The father of young ManU midfielder RYAN TUNNICLIFFE became £10,000 ($16,000) richer when the 19-year-old "came on for his debut" in the 76th minute of Wednesday night's Capital One Cup win over Newcastle United. MICK TUNNICLIFFE placed a £100 ($162) bet when his son was nine that he "would one day play" for ManU (at odds of 100-1). There "could be worse to come" for bookmakers William Hill. They also took another bet from Tunnicliffe's dad of £100 at odds of 350/1 that the young midfielder will one day play for England at some stage in his career (London DAILY MAIL, 9/27). ... The Football Association has found Chelsea defender JOHN TERRY "guilty of a charge that he directed abusive language with racial connotations" at Queen Park Rangers' ANTON FERDINAND last October. Terry has been banned four games and fined £220,000 ($356,752) (London GUARDIAN, 9/27). ... Mercedes team principal ROSS BRAWN has said the team face a "difficult decision" over the future of MICHAEL SCHUMACHER. Mercedes has offered McLaren driver LEWIS HAMILTON a contract, and "some senior Mercedes figures" believe 43-year-old Schumacher, who is said to want to continue, should retire (BBC, 9/27).
GIVING THE FAR EAST A TRY: NBA player D.J. WHITE has signed a contract to play for the Chinese Basketball Association team Shanghai Sharks for the '12-13 season. The 6-9 player has spent the last four seasons in the NBA playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Bobcats. White will "pair up alongside" former NBA Development league player ELIJAH MILLSAP, who was officially signed two weeks ago, filling the Sharks' spot for two imports this year (NIUBBALL.com, 9/27). ... The Chinese Olympians "will compete for more glory" at the CCTV Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony, also known as China's "Sports Oscars." Olympic swimming champion SUN YANG and men's table tennis Gold Medalist ZHANG JIKE are two of the competitors for Male Athlete of the Year. World record holding swimmer YE SHIWEN, Olympic sailing champion XU LIJIA and women's table tennis Gold Medalist LI XIAOXIA "are strong contenders" for Female Athlete of the Year, and the women's fencing team, which claimed the first Gold Medal for China in the event, "will be a strong contender" for Best Team of the Year. The first round of the selection process will be completed by the middle of December and the winners announced on Jan. 13 (CHINA DAILY, 9/27).
