Kobe sees dominant performance by Gilas Cadets in Kuala Lumpur meet
UPLB exempted from SEA Games class suspension K-pop star Jung Joon-young convicted of gang rape, spycam crimes Photo from Fiba.comNineteen-year-old basketball sensation Kobe Paras said Gilas Pilipinas will be a dominant force in the coming Southeast Asian Games and doesn’t mind taking a reduced role in the team’s gold-medal bid.“You can see the lineup, this is the best I’ve been part of,” said Paras, who has played in the US NCAA Division I, during a sendoff for Team Philippines Thursday night. “My teammates, when I was in high school, these guys are the ones I looked up to.”ADVERTISEMENT Catriona Gray spends Thanksgiving by preparing meals for people with illnesses Gilas Pilipinas routs Iraq, stays unscathed in Fiba Asia Cup Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC MOST READ SEA Games in Calabarzon safe, secure – Solcom chief Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games LATEST STORIES Read Next Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Paras, whose father Benjie also won for the country a SEA Games gold, added that he will be taking on whatever role the coach requires of him.“You know I’m not selfish,” he said. “I won’t walk in and be like I wanna be the main scorer or anything like that. If coach tells me to defend, I’ll defend the best player out there. If he tells me to rebound, I’m gonna do it as much as I can.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout View comments LOOK: Venues for 2019 SEA Games WATCH: Streetboys show off slick dance moves in Vhong Navarro’s wedding
Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion He along with newcomers Luc Mbah a Moute and PJ Tucker were brought in to give superstar James Harden more support as the Rockets seek to challenge the Golden State Warriors’ hegemony in the Western Conference.Paul, who was hurt when he banged knees with Memphis Grizzlies guard Mario Chalmers in a pre-season game, was hampered by the knee in Tuesday’s season-opening triumph over the Warriors.He scored just four points and handed out 11 assists and sat out the Rockets’ game at Sacramento the following night.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Read Next Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games MOST READ Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 LATEST STORIES Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC
Kin of Misamis Oriental hero cop to get death benefits, award — PNP QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort “It’s not a tear or something like that. It’s a bruise. We just have to make sure he’s 100 percent the next time he plays.“I don’t think there’s (concern). All indications are he should be OK.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutBut the New York Times and ESPN were among the outlets reporting that Paul could be sidelined for a month. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, said the team had been making inquiries about acquiring a fill-in point guard.Nine-time All-Star Paul joined the Rockets in the off-season via a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets checks on referee Tre Maddox #73 after he fell during their NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on October 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFPHouston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni downplayed the seriousness of point guard Chris Paul’s knee injury, but US media reported Friday he could miss up to four weeks.“It’s only a bump,” D’Antoni told reporters as he revealed Paul would sit out Saturday’s home opener against the Dallas Mavericks.ADVERTISEMENT Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Back to square one View comments CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA
View comments Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Read Next Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH LATEST STORIES QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion PH women’s volleyball team motivated to deliver in front of hometown crowd PLAY LIST 02:25PH women’s volleyball team motivated to deliver in front of hometown crowd00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games Nguyen ready for jeers as he fights hometown hero Folayang
CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA John Lloyd Cruz a dashing guest at Vhong Navarro’s wedding Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. MOST READ “I don’t see anything wrong with what Gretchel did. In fact she should be commended for helping in this fund-raising event by her participation,” said Ricky Palou, president of Sports Vision, which organizes the PVL.“The suspension and hefty fine on Soltones by the PSL officials is absurd and totally uncalled for,” Palou said in a statement. “In the first place, Soltones has no contract with the PSL. She is only on loan to the team of Iriga as her mother league is the PVL.”Palou added that the PVL All Star was scheduled at the start of the 2017 season, before Soltones agreed to play on loan for Team Iriga.Team Iriga could not vote during the deliberation.ADVERTISEMENT PSL representatives voted 7-0, upholding the league’s decision to ban and fine Soltones.Team Iriga, however, does not have a contract yet with Soltones, to the dismay of league officials who have imposed a rule on all teams to sign their players to a minimum of one year with a one-league rider in the contract, meaning players are not allowed to play outside of the PSL while they are under contract with their respective teams.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutMinus the contract, it isn’t clear if Soltones herself would pay the fine or how the PSL plans to extract the sanction from the San Sebastian star.Soltones saw action in a one-game affair dubbed the PVL All-Star Game. The charity match was held to raise funds for the benefit of HERO Foundation. Philippine Superliga team owners unanimously voted to deny the appeal by Team Iriga to reconsider Grethcel Soltones’ one-year ban and P50,000 fine as penalties for playing in an unsanctioned match outside of the league.The decision was branded “absurd” by the Premier Volleyball League, where Soltones plays, saying the power-hitting star merely did her part to raise funds for a foundation established to raise scholarship funds for children of soldiers who gave up their lives in the line of duty.ADVERTISEMENT
View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa MOST READ Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH The 14-time major champion has not played since February after undergoing surgery following a recurrence of back problems which forced him to miss the 2015-2016 season.“There’s no pressure. I think it’s a 17- or 18-man field, there’s no cut, he’s playing at a tournament where last year I think he had the most birdies at,” Day said at the Australian Open in Sydney.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout“From what I see on Instagram and what he’s been telling me, he says he’s ready and I’m hoping that he is, because from what I hear, he’s hitting it very long.“And if he’s hitting it long and straight, then that’s going to be tough for us because it is Tiger Woods. He’s always been a clutch putter and in amongst the best and it will be interesting to see.” Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games LATEST STORIES Kris Aquino ‘pretty chill about becoming irrelevant’ Woods is included in an 18-man field which features many of world golf’s elite, including world number one Dustin Johnson and world number two Jordan Spieth.“I have no idea where his game’s at because the last time I spent time with him he wasn’t even hitting full swings yet,” Spieth said in Sydney.“But he was confident coming off of this last surgery to get back into it and to be able to have the time necessary and strength to practise as much injury free as possible.”‘Best he’s felt in years’Woods has not played competitively since February, when he withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic.ADVERTISEMENT Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC He underwent surgery in April, his fourth operation on his troublesome back, and has been posting videos of himself in practice.He announced he would be making his comeback at the Hero World Challenge, an invitational event to benefit his charity foundation.“I did talk to him and he did say it’s the best he’s ever felt in three years,” said Day, a friend and confidant of Woods.“He doesn’t wake up with pain anymore, which is great. I said to him, ‘Look, it’s great to be one of the best players ever to live, but health is one thing that we all take for granted and if you can’t live a happy, healthy life, then that’s difficult’.“I totally understand where he’s coming from, because sometimes I wake up in the morning and it takes me 10 minutes to get out of bed, and for him to be in pain for three years is very frustrating.”Woods, who last won a major in 2008, has also battled personal demons. In May, he was arrested for driving under the influence after being found asleep in his Mercedes-Benz by a roadside.Woods, who was found to have five drugs including the powerful opioid hydrocodone in his system, later revealed he underwent professional treatment to help him manage his medications.Under a plea agreement reached in Palm Beach County, north of Miami, Woods will avoid jail time unless he commits major violations of his probation. Read Next Late rally pushes Lakers past Bulls Jason Day of Australia reacts to his tee shot during the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International golf club in Shanghai on October 27, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / GOH CHAI HINJason Day assured Tiger Woods on Wednesday that he’s under “no pressure” ahead of his long-awaited comeback at an exclusive invitational tournament next week.Day, a former world number one, said Woods had told him he feels ready for his return at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.ADVERTISEMENT
Roach: Pacquiao is the most skilled fighter in the world2.6K viewsSportsVentuno Web Player 4.51 Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students PLAY LIST 01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next View comments BREAKING: Cop killed, 11 hurt in Misamis Oriental grenade blast The 38-year-old Pacquiao is currently in the middle of training camp for his fight against unheralded Jeff Horn set on July 2 in Brisbane, Australia.McGregor, who reportedly had submitted his application for a boxing license from Nevada State Athletic Commission two weeks ago, hasn’t fought since successfully defending his UFC lightweight title with a second-round stoppage over Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.Mayweather, meanwhile, has stayed true to his word and hasn’t fought since announcing his retirement following his lopsided victory over Andre Berto in September 2015.Fernandez: Team Pacquiao likes a challenge4.3K viewsNewsVentuno Web Player 4.51 “It has to be a boxing match of course, in a boxing ring, in a boxing gloves and boxing rules,” Roach said on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay. “The thing is, Manny is a world champion boxer and the other guy is a UFC fighter. If he wants to cross over, I have no problem with that.”“I don’t think the two sports really match up well. Whoever rules we go by I think is going to be the winner. If it’s a wrestling match, he’ll probably beat Mayweather and Manny but if it’s a boxing match, I think Mayweather and Manny will both absolutely beat him up,” he said.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingRoach was asked about the possibility of Pacquiao taking on Mayweather after Bob Arum, who promotes the WBO welterweight champion, told TMZ that the Filipino ring icon will be available if the two fail to come to terms.Mayweather and McGregor have been teasing sporting fans about potential megafight since 2015 with their interminable belabor well-documented all over their social media accounts. Pacquiao sparring partner predicts 7th round KO for Manny4.1K viewsSportsVentuno Web Player 4.51 Pagasa: Storm intensifies as it nears PAR BSP survey: PH banks see bright horizon amid dark global recession clouds
Palace: Duterte to hear out security execs on alleged China control of NGCP BREAKING: Cop killed, 11 hurt in Misamis Oriental grenade blast Every 18 seconds someone is diagnosed with HIV MOST READ ADVERTISEMENT Pacquiao happy with conditioning 1 month before fight2.6K viewsSportsVentuno Web Player 4.51 Freddie Roach answers questions from the media after the PSA Forum Tuesday. Photo by Mark GiongoFreddie Roach sees no problem with the idea of his prized student Manny Pacquiao fighting Conor McGregor as long as it will be a boxing match.Roach, the Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer, is also certain that both Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has been rumored to fight McGregor, will dominate the MMA superstar inside the boxing ring.ADVERTISEMENT Cayetano dares Lacson, Drilon to take lie-detector test: Wala akong kinita sa SEA Games NBA: Tony Parker denies retirement rumors, expects to return by January LATEST STORIES
At the 1982 Delhi Asian Games, a capacity crowd watched in horror as Pakistan slammed seven goals past India on way to the gold medal.On Sunday, there was redemption of sorts at the same venue as the hosts exorcised the ghosts with a 7-4 defeat of their traditional rivals as they sealed a semi-final spot in men’sSandeep Singh (centre) was in phenomenal form, scoring twice.It was one of those occasions which does justice to the sport’s stature as the national game as the supporters and players displayed a passion rarely seen. Sandeep Singh, who has a habit of shining against the neighbours, was one of the stars, scoring two goals and setting up another.Shivendra Singh contributed two of his own while Danish Mujtaba, Sarvanjit Singh and Dharamvir Singh too chipped in to seal a memorable evening. India now take on England in the semi-finals on Tuesday in their quest of a first medal in men’s hockey at the Commonwealth Games.The noise made by the capacity crowd at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium made one’s own voice difficult to hear.The music played out by the public address system at every opportunity gave the occasion a rock concert feel. It brought back memories of the clash between the two sub-continent rivals at the World Cup at the same venue earlier this year.As on that occasion, Sandeep rose to the occasion with two penalty corner conversions in quick succession. India grabbed hold of the match from the first whistle itself and were ahead in the third minute.advertisementThe first penalty corner had India off to a dream start as Sandeep found the roof of the net with his drag-flick. The game was mostly confined to the Pakistan territory as the team from across the border was just trying to hold on.The next three penalty corners did not yield any result, but the fifth in the 11th minute saw Sandeep finding the corner to double India’s lead.By now, the visitors were rattled and started making errors in passing and trapping. Sandeep, whose prowess from open play has been questioned a few times, then found a sublime diagonal pass to an unmarked Shivendra, who found the target through the legs of Pakistan goalkeeper Imran Shah, who was coming off a stellar display against world champions Australia on Saturday.The sixth penalty corner for India saw another goal as the custodian made a smart save, only for Sarvanjit to find the net from the baseline. From Pakistan’s second penalty corner, they got a penalty stroke for an infringement by Vikram Pillay on the line.Muhammad Imran made no mistake and Pakistan revived their hopes of a comeback when Muhammad Rizwan deflected in a hit from Muhammad Irfan for their second goal. A draw would have taken Pakistan through and they would have thought they had a chance at half-time.But the hosts would have none of it as they kept their foot firmly on the throttle in the second period.
For those who have still not got over the way New Delhi wowed the world at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, Friday is going to be a big surprise when Guangzhou showcases its culture, spirit and technical wizardry at the Asian Games opening ceremony.At 8:45 pm sharp local time (6:15 pm IST), on both sides of the Pearl River, the opening ceremony will begin and there is talk that this will be something even more pulsating than what Beijing had to show to the world at the Olympics in 2008.’Ever Onward’ has been the Asian Games slogan. In a literal sense, China will prove this on Friday as, for the first time, the opening ceremony will not be held inside a stadium but outdoors.Experts who have had a sneak preview of the show say that “nothing like this has ever happened before” as close to 14,000 athletes are expected to be paraded on the riverfront in boats.As if this is not enough, talk veers around to who will light the Games cauldron. As has been the case at the Olympics and Asian Games, lighting the cauldron is a big event. And who will do it is being debated. Apparently, six temporary stages have been erected on both banks of the river for the opening show. The grand show will also demonstrate the south China culture.Chen Weiya, chief director of the opening ceremony told the media that this opening ceremony will “break away from the confines of stadiums and use the city itself as background. You will see athletes parade into the ceremony on boats”.advertisementHuge LED screens will also be in place for people to see how China is ready to wow the world. Just to jog the readers’ memory, children have played a key role in opening ceremonies. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Nikki Webster had created a wave and in 2008 in Beijing, Lin Miaoke was the talking point.There is speculation that this time, too, the opening ceremony will feature talented children. In New Delhi, when traditional martial art forms were shown, people liked it. Wushu, a Chinese martial art, could be something big on Friday.That apart, explosive lighting, high-decibel fireworks and laser shows could turn out to be the talking point of the Asian Games.As far as the sporting events that begin a day later are concerned, China is set to retain the tag of the best country in Asia with a rich medal haul. As a nation which takes great pride in sporting excellence, the way China has emerged as a superpower is well known.What is even more surprising is they are keen to do well even in a sport like cricket, which they have taken to recently. Against such a backdrop, where Japan and Korea will also fight for overall supremacy, it will be interesting to see how India fares.After the highs of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), where India finished second in the medals tally behind Australia, it would be improper to think India will come up with a similar medal tally. At the last Asian Games in Doha, India finished with a tally of 53 medals (10 gold, 17 silver and 26 bronze).This time around, even though India did well in the CWG, expecting the athletes to again peak in such a short time span would be asking too much. Perhaps, in sports where only skill counts, one can hope the athletes will maintain focus. However, to expect India to shoot down the same number of medals in shooting, or expect Saina Nehwal to be a sure shot for gold in badminton, is unrealistic.The focus will be on men’s hockey in a big way, though making predictions will be foolhardy. If the CWG showing came as a surprise, one again expects that in cue sports, kabaddi, chess and golf, India can do well. But certainly not in tennis, where the depth is suspect.
Star cueist Pankaj Advani provided the first gold for India in the 16th Asian Games by clinching the title in billiards singles while Alok Kumar claimed a bronze in 8-ball pool event and the shooters accounted for a silver and bronze on the second day of competitions in Guangzhou on Sunday. MEDAL TALLYDefending champion Advani kept his reputation intact with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Myanmar’s Oo Nay Thway in the billiards final as India pushed their medals tally to one gold, three silver and two bronze to retain their fifth position on the table.Hosts China continued to rule the roost and maintained the top position on the medals table with a tally of 37-14-12 while South Korea (13-10-12) and Japan (8-20-15) were in the second and third spots respectively.The shooters were again in the spotlight with Heena Siddhu, Annu Raj Singh and Sania Rai claiming the silver in the women’s 10 m air pistol team event and Vijay Kumar bagging the bronze in the men’s 10 m air pistol at the Aoti shooting range.Alok became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal in pool events by bagging a bronze though he lost his semifinal contest 5-7 against Kuo Po-Cheng of Chinese Taipei.Under rules of the event, both the losing semifinalists are awarded a bronze each instead of playing a third-place play-off.India’s men’s tennis team also assured itself of a bronze medal by securing a place in the semi-finals against top seed Chinese Taipei but the performance in other disciplines such as weightlifting, judo, swimming, cycling and triathlon left much to be desired on a day of mixed fortunes.advertisementThe day clearly belonged to the 25-year-old Advani who showed nerves of steel under severe pressure to clinch the first gold medal for India when he came twice from behind to edge out Myanmar’s Oo Nay Thway 3-2 and retain his title after a bitterly fought billiards singles final.Advani was down 1-2 after losing the first and third frames, but fought back in dogged fashion to clinch the fourth to take the match into a nerve-wracking final frame.A beaming Advani, who has won the world professional and IBSF titles in the past, said this was the biggest title of his career.”This feels great. This is Olympics for me as unfortunately we are not there in the Olympics. This time I made it a point to win the first gold for the country. It’s an absolutely emotional moment for me. I cant’t ask for more,” he said.After Narang’s exploits on the opening day, the Indian women shooters Heena Sidhu, Annu Raj Singh and Sonia Rai had their moment of glory as they won the silver medal in the 10m Air Pistol team event.With inputs from PTI
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New Zealand have played just four international matches against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla in 55 years of cricket exchanges and have not won a single match at the historical venue.New Zealand PM John Keys is expected to visit Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium a visit on June 27.So, when New Zealand Prime Minister John Key goes to the Kotla on June 27 he would wish that his visit brings luck to his national team the next time it plays a Test match or a One-day International (ODI) the longstanding jinx is broken.New Zealand have played two Tests and two ODIs and India have won one Test and both ODIs. No Test between the two teams has been played since 1965 at the Kotla while the last one-dayer was played in November 1999. No match is scheduled in the immediate future.DDCA vice-president Suresh Chopra said it would be an honour for the historical ground to host the Kiwi prime minister.”It will be a 45-minute visit, as they have told us. A delegation of the high commission, led by high commissioner (Jan Henderson), visited the Kotla a few days ago to inspect the ground. We asked them to send us a letter giving details of the programme and also what they want from us,” Chopra told MAIL TODAY.”During the visit, Fleming would be playing a 10-minute game with some children of a school the high commission is associated with. The game will be played on one of the practice pitches,” he said.advertisementKey may deliver a short speech while the DDCA may host high tea for the high-profile delegation that also includes the travelling New Zealand media. The Indian media, said Chopra, would also be invited.Amanda Vercoe, second secretary at the New Zealand High Commission here, said that visiting the Kotla was among the options for Key.”Kotla is among a wide range of options we have for the prime minister. But nothing has been finalised as yet,” Vercoe told MAIL TODAY.It is learnt that if Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who are recuperating from shoulder injuries, are in town and available on that day, they would most probably be present on the occasion.Chennai Super Kings’ coach Stephen Fleming and captain MS Dhoni.Chopra said Key is visiting Kotla possibly to organise some sort of felicitation for former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming for his role in Chennai Super Kings’ successful Indian Premier League campaigns.Key, 49, is leading a 25-strong trade delegation on his three-day state visit and he is schedule to visit Agra and Mumbai too.That he has managed to squeeze time out from his tight schedule to visit the Kotla conveys about his love for sports.Key will be departing his country on June 26 and returning on July 1, as per a New Zealand government statement. Besides New Delhi, the delegation will visit Agra and Mumbai.It will be the second visit by a prime minister to a Delhi stadium in less than a year. On July 29 last year, British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was leading a high profile delegation, comprising Olympians Sebastian Coe and Sir Steve Redgrave, visited the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and played soft-ball cricket with Kapil Dev on the artificial hockey turf.Among those present were former cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi, legendary athlete Milkha Singh and the 1975 World Cup- winning hockey captain Ajit Pal Singh.
The Indian hockey team had a longish workout under a clear sky at the Riverbank arena on Wednesday evening.Doubts were raised over the fitness of two key players – Sardar Singh and Ignace Tirkey. However, watching them stretch, train and play a short game, they looked quite comfortable on the blue turf.To someone watching the new turf for the first time, the colour is a bit jarring on the eye. But most changes in the field of play these days are being done with television in mind. Even though the fluorescent green ball travelled quite fast, the dark pink border around the turf again hit the naked eye.Coach Michael Nobbs was quite relaxed after practice when he spoke to Mail Today. “You have seen the entire team at practice and train, so it’s clear there are no fitness issues,” said Nobbs.In his view, the best 12 teams on planet are playing the men’s hockey competition at the Olympics. “It doesn’t matter whether you are back in the Olympic fold after eight years. What matters is the top teams are here and have done so after proper qualification. And India is one of them,” said Nobbs.The Riverbank stadium is a temporary structure and very different from the Capital’s National Stadium. The entire seating is on a temporary steel structure and the view is good.Talking about the weather, Nobbs wished it gets as hot as possible. “That’s the weather which should suit our boys,” feels Nobbs.As regards predictions, Nobbs wasn’t willing to be drawn into a deep conversation. “The first match is against Holland and you know what kind of a record they have in the last three Olympics. Then you have Germany, so it can’t get any tougher,” he said.advertisement”The team has to believe in itself and we will see. There are still a few days to go,” said Nobbs, who became a hero after India won the Olympic qualifier earlier this year. Meanwhile, penalty corner specialist Sardar Singh was also happy. “The turf is now playing better and the bounce is more even. The mood in the Indian camp is good,” he added.
In a slugfest that could be embarrassing for the nation, Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi traded high-decibel verbal volleys on Saturday about the scam-tainted Pune MP’s sojourn to the London Olympics.The minister maintained that “someone charge-sheeted on corruption charges should not got for the Olympics,” Kalmadi insisted that no charge had been proven against him.But Maken held his ground. “I think it is inappropriate for me to comment on someone who is facing corruption charges in a court of law and has been suspended by the Congress party,” Maken said in a telecom with Mail Today. Special CBI judge Talwant Singh had on Friday allowed Kalmadi to visit London for the Olympics as a council member of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).Asked how Kalmadi’s presence would harm the Indian contingent in London, Maken said emphatically: “I am convinced that the presence of Kalmadi at the London Olympics will not be good for the morale of Indian athletes. After all, we have a strong contingent going this time. It has trained hard and has good chances of winning medals.”Kalmadi countered by saying he could not understand what the fuss was all about. “I honestly feel it’s a needless controversy,”he said from Pune. “I strongly feel this vilification campaign by Maken is meant to cause a split between officials and Indian athletes participating in the Olympics.”The battle of egos between Kalmadi and Maken dates back to the latter’s appointment as sports minister last year after financial irregularities during the conduct of the Commonwealth Games came to light.advertisementM. S. Gill’s ouster had paved the way for Maken and at the very start of his tenure, the sports minister made his intentions clear, targeting Kalmadi and his close aides who had been holding top positions in various sports bodies for decades.Six months after being granted bail, Kalmadi resumed his tirade against Maken, who often attracted headlines for his criticism of the top bosses of Indian sports bodies.Maken had claimed he would ensure Kalmadi is not part of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) delegation for the Olympics. A miffed Kalmadi on Saturday said that by making such statements, Maken was infringing on the autonomy of the IOA and called for the sports minister’s removal.”I was quite shocked and dismayed to read Ajay Maken’s reaction to the court’s decision to grant me permission to visit London for the forthcoming Olympic Games,” Kalmadi said. “In view of Maken going against the court decision, which is quite unbecoming of a sports minister, I request our Prime Minister to ask for Maken’s resignation for making such comments and statements.”Besides being an IAAF council member, Kalmadi is also the president of the Asian Athletics Association and claims that he will be in London to attend an IAAF meeting, which coincides with the Olympics. “Maken threatening the IOA that he would try to ensure I was not part of the Indian delegation shows lack of knowledge about the functioning of autonomous sports bodies,” Kalmadi said. “I don’t need any support from the sports ministry,”he added.With pressure mounting after his release on bail, Kalmadi was forced to distance himself from IOA activities with Vijay Kumar Malhotra taking over the reins. The IOA has made it clear he will not be a part of its delegation in London.”Suresh Kalmadi is not a member of the IOA delegation. The Indian contingent was finalised a month back and Mr Kalmadi does not figure in it,” Malhotra, who’s the acting IOA president, said.Malhotra also chose the opportunity to slam Maken and said the sports ministry should have first verified whether Kalmadi was ever included among the IOA delegates.”Kalmadi never asked IOA to make him a part of its delegation,”Malhotra said. “The ministry should have verified the facts from the IOA before writing the letter. The sports ministry’s letter asking the IOA not to provide any assistance or help to Kalmadi holds no ground as he is not going to London as part of the Indian contingent.”News of Kalmadi’s possible presence at the Olympics, meanwhile, met with mixed reactions. Athletics coach Bahadur Singh, whose acolytes were at the podium during the Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guangzhou Asian Games, did not see any reason for the ruckus.Bahadur said Kalmadi’s presence would encourage the Indian athletes and pointed that no charges have been proven so far against him.”Why will athletes be discouraged by Kalmadi’s presence in London?” Bahadur continued. “Rather it will encourage them if he meets them. He has been associated with Indian athletics for the last 15-20 years. He is well known in international athletics as he is an IAAF council member,”he said and added: “He is not guilty till the court gives its verdict.”advertisementShiny Wilson, who won the 800m gold at the 1985 Asian Championships, also backed Kalmadi. “It’s good for Indian sports that he (Kalmadi) is going to London,” Shiny said. “He has done a lot of good for Indian sports, especially athletics. He has helped athletics grow in the country.”The last has not been heard on the verbal duels between Kalmadi and Maken as the minister is also going to be present in London. Sources said the Congress may soon give the party line on the controversy. Till then, the verbal jousting may just continue.
Singer Asha Bhosle has said that her daughter Varsha committed suicide here with a pistol that belonged to her and which she had lost nearly 30 years ago, police said.Varsha, 56, shot herself in the head recently. She was the second of the three children of Asha and Ganpatrao Bhosle and stayed mostly with her mother at Prabhu Kunj building in south Mumbai’s Peddar Road.Initially, police recovered a Belgian-made pistol from the spot which was registered in the name of Anand, Asha Bhosle’s youngest son.”We spoke to Asha briefly Tuesday night, when she claimed that her daughter committed suicide with the pistol she had lost. Asha had informed police about the lost pistol and her licence had been revoked,” Inspector Pradip Lonandkar said.Lonandkar said that police also have another pistol in their possession registered in the name of Anand. “Anand is not in town and might return soon. We are likely to question him Thursday,” he said.Investigators said that they were inquiring how Varsha found the lost pistol and whether she had hidden the weapon 30 years ago.Police sources said that the post mortem report confirmed that Varsha died of haemorrhagic shock due to bullet injuries. Three loaded cartridges were also found in the pistol she used to kill herself.Varsha, who used to work as a freelance journalist, was divorced from sports journalist Hemant Kenkre. She wrote columns for web portal Rediff.com, The Sunday Observer newspaper and the Gentleman magazine, among others.She had also been a playback singer for some Hindi and Marathi movies and performed in a few concerts alongside her mother.She was depressed for many years and had also tried to commit suicide in 2008 and 2010 by consuming heavy doses of sleeping pills.advertisement
Neil Etheridge. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netNeil Etheridge more or less knew he was on the block as far as booking a slot in the Philippine team that will make a maiden appearance in the Asian Cup next month.Etheridge, who has 62 caps with the Azkals, understood that it would be unfair to the other squad hopefuls if he were given a slot when he can only play one game for the country owing to his obligations to English Premier League club Cardiff City.ADVERTISEMENT View comments MOST READ The players picked by Eriksson and his staff have 608 appearances for the national team between them with Phil and James Younghusband arguably the biggest names and with the most number of caps with 105 and 100, respectively.Paul Mulders is the oldest player in the side at 37 years old, while Patrick Strauss is the youngest at 22.Miguel Tanton, one of the top midfielders in the Philippines Football League, who signed with Ceres-Negros recently, was a surprise inclusion as he was not part of any of the squads in the buildup to the tournament.“I think we have formed a great group of players ready to represent the country in our biggest tournament yet,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.The Azkals flew to Doha, Qatar, last Friday for the final stretch of their preparations that will include a friendly with Vietnam on New Year’s Eve.Among those who were also surprisingly left out of the team were defenders Amani Aguinaldo and Martin Steuble, who were both part of the squad that reached the semifinal of the AFF Suzuki Cup.Aguinaldo, however, will participate in the Azkals’ camp in Doha together with youngsters Marco Casambre and Jarvey Gayoso.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next PH’s Nietes shoots for historic stardom PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss LATEST STORIES Is Luis Manzano planning to propose to Jessy Mendiola? Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. SEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion
Hotel management clarifies SEAG footballers’ kikiam breakfast issue LOOK: Joyce Pring goes public with engagement to Juancho Triviño SEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion “It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” Etheridge told the Inquirer on opting to focus on the Premier League. “As people know, I’ve worked so hard to be playing every week in the Premier League. After a long discussion with people involved, it would be unfair for me to take a spot of another player.”Etheridge was left out of the squad because he can only commit to play for one match—against South Korea on Jan. 7—as Cardiff City is currently locked in a tight battle to stay in the top flight in England.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSUrgent reply from Philippine football chief“It’s a fantastic competition and a competition that everyone in Philippine football have worked hard to be a part of,” said Etheridge.“And unfortunately, the Asian Cup falls in January which is a frustration for players like myself when we’re still in season. I don’t believe this will be the final time that we reach the Asian Cup and in the future when situations change, I hope to be a part of it.” With Etheridge out, Michael Falkesgaard is a lock to be the Azkals No. 1 with newcomer Kevin Ray Hansen, who plays for AC Horsens in the Danish League, as his backup.The team will have a third keeper in Ace Villanueva, one of just two homegrown players in the squad, the other being Jovin Bedic.The Azkals, though will still have a veteran team when it marches to battle in the United Arab Emirates.Phil Younghusband and Stephan Schrock will lead the Philippines as the 23-man squad announced late Thursday evening.Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has assembled a squad with an average age of 28 for the continental showpiece event, where the Azkals will be in a challenging group that includes South Korea, China and Kyrgyzstan.ADVERTISEMENT Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting BREAKING: Corrections officer shot dead in front of Bilibid TS Kammuri to enter PAR possibly a day after SEA Games opening
TS Kammuri to enter PAR possibly a day after SEA Games opening Hotel management clarifies SEAG footballers’ kikiam breakfast issue Iguodala, unable to corral a loose ball before the halftime buzzer, then heaved it from half court over the basket and into the crowd.He was issued the technical foul and tossed from the game for a “hostile act”.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSUrgent reply from Philippine football chiefSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionWarriors coach Steve Kerr wasn’t surprised that Iguodala was ejected.“If you throw something into the stands — a mouthpiece, a ball or whatever — you get ejected,” Kerr said. “I guess the distinction the officials had to make was, was that a shot? Was he just throwing the ball toward the hoop at the end of the half? Was it out of frustration? And they deemed it was out of frustration.” Is Luis Manzano planning to propose to Jessy Mendiola? PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting PBA players look back at ups and downs in 2018 as they welcome new year View comments SEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion LATEST STORIES Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next BREAKING: Corrections officer shot dead in front of Bilibid SEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completion Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on December 3, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFPGolden State swingman Andre Iguodala has been fined $25,000 for “recklessly” throwing a ball into the stands during a game on Saturday, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said Monday.Iguodala received a technical foul and was ejected from the game after the incident, which occurred after time expired in the second quarter of the Warriors 115-105 victory over the Trail Blazers in Portland.ADVERTISEMENT LOOK: Joyce Pring goes public with engagement to Juancho Triviño Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. MOST READ
Chima OkorieThe greatest sporting spectacle on earth is back to its spiritual home, and sitting in India, I can only imagine the excitement level of the millions of fans who have descended on Brazil to witness the biggest celebration of the ‘beautiful game’.TeamworkBy the time you read this, the World Cup would already be underway with the home side having played Croatia in the opening match. And boy, what an opportunity it is for the ‘Selecao’ to put a smile on the faces of its citizens, who have seen some torrid times in the form of nationwide protests in the build up to the World Cup. I firmly believe if the South Americans can light up the big stage, it would not take much time for their countrymen to start supporting the World Cup. I also feel that it will need a team effort to affect this turnaround and not over-dependence on one person. Everybody is talking about Neymar; no doubt the kid is a special talent but this is the World Cup. A team wins it and not an individual.Most importantly, Brazil need to believe in themselves and their famous style, which has won them five World Cups, more than any other country. Apart from Brazil, my favourites for the title would be Spain and Germany. Both these countries have been very consistent and possess the talent as well as the attitude needed to be champion.Many would wonder why I am not keeping Argentina in this list, and this despite my favourite player being the Argentine striker Mario Kempes, whose long-haired looks were as elegant as his playing style.advertisementThe reason is that I firmly believe they are a one-man team, despite the plethora of big names on the team sheet. If Lionel Messi is off-colour, then Argentina are offcolour. No doubt they will be one of the top contenders, but I have my inhibitions about if they can go all the way.Nobody questions Messi’s abilities and I am a big admirer too, but I have always believed in team play rather than individual brilliance. Let me remind you, this is the World Cup and nobody is a mere pretender here. Everybody has the ability to upset the strongest rivals on their day.Coming from Nigeria, I know how the small teams feel when it comes to facing their big brothers in the football world. It’s a chance for them to show the world what they are capable of. My country will also be competing in this edition but if anyone asks which African nation has the chance to succeed the most, I would go for Ghana.They have young and energetic players and again, they play as a team. I believe they have the ability to reach the semifinals, a feat which has never been achieved by an African country. From Asia, my pick would be Japan. They have progressed gradually over the years and their rise as Asian giants has a lot to do with the focused planning of their football administrators.YoungstersObviously, the traditional powerhouses will have an upper hand but football is a celebration of life. And what’s life without surprises?It’s for this same reason that I would rather watch the young guns than superstars. Everybody knows Messi or Ronaldo or Sergio Aguero are the top contenders for the Golden Boot. But why look at the established stars? I would rather not sleep at night this whole month to see new players making waves at the grandest stage. Let me tell you, any youngster who shows the gumption to fight against the strongest opponents will be a star for the future.MadnessPersonally, I would like to see how Belgium’s Adnan Januzaj performs. He has been a special talent for Manchester United and now is the right time for him to perform for his country. As a player, whatever may be your record for the club, performing with the national jersey on gives you real pleasure.The first World Cup I remember is the 1978 edition where my hero Kempes was the top-scorer and his Argentine side won the title. As I see football now, it has become a lot faster and more exciting than in the seventies or eighties. Obviously, it’s much more commercialised now but it is also a lot more professional.And it makes things better for the fans – the ultimate reason why the players take the field. I sincerely hope this World Cup too gives the supporters moments which they will cherish for their whole lives. Brazil is a colourful country and it will no doubt embrace the world in its very own way. There’s music, there’s joy and most importantly there’s football in every corner of that country. And trust me, even the most dispassionate of the lot won’t be able to escape this madness.advertisementSo, fans get ready for a month-long celebration of love, life and of course ‘Jogo bonito’ or the beautiful game. It’s going to be one hell of a ride. Cheers! Okorie is a Nigerian footballer who has played for many Indian clubs and stays in India. He spoke to Abhishek Paul
FILE – In this Nov. 14, 2018, file photo, Michael Avenatti speaks to the media outside the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division after posting bail for a felony domestic violence charge. U.S. prosecutors announced Monday, March 25, 2019 they have charged Avenatti with extortion and bank and wire fraud. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles said Avenatti was arrested Monday in New York. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker, File)NEW YORK — Michael Avenatti, the pugnacious attorney best known for representing porn actress Stormy Daniels in lawsuits against President Donald Trump, was arrested Monday on charges that included trying to shake down Nike for as much as $25 million by threatening the company with bad publicity.Avenatti, who was also accused of embezzling a client’s money to pay his own expenses, was charged with extortion and bank and wire fraud in separate cases in New York and California. He was arrested at a New York law firm where he had gone to meet with Nike executives. It was just minutes after he tweeted that he planned to hold a news conference Tuesday to “disclose a major high school/college basketball scandal perpetrated by @Nike that we have uncovered.”ADVERTISEMENT Wintry storm delivers US travel woes before Thanksgiving “When lawyers use their law licenses as weapons, as a guise to extort payments for themselves, they are no longer acting as attorneys. They are acting as criminals,” said Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. attorney in New York.California investigators had been building a case against Avenatti for more than a year, but prosecutors in New York said their investigation began only last week and was completed in days.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSPalace wants Cayetano’s PHISGOC Foundation probed over corruption chargesSPORTSSingapore latest to raise issue on SEA Games food, logisticsIn the California case, Avenatti allegedly misused a client’s money to pay his debts and those of his coffee business and law firm. Federal prosecutors said he also defrauded a Mississippi bank by using phony tax returns to obtain millions of dollars in loans.The allegations “paint an ugly picture of lawless conduct and greed,” said Nick Hanna, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. Avenatti describes himself on Twitter as an attorney and advocate, but the accusations describe “a corrupt lawyer who instead fights for his own selfish interests.” Prosecutors said Avenatti and another attorney, whom they called a co-conspirator, initially approached Nike on behalf of a client who coached a Nike-sponsored Amateur Athletic Union basketball program in California.They claimed to have evidence of misconduct by Nike employees and threatened to hold a news conference last week on the eve of a company’s quarterly earnings call and the start of the NCAA tournament. Avenatti told Nike the company could either pay them $15 million to $25 million to investigate the allegations, or pay him more than $22 million for his silence, the criminal complaint said.Two people familiar with the investigation confirmed that the unidentified co-conspirator was Mark Geragos, a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer known for his work with celebrities. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not made public by prosecutors.Geragos, a CNN contributor, has a client list that has included Michael Jackson, Winona Ryder, Scott Peterson and most recently Jussie Smollett, the actor accused of fabricating a racist, anti-gay attack in Chicago. Geragos did not respond to messages seeking comment. Within hours, CNN cut ties with him.While lawyers sometimes make demands to seek out-of-court settlements, they cannot threaten to go public with damaging information to get something of value or gain leverage in a civil dispute, attorney Neama Rahmani said.“The Department of Justice historically has been very cautious when charging attorneys, so they likely have evidence that Avenatti seriously crossed this line,” said Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor.Nike officials told investigators Avenatti claimed to know of rules violations by an amateur basketball team sponsored by Nike. Executives immediately reported the threats to federal authorities.The company “firmly believes in ethical and fair play, both in business and sports, and will continue to assist the prosecutors,” Nike said in a statement.He rose to national prominence by representing Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in a lawsuit to break a confidentiality agreement to speak about her alleged affair with Trump. He also made headlines in recent weeks for representing two women who accused R&B star R. Kelly of sexual abuse.Daniels said she was “saddened but not shocked” by the arrest. She issued a statement Monday on Twitter saying she fired Avenatti a month ago after “discovering that he had dealt with me extremely dishonestly.” She said she would not elaborate. Big 12 a bust with early NCAA Tournament flameouts MOST READ PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss While Avenatti’s lawsuit effectively tore up the gag order that threatened financial penalties if Daniels spoke about the case, a defamation lawsuit filed on her behalf against Trump backfired, and a court ordered her to pay the president’s $293,000 in legal fees.Avenatti himself has been dogged with tax and financial troubles in recent years.A U.S. bankruptcy court ordered his former firm to pay $10 million to a lawyer who claimed it had misstated its profits. The Justice Department also alleged Avenatti made “misrepresentations” in the bankruptcy case and said his former firm still owed more than $440,000 in unpaid federal taxes, which Avenatti dismissed as “part of a smear campaign.” He said he did not personally owe any of the money, and another lawyer later said the matter had been resolved.The bank fraud case involved $4 million in loans he got from Peoples Bank in Biloxi, which prosecutors said he obtained by filing fraudulent tax returns claiming $14 million in income over three years. However, he never filed tax returns those years, nor paid the $2.8 million he reported on the forms. In fact, he still owed more than $850,000 to the IRS at the time for previous income.Mark Pearson, the assistant agent in charge of the IRS office in LA, said Avenatti’s crimes supported a $200,000-a-month lifestyle, a car racing venture and pricey homes in the wealthy Orange County communities of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Bloomberg: US would benefit from more, not fewer, immigrants Colombia protesters vow new strike after talks hit snag Panelo: Duterte ‘angry’ with SEA Games hosting hassles View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting Google Philippines names new country director Cayetano: Senate, Drilon to be blamed for SEA Games mess Trump tells impeachment jokes at annual turkey pardon event LATEST STORIES Avenatti appeared briefly in court Monday evening in New York and was ordered released on $300,000 bond. He did not enter a plea. Emerging from the courthouse, he thanked the federal agents who arrested him for being courteous and professional.“As all of you know, for the entirety of my career I have fought against the powerful. Powerful people and powerful corporations. I will never stop fighting that good fight,” he said. “I am highly confident that when all the evidence is laid bare in connection with these cases, when it is all known, when due process occurs, that I will be fully exonerated and justice will be done.”The arrest was a sharp reversal of fortune for the 48-year-old lawyer, who, less than a year ago, emerged as a leading figure in the anti-Trump movement, with relentless cable news appearances, a hard-punching style and a knack for obtaining information about others’ wrongdoing. At one point, he even flirted with a presidential run.Donald Trump Jr. gloated over the arrest on Twitter.“Good news for my friend @MichaelAvenatti, if you plead fast enough, you might just get to share a cell with Michael Cohen!” he wrote, referring to the former Trump lawyer set to go to prison next month for crimes that include orchestrating hush-money payments to Daniels. Trump mocked Avenatti by ending with the lawyer’s trademark hashtag #basta, an Italian word meaning “enough.”ADVERTISEMENT
The game swung when Indiana guard Cory Joseph was called for a Flagrant 1 foul with 6:45 left. Jayson Tatum made both free throws to give Boston an 83-82 lead. After Al Horford made 1 of 2 free throws on Boston’s next possession and then Morris knocked down a 3 and Hayward completed a three-point play to give the Celtics a 90-83 advantage with 4:15 to go.Hayward and Morris were just getting started. Over the next three-plus minutes, they made three more 3s to give Boston a 102-90 lead with 1:04 to go.Even a final flurry of 3s couldn’t bail out Indiana. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points and Tyreke Evans scored a playoff career-high 21 as the Pacers got swept for the second time in three years — the only two times it has happened in franchise history. So when coach Brad Stevens was asked Saturday about how he’d react if his players earned some time off, Stevens said he wasn’t sure.Now, last year’s Eastern Conference runner-ups can start a new to-do list with a potential matchup looming against the top-seeded Bucks.“It’s going to take everything we have,” Hayward said. “That’s why it’s good we finished this series. We can rest up, prepare, and have some extra time.”Clearly, the Celtics played better than a No. 4 seed in this series.They won the first three games on the strength of a suffocating second-half defense that twice limited the Pacers 12-point quarters and once to eight. This time, they finished the job by grinding it out behind a group of polished veterans.ADVERTISEMENT Hayward scored 20 points, Morris added 18 and the duo combined for five 3s over the final 5½ minutes to give Boston a 110-106 victory and its first 4-0 series victory in eight years.“I knew there was going to be a spark off the bench. (On Sunday) and that person was Gordon Hayward,” All-Star guard Kyrie Irving said. “This is his city. I’m glad he had a chance to put on a performance like that in a closeout game.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSPalace wants Cayetano’s PHISGOC Foundation probed over corruption chargesSPORTSSingapore latest to raise issue on SEA Games food, logisticsJust how rare is a sweep for a franchise with a league-record 17 titles?Since 1986-87, the Celtics had done it just once — in the first round against the New York Knicks. And between the Celtics’ title-clinching sweep over the Minneapolis Lakers in 1958-59 and their perfect run through the 1985-86 Eastern Conference finals against Milwaukee, the Celtics achieved it just twice — in 1979 against Houston and in 1980 against Chicago. Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting While Oladipo did not talk to reporters, he did get a hug and spoke briefly with Irving after the final buzzer sounded.THEY SAID ITCeltics: “You have to earn it every time you play the Pacers,” Stevens said. “They just play so hard, and they play so together. If you take your foot off the gas at any point in time, you’re in trouble.”Pacers: “A lot of people downplayed Boston as a team,” coach Nate McMillan said. “But we knew they would get it right come playoff time.UP NEXTCeltics: Will wait for their second-round opponent.Pacers: Contemplate how to improve next season. EJ Obiena wins pole vault gold in record fashion “They got hot,” Pacers forward Thaddeus Young said. “They started making shots and we stopped making shots. That’s one of the biggest thing that’s haunted us through this whole series.”TIP-INSCeltics: Closed out the series with their seventh straight win against Indiana this season. … Irving had 14 points and seven assists. Tatum had 18 points and eight rebounds and Morris also had eight rebounds. … Al Horford had 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. … Jaylen Brown added 13 points and Terry Rozier added 11 off the bench. … Boston was 11 of 28 on 3s, 5 of 7 in the fourth.Pacers: Darren Collison had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Young added nine points and nine rebounds. … Domantas Sabonis scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Myles Turner had 13 points and seven rebounds…. The Pacers shot 40.9 percent from the field in the game and missed more than a handful of shots at the rim. …THE BIG OPacers fans welcomed back All-Star guard Victor Oladipo with a standing ovation Sunday, his first public appearance at Bankers Life Fieldhouse since he suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee.Oladipo sat safely behind Indiana’s bench, stood and waved to the crowd when he was introduced during the first stoppage in play. Boston Celtics forward Marcus Morris (13) celebrates during the second half of Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Sunday, April 21, 2019. The Celtics defeated the Pacers 110-106 to win the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)INDIANAPOLIS — Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris took care of some housecleaning Sunday.They dusted off their 3-point shooting touch in time to help the Boston Celtics complete a clean sweep.ADVERTISEMENT Philippine Arena Interchange inaugurated LATEST STORIES Hontiveros presses for security audit of national power grid Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. DA eyes importing ‘galunggong’ anew Panelo: Duterte ‘angry’ with SEA Games hosting hassles MOST READ Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Cayetano: Senate, Drilon to be blamed for SEA Games mess PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss Ethel Booba twits Mocha over 2 toilets in one cubicle at SEA Games venue SEA Games hosting troubles anger Duterte View comments
Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles02:11’Not just basketball’: Circumcisions, pageants at Philippine courts00:50Trending Articles02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss MOST READ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Panelo: Duterte ‘angry’ with SEA Games hosting hassles There’s just no quit in the Davao Occidental Tigers.Gritty and resilient, the South division champions sent the MPBL Datu Cup national finals to a winner-take-all Game 5 after hammering out a come-from-behind 77-66 victory over the San Juan Knights Monday night at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.ADVERTISEMENT SEA Games hosting troubles anger Duterte Philippine Arena Interchange inaugurated DA eyes importing ‘galunggong’ anew Ex-pro Billy Ray Robles delivered a career performance with 22 points and 18 rebounds as the Tigers clawed their way back from a 10-point deficit early in the final period, before pulling away.“Everyone in the team believed and that’s all that mattered,” said Davao coach Don Dulay. “We needed to do whatever was possible to bring the series back home. Now we have Game 5 at home. It’s going to be wild.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSPalace wants Cayetano’s PHISGOC Foundation probed over corruption chargesSPORTSSingapore latest to raise issue on SEA Games food, logisticsThe deciding game of the series is slated on Thursday at Rizal Memorial College Gym in Davao City, where the Tigers won Game 2.“The crowd will be a big help and it would be nice to play in Davao, but definitely it still depends on us,” said Dulay. The Knights grabbed a 57-47 advantage a minute into the final period, but play was stopped for five minutes after a bottle of water was thrown on the floor.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next LATEST STORIES Duterte wants probe of SEA Games mess Hontiveros presses for security audit of national power grid Cayetano: Senate, Drilon to be blamed for SEA Games mess Down 2 goals, Ceres-Negros completes jaw-dropping turnaround vs Persija Jakarta View comments
Alvarez ready to take risk vs Folayang, looks to end clash by ‘knockout or submission’ PLAY LIST 02:18Alvarez ready to take risk vs Folayang, looks to end clash by ‘knockout or submission’03:491.8M visitors expected at Manila North Cemetery for ‘Undas’ 201900:50Trending Articles02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss LATEST STORIES The main event features flyweight Muay Thai world champion Jonathan Haggerty of the United Kingdom and Rodtang Jitmuangon of Thailand in a Muay Thai Super Series showdown.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Eduard Folayang. Photo from ONE CHAMPIONSHIPMANILA, Philippines—Both seeking redemption, Eduard Folayang and Eddie Alvarez find themselves locked in a showdown in ONE: Dawn of Heroes on August 2 at Mall of Asia Arena.Folayang and Alvarez are coming off first-round losses three months ago in ONE: A New Era in Tokyo, Japan and the two are looking for a rousing return in the cage.ADVERTISEMENT The 35-year-old Folayang yielded the lightweight belt to Shinya Aoki via submission in the main event in Tokyo while Alvarez took heavy punishment from Timofey Nastukhin in the undercard.Two more Filipinos will be in action in the stacked Manila card with rising star Danny Kingad and former featherweight world champion Honorio Banario both figuring in a pair of World Grand Prix duels against separate foes.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSPalace wants Cayetano’s PHISGOC Foundation probed over corruption charges SPORTSSingapore latest to raise issue on SEA Games food, logisticsKingad faces former champion Kairat Akhmetov in a flyweight semifinal while Banario was tapped to replace Lowen Tynanes, who dropped out of the lightweight semifinal against Timofey Nastyukhin.Filipino fight fans will also get a firsthand look at one of the greatest MMA fighters ever in Demetrious Johnson, who looks to put on another fine showing in the other Flyweight World Grand Prix semifinal against Tatsumitsu Wada of Japan. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. DA eyes importing ‘galunggong’ anew Duterte wants probe of SEA Games mess Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal still lagging Novak Djokovic in rankings Ethel Booba twits Mocha over 2 toilets in one cubicle at SEA Games venue Two-day strike in Bicol fails to cripple transport Cayetano: Senate, Drilon to be blamed for SEA Games mess Catholic schools seek legislated pay hike, too MOST READ ‘Rebel attack’ no cause for concern-PNP, AFP View comments