German golfer MARTIN KAYMER "has parted ways" with his longtime manager JOHAN ELLIOT. Kaymer decided "not to extend his contract with Elliot, who has been the 30-year-old's manager since '08." Kaymer's brother PHILIPP "will take over Elliot's responsibilities until a new manager is found" (SPORTAL, 1/8). ... The career of CRISTIANO RONALDO will "be the subject of a class in the sociology department" at University of British Columbia. Professor LUIS AGUIAR "created a course about the player" in which he will "use Ronaldo as an example to explain 'how a football legend is constructed'" (AS, 1/11). ... ROGER FEDERER "has joined an elite club by claiming his 1,000th career win." Federer triumphed over Canada’s MILOS RAONIC in the Brisbane Int'l final, taking the title 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. Federer joins JIMMY CONNORS (who had 1,253 career wins) and IVAN LENDL (1,071) "as the third man to reach the 1,000 landmark in the Open era" (LONDON TIMES, 1/11). ... Bundesliga side Wolfsburg midfielder JUNIOR MALANDA "has died aged 20 in a car crash in Germany."
The Belgium U21 midfielder "had made 15 appearances for the German Bundesliga side this season, including against Everton in the Europa League." Wolfsburg police said that Malanda "was killed when he was a passenger in a car that crashed on a motorway near the German city of Bielefeld on Saturday" (BBC, 1/11). ... Cricket player MICHAEL CLARKE "has been declared fit to captain co-hosts Australia at the World Cup which begins next month."
The 33-year-old "has suffered persistent hamstring trouble in the last year and was ruled out of the recent Test series with India to have more surgery" (BBC, 1/11). ... New EPL Crystal Palace Manager ALAN PARDEW "was celebrating the perfect Selhurst Park homecoming" -- and then revealed that "the first person to congratulate him after Crystal Palace’s 2-1 win over Spurs" was Newcastle United Owner MIKE ASHLEY. Pardew: "When I checked my phone after the game the first person who texted me was Mike Ashley and I appreciated that. He knew that probably it was the right time for everybody concerned. He just said it was a great result and I appreciated that" (London DAILY MAIL, 1/11). ... A court in Bangladesh "granted bail" to national cricketer RUBEL HOSSAIN on Sunday "in a rape case filed by a 19-year-old actress, clearing the way for him to play in next month's World Cup."
A Dhaka magistrate "gave the order, meaning the 24-year-old can be freed later on Sunday or early Monday and join a practice session with the rest of Bangladesh's World Cup squad." Hossain's lawyer MONIRUZZAMAN ASAD said, "The court has granted him bail until the end of the World Cup." Asad added that the order "was granted in view of 'national interest' since he has been a key player in the team" (AFP, 1/11).
TAKING TO TWITTER: League One side Peterborough Chair DARRAGH MACANTHONY "launched a scathing attack on his own players and fans after another home defeat." However, MacAnthony "defended his manager, instead highlighting mistakes made by certain players during an 11-tweet rant." His tweets included:
