Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
Brazil graft probe scrutinizes six soccer World Cup stadiums
At least six of Brazil's World Cup arenas, including the Maracana stadium where the final was staged in 2014, are under scrutiny in a wave of new political corruption investigations launched by the country's Supreme Court this week. Newly unsealed plea bargain testimony from engineering group Odebrecht cited irregularities at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, the National Stadium in Brasilia, the Pernambuco Arena in Recife, the Castelao Arena in Fortaleza and the Amazonia Arena in Manaus, along with the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Knicks and Anthony better off apart: club president Jackson
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson said on Friday that All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony "would be better off somewhere else." Jackson, meeting with the media two days after the Knicks completed their fourth consecutive losing season, said the team will continue to explore trade options for the 10-time All-Star.
Ecclestone reveals scant contact with new F1 bosses
Former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone returned to the Formula One paddock on Friday, for the first time since he was ousted in January, and revealed how little involvement he has had with the new management. The 86-year-old, who ran Formula One for decades, said he had yet to meet the sport's new commercial manager Sean Bratches.
Vettel puts Ferrari on top in Bahrain practice
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was fastest in Bahrain Grand Prix practice on Friday with the joint Formula One championship leader comfortably quicker than his Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton despite problems in the second session. The four times world champion lapped 0.400 faster than Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the afternoon and then pipped Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas by 0.041 under the evening floodlights.
Ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez cleared of 2012 double murder
A Boston jury on Friday found former New England Patriots football star Aaron Hernandez not guilty of murdering two men outside a Boston nightclub in 2012, following what prosecutors described as a dispute that began over a spilled drink. The decision comes two years after another Massachusetts jury found the former National Football League tight end guilty of murdering an acquaintance in an industrial park near his home in June 2013. He is currently serving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for that killing.
Donald, DeLaet use hole-outs to share RBC Heritage golf lead
Short game maestro Luke Donald and Canadian Graham DeLaet both holed-out on Friday on the way to grabbing a share of the lead on 10-under-par after two rounds of the RBC Heritage in South Carolina. Donald found the hole on a short pitch shot, nipping the ball off the grass short of the green into a mound and making it pause after one big bounce before the ball trickled into the cup for birdie at the last to complete a four-under 67.
Golden State Warriors seek redemption after last year's Finals collapse
The Golden State Warriors enter the NBA playoffs this weekend looking for redemption after last season's shocking defeat in the Finals, where the team blew a 3-1 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the best-of-seven series. Despite the unprecedented championship series collapse, expectations for the Warriors to win the title this year are sky high, and for good reason.
Alonso's Indy 500 plan is 'barking mad', says Horner
McLaren Formula One boss Zak Brown is 'barking mad' to let Fernando Alonso race the Indianapolis 500 with so little experience of ovals, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on Friday. McLaren announced earlier in the week that the Spaniard, a double world champion, would miss the May 28 Monaco Grand Prix to compete at The Brickyard in the biggest event in U.S. open-wheel racing.
Ethiopia's Berhanu Hayle seeks a Boston Marathon repeat
Ethiopian runner Lemi Berhanu Hayle will defend his Boston Marathon title in a wide open race on Monday against a men's field that includes the first American champion in three decades and no clear favorite. Berhanu Hayle won last year's race in two hours 12 minutes 44 seconds after pulling away from twice champion and countryman Lelisa Desisa, who is not competing this year.
MVP candidates square off as NBA playoffs get underway
One of the fiercest MVP debates basketball has seen in years will add another chapter when the NBA Playoffs open this weekend with award frontrunners Russell Westbrook and James Harden meeting face to face. In one corner: Oklahoma City's Westbrook, who averaged the league's second ever triple-double with dizzying numbers of 31.6 points per game, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for the Thunder.
