Names In The News

Former cyclist JOSÉ LUIS DE SANTOS will remain president of the Association of Professional Cyclists (ACP) in Spain after "beating out fellow former cyclist SANTOS GONZÁLEZ by a comfortable margin of 78 votes to 18" (AS, 12/12). ... Force India have confirmed that SERGIO PEREZ "will drive for them" in '14, leaving PAUL DI RESTA's future in F1 in doubt (LONDON TIMES, 12/12). ... Former NBA player DENNIS RODMAN, who has struck up a friendship with North Korean leader KIM JONG-UN, "will visit the reclusive state next week to train its basketball team." The former Chicago Bulls star is organizing "a friendship exhibition game between North Korea and a team of mainly ex-NBA players" on Jan. 8, Kim's birthday. Sponsor Paddy Power said that the Dec. 19-23 training sessions and match "are unaffected by the turbulent political events in North Korea," where Kim's uncle and former mentor, JANG SONG-THAEK, "was recently purged in a surprise move" (AFP, 12/12).