SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2013 SPORTS

Vonn delays return Lee cruises to final Italy, US bids for 2024 NEW YORK: Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn has withdrawn from this week’s World Cup race in the United States after hurting her knee in a training crash. But Vonn HONG KONG: World number one of ROME: New IOC President Thomas Bach is pleased with the Italian govern- said she was making a quick recovery and was hoping to compete at the next race in ment’s support for a possible 2024 Olympics bid, and says it’s “time for the Canada the following week. “It has been a very difficult few days and your positive mes- crushed eighth-seeded of to reach United States to present a strong bid” too. In Rome for Olympic meetings sages have helped tremendously,” she wrote on her Facebook the Hong Kong Open final yesterday, leaving him set to face page. “Rehab is going well and I am working as hard as I three-times Asian champion . The 31-year-old and to see Pope Francis, Bach also visited can to race in Lake Louise in a few weeks.” Vonn’s ortho- beat the -born player 21-12, 21-7 in 34 minutes in their Italian Premier Enrico Letta. Bach said pedic surgeon Bill Sterett also expressed confidence semi-final at the Hong Kong Coliseum. The world’s number one, that Letta “has realized that the she would be back in action soon. “Lindsey is recov- who has yet to lose a game, will today play ’s Kuncoro games can serve as a catalyst for ering very quickly from abrasions to her face and in a replay of January’s Malaysia Open, in which Lee prevailed. development.” While Rome has not contusions to her shoulder blade,” Sterett said in a Kuncoro eliminated compatriot in the other yet been selected, the capital is statement released by Vonn’s publicist. “Beyond semi-final in which the fifth-seed retired in the second game. In Italy’s likely candidate. Other that, she has a stable knee with an MRI finding of the women’s draw, and are leading for potential 2024 bids could come a partial tear of her ACL graft. With therapy, she is an all-Chinese singles finals, overcoming an upset Friday when from Paris; Doha, Qatar; and cities in progressing well while not losing any of the the United States and Africa. Bach strength she worked so hard to achieve.” Vonn’s top seed and defending champion Li Xuerui was knocked out by publicist Lewis Kay said the 29-year-old Thailand’s . Third-seed Yihan beat the says, “I think it’s time for the United American, who was due to make her first unseeded Buranaprasertsuk 17-21, 21-15, 21-13 in an hour-long States to present a strong bid, and I’m competitive appearance next weekend, game, preventing the Thai from ruling out the second Chinese happy to hear that the USOC is under- had put her comeback on hold, for at seed in the tournament. — AFP taking everything to prepare least another week. — Reuters such a bid.” — AP

Umpire suspended No 22 UCLA beat pesky for derogatory statement Morehead State 81-70 ASHBURN: An NFL game official was suspended Friday for one game without pay for making “a profane and derogatory statement” to a LOS ANGELES: scored a career-high 30 points, 73-67 victory over Long Beach State in the consolation bracket win. Napier, the tournament MVP, was 10 of 14 from the field, Washington Redskins player, an incident that has Kyle Anderson had a triple-double and No 22 UCLA pulled of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Rob Brandenberg scored 19 points including 4 of 6 from 3- range. He was the only double- away from pesky Morehead State in the second half to win 81- and helped ignite a rally that proved to be too much for a figure scorer for the Huskies, but he struggled from the free led to a call for NFL players to stop using the N- 70 on Friday night. Anderson finished with 13 points, 12 49ers team that lost its fifth straight game. The Rams (4-1) throw line (3 of 7) and had seven turnovers. Still, every big play word on the field and in the locker room. The rebounds and 11 assists for the school’s first triple-double trailed by eight early in the second half before reeling off that down the stretch was his. league announced Friday that umpire Roy Ellison since Toby Bailey had one in 1995, when UCLA won the last of 13-0 run to take back control. “I was just trying to stay aggres- will not work an NFL game this weekend as pun- its record 11 national championships. Freshman Zach LaVine sive and just try and help my team any way I can,” No 19 New Mexico ishment for words directed at left tackle Trent added 12 points for the Bruins (4-0) in a regional game of the Brandenberg said of the spurt. “I realize that we had to play falls 81-65 to UMass Williams late in the second quarter of the Las Vegas Invitational. They play Chattanooga on Sunday with some urgency at that time. It worked out.” The victory CHARLESTON: Chaz Williams scored 19 points, Raphiael Redskins’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles today. before heading to Sin City for their final two tournament earned the Rams a matchup Sunday with Georgetown, the Putney had 18 and Cady Lalanne added 16 points and 14 The National Football League Referees games over Thanksgiving weekend. Chad Posthumus had a team it beat in the second round of the 2011 NCAA tourna- rebounds as Massachusetts ran past tired No 19 New Mexico Association issued a statement Friday evening career-high 21 points and 18 rebounds for the Eagles (4-2) in ment to first land VCU’s program on the national stage. VCU 81-65 on Friday to reach the Charleston Classic championship. saying that it will file a grievance, that the sus- their first meeting with UCLA. Brent Arrington added 17 had four players in double figures, including Juvonte Reddic The Minutemen improved to 5-0 for the second time in four pension was a rush to judgment without hearing points, including five 3-pointers. Both teams grabbed 36 with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Briante Weber with 15 years and will play either Clemson or Davidson on Sunday rebounds, but Morehead State shot just 37 percent and had points. Rams coach Shaka Smart called it a “hard-fought win.” night for the tournament title. New Mexico was playing a day Ellison’s side of the story. 13 turnovers. The Bruins, who led by 17 points in the first half, after a double overtime victory against UAB and wore down as Williams said he was called vulgar names - missed their first three shots and had a turnover to start the Unbeaten No 18 Purdue the game went on. The Lobos (3-1) tied the game at 61 on although not the N-word - by Ellison and did second half. Posthumus continued on his shooting tear that defeat Belmont 76-46 Alex Kirk’s short jumper with 7:56 remaining. That’s when nothing to provoke it. A replay from the second began with 7 minutes left in the first half, when the Eagles WEST LAFAYETTE: Ashley Morrissette scored 12 points Massachusetts took control with a 14-0 run that put it ahead quarter shows Ellison gesturing at Williams while faced that 17-point deficit. He scored 10 of Morehead State’s and April Wilson scored 11 and had three steals as No 18 75-61. Kirk finished with a career-best 32 points for New walking backward just before a snap, with first 16 points during a stretch in which they closed to three Purdue defeated Belmont 76-46 on Friday night. The Mexico. The Lobos missed their final eight shots after tying the Williams, quarterback Robert Griffin III and tight points four times. Boilermakers (4-0) forced 20 Belmont (2-4) turnovers and game and managed just four foul shots down the stretch. New end Niles Paul turning to look back at the harassed the Bruins into shooting only 25 percent. Wilson Mexico will take on the Clemson-Davidson loser in the third- umpire. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was Payne, Michigan St opened with a 3-pointer 15 seconds into the game and the place game today. Kirk worked hard to top his previous best of among those who supported Williams, saying: beat Virginia Tech Boilermakers never trailed, shooting 43.9 percent from the 31 set against Cal State-Bakersfield in January 2011, going 11 “You just can’t use that type of language to get NEW YORK: Adreian Payne had a career-high 29 points floor. Morrissette scored five points on a layup and 3-pointer of 26 from the floor as he was swarmed by Minutemen when- and 10 rebounds, Keith Appling had 13 points and seven back to back to push Purdue’s lead to 10, 22-12 midway ever he got the ball. Kirk also finished with 11 rebounds. your point across.” assists, and top-ranked Michigan State beat Virginia Tech 96- through the first half and it steadily grew from there. Meredith But John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz 77 on Friday night in the semifinals of the Coaches vs Cancer Roman led Belmont with 14 points, hitting 3 of 6 from behind No 1 UConn women stun Pollard Alliance, said his organization spoke to Classic. Gary Harris scored 19 despite shooting just 2 for 12 on the arc. Jordyn Luffman added 10 points and 14 rebounds. Boston University 96-38 game officials who said that Ellison was respond- 3-pointers and Branden Dawson had 12 points and 10 When Purdue and Belmont last met, Nov 9, 2006, it was STORRS: Injuries have left top-ranked Connecticut with ing after Williams directed the N-word at Ellison. rebounds for the Spartans. Michigan State (5-0) will play Sharon Versyp’s first game coaching the Boilermakers, and her just three frontcourt players for the next month or so. Both Williams and Ellison are African-American. Oklahoma in the final Saturday night. The Sooners rallied to first win, 67-43. Fortunately for the Huskies, they are three pretty good ones. The incident, coming in the wake of allegations beat Seton Hall 86-85 in the first semifinal. Hokies senior Jarrell Stefanie Dolson, Breanna Stewart and Kiah Stokes combined involving racially charged texts alleged sent by Eddie had 23 points - 17 in the first half. Adam Smith scored 27 No 18 Connecticut for 58 points on Friday as the Huskies routed Boston University Richie Incognito to a Miami Dolphins teammate, as Virginia Tech (3-2) fell to 4-8 all-time against teams ranked down Indiana 59-58 96-38 in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Challenge led the alliance to issue a statement imploring all No 1 in The Associated Press college poll. After NEW YORK: Shabazz Napier scored 27 points, including 11 tournament. Dolson followed up the first triple-double of her NFL players to stop using the racial slur. struggling against Columbia and Portland State in their two over the final 7 minutes, to lead No 18 Connecticut to a 59-58 career a 23-point, 10- performance against the “I think that we all understand clearly that in games since beating then- No 1 Kentucky, the Spartans victory over Indiana on Friday night in the championship Terriers. Stewart led the Huskies (6-0) with 25 points and appeared as if they put their early troubles behind them in game of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior added seven rebounds and six assists. And Stokes chipped in terms of supporting Roy, we’re not in any way jumping out to a quick five-point lead. But Eddie and the Project. Napier’s driving basket with 1:34 left to play turned with 10 points and eight rebounds. “We know that we have to condoning his reaction to what happened,” Hokies came back, even going up 28-27 with 7:09 left in the out to be the final points of the game. Indiana turned the ball step up, because there is only three of us,” said Stewart, who Wooten said. “There’s no question in our mind half on Adam Smith’s 3-pointer - Virginia Tech was 6 for 9 on 3s over twice and Yogi Ferrell missed a jumper in that span. also blocked four shots. “We know that we’re going to have to what provoked all of this, that there was a disre- for the half. Napier missed a 3-pointer and was called for an offensive foul play more minutes, but at the same time, we want the defens- spectful communication going on between in the hectic finish that had the crowd at Madison Square es to have to try their best to not let the ball get into the paint.” Trent and an Eagle player. They were using the No 10 VCU holds off Garden standing for the final 90 seconds. Indiana (5-1) had the UConn outscored the Terriers 52-8 in the paint. The Huskies N-word along with all other type of profanity, Long Beach St 73-67 last scoring chance. Ferrell missed a jumper with 10 seconds held BU to 27 percent shooting while hitting 56 percent of and the N word is what caused Roy to say, ‘Hey, SAN JUAN: A day after learning what it felt like to be hum- and the rebound rolled out of bounds in front of the Indiana their shots. UConn used a 34-3 run in the first half to take con- you need to be more respectful.’” bled, No 10 Virginia Commonwealth learned how to benefit bench off a Connecticut player. The clock showed .2 seconds trol of a game that was tied after the first 51/2 minutes. Wooten, 76, said Williams then directed the from the experience. After being virtually beaten at its own and after the officials watched the replay, they restored it to .7 Freshman Saniya Chong had 15 points, hitting four of her six profanity at Ellison. “There is no question in my fast-paced style in a loss to Florida State, the 10th-ranked seconds. Jeremy Hollowell inbounded the ball to Noah shots from 3-point range. Clodagh Scannell topped Boston Rams found a way to win with their late-game toughness in a Vonleh, but his jumper was late and the Huskies (6-0) had the University (1-4) with nine points. mind that Trent said this to Roy, and I don’t ques- tion that,” said Wooten, who noted that he has not spoken to Ellison directly. “And that’s what, with Incognito and all this stuff and the N-word and how it’s used in the locker room, that caused us to say, ‘Hey, let’s put an end to this.’” Wooten, who played nine season in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Redskins, said Ellison should have thrown a flag on Williams instead of escalating the exchange. Michael Arnold, NFLRA legal counsel, said Ellison is an accomplished 11-year veteran who is highly respected. “The NFL imposed its judg- ment upon him without consideration of all the facts,” Arnold said. “The decision was arbitrary and unjustified and will be challenged with an immediate grievance.” Jim Quirk, NFLRA execu- tive director, said the “NFL’s decision to suspend Ellison creates a double standard for what is acceptable on field conduct.” “The League insists that officials are held to a ‘high standard’ but oth- ers involved in the game are held to no stan- dard,” Quick added. “Apparently the NFL accepts and condones a culture where players, coaches and teams can use racial slurs and profanity toward each other and at officials. “Music played in locker rooms and in the stadiums before games include racial slurs (including the “N” word) and references to sexual violence with impunity. These types of cheap slurs and racial banter on the field often lead to angry and emotional responses which can result in fighting and injury. This is complete- ly contrary to the atmosphere of sportsmanship and respect the league says should exist in the game.” Williams, 25, said on Wednesday he didn’t expect the league to punish Ellison, saying the NFL would “probably sweep it under the rug.” He also reiterated that he did not say anything provocative to Ellison. “If I said something of that nature to him, it’s at least a flag, or I’m thrown out of the game,” Williams said. “I’d never say any- thing like that to a referee.” Said Wooten: “I know that Trent has said he didn’t say that. If that’s what he wants to live with, he can live with LOS ANGELES: Bryce Alford #20 and Kyle Anderson #5 of the UCLA Bruins celebrate after NEW YORK: Adreian Payne #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks against Devin Wilson that.”— AP an Alford three point basket in the first half against the Morehead State Eagles at Pauley #11 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during their game at the Barclays Center. — AFP Pavilion in Los Angeles. — AFP