CRISTIANO RONALDO will build a children's hospital in Santiago, Chile, according to his lawyers. The Real Madrid forward is joining Italian businessman ALESSANDRO PROTO in the venture, with work to be completed in '20. The pediatric hospital is reportedly "just the first to be built in an initiative which will see many more built across South America" (London INDEPENDENT, 12/19). ... Openly gay footballer LIAM DAVIS urged players in the sport "not to fear revealing their sexuality." The midfielder admitted to "receiving abuse from opponents," but insisted football’s attitudes toward homosexuality are "increasingly progressive." He said, "My advice to a young gay footballer at any level or any standard is just to be themselves" (INDEPENDENT, 12/19). ... Tottenham’s SON HEUNG-MIN was named the "top South Korean male player" of '17 by the national football governing body on Tuesday. Son earned the honor at the annual Korea FA Awards (YONHAP, 12/19). ... Paralympic Gold Medalist OSCAR PISTORIUS appealed to South Africa’s highest court to "cut the sentence he got for murdering his girlfriend," legal documents showed on Tuesday. Pistorious was jailed for six years for killing REEVA STEENKAMP but prosecutors argued that was "shockingly lenient" and an appeals court agreed last month to more than double the term to 15 years. Pistorius filed documents on Monday "challenging the appeals court's ruling" (REUTERS, 12/19). ... National Rugby League side Sydney Roosters paid an extra A$600,000 ($459,900) over three seasons to "lure" backrower ANGUS CRICHTON away from South Sydney. It is understood the Roosters will pay Crichton A$1M ($770,000) for '19 and then A$850,000 ($651,533) a season for '20 and '21. The final figure comes to A$2.7M ($2M) (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/19).
