NBA Oklahoma Thunder player SERGE IBAKA will help basketball "take over the Etihad Stadium" in Manchester, England later this month. The Thunder "will be on hand to host a special three-on-three competition for fans" ahead of the team's game against Philadelphia on Oct. 8 (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 7/3). ... Former world and Olympic champion LIBBY TRICKETT is retiring. Trickett retired in '09, but "returned to the pool" in '10. Trickett said "there would be no comebacks this time" with an injury to her wrist proving "too great to overcome" (THE AGE, 7/3).
FOOTBALL NAMES: Former Serie A Cagliari midfielder FABIAN O'NEILL "sensationally confessed to fixing two Serie A games and punching GENNARO GATTUSO." The Uruguayan of Irish heritage "is now retired" at the age of 39, but played for Cagliari from '95-00, going on to Juventus in '00-02 and Perugia for six months (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 7/3). ... Former Spain coach JOSE ANTONIO CAMACHO has received €6.4M ($8.3M) in compensation "following his sacking" as China national team coach. Although the deal has not yet been officially confirmed, Chinese media "are reporting that the 58-year-old’s contract stipulated he would be awarded the amount in case of early dismissal" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 7/3). ... Former Mexican football player ANTONIO JOSSO died on June 26 of natural causes at age 78 (LA AFICION, 7/3).
