MAGIC JOHNSON and a team of former NBA players "canceled their participation in the opening ceremony of the new Jerusalem Arena due to the ongoing rocket fire and the IDF’s operation in Gaza." Scheduled "to take part in an exhibition game against Hapoel Jerusalem," they notified the organizers earlier this week that "due to the security situation in Israel they will not be traveling to the country" (JERUSALEM POST, 7/31). ... Three Glasgow 2014 security guards "were removed from their roles for taking photographs" with the Jamaican sprinter USAIN BOLT. Bolt "was training at the Lesser Hampden track beside Hampden Park earlier in the week when the three staff members approached him and asked for a 'selfie'" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/31). ... The men who kidnapped CARLOS TEVEZ's father told him that they wanted the Argentina player "to forgive them for what they had done."
SEGUNDO TEVEZ revealed that his kidnappers "were apologetic over their actions." Segundo told the police that the gang said, "Carlos is our idol. He's the greatest there is. We don't want to hurt him. Why would we? The problem is we've got children and we need the money. We haven't got any alternative. We hope he forgives us" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/31). ... Two-time Grand Slam champion LI NA "pulled out of the US Open on Thursday, because of a knee injury which she said has bothered her for several months."
The only player from China to win a Grand Slam singles title "also withdrew from hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati over the next two weeks" (AP, 7/31). ... Australia's head athletics coach ERIC HOLLINGSWORTH "has been sent home from the Commonwealth Games for issuing a public statement critical of Olympic champion" SALLY PEARSON on the eve of her 100m hurdles defense. Australia team chief STEVE MONEGHETTI announced that Hollingsworth "had breached his team agreement and would be on the first available plane home from Glasgow" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/1). ... Former F1 driver MARK WEBBER "has taken to Twitter to hit out against" former boss and Red Bull Racing Team Principal CHRISTIAN HORNER's comments that F1 bosses "should stop trying to control their drivers." Horner said, "We need to allow the drivers to express themselves more without them being hit by criticism. We need to allow their personalities to come out." Webber "jumped on social media after the comments, using the old saying about the pot calling the kettle black to suggest Horner was a hypocrite" (NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA, 7/31). ... STEVE HOOKER "has quit his duties as commentator for host Commonwealth Games broadcaster Network Ten," after his athlete wife, middle-distance runner EKATERINA KOSTETSKAYA, "was banned for drug use" (AAP, 7/31).
