Sports News
April 15, 2008Here are the sports results from Tuesday:
OEIRAS, Portugal - Roger Federer rallied from a set down to defeat Olivier Rochus of Belgium 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Tuesday in the first round of the clay-court Estoril Open.
The top-ranked Swiss player had 17 aces but also many unforced errors against the 80th-ranked Belgian. It was Federer's first match since he started working with coach Jose Higueras, a clay-court specialist.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The Olympic torch came to Pakistan early Wednesday for what the pro-China government hoped would be a festive and trouble-free leg of its world tour.
Protests against China's human rights record disrupted the torch's passage through western cities last week, and Pakistani authorities took pains to avoid any repeat during its short stay en route to Beijing.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Stanley Cup is visiting Europe to help mark the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
Former NHL greats Peter Stastny, Slava Fetisov, Jyrki Lumme and Arturs Irbe were on hand to present the Cup to lawmakers and fans Tuesday at the European Parliament.
PARIS - The head of the French National Olympic Committee has ruled out allowing his athletes to wear a badge at the Beijing Games that reads "For a Better World," angering athletes and others who want to express their views on human rights.
French athletes came up with the idea of a badge after China's crackdown on protests in March in Tibet.
MONTREAL - Canadian diving star Alexandre Despatie says he is facing the biggest challenge of his career after breaking his foot just four months from the Beijing Olympics.
Despatie broke a bone in his foot during a training accident last week. He will be out of the pool for four to six weeks. "It's hard," Despatie said this week while attending a provincial sports funding announcement.
TORONTO - Tom Higgins has never served as a football referee but does bring an official's perspective to his new role as the CFL's director of officiating.
Higgins was an All-American linebacker at North Carolina State University but also was a member of the school's wrestling team. He has donned the stripes to officiate American university wrestling matches as well as high school competitions in Canada.
TORONTO - The Buffalo Bills won't have Mother Nature on their side when they host the Miami Dolphins this season.
The NFL unveiled its 2088 schedule Tuesday and one of the highlights was Buffalo hosting its arch rival at the Rogers Centre on Dec. 7. It will mark the first time the NFL has held a regular-season game in Canada.
KAZAN, Russia - Corey Trivino had three goals and an assist as Canada improved to 2-0 at the world under-18 hockey championship with a 4-1 victory over Denmark on Tuesday.
Trivino assisted on Marco Scandella's goal. Trivino's linemates, Maxime Sauve and Matt Duchene, had three assists apiece. Canada outshot Denmark 43-19. Finland was scheduled to play Sweden in the late preliminary round game.
DENVER - NBA all-star Carmelo Anthony has apologized for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Denver Nuggets forward read from a prepared statement Tuesday at the Pepsi Center. Police said Anthony was pulled over for weaving and failing to dim his lights at about 4 a.m. Monday on Interstate 25. He was alone in the car.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Former Brazil striker Romario has officially announced his retirement - again.
The 42-year-old striker said he would not return to competitive play and had ended a 23-year career that includes the 1994 World Cup title, the FIFA player of the year award and more than 1,000 goals, by his own count. And, unlike several previous retirement announcements when he later changed his mind, Romario insisted he wouldn't turn back this time.
BOSTON - The Boston Marathon is breaking with a 112-year tradition by putting corporate ads at the start and finish lines of the world's oldest marathon.
Guy Morse, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, said that logos for race sponsors Adidas and John Hancock Financial Services will be painted on the ground and posted near the VIP seating area.
OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators played their ultimate, and likely final, trump card. And again the Pittsburgh Penguins had an answer.
Even the courageous return of captain Daniel Alfredsson wasn't enough for the Senators on Monday night. Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal scored 1:18 apart early in the third period and the Penguins beat the Senators 4-1 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven, Eastern Conference quarter-final series.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are one game away from sweeping the Ottawa Senators out of the NHL post-season, but they're not taking anything for granted.
Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal scored 1:18 apart early in the third period, and the Penguins beat the Senators 4-1 Monday to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. The Penguins will try for a sweep Wednesday night here at Scotiabank Place.
ATHENS, Greece - Eleven members of Greece's weightlifting team will testify Wednesday before a prosecutor investigating their alleged use of banned substances.
Court officials said Tuesday the athletes would be testifying as suspects, in a preliminary stage before charges can be pressed.
VANCOUVER - The man hired to replace Brian Burke followed in his predecessor's footsteps Monday when the Vancouver Canucks fired Dave Nonis as the NHL team's general manager.
Nonis, 41, had one year left on his contract with Vancouver but his firing came after the Canucks missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.
TORONTO - When the Cleveland Cavaliers edged Philadelphia on Monday night, a cheer went up behind the closed doors of the Toronto Raptors locker-room.
The Raptors were a happy bunch, guaranteed the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and headed to Orlando for the first round of the playoffs. "We didn't want to go down, that's what it was about," Chris Bosh said. "It takes a lot of pressure off Wednesday's (final regular-season) game. Going in knowing we already have the sixth spot is good."
The Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat, and more importantly got the playoff matchup they wanted.
Rasho Nesterovic had 20 points and seven rebounds to top Toronto in a 91-75 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday. Later, the Cleveland Cavaliers edged Philadelphia, guaranteeing the Raptors the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round playoff series with Orlando.
