Reuters Sports News Summary

09/09/2016 19:53

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Pacquiao's age gives trainer cause for concern

Manny Pacquiao will be one month shy of his 38th birthday when he challenges World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in November, a mature boxing age that gives his trainer cause for concern. Though Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach is confident that Pacquiao still has "a lot of fight left in him," he has told the Filipino southpaw that the very first time he sees him a step slower in the ring, he will have to retire.

Blatter and two others facing FIFA investigation over salaries

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke, already banned from soccer for ethics violations, are facing a fresh investigation over the salaries and bonuses they received in office. In a separate decision, former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb was given a life ban from any soccer-related activity and fined one million Swiss francs ($1.02 million).

Oklahoma judge OKs McClendon land sale, freeing Thunder stake

The judge overseeing Aubrey McClendon's estate approved a land deal on Friday that will pay off one of the late energy magnate's major creditors, paving the way for the sale of his stake in professional basketball team the Oklahoma City Thunder. In probate court in Oklahoma City, Judge Richard Kirby approved Jones Energy Inc's plan to purchase 18,000 acres of oil and gas leasehold interests for $136.5 million from the estate. The proceeds from the sale will repay private equity firm Oaktree Capital Group LLC, to whom McClendon owes $85 million, court records show.

New No. 1 Kerber eyes revenge against Pliskova in final

Angelique Kerber, who fulfilled a dream by completing her rise to the rank of world number one in women's tennis, now has a chance to satisfy a more basic urge - revenge - in the U.S. Open final on Saturday. The 28-year-old German goes for her second grand slam title of the year against 10th-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova, who hopes to ride her huge service game to a maiden major in the Arthur Ashe Stadium showdown.

Course record 63 drives Johnson into share of BMW lead

World number two Dustin Johnson conjured up memories of John Daly as he plundered a course record nine-under-par 63 to earn a share of the second-round lead at the rain-hit BMW Championship in Indiana on Friday. Johnson collected two eagles, holing a 15-yard bunker shot at the par-five ninth and sinking a 25-foot putt at the 15th en route to his sizzling score at Crooked Stick in Carmel.

Second edition of Laver Cup to be staged in U.S.

The U.S. Tennis Association has joined in the partnership launching the new Laver Cup team competition and will help stage the second edition of the event in the United States in 2018. The Laver Cup, named after twice calendar-year grand slam champion Rod Laver, is a three-day team competition modeled on golf's Ryder Cup, pitting a team of six top players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world.

Djokovic solves Monfils puzzle to reach U.S. Open final

World number one Novak Djokovic scrapped his way into the U.S. Open final for a seventh time on Friday with a confounding 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 win over enigmatic Frenchman Gael Monfils. Often viewed as more showman than competitor, the 10th-seeded Monfils tested the patience of both Djokovic and the fans with a display of tennis that swung wildly from dynamic to indifferent.

NFL's Sept. 11 plans may collide with anthem protests

The NFL said on Friday it will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States during games on Sunday, the same day when some players plan to protest during the U.S. national anthem. Four players have so far opted to kneel during the anthem in a protest against social injustice, a controversial gesture that started during the preseason and one that many consider to be a sign of disrespect to the American flag.

Retired NBA star Duncan's ex-financial adviser charged with fraud

Retired NBA superstar Tim Duncan's former financial adviser has been indicted on federal fraud charges accusing him of bilking the long-time San Antonio Spurs player out of millions of dollars, court papers unsealed on Friday showed. Charles Banks, 49, was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of federal wire fraud on suspicion of defrauding Duncan, U.S. prosecutors in Texas said. Banks headed a Colorado-based business called Gameday Entertainment.

Thompson seals sprint supremacy on golden night in Brussels

Jamaica's double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson confirmed her sprint queen status with an emphatic 100 meters victory on Friday at a season-ending Diamond League meeting packed with gold medal winners in Brussels. Thompson led from the blocks and was never challenged as she set a Brussels meeting record of 10.72 seconds, just one-hundredth of a second outside her winning time in Rio.

09/09/2016 19:53