Liverpool fan JOHN OLIVER, the host of HBO's "Last Week Tonight," collaborated with the club on a short video in which he gives U.S. fans five reasons why they should come out to support LFC when they play Chelsea, AC Milan and AS Roma as part of their U.S. preseason summer tour. Oliver touches on Liverpool’s history, Manager JÜRGEN KLOPP, former Liverpool player STEVEN GERRARD and the "special feeling" Reds’ fans create when they sing "You’ll Never Walk Alone" (LFC). ...
Former champion Scottish boxer JIM WATT "has retired from his commentary duties." Watt, 68, "is one of the country's best-known sportsmen," winning the British lightweight title in '72 and '75, before becoming WBC lightweight champion four years later. He has been "commentating on the sport for the last four decades" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 7/22). ... UEFA has confirmed the names of the three candidates attempting to succeed MICHEL PLATINI as president. Platini resigned in May. He will be succeeded by Dutch FA (KNVB) President MICHAEL VAN PRAAG, acting UEFA President ÁNGEL MARÍA VILLAR or Slovenian FA President ALEKSANDER CEFERIN. The election will be on Sept. 14 (BBC, 7/22).
HOMETOWN RECOGNITION: Madeira Int'l Airport is to be named after the island's favorite son: CRISTIANO RONALDO. The announcement was made after a council meeting of the local government. Ronaldo already has a museum and hotel on Madeira (ESPN, 7/23). Ronaldo "insists he will not feature in Real Madrid’s Super Cup clash with Sevilla in August." He suffered a knee injury in a challenge with DIMITRI PAYET in the Euro 2016 final and was "forced off in the first half in tears." Ronaldo said that he will not be returning "until the day after the final in Trondheim" on Aug. 9 (GOAL, 7/23).