Names In The News

Swiss IndyCar driver SIMONA DE SILVESTRO "signed a one-year deal with the KV Racing Technology team for the '13 season" (BLICK.ch, 10/30). ... German Davis Cup Team captain PATRIK KÜHNEN will resign at the end of the year. Kühnen said, "I got the feeling over the last couple of weeks that I don't have necessary support and backing from the German Tennis Federation (DTB). Therefore, I don't see the necessary foundation of trust that would allow me to continue my work. I have decided to end talks with the DTB about a continuation of my duty" (BILD, 10/31). ... NHL player WAYNE SIMMONDS, who currently plays for Czech Extraliga club Bílí Tygři Liberec, "had to endure racist chants" during the club's game at Piráti Chomutov. The fans ridiculed him as "opice," which means monkey. The Czech Ice Hockey Association "fined the club €1,200 ($1,600) for its fans' behavior" (SID, 10/30). ... Tennis world No. 5 DAVID FERRER said that if it was up to him LIONEL MESSI would win FIFA's Ballon d'Or award. Ferrer said, "I would vote for Messi for the Ballon d'Or. To me he is the best in the world" (EFE, 10/31). ... Olympic Council of Asia President & Association of the National Olympic Committees SHEIKH AHMAD AL-FAHAD AL-SABAH met with Russia Parliament Chair SERGEY NARYSHKIN "to discuss national and int'l sports issues" (KUNA, 10/31).

UNDONE DEAL: Former NBA player GILBERT ARENAS' contract to play for Chinese Basketball Association team Guangdong Southern Tigers "is falling apart." Guangdong and Arenas have had "disagreements over a payment schedule, and the organization has started to have increasing questions over Arenas' fitness" (YAHOO! SPORTS, 10/30). ... Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport reported Ligue 1 club Paris St. Germain is "ready to shell out" €100M ($130M) for Real Madrid striker CRISTIANO RONALDO and bring Manager JOSE MOURINHO at the same time (AFP, 10/31). ... British time trial champion ALEX DOWSETT has become the latest member to leave Team Sky Procycling. Dowsett joined the Spanish team Movistar in a move that follows the departures of Sporting Dir STEVEN DE JONGH and race Coach BOBBY JULICH (ROADCYCLING.com, 10/30). ... Russia men's basketball coach DAVID BLATT has quit after guiding them to the Olympic Bronze Medal in London. The 53-year-old has coached Russia for the past seven years, leading the team to the '07 European title, the country's first major championship since '85 (REUTERS, 10/31).

LONDON OLYMPIANS: The IOC has "signed off on an Olympic medal certificate" for South Korean footballer PARK JONG-WOO, who was banned from receiving his medal following his controversial post-match celebration at the London Games (YONHAP, 10/31). ... Olympic Gold Medalist MICHAEL PHELPS "gave swimming lessons" to 20 kids and teenagers in the Olympic Center of the Alemão Complex in Rio de Janeiro (GLOBO, 10/31). ... Great Britain's ITV1 is "hoping to make a splash" with a new TV reality show in which celebrities learn how to dive under the coaching of Olympic bronze medalist TOM DALEY (London GUARDIAN, 10/31).

SWITCHING SEATS: The Sauber F1 Team "has signed Force India driver NICO HÜLKENBERG to replace current driver SERGIO PÉREZ who will leave the team after the season." The 25-year-old German "made his F1 debut in '10 and has scored 71 points in 36 races" (NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG, 10/31). Sauber F1 Team Principal MONISHA KALTENBORN said, "We've been observing Nico for some time now, and his performances have been very persuasive. He clearly showed he can seize the chance if it arises. But high spots like that are one thing; systematic teamwork is another, and on that score I have confidence in Nico too" (PA, 10/31).

FOOTBALL RULERS: A new book by former LOCOG Chair SEBASTIAN COE revealed FIFA President SEPP BLATER thought English football "was run by idiots," which was a reason England failed to win the right to stage the 2018 World Cup. Coe said that his instincts were that Blatter "always wanted to take the World Cup to Russia, which is what transpired." However, he also said that people who believed Blatter wanted that outcome because he hated England "were wrong." Coe wrote, "He doesn't. He's Swiss and like a lot of Swiss, he's rather fond of England" (REUTERS, 10/31). ... Recently appointed Croatian Football Federation (HNS) President DAVOR ŠUKER visited the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The former Croatia national-team striker, who was elected HNS president in July, met UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI and held discussions with senior UEFA representatives on developments within Croatian football and on UEFA's help to the HNS under its assistance programs (UEFA).