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Adriano escapes unscathed after car crash in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO: Troubled Brazilian striker Adriano, who joined Sao Paulo on loan from Inter Milan earlier this month, was involved in a car crash in the early hours of Monday morning, Brazilian media reported.

The 25-year-old, already courting controversy after being photographed holding a beer can at a pop concert 10 days ago, escaped unscathed from the incident in Rio de Janeiro, where he is on holiday.

Adriano's car was in collision with three other vehicles but nobody was hurt or arrested, reports said. Police could not immediately be reached for comment.

Adriano, once one of Serie A's most feared strikers, moved to Sao Paulo after barely featuring for Inter in the last two seasons, which have seen him battling fitness and reported alcohol problems.

Grant urges Ballack to take extra responsibility

LONDON: Chelsea manager Avram Grant urged Michael Ballack on Monday to take added responsibility in the absence of England internationals John Terry and Frank Lampard.

The Germany international has yet to shine at Stamford Bridge after struggling to acclimate last season and this season he has been hampered by the effects of an ankle injury.

"If one sportsman or coach thinks he has nothing to prove then he is on his way down. He needs to take the responsibility if Lampard is there and also when he's not," Grant told a news conference.

Ballack gave an encouraging cameo performance against Liverpool in the League Cup quarterfinal a fortnight ago and has built on that with further uplifting displays against Aston Villa, where he scored his first goal of the season, and in the narrow victory over Newcastle United.

Miami Dolphins general manager Mueller sacked

MIAM: Miami Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller was fired on Monday by executive vice-president of football operations Bill Parcells.

Mueller had been Miami's general manager for the past three seasons. The Dolphins (1-15) finished bottom of the NFL this season.

Assistant director of player personnel Mike Baugh and college scouting coordinator Rick Thompson were also sacked.

"We appreciate the contributions that Randy, Mike and Rick made to the organization and want to wish them well, both personally and professionally, in the future," Dolphins president Bryan Wiedmeier said in a statement.

Parcells, one of the top coaches in pro football history and a twice Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, became the Dolphins' executive vice-president last week.

Ravens fire coach Billick after 5-11 campaign

BALTIMORE, Maryland: Brian Billick, who guided the Baltimore Ravens to victory in the 2001 Super Bowl, was fired as coach of the National Football League club on Monday by team owner Steve Bisciotti.

The Ravens made the move less than a month after assuring Billick that he would return and one day after Baltimore completed a 5-11 season with a 27-21 victory over Pittsburgh.

The triumph snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Ravens, who had not won since downing St. Louis 22-3 on October 14.

The victory enabled the Ravens to avoid matching their record-worst season of 4-12 in 1996, the year they moved to Maryland from Cleveland.

Billick, 53, went 85-67 in nine seasons leading the Ravens.

(China Daily 01/02/2008 page23)