Motor Sports
'Grid kids' set for F1 debut
"Grid kids" are replacing "grid girls" in Formula One as the global motorsport series makes changes ahead of the new season.
F1 says youngsters from motorsport clubs, who are already competing in karting, will stand alongside drivers on the grid before races this season.
Monday's announcement came after the series last week ended the long-standing practice of using women on the grid and on the podium with the top three drivers, because it "no longer fits in with Formula One's values and societal norms."
The latest initiative is a joint venture by the FIA - motorsport's governing body - and F1's owners.
"Grid Kids gives future champions of our sport the opportunity to stand alongside their heroes," said FIA president Jean Todt.
Baseball
Yankees unveil Boone's staff
New manager Aaron Boone's staff was announced by the New York Yankees on Monday, with Marcus Thames, the team's assistant hitting coach the past two seasons, replacing Alan Cockrell as head man in that capacity.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bullpen coach Mike Harvey were retained, with Rothschild heading into his eighth season on the job and Harvey his ninth season, over two stints.
Josh Bard, the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen coach last year, is the Yankees' new bench coach.
Bard and Boone were teammates in their playing days.
Tennis
Nadal hopes to play in Acapulco
Rafael Nadal is on track to return to the ATP Tour in Acapulco, which opens on Feb 26.
No 1-ranked Nadal said on Monday he is recovering well from the left leg muscle injury that forced him to retire in the Australian Open quarterfinals last month. He was in the fifth set against Marin Cilic.
Nadal, in Madrid to inaugurate a sports medicine clinic dedicated to tennis, said he is undergoing intensive treatment to make sure he is fit to play in Mexico.
American Football
Super Bowl had smaller audience
Super Bowl LII delivered one of the most thrilling finishes in recent years, but many Americans missed out as it had the lowest TV viewership for an NFL championship game since 2009.
The Philadelphia Eagles' 41-33 win over the New England Patriots was watched by an average of 103.4 million people on NBC - the fewest since an average of 98.7 million watched the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Soccer
Brazilian clubs vote against VAR
Brazil's first division clubs voted 12-7 against adopting the video assistant referee on Monday, five months after the Brazilian Football Confederation said it would introduce the review system in the top flight competition.
Installing VAR would cost each club around 1 million reais ($219,440), according to Brazilian website globoesporte.globo.com. Instead, the CBF will pay to install the system for use in some Brazilian Cup matches.
Ice Hockey
McDavid snipes 4 against Lightning
Connor McDavid scored four goals for the first time in his NHL career as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2 at home on Monday.
McDavid, who finished with five points, became the third NHLer to score four goals in a game this season, joining Boston Bruins' Patrice Bergeron and Alex Ovecking of the Washington Capitals.
Agencies
(China Daily 02/07/2018 page24)
