IN BRIEF (Page 23)
Basketball
Gasol sounds warning after Spain loses to Croatia
MADRID: Spain forward Pau Gasol said the world champions had to change its attitude after a 28-match unbeaten run came to a surprise end against Croatia at the European Championship on Wednesday.
Croatia's Marko Tomas sank a three-pointer with three seconds remaining to earn his side an 85-84 win that put them top of Group B.
"The defeat hurts because we have lost to an inferior team. We made it too easy for them, but when we play with the right focus we are very difficult to beat," the Memphis Grizzlies player told the Europa Press news agency.
Spain now face a rematch of last September's world championship final against Greece, the defending European champions, in their opening game of the second group phase on Friday.
Pepu Hernandez's team crushed Greece 70-47 to claim the gold medal in Japan.
Baseball
Rangers buy pitcher Mendoza from Double-A Frisco
HOUSTON: Right-hand pitcher Luis Mendoza was purchased by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday from Double-A Frisco, the Major League Baseball team said.
Mendoza, who was selected for the Texas League Mid-Season All-Star team, went 15-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 26 games for Frisco.
He led the Texas League in complete games with three and ranked second in wins. He was also named to the Texas League Postseason All-Star team after helping lead Frisco to the postseason.
The Rangers also announced the transfer of reliever Akinori Otsuka from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list because of tightness in his right forearm.
Otsuka, who was 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA and four saves in 34 games for Texas, has been on the disabled list since July 19.
Rugby
Zidane volunteers to support France
MARCOUSSIS, France: Former national soccer captain Zinedine Zidane has volunteered to become France's No 1 supporter during the World Cup, coach Bernard Laporte said on Thursday.
"I talked to Zinedine on the phone yesterday (Wednesday)," he told a news conference two days before France play the opening game of the tournament against Argentina.
"He rang to say we were about to live a powerful and difficult moment. He added he would not be able to come to the Stade de France on Friday but would watch the game on TV in Madrid and would be our first supporter.
The words of the playmaker in the team who won the 1998 World Cup "went straight to the hearts of the players", the French coach added.
He said his team would rely on massive home support when they start their campaign.
Soccer
Germany coach Loew rejects Wiese critcism
BERLIN: Germany coach Joachim Loew has rejected goalkeeper Tim Wiese's criticism he was unfairly left off the team and admonished the Werder Bremen player for his derogatory remarks about those selected.
"We don't think it's very wise to make negative remarks in public about the other goalkeepers," Loew said. "It's deprecatory and disrespectful. We've picked (Manuel) Neuer because he's got a bright future and we're confident of his abilities."
Wiese, 25, had complained in Sport Bild: "I just don't understand what's going on. Instead of me, (Timo) Hildebrand gets nominated. He's only on the bench. Or (Robert) Enke, who plays for a mediocre club. I guess I don't fit into the DFB's mould."
Cricket
Ponting heads nominations for ICC annual awards
NEW DELHI: Australia captain Ricky Ponting heads the short-list for the annual International Cricket Council (ICC) awards after being nominated in four categories.
Ponting is in line to retain the cricketer of the year prize and the accolade as top Test player. He is also on the short-list for the best one-day player and captain.
His champion side had another superb year, regaining the Ashes at home before sweeping to an unprecedented hat-trick of World Cup titles in the Caribbean.
The awards will be presented at a function in Johannesburg a day before the start of the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa next week.
(China Daily 09/07/2007 page23)
