Ramle opens women's European hoops campaign
Elitzur Ramle visits Antakia, the champion of the Turkish women's basketball league, tonight in their women's Eurocup opener. The other two teams in Group H include Vilnius Kibirkstis of Lithuania and Slovakian club Ruzomberok. The top two teams in the group at the end of the round-robin stage will advance to the next round. "Every season begins with uncertainty, but we'll strive to go as far as we can," said Ramle coach Adan Inbar yesterday. "The leagues started already in Europe but not yet here, and that's a disadvantage for us." (Arie Livnat )
Mac. Haifa basketball contracts under suspicion
The budgetary control authority of the Israel Basketball Association is investigating allegations of duplicate contracts at Super League club Maccabi Haifa. The association received information a week ago indicating that players on the team are holding contracts that differ than the ones filed with the authority. Officials in the authority said they believe any infractions were made innocently. Maccabi Haifa announced it would cooperate with the investigation. Maccabi Haifa hosts Hapoel Holon tonight in a make-up game from the first round of the regular season. (Arie Livnat )
Harrington takes control at golf Grand Slam
Triple major winner Padraig Harrington, a late addition to the four-man field, birdied three of the last five holes to grab a two-shot lead after Tuesday's opening round of the end-of-season PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda. The 41-year-old Irishman, who replaced British Open champion Ernie Els in the elite event which brings together the winners of the year's four majors, fired a sparkling five-under-par 66 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton. Harrington sandwiched birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th around a bogey at the 16th to finish two strokes clear of American left-hander Bubba Watson, the Masters champion. Webb Simpson, winner of this year's U.S. Open, was a further shot back after carding a 69 in the 36-hole event while fellow American Keegan Bradley, the defending champion, shot a 72. (Reuters )
Indiana Fever fans celebrate WNBA title
The Indiana Fever and their fans didn't let a little rain ruin their celebration of the WNBA championship.The team and several thousand fans moved their party indoors to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse yesterday as morning rain scrapped plans for a parade. The Fever wrapped up the title Sunday night, beating the Minnesota Lynx three games to one. (AP )
