Top shot

Capello praises Terry after win

LONDON: England coach Fabio Capello said he was delighted with England's 2-0 win over the United States and praised John Terry's role in the success at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

The Italian coach, speaking to reporters in his rapidly improving English, said: "I am very happy for John Terry and very happy for the way we played.

"He had a very good game. He's a leader for Chelsea and a leader for the national team."

Terry was one of seven players in the starting lineup who took part in the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea last Wednesday when he was left traumatized after his missed penalty in the shootout cost Chelsea the chance of winning the final.

He opened the scoring for England with a well-taken header toward the end of a poor first half and Capello said: "That goal was important for him. Now he can go on holiday and feel happier."

A Steven Gerrard goal after 59 minutes and some neat passing moves were the other highlights of an otherwise largely forgettable friendly, but Capello left Wembley a happy man.

Hawks name Sund as GM

ATLANTA: The Atlanta Hawks have appointed former Seattle SuperSonics executive Rick Sund as general manager in place of Billy Knight.

Sund, whose hiring was announced by Atlanta on Wednesday, has worked in the NBA for more than 30 years, including stints with the Detroit Pistons, the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 56-year-old takes over from Knight, who submitted his resignation earlier this month after the Hawks lost to the heavily favored Boston Celtics in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

"Rick has an enormous amount of experience and an outstanding reputation around the league," Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon said in a statement.

"Our objective was to add an individual who would help us take the momentum we gained last season and move to the next level. We feel we've done that and we're thrilled to add someone of Rick's caliber to our franchise."

Sund, general manager of the Sonics from 2001 to 2007, said: "I'm very excited and impressed with what the Hawks have currently developed and I look forward to continuing that process."

Ovechkin envious of Cup players

PITTSBURGH: Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals said he was envious of the players involved in the Stanley Cup Finals when he picked up two top awards on Wednesday.

"I'm a little jealous," Ovechkin told reporters. "It was a good year but it was not my best year.

"With a Stanley Cup I'd say it would have been my best year."

At an awards ceremony before Game 3 of the finals between Pittsburgh and Detroit, the young Russian accepted the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading points scorer with 112 and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top goal scorer with 65.

In addition, Ovechkin is the odds-on favorite to claim the Hart Trophy awarded to the NHL's most valuable player in Toronto on June 12.

His season also included a world championship gold medal after his country defeated Canada in overtime to end a 15-year title drought.

Ovechkin, though, hinted he might trade it all to be in rival Sidney Crosby's skates playing for a Stanley Cup.

(China Daily 05/30/2008 page19)