IN BRIEF (Page 24)
NBA
Ariza returns to Lakers in trade with Magic
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired former UCLA forward Trevor Ariza from the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward Brian Cook and guard Maurice Evans, the NBA team said on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old is in his fourth NBA season and averaged 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Magic last season.
Drafted 43rd overall by the New York Knicks in 2004, Ariza became the youngest Knick in franchise history aged 19 years, four months and four days.
NHL
Center Getzlaf extends contract with Ducks
LOS ANGELES: In-form center Ryan Getzlaf has signed a five-year contract extension with Stanley Cup champions the Anaheim Ducks, the team said on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old, who has scored seven goals and a team-high 21 points in 19 games this season, agreed to a deal estimated by local media to be worth $26.5 million.
Getzlaf was drafted 19th overall by the Ducks in 2003. He made his NHL debut in the 2005-06 campaign and has gone on to register 46 goals and 118 points in 158 regular season games.
Soccer
Bayern to talk to coach Hitzfeld about future
BERLIN: Bayern Munich will wait to hold talks with coach Ottmar Hitzfeld over the mid-season break before considering any other potential candidates for the post.
Hitzfeld's contract runs out at the end of the season but manager Uli Hoeness denied recent media suggestions that the club was courting Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez as a replacement.
"We've spoken neither to Liverpool nor to Benitez," Hoeness said on Bayern's website (www.fcbayern.de).
"I'm a very good friend of Ottmar Hitzfeld and I've given him my word that he's the first person we'll talk to in the winter break."
Nigeria defeat sees Swiss end year with balance
ZURICH: Euro 2008 co-host Switzerland suffered a disappointing end to an indifferent year when they lost 1-0 at home to Nigeria on Tuesday.
Already qualified for Euro 2008 because of its status as tournament host, Switzerland has won four of its 10 friendlies this year - drawing one and losing the remaining five.
Nigeria, currently ranked by FIFA as Africa's top side and coached by former Germany trainer Berti Vogts, was without injured Portsmouth strike pair Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka for Tuesday's match.
Newcastle United forward Obafemi Martins was also absent, after failing to secure a visa for Switzerland.
Former boss of FIFA's ISL agency faces trial
BERNE, Switzerland: The Swiss court investigating the collapse of FIFA's former marketing agency ISL has confirmed that ISL's former chairman Jean-Marie Weber is among those facing trial on fraud charges.
Prosecutors in the Swiss canton of Zug, where ISL was based, charged an unspecified number of former executives in March and refused to name them, in accordance with Swiss privacy laws.
The charges include embezzlement, fraud, fraudulent bankruptcy, harming creditors and the falsification of documents.
Weber's involvement in the case was confirmed on Wednesday when the court issued an accreditation document officially naming him for the first time.
The International Sport and Leisure (ISL) agency collapsed in May 2001, with estimated debts of around $300 million.
(China Daily 11/22/2007 page24)
