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Villa fracturs finger

NEUSTIFT: Spain striker David Villa, the first player to score a hat trick at Euro 2008, sustained a hairline fracture to his finger while celebrating his first goal in the 4-1 win over Russia.

The 26-year-old, who trained with a bandage on the index finger of his right hand on Wednesday, was hurt when he ran over to hug teammate Fernando Torres who had set him up to score in Tuesday's Group D match in Innsbruck.

The Spanish Football Federation said x-rays had shown a hairline fracture but added the injury would not prevent Villa playing in the next game against Sweden at the same venue on Saturday.

"I got my finger caught in Fernando's shirt when we were celebrating the goal and bent it back," Villa told a news conference. "It hurts quite a bit but it is nothing important."

Nadal strides through opener

LONDON: Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal opened his grass-court season on Wednesday with a ruthlessly efficient 6-2, 6-2 victory over experienced Swede Jonas Bjorkman at the Queen's Club ATP tournament.

The 36-year-old Bjorkman, 14 years older and ranked 100 places below the top seed, could not cope with Nadal's pinpoint power, despite his strong grass-court credentials as a former Wimbledon semifinalist and multi-Grand Slam doubles champion.

Nadal, who demolished world No 1 Roger Federer in the final at Roland Garros on Sunday, looked fresh and moved well despite the transition to grass which he described as difficult.

"The movements are so different and the feeling when you touch the ball," he said. "I need more days to know whether I am really playing well."

Nadal has translated his clay-court mastery in the last two years by reaching the final at Wimbledon, beaten each time by Federer.

De La Hoya to fight one more

NEW YORK: Oscar De La Hoya said on Wednesday he was committed to just one more fight this year before retiring.

"One more and that's it. ... This is my final year. I'm doing one fight and hanging up the gloves," De La Hoya told Reuters in a telephone interview to promote his new autobiography, American Son.

De La Hoya threw down the gauntlet to the recently retired Floyd Mayweather Jr, saying if Mayweather wanted to fight him again it had to be soon.

The undefeated Mayweather, 31, announced his retirement from boxing last week, denying fans a rematch with De La Hoya after Mayweather defeated the "Golden Boy" in a split decision last year in a WBC light middleweight title bout.

They were due to fight again in September but Mayweather retired.

"The time is running out. If Mayweather is playing these little games thinking he can catch me at an older age next year, it's not going to happen. It has to happen by this year," said De La Hoya.

Saints sign Smith to 6-year deal

NEW YORK: New Orleans defensive end Will Smith agreed to a six-year contract extension on Wednesday,

Smith, a first round pick in the 2004 NFL draft, will earn $70 million according to media reports and will become the third highest paid defensive end in the NFL behind Minnesota Vikings Jared Allen and Indianapolis Colts Dwight Freeney.

"We are excited about getting this long-term contract done with Will," Saints vice-president and general manager Mickey Loomis said on the team's website (www.neworleanssaints.com).

"We view him as one of our core players and look forward to him having an impact on our defense for years to come."

Smith, now under contract to the Saints through the 2014 season, has started 43-of-62 games recording 265 career tackles, 33.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.

In 2006, Smith was voted to the Pro Bowl after registering a career-high 10.5 sacks and made 56 tackles.

Canucks veteran Linden to retire

NEW YORK: Vancouver Canucks' Trevor Linden announced his retirement on Wednesday.

The second overall pick in the 1988 NHL draft behind Dallas Stars Mike Modano, Linden spent 16 of his 19 NHL seasons in a Canucks uniform, starting and finishing his career in Vancouver with brief stints with the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals in-between.

The 38-year-old scored 375 goals and amassed 867 points. His 1,382 regular season games rank him 32nd on the all-time list.

(China Daily 06/13/2008 page22)