Tiger Woods admits ‘I have let my family down’

Golf star Tiger Woods has apologised to his family, amid continuing speculation about his private life following a car crash last week.

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart,” he said in a statement, without elaborating further.

“I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves.”

Woods was found bleeding and semi-conscious after his car hit a tree and fire hydrant outside his Florida home.

He was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 (£98) fine and four points on his driving record.

‘Personal sins’

The 14-time major champion has been married to his Swedish wife Elin for five years and has two young children.

He denied rumours that physical violence played any role in the incident, saying they were “utterly false and malicious”.
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Roger Federer beats Andy Murray at ATP Tour Finals

Roger Federer ensured he will end the year as world number one after beating Andy Murray 3-6 6-3 6-1 in the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

The Swiss was broken twice as the British number one, who also hit six aces, wrapped up the first set.

But Federer upped his game in the second set and made a decisive break in game six to level the match at 1-1.

Murray’s serve, which had been so dominant early on, faltered as Federer broke three times to wrap up the win.

Murray said: “I served terribly and that was the main difference in the match.

“In the first set, at least when I was behind in games, I was coming up with big serves, being able to dictate the points. But after that I served pants.

“It was probably the most double faults (eight) I served in a match maybe this year.

“You can’t serve at 40% against Roger because you give him so many opportunities to dictate play, but that’s what I did.
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Rodriguez Has His October Moment

His Homer Ties It, Teixeira’s Blast Wins It for Yanks : Yankees 4, Twins 3

NEW YORK, Oct. 9 — The debate ended. There is no more for and against, because with one swing and one home run on Friday night, every pinstripe-loving fan aligned on the same side of the argument, which basically means the argument is now over. On Saturday, New York will only have radio silence, dead talk show call-in lines, and abundant appreciation for A-Rod, conqueror of the clutch, master of the big moment.

It’s pointless now, dwelling on that stretch when Alex Rodriguez went hitless in 29 consecutive postseason at-bats with runners on, or noting how between 2005 and 2007 Rodriguez had a .159 October batting average. The new Rodriguez, who looks a lot like the regular season Rodriguez, is the central figure on a Yankees team that battles back, savors the drama, and performs best under pressure.
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Ivanovic, Dokic enter Brisbane International

Serbian tennis player Ana Ivanovic says she will return to the tour at the Brisbane International starting in January.

Ivanovic pulled out of this week’s China Open and has called an early end to her season because of a respiratory illness.

Australia’s Jelena Dokic, American James Blake and Frenchman Gael Monfils have also confirmed they will play in Brisbane.

But organisers say they have not yet confirmed the attendance of former world number one Justine Henin, whose coach has said is likely to use the tournament as her comeback event.

Ivanovic, who took top spot in the rankings after winning the 2008 French Open but has now slipped to 12th, will also join US Open champion Kim Clijsters in the women’s draw at the January 3-10 event.

“I am very excited to go back to Brisbane,” Ivanovic said in a statement. “I really enjoyed playing there and I love competing in Australia.
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Dutch wary of improving Socceroos

Their minds are set on revenge, but the Dutch have arrived in Australia with a new-found respect for the Socceroos ahead of Saturday’s friendly at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The world’s third-ranked team has been unable to beat the Socceroos in two meetings, with Australia winning 2-1 in Eindhoven in September last year and drawing 1-1 in their only other clash in Rotterdam before the 2006 World Cup.

The Oranje, like Pim Verbeek’s men, have already qualified for next year’s World Cup and done so emphatically, winning all of their eight qualifiers so far.

They plan to keep that run going on Saturday night, but are not expecting an easy game against what should be a near full-strength Australia team.

Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who played in the 1-1 draw in Rotterdam three years ago, said Australian football was earning more and more respect in Europe.
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Folau succumbs to foot injury

Brisbane Broncos back Israel Folau will miss the Four Nations tournament with a foot injury.

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens has declared that players must be 100 per cent fit if they are to tour.

“I’m definitely not going,” Folau said.

“It’s disappointing but I’ve got time on my side for future Australian teams.”

Folau’s place in the squad has been taken by St George Illawarra’s Brett Morris.

It gives the minor premiers some representation in the squad after they were snubbed initially.

There was better news for Parramatta forward Nathan Hindmarsh, who has been cleared by doctors despite needing shoulder surgery after the tour.
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NBA wants regular-season game in London

(CNN) — The NBA is hoping to stage a regular-season game in London in the next two years before the British capital hosts the 2012 Olympics.

David Stern, commissioner of the world’s premier basketball league, revealed that it might even be possible to hold the match at London’s O2 Arena next year.

“Who knows? We have not set the schedule yet for 2010, so we’ll see,” Stern told the UK Press Association ahead of Tuesday night’s preseason exhibition at the venue, in which the Chicago Bulls snatched a last-gasp 102-101 victory over the Utah Jazz in front a sell-out crowd of almost 19,000.

“We’re running out of runway a little bit, but we still hope to do it,” Stern said.
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Rio to stage 2016 Olympic Games

Brazil will become the first South American country to host the Olympics after the city of Rio de Janeiro was chosen to stage the 2016 Games.

Rio won a majority of the 95 votes at the meeting in Copenhagen, eliminating Madrid in the final round. Tokyo and Chicago had already been knocked out.

“The world has recognised that the time has come for Brazil,” said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Chicago’s early exit was a surprise, after bookmakers made them favourites.

US President Barack Obama had flown to Denmark on Friday morning to join his wife, Michelle, and make an emotional address to the International Olympic Committee delegates.

But the gesture – the first time a current US president had addressed the IOC in an attempt to win the Games – failed to persuade the voters as Chicago became the first city to see its dream of hosting the biggest sporting event in the world fall by the wayside.
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West Ham & Millwall charged by FA

West Ham and Millwall have been hit with several Football Association charges after the crowd trouble which marred their Carling Cup match.

They are expected to contest the accusations of failing to control their fans at the match on 25 August.

Both clubs are alleged to have taken insufficient action to stop missile throwing and violent, threatening and racist behaviour at Upton Park.

The Hammers face four charges, while Millwall must answer three.

A Millwall supporter was stabbed as fans clashed outside the east London ground and pitch invasions by West Ham fans followed each of their side’s goals in the 3-1 extra-time win.

West Ham’s Carlton Cole and Millwall’s Jason Price also alleged they were racially abused by supporters.
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Renault suffer twin sponsor blow

Renault have been hit by the news that title sponsor ING will end its contract with the Formula 1 team immediately.

The Dutch-based financial group planned to pull out at the end of the season but will now leave four races early.

The move follows the race-fixing scandal that resulted in a suspended ban for the former world champions.

Renault had already lost the backing of Spanish insurance firm Mutua Madrilena, which asked for its name to be removed from Renault’s cars earlier in the day.

ING was the largest sponsor on Renault’s books, providing more than half their total sponsorship revenues according to some estimates.
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