TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 SPORTS

Strootman out of World Cup Groves-Froch re-match Ogier wins Mexico Rally NETHERLANDS: Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman will miss the World Cup LONDON: George Groves is demanding non-British officials for his MEXICO: World rally champion Sebastien Ogier took the lead in the overall stand- in Brazil in June after tearing cartilage in his left knee. world title re-match with Carl Froch at London’s Wembley Stadium on ings on Sunday after winning the Rally of Mexico ahead of Volkswagen team mate “I can just imagine how disappointed he must be,” coach Louis van Gaal May 31. Jari-Matti Latvala. told Dutch media after Strootman was injured in AS Roma’s 1-0 defeat at The two Britons collide for Froch’s World Boxing Association (WBA) The victory, by a comfortable one minute 12.6 seconds, was the Frenchman’s Napoli in Serie A on Sunday. “Kevin was in good form. “For the national side and International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-middleweight titles second of the season and the team’s first one-two of 2014. after their first encounter in November ended controversially. Groves, it is a huge blow. Kevin made a huge contribution to our qualification for Belgian Thierry Neuville was a distant third for 25, felt referee Howard Foster stopped the fight prematurely in the the World Cup, he never let us down and now his Hyundai’s first podium finish. Neuville had to stop ninth round after he had floored Froch, 36, in the opening round. That dreams have died.” twice on the final road section to the formal fin- Strootman will be sidelined for at least six led Groves to appeal to the IBF to sanction a re-match, which it did, and now the Londoner does not want the domestic British Boxing ish in Leon to top up a leaking radiator with months, according to Dutch media. He tried to Board of Control to appoint the referee. cans of the race sponsor’s beer provided by play on after sustaining the injury but was even- “The British Boxing Board of Control failed me in the first fight,” bystanders. Britain’s Elfyn Evans finished a tually carried off on a stretcher. Groves told a Wembley news conference held jointly with Froch yes- career best fourth in a Ford while Polish team The midfielder was also taken off before half- terday. “Froch was gifted the decision by Howard Foster. We wanted mate Robert Kubica, the former Formula One time in Wednesday’s 2-0 friendly international neutral officials. He awarded it in Carl Froch’s favor and it cost me the driver, retired after rolling his car twice in two defeat by France in Paris after hurting his right fight.” Promoter Eddie Hearn agreed with Groves that a non-British ref- days. Ogier, who has now won 18 world cham- knee. eree should be the man in the middle. “I feel that officials for this fight, pionship rallies, leads Latvala by just three Last year Van Gaal said Strootman, captain Robin of this magnitude, should be neutral and outside of British jurisdic- points after three rounds of the championship. van Persie and winger Arjen Robben were three tion,” Hearn said. “This is too big to leave any controversy.” But Froch, a “It was the perfect week, a victory in the rally and players guaranteed a place in his World Cup three-time world champion at super-middleweight from Nottingham, the Power Stage,” said Ogier. “I came here very angry squad. The Dutch have been drawn in Group central England, said Groves’ comments betrayed a lack of respect for after a small mistake in Sweden and that’s the best way B with champions Spain, Australia and both Foster and British Boxing Board of Control. “Howard Foster is a to restart my winning ways in the championship.” The Chile at the finals. — Reuters credit to the Board and I’m not happy about it,” Froch said. —AFP next round is in Portugal on April 3-6. — Reuters Pistorius vomits in court at Steenkamp autopsy details

PRETORIA: Track star Oscar Pistorius, on was hit in the head, arm and hip by trial for the murder of his girlfriend three shots fired through the locked Reeva Steenkamp, wept and vomited door of a toilet cubicle. A fourth round into a bucket in a South African court- fired by Pistorius missed. room yesterday after hearing graphic Saayman also disclosed Pistorius was details from her autopsy. using ‘hollow-point’ rounds, ammuni- Pathologist Gert Saayman was inter- tion designed to disintegrate on impact rupted several times by the 27-year-old with tissue to cause maximum damage. Paralympic and Olympic athlete’s sob- Her right upper arm was shattered, bing and retching but the defence team the hip wound could well have been argued against an adjournment, saying fatal, while that to her head would have a break would not improve his state of incapacitated her immediately, he mind. added. No blood was found in her air- Earlier, Judge Thokozile Masipa ways, suggesting she breathed only a imposed a broadcast blackout on few times before dying. Saayman’s testimony out of respect for In between bouts of sobbing and Steenkamp’s family and to prevent chil- retching, Pistorius sat with his head dren from accidentally hearing its con- bowed, covering his ears with his hands tents. and a white handkerchief in an attempt “Broadcast would compromise the to block out Saayman’s testimony. privacy of the deceased, hurt the inter- Saayman is the first expert to testify ests of the Steenkamps and be against at the trial, which has so far heard sever- the morals of society,” Saayam said al witnesses who reported hearing a when he took the stand to ask for a tem- woman screaming before a volley of porary broadcast blackout of a trial that shots in the early hours of Feb. 14 - has so far been shown in its entirety on Valentine’s Day — at Pistorius’ home. live television. The killing stunned South Africa and EDMONTON: Justin Schultz No. 19 of the Edmonton Oilers fights for the puck against Marian Gaborik No. 12 of the Los Angeles Kings during an Masipa, who has been presiding over the millions of Pistorius supporters NHL game. — AFP the week-long trial, extended the ban to around the world who admired the ath- live reporting on Twitter. Pistorius, nick- lete as a symbol of triumph over physi- named “Blade Runner” for the special cal adversity. Rangers clip Red Wings prosthetics he wears in competition, He had his disabled lower legs ampu- admits he shot 29-year-old Steenkamp, tated as a baby but - running on carbon a model and law graduate, but argues fibre prosthetic “blades” - made it to the NEW YORK: Henrik Lundqvist earned his 300th By improving to 3-3 since the end of the BLUES 3, WILD 2 that it was a tragic case of mistaken semi-final of the 400 metres at the NHL victory and 49th career shutout in the New Olympic break, Chicago (38-13-14) avoided its TJ Oshie and Alexander Steen scored identity and that he thought she was an London 2012 Olympics competing York Rangers’ 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red longest road losing streak since a six-game shootout goals and the St. Louis Blues took intruder who had broken in to his luxury against able-bodied sprinters. If found Wings on Sunday. drought from Feb. 2-14, 2012. Drew Stafford over the top spot in the NHL standings with a Pretoria home. In his testimony, guilty of murder, he faces at least 25 Lundqvist made 30 saves in shutting out the scored for the league-worst Sabres (19-37-8), win over the Minnesota Wild. Saayman confirmed that Steenkamp years behind bars. — Reuters Red Wings for the second time this season, as who had a three-game home winning streak In his first shootout since his memorable New York completed a three-game season-series snapped. Olympic performance against Russia, Oshie sweep of its Original Six rival. The Swedish goalie beat Ilya Bryzgalov through the five-hole in is one win shy of tying Mike Richter’s franchise KINGS 4, OILERS 2 the first round. Jeff Carter had two goals and an assist as the record of 301. He caught Rangers great Ed Steen sealed the win in the following Giacomin for the club mark in shutouts. Los Angeles Kings won their seventh straight round after the Blues’ Brian Elliott turned Lundqvist was serenaded by the crowd with with a victory over the Edmonton Oilers. away Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu. chants of “Hen-rik, Hen-rik” in the game’s final Alec Martinez and Trevor Lewis also scored for minute. Brian Boyle scored in the first period and the Kings, who have their longest winning streak The Wild fell behind 2-0 early, but tied it Chris Kreider had two third-period goals for the since taking nine in a row from Jan. 21-Feb. 6, with second-period goals from Jason Rangers, who won their second straight after an 2010.Taylor Hall and Sam Gagner responded for Pominville and Matt Moulson. Oshie and Carlo 0-2-1 skid and moved into second place in the the Oilers, who had a two-game winning streak Colaiacovo scored on the second and third Metropolitan Division - one point ahead of snapped and were outshot 50-27. shots of the game for St. Louis. — AP Philadelphia.

BRUINS 5, PANTHERS 2 NHL results/standings Torey Krug scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and the Boston Bruins won their season-high fifth straight with a victory over the NY Rangers 3, Detroit 0; Boston 5, Florida 2; Chicago 2, Buffalo 1; St. Louis 3, Minnesota 2 (SO); Los Florida Panthers. Angeles 4, Edmonton 2. Chad Johnson made 20 saves, and Chris Kelly, Western Conference Eastern Conference Jarome Iginla, Patrice Bergeron and Andrej Pacific Division Atlantic Division Meszaros also scored for Boston. The Bruins are W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 42 17 5 204 143 89 7-0-3 during a 10-game stretch on the road, their Montreal 35 24 7 166 166 77 Anaheim 43 14 7 207 157 93 Toronto 34 23 8 193 198 76 longest such point streak since 2010-11. San Jose 41 17 7 199 157 89 Tampa Bay 34 24 6 183 167 74 The Bruins have taken 14 of 16 from the Los Angeles 37 22 6 159 137 80 Detroit 29 22 13 171 179 71 Panthers, including eight straight by a combined Phoenix 29 24 11 177 185 69 Ottawa 28 25 11 182 209 67 33-10 score. Jimmy Hayes scored both goals for Florida 24 33 7 156 206 55 Florida, and Roberto Luongo stopped 37 shots. Vancouver 29 27 10 153 174 68 Buffalo 19 37 8 128 188 46 Calgary 25 32 7 150 191 57 Metropolitan Division BLACKHAWKS 2, SABRES 1 Edmonton 22 35 8 162 212 52 Pittsburgh 42 17 4 201 157 88 Jonathan Toews scored the go-ahead goal Central Division NY Rangers 35 26 4 171 162 74 Philadelphia 33 24 7 183 188 73 1:34 into the third period, and the Chicago St. Louis 44 14 6 211 145 94 Columbus 33 26 5 186 178 71 Blackhawks snapped a two-game road skid with Chicago 38 13 14 223 172 90 Washington 30 25 10 191 197 70 a win over the Buffalo Sabres. Colorado 41 18 5 196 170 87 New Jersey 28 24 13 161 167 69 Patrick Kane celebrated his trip home to Minnesota 34 22 8 158 157 76 Carolina 27 28 9 160 184 63 Buffalo by also scoring in helping the NY Islanders 24 33 9 181 224 57 Dallas 31 23 10 185 179 72 PRETORIA: Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius (left) cries as he chats Blackhawks beat the Sabres for a fifth consecu- Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point to his lawyer, Barry Roux during a hearing on the sixth day of his trial for the 2013 tive time. Cory Crawford made 20 saves in mak- Winnipeg 30 28 7 180 189 67 in the standings and are not included in the loss murder of his girlfriend. — AFP ing his 12 straight start. Nashville 26 28 10 152 191 62 column (L). Nome prepares for Iditarod mushers

NOME: As Jeff King attempts to hold off other mushers drug test the dogs. “I enjoy the people. It’s like family to Nome, 171 miles west of Koyuk. She is seeking to of Brandon, Miss. She attended the start of the race last in the last stages of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the now.” Scott Hughes was helping hammer in the final become only the third woman to win the race, and the year in Anchorage, fell in love with the event and decid- town famous for the finish line is getting ready for the nails at the finish line Sunday afternoon. The University first woman to win since the late Susan Butcher in 1990. ed she needed to see the finish in person, too. teams to come in. of Pittsburgh student made his first trip to the Iditarod Other front-runners Sunday were four-time champi- She said she remembers as a child reading about the The finish line banner was set to be hung late yester- and the nation’s northernmost state as part of a church on Martin Buser, who arrived in Koyuk in third place at 1925 serum rum by sled dog teams to deliver diphtheria day on Front Street in Nome with help from the local group doing mission work. 4:20 p.m. Sunday, followed 13 minutes later by 2012 serum to Nome after an outbreak. electric utility. On Sunday, city crews moved the actual “It’s amazing,” Hughes said of his visit to Nome. King, Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey. Veteran musher “Nome was this mystical destination, and it never finish line, the burled arch, into place, and public works a four-time champion, was leading Aliy Zirkle by 20 Sonny Lindner arrived in fifth place at 4:47 p.m., fol- occurred to me that I would get there some day. So, for employees trucked in snow to give the mushers a path minutes as the two arrived at the Elim checkpoint short- lowed by defending champion Mitch Seavey, father of me to be here is a real event in my life,” she said. And once they leave the Bering Sea ice. ly before midnight Sunday. Dallas Seavey, at 5:23 p.m. she loves the dogs. “Yeah, I know, it’s funny to see people dumping snow Zirkle, a 44-year-old musher from Two Rivers, Alaska, Veteran Aaron Burmeister had been sixth out of “Any dogs that can laugh when they run, with their on a street instead of taking it off the street,” said Greg led hours before when she arrived at the Norton Bay vil- Shaktoolik but arrived in Koyuk at 5:58 p.m., after Mitch tongues hanging out, they got my heart right now,” said Bill, the Iditarod’s development director. “To really dress lage of Koyuk one minute ahead of King on Sunday Seavey. The racers, who have two more checkpoints Cross, who just learned about the volunteer programs it up and make it safe for the dog teams, we have to afternoon. after Elim and before Nome, are expected to begin and already is making plans to be back in Nome next spread a layer of snow down for them to run on.” King rested his 12-dog team at the checkpoint for arriving in Nome today. year. The race began March 2 in Willow with 69 teams. About 200 volunteers also have descended on Nome three hours and 42 minutes, while Zirkle and her 11 Temperatures in Nome hovered slightly above zero As of late Sunday morning, 16 mushers had scratched, to make other last-minute preparations, including get- dogs took a break for three hours and 44 minutes. King Sunday, which brought clear skies and brilliant sun- leaving 53 teams on the trail, which was marked by long ting the dog lot ready to receive teams, constructing departed Koyuk at 5:50 p.m. and arrived in Elim at 11:27 shine. Snowfall has been light this winter in the frontier stretches of bare and rocky ground that made for an icy, the finish chute and prepping the souvenir stand. Bill p.m., while Zirkle got back on the trail at 5:51 p.m. and town of nearly 3,700, so the city has been stockpiling treacherous trail in the early part of the race. McCormick of Greensboro, N.C., volunteered for his first made it into Elim at 11:47 p.m., race officials said. snow, which was being trucked to Front Street for the The first to reach Nome receives $50,000 and a new Iditarod in 1998 and has been back every year since. King last won in 2006 and is trying to be only the sec- final stretch to the finish line. truck. The 29 teams after that win cash prizes decreas- “I like being part of putting something on,” said the ond musher to win five races. Zirkle has come in second What little snow was on the ground, along with the ing on a sliding scale. All other teams finishing the race retired engineer whose job as a volunteer in Nome is to place in the last two years in the nearly 1,000-mile race cooler temperatures, were welcomed by fan Nina Cross receive $1,049. — AP