In a study carried out by Spanish marketing research company Sondea, Coca-Cola asked more than 2,000 people in Spain "which athlete they would most like to share a Coke with," with 63% of the voters choosing RAFAEL NADAL. Real Madrid goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS was the second-most popular choice, with 60%. Casillas was followed by NBA L.A. Lakers forward PAU GASOL (55%), F1 Ferrari driver FERNANDO ALONSO (42%) motorcycle racer DANI PEDROSA (33%) and Spanish Olympic swimmer MIREIA BELMONTE (32%) (EP, 9/23). ... The Madrid city council's Art, Sports & Tourism Commission on Monday approved Madrid Mayor ANA BOTELLA's proposal to give RAFAEL NADAL the title of "Hijo Adoptivo" ("Adopted Son"). The proposal "recognizes Nadal's extraordinary sporting career and his close, continued connection to Madrid through his agreement to promote sports and the development of his values" (EFE, 9/23). ... Portuguese football side Benfica coach JORGE JÉSUS is being investigated by Lisbon, Portugal authorities "after video showed him pushing police officers following his side's 1-0 win against Vitoria Guimaraes." Benfica fans had come onto the field and Jésus "stepped between officers and the fans, eventually being restrained by security officers" (EFE, 9/23). ... Former Croatian Football Federation President VLATKO MARKOVIĆ, who "also played and coached" at the intl level, died Monday in Zagreb, Croatia at the age of 76 (AP, 9/23). ... Argentine field hockey player LUCIANA AYMAR "has announced that she will retire" following the 2014 Int'l Hockey Federation (FIH) World Cup. Aymar: "I love hockey, but I am not Highlander" (OLE, 9/23). ... Australian Football League CEO ANDREW DEMETRIOU said that "he wants to accept an offer" from JAMES PACKER and join the board of Crown casino. Demetriou said that "he would join the Australian Stock Exchange-listed Crown Ltd. when time permitted" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/24). ... Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist KAORI ICHO of Japan and Iranian world champion HAMID SORYAN REIHANPOUR will help lead an athlete's commission for wrestling's int'l governing body. FILA announced the wrestlers' appointment to the new seven-member commission. The commission also includes MARIA PREVOLARAKI of Greece, U.S.'s JAKE HERBERT, Canadian CAROL HUYNH, CHRISTOPHE GUENOT of France and Hungarian TOMAS LORINCZ (FILA). ... Red Bull Team Principal CHRISTIAN HORNER "lashed out at the fans who continue to boo Formula One championship leader" SEBASTIAN VETTEL and "suggested they were hurting the young German's feelings." Horner said it was "unfair" to boo Vettel, who has suffered repeated ill-treatment this year and was again subjected to loud chants and heckles after winning Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix (AFP, 9/23). ... At an Extraordinary General Meeting, Switzerland's Parliament of Sport, the Swiss National Olympic Committee's Congress, which is made up of 80 national sports federations, decided on LAUSANNE as its official candidate to host the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games (Swiss Olympic).
