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Xavier lands with LA Galaxy after leaving Middlesbrough
LOS ANGELES: Portugese defender Abel Xavier, the first English Premiership player to serve a ban for having performance-enhancing drugs in his system, agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Galaxy here Monday.
The move will make Xavier a teammate of English star David Beckham when the Real Madrid playmaker joins the Major League Soccer club in July after his contract with the Spanish side expires.
Xavier, 34, failed to reach new contract terms with Middlesbrough. He rejoined Boro last November after serving a one-year drugs ban, having originally signed for the club in August 2005.
"Abel brings immense experience and a wonderful personality to our team," Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas said. "He's a great defender, and we're excited that he's coming to LA."
Xavier tested positive for dianabol, a steroid favored by body-builders, after a UEFA Cup match against Skoda Xanthi FC in Greece in September 2005.
Pearce pays price for dismal Manchester City season
MANCHESTER, England: Stuart Pearce paid the price for Manchester City's dismal season on Monday when he was sacked by the club.
Three defeats in the club's final four Premiership matches sealed Pearce's fate after he won a reprieve from being dismissed in March.
"Manchester City can confirm that the club has terminated the contract of manager Stuart Pearce with immediate effect," said a club statement.
In a simple one paragraph appreciation, chief executive Alistair Mackintosh thanked Pearce for his efforts on City's behalf and wished him well for the future.
Pearce has a part-time job as England Under-21 coach to fall back on and will take charge of the squad for this summer's European Championships in Holland. The English Football Association are keen to make that role full-time.
Raptors' Colangelo wins Executive of the Year award
NEW YORK: Toronto Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo was named on Monday the NBA's Executive of the Year, the second time he has won the award.
Colangelo joined the Raptors on Feb. 28, 2006, after 15 years with the Phoenix Suns and began building the roster around 6-foot-10 All-Star forward Chris Bosh.
The 41-year-old Colangelo selected seven-foot, 250-pound Italian Andrea Bargnani with the first overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and the move paid immediate dividends.
Toronto finished 47-35 to win its first Atlantic Division title, a 20-win improvement over the previous season's 27-55 mark.
Colangelo received 20 of the 45 votes cast from his fellow NBA executives, easily beating the nine votes received by Houston Rockets General Manager Carroll Dawson. He also won the award for the 2004-05 season when the Suns finished 62-20.
(China Daily 05/16/2007 page23)
