www.pgcitizen.ca | Monday, April 20, 2009 11 sports

Legal gap VANOC gets a D- too large Olympic 2010 committee given dismal grade by watchdog The Canadian Press ner-City Inclusive Commitment pears to be an over-emphasis on to leap? Statement. public relations and marketing re- Love-Love VANCOUVER — An Olympic The Olympic committee signed lated to a socially inclusive 2010 Women ski jumpers (AP) — The score is love in ten- watchdog has awarded a grade to the statement during the bid Olympic Games, rather than a sub- nis these days: Now American Vancouver’s 2010 organizing com- process, along with governments stantive effort to address the con- have long way to go Andy Roddick is married, too, a mittee and it’s far from gold, silver and social agencies, to ensure that cerns of civil society organizations. to reach Olympics week after Swiss tar Roger Feder- or even bronze. Vancouver’s inner-city residents, In a report released Sunday, the er tied the knot. The Impact on Communities the environment and all British organization says opportunities for The Canadian Press Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open Coalition has given VANOC and its Columbians benefited from the input have been insufficient for a champion, and Sports Illustrated partners a D-minus after review- Games. publicly subsidized hallmark VANCOUVER — Female ski swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker ing its progress in meeting the In- But the coalition says there ap- event. jumpers suing for a chance to became husband and wife at his compete at the 2010 Games may Austin, Texas, home, a guest at have a solid moral argument, but the wedding told The Associated a legal one will be much tougher Press on Saturday. to prove, Olympic and legal ex- Elton John sang for the bride perts say. and groom at a reception held at a The case between fifteen former country club after the ceremony and current ski jumpers and the Four-by-Fouring Olympic organizing committee, Friday night, the guest said, speaking on condition of known as VANOC, begins on Mon- anonymity because it was a pri- day in B.C. Supreme Court. vate function not open to the me- Jays take fourth series, beat A’s 1-0 The women argue the fact that dia. men are allowed to compete in ski The Canadian Press People.com first reported about jumping and they aren’t violates the wedding. TORONTO — The Toronto Blue the Charter of Rights and Free- The 26-year-old Roddick an- Jays offence deserves most of the doms. nounced his engagement to the credit for the team’s impressive While on that basis it may seem 22-year-old model in March start to the new season, but over like a clear-cut case of discrimina- 2008. the weekend their tion, the women must prove that Among those attending the showed a capability to carry the VANOC is subject to the Charter, wedding were tennis great Billie load sometimes, too. which requires proving the com- Jean King, Roddick’s Davis Cup Rookie Ricky Romero delivered mittee is controlled by the govern- teammates James Blake and a third straight impressive outing ment. Mardy Fish and U.S. Davis Cup with seven shutout innings while Or, they must argue that putting captain Patrick McEnroe. Lyle Overbay’s RBI single in the on the Olympics is carrying out a Roddick finished 2003 ranked second stood as the difference in government function and thus it No. 1. He is currently No. 6. a 1-0 victory Sunday afternoon should be subject to the Charter. Federer, who owns 13 Grand over the . “They are tough arguments to Slam singles titles, married long- Scott Downs pitched a scoreless make,” said Margot Young, associ- time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec eighth and B.J. Ryan nailed ate professor of the University of last weekend in a small ceremony things down in the ninth for his British Columbia’s school of law. in his hometown of Basel, “It really depends on how skil- second save as the Blue Jays (10- Oakland Athletics second baseman Mark Ellis, right, is tagged out at Switzerland. 4) took two-of-three from the fully the argument is presented home plate by catcher Raul Chavez, left. and who sits on the bench.” Glum in victory Athletics (5-7) to match their CP photo LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pardon best start since 2001. Like several of his teammates, Romero and Halladay are tied Phil Jackson’s lack of enthusiasm It’s also the first time in fran- he’s been far better than expect- for the team lead with 21 innings for how the Los Angeles Lakers chise history they’ve ever won ed. apiece. played in the second half. They four straight series of three “Deep, deep inside me I knew “He’s certainly pitching like a Double-up piled up 62 points on Utah in the games or more to start a season, what I could do this whole time,” No. 2 starter,” said Gaston. “It’s first half, then got outscored over a streak they’ll try to extend Romero said. good to see. If we can get Jesse Canadian helps the final 24 minutes. when the Texas Rangers visit for “This ain’t no surprise to me back, it should be good.” “It wasn’t a coach’s delight, three starting Tuesday. and I know there’s going to be The Athletics only really threat- take doubles title that’s for sure,” he said. “Surprised? No, not surprised. bumps along the road, but I feel ened against him once, and But his players sure liked the Happy? Very,” manager Cito Gas- at this point it’s all about getting Romero can thank his defence for in Monte Carlo outcome, a 113-100 victory over ton said of his team’s play. “We’ve better.” keeping it a 1-0 game. the Jazz in the teams’ playoff done things right, we’ve caught MONTE CARLO (CP) — It did- Romero allowed just four hits Mark Ellis started the third n’t take Toronto’s Daniel Nestor opener Sunday. some breaks here and there, the and two walks while striking out with a single and an out later, guys have pitched well and the and Serbian partner Nenad Zi- Cups runneth over six before a crowd of 22,164. Ryan Sweeney ripped a double to monjic long to add the Monte Car- WINNIPEG (CP) — Playoff guys have hit well.” His key stat of the day, howev- right-centre. lo Masters men’s doubles title to fever has struck twice in the Romero (2-0), the sixth overall er, was the seven innings he Ellis, who paused briefly as he their resume Sunday. Lowry household. pick in the 2005 draft only now pitched, helping rest a bullpen approached second, was sent The second seeds swept past While first-year Calgary Hitmen starting to pay dividends, is em- that threw 6 2-3 scoreless innings home as Vernon Wells relayed top-seeded Americans Bob and head coach Dave Lowry has his blematic of all that’s gone right in Saturday’s 4-2, 12-inning win. the ball to Aaron Hill, who fired Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-1 in a match team in the Western Hockey so far for the Blue Jays. The 25-year-old lefty went home to catcher Raul Chavez to that lasted just 47 minutes. League’s Eastern Conference Coming into the spring down eight innings in his last start, a nail the runner. “Everything clicked today at a championship, his son Joel is the depth chart, the 25-year-old no-decision Tuesday in Minneso- “We take pride in that,” said place where I’ve never done well,” competing in the Telus Cup na- lefty put his game together after ta, and is showing the potential Hill. Nestor said. “I don’t know what tional triple-A midget hockey a terrible first few outings in to be the innings-eater the Blue “Vernon did a great job, he was wrong with the Bryans today, championship April 20-26 with camp, won a spot in the rotation Jays rotation desperately needs knows where I’m going to be, he but they were not their usual the Calgary Buffaloes. and carried that success into the behind ace , espe- just gets the ball, turns around selves.” “It’s been pretty exciting,” Joel, season. cially with Jesse Litsch on the DL. and fires it.” 17, said before heading to Selkirk, Man., for the tournament’s start today. “Both of our teams have been doing pretty well so it’s good to see.” Beckett suspension The Buffaloes are making their third Cup appearance in four reduced to five years. They lost the bronze-medal The Associated Press game last year and won silver in 2006. BOSTON — ’s suspension was reduced Dave was the Hitmen’s assistant from six games to five Sunday, allowing the Boston head coach last season and was Red Sox ace to take his next turn in the rotation. able to watch Joel play a couple Beckett threw a pitch near the head of the Los An- games after the Hitmen lost four geles Angels’ Bobby Abreu last Sunday, leading to straight to Lethbridge in the con- both dugouts and bullpens emptying. The right-han- ference final. der was suspended Tuesday and immediately ap- This time around the Hitmen pealed the ruling. are playing the Brandon Wheat With the Red Sox off Thursday, the new penalty al- Kings and he just might be able to lows Beckett to switch spots with Jon Lester and start take in one of Joel’s games. Saturday. Lester is now scheduled to start the series Games 3 and 4 of the Hitmen's opener against the on Friday. best-of-seven series are Tuesday “We didn’t actually have a hearing because every- and Wednesday in Brandon, body has to answer to somebody, and my boss told about a two-and-a-half-hour drive me that this was the best thing for the ballclub,” from the Cup site in Selkirk. Beckett said. “If it was up to me, obviously we would Swede star to retire have went through with this whole thing because I STOCKHOLM — Alpine skiing don’t think I deserve even one game. star Anja Paerson says she will re- “When your boss tells you that something is best tire from the sport in 2010. for the whole group then that’s what we do.” “That’s my goal - to quit next Red Sox manager Terry Francona agreed the slight year,” the 27-year-old Swede said reduction was good for the entire staff. in a TV interview Sunday with “Once it came to the point that they came to the Swedish network TV4. five, over the phone, it seemed like the best thing to Paerson is one of the greatest do for the ballclub, and that’s what Beckett agreed female alpine skiers. She won two to,” he said. “I don’t think he ever remotely felt like he World Cup overall titles, seven ever did anything on purpose. world championship gold medals and one Olympic gold, in slalom at the 2006 Turin Games. During her 11 years on the World Cup circuit the versatile Fall sends skaters Paerson won 40 races and is one of only four female racers to win to hospital in all five disciplines. She is the The Canadian Press only female skier to win gold at the worlds in all disciplines. TOKYO — Canada’s Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison Canada in were taken to hospital Sunday following a nasty spill All kinds of products • All kinds of paper JOHANNESBURG — Canada during their pairs performance at the World Team Tro- has punched its ticket to the 2011 phy figure skating event. Cricket World Cup. Dube, from Drummondville, Que., and Davison, from The Canadians suffered a six- Cambridge, Ont., fell during a twist lift in the exhibition wicket loss to Netherlands at the gala. The two skaters went to hospital as a precaution, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier but were released, returning to the team hotel where a on Friday. But based on having a Skate Canada official said they were resting comfort- superior net run rate, Canada fin- ably. Dube and Davison finished third in the pairs at the ished the Super Eight comfortably inaugural event, while the Canadian team finished sec- ahead of the Dutch and Kenya. ond overall behind the U.S. 00657632