National sports
Pele carries Olympic torch through Rio de Janeiro
A teary-eyed Pele carried the Olympic torch Sunday on its first trip to South America in front of a cheering crowd that turned out to watch the historic moment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The soccer legend ran the first leg of the relay that will include 120 athletes, celebrities and ordinary people on a 7-hour tour of the city.
“Today, I have the privilege of being the first Brazilian to carry the torch in our country and that is something for which there is no comparison,” the 63-year-old Pele said after his 400-meter run.
He said his only regret was not being able to participate in the Olympics because he turned professional at 16 and, at the time, only amateur athletes were allowed to participate in the games.
The around-the-world relay next goes to Mexico City. The torch will visit 33 cities in 26 countries and cover nearly 50,000 miles.
College football
Hornung won’t return to booth
Hall of Famer Paul Hornung said he won’t return to Notre Dame football radio broadcasts this season because of a flap over his comments that the school should lower its academic standards to recruit black athletes.
“The reason I’m not going to be on the air for my last year is because Notre Dame does not want me there,” Hornung told the South Bend Tribune.
Associate athletic director John Heisler said even though Notre Dame has some input into who represents the school on the air, the final decision was up to Westwood One Radio.
“New York City wants to host a college bowl game in 2010 at the proposed future home of the New York Jets on the West Side of Manhattan.
The Big Apple Bowl would be played at the New York Sports and Convention Center, which is still in the planning stages, sports officials said.
Tennis
Roddick tops Grosjean
Andy Roddick won his second straight Queen’s Club title with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Sebastien Grosjean in London.
The 21-year-old American also beat Grosjean in straight sets in last year’s final.
“Wimbledon champion Roger Federer routed Mardy Fish 6-0, 6-3 to retain his Gerry Weber Open title in Halle, Germany, and run his winning streak on grass to 17 matches.
The top-ranked Swiss took just 57 minutes to beat the hard-serving American.
“Kim Clijsters had surgery to remove a cyst from her left wrist and is expected to be sidelined for three months, forcing her to miss the U.S. Open.
“Martina Navratilova doesn’t know whether she will play singles at Wimbledon later this month. She was given a wild card for the event last week.
Miscellany
Armstrong finishes fourth
Lance Armstrong finished fourth in the Dauphine Libere race, a tuneup before he attempts to win his sixth straight Tour de France.
Stuart O’Grady of Australia won the 124-mile final stage in 5 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds, while Spain’s Iban Mayo took the overall title.
“The World Boxing Council plans to initiate bankruptcy liquidation proceedings today.
The WBC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2003 to keep from paying a $31 million judgment awarded to German fighter Graciano Rocchigiani, who had his light heavyweight title taken away from him.