Names In The News

Nearly 20 players have already confirmed their participation in the 10th edition of the UEFA-backed Match Against Poverty at the Grêmio Arena in Porto Alegre, Brazil on Dec. 19. Former players RONALDO and ZINÉDINE ZIDANE will each choose and lead his own team. Ronaldo's team already includes current players NEYMAR, LUCAS MOURA, ROMÁRIO, BEBETO, DENILSON, JULIANO BELLETTI, SERGINHO and ROQUE JÚNIOR. Former players on the team include CHRISTIAN VIERI, SANTIAGO SOLARI, DECO, PEDRO PAULETA, CHRISTIAN KAREMBEU, MICHEL SALGADO and HIDETOSHI NAKATA. World Cup coach for Brazil in '02 LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI and current Brazil national team coach MANO MENEZES will be the team captains (UEFA). ... German hockey player SVEN FELSKI "announced his retirement Monday afternoon after 20 years with only one club, Eisbären Berlin." Felski, who was also called "Mayor," has to end his career "due to a severe knee injury" (KICKER.de, 10/29). ... Spanish cyclist ALBERTO CONTADOR will make his brief acting debut in the Spanish TV comedy series "Fenómenos" (EFE, 10/30). ... World No. 1 squash player JAMES WILLSTROP's book "Shot and a Ghost" has been shortlisted for this year's William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award (Professional Squash Association). ... SERENA and VENUS WILLIAMS arrived in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, on Tuesday, as part of a two-nation tour. A statement from the initiative they are representing, Breaking The Mould, said the trip, including exhibition matches, is aimed at promoting "the role that women play in shifting perceptions and encouraging development at all levels across the African continent" (AFP, 10/30).

AN AWARD OF GOLD: Tour de France champion BRADLEY WIGGINS has "won the prestigious" Velo d'Or award as the best rider of '12. Wiggins beat the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders winner TOM BOONEN and Spain's JOAQUIM RODRÍGUEZ in a poll of cycling journalists set up by French publication Velo Magazine (REUTERS, 10/30). The London INDEPENDENT reported that Wiggins has been awarded third place in the 2009 Tour de France after LANCE ARMSTRONG's result was "wiped from the record books" (INDEPENDENT, 10/30).

NHL PLAYERS ABROAD: German Hockey League (DEL) club EHC Red Bull Munich reacted to the injuries of its forwards JASON ULMER and TONI RITTER by acquiring NHL player BLAKE WHEELER. The 26-year-old forward will join the team on Thursday. Wheeler scored 64 points in 80 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season (EHC Red Bull Munich). ... NHL player PATRICK KANE "will make his debut with Swiss National League A club EHC Biel." The Chicago Blackhawks captain and his new team "will take on EV Zug" (BLICK.ch, 10/30).

WHEN THE GAME'S OVER: Mercedes F1 driver MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, who will retire at the end of the season, "will be allowed to keep his Mercedes F1 W03 race car as a farewell present." Schumacher said about the around €1M ($1.3M) car, "Optically, especially due to the kink of the nose, you have to get used to the car" (MOTORSPORT MAGAZIN, 10/28). ... Former F1 driver ADRIAN SUTIL "could make a comeback with his former team Force India in '13." Force India Team Principal VIJAY MALLYA "mentioned Sutil as a possible successor of current driver NICO HÜLKENBERG who will probably move to Sauber." Mallya said, "Adrian is always fast, and I definitely would consider him" (SID, 10/30).