IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Soccer

Wenger unconcerned as Usmanov ups stake in Arsenal

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was not worried about a possible takeover after Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov increased his stake in the club to 21 percent on Tuesday.

Red and White Holdings, an investment vehicle co-owned by Usmanov, is now the English Premier League club's second-largest shareholder.

"I'm responsible for the results and the club and not for the rest," Wenger told reporters on Tuesday as he prepared for Wednesday's Champions League match against Sevilla.

"I'm not concerned about any takeover I'm concerned about tomorrow's game and the rest is out of my hands.

"It won't change anything. What is important is that people on the board have faith in me and support me when I need support and that there is a unity inside the club.

"It's difficult to be successful when everyone is on the same wavelength but it's even more difficult when there's no good harmony."

Beckham's Galaxy heading to New Zealand and Australia

MIAMI: Los Angeles Galaxy will play Wellington Phoenix in a friendly in New Zealand on December 2, the Major League Soccer (MLS) team said on Tuesday.

The Galaxy could have David Beckham back for its trip which will also include a game in Australia on November 27 against Sydney FC.

England midfielder Beckham has been ruled out until mid-October with a knee injury and his Galaxy side is struggling to reach the eight-team MLS playoffs.

The US season ends with the MLS Cup final on November 18.

NFL

Falcons sign quarterback Leftwich

MIAMI: The Atlanta Falcons have signed former Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich, the NFL team said on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Leftwich was cut by Jacksonville on September 1 after four seasons with the team.

"As I've said for some time, we've been looking to add a quarterback to the mix since D.J. Shockley's injury in the pre-season," Atlanta coach Bobby Petrino told the team's Web site.

"Joey Harrington remains our starting quarterback and Chris Redman is still No 2, but signing Byron Leftwich presented us a unique opportunity to add a veteran with tremendous experience to our quarterback group," added Petrino.

Leftwich's career has been hampered by injuries over the past two years - he played only six games last season.

Cowboys sign suspended Johnson to boost defense

MIAMI: The Dallas Cowboys have signed former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson but will not be able to play him until half-way through the regular season.

Johnson is serving an eight-game suspension imposed in June for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

The ban was handed down after Johnson served 60 days in jail for violating probation on a guns charge.

The Cowboys said on its website that to make room for Johnson on the roster they had released cornerback Nate Jones.

The NFL could reduce Johnson's ban to six games if he stays out of trouble.

Johnson played 46 games for the Bears in the past three years, including this year's Super Bowl defeat by the Indianapolis Colts.

Weighlifting

North Korean lifter sings tribute to Kim Jong-il

CHIANG MAI, Thailand: Overwhelmed after winning his first world title, North Korean weightlifter Cha Kum-choi stunned reporters at a news conference when he burst into a song of praise for his country's leader Kim Jong-il.

After winning two silvers and the overall gold medal in the men's 56kg category at the world championships on Tuesday, the charismatic Korean said he hoped his win would bring "great pleasure" to the leader.

Asked if he had any hobbies, the 20-year-old said he liked singing and grabbed the microphone, stood to attention and enthusiastically bellowed out a song about Kim entitled "If you do not exist, we would not exist."

"There are not a lot of people who can make our Dear Leader happy," he said, referring to Kim. "If I can be one of them this will give me great satisfaction. This will be of great pleasure to our Dear Leader."

Cha, who smiled throughout the short news conference, added: "If he hears this news he'll be very grateful. He is very interested in sport, including weightlifting."

(China Daily 09/20/2007 page23)