Cycling
Top cycling teams unite under one umbrella
Eleven of the world’s leading cycling teams have united to form Velon, a business venture that they hope will rejuvenate the sport in the wake of doping scandals, haphazard management and questions about its overall integrity.
While the organization does not include all of the World Tour teams, it encompasses the majority of them. Among them are U.S.-based BMC Racing and Garmin-Sharp, British heavyweight Team Sky and powerhouses Omega Pharma-Quick-Step, Orica-GreenEDGE and Team Giant-Shimano.
MLB
Johnson, Martinez, Smoltz on Hall of Fame ballot
NEW YORK – Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz are among 17 newcomers on baseball’s 2015 Hall of Fame ballot.
Craig Biggio, who fell two votes short of the 75 percent needed in the 2014 balloting, tops 17 holdovers on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot announced Monday. That group includes Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines.
Carlos Delgado, Nomar Garciaparra, Gary Sheffield and players’ association head Tony Clark also are among the first-time eligibles.
NFL
Ex-Redskin Smoot charged with domestic assault
ASHBURN, Va. – Ex-NFL defensive back Fred Smoot was charged with misdemeanor domestic assault after a woman called police to say he grabbed her during a fight at a Virginia home.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said Smoot was arrested Sunday in Ashburn.
Smoot played a total of seven seasons with the Washington Redskins, ending his NFL career with the team in 2009. He also played two seasons for the Minnesota Vikings.
Soccer
Messi sets European mark with 72nd and 73rd goals
NICOSIA, Cyprus – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi set a Champions League goal- scoring record by taking his tally in the competition to 72 on Tuesday, then increased that record with his 73rd goal.
It was Messi’s 91st match in Europe’s top club competition. The former Real Madrid and Schalke striker Raul took 142 matches to set the previous record of 71.
Seattle’s Chad Marshall is MLS Defender of Year
NEW YORK – Seattle’s Chad Marshall has been voted Major League Soccer’s Defender of the Year for a record third time.
He made 31 regular-season league appearances in his first season with the Sounders. He also won the award in 2008 and 2009 with Columbus.
Tennis
French tennis federation official banned for life
PARIS – A French chair umpire on the futures and challenger tours became the first official to be suspended for corruption by the Tennis Integrity Unit when he received a life ban Tuesday.
The charges against 22-year-old Morgan Lamri breached four articles of the TIU’s anti-corruption program in 2012 and 2013. These involve attempts to influence the outcome of an event, to “facilitate any player not to use his or her best efforts” and to “wager or attempt to wager” on the outcome of a match.
Associated Press
