Times wires
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Soccer
FC Tampa bay routed at Edmonton
FC Tampa Bay struggled from the start against FC Edmonton in a 4-0 loss, the worst defeat in the club's two-year history.
Already playing without injured defenders Andres Arango and Omar Jarun, Tampa Bay (2-3-4) lost forward Warren Ukah (gash in head) and midfielder Chad Burt (foot) in the first 35 minutes. Meanwhile, defender JP Rodrigues (knee) left with about 15 minutes remaining in the game.
Kyle Porter, Kyle Yamada, Shaun Saiko and Shawn Chin scored for Edmonton (5-2-1).
FIFA still reeling: Sepp Blatter acknowledged that corruption scandals have left FIFA "shaking on its foundations" on the eve of a presidential election that should give him another four-year term and a chance to restore order to the governing body.
It was a stunning turnaround for Blatter, who a day earlier denied that the bribery case that led to the suspension of his only challenger, Mohamed bin Hammam, had caused even a hint of crisis within FIFA.
The 208 delegations at the FIFA Congress will have little option but to confirm the 75-year-old Swiss for a last term today.
"I thought we were in a world of fair play, respect and discipline, and unfortunately I have to see it no longer is the case," Blatter said Tuesday. "There is danger."
Autos
Wheldon off to Texas, still looking for ride
Dan Wheldon will be at the next IndyCar series race in Texas. The Indianapolis 500 winner just doesn't know if he'll be in a car or a television booth.
The St. Petersburg resident, 32, hopes to drive in the dual races June 11 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, though his one-race deal with Bryan Herta Autosport expired hours after his Indy 500 win.
If unable to find a ride, Wheldon will work as an analyst on the Versus broadcast of the race.
Et cetera
Cycling: Spain's Alberto Contador can defend his Tour de France title now that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has decided to hear his doping case Aug. 1-3, more than a week after the Tour ends July 24. The three-time Tour champion tested positive for clenbuterol in July but was cleared by the Spanish cycling federation.
NFL: Former QB Ryan Leaf, 35, was recovering in California after doctors removed a benign tumor from his brain stem. … Vikings first-round pick QB Christian Ponder, a former Florida State standout, helped arrange an informal minicamp for himself and a few teammates this week at the IMG football academy facilities in Bradenton. More players, including former Florida star WR Percy Harvin, are expected to join them. … Fairfax (Va.) District Court Judge Mark C. Simmons dismissed a misdemeanor assault charge against Redskins DL Albert Haynesworth after the player reached an agreement with Arthur Velasquez, who said he was the victim of a road-rage attack in early February in Reston, Va.
Tennis: Austria's Daniel Koellerer became the first player to be banned for life for attempting to fix matches. Koellerer, ranked No. 385, was found guilty of three violations of the sport's anti-corruption rules and fined $100,000. He denied the charges and is considering an appeal.
Track: Usain Bolt remained unbeaten in two races this season, winning the 100 meters in 9.91 seconds at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic. He pulled away from fellow Jamaican Steve Mullings (9.97) to match his time in Rome last week.
Times wires