Mexican footballer RAFAEL MÁRQUEZ's lawyer, JOSE LUIS NASSAR DAW, said that the player does not "directly know" alleged drug trafficker RAÚL FLORES, and only knows his son, RAÚL FLORES CASTRO (MILENIO DIGITAL, 8/14). ... NEYMAR was announced as the new int’l ambassador of Handicap Int’l in Geneva on Tuesday. Neymar will promote the charity’s work with people with disabilities in poor countries and victims of natural disasters and conflicts (LE PARISIEN, 8/15). ... The US Open has included former champion MARIA SHARAPOVA in its list of main draw wildcards announced by the U.S. Tennis Association on Tuesday. The '06 winner will be joined in the main draw by USTA Girls’ 18s Nationals champion ASHLEY KRATZER, US Open Wild Card Challenge winner SOFIA KENIN, NCAA singles champion BRIANNE MINOR, defending US Open girls' champion KAYLA DAY and former junior World No. 1 TAYLOR TOWNSEND (WTA). ... National Rugby League side Gold Coast Titans Manager NEIL HENRY denied feuding with player JARRYD HAYNE and claimed that the pair "can co-exist" at the club next season. Henry will coach the Titans against Hayne's former club Parramatta on Thursday night, "but the future of both men is in doubt following Monday's crisis talks with club officials." At the center of the issue is "Henry's relationship with highly-paid Hayne" (AAP, 8/15). ... Australian Football League side Western Bulldogs captain BOB MURPHY will "hang up his boots" at the end of the current season. The two-time All Australian, 35, is the "oldest player currently plying his trade in the league" (London GUARDIAN, 8/14). ... Australian Olympic track cycling champion STEPHEN WOOLDRIDGE is "being remembered for his tireless contribution to the sport after taking his own life" at the age of 39. Wooldridge won Olympic Gold in the 4,000m team pursuit in Athens in '04, also claiming four world titles in the same discipline during the '00s (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/15).
