Local media reported former Honduran footballer WALTER LÓPEZ was murdered on Sunday in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. He was "attacked by delinquents who were waiting for him outside of a local stadium" (EFE, 8/10). ... The German Olympics Sports Association (DOSB) has appointed ULRIKE SPITZ "to become the organizations's new spokeswoman" starting Sept. 1. Spitz replaces CHRISTIAN KLAUE, "who will move on to the IOC" (DWDL, 8/10). ... Formula E Head of Communications LUCA COLAJANNI resigned from his position on Monday. Formula E will release the new structure of its communications department in the next few weeks (Formula E). ... Atlético Madrid striker RAÚL JIMÉNEZ missed his medical at West Ham "because he overslept." He was "due to join the Hammers on a season-long loan after the clubs agreed terms," but he now appears to be on his way to Benfica after negotiations by his agent, JORGE MENDES (BLEACHER REPORT, 8/10). ... Former Olympic rower JAMES CRACKNELL said he is "so proud" of his son CROYDE after they "rescued a drowning grandfather and grandson at a beach." The double Gold Medalist, who was with his 11-year-old son at Croyde Bay in north Devon on Saturday, said he was "relieved everyone had walked away from the accident unharmed" (PA, 8/10). ... Australian cricket captain MICHAEL CLARKE "angrily denied" on Monday claims that the "disastrous England tour has been plagued by off-field dramas," saying it was "absolute garbage." Clarke, 34, announced he was retiring after England completed a "crushing innings and 78-run victory in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match Ashes series." Clarke: "There is no disharmony in this group whatsoever. The players are as tight as any team I've been a part of" (AFP, 8/10). ... The coach of Brazil's national swimming team said that China's Olympic champion SUN YANG "tried to elbow and kick a female swimmer at the world championships on Sunday and that he has also caused problems for other teams." ALBERTO PINTO DA SILVA, in comments carried by Brazilian sports news website globoesporte.com, said the incident occurred when LARISSA OLIVEIRA was "warming up alongside the Chinese swimmer in the pool" (REUTERS, 8/9). ... The agent of Man City player RAHEEM STERLING "has denied the star was involved in a car crash" after his £125,000 ($195,000) Mercedes C63 AMG was found smashed with "canisters of laughing gas" inside. The car was "found abandoned in London and then taken to Manchester for repair." The paper quoted a source as saying, "The Merc was in London for days after the smash -- it was just left on the street. Raheem wasn't in the car at the time, he was training in Manchester. It looks like he lent it to a mate" (London INDEPENDENT, 8/10). ... Chelsea doctor EVA CARNEIRO has "spoken out and thanked the public for their 'overwhelming' support" after Manager JOSE MOURINHO criticized the "actions of his medical staff in the 2-2 draw with Swansea on Saturday" (INDEPENDENT, 8/10). ... LIONEL MESSI donated 4.5 million Argentine pesos ($490,000) to Unicef Argentina through his charitable foundation, the Lionel Messi Foundation (INDEPENDENT, 8/10).
FORMULA E: Former F1 world champion JACQUES VILLENEUVE will race for Venturi during the second season of Formula E, alongside STEPHANE SARRAZIN. The '97 champion will replace NICK HEIDFELD at the Monaco-based team which enters the '15-16 all-electric series as one of eight manufacturers. Heidfeld will join Mahindra Racing alongside BRUNO SENNA for the '15-16 season. Heidfeld will drive Mahindra Racing’s second generation car, the M2Electro, for the coming season of the all-electric racing series. Mahindra Racing enters the second Formula E season as one of eight manufacturers developing its own electric powertrain to power its quartet of cars (Formula E).
