TRACK AND FIELD
Ex-Bulldog dies in wreck
Former University of Georgia champion sprinter Torrin Lawrence died early Monday morning in a car accident on Interstate 75 near Cordele, the school confirmed. UGA officials said Lawrence was likely traveling home to Jacksonville, Fla., when a tire on his car went flat. Police reports indicate his car was disabled in a southbound lane when it was struck from behind by a tractor trailer. Lawrence was thrown from the car and died at the scene. “I am shocked and pained with news of Torrin’s death,” Georgia track coach Wayne Norton said in a news release. “First, my prayers for comfort are for Torrin’s mother and family. Second, this makes me reflect on Torrin and remember him as one of the greatest talents I have ever seen in our sport and as gentle man.” Lawrence, whose UGA career was completed in 2012, captured SEC and NCAA titles, set a collegiate record and still holds three school records. He graduated with a degree in sociology in 2013. Lawrence was competing and training as a professional in Atlanta and representing USA Track & Field in international competitions. Lawrence captured the 2009 SEC indoor 200-meter dash title in his first league meet as a true freshman. He was an All-American in the same event with a seventh-place national finish before being named the 2009 SEC Freshman Runner of the Year. He highlighted his sophomore year by winning the SEC and NCAA championships in the indoor 400. Lawrence set a collegiate record in the 300 that still remains (32.32). He owns three of the top 10 times in the indoor 400 in collegiate track, topping out at his 45.03 set in Fayetteville at the 2010 Tyson Invitational which is fourth on the all-time list. “I thank God for Torrin Lawrence,” Norton said. “I pray for all of his classmates, teammates and coaches who are grieving and trying to understand why we lost one of the good guys.”
SOCCER
Messi still in mess
A Spanish judge on Monday rejected a prosecutor’s request to drop charges of tax fraud against Lionel Messi and ordered the investigation into three cases of suspected unpaid taxes to proceed. A court statement said there was “sufficient evidence” to believe the Barcelona and Argentina star “could have known and consented” to the creation of a fictitious corporate structure to avoid paying taxes on income from his image rights. In June, Messi’s public relations firm said a prosecutor had agreed to drop the tax fraud case against the player and his father. Monday’s statement said it was not necessary for Messi “to have full knowledge of all accounting or corporate transactions or the exact amount of the fraud” for him to have had a clear idea of an intention to defraud.
FIFA has extended the sanctions imposed on Kevin Sammut and Mark Edusei for match-fixing to prevent them from playing anywhere in the world. Sammut was found guilty by UEFA of colluding with a fixing syndicate in June 2007 to help manipulate Malta’s Euro 2008 qualifier in Norway. Malta lost 4-0. His life ban by UEFA was reduced to 10 years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May. Ghanaian player Mark Edusei was suspended for 3 1/2 years by the Italian football federation in May for his role in fixing a Serie B match in 2009. Edusei’s team, Bari, lost 3-2 to Salernitana.
Dick Advocaat, who has coached the Netherlands and South Korea at World Cups, is Serbia’s new soccer coach. Advocaat, a 66-year-old Dutchman, inherits a team that failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Brazil. He will be coaching his sixth national team. His immediate goal is to guide Serbia to the 2016 European Championship. Serbian officials say Advocaat’s contract could be extended if he does so. Advocaat succeeds Sinisa Mihajlovic, who joined the Italian club Sampdoria after Serbia did not make the World Cup last year. Advocaat also coached the national teams of United Arab Emirates, Belgium and Russia, and club teams PSV Eindhoven and Rangers. Last season, he had a second stint with the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, which reached the Europa League quarterfinals.
Lawyers in Las Vegas want immigration authorities to release a wealthy Malaysian businessman who was charged in a World Cup betting scheme and remains in custody even after his poker star friends posted his bail. Wei Seng “Paul” Phua, 50, and his son, Darren Phua, 22, were in the Henderson Detention Center on Monday on a hold from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to jail records. A few days earlier, poker professional Andrew Robl and 10-time World Series of Poker Champion Phil Ivey posted a combined $2.5 million to secure the Phuas’ release. The Phuas are among eight people who were arrested July 13 and charged with taking World Cup bets in an illegal sports book set up in Caesars Palace villas. FBI and Nevada Gaming Control Board agents who raided the suites reported finding a laptop computer logging illegal wagers and other records. U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said the Las Vegas operation began shortly after Phua left the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, where he had been arrested June 18 and posted bail on similar allegations of illegal wagering on World Cup soccer games. Bogden identified Phua as a high-ranking member of 14K Triad, an organized crime group.
BASKETBALL
Tumberwolves, Williams agree
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Mo Williams have agreed to a $3.75 million, one-year contract, the player’s agency, Priority Sports, announced on Monday. The agreement gives the Timberwolves an experienced and versatile combo guard to play behind Ricky Rubio. Williams turns 32 in December and is coming off a season in Portland in which he averaged 9.7 points per game for his lowest output since his rookie year in 2003-2004.
Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones, a multi-sport star who helped Kentucky win the first two of its eight national titles and is considered the school’s greatest all-around athlete, has died. He was 88. Jones, an All-American, was the last surviving member of the Wildcats’ “Fabulous Five” that won the 1948 national championship and went on to claim Olympic gold that year with the U.S. team. He returned with three teammates under Hall of Fame coach Adolph Rupp to repeat as titlists in 1949. Jones played football from 1945-1948, including three seasons for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, and earned all-SEC honors in 1946 and ‘48.
Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap was added to Team USA’s roster for the training camp that opened Monday in Las Vegas. Millsap averaged 17.9 points last season for Atlanta and was selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team. USA Basketball also announced that Jimmy Butler will be unable to participate in the training camp because of a groin injury. Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard recently withdrew from the roster that will be cut it 12 for the FIBA World Cup in Spain.