Philippine basketball authorities "sacked and fined an American import for ridiculing" boxer MANNY PACQUIAO's quest to become a professional basketballer. Former NBA player DANIEL ORTON "hit the headlines last week after playing against Pacquiao in the local pro-league, a game in which the 1.69-metre (5 foot-6 inch) boxing champion scored a solitary point." Orton: "Professional boxer, yeah, okay ... professional basketball player, no. It's a joke." His comments "were too much for Philippine basketball chiefs." His team "sacked Orton late last week" (AFP, 2/24). ... England rugby forward STEFFON ARMITAGE "will have to wait to find out whether his hopes of a World Cup place are still alive after a French court requested more information before reaching a decision on an assault charge." The flanker, who is accused of assaulting a man in the port city of Toulon where he plays, "is hoping to be brought back" into STUART LANCASTER’s training squad this summer but the head coach has made clear that "behavior and standards" will affect selection (LONDON TIMES, 2/24). ... Former Italian footballer FRANCESCO COCO, who played for Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter, is facing charges in Milan of tax evasion (SPORT, 2/23). ... Incheon Asian Games rhythmic gymnastics Gold Medalist SON YEON-JAE has won the 20th Coca-Cola Sports Award for Athlete of the Year in South Korea. Wrestler KIM HYEON-WOO, a Gold Medalist in the men's 75kg Greco-Roman division at the Asiad, and bowler LEE NA-YOUNG, who collected four medals at the Asiad's women's events, also received recognition (KOREA TIMES, 2/24). ... DAVID BECKHAM is to be honored with a Legend of Football award at the 20th Anniversary HMV Football Extravaganza at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Sept. 1. The event will raise funds for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins (TV3, 2/24).
