SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 America’s Cup champion Oracle docked 2 points

SAN FRANCISCO: After being hit with the harshest and we’ll do everything we can.” be missed. But Karl’s a great guy. We’ve got a few decision.” The jury had harsh words for de Ridder, say- penalties in the 162-year history of the America’s The match begins with two races Saturday and days to get organized and do what we can.” ing it was “comfortably satisfied” that the Dutch sailor Cup, Oracle Team USA skipper Jimmy Spithill defiant- two on Sunday on San Francisco Bay. Oracle Team At 24, Langford is the youngest sailor in the Cup. “gave the instruction to add the weight, knew the ly declared the defending champion to now be an USA, owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison of He has been sailing on the backup boat skippered by weight had been added, knew it was a breach of the underdog that “will come out fighting” against Oracle Corp., essentially starts the match at minus-2, Ben Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic his- AC45 class rule and “did not tell the truth in the hear- Emirates Team New Zealand starting Saturday. meaning it must win 11 races to retain the oldest tro- tory. Top members of the syndicate, including CEO ing in this regard.” Oracle Team USA was docked two points in the phy in international sports. Team New Zealand must Russell Coutts, Spithill and tactician John Kostecki, Although the infractions were from the America’s Cup match and key crewman Dirk de still win nine races to claim the trophy. were not implicated in the scandal. America’s Cup World Series, those races were con- Ridder was banned from the regatta by an interna- Two shore crew members also were expelled, Coutts, a New Zealander who has won the sidered to be held under the overall umbrella of the tional jury. The penalties were announced after near- grinder Matt Mitchell was barred from the first four America’s Cup four times, told The Associated Press it America’s Cup itself. Team New Zealand managing ly five weeks of investigation into Oracle Team USA’s races and the syndicate was fined $250,000. was an “outrageous decision” by the jury. director Grant Dalton and skipper Dean Barker had illegal modifications of prototype boats used in Kyle Langford, who will replace de Ridder, was “It sets an unbelievable precedent ongoing,” both accused Oracle Team USA of cheating. On warm-up regattas last year and earlier this year. given a warning, and another sailor, identified only as Coutts said. “You could think of lots of analogies. Tuesday, they had subdued reactions to the jury “I’m expecting the fight of my life,” Spithill, a 34- Sailor X, had his case dismissed. Spithill sailed with de Think of Olympic athletes on a team breaking the verdict. Dalton said the scandal has “slowly but year-old Australian, said after the verdict was handed Ridder for six years. rules and a whole team getting penalized. It’s com- surely drifted into a non-issue for us because in the down on Tuesday. “Not only for myself but for the “He’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever pletely outrageous.” Coutts said de Ridder “has been end we still have to win nine races. We think that guys sitting up here next to me. I don’t think we’ve known, never once had a question about any of his a fantastic team member and a fantastic sailor for the jury’s done a good job. They’ve been very thor- ever seen so much controversy and distraction ethics, honest, and one hell of a good guy to race many, many years. All the decisions are incredibly ough. “It’s not our problem, never was a problem, before the America’s Cup. We’re the clear underdog with,” Spithill said. “Very, very competitive, and he’ll harsh. I don’t think the evidence supported the jury’s and we just get on with it.” — AP Bolt to retire after Rio Olympics

BRUSSELS: Usain Bolt plans to retire midway between Olympics can hurt him. after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. In 2010, a soft entry into the year and Bolt said yesterday he wants to win more subsequent injury cost him almost a full gold in Rio, set another world record in season. the 200 meters next year, and perhaps “I kind of didn’t do much in the offsea- win a gold medal at the Commonwealth son and then got injured and had to start Games. from scratch. So this season, I will not “So far, (it) is after the Olympics in Rio,” make that mistake again,” Bolt said. Like Bolt said of his retirement plans. “I think if 2010, next season has no major champi- I am in great shape, I’ll go there and do onships, but Bolt is thinking of new goals what I have to do. I think it will be a good for 2014. time to retire on top.” He already owns the 100 and 200 Winning another three golds in world records and shares the 4x100 with Moscow last month made him the most his Jamaican teammates. He acknowl- decorated athlete in world champi- edges the 100 record of 9.58 seconds will onship history with eight gold and two be extremely tough to better, but he silvers. He has six gold medals from the hopes to improve on the 19.19 he ran in Olympics. the 200 in Berlin four years ago. “If I want to be among the greats of “I have learned, I have mastered the (Muhammad) Ali and Pele and all these art of running the turn,” Bolt said of the guys, I have to continue dominating until 200. “So if I can stay injury free and be in I retire,” Bolt said ahead of his final race good shape, then it is possible for me to this season in the 100 at Friday’s Van definitely go after the world record.” Damme Memorial. Bolt won the 100, 200 As a Jamaican, Bolt can compete in and 4x100 relay at the 2008 Beijing the Commonwealth Games, too, some- Olympics and at last year’s London thing he has yet to do. Next year, the Games. He won the same triple at the event will be held in Glasgow, Scotland. “I 2009 worlds before repeating that feat in have never been to Commonwealths and NEW ORLEANS: Saints wide receiver Kenny Stills (84) pulls in a touchdown pass in front of Oakland Raiders cornerback Tracy Porter (31) in the Moscow last month. At 27, Bolt has the so it is always good to add to your collec- first half of an NFL preseason football game. — AP experience to know that a lax season tion of gold medals,” Bolt said. — AP NFL making news in 2013 ahead of upcoming season

NEW YORK: The NFL never really shuts down. It received as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Those fast-paced offenses from Foxborough to kept rolling long after the lights came back on after “The NFL always provides an element of sur- Philly, Louisiana to Lambeau Field won’t have to a 37-minute delay at the Superdome in New prise, and that is a part of the intrigue that makes it deal with likely Hall of Famers Lewis and Brian Orleans and the Baltimore Ravens squeezed out a so popular,” Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Urlacher in the middle of the field. They retired, Super Bowl title in February. It’s rolling still, right Kevin Colbert said. “It’s hard to predict who can be along with NFL champions Matt Birk, Jeff Saturday into a new season that will kick off today when the the champions at this point, because it’s a great and Donald Driver. Replacing veterans everywhere Ravens visit Peyton Manning and the Denver unknown that changes as the year goes on. It’s not are lots of rookies - a good crop but nowhere near Broncos and end with (shiver!) an outdoor Super always the top team over the season that wins, but the quarterbacking caliber of last year’s trio of RG3, Bowl in New Jersey. In between, there were plenty the one able to perform the best when it means the Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. of headlines: most. And that element is always exciting about an The coaching carousel spun frantically, with New England Patriots tight end Aaron NFL season.” one-quarter of those jobs changing. Kelly’s prede- Hernandez was arrested on murder charges; Lots of points and big plays tend to excite fans cessor Andy Reid, fired following 14 seasons in Broncos star linebacker Von Miller has been sus- the most, and the copycat NFL could feature even Philadelphia, immediately landed as coach of the pended for the first six games for a drugs violation; more up-tempo offenses now that Chip Kelly has Kansas City Chiefs, a strong candidate for most and HGH testing is getting closer but still isn’t brought his go-go-go attack from the University of improved team with quarterback Alex Smith underway two years after the league and players Oregon to the Philadelphia Eagles. If it works for acquired from San Francisco. The 49ers, who came agreed on the need for it. A rash of preseason one team - as it has for the high-powered, fast-draw alive after the Superdome blackout and nearly stole BELGIUM: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt gives a press conference two days ahead of Brussels’ injuries have prompted some players to question offenses in New England, New Orleans, San the title from Baltimore, are among the favorites to athletics meeting. — AFP the NFL’s player safety initiatives. Already gone for Francisco and Green Bay, for example - then just reach the Meadowlands next February for the first the season are tight ends Dennis Pitta of Baltimore about everyone tries it. Kelly downplays the speed outdoor Super Bowl at a cold-weather site. Also a (broken hip) and Dustin Keller of Miami (right knee), of his offense, but throughout the league, look for hot choice is Denver, which added prolific Wes Cancellara wins with more than a dozen others also sidelined. no-huddles, quick snaps out of a variety of forma- Welker to its receiving corps for Manning - a blow to “It’s just weird how things have changed from tions, and lots of passing. major rival New England. — AP the past,” noted New York Jets tight end Konrad Reuland. “Before, diving at the knees was a dirty Vuelta stage play. Now hitting up high is a dirty play. It’s almost done a complete 180.” TARAZONA: Switzerland’s Fabian fastest time at 1:25, took over the race That might be understandable considering the Cancellara won the 11th stage of the Tour leader’s red jersey from American veteran emphasis Commissioner Roger Goodell is placing of Spain yesterday, a 38.8km hilly time trial, Christopher Horner of Radioshack. on player safety. Last week, the league made a $765 while Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali regained the Horner completed came home in 54:01 million settlement with more than 4,500 former overall leader’s red jersey. and is now fourth in the overall standings, players who charged the NFL of concealing the Radioshack’s Cancellara, a specialist in 46 seconds behind Nibali, the 2010 cham- long-term dangers of concussions and rushing this discipline, paced his effort in the early pion. injured players back onto the field. uphill section of the time trial near Ireland’s Nicolas Roche moved up to Key rules changes for this season with player Tarazona in northwestern Spain and then second at 33sec after finishing the time tri- safety in mind will bar ball carriers from using the powered to the finish, completing it in 51 al in sixth while 2009 winner Alejandro crown of the helmet to make contact with defend- minutes, 37 seconds ahead of Germany’s Valverde finished seventh on the stage and ers, and require players to wear knee and thigh Tony Martin of Omega. is now third overall, on the same time as pads. The uniform police will remove them from Italy’s Domenico Pozzovivo of Ag2r fin- Horner. Today’s 12th stage is a 164.2 kilo- games if they don’t have the full complement of ished the first and only time trial of this metre ride from Maella to Tarragona. With equipment. year’s Tour in third place, 1min 24sec only one categorised climb just beyond Meanwhile, fans can’t wait to see if Robert Griffin behind the winner. midway and a flat final 20km, it should III is fully recovered from his torn-up knee and can Astana’s Nibali, who clocked the fourth favour the sprinters. — AFP be even more dynamic as the Washington Redskins quarterback. Or whether Tim Tebow has a future in the NFL in New England. And how the Ravens will handle losing team leaders Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, ST. LOUIS: Rams defensive end Gerald Rivers (right) rips the helmet off of Baltimore Ravens running while Joe Flacco tries to justify the huge contract he back Delone Carter during the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game. —AP Hooker Du Plessis returns as Springboks make three changes

SYDNEY: Hooker will return against Australia in Pretoria last year, shifting to match in France’s Top 14 last weekend. to South Africa’s starting line-up for the first time the left. Promotions for Du Plessis and Van der The physical toll of the long journey on in more than a year in Brisbane on Saturday after Merwe mean and Kruger drop to Habana, prop Gurthro Steenkamp, flyhalf Morne the Springboks made three changes for their the bench, while winger drops out Steyn and scrumhalf is bound to Rugby Championship match against Australia. of the team altogether after starting in the two be closely monitored by those in South Africa The inspirational Du Plessis is finally back to wins over Argentina with which South Africa resolutely opposed to picking those playing full fitness after the horrendous knee injury he opened their campaign. overseas. suffered against Argentina last year and is “A few of these changes are purely rotational After a record 73-13 win over the Pumas in reunited with his prop brother Jannie in a front in order to give guys with fresh legs a go, while their opening fixture in Soweto, the Springboks row which will aim to hammer the Wallabies at others are simply a case of horses for courses,” struggled to a 22-17 victory in the reverse match scrum time. Meyer said. “We’re fortunate to be in a position in Mendoza two weeks ago. Like Du Plessis, lock to rotate players of the calibre of Bismarck and They have never beaten Australia in seven moves up from the bench in place of Juandre Adriaan, while we felt this was the right oppor- attempts at Lang Park and have lost five of their Kruger in another change for the Lang Park tunity to give Flip and Zane a go in the starting last six tests against the Wallabies. clash, while Zane Kirchner will play his first test team. “In the end, the most important factor still “If we are going to progress as a team, we of the year at fullback after recovering from a remains consistency in selection. In our squad, need to start winning away from home and hand injury. any player can slot in at any stage, and that is a Saturday’s test provides this challenge,” Meyer Coach made two positional good position to be in.” added. “It’s no use looking at history now - we changes to clear the way for Kirchner’s return, Kruger was the only one of the five players in have to focus on the test, ensure we tick the TARAZONA: RadioShack-Leopard’s Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara celebrates on the podi- moving from fullback to the right the matchday squad who have controversially right boxes and improve in the areas where we um after winning the 11th stage of the 68th edition of ‘La Vuelta’ Tour of Spain. — AFP wing with , who scored a hat-trick made the long journey from Europe to play a full let ourselves down in Mendoza.” — Reuters