U.S. VP JOE BIDEN had "a tough choice to make on Sunday." Back his hosts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground -- Carlton -- or U.S. President BARACK OBAMA and Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister JULIE BISHOP’s West Coast Eagles. The "Blues won out." Biden was "taking time out from his trip to Australia to help open the PETER MAC Cancer Centre in Melbourne." One of the "most powerful men in the world toured the MCG" with Australian Football League CEO GILLON MCLACHLAN before being presented with a Carlton jumper by injured captain MARC MURPHY (NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA, 7/17). ... National League South side Oxford City Managing Dir COLIN TAYLOR has "been found dead at the team's ground." Taylor's body was "discovered by a member of the public" at about 9:20am at the Marsh Lane site in Marston. Thames Valley Police said his death "was not thought to be suspicious and a file was being prepared for the coroner." In a statement, the club said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Colin's family and friends at this time" (BBC, 7/17). ... Wimbledon finalist MILOS RAONIC and women's world No. 5 SIMONA HALEP of Romania have "pulled out from next month's Rio Olympics" due to fears over the zika virus. They, along with twice Australian Open champion VICTORIA AZARENKA, who is pregnant, "will not be making the trip to Rio even though they were included in the final list of participants" issued by the Int'l Tennis Federation on Friday (REUTERS, 7/15). ... World No. 8 TOMAS BERDYCH has "pulled out of next month's Olympic Games in Rio" because of concerns about the zika virus. Berdych, 30, lost in the Wimbledon semifinal to eventual winner ANDY MURRAY earlier this month. Berdych: "It was a hard decision for me to take after a long and painstaking discussion with my dearest" (BBC, 7/16).
WRITING ON THE WALL: Over the past few months Olympique de Marseille President VINCENT LABRUNE has “lost the majority of his power” at the club, and now after five years of service at the club, “VLB” will be quitting OM. Labrune said, “I will not be there for the resumption.” At the club’s next general assembly, a “new governing structure will be announced” by Owner MARGARITA LOUIS-DREYFUS with a president, “likely more detached from day-to-day operations than its predecessor, a general director (ARNAUD MARION’s name is being circulated but it is far from certain), and a sporting director." It will be a “transitional setup before a possible sale in the coming months.” Labrune said, “I think that when you stop, you really stop. And I really want to stop” (LA PROVENCE, 7/14).
