THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014 SPORTS Beckham visits United Philippine anger as game LeBron James humbled with NBA players cancelled LOS ANGELES: Former Manchester United star David Beckham visited his former by fans in Hong Kong English club Tuesday on the eve of new Dutch manager Louis Van Gaal’s debut MANILA: Organisers of a visit by NBA stars to the basketball-mad match against another of Beckham’s clubs. Philippines have apologised and offered refunds after an exhibition HONG KONG: LeBron James was honored by the appearance of hundreds of fans Beckham, on holiday in the town where he once played for Major League game was abruptly cancelled. who clutched his jersey or held up life-size cutouts of his face at a store in Hong Kong Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, stopped by United’s pre-season training camp to vis- Tycoon Manny Pangilinan, whose company sponsored the sched- yesterday. The crowd chanted “LBJ” as he entered the store to meet with a small it some former teammates, including assistant manager Ryan Giggs. uled match Tuesday night between a visiting NBA contingent and the group of shoe-collecting “sneakerheads.” United will open a pre-season tour Wednesday at the Rose Bowl against the national team, issued a profuse apology amid growing anger at the He said it was “very humbling” to know he was an inspiration for fans in the former Galaxy with the English Premier League side booking matches against Roma, cancellation. “We wish to apologise to our Filipino basketball fans for British colony. “I’m miles and miles and miles, thousands of miles away from home, Inter Milan and Real Madrid in a US tour. Van Gaal said Tuesday he was pleased the sudden and disappointing turn of events... we ourselves are and to know that you can inspire someone in a whole other country, it means a lot with the focus on his new players in training sessions. extremely disappointed by this unexpected development,” he said in a me,” he said. Later, he ran a clinic before 1,500 fans packed around a court in “Training has been fantastic,” Van Gaal said. “You may think statement. The NBA team, including the Houston Rockets’ James Kowloon, then showed off some moves. James kicked off his Nike- every new trainer or coach would say that, but it’s true. Harden, the San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard of the sponsored five-day trip on Monday in Beijing. He is travelling to They seem anxious to do what I and my assistants say. Portland Trailblazers and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors, were Taiwan on Thursday and Friday. LeBron James has sent cupcakes to “Their focus is at a top level and I am very happy with supposed to play “five on five” games with the national team, Gilas neighbors of his home in Akron to apologize for the ruckus caused what I have seen in the first three days of training here.” Pilipinas, on Tuesday and Wednesday. by the announcement of his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers two United are far from peak fitness while the Galaxy are in But on Tuesday night, before a large crowd-some of whom had weeks ago. Cavaliers fans and journalists converged on the NBA mid-season form given the US league season began in paid as much as 23,300 pesos ($530)— it was abruptly announced star’s home to await his July 11 decision on whether he would come March. “I expect a very organized, tactical, aggressive that the players would instead just engage in practice drills. back to northeast Ohio or stay with the Miami Heat. team in attack, who want to press the ball,” Van Gaal said As boos and shouts of “Give us back our money!” echoed through A commotion ensued, and police were called to direct traffic. the stadium, organisers told the crowd they would be offering refunds of the Galaxy. “They are already in their season but To make amends, the LeBron James Family Foundation sent a while reminding them that the event, co-sponsored by Philippine we have only had three days. —AFP note of apology accompanied by a dozen cupcakes to neigh- Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), was for charity. —AFP bors on Tuesday, according to multiple media outlets. —AP McKenzie sticks with familiar squad for Rugby Championship SYDNEY: Ewen McKenzie yesterday named a acknowledged the weight of expectation. 32-man Australian squad for the upcoming “For us, it’s no secret that our desire to win Rugby Championship with few surprises, back the Bledisloe Cup grows every year, but sticking with the group that is enjoying a sev- if our attention isn’t focused on the right en-match winning streak. areas during our preparations then it will be It includes 25 players who earned at least easy to get caught looking too far ahead,” he one Test cap during the recent 3-0 series win said. The Australian squad, captained by over France, and five others who were squad Michael Hooper, includes Fiji-born flyer Henry members. Speight-the only uncapped member of the McKenzie said the familiarity would be an group-who will be eligible to represent asset. “We’ve come a long way as a group Australia from September 11. over the past 12 months and the consistency Two other players who were unavailable we’re now applying across selections, high- for the France series in June due to injury-Ben performance behaviours and our playing Alexander and Joe Tomane-have also been included. Players not selected this time round due to injury include, among others, Stephen Moore (knee), David Pocock (knee), scrumhalf Will Genia (ankle) and flyhalf Quade Cooper (shoulder). After opening its Rugby Championship campaign against New Zealand in Sydney, Australia plays the All Blacks again on August 23 in Auckland, South Africa on September 6 and 27 and Argentina on September 13 and October 4. Australia squad: Props: Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Pek Cowan (Western Force), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Scott Sio (Brumbies), James Slipper (Reds). Hookers: Nathan Charles (Western Force), James Hanson (Reds), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs). Locks: Sam Carter (Brumbies), James Horwill (Reds), Rob Simmons (Reds), LONDON: In this file picture taken on June 20, 2013, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II with her horse, Estimate, in the winner’s enclosure after it won Ewen McKenzie Will Skelton (Waratahs). the Gold Cup on the third day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London. Estimate, which lifted the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013 and came style is a positive sign that we are heading in Back-rowers: Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Scott second in this year’s edition, has tested positive for morphine, a banned substance. — AFP the right direction,” he said. Higginbotham (Rebels), Matt Hodgson “The challenge for us now is to continue (Western Force), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), this consistency.” Australia face New Zealand Ben McCalman (Western Force), Wycliff Palu Queen’s Gold Cup in their opening Bledisloe Cup Test match on (Waratahs). August 16 in Sydney, and McKenzie has Scrum-halves: Luke Burgess (Rebels), Nick warned the Wallabies will have to lift to beat Phipps (Waratahs), Nic White (Brumbies). the all-conquering All Blacks. Fly-halves: Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), “We understand a great deal of attention Bernard Foley (Waratahs). Centres: Tevita winner fails drug test going into the match will be around the All Kuridrani (Brumbies), Christian Leali’ifano Blacks and their motivation to create a new (Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Brumbies). piece of history by winning a world-record 18 Back-three: Adam Ashley-Cooper consecutive games,” he said. (Waratahs), Henry Speight (Brumbies), ‘Five horses, under the care of various trainers affected’ It has been 12 years since the Wallabies Israel Folau (Waratahs), Rob Horne last held the Bledisloe Cup, the symbol of (Waratahs), Pat McCabe (Brumbies), Joe LONDON: A horse owned by Britain’s Queen feed company involved to discover how the prod- Under the rules of English racing, Estimate will trans-Tasman supremacy, and McKenzie Tomane (Brumbies). — AFP Elizabeth II which won one of England’s most pres- uct may have become contaminated prior to deliv- not be stripped of her 2013 Gold Cup victory but tigious races has failed a drugs test, Buckingham ery to his stables. “As the BHA investigates this mat- she could be deprived of second place in this year’s Palace announced Tuesday. ter, including potential links between the different edition if officials decide there has been an Estimate, which lifted the Gold Cup at Royal cases, Sir Michael continues to offer his full co- infringement. Ascot in 2013 and came second in this year’s edi- operation. “There will be no further comment until Long known as the ‘Sport of Kings’, racing’s con- tion, has tested positive for morphine, a banned the BHA announces its considered findings. “Her nections to royalty date back centuries. It was substance. A statement issued by the Queen’s rac- Majesty has been informed of the situation.” Queen Anne in 1711 who first saw the potential for ing advisor said initial indications were the positive Morphine is banned by the BHA because it can a racecourse at Ascot, south-west of London. Whilst test had resulted from the “consumption of a con- be used to numb pain. Even though morphine is out riding near Windsor Castle-to this day an offi- taminated feed product”. not deemed to be a performance-enhancing drug, cial royal residence-she came upon an area of open The Queen, renowned for a love and knowledge trainer and qualified vet James Given, speaking on heath that looked, in her words, “ideal for horses to of horse racing which dates back to the 88-year-old Sunday before Estimate was revealed to have failed gallop at full stretch”.