p16 2_Layout 1 2/3/15 9:01 PM Page 1 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015 SPORTS Rivals ready for Hamilton Italy scrap training camp Stormers coach to quit LONDON: Nico Rosberg says he has sharpened his knives for the new Formula MILAN: Italy have called off next week’s training camp after get- CAPE TOWN: Stormers coach Allister Coetzee will leave the South African Super One season and is ready to take on champion Mercedes team mate Lewis ting a lukewarm reaction to a request for clubs to release their Rugby side at the end of the season to take up a coaching post with Japanese Hamilton and anyone else who fancies their title chances. The German, runner- players. team Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers. up last year as Hamilton collected his second crown, told the official “In view of the response we’ve had we’ve decided not to go Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal said they had unsuccessfully formula1.com website that he felt stronger than ever and was sure the new ahead with the training camp which was at risk of not being useful tried to persuade Coetzee to sign a new contract. Mercedes was better. Asked whether he already had his metaphorical knives to either the national team or the clubs,” said coach Antonio Conte “We tried our best to keep Allister. Not only is he a fantastic coach but we “sharpened” for the season, Rosberg said he had started doing that as soon as in an Italian federation statement. have a great relationship-on and off the field,” Smal said in a statement on “But I hope that from now on we manage to work together to the last campaign ended in Abu Dhabi. Tuesday. “I am very sad to be losing him, but I can understand that he is seeking find a solution to help make the national team a reference point in “For now it is Lewis-and whoever else wants to have a go at the knife,” he a new challenge.” The Stormers open their Super Rugby cam- added with a laugh when asked about the main target. The two our football.” paign against the Bulls in Pretoria on Feb. 14. After losing Mercedes team mates, who have known and raced against Conte, appointed in the wake of Italy’s first-round exit at the the Super 14 final to the Bulls in Soweto in 2010, Coetzee each other from boyhood, had a tense relationship last sea- 2014 World Cup in Brazil, complained last month that he was not son as they battled for the title. spending enough time with his players. coached the Stormers to successive South African confer- Rosberg expected more of the same. “We have a rela- He has visited all 20 Serie A clubs in a bid to improve co-opera- ence titles in the extended Super 15 in 2011 and 2012. In tionship that goes up and down-and it will continue to go tion with the national side, which predecessor Cesare Prandelli the latter tournament the team also topped the overall up and down,” he said. “It is an intense battle between us complained had lost prestige. standings, the only South African side to achieve that feat. and that will not change any time soon. The training camp was due to be held from Feb. 9-11 although At domestic Currie Cup level, Cape Town-based Western “Last year’s experience helps,” he added of this year’s the dates are not part of the international calendar and clubs were Province won two titles under Coetzee’s leader- challenge. “It’s that ‘been there, done that’ kind under no obligation to release players. Italy are unbeaten under ship-in 2012 and 2014 — and have contested of thing. —Reuters Conte with five wins and a draw since the World Cup.—Reuters four finals in the past five seasons. —Reuters Red Bull air race back with new stops in Russia, Japan, Hungary JAPAN: The eight-race 2015 Red Bull Air September 26/27 and then the season Race World Championship will feature two finale on October 17/18 in Las Vegas. new stops in Japan and Russia along with a “We’re always making efforts to bring return to Budapest, Hungary. The world’s the sport to our fans and we’re delighted fastest motorsport series will also be back that we can now officially announce that at five popular locations in 2015 with stops Red Bull Air Race will visit 2015 two new in Abu Dhabi (UAE), Ascot (GBR), Spielberg countries. We will race in Japan and Russia, (AUT), Fort Worth and Las Vegas (USA). countries full of enthusiastic motorsport The new Red Bull Air Race World and aviation fans and once again Hungary, Championship season in 2015 will feature where the Red Bull Air Race has a great fan- eight stops spanning the globe that base,” said Erich Wolf, General Manager of includes five of the most popular locations Red Bull Air Race GmbH. The Red Bull Air from the riveting 2014 season, organizers Race World Championship sees the world’s of the world’s fastest motorsport series best pilots put to the test in a pure motor- announced on November 26 in Chiba, sport competition, combining speed, preci- Japan. The sport’s eighth season kicks off sion and skill. The pilots use the fastest, on February 13/14 with the traditional most agile and lightweight racing planes to opener in Abu Dhabi and will include first- navigate a predefined, low-level aerial race- ever races in Japan, with a stop in Chiba on track of air-filled pylons (Air Gates) with the May 16/17. The championship then moves aim of finishing in the fastest time possible, to another new country Russia, with an incurring as few penalties as possible. eagerly awaited stop in the sports-focused city of Sochi on May 30/31. Budapest, 2015 Race Calendar: Hungary - which hosted seven races 1. Abu Dhabi, UAE (13/14 February) between 2003 and 2009 - will be back on 2. Chiba, Japan (16/17 May) the calendar with a stop on July 4/5. 3. Sochi, Russia* (30 /31 May) The second half of the 2015 Red Bull Air 4. Budapest, Hungary (4/5 July) Race World Championship season starts on 5. Ascot, Great Britain (15/16 August) August 15/16 in Ascot, Great Britain, before 6. Spielberg, Austria (5/6 September) it makes a triumphant return to Spielberg, 7. Fort Worth, Texas, United States (26/27 Austria on September 5/6. The 2015 season September) concludes with two stops in the United 8. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (17/18 States - a return to Fort Worth in Texas on October) ANAHEIM: In this image provided by Disneyland, New England Patriots players Julian Edelman (right) and Malcolm Butler join Mickey Mouse as they celebrated their team’s Super Bowl XLIX championship victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Disneyland park. —AP Backlash over Super Bowl child death ad WASHINGTON: A major US insurance company happy ‘Hollywood’ endings” to their ads. A US judge refused on Monday to accept a found itself on the defensive Monday after its Sentiment140.com, which tracks how con- proposed settlement between the National sobering Super Bowl ad about children who die sumers feel about brands on social media, Football League and thousands of retired play- in preventable accidents triggered a social reported 53 percent negative sentiment for ers over concussions, saying changes were need- media backlash. Nationwide on Monday, compared to a 72 per- ed before she would approve it. Nationwide Mutual Insurance said it wanted cent positive feeling for Budweiser. During a 4- Ruling one day after the Super Bowl, US to raise awareness about accidental childhood 1/2 hour period Sunday that included the game District Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia said deaths, which experts say occur about once itself, Nationwide was mentioned more than the accord should expand payment eligibility for every hour in the United States. 126,100 times on Twitter, second only to some players and families. “I couldn’t grow up because I died from an Budweiser, added Brandwatch.com, a social Among the changes she wants is an assur- accident,” says a young boy in the ad, after media monitoring firm. ance that retired players who died of the brain regretting he will never be able to ride a bike, Nationwide could take comfort, however, in disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy after get married or travel the world. the likes of a tech consultant who tweeted on she granted preliminary approval of the accord Haunting images follow-of an overflowing Monday: “I will have to admit I checked the cabi- last July 7 should be covered. The NFL had bathtub, cleaning solvents under a kitchen sink, nets, doors and children after that commercial.” agreed to pay $4 million each to families of for- and a large flat-screen television that fell onto “This ad really makes you think about how mer players who died from CTE before July 7, the floor. precious life is,” read another comment on the but nothing to those diagnosed afterward. “The number one cause of childhood death is website of Adweek, a trade journal. “It was a dar- Brody also said the settlement should pro- preventable accidents,” stated the gloomy 45- ing move.” vide for some credit for play in the World League second ad that promoted the Twitter hashtag In a statement, Nationwide defended the of American Football, the NFL Europe League #makesafehappen. commercial, which stood out dramatically from and the NFL Europa League, and allow for test- The Centers for Disease Control and a raft of father-friendly “dad-vertising” that fea- ing of more players “regardless of funding limita- Prevention say a “staggering” 9,000 American tured prominently among this year’s Super Bowl tions” in the agreement.