WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2016 SPORTS Crosby concussion casts shadow on Penguins’ Cup repeat bid NEW YORK: With captain Sidney Washington that left Crosby strug- Crosby sidelined indefinitely over the gling over two seasons to fully recov- latest in a series of concussions, er. He missed 101 games from that Pittsburgh’s bid to repeat as National night and the end of the 2011-12 sea- Hockey League champions is off to a son. rocky start. Crosby, with 338 goals and 600 Not since the Detroit Red Wings in assists in 707 career games, has 1997 and 1998 has a team won the become the face of the NHL and his Stanley Cup two seasons in a row. The absence for even a short time casts a Penguins, who beat San Jose last June pall over the NHL’s celebration of the to capture their first Stanley Cup since 100th anniversary of its founding and 2009, rely upon Crosby for leadership the 50th anniversary of its expansion and spark alongside talented scorers from six to 12 teams, which included Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. adding the Penguins. “Frustration at this point is a use- “At nearly 100 we have never been less emotion,” Penguins coach Mike stronger, better, younger and never Sullivan said. “He’s obviously an been faster and have never had a important player for us, but our team brighter, more diverse future,” NHL has dealt with injuries in the past to commissioner Gary Bettman said. some of our key players. It provides “The great game of hockey, NHL opportunities for others to step up.” hockey, has grown and strengthened It’s a major step. The 29-year-old and represents a truly global pres- center was named Most Valuable ence.” There’s still no deal for NHL Player (MVP) in the World Cup of players to compete at the 2018 Hockey after leading Canada to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in title just two weeks ago, scoring three South Korea although talks continue goals and setting up seven others. with the International Olympic Last season, Crosby was the Stanley Committee, the NHL and the players Cup playoffs MVP in claiming his sec- union involved. Players want to go but ond NHL crown with the Penguins. the NHL wants to stop paying $15 mil- ROME: The president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), Giovanni Malago (L), speaks next to Diana Bianchedi, director of Rome’s bid and Pittsburgh was the reigning NHL lion for housing, transportation and Luca Pancalli (C), president of the Italian paralympics committee during a press conference yesterday in Rome. Malago put a definitive end to champion in 2010 when Crosby insurance for NHL personnel. Rome’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games after the city’s newly elected mayor refused to support the project. “I wrote to the International scored the gold medal-winning goal There will be a fair share of rivals in Olympic Committee today to withdraw Rome-2024 from the running,” Malago told a specially convened press conference. —AFP in the Vancouver Olympic final victory hot pursuit of the Penguins should over the United States. they falter with or without Crosby. Crosby was hurt by a Friday practice Washington will contend again hit, Sullivan said, with team general behind Russian Alex Ovechkin, the Italian Olympic Committee manager Jim Rutherford saying there NHL’s top goal scorer each of the past was no timetable for Crosby’s return. four seasons. He netted 50 last season The NHL season opens Wednesday but the Capitals’ campaign ended suspends Rome’s 2024 bid with St. Louis at Chicago, Los Angeles with a playoff loss to Pittsburgh. at San Jose, Calgary at Edmonton and Tampa Bay, powered by Steven Toronto at Ottawa while the Penguins Stamkos, lost last year’s Stanley Cup ROME: The Italian Olympic Committee is sus- tion after this unacceptable interruption,” Tokyo warned that the cost of the 2020 raise their title banner Thursday in final to Chicago but have the speed to pending Rome’s bid for the 2024 Games for Malago said. “The other evening I had a Olympics could exceed $30 billion, more than their home opener against stay with the Penguins. And Chicago, the time being, while leaving open the possi- chance to discuss this possibility with (IOC four times the initial estimates. Voters in Washington, a game that could see upset by St. Louis in the first round of bility for a revival of the candidacy if there is a President) Thomas Bach and IOC general Hamburg rejected the German city’s 2024 bid some extra tension and emotion. last season’s playoffs, is going for a change in city government. director Christophe De Kepper and there is in a referendum, and Boston dropped out last It was a collision in the 2011 NHL third Stanley Cup in five seasons and CONI president Giovanni Malago said he ample support for this idea.” “This is a way to year amid a lack of public and political support Winter Classic against visiting fourth in eight campaigns. —AFP wrote a letter to the International Olympic turn the page and move on,” Malago added. and was replaced as the U.S. candidate by Los Committee yesterday to “interrupt the candi- Still, the “interruption” of the bid is another Angeles. Four cities withdrew during the bid- dacy.” The move comes after Rome’s city signal that the IOC still has work to do to con- ding for the 2022 Winter Games, leaving only council voted last month to withdraw sup- vince cities that hosting the games is a boon two candidates in the field. Beijing, hardly ‘Woods may never make port of the bid on the recommendation of and not a burden. known as a winter sports destination, defeat- Mayor Virginia Raggi. Last month, a city government panel in ed Almaty, Kazakhstan. —AP Rome’s withdrawal would leave only Los successful comeback’ Angeles, Paris, and Budapest, Hungary, in the running for the 2024 Games. The IOC will NORTH CAROLINA: Tiger Woods’ deci- once his confidence ebbed. select the host city in September 2017. Sergio Parisse leads trio of sion to postpone his tournament golf “On many levels, there are parallels to It would also mark the second time in four comeback has raised more questions Seve. Seve Ballesteros was a genius, an years that a Rome bid has been withdrawn or returning veterans for Italy about his future with some former play- artist. “That’s what golf is, it’s more of an interrupted. In 2012, then-premier Mario ers wondering if he will ever successfully abstract game, and Seve tried to make it Monti scrapped the city’s bid for the 2020 ROME: Italy captain Sergio Parisse has three big challenges awaiting us in return to regular competition. later in his career a linear game, and Olympics because of financial concerns. been recalled to the Italy squad for November and we live for moments like Former PGA Tour winner Brandel every single person that I’ve seen in pro- Raggi, who represents the anti-establish- November tests against New Zealand, these. “I know this team has the right quali- Chamblee greeted Monday’s news of fessional golf who tried to make it a lin- ment 5-Star Movement, said that taking on South Africa and Tonga. Coach Conor ties to make Italian rugby proud.” Italy host Woods’ withdrawal from this week’s ear game, either becomes so frustrated the costs of an Olympic bid is “irresponsible” O’Shea has also recalled another pair of the All Blacks in Rome on November 12, Safeway Open by comparing the player’s they no longer can play or sooner or later for a city struggling to emerge from years of veterans in hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini and then play South Africa in Florence a week plight with the late-career struggles of they quit.” Woods was scheduled to play corruption and poor public services. back row forward Alessandro Zanni. later before entertaining Tonga in Padova Spanish five-times major winner Seve at the PGA Tour event in Napa, California, While Raggi wrote a letter to the IOC last The trio, who between them are one on November 26. Ballesteros. Twice major champion starting on Thursday, returning from a month, IOC rules state that only the national short of 300 caps for the Azzurri, were left Johnny Miller said Woods was “not ever 14-month break after back surgeries. Olympic committee can withdraw a candida- out of Italy’s June Tour to North and South Squad going to be the old Tiger,” although stop- But his decision to pull out, three days cy. “Anybody can write to the IOC but the America, when O’Shea took charge of the Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli (Zebre), ping short of writing off the 40-year-old after confirming his participation, was only letter that counts is the one from the team for the first time. Lorenzo Cittadini (Bayonne/FRA), Simone completely. puzzling. Woods, who announced his president of the Olympic committee,” Malago Should he play, Stade Francais No.8 Ferrari (Treviso), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Chamblee described a “perfect storm” withdrawal on his website (www.tiger- said at a news conference. Parisse, 33, will take sole possession of the Sami Panico (Pataro Calvisano), Ornel Gega of issues that have simultaneously beset woods.com), has not revealed what hap- Since being elected in June as Rome’s first national caps record he shares with prop (Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini 14-times major champion Woods. pened over the weekend that prompted female mayor, Raggi has had a rough first few Martin Castrogiovanni, 34, who has not (Toulouse/FRA), George Fabio Biagi (Zebre), “What has happened to Tiger Woods a change of mind.