THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 SPORTS

Di Maria Madrid’s best NHL’s Bertuzzi settles Missy Franklin hit by back player, claims Simeone suit with Steve Moore spasms ahead of Pan Pacs MADRID: Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone claimed compatriot Angel di Maria is Real LOS ANGELES: Steve Moore, whose career ended when he suffered a GOLD COAST: Multiple Olympic and world champion Missy Franklin’s prepara- Madrid’s best player after the Argentine midfielder started on the bench as the Champions serious concussion in a hockey altercation, has reached a settlement in tions for this week’s Pan Pacific Championships on Australia’s Gold Coast have League finalists drew 1-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Tuesday. There are been hit by back trouble, US team officials said yesterday. The 19-year-old rumors that Di Maria will move away from the Spanish capital, given the wealth of attacking a lawsuit against his attacker, media reports said. The lawsuit against American star suffered back spasms in training and was undergoing treatment options after the arrival of World Cup star James Rodriguez, with Manchester United and NHL player Todd Bertuzzi has been settled but isn’t yet official because Paris Saint-Germain reportedly interested. However, Simeone claimed he is even more vital there are still papers to be signed, Canadian sports broadcaster TSN.ca ahead of her opening scheduled swims at the meet today. The quadruple to Real than World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. “In the first-half reported Tuesday. Moore suffered a concussion and three fractured ver- London Olympic gold medallist and nine-time world champion had to despite defending close to our area we had three or four chances to score a goal,” he tebrae during a March 8, 2004, game in Vancouver. Bertuzzi, who was be assisted from the training pool late Tuesday and was a no-show said. “The second half was more or less the same, with a little bit better play from playing for the Vancouver Canucks at the time, skated after and at a team media conference yesterday. A US official said medical Madrid with the introduction of Di Maria. “That was logical because he is the grabbed the Colorado Avalanche forward, punching him from behind staff would reassess Franklin’s condition today, when the four-day best player they have. It is an important draw and allows us to play a for the and then driving him head-first to the ice. Moore’s teammate Andrei Pan Pacs meet begins. “It’s a fluid situation,” he said of Franklin, trophy at home with a 50-50 chance. “It is my opinion that Di Maria is Nikolishin then jumped on top of the two and Moore’s head hit the ice who was spending the day resting. Franklin is scheduled to con- Madrid’s best player for sure. His ability to change games in the a second time. Others followed and jumped on the pile. Bertuzzi was test the 200 meters freestyle and 100m backstroke on the meet’s middle of the park helps everyone else to play well.” Real boss alleged to have been seeking retribution for a hit made by Moore on opening day. She also qualified for the 200m backstroke and 100m Carlo Ancelotti rebuked Simeone for failing to mention Canucks Markus Naslund in an earlier meeting. Moore never freestyle and looked set to contest the three relays. Ronaldo and Bale, who both scored as Real beat Atletico 4- played again. Bertuzzi, now 39 and a free agent, pleaded guilty to crim- Franklin, whose back was strapped with medical 1 after extra time in the Champions League final in inal assault causing bodily harm and was sentenced in 2006 to one year tape at the Tuesday training session, said she was Lisbon back in May. — AFP of probation and 80 hours of community service. —AFP feeling better yesterday. — AFP Lanka ponder life after the golden generation

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka are banking on young tal- after the World Cup, after speaking to the ent to see them through a transitional phase in national selectors.” Sri Lanka have just one Test Test despite the departure of one batting series-in New Zealand early next year-before the great, another approaching retirement and an World Cup in February and March 2015. ageing spinner in the ranks. Former captain Mahela Jayawardene, who ended his 17-year World Cup swansongs Test career on Monday following the 2-0 series The World Cup could also mark the end of win over Pakistan, said there was no cause for the road for swashbuckling opener Tillakaratne panic over the side’s immediate future. The ele- Dilshan who quit Tests last year as well as sling- gant 37-year-old insisted Sri Lanka had a good arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga who retired from pool of young players who were ready to take five-day cricket in 2011. Sangakkara though is over. likely to leave the biggest hole. The left-hander “When Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) retired, is the country’s number one Test batsman with people said we won’t win without him,” 11,988 runs in 128 matches at an average of Jayawardene said. “But we are still doing well. 58.76 with 37 centuries. Since January, he has There are others who will do even better than made three Test hundreds, including a 319 and us.” Jayawardene, who will quit all forms of crick- 221, besides eight half-centuries. Former Test et after next year’s 50-over World Cup in batsman and television commentator Russel Australia and New Zealand, is one only five bats- Arnold warned selectors against expecting men to score more than 11,000 runs in both Test younger players to match the record-breaking and one-day cricket, the others being Sachin feats of Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Muralitharan. “Sri Lankan cricket can fall into a team-mate Kumar Sangakkara. massive trap if it tries to match the numbers and Sangakkara, who turns 37 in October, could qualities of these players,” Arnold said. “We need FLORIDA: Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Kevin Kiermaier dives but can’t come up with a triple by Detroit Tigers’ Ian Kinsler during the 11th inning also hang up his bat after the World Cup even to find players who can compete, and have a of a baseball game on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2014. — AP though his excellent recent form suggests retire- game plan for what we have, rather than look ment is not his immediate concern. Both bats- for immediate replacements.” men have already retired from Twenty20 cricket, In Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka already have a MLB ROUNDUP bowing out after Sri Lanka’s victory in April in captain who has made rapid strides both as the T20 World Cup final. Left-arm spinner leader and frontline batsman as was evident Rangana Herath has been Sri Lanka’s leading from his 102 and 160 during the two-Test series Test bowler since record holder Muralitharan in England in June, which the tourists won. Fiers steers Brewers retired with 800 in 2010, but at 36 he Under Mathews this year, Sri Lanka drew 1-1 cannot be expected to go on much longer. against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, Herath’s 23 wickets against Pakistan were the won away series in Bangladesh and England, most by any bowler in the two-Test series and lost at home to South Africa before beating took his tally to 260 in 57 matches. Sangakkara Pakistan on Monday. to win over Blue Jays was forced to clarify his own plans after an exag- Sri Lanka are now fourth in the official Test gerated raising of the bat following his dismissal rankings behind South Africa, Australia and for 59 in the second Test against Pakistan. England, and Mathews hoped his side will con- “Waving the bat was just... I didn’t have anything tinue to climb the ladder. “You can’t replace the MILWAUKEE: Milwaukee pitcher Mike Fiers continued win for the AL West leaders. St Louis’ Jon Jay was hit by Hunter then scored on Jeff Beliveau’s wild pitch, and in mind,” he told reporters. “We won’t be playing seniors, but the important thing is to be as con- his superb form since being recalled to the major a JJ Hoover pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth Bryan Holaday added a sacrifice fly that gave Detroit in Sri Lanka for a long time, so I sistent as possible,” he said. “We have a good leagues, steering the Brewers to a fifth-straight win inning, handing the Cardinals a 5-4 win against an 8-5 lead. Washington scored six runs in the third thought...”I will take a decision about my future group who are learning all the time.” — AFP with a 6-1 win over Toronto on Tuesday and dealing Cincinnati. Matt Holliday drew a leadoff walk to start inning and ran its winning streak to eight games with another blow to the Blue Jays’ evaporating playoff the winning rally. He advanced to third on Matt Adams’ an 8-1 rout of Arizona. Seattle’s Hisashi Iwakuma hopes. The Brewers stayed 2-1/2 games clear atop the single. Jhonny Peralta walked to load the bases. struck out a season-high 11 batters in eight scoreless National League Central division. Meanwhile, the Hoover (1-10) then plunked Jay to force in pinch-run- innings, guiding the Mariners past Philadelphia 5-2. American League West is the tightest divisional race, ner Pete Bourjos with the winning run. The Cardinals Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo slammed a two-run homer to with Oakland beating the New York Mets to stay half a won for the fifth time in six games and remained 2 1/2 account for the only runs of a rain-shortened game, game behind the leading Los Angeles Angels, who games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. giving the Cubs a 2-0 win over San Francisco in their edged Boston. Los Angeles’ Justin Turner drove in two runs and five-inning contest. Baltimore’s playoff place seems certain after a win scored another pair, helping rally the Dodgers past Kansas City’s Omar Infante had three doubles and against the Chicago White Sox, going 8-1/2 games San Diego 8-6, snapping a three-game skid. Carl drove in four runs to help the streaking Royals knock clear in the AL East. Milwaukee pitcher Fiers (3-1) was Crawford hit a two-run homer with two outs in the off Colorado 7-4. Cleveland’s Yan Gomes had three hits recalled to the majors at the start of this month, and seventh for the Dodgers, who have won six of seven including a home run and rookie Tyler Holt hit a go- has given up only two runs over three starts. He held against the Padres. ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning as the the Blue Jays to two hits in seven innings and retired Former Padres pitcher Kevin Correia (2-0) took the Indians rallied to win 7-5 at Minnesota. Houston’s the last 18 batters he faced. He had six strikeouts; win, allowing eight hits over five innings in his Dodger Chris Carter snapped a ninth-inning tie with a colossal down on the 14 he recorded in his previous start. Stadium debut. Detroit’s Victor Martinez drew a bases- three-run homer, extending his power surge in the Jonathan Lucroy and Aramis Ramirez each had a pair loaded walk in the 11th inning and the Tigers tacked second half of the season and sending the Astros to a of doubles for Milwaukee which had three extra-base on two more to win 8-6 at Tampa Bay. Ian Kinsler 7-4 victory over the New York Yankees. Miami’s hits in the first inning alone off J.A. Happ (8-8). Toronto opened the 11th with a triple off Grant Balfour (1-5). Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI single with two outs in has lost six of its past seven are is now 4-1/2 games off Torii Hunter walked and Miguel Cabrera was inten- the 10th inning to lift the Marlins to a 4-3 win over the last wild-card berth. Oakland ended a five-game tionally walked before Martinez got his free pass. Texas. — AP losing skid by beating the Mets 6-2, with Coco Crisp hitting a tiebreaking three-run triple in the fourth inning. Coming off a miserable road trip when he MLB results/standings went 2-for-23, Crisp had an early single, then the key hit in the fourth when he lined a pitch from Dillon Gee down the right field line with the bases loaded. Houston 7, NY Yankees 4; Washington 8, Arizona 1; Seattle 5, Philadelphia 2; Atlanta 11, Athletics starter Scott Kazmir (14-5) earned his Pittsburgh 3; La Angels 4, Boston 3; Miami 4, Texas 3 (10 Innings); Detroit 8, Tampa Bay 6 (11 Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene career-best 14th win in a season, allowing one run in Innings); Chicago Cubs 2, San Francisco 0 (5 Innings); Baltimore 5, Chicago White Sox 1; six innings. He retired nine of his final 10 batters. Milwaukee 6, Toronto 1; Cleveland 7, Minnesota 5; St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 4; Kansas City 7, Baltimore’s Chris Tillman pitched eight strong innings Colorado 4; Oakland 6, NY Mets 2; LA Dodgers 8, San Diego 6. to steer the Orioles to a 5-1 win over the White Sox. American League National League West Indies, coach Tillman (10-5) matched a career high with nine strike- Eastern Division Eastern Division outs, giving up one run. Nick Hundley homered, Chris W L PCT GB Washington 71 53 .573 - Davis had a two-run double, and Adam Jones and Baltimore 72 52 .581 - Atlanta 66 60 .524 6 Gibson part ways Delmon Young also drove in runs for the Orioles. NY Yankees 63 60 .512 8.5 Atlanta’s Justin Upton smashed his 24th home run of Miami 63 62 .504 8.5 Toronto 64 62 .508 9 NY Mets 59 68 .465 13.5 ST JOHN’S: The West Indies parted ways Gibson’s time in charge was the team’s tri- the season as the Braves beat Pittsburgh 11-3, notch- Tampa Bay 61 64 .488 11.5 Philadelphia 55 71 .437 17 with coach on Tuesday, just a umph at the World T20 in Sri Lanka in 2012. ing their fifth-straight win. Boston 56 69 .448 16.5 Central Division day ahead of a home one-day series against Their defence of the title last March in Upton’s three-run homer in the third inning broke Central Division Milwaukee 71 55 .563 - Bangladesh. The West Indies Cricket Board Bangladesh ended in defeat to eventual things open. He added a two-run single in the fifth as Kansas City 70 55 .560 - St. Louis 68 57 .544 2.5 (WICB) said the two sides “mutually agreed champions Sri Lanka at the semi-final stage. the Braves extended Pittsburgh’s losing streak to a sea- Detroit 67 56 .545 2 Pittsburgh 64 62 .508 7 to terminate their association” with team Team manager Richardson, the former son-worst seven games. Pirates’ slugger Andrew Cleveland 63 61 .508 6.5 McCutchen went 0 for 4 in his first game back after Cincinnati 61 65 .484 10 manager stepping in as West Indies captain and middle-order bats- Chicago White Sox 59 67 .468 11.5 missing two weeks with fractured cartilage in his ribs. Chicago Cubs 55 70 .440 15.5 interim coach. man, will take over the coaching responsi- Minnesota 55 69 .444 14.5 Los Angeles’ Chris Iannetta hit his second double of the Western Division No reason was given for the departure of bilities for the Bangladesh series while a full- Western Division game with a tiebreaking drive in the ninth inning off LA Dodgers 71 56 .559 - Gibson, who had been in charge since 2010 time replacement is confirmed. It is LA Angels 74 50 .597 - that sent the Angels to a 4-3 victory over Boston. With San Francisco 65 59 .524 4.5 and led the West Indies to the World believed that Mickey Arthur, the former Oakland 74 51 .592 0.5 two outs in the ninth, Brennan Boesch had a ground- San Diego 58 66 .468 11.5 Twenty20 title in 2012. However, West South Africa and Australia head coach, is Seattle 68 57 .544 6.5 rule double off Koji Uehara (5-3) for the Angels’ first hit Arizona 53 73 .421 17.5 Indies are currently eighth in the Test rank- favorite for the job. Houston 53 73 .421 22 since the fourth. Iannetta then lined a double off the Texas 48 77 .384 26.5 Colorado 49 76 .392 21 ings, the lowest among the established Arthur, a South African, coached the left-field wall for the winner. Joe Smith (5-1) got the nations, eighth in the one-day rankings and Jamaica Tallawahs during the second sea- seventh in the Twenty20 rankings. son of the Caribbean Premier League T20 The Bangladesh series comes as the franchise tournament which ended last West Indies build up to the one-day World Saturday in St Kitts. Speculation over India struggles with Dhoni dilemma Cup early next year. Ex-captain Gibson’s status ignited on Monday when he was named head of a new-look selection was absent from the West Indies team’s MUMBAI: Beleaguered India skipper Mahendra Singh slump to a 3-1 series defeat. While coach Duncan of Indian cricket, probably second only in popularity panel earlier this month. “On behalf of the training session, and again on Tuesday. Dhoni appears set to retain his test captaincy role - if Fletcher saw his role reduced after the disastrous test to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, due to his no- Board and West Indies cricket as a whole we Despite having the WICB’s support in the he has the desire to continue - due to a sheer lack of segment of the tour with the Indian board moving nonsense attitude and possession of an uncanny express our gratitude to Ottis for his work,” midst of disputes with prominent players alternative options to take on the job after yet anoth- quickly to appoint Ravi Shastri as director of cricket, Midas touch. WICB chief executive officer Michael like , er calamitous overseas tour. India’s propensity for for- there was barely a murmur on Dhoni’s fate. As captain, the 33-year-old took India to the num- Muirhead said in a statement. The WICB and early in his tenure eign failures was exposed in 2011 when the side lost In the 20 test matches Dhoni has led India outside ber one test ranking, added the 50-over title to his thanked Gibson for his “unwavering com- as head coach, the Barbadian seems to have eight consecutive tests with back-to-back 4-0 thrash- the country since their 2011 50-over World Cup tri- resume in 2011, after a gap of 28 years, and also won ings in England and Australia. umph on home soil, the team has emerged victorious the Champions Trophy in England to forge a perma- mitment and professionalism” in his role as fallen out of favor in the aftermath of series If fans in the world’s second-most populous on just two occasions while the defeats column has nent place in Indian cricket folklore. head coach, a position he occupied for four losses to India and New Zealand (home and nation, where cricket is treated like a religion, moved rapidly on to an embarrassing 13. It was not His records probably never allowed administra- years and for which he had signed a con- away). thought that period was the lowest point possible, always doom and gloom for the hard-hitting - tors to look beyond him as the team’s figurehead or tract extension only last year that would With the World Cup in Australia and New they were in for a rude awakening when India landed keeper-batsman from the eastern Indian state of put in place a succession plan as Dhoni continues to have taken him to 2016. Zealand now less than six months away, the in England for a recent five-test series. Dhoni’s garden Jharkhand, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity lead India in tests, ODIs and the shortest Twenty20 Confirmation that the former fast-medi- WICB faces the challenge of filling the void appeared very rosy indeed when his unfancied side after his one-day international debut in 2004 and first format. When a much-criticised Dhoni was able to um bowler will not be involved in the series full-time in the hope that the squad can claimed their first overseas win in three years with a test cap a year later. As a rookie captain of India’s keep his job after the 2011 humblings in England against Bangladesh came less than 12 hours come together in time to be a force to reck- comprehensive second test victory at Lord’s but the Twenty20 side in 2007, he guided his men to victory and Australia, the general consensus is that it will be before the opening one-day international on with at that tournament while also seek- joy and relief proved to be nothing more than a deco- in the inaugural World Cup in South Africa and was up to the player himself to decide when he steps of the three-match contest at the Queen’s ing to be competitive in what are expected rative flower. handed the reins of the test team later that year after down or hand the reins over to someone else. Park Stadium in Grenada yesterday. The to be difficult assignments in India and They capitulated meekly against a resurgent Rahul Dravid stepped down. Making matters even worse is the fact that following teams will also play a lone T20 International South Africa following the matches against England in the next three matches, the final nail ham- the retirement of several senior cricketers in the past followed by two Tests. The highlight of Bangladesh. — AFP mered into their coffin at The Oval when they lost by Midas touch few years, India do not have a single viable option an innings and 244 runs and in less than three days to His dashing performances made him a poster boy able to step in and replace Dhoni. —Reuters