Barcelona on Saturday presented a shirt signed by its players to Bolivian President EVO MORALES. The presentation was made during a "graduation ceremony for three universities for indigenous students." Barcelona Cabinet Head GERARD GUIU presented the shirt to Morales during the ceremony in Cochabamba, Bolivia (EFE, 8/2). ... Dutch striker ROBIN VAN PERSIE is set to miss ManU’s opening Premier League match against Swansea City "after being given an extended break following the World Cup." Manager LOUIS VAN GAAL said Van Persie would resume training on Monday and "would not be rushed back into the team before he reaches full fitness" (REUTERS, 8/3). ... The gloves worn by MUHAMMAD ALI in his '71 "fight of the century" against JOE FRAZIER "have been sold" for $388,375. An "anonymous bidder" bought the gloves at an auction at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland.
The "fight of the century," at Madison Square Garden in N.Y., "was the first of three bouts between Ali and Frazier during the 1970s, and came at a time when Ali was returning to the height of his powers, even if Frazier was the official world champion" (LONDON TIMES, 8/1).
SECOND LOOK: An Italian court is investigating the '04 death of MARCO PANTANI "after his mother presented evidence and analysis to the tribunal that she says shows he was murdered."
The 34-year-old Pantani, who won the Tour de France in '98, "was found dead in a hotel suite in the beachside resort city of Rimini" on Feb. 14, 2004, and the court later ruled that he "had died accidentally of acute cocaine poisoning."
TONINA PANTANI said that she believed "her son was murdered." She said that Pantani "was beaten and then forced to drink a lethal dose of cocaine dissolved in liquid" (REUTERS, 8/3).
INDIAN ARRESTS: The Indian contingent at the ongoing Commonwealth Games was "left thoroughly embarrassed" after Indian Olympic Association Secretary General RAJEEV MEHTA and an unattached wrestling referee, VIRENDER MALIK, "were arrested on different charges."
While Mehta "has been arrested for drunken driving, Malik, who is not a part of the official contingent is facing a more serious charge of sexual assault."
A Scotland Yard spokesperson "confirmed the arrests but refused to divulge anything more" (PTI, 8/3). India Sports Minister SARBANANDA SONOWAL said that "action will be taken against two Indian officials if reports of their misbehaviour on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are proved." Sonowal: "If whatever the media have reported so far is right, definitely our ministry will take appropriate action in this regard" (REUTERS, 8/3).
