| Charges pondered in children's brawl on ice
TORONTO -- A shocking on-ice brawl involving eight-year-old hockey players over the weekend had officials denouncing their coaches yesterday and a passionate defender of children's sport comparing the intense spirit of competition that apparently fuelled the fight as borderline "child abuse." NHL hockey dad Emile Therien said he can hardly believe that young children would even be involved in an out-of-town tournament such as the one in Guelph on the weekend, where the unsavoury scrap took place. "It's unbelievable that you let eight-year-old kids play at such a high competitive pressure level," said Therien, former president of the Canada Safety Council, who called for an end to competitive leagues for children under the age of 12. "It smacks of everything that's wrong with hockey in this country, minor hockey." The fight erupted Friday between members of the Duffield Devils and Niagara Falls Thunder during a novice AAA tournament.
Youth movement spurs China's Olympic hopes
Spare a thought for Alex Hua Tian -- just 18 years old and the weight of a nation's expectations heaped high on his young shoulders. The Hong Kong-born event rider has yet to qualify for a place in the Equestrian competition of the XXIX Olympiad, but already he is being touted as one of China's gold medal hopefuls. .
Sports Briefs: Michael Vick starting prison time early
RICHMOND, Va. — Michael Vick got a head start on a possible long prison stretch, surrendering three weeks before he was to be sentenced for his involvement in a bloody dogfighting ring.The disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback surrendered to U.S. marshals in what his lawyer said was another step in his public repentance."From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance," Billy Martin said in a statement. "Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time."Vick pleaded guilty in August to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge after his three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with authorities.Federal sentencing guidelines suggest he could expect to serve a year to 18 months, but Vick, who has admitted bankrolling the Bad Newz Kennels, faces a maximum of five years in prison.He’s scheduled to be sentenced Dec.
The losing begins for local teen
Flanked by her parents, Alexis Khan arrived Oct. 17 at Medical University Hospital for gastric bypass surgery. "I woke up with nerves," she said from her hospital bed before the four-hour procedure. Her father, James Debrum, pinched her polished toes through the crisp sheet. .
NFL gives fans the boot
The Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys. It's a behemoth battle Thursday night between a pair of 10-1 teams - the first in the NFL since 1990 and just the second since 1970. A prime-time battle for NFC supremacy. The game football fans have been looking forward to for weeks. The game hardly anyone on the Grand Strand will get to see in their homes? Yes, sadly, that too. An impasse between the NFL Network and many of the nation's cable companies, including all that provide cable on the Strand, will keep the game out of most homes in America and send football fans to bars that have the network. The network is owned by the NFL and is broadcasting eight games late this year - exclusively in all but the home markets of the teams in each game - including Thursday's pivotal tilt.
Sports flash
PHILADELPHIA � Kelenna Azubuike made a 3-pointer from the left corner with 6.1 seconds left in overtime, giving the Golden State Warriors a 100-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. The 76ers had one last chance after Azubuike�s basket, but Louis Williams lost his footing in the lane and turned the ball over. Azubuike�s basket came after Lanphier High School graduate Andre Iguodala gave Philadelphia a 98-97 lead on a runner in heavy traffic with 13.4 seconds left. Iguodala led the 76ers with 26 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Golden State�s Monta Ellis equaled his career high with 31 points. It was the second tough loss in two nights for the 76ers, who lost Friday at Detroit. �We just have to get a win; we have to do more than just compete,� Iguodala said.
Steelers, NFL should be ashamed of conditions
There is no excuse — none — for the conditions the Pittsburgh Steelers provided for their game Monday Night against the Miami Dolphins. It was a travesty of football and an insult to the NFL, the players, the fans, and anyone who turned on a television in the hopes of enjoying Monday Night Football. It was a disgrace. The announcers kept talking about old-school football and summoning the names of the Chicago Staleys and Canton Bulldogs from the earliest days of the league, but that was an insult to those teams and those times. I've seen old-school football in old Cleveland Stadium in the days before modern drainage and turf science. Those games were played in mud. This one was played in a bog. .
News Index
VANCOUVER - David Beckham says the Los Angeles Galaxy knew what they were getting when they signed him to play Major League Soccer.The former England captain was responding to criticism from soccer legend Pele, who said American fans were misled into thinking Beckham would be a goal scorer in the league. "The Galaxy wouldn't have come out and said that," Beckham said Wednesday after the Galaxy played to a 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps in an international friendly before 48,172 fans."The Galaxy brought me in because I'm a football player. Everybody in the world knows I'm not a goal scorer."Everyone has their own opinion. Pele is a great player and a great ambassador for the game."Pele told the Associated Press that American soccer fans were given the impression Beckham would be a goal scorer."They announced him as a scorer of goals," Pele said during an interview in Sheffield, England.
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