Digest

BASKETBALL

Clippers confirm hiring of ex-Cavs coach Lue

The Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday confirmed the hiring of Tyronn Lue as coach.

Lue spent last season as an assistant on Doc Rivers' staff. Rivers is now guiding the Philadelphia 76ers.

Lue was on the Cleveland Cavaliers' staff when he replaced the fired David Blatt during the 2015-16 season. Under Lue's guidance, the Cavs and LeBron James went on to win their first-ever NBA championship that season.

Lue, who won two NBA championships as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers, coached the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2017 and 2018, but both times they lost to Golden State. He was fired after an 0-6 start to the 2018-19 season. "The pieces we need are in place－committed ownership, smart management, and elite talent, on and off the court, in the NBA's best market," Lue said of his new employment.

SOCCER

Pique among quartet of Barca deal extensions

Barcelona extended the contracts of captain Gerard Pique, goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, midfielder Frenkie de Jong and defender Clement Lenglet, the club said on Tuesday.

Barcelona said the agreements for the extensions came after "weeks of negotiations" and included a "temporary salary adjustment" because of the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The 33-year-old Pique now has a contract until June 2024, with a buyout clause of 500 million euros ($587 million). Barcelona said the extension is conditioned on the defender playing a certain number of games beginning next season. The club did not elaborate on the number of games.

Ter Stegen had his contract extended until June 2025, while Lenglet and De Jong will remain with the club until June 2026.

Ter Stegen also has a buyout clause of 500 million euros, while De Jong's clause is set at 400 million euros and Lenglet's at 300 million euros.

Bayern's Gnabry tests positive for coronavirus

Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, and more tests for his teammates were planned ahead of the defending champion's opening game of the Champions League.

The club said in a brief statement that the 25-year-old Gnabry is "doing well" and is in quarantine at home. He is Bayern's first player to test positive for COVID-19.

Gnabry trained earlier Tuesday with his teammates in the final training session for Atletico Madrid's visit in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

It was unclear what effect Gnabry's positive result would have on the rest of the team.

Gnabry had started all Bayern's four Bundesliga games so far, scoring a hat-trick in the 8-0 rout of Schalke. He is the second member of the Germany squad to test positive for the virus after Ilkay Gundogan.

Vivo becomes UEFA's third Chinese sponsor

UEFA on Tuesday signed its third Chinese sponsor for soccer's next European Championship.

Phone manufacturer Vivo agreed a two-tournament deal to add to its existing sponsorship with FIFA for two World Cups through 2022.

China now provides three of UEFA's 10 top-tier sponsors of Euro 2020, which was postponed until next year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament is due to be hosted in 12 different countries across the continent.

The value of Vivo's deal was not revealed. It joins payment services provider Alipay backing Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

The first Chinese sponsor of Europe's premier national team tournament was electronics firm Hisense, which signed for two tournaments ahead of Euro 2016.

UEFA now has 10 global sponsors for Euro 2020. Its financial report after Euro 2016, which also had 10 top-tier sponsors, showed revenue of more than 480 million euros ($570 million) from commercial rights.

Retired Cech registered as 'emergency' keeper

Chelsea has registered its technical director, Petr Cech, in its Premier League squad despite the former goalkeeping great retiring more than a year ago.

The club said Tuesday the 38-year-old Cech was included on the list as "emergency goalkeeper cover".

"This is a precautionary step due to the unprecedented conditions currently caused by the COVID-19 crisis," Chelsea said. "He takes up a position as a non-contract player."

Recent signing Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Willy Caballero and Jamie Cumming are all ahead of Cech in the goalkeeper pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

Cech made more than 300 appearances for Chelsea from 2004-15, before spending another four years with Arsenal. He retired in the summer of 2019 and stepped straight into a board role at Chelsea when Frank Lampard was hired as manager.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Dolphins install Tua as starting quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa now has a role to match his jersey number. He's the Miami Dolphins' No 1 quarterback.

The former Alabama star will make his first NFL start next week for the Miami Dolphins, who are turning to him to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick, a person familiar with the team's decision said Tuesday.

The person confirmed the decision on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins hadn't made an announcement.

The change by coach Brian Flores will come after the Dolphins' bye this week and has been long anticipated, but the timing is surprising because the team won its past two games to improve to 3-3. Tagovailoa will start at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov 1.

Tagovailoa made his pro debut in mop-up duty at the end of Miami's 24-0 victory Sunday over the New York Jets. He will become the 22nd quarterback to start for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired following the 1999 season.

Xinhua - Agencies