NHL
Boogaard’s family suing the league for wrongful death
CHICAGO – The family of a National Hockey League player who died of an accidental overdose of pain medication and alcohol has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the NHL, blaming it for brain damage he suffered as an enforcer and for his addiction to prescription painkillers.
Derek Boogaard, who was found dead on May 13, 2011, at age 28, posthumously was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain ailment that can be caused by repeated blows to the head, according to the 55-page lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court late Friday.
One of the attorneys who filed the lawsuit, William Gibbs, said Monday the NHL profited from Boogaard’s physical abilities as team doctors dispensed “pain pills like candy” after he suffered repeated injuries.
cycling
Acevedo wins late sprint to lead Tour of California
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Javier Acevedo of Colombia bolted to the front with about 700 yards left in final steep climb, winning Monday’s second stage in scorching heat to take the overall lead at the Tour of California.
The 27-year-old rider completed the 124.1-mile Murrieta to Greater Palm Springs road race in 5 hours, 7 minutes and 40 seconds as temperatures approached 110 degrees.
Acevedo, who rides for American team Jamis-Hagens Berman, leads American Tejay van Garderen (BMC) by 12 seconds with six stages remaining.
Van Garderen, who with Acevedo began the day 16 seconds behind overnight leader Liuewe Westra, finished 12 seconds behind.
Soccer
Blatter “appalled” by racism of Roma supporters
MILAN – FIFA president Sepp Blatter was “appalled” when he learned that AC Milan’s match against Roma was suspended because of racist chanting.
Sunday’s game was stopped for 97 seconds during the second half when visiting Roma supporters would not stop chanting at Milan players Mario Balotelli and Kevin-Prince Boateng. The league fined Roma 50,000 Euros, equivalent to almost $65,000, on Monday.
“Appalled to read about racist abuse in Serie A last night,” Blatter tweeted Monday. “Tackling this issue is complex, but we’re committed to action, not just words.”
Blatter added that FIFA’s taskforce against racism and discrimination is “serious about devising a unified approach for FIFA’s 209 members.”
Referee Gianluca Rocchi made the decision to suspend the match briefly after warnings issued over the stadium speaker system went unheeded. Roma captain Francesco Totti also had attempted to calm the fans to no avail.
Balotelli was born in Italy to Ghanian immigrants and is the star forward of Italy’s national squad. Boateng was born in Germany to a German mother and a Ghanian father and plays for Ghana’s national team.
Briefs Label
Brown basketball player critical after being punched
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Police say a freshman basketball player at Brown University is in critical condition after being punched in the head in what appeared to be an unprovoked assault on Providence’s East Side.
Deputy Police Chief Thomas Oates says 21-year-old Joseph Sharkey of Norwood, Mass., suffered severe head injuries when a man came up to him and hit him early Sunday morning while he was talking to a group of women around Thayer and George streets.
Both campus and city police responded. Oates said he didn’t know if Sharkey and the assailant knew each other.
A Rhode Island Hospital spokesman said Sharkey is in critical condition.
A Brown spokeswoman had no immediate comment. Brown’s basketball team website lists Sharkey as a guard who played in high school at Northfield Mt. Hermon.
Associated Press
