The NBA Brooklyn Nets signed former National Basketball League side New Zealand Breakers player AKIL MITCHELL. Mitchell "made headlines in January when he suffered a gruesome injury after getting poked in the left eye during an NBL game" for the Breakers against the Cairns Taipans, leaving his eyeball outside of the socket (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9/25). ... Australian Football League side Richmond player DUSTIN MARTIN claimed the Brownlow Medal with a record 36 votes. Geelong player PATRICK DANGERFIELD, who "draped the medal over Martin's neck as per Brownlow tradition as last year's winner, polled brilliantly" by finishing with 33 votes. Hawthorn player TOM MITCHELL "finished strongly in the latter stages to finish a clear second in official standings" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 9/26). ... Former Australian Test cricketer SHANE WARNE rejected allegations he assaulted a U.K. model, saying that he has "already been cleared" by police. Warne said that he was "shocked to read reports in the London press on Sunday concerning VALERIE FOX and an alleged altercation at a nightclub." He said, "I have fully cooperated with police and they have now had the opportunity of seeing CCTV and speaking to witnesses" (STUFF, 9/25). ... Olympic Bronze Medalist MARY KOM is the first Indian to be selected as the Int'l Boxing Association's (AIBA) representative for the IOC Athletes' Forum, which will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland, from Nov. 11-13 (NEWSX, 9/24).
ONE-YEAR BAN: Juventus President ANDREA AGNELLI was banned for one year by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Monday for his role in selling tickets to hardcore "ultra" fans that "encouraged scalping." The court also fined Juventus €300,000 ($355,400). Agnelli "allegedly authorized the sale of season passes and other tickets" (AP, 9/25).
