England and EPL side Sunderland footballer ADAM JOHNSON "has appeared before a judge on child sex charges." The 28-year-old, who has played 12 times for England, appeared at Durham Crown Court for a hearing ahead of a trial due to take place on Aug. 24. The winger "previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child under 16 and another of grooming" (BBC, 8/3). ... CRISTIANO RONALDO has given his agent JORGE MENDES a "Greek island as a wedding present, media reports say." The island "has not been named but the price tag could run into the millions." Ronaldo acted as the best man for Mendes (BBC, 8/3). ... Speedway rider LEWIS KERR is in a coma following a "horrific" collision with a barrier at a race meeting in Peterborough on Sunday. Kerr was competing for the Newcastle Diamonds team "when he was involved in a multiple-bike crash" (London GUARDIAN, 8/3).
HIRD SUING INSURANCE COMPANY: Australian Football League side Essendon coach JAMES HIRD is suing his insurance company for "refusing to pay his legal bill" of more than A$640,000 ($466,000) over the supplements saga. Hird's appeal against the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority was "unanimously dismissed in the Full Court of the Federal Court in January" and he was ordered to pay costs. Hird's lawyers claimed Chubb Insurance had failed to pay Hird's trial costs of A$573,588.67 ($417,700) and his appeal costs of A$68,552.73 ($49,900). Chubb had denied liability (THE AGE, 8/3).
FANNING DONATES TV FEE: Two weeks after his "lucky escape from a shark attack," MICK FANNING has donated a $75,000 television appearance fee to MATTHEW LEE, the surfer who was "mauled by a great white in Ballina early last month." Fanning gave an interview to Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program on Sunday
night to "talk about his ordeal at Jeffreys Bay, from which he walked
away unscathed." Lee was "less fortunate and has undergone surgery on both legs after the attack by a sizeable shark -- up to four metres long, according to eye witness accounts." Nine network CEO DAVID GYNGELL pledged to donate a further $25,000 to Lee for his "ongoing treatment and rehabilitation" (GUARDIAN, 8/2).
