Sports Digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Dodgers file for bankruptcy

BASEBALL:The Los Angeles Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday after Major League Baseball rejected a television deal with Fox Sports, leaving team owner Frank McCourt unable to make payroll this week.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig last week said the 17-year TV-rights deal, which McCourt valued at about $3 billion (€2.1bn), would harm the franchise in the long term. Baseball took over the Dodgers’ business operations about two months ago.

“He’s turned his back on the Dodgers, treated us differently, and forced us to the point we find ourselves in today,” McCourt said in a statement yesterday. “I simply cannot allow the commissioner to knowingly and intentionally be in a position to expose the Dodgers to financial risk any longer.” The Dodgers are one of the most storied franchises in American sports. They have won six World Series, tied for fifth most in baseball.

Perkovic facing lengthy ban

ATHLETICS:European discus champion Sandra Perkovic is waiting to find out how long she will be suspended for after failing drugs tests last month.

“Perkovic inadvertently took a food additive that contained a psycho stimulant Methylhexanamine and failed doping tests at the Diamond League meetings in Rome and Shanghai. I suppose she will be suspended for up to six months,” president of the Croatian Athletics Federation Luciano Susanj said.

Bruton puts China to sword

HOCKEY:John Bruton's thunderous first international goal saw Ireland's virtual second string notch an impressive 2-1 victory over China in a challenge match in Belfield last night.

The greens trailed at half-time to Dong Yang’s drag-flick but first Gareth Watkins finished off John Jackson’s pin-point cross and then Bruton smacked home a volley, his second touch after intercepting a loose overhead clearance.

Coach Paul Revington made 15 changes to the squad that lost 2-1 last Saturday to Pakistan in the UCD Nations Cup final, with only David Ames keeping his place.

Alan Giles made his first appearance of the summer following his wedding last Friday, while Andy McConnell flew in at short notice from his Dutch base. Eugene Magee was also a welcome returnee after a month on the sidelines through injury.

Earlier in the day, a mix of Ireland A and U-18 players tied 0-0 with Egypt, goalkeeper Dave Fitzgerald putting in a superb performance.

Federer nets most endorsements

TENNIS: Roger Federer may not be the overwhelming favourite to win Wimbledon for a seventh time but the Swiss world number three is still peerless when it comes to raking in endorsements.

The Swiss maestro features in seven of the 20 most-shared tennis advertisements in a list drawn up by Unruly Media, which calls itself “a global platform for social video advertising”.

Topping the list is the one in which Federer does a William Tell by knocking a tin can off a mans head with his laser-like serve. Some doubted the shot’s authenticity and a coy Federer stonewalled all queries, insisting a magician never reveals his tricks.

His arch-rival Rafa Nadal makes just one appearance in the list – in an Armani underwear ad.

Maria Sharapova, Li Na and Ana Ivanovic also make it on to the male-dominated list.

Haye aims to make ‘robot’ Klitschko ‘malfunction’

BOXING: David Haye yesterday labelled Wladimir Klitschko "a robot" and promised to make him "malfunction" in Saturday's world heavyweight unification bout in Hamburg. Haye, speaking at the final press conference, criticised what he perceived as Klitschko's one-dimensional style and promised he would emerge victorious at the Imtech Arena.

“Wladimir is in great shape, is mentally prepared and has viewed all the tapes on me,” he said. “But come fight night you will see something completely different and it will be great to watch this robot malfunction.”

Haye, who kept Klitschko waiting for 45 minutes, believes his greater variety could be decisive.

He added: “I am ready to do what I always promised I would do. I am healthy, the speed is ridiculous, the punch power is there . . . I am in a really good place. I am so happy the fight is happening now and not a couple of years ago as I am a much better fighter now.”

18 million watch women’s opener

SOCCER: German organisers of the women's World Cup were rubbing their hands yesterday after domestic television figures showed more than 18 million Germans tuned in at some point to watch their team's first group win over Canada.

Sunday’s game had the largest ever German TV audience for a women’s soccer game and was seen by more than twice as many people as watched German Sebastian Vettel’s Formula One victory in Spain on the same day.

“This is an outstanding figure which we never expected,” the country’s football federation chief Theo Zwanziger said in a statement. “Our expectations were exceeded by several million viewers.” Japan beat New Zealand 2-1 in yesterday’s third game of the tournament.