Hurricane Irene

Storm forces sports into postponements

Before it hit land, Hurricane Irene trimmed at least 18 holes off the PGA Tour's first playoff event and forced several more schedule changes and cancellations along the East Coast.

US Open tennis officials called off one of their big pre-tournament events, an MLS game was rescheduled and the New York Mets postponed their Saturday and Sunday games against the Atlanta Braves.

The split doubleheader on Saturday between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles was postponed.

The Giants and Jets originally moved their preseason game from Saturday night to the afternoon, but decided to postpone it until Monday.

Tennis

Cetkovska, Wozniacki win, while Li falls

Three-time defending champion Caroline Wozniacki beat Francesca Schiavone in straight sets in the semifinals of the New Haven Open on Friday, setting up a final against giant-killing Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska.

The latest giant for Cetkovska was China's Li Na. Cetkovska, ranked No. 40, upset the French Open champion in a dramatic third-set tiebreaker 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (9) to reach her first WTA final.

NBA

Crittenton charged with murder

Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a 22-year-old woman in Atlanta, police said on Friday.

Crittenton, who was once suspended by the NBA in connection with guns in a locker room, is wanted in connection with the death of Jullian Jones last Friday in Atlanta, where Crittenton was a collegiate standout at Georgia Tech.

Soccer

Fenerbahce askes to be relegated

Turkish champion Fenerbahce asked the Turkish Football Federation on Friday to consider relegating it from the top league because of the country's match-fixing scandal.

The move comes two days after the federation removed Fenerbahce - which is being investigated in the scandal - from the Champions League despite allowing it to continue playing in Turkey's Super League.

Last-minute offer can't save Serie A

The start of the Serie A season this weekend was postponed after the Italian Players' Union called a strike following a failure to reach agreement with clubs over a new deal.

The Lega Serie A, representing Italy's 20 top-flight clubs, refused to agree to a last-minute proposal from the AIC to sign a one-season deal to avert strike action.

Olympics

Doha launches bid for 2020 Games

Qatar's Doha officially launched a bid for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games hours after Olympic officials allowed a shift in dates - some two months later than usual - to avoid the extreme desert heat.

Golf

Kuchar leads PGA as storm threatens

Defending champion Matt Kuchar might have already won The Barclays just by leading the $7.5 million US PGA event after 36 holes, but the American has some work to do anyway in Edison, New Jersey.

Kuchar fired a bogey-free six-under par 65 on Friday to stand on 14-under 128 with a one-stroke lead after what was originally scheduled to be the mid-point of the opening event of the season-ending US PGA playoffs.

AP-AFP-Reters

(China Daily 08/28/2011 page7)