Former Spanish Basketball League (ACB) player MIKE PHILLIPS died on Saturday at the age of 59 after a fall at his home in Kentucky. Phillips played college basketball at the University of Kentucky and professionally for ACB clubs Barcelona, Círculo Católico and Espanyol, among others (ACB). ... With ANDY MURRAY's head coach, AMÉLIE MAURESMO, expecting her first child "some time between
Wimbledon and the US Open," Murray has decided JONAS BJORKMAN will fill the
void. Bjorkman, 43, initially announced on March 12 "as a replacement for DANI VALLVERDU to fill the role of subsidiary coach to Murray," will be alongside
him at this week's BMW Open in Munich after an initial practice week
together in Barcelona (LONDON TIMES, 4/27). ... Scottish Premiership side St. Mirren captain STEVEN THOMPSON was "mortified" after a "foolish prank during a training session" left a teammate with a gaping wound. Thompson threw a spiked pole at 20-year-old JOHN MCGINN after he "robbed him of the ball and it struck him on the thigh, causing severe bleeding." Thompson: "It was a daft prank" (REUTERS, 4/27). ... Fairfax radio host JOHN BURNS has denied calling Australian Football League side Richmond player BACHAR HOULI a "terrorist" at an AFL match, saying that he "could not recall the comment allegedly overheard by a club staff member." Burns was accused of "having made the comment while watching Melbourne defeat Richmond at the MCG on Friday night" with his friend and Sydney radio host STEVE PRICE (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/28). ... Former world No. 1 LEE CHONG WEI has been banned for eight months for doping by the Badminton World Federation. Lee, who has been suspended since November, will be able to compete again on May 1 after the ban "was backdated." The BWF said that Lee had not intended to cheat but had been "negligent" (BBC, 4/27). ... Former England captain TERRY BUTCHER is understood to be in the frame to be League Two side Newport Country's next manager. JIMMY DACK has been interim manager since JUSTIN EDINBURGH left for Gillingham in February. Former Mansfield Manager PAUL COX, former Cheltenham Manager MARK YATES and former England striker JAMES BEATTIE "are also under consideration" (BBC, 4/27).
