U.S. rapper JAY-Z's entertainment company Roc Nation is creating a sports department with the goal of "transforming players into true stars with worldwide impact and visibility," according to Germán Cardoso of ES. Brazilian footballer NEYMAR is one of the company's priorities to be signed (ES, 5/7). ... U.S. golfer FRED COUPLES, "one of the most laid-back figures in the game, was overcome by emotion after being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame" as part of the class of '13 on Monday. Couples was inducted along with eight-time European Tour order of merit winner COLIN MONTGOMERIE, former U.S. Open champion and TV broadcaster KEN VENTURI, former European Tour Exec Dir KEN SCHOFIELD and twice former British Open winner WILLIE PARK JR. (REUTERS, 5/7). ... Former Pakistani cricketer turned reformist politician IMRAN KHAN was injured in a fall at an election rally on Tuesday night. Khan, founder and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, "suffered head injuries when he fell from a stage with his bodyguards shortly before addressing a crowd of supporters in Lahore." He was carried away, "dazed and bleeding," by his aides. Khan's ex-wife Jemima Khan "tweeted that he was conscious and in hospital" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/7). ... Gymnastics Gold Medalist KOHEI UCHIMURA "was named the Japanese Olympic Committee's most outstanding athlete" of '12. Uchimura "won the honor for the second straight year" (KYODO, 5/7).
FOOTBALL NAMES: FIFA Exec Committee member CHUCK BLAZER has been suspended from football for 90 days after claims his conduct was "fraudulent." The former CONCACAF general secretary "has been given a provisional ban pending full disciplinary proceedings" (BBC, 5/6). ... Ligue 1 Marseille midfielder JOEY BARTON "was given a two-game ban" for calling Paris St. Germain defender THIAGO SILVA an "overweight ladyboy" on Twitter, and the French Football Federation suspended the penalty. The FFF said that the penalty "would have to be served only if Barton uses offensive language again on Twitter" (AP, 5/6). ... Former Argentina striker DIEGO MARADONA looks set to continue as Dubai's sports ambassador as Dubai Sports Council secretary general DR. AHMED AL SHARIF believes there is "nothing to prevent" them from continuing the partnership. Al Sharif believes that Maradona "has made valuable contributions in his role since and expects to see the Argentine continue." Al Sharif, "We have enjoyed working with Maradona, just as he has enjoyed working with us" (THE NATIONAL, 5/7).
NOTABLE DEATH: Honorary AS President VICENTE MONTIEL died Tuesday. Montiel was elected President of the Association of Editors of Spanish Dailys (AEDE) in '92 and followed the work of his father, LUIS MONTIEL BALANZAT, who founded AS in 1967 (AS, 5/7).
