Sports

Mark Long, Ap Sports Writer Updated 11:25 pm PDT, Tuesday, August 14, 2018 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tony Sparano Jr. directed drill after drill Tuesday, clapping his hands and offering positive feedback to players. He smiled. He laughed. He joked with Jacksonville's offensive linemen during breaks. His emotions might be totally different the rest of the week. The son of longtime NFL coach Tony Sparano will return to Minnesota a little more than three weeks after his father's death and step onto the same practice fields his dad roamed the last three years. It won't be easy for the younger Sparano, an assistant offensive line coach with Jacksonville. "He's going through a tough time," said Jaguars coach Doug Marrone, whose team will hold two joint practices with the Vikings before a preseason game Saturday. "It is a tough, tough time. It is not just him, individually. It's his family, his mom, and there is a lot going on. ... We will do whatever we have to do to … [Read more...] about Jags’ Sparano returns to Minnesota weeks after dad’s death

The Vietnamese delegation to the upcoming 2018 Asian Games arrived at Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on August 14th to the warm welcome of Indonesian sport officials and volunteers (Photo: VNA) The delegation is comprised of 523 members, including 81 coaches and 352 athletes. Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang welcomed the delegation at the airport and expressed his hope that the athletes would achieve outstanding results at the sport event. The Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese community in Indonesia are ready to provide any necessary support for the delegation, he affirmed. The Vietnamese delegation aims to snatch at least three gold medals, with at least one in the Olympic sports categories. Prominent athletes include Olympic gold medalist sharpshooter Hoang Xuan Vinh, weightlifters Thach Kim Tuan and Trinh Van Vinh, runner Le Tu Chinh, long jumper Bui Thi Thu Thao, swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, gymnast Le Thanh Tung, taekwondo fighter Truong … [Read more...] about ASIAD 18: Vietnamese delegation receives warm welcome from host…

Captain Lionel Messi will miss Argentina's next four friendly matches, according to local press reports on Tuesday (Aug 14). Lionel Messi endured a difficult World Cup as Argentina were dumped out by France in the last 16. (AFP/Mladen ANTONOV) The five-time Ballon d'Or winner previously retired from the national side after their 2016 Copa America final defeat by Chile before returning to help them qualify for this year's World Cup. The two-time world champions will face Guatemala in Los Angeles on Sep 7 and Colombia in New York four days later, before two friendlies later in the year against as-yet unnamed opponents. "Messi will not return this year and there are doubts about his future," proclaimed Argentinian daily Clarin. News website Infobae said: "He will take a rest period, but that doesn't mean he's quitting." "It is the coach who will say, when the time comes, what the situation is concerning Messi," a team spokesman told AFP. Lionel Scaloni has been in temporary … [Read more...] about Messi to skip Argentina friendlies

Egyptian star Mohamed Salah could be in trouble with police after his club Liverpool passed a video apparently showing him using his mobile phone while driving. Egyptian star Mohamed Salah could be in hot water after Liverpool passed on video footage to police apparently showing him using his mobile phone whilst driving AFP/Oli SCARFF A spokesman for last season's Champions League finalists said they passed the video, which had circulated on social media, on to police after talking with Salah. "The club, after discussion with the player, have made Merseyside Police aware of the footage and the circumstances surrounding its capture," said the spokesman cited on the BBC. "We have spoken to the player also and will deal with any follow-up internally. "Neither the club or player will be making any further comment on this matter." Merseyside Police tweeted they had received the footage. "We have been made aware of a video believed to show a footballer using a mobile phone whilst … [Read more...] about Liverpool’s Salah reported over allegedly using mobile while driving

Retired Brazilian striker Ronaldo left a clinic in Ibiza on Tuesday (Aug 14) following a four-night stay for treatment for a flu infection. Ronaldo said Sunday he was being treated for a severe bout of flu infection after being taken to hospital Friday. (Photo: AFP/Alexander Nemenov) "Hello everyone! I'm already home after a few days at the clinic. Thank u for your love and comments, and many thanks to the team of doctors and nurses," he tweeted alongside a picture of himself smiling and giving the thumbs up sign. "It's going to be an amazing season with tons of great football and surprises," he added. Earlier on Tuesday a spokeswoman for the clinic in the centre of Ibiza said the player had left the building though a side exit to bypass the waiting press. A spokesman for the former player also confirmed his departure in an email message. Ronaldo said on Sunday he was being treated for a severe bout of flu after being taken to hospital Friday. Local newspaper Diario de Ibiza … [Read more...] about Former Brazil striker Ronaldo leaves Ibiza clinic