Bermuda 0 2 0 0 -5.00 0.0 Boston 20 48 .294 17 (home team in CAPS): 6-3, 6-3; Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) bt CBA fi nal Group C Central Division Colorado 5 EDMONTON 1 Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) 7-5, 6-1; Florent Serra New Zealand 2 0 0 0 +2.00 4.0 Detroit 43 23 .652 - (FRA) bt Chris Guccione (AUS) 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 NINGBO, China: Result of the Chinese VANCOUVER 2 Nashville 0 A festival for local - qualifi ed for Super Eights Cleveland 41 27 .603 3 (10/8), 6-4. Basketball Association fi nal between the Dallas 4 LOS ANGELES 2 badminton lovers England 1 1 0 0 +0.07 2.0 Chicago 39 30 .565 5 1/2 Women’s 1st rd Guangdong Tigers and the Bayi Rockets: BUFFALO 5 Washington 2 Kenya 1 1 0 0 -1.13 2.0 Indiana 30 37 .448 13 1/2 Akiko Morigami (JPN) bt Aleksandra Woz- The SOTX Cup Beijing Com- Bayi 88 Guangdong 83 NY RANGERS 5 Philadelphia 0 Canada 0 2 0 0 -0.89 0.0 Milwaukee 25 42 .373 18 1/2 niak (CAN) 6-1, 7-5; Vasilia Bardina (RUS) munity Badminton Tourna- (Rockets lead best-of-seven series 2-1) San Jose 4 CHICAGO 1 ment will be held from March Group D Southeast Division bt Sanja Ancic (CRO) 6-3, 6-2; Michelle Lach- CRICKET West Indies 2 0 0 0 +0.67 4.0 Washington 37 29 .561 - TENNIS erde Brito (POR) bt Meghann Shaughnessy to October. - qualifi ed for Super Eights Miami 37 30 .552 1/2 World Cup ATP/WTA Miami Masters (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3); Meilen Tu (USA) bt Badminton enthusiasts will Ireland 1 0 1 0 +0.29 3.0 Orlando 31 38 .449 7 1/2 BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Results and tables MIAMI, Florida: Results from fi rst day of Romina Oprandi (ITA) 6-3, 6-2; fi rst play in the preliminaries - qualifi ed for Super Eights Atlanta 27 42 .391 11 1/2 ATP and WTA Masters Series tournament (RUS) bt Petra Martic (CRO) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 on Wednesday in the fi rst round of the 2007 Charlotte 26 43 .377 12 1/2 in the Chinese capital’s nine Pakistan 1 2 0 0 +1.76 2.0 here on Wednesday (x denotes seeding): (7/5); Jill Craybas (USA) bt Roberta Vinci World Cup: Western Conference districts. The top three teams Zimbabwe 0 2 1 0 +0.17 1.0 Men’s 1st rd Group B Northwest Division (ITA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-0; Tamira Pascek (AUT) in each district are eligible for At Port of Spain, Trinidad: Sri Lanka bt NBA Utah 44 23 .657 - Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) bt bt Alicia Molik (AUS) 6-3, 6-4; Virginie the city fi nal. Bangladesh by 198 runs (D/L) NEW YORK: NBA results on Wednesday Denver 34 31 .523 9 (BEL) 6-1, 6-1; Martin Vasallo Arguello Razzano (FRA) bt (ITA) 6-4, The team event comprises the Group D (home team in CAPS): Minnesota 29 38 .433 15 (ARG) bt Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR) 6-4, 6-2; 6-2; (BLR) bt Maria men’s and women’s singles, At Kingston, Jamaica: Pakistan bt Zimbabwe Minnesota 95 SACRAMENTO 89 Portland 27 40 .403 17 Danielle Bracciali (ITA) bt Max Mirnyi (BLR) Elena Camerin (ITA) 7-5, 5-7, 6-2; Ekaterina 7-6 (7/2), 6-4; Paul Goldstein (USA) bt Ryan men’s and women’s doubles by 93 runs (D/L) Washington 108 SEATTLE 106 Seattle 26 41 .388 18 Bychkova (RUS) bt Aravane Rezai (FRA) Pacifi c Division Sweeting (USA) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3; Luis Horna 6-1, 6-4; Nathalie Dechy (FRA) bt Camille and the mixed doubles. Each Standings TORONTO 92 Orlando 85 (won, lost, tied, no result, net run rate, Miami 91 ATLANTA 83 Phoenix 51 16 .761 - (PER) bt Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) 5-2, ret; Pin (FRA) 6-1, 6-3; Tatiana Poutchek (BLR) team can have only one pro- points): Charlotte 92 BOSTON 84 LA Lakers 35 32 .522 16 Juan Monaco (ARG) bt (NED) bt Iroda Tulyaganova (UZB) 0-6, 6-3, ret; fessional player. Group A Dallas 98 CLEVELAND 90 LA Clippers 32 36 .471 19 1/2 6-4, 6-4; Simone Bolelli (ITA) bt Gael Monfi ls Peng Shuai (CHN) bt (RUS) The event is being organized South Africa 2 0 0 0 +5.01 4.0 LA Clippers 104 MILWAUKEE 103 Golden State 32 37 .464 20 (FRA) 6-4, 6-2; Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-0, 6-0; (USA) bt Lourdes - qualifi ed for Super Eights Sacramento 29 39 .426 22 1/2 bt Jan Hajek (CZE) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5; Ricardo Dominguez Lino (ESP) 6-4, 7-6 (7/0); Olga by the Beijing Sports Press SAN ANTONIO 90 Indiana 72 Southwest Division Australia 2 0 0 0 +4.32 4.0 Mello (BRA) bt Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-1, 7-6 Association and sponsored by Standings Dallas 56 11 .836 - Poutchkova (RUS) bt Sofi a Arvidsson (SWE) SOTX, a German badminton - qualifi ed for Super Eights Eastern Conference San Antonio 47 20 .701 9 (7/3); Thomas Johansson (SWE) bt Alberto 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Vania King (USA) bt Sun Tian- Scotland 0 2 0 0 -3.95 0.0 rackets producer. Atlantic Division Houston 43 25 .632 13 1/2 Martin (ESP) 6-4, 6-3; Michael Llodra (FRA) tian (CHN) 7-6 (7/4), 7-5. Netherlands 0 2 0 0 -5.00 0.0 W L PCT GB bt Stefan Koubek (AUT) 6-4, 6-0; Guillermo SOTX is also sponsoring N.O./ Oklahoma City 31 37 .456 25 1/2 Group B Toronto 37 31 .544 - Memphis 17 51 .250 39 1/2 Garica-Lopez (ESP) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) China’s Sichuan, Hubei and Sri Lanka 2 0 0 0 +4.33 4.0 New Jersey 31 37 .456 6 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5); Raemon Sluiter To comment or alert us to a story, Army professional badminton India 1 1 0 0 +2.50 2.0 NY Knicks 30 37 .448 6 1/2 NHL (NED) bt Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) 6-2, 6-2; Earth graphics by Google Earth e-mail [email protected] teams. Bangladesh 1 1 0 0 -1.79 2.0 PhiladelphiaAll information26 provided 42 .382 by the Central11 MeteorologicalNEW YORK: Observatory NHL results on Wednesday Feliciano Lopez (ESP) bt Nicolas Massu (CHI)