A round-up of other sports news in brief
James's decision prompts big backlash in Cleveland
BASKETBALL: LeBron James's decision to swap Cleveland for the Miami Heat has prompted a furious reaction from Cavaliers majority shareholder Dan Gilbert.
James, the two-time NBA most valuable player, went on national television in the United States to announce his decision to quit his hometown team to move south after one of the most protracted free-agent scrambles in NBA history.
In an hour-long show called ‘The Decision’, screened on ESPN, forward James revealed he had agreed to join the Heat in a move which will see him link-up with Olympic team-mates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
“I wanted to do what was best for LeBron James. At the end of the day, I feel awful. I feel even worse that I wasn’t able to bring an NBA championship to that city. I never wanted to leave Cleveland. My heart will always be around that area. But I also felt like this is the greatest challenge for me, to move on.”
Gilbert, however, was bitter. Not only regarding James’s decision to leave but also the way the switch had been conducted in the media.
In an open letter to Cavs fans, he promised fans his franchise will deliver an NBA crown before James does and also accused the 25-year-old, born and raised in Akron, Ohio of “cowardly betrayal”.
He added: “This shocking act of disloyalty from our home-grown ‘chosen one’ sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn”.
Lemaitre makes history in France
ATHLETICS: Frances Christophe Lemaitre became the first white man to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds when he clocked 9.98 yesterday, the French athletics federation said.
Lemaitre, 20, set his time during the French championships in Valence, southern France. “He is the first white man to run the 100 metres in less than 10 seconds,” said the French federation’s press officer Jean-Philippe Manzelle.
Jamaican Usain Bolt is the world record holder with 9.58secs. American Jim Hines became the first man to run the 100 metres in less than 10 seconds in 1968.
Delaney secures extended FAI deal
SOCCER: John Delaney's position as the most powerful man in Irish football is secure for another five years after the FAI's board of management voted in favour of extending his current term until 2015, writes Noel O'Reilly.
The 10-man board met earlier this week where they voted unanimously in favour of keeping Delaney at the helm.
“John has presided over the development and growth of all strands of the game and we are delighted to announce that he will continue as chief executive,” said FAI president David Blood yesterday.
Delaney was appointed in 2004, having initially held the role on an interim basis following the departure of Fran Rooney. He had previously held the position of treasurer, a role his father Joe fulfilled until 1996.
Delaney emerged unscathed despite criticism of the unsuccessful tenure of Steve Staunton as Republic of Ireland manager.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s subsequent appointment was an undoubted coup while the move to Abbotstown and the delivery of the Aviva Stadium were regarded as other personal triumphs for the chief executive.
Platini hospitalised after fainting
SOCCER: Uefa president Michel Platini was taken to hospital in Johannesburg last night after fainting in a restaurant.
“He is fine. He had been suffering from a cold and a bit of flu and he fainted before eating in a restaurant, said Uefa official Wiliam Gaillard of the former French international player and coach.
“He is still in hospital now undergoing tests but he is conscious and is fine. It is not true that he has had a heart attack.”
Gaillard, who is a special advisor to Platini, said the 55-year-old had fainted before eating in the early evening at the Pigalle restaurant in the suburb of Sandton.
“His blood sugar was a little low because he hadnt eaten and had a little fever. He stood up and just fainted. All the tests so far have shown there is nothing to worry about,” Gaillard added.
Stoner to leave Ducati for Honda
MOTOR SPORT: Australian Casey Stoner will leave Ducati at the end of the season to join Honda in a move that could see MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi replace him at the Italian team.
Honda confirmed that Stoner, world champion in 2007, was returning to them. Former Ducati team boss Livio Suppo moved to Honda last year.
“We are very pleased that Casey will join Honda again next year,2 said Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) vice-president Shuhei Nakamoto, adding that the team hoped to retain Spaniard Dani Pedrosa and Italian Andrea Dovizioso.
Loeb lays down challenge in Bulgaria
MOTOR SPORT: World champion Sebastien Loeb took control of the inaugural Rally Bulgaria after winning all four stages on the opening day.
The Frenchman is chasing a 16th consecutive success on asphalt and looked on course to maintain that streak as he opened a 28.1 seconds lead over his Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo.
Petter Solberg is 9.9secs further back in third while Loeb’s closest rival in the drivers’ standings, Sebastien Ogier, is down in seventh after a mishap on the third stage.
