WAYNE ROONEY "has signed a new contract" with ManU worth around £85M ($141M) over the next five-and-a-half years that will keep him at the club until he is 33. He "is set to become captain next season," with NEMANJA VIDIC having announced that "he will leave United this summer" (London GUARDIAN, 2/21). In London, Mark Ogden wrote, "You have to hand it to Rooney -- and Manchester United have, in astronomical terms -- because the England forward certainly knows how to play the money game to his advantage." Not bad "for a player who, just 12 months ago, was hurtling towards the exit door following the breakdown of his relationship" with former Manager ALEX FERGUSON (London TELEGRAPH, 2/21). ... The first course of the NBA Yao School -- a program jointly launched by YAO MING and the NBA "devoted to youth development on and off the basketball court" -- kicked off in Beijing on Saturday. In the next 13 weeks, nearly 200 kids ages six to 16 "will attend the after-school bilingual program featuring both hoop and life skills on Friday nights and weekends." At the opening ceremony Yao said that the essence of the program "is to teach children spirit of teamwork, respect of the game and rules, perseverance and a can-do attitude in life as well as other significant values to foster a well-rounded personality for children" (CHINA DAILY, 2/22). ... Williams appointed Brazilian FELIPE NASR to the position of test and reserve driver for the F1 '14 season. Felipe will attend all Grands Prix during the '14 season and take to the wheel of the Williams Mercedes FW36 in three tests and five FP1 sessions. This will be combined with factory-based work in the team's simulator to support the continued development of the team's cars (Williams).
