International Round-up: LeBron James embarrassed by uncalled travel; Gareth Bale “not ecstatic” at Real Madrid; F1 relaxes engine restrictions for 2020; and Toxic smoke affects Australia Open golf.
BASKETBALL: LeBron James embarrassed by uncalled travel
LeBron James sheepishly labelled his uncalled travel during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 121-96 win over the Utah Jazz “one of the worst things I’ve ever done in my career”.
James impressed with 20 points and 12 assists to hand the Jazz a third consecutive loss, although his one turnover should in fact have been two.
When he was bringing the ball past half court during the first quarter, James took three-and-a-half steps before bouncing it again.
However, the officials failed to make a travel call and they had the sympathy of the 15-time NBA All-Star.
“It was the worst thing, probably one of the worst things I’ve ever done in my career,” James told reporters after the Lakers improved to 19 wins from 22 outings this season. (Sportsmax)
FOOTBALL: Gareth Bale “not ecstatic” at Real Madrid
Gareth Bale “is not ecstatic” at Real Madrid but there’s “no guarantee” he will leave the Spanish club in January, says his agent Jonathan Barnett.
Wales forward Bale, 30, has won the Champions League four times in six years with Real but nearly joined China’s Jiangsu Suning in the summer.
“He has never asked to leave,” said Barnett on the Euro Leagues Podcast.
“He has a contract with Real Madrid and as long as they want him, there’s not much anyone can do about it.”
Bale moved from Tottenham to Real for a then-world record fee of £85m in September 2013 and has also helped them win three Club World Cups, three Uefa Super Cups, La Liga once, the Copa del Rey once, as well as his Champions League successes. (BBC Sport)
MOTORSPORTS: F1 relaxes engine restrictions for 2020
Formula 1 has relaxed restrictions on engine usage for 2020 meaning drivers could suffer fewer grid penalties.
Drivers will next year be able to use three MGU-Ks – a part of the hybrid system – one more than in 2019.
The move brings the MGU-K into line with the other parts of the power-unit in terms of permitted usage.
F1’s complex, high-tech turbo-hybrid power-units are officially split into four parts for the purposes of the rules.
In addition to the MGU-K, which recovers energy from the rear axle and redeploys all hybrid-generated electrical energy to the rear wheels, the other three are the internal combustion engine, the turbo and the MGU-H, the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo.
In 2020, drivers will be permitted to use three of each part during the season before becoming subject to grid penalties.
In addition, the engines require an electronics control box and a battery, with two of each being permitted for a season. (BBC Sport)
GOLF: Toxic smoke affects Australia Open golf
Players at the Australian Open have complained of stinging eyes as toxic smoke from bushfires around Sydney affected the opening round on Thursday.
Sydney’s air quality index registered on a par with Beijing, forcing New Zealand golfer Ryan Chisnall, who is asthmatic, to don a face mask.
Smoke has blown over from huge fires that have raged for more than a month.
“It feels like I should shove a bit of salt water up my nose or something,” said Australian number one Adam Scott.
The tournament is taking place at the The Australian Golf Club, five miles south of Sydney’s central business district.
Scott, who is thinking about wearing a face mask for the second round, struggled to a four-over 75.
“Obviously not the conditions we want to be playing in. [The smoke] got pretty thick for a while,” he added. (BBC Sport)
