THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 SPORTS

Pettersen ready for Photo of the day Evian title defense

EVIAN: starts her month in order to allow her to play this defense of today week. France’s Gwladys Nocera is the and the bad news for her rivals is she is local favorite. enjoying an outstanding run of form and “When I think about the Evian is hitting the ball further and better than Championship I think about the Pro-Am last year. The 33-year-old Norwegian has that started 20 years ago and how a finished in the top seven in her last five vision, a plan, goals and a dream can tournaments, including a tie for second in come up with something as big as the the last major, the Women’s British Open Evian Championship and the major we at Royal Birkdale. “It’s been really good for have today,” said the Lausanne-based 39- the past month or so,” said Pettersen. “Just year-old. “We are very lucky to have such unfortunate that I haven’t been able to a big event in France and I am lucky to close out the deal on the Sunday. play. “This year I want to really enjoy it. I But that’s a better problem than not have my family and quite a few friends playing well at all.” Florida-based here. I feel like I have a couple of years to Pettersen has been accompanied to Evian go but then that will be it for me so I by her coach, David Leadbetter, and she want to have real fun playing in this great added: “I’m a lot longer than last year event.” In the race for the inaugural Rolex with the driver and probably a club Annika Major Award, Michelle Wie, the US longer with the irons. It’s the clubhead Women’s Open Champion, leads the way speed.” , the world number ahead of Park Inbee (LPGA Champion) one, has been a model of consistency on and Lexi Thompson (Kraft Nabisco the LPGA tour this season with three wins Champion). and three top tens in majors to her name. The award is for the player who has “But the big thing that sticks out to me is the season’s best overall performance in that I haven’t won one (of the majors),” the majors, and they must have won one said the American. “But it’s great to be of the five. British Women’s Open back at Evian and I want to give myself Champion Mo Martin is missing from another chance to win this week”. Evian due to a thumb injury. “As soon as I Ruben Faria races during the first stage of the Rally dos Sertoes in Caldas Novas, Brazil. — www.redbull.com New Zealand’s Lydia Ko came close to heard about the award it was one of my making history at Evian last year when biggest goals,” aid Wie, who was runner- she finished second, two shots behind up to Thompson in the Kraft Nabisco and Pettersen as a 16-year-old novice. Twelve finished second in the Evian masters as a months on and she is a 17-year-old pro- 15-year-old amateur in 2005. “Obviously Cowboys owner sued fessional and ranked third in the world. it’s a very prestigious award with Annika But the end of her rookie season, high- (Sorenstam) being the presenter. “It’s defi- lighted by two wins on the LPGA Tour, nitely something I really want to win. All I has been blighted by a wrist injury and can do this week is play good golf and over ‘sexual assault’ she had minor surgery at the start of this hopefully take care of it.” — AFP

DALLAS: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has report. In a statement to ESPN, Levi McCathern, multiple women, including photos of Jones with been sued by a former exotic dancer for an Jones’ attorney, called the lawsuit an attempt to women in provocative poses, were made public alleged sexual assault in 2009 in a hotel bath- embarrass Jones. “These allegations are com- last month. On Sunday, Jones told the newspa- room, The Dallas Morning News reported pletely false,” he said. “The legal complaint is per that “someone has misrepresented photos Tuesday. The 71-year-old businessman, who unsupported by facts or evidence of any kind. taken at a restaurant five years ago for their own bought the famed National Football League club This is nothing more than an attempt to embar- purposes. I’m just not going to comment on it.” in 1989, is being sued for more than $1 million in rass and extort Jerry Jones. This is a shakedown The lawsuit claims Jones forced Weckerly to sign punitive damages by Jana Weckerly, a 27-year- by a lawyer who is a solo practitioner just trying an agreement to conceal the alleged incident. old Oklahoma woman. to make a name for himself. “We intend to vigor- Thomas Bowers, Weckerly’s lawyer, told the Weckerly accuses Jones of fondling her, forc- ously contest this complaint and expect it will be newspaper that she was in counseling and tak- ing her to fondle him and watch him engage in shown for what it is-a money grab.” ing medication to cope with trauma from the sex with another woman, according to the Details of an encounter between Jones and alleged incident. — AFP Finchem copes with no Tiger and fewer viewers Luol Deng ATLANTA: US PGA Tour commissioner Tim changing in the short term. But when it does, time record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, Finchem pondered the post-Tiger Woods era when he passes by, we will have other players underwent back surgery in March for a Deng ‘saddened’ and lower television viewership on Tuesday (such) as Rory McIlroy.” Woods, chasing the all- pinched nerve and shut down his season after ahead of the season-ending Tour the PGA Championship. That contributed to a Championship. Finchem said that young rising decrease in PGA viewers this season. and ‘disturbed’ by stars such as world number one Rory McIlroy “If you look at ratings, they were off some- would help the tour transition into the time what, and we attribute that somewhat to Tiger when Woods, a 14-time major winner who not playing,” Finchem said, also saying fewer missed most of this season due to injury, no playoffs for titles lowered those figures. He also Ferry comments longer draws large numbers of non-golf fans blamed a slow economic recovery for hurting to the sport. “With Tiger being injured more the golf industry but said he expects a boost MIAMI: African-born British NBA star Luol were recently used to describe me,” Deng often the last three or four years, I’m getting from the sport making its return to the Deng said Tuesday he was saddened and said. “It would ordinarily make any African the question again the other way: When Tiger’s Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. “We cer- disappointed in remarks made about him parent proud to hear their child recognized gone, how do you manage the sport?” tainly are excited about golf’s entry to the in June by Atlanta Hawks general manager for their heritage. I’m proud to say I actually Finchem said. Olympics from the standpoint of growing the Danny Ferry and revealed Monday. Ferry have a lot of African in me, not just ‘a little.’ “Well, fans like golf. They like to watch golf. game, regardless of where the medals go in issued an apology Tuesday and said he was “For my entire life, my identity has been a They like to watch some players more than GEORGIA: PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Rio,” he said. “The impact of being part of the only reading comments from others evalu- source of pride and strength. Among my others. And I think Tiger’s got a long shelf life Finchem speaks to the media prior to the Olympic program around the globe is going to ating Deng as a potential free agent sign- family and friends, in my country of South in terms of being a contributor because peo- start of the TOUR Championship by Coca- be very positive and we’re already seeing the ing by the Hawks when he made his racially Sudan and across the broader continent of ple like watching him play golf regardless of Cola at East Lake Golf Club on September 9, effects of that in a variety of regions in the charged remarks during a conference call. Africa, I can think of no greater privilege the records. “So I don’t think you’ll see a lot 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. — AFP world where we’re doing business.” — AFP “Concerning my free agency, the focus than to do what I love for a living while also should purely have been on my profession- representing my heritage on the highest alism and my ability as an athlete,” Deng stage. “Unfortunately, the comment about said in a statement released to the South my heritage was not made with the same Florida Sun-Sentinel and Atlanta Journal- respect and appreciation.” Gearon pushed Ravens try to get over Constitution newspapers. “Every person for Ferry to be fired in June and sparked an should have the right to be treated with internal investigation of racism within the respect and evaluated as an individual Hawks organization that uncovered a 2012 rather than be reduced to a stereotype. “I e-mail with racist remarks by owner Bruce Rice as Steelers loom am saddened and disappointed that this Levenson, who on Sunday announced he way of thinking still exists today. I am even was selling the team as a result. more disturbed that it was shared so freely “There is comfort in knowing that there in a business setting.” Ferry said in June that are people who aren’t comfortable with it BALTIMORE: Stunned by star rusher Ray Rice’s firing after a bru- Deng “has a little African in him. Not in a and have the courage to speak up,” Deng tal video showed him knocking out his fiancee, the Baltimore bad way, but he’s like a guy who would said. “In the same way a generalization Ravens tried to regroup before facing NFL arch-rival Pittsburgh have a nice store out front but sell you should not define a group of people, the today. Rice was dumped by the Ravens and suspended indefi- counterfeit stuff out of the back.” attitude of a few should not define a whole nitely by the NFL after celebrity website TMZ released a casino According to a June letter by Hawks co- organization or league.” The 29-year-old elevator video Monday showing him punching Janay Palmer, owner Michael Gearon obtained by Atlanta forward spent 10 years with the Chicago now his wife, and knocking her unconscious. “Obviously it does- television station WSB, Ferry also described Bulls and was briefly with Cleveland earlier n’t paint a good picture of who Ray is as a person,” Ravens quar- Deng as a “two-faced liar and cheat.” Deng, this year before signing in July with Miami. terback Joe Flacco said Tuesday. “Sometimes good people make born in what is now South Sudan, played for “I’m thankful to be with an organization bad decisions and put themselves in a bad light. Britain in the 2012 London Olympics and is that appreciates me for who I am, and has “My heart goes out to his family. I hope they get through this known for his off-season humanitarian work. gone out of its way to make me feel wel- as best as they can.” The Ravens are coming off a season-open- “He has a little African in him. These words come,” Deng said. — AFP ing loss to Cincinnati and play host to the Steelers with only three days of rest physically and a whirlwind of distraction men- tally. “We’ve got to get our minds right but more importantly NFL’s Buffalo Bills to be sold we’ve got to get our bodies right and be prepared when it’s time to go out there,” Flacco said. “It’s tough no matter what... to owners of city’s NHL team We’ve got a bunch of focused guys. We’ve got enough to worry about with those guys (the Steelers).” NEW YORK: The estate of longtime Buffalo team was put up for sale when Wilson, the Flacco and Rice have been teammates since 2008, having Bills owner Ralph Wilson, who died earlier franchise’s founding owner, died in March at worked together to spark the Ravens over San Francisco in the this year, reached an agreement on Tuesday the age of 95. Among the unsuccessful bid- 2013 Super Bowl. “We came in together. We were drafted to sell the NFL franchise to Terry and Kim ders was singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi, who together. I feel like I know Ray pretty well,” Flacco said. “When Pegula, who already own the National was part of an ownership group from you know a person that closely it’s a little different not to have Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres. Terry Pegula, Toronto, where the Bills play some of their them here. But that said, you have to go move on.” Ravens line- 63, a natural gas development and real estate home games. backer Terrell Suggs said he wished the Rices well as they try to mogul, has been a popular figure in Buffalo “On behalf of myself, Larry Tanenbaum work through the turmoil. “They have decided to move forward for his commitment to keep the franchise in and Edward Rogers, we wish Terry and Kim western New York state. Pegula all the best as they continue the lega- with their life and I’m going to respect their privacy,” Suggs said. The price tag for the Bills was not revealed cy and tradition of the Buffalo Bills and the “With me, it’s family. He’s my brother. I love him and I’m going to although multiple outlets reported the deal Wilson family,” he said. “This is a very impor- miss him.” to be worth $1.4 billion, more than the $1.05 tant day in the history of the Buffalo Bills fran- Ravens receiver Steve Smith knows that he cannot afford a billion truck-stop magnate Jim Haslam paid chise,” Bills controlling owner Mary Wilson loss of focus against the Steelers. “It has been a trying time, but for the Cleveland Browns in 2012. “Our inter- said in a statement. at the same time, you can’t really dive into somebody’s personal est in owning the Bills has everything to do “Ralph brought professional football to life too much,” he said. For Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who with the people of Western New York and our Buffalo in 1959 and it was his life’s passion. He was among the select group that met and decided Rice had to passion for football,” Pegula said in a state- loved his team and he cherished the fans and be fired, there was hope that the greater awareness on domes- ment. “We have knowledgeable, dedicated his legacy will remain for all time. “Ralph tic violence might produce some good. “You like to believe that fans here, and along with our ownership of would have been pleased with the sale of the things that are hard can work out for good, that something the Buffalo Sabres, it is gratifying to reassure team to the Terry Pegula family, who has good can come of this,” Harbaugh said. “If all of us can put our these great fans that two franchises so impor- been so committed to Buffalo and the heads together and do good for people, then that’s what we tant to our region are both here to stay.” The Western New York region.” —Reuters should all try to do.”-— AFP Ray Rice