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2016-08-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

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Some U.S. companies see sales hit from Olympics

2016-08-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

The Olympics are already proving to be a boon for Comcast Corp's NBC and a drag for its U.S. media competitors, as well as for restaurants that rely on customers venturing out in the evening for a bite to eat.

Viacom Inc, Netflix Inc and Discovery Channel all say they are bracing for a hit to ad sales or sub---ions during the Games, while Cheesecake Factory Inc and others cautioned the event could keep people out of restaurants.

While previous Olympics produced winners and losers among U.S. businesses and industries, the effect could be more pronounced this year. That is because many high-profile competitions will be airing in primetime, in about half of the United States, and because NBC will air an unprecedented 6,755 hours of Olympic programming that can be viewed on broadcast television, online and on mobile devices.

The last time the Games coincided with primetime was 1996, when they were held in Atlanta. That was before streaming, apps and a host of other technologies.

NBC said on Thursday it had already sold more than $1.2 billion in advertising, including most of its premium ad space for the Rio Games, hitting an all-time record. About $1 billion was sold during the London Games four years ago.

"If I'm in a business in this month that is relying on foot traffic or eyeballs and I don't have Olympic programming, it's going to be a bad month," said Bernard Gershon, president of media and technology consulting firm Gershon Media.

For the Games, Comcast has enhanced its X1 video technology, a set-top box with a voice-controlled remote, and included new features such as the ability to search events by country or athlete and bookmark content.

"They really have stepped up the way you can consume the content and see it on multiple screens," said Gershon.

The Rio Games, which kick off with Friday's opening ceremony, are expected to draw more U.S. viewers than the record 217 million who tuned in to the London Olympics in 2012.

In today's fragmented market, it is increasingly rare for any programming to draw that sort of audience. Comcast paid about $12 billion for the U.S. rights to broadcast Olympics Games through 2032.

Viacom, the parent of networks MTV and Comedy Central, expects that because of the Olympics, ad sales in the current quarter will be "a little bit worse," than the decline seen in the previous quarter, Chief Financial Officer Wade Davis told investors on Thursday.

Similar concerns were aired at others that have to battle for advertising dollars in August.

Discovery Communications Inc's, Chief Financial Officer Andrew Warren this week warned investors that the company's third-quarter earnings would be "challenged" because the Olympics "suck advertising dollars" out of the market.

Discovery is not throwing in the towel, though. It is airing 23 hours of new programming during the Olympics, up from nine hours four years ago. A few others, including CBS, are taking a similar tack.

Online streaming company Netflix added fewer subscribers than expected in the second quarter and said the Rio Games are expected to have a "small, but meaningful impact" on the number of new subscribers in the current quarter, according to CFO David Wells.

It is not just Comcast's media rivals that are bracing for disruption. Apart from Cheesecake Factory, executives at Texas Roadhouse Inc and Chuy's Holdings said the Olympics may entice people to stay home and skip going out to dinner.

Still, some analysts say the Olympics may be used as a smokescreen for a company's underlying weak performance.

"Olympics is a convenient excuse," said Brian Wieser, analyst at Pivotal Research Group. "Historically, on the ad industry, the impact was pretty limited. The money associated with advertising, not related to the Olympics, still showed up."

Greek competitor tests positive for drugs

2016-08-05T16:00:00.000-07:00

A member of the Greek team has been expelled from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after testing positive for drugs, the country's Olympic Committee said on Friday.

The unidentified competitor's A sample tested positive for banned substances in a pre-Games test conducted in July in Athens and the athlete has left the Olympic village.

"The leadership of the Olympic team in Rio announces the positive first sample of a member of the team during drugs testing conducted in early July in Athens," the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) said.

"The Hellenic Olympic Committee has requested the testing of every Greek athlete taking part in the Games. The specific team member has now left the Olympic village."

The HOC has sent a team of 97 to the Brazilian city for the first Games to be held in South America.

The Games officially start later on Friday with the Greek team set to enter the stadium first during the opening ceremony.

Serena Williams celebrates winning

2016-07-10T14:05:00.001-07:00

Serena Williams' memory is not as powerful as her first serve these days, although with so many achievements to recall it would be churlish to hold that against the American great.

However, when the 34-year-old world number one does finally call it a day, she says she will always remember the moment she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber on Sunday to equal Steffi Graf's professional era record of 22 grand slam singles titles.

"There's definitely some blurs between eight, nine and 10," the American who began her collection at the 1999 U.S. Open when beating Swiss Martina Hingis, told reporters.

"I don't even know where eight, nine and 10 were, or when. I definitely don't remember where 12 was. I remember one through four. Gets really blurry after that.

"But I will be able to definitely place this one."

For good reason.

Williams won her 21st singles major a year ago by beating Spain's Garbine Muguruza at Wimbledon.

Since then her reputation as a ruthless "closer" has been questioned after the calendar year Grand Slam dream went up in smoke in the 2015 U.S. Open semi-finals, before defeats by Kerber and Muguruza in the Australian and French Open finals.

Williams banned herself from talking about the "22" as this year's Wimbledon entered its business end.

But after rediscovering her ruthless streak in her 28th grand slam singles final she said that it was a special feeling and there had been a few sleepless nights fretting about it.

"If I'm honest, coming so close, feeling it, not being able to quite get there," she said. "My goal is to win always at least a slam a year. It was getting down to the pressure."

SLIGHT SCARE

Apart from a slight scare when she dropped a set against fellow American Christina McHale in round two -- Williams has looked perfectly at ease during the championships.

On Saturday, during a 7-5 6-3 victory over fourth seed Kerber, her game oozed smooth power and even when her opponent fought tenaciously to stay in touch, there were none of the panicky moments Williams is occasionally prone to.

She said that was because she was calmer than ever -- having decided to accept some "tough losses" and carry on.

"I had to start looking at positives, not focusing on that one loss per tournament which really isn't bad - for anyone else on this tour they would be completely happy about it," she said.

"I learned that you can't win everything, even though I try really hard. I still am not going to be perfect.

"Once I started focusing more on the positives, I realised that I'm pretty good. Then I started playing a little better."

The French Open final defeat, when she was strangely subdued, was a turning point, Williams said.

"I think sometime after the French Open, (coach) Patrick (Mouratoglou) and I were talking, strategising. He just said, you're back. I guess he was right."

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2014-11-19T14:31:00.001-08:00

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2014-06-22T16:47:00.001-07:00

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2014-06-09T13:24:00.003-07:00

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2014-02-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

Speed skating-Parents' faith again rewarded by 'Empress Lee'

2014-02-11T16:20:00.002-08:00

The Olympic victories and records keep coming for South Korean speed skater Lee Sang-hwa but her early races against her brother as a child remain the most significant to her.

The 24-year-old Seoul skater, who retained her Olympic 500 metre sprint title on Tuesday, took up skating aged seven with her older brother Sang-jun but their parents could not afford training costs for both.

"We started skating together and I was a little bit better than him so my parents decided to help me instead of him," Lee told reporters at the Adler Arena.

It is an investment that has well and truly paid off.

Sang-jun is now in the company of some of the world's best metre sprinters after the Lego-obsessed Lee, known as 'Empress Lee' at home, left the field trailing again on Tuesday.

Her Sochi success in an Olympic record time of 37.28 seconds came despite a sore knee, offering the competition little hope of reversing the trend before her home Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018.

"Frankly I'm not in as good condition as I was when I broke the world record," she said of the remarkable week last in Salt Lake City last November when she broke the record three times, culminating in the current mark of 36.36 seconds.

"So when I was skating I had a bad feeling, but everyone said I was doing good so I trusted them," said Lee, highlighting the morale-lifting work of her Canadian coach Kevin Crockett.

"He gave me a big boost before the race today. I didn't feel good but he encouraged me continually. He is very good at giving me positive energy."

There had been a lot of negative energy around the Korean skaters in Sochi following a difficult start to competition.

Lee Seung-hoon, silver medallist four years ago, could manage only 12th in the 5,000m, while Mo Tae-bum ended fourth after failing to live up to his favourite's tag in the defence of the men's 500 metres.

Both athletes have further chances for success with Lee Seung-hoon defending his 10,000m title next week and Mo going in the 1,000m on Wednesday.

Lee Sang-hwa was confident her success would ease the tension and spark a gold rush for the Koreans, who were the top speed skating nation at the Vancouver Games.

"It is true that it was rather awkward to speak to them," she said of the conversations with Mo and Lee after their losses.

"They also have other competitions and are able to do well and better so I have many hopes and expectation for them for the remainder of the Games."

The women's downhill from top to bottom

2014-02-11T16:18:00.001-08:00

The Rosa Khutor women's downhill piste might have suited American Lindsey Vonn down to the ground but Alpine skiing's 2010 Olympic champion is injured and in her absence someone else will take the gold medal on Wednesday.

The winner will be the one most in tune with the conditions on the mountain, with the pristine white piste snaking down 2,663 metres in total from the start at 1,755 metres to the finish at 967.

Some features have changed, notably a rise up to the 'Devil's Spine' on the top section before the first traverse, since the piste hosted a World Cup race in 2012.

Jumps have also been modified in the last week after safety fears emerged due to the amount of distance racers were flying in training.

That may have reduced the challenge, but it is still to be respected.

From the 'Launch Pad', the piste drops to 'Small Pan' with racers then lined up for the 'Forest Jump' and a sweep round through 'Bolchoi Traverse'.

"There's some technical places on top, especially ... coming over to that Forest Jump," said Sweden's retired former downhill world champion and six times Olympic medallist Anja Paerson, who raced on it in 2012.

"You have some really heavy turns and in that bottom you have a huge left footer coming back up. And then it's a side hill and pretty much uphill last time we were here. That's where they really have to set that turn.

"Then it's pretty flat in the mid-section," she told Reuters.

"On that section you could gain a lot of time. When you ski a side hill, it's on your left foot. You can't be too straight and heavy. But you can't be too round. You really have to get that harmony and feeling with the snow."

The 'Tunnel Jump' leads down to the 'Serpentine', where skiers really start to feel the fatigue in their legs, and then through the 'Solitary Jump' - the last before the long and relatively easy sweep down to the finish area which is shared with the men's piste.

"The solitary jump last time we were here was a bit tricky coming into because its again a really heavy left-footer coming into that last steep," said Paerson.

"If Lindsey would have been here for racing, she would have been a perfect candidate for this race.

"I think there are some good gliders' sections in there but it's not really for the best gliders. It's about that feeling, especially in that side hill."

Norwegian Ragnhild Mowinckel said it was hard to compare it to other pistes used on the World Cup circuit.

"It's really turny and technical and even in the flats there are so many bumps and terrain you've got to watch out for. You can never really rest. And you feel it at the finish. It burns," she said.

Hamlin delivers at last for U.S., erases Vancouver memories

2014-02-11T16:15:00.000-08:00

Erin Hamlin was already fast-forwarding to Sochi four years ago before her luge had stopped sliding at Whistler.

Her medal hopes at the Vancouver Olympics disappeared almost immediately after a huge mistake in her first run but after the tears had dried the 2009 world champion vowed to make amends.

On Tuesday at the Sanki Sliding Centre she did just that, becoming the first American to win an Olympic luge singles medal when she slid to the bronze.

"It was definitely a big goal of mine," Hamlin, who was 16th in Vancouver after a costly first-run mistake, told reporters.

"After Whistler I knew that was not how I wanted my Olympic legacy to end, I guess you could say, so it was super-motivating. After that, even before the race was over and I knew I was well back, I thought 'right in four years I'm coming back strong because that's not how I wanted it to'"

Hamlin finished behind runaway winner Natalie Geisenberger and fellow German Tatjana Huefner and considering German dominance of the Olympic women's luge events she could be excused for treating third as if it were a victory.

"It's surreal, I had four great runs," she said. "I came here with no expectations and this is beyond what I imagined.

"When I went into that third-from-last-curve I thought to myself 'I think I just did it.'

"It's funny when I first came to this track it took me a long time t

Hamlin, 27, was the first non-German to win the women's world title for 12 years in 2009 and hopes had been high in Vancouver.

But a lowered starting position after the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a training run threw Hamlin's routine into chaos and she never challenged.

This season she had not been on a singles podium in the World Cup but she showed nerves of steel to hold off Canada's Alex Gough and nail her final run to secure a medal.

While definitely sparking a party back home in Remsen in upstate New York, Hamlin hoped her bronze would also raise the profile of a sport that is far from the American sporting mainstream and is usually forgotten outside of Olympics.

"When I won the worlds I was the first American woman to do that, so to be able to do this as well I feel like hopefully I'm paving the way for American female lugers.

"I'm so stoked, the wait was worth it, absolutely."

Hamlin was cheered on by her mum and dad and brothers Ryan and Sean who watched their sister dressed in onesies.

"It's funny they started out with body paint in Turin as they did in Whistler but here they've got onesies, they've learned bundles even though this is warmest Winter Games yet!

"They timed that badly, but they were pumped."

The United States had previously had Olympic luge success in men's doubles with a silver and bronze in both Nagano in 1998 and Salt Lake City in 2002.
o get it. I was thinking 'Oh my Gosh', but after training I got into the rhythm and it's a lot of fun.

Neymar in Barca's squad for King's Cup clash at Sociedad

2014-02-11T16:12:00.001-08:00

Neymar has been included in the squad for Barcelona's King's Cup semi-final, second leg at Real Sociedad on Wednesday despite not yet receiving the all-clear from club medical staff.

The Brazil forward trained with the squad on Monday for the first time since injuring his ankle last month and the La Liga champions said he was close to a return to action.

At a news conference on Tuesday previewing the match in San Sebastian, coach Gerardo Martino would not be drawn on whether Neymar would feature against Sociedad, or whether he would return in Saturday's La Liga game at home to Rayo Vallecano or at Manchester City in next Tuesday's Champions League last 16, first leg.

"He trained well, he has no pain and physically he is in very good shape," Martino said.

"We will see what happens between tomorrow's game, the Rayo game and the Manchester game," he added.

"As I have said before, for me if there is a very important match coming up that everyone is talking about, his presence or otherwise does not have the Manchester match as the target.

"It could be before, it could be after. In any case, it will be when we consider it to be the right time and when we are taking the least risk with the player's future."

Barca, the record Cup winners, have a 2-0 lead over Sociedad from last week's first leg and if they make it through to April's final they are likely to face great rivals Real Madrid.

Real have a 3-0 advantage over city neighbours and holders Atletico Madrid, who beat them 2-1 in last season's final, before their second leg later on Tuesday.

Don't expect gifts from fighting Irish-Germany coach Loew

2013-10-09T16:16:00.001-07:00

Ireland are all but eliminated in the race for a 2014 World Cup spot but they will not be bearing gifts when they face Group C leaders Germany on Friday, coach Joachim Loew said on Wednesday.

Germany need just two points from their last two games, including against Sweden in Stockholm on Oct. 15, to secure automatic qualification from the group and they plan to book their ticket to Brazil on Friday.

"Everyone who is here is fit and I have a good feeling," Loew told a new conference, shrugging off the impact of more than a half dozen absences through injury, including Lukas Podolski, Marco Reus and Ilkay Guendogan.

"Our aim is to qualify here at home against Ireland in a stadium we have always had good memories in."

He said, however, it would not be a repeat of their 6-1 win in Dublin last year.

"In Dublin we faced Ireland and caught them off guard. It was deserved but it won't be the same this time. They can defend extremely well, they can be very organised.

"It does not matter who plays or who is their coach. It does not really affect their game. Ireland means defensively compact, maximum physical involvement, always high tempo."

Germany top the group on 22 points from eight games with Sweden five behind in second spot. Ireland are fourth on 11.

"They can defend really well. It's part of their tradition, to defend their own goal, like in Gaelic football or rugby," Loew said.

"They always fight until they fall over. It does not matter if they trail 1-0 or 3-0, even if they don't have a chance or a very minimal of qualifying it does not mean they come with a gift for us."

Loew also defended his decision to call up Bayern Munich's Mario Goetze, despite the midfielder only recently recovering from injury.

"One could have decided differently. Leave him with the club. But I told (Bayern sports director) Matthias Sammer and (coach) Pep Guardiola that Mario will have four training sessions with us and if I need him for 15 or 20 minutes Mario can always shake things up," he said.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness had said the new signing, who only last week came back from an ankle injury sustained in August, should not have been called up for international duty.

"For us he is important for the coming years and I really wanted him with us. Ultimately the final decision rests with me," said Loew.

Benzema hits out at "unfair" criticism over poor work ethic

2013-10-09T16:14:00.002-07:00

France striker Karim Benzema hit out at those who questioned his work ethic as he tried to play down Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelloti's suggestion that he shies away from hard work.

The 25-year-old has been under pressure to prove his worth as a team player after he was booed off the pitch during last month's La Liga victory over Athletic Bilbao.

Benzema also went on the defence when he was quizzed about his attitude when playing with France as he has not scored an international goal for 16 months.

"What attitude?" he snapped on Wednesday when asked by reporters at France training facility in Clairefontaine, near Paris, about the criticism he has faced.

"Carlo Ancelotti did not say (that I was not working enough). He said that me and Angel Di Maria did not have the same share of defensive work."

After the Bilbao game, Ancelotti suggested Benzema could take a few pointers from the energetic and tenacious Di Maria, who was applauded by the fans.

"One thing was very clear," Ancelotti said at the time. "Benzema was whistled a bit, while Di Maria was applauded by whole stadium. The fans look closely at the players. It's a very clear sign for everyone that hard work is applauded."

On Wednesday Benzema stressed that the criticism had nothing to do with the way he behaves.

"I'm a frontman. Of course I'm the first defender but I won't do the job of a full back or a midfield," he said.

"It's not a question of attitude. You talk about attitude when a player does not want to play football. But I walk on to the pitch, I want to play football.

"For example, when I play for France... I run almost 10 kilometres per game. It's unfair because I do run."

It was not clear on Wednesday whether he would get a chance to run at all when France host Australia in a friendly on Friday at Parc des Princes in Paris.

In last month's Group I World Cup qualifier, Deschamps started Olivier Giroud up front in the 4-2 win over Belarus rather than Benzema.

Benzema has scored 15 goals in 60 international appearances but none since June last year.

"It's been the longest goal drought of my career but I work hard. It won't last for 10 years. I have chances, I just need to convert them," Benzema said.

"I don't demand (to start). I'm happy to be with France. We're a squad, there's no first, second or third choice. The coach chooses. I'm a professional, if I'm called up I play, if I'm benched I support the team."

France host Finland on Tuesday in their last qualifying game. They are tied on 14 points with group leaders Spain, who have a match in hand.

Wenger praises Ozil's "amazing" first half performance

2013-10-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described Mesut Ozil's first-half performance as "absolutely amazing" after the German scored his first goal for the club and inspired them to a commanding 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Ozil, who joined Arsenal for a club-record transfer fee of 42.5 million pounds ($68.86 million) from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day a month ago, opened the scoring after eight minutes and provided the final touch for Oliver Giroud to score the second seven minutes later.

He was also the creative heart of most of Arsenal's sublime play and his touch, vision and movement were virtually faultless.

Wenger, whose team have now won 10 successive matches including a penalty shootout victory over West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup last week, was delighted after his side brushed aside Napoli in the group match, saying the first-half performance was "the best we have played here for a long time".

He reserved special praise for Ozil on a night when Arsenal rekindled the class and confidence of their glory days under Wenger nearly a decade ago.

"He had an outstanding first half, he was absolutely amazing," Wenger said of the German international.

"He was fantastic and it was good he scored his first goal. When it goes on too long before you score, it's always on your mind, so he got rid of that.

"He had everything fans want to see from a great player: individual skill, team play, finishing, final ball," he told reporters.

"I loved him when he played for Real Madrid too, I must say; I thought he was great for Madrid and we are just lucky to have got him.

"He enjoys playing football, he enjoys playing with his partners. He has integrated very quickly with the team and it helps that he has come when we are doing well, it makes it easier. Of course he has given everyone at the club a lift and belief, and belief is a part of the success of football."

NEVER TROUBLED

Arsenal were never seriously troubled by a Napoli side missing the injured Gonzalo Higuain with the Argentine international striker out with a calf strain.

His absence from the match against the club that chased him in the off-season was not the only thing that went in Arsenal's favour, according to Wenger.

"It was a very enjoyable game tonight. We had great pace, belief and authority in our game, great finishing, great movement.

"The second half was a bit more cautious, and we tried not to make any mistakes rather than score, but in patches when we went forward you could see the third goal was there if we really pushed for it.

"We are in a good position at the top of the group but the two games against Borussia Dortmund will be very hard and could decide things."

Napoli coach Rafa Benitez, back in London after coaching in the city at Chelsea last season, admitted his side never recovered from conceding the two early goals.

"The first mistake we made led to their first goal and the second mistake led to their second goal so I didn't like the way we started. We needed to have more pace and more intensity, but at least we did improve in the second half."

Asked if Napoli were now in a battle for second place in Group F, he replied: "No, we have four games to play. It is not over yet."

Real's Bale to return in 15 days, coach Ancelotti says

2013-10-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Real Madrid's Wales winger and record signing Gareth Bale should have recovered from a muscle strain in his left thigh in around 15 days, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Wednesday.

Bale, who became the world's most expensive player when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of 100 million euros ($136 million) in the close season, missed Wednesday's 4-0 Champions League win at home to FC Copenhagen.

Ancelotti told a post-match news conference Bale was feeling down in the dumps but should be ready to return after next week's international break.

"We are not worried but he was not able to play today because he has a little problem," the Italian said.

"He had a scan, it didn't show anything special but he has just to recover his condition.

"Now we have the time because we have 15 days. I think that in 15 days he will be ready to play with us."

Bale is definitely out of Saturday's La Liga game at Levante and it remains to be seen whether he joins up with Wales for their World Cup qualifiers at home to Macedonia on Oct. 11 and away to Belgium four days later.

He played the second half of Real's 1-0 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid last weekend but was unable to train on Tuesday and was left out of the squad for the Copenhagen game.

He had been due to play his first game at the Bernabeu against Getafe the previous weekend but was withdrawn from the starting lineup after tweaking his thigh muscle in the warmup.

"It's normal that he is not happy because he wants to play," Ancelotti said.

Ronaldo double helps Real see off Copenhagen

2013-10-03T13:16:00.001-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice with his head and Angel Di Maria also grabbed a double as Real Madrid maintained their winning start in Champions League Group B with a thumping 4-0 victory over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.

Portugal forward Ronaldo followed up his hat-trick in the opening 6-1 drubbing of Galatasaray with another sparkling display and Di Maria also turned in a fine performance in the absence of injured world record signing Gareth Bale.

Ronaldo's first goal came in the 21st minute when goalkeeper Johan Wiland failed to deal with Marcelo's floated cross and he nodded in from a tight angle.

Copenhagen's resistance was effectively ended when Ronaldo powered home a Di Maria centre in the 65th minute.

The Argentine winger netted a fine curling effort six minutes later and another in the first minute of stoppage time as Real secured a maximum six points from their first two matches.

Copenhagen have one point along with Galatasaray who drew 2-2 at Juventus (two points) on Wednesday.

"I am very pleased, we played a great match," Di Maria told Canal Plus television. "We changed the system a bit with three players up front.

"We have to keep this up now, we know that all the matches will be tough."

With their fans providing impressive encouragement high up in Real's giant arena, Copenhagen made a bright start to their first meeting with the nine-times European champions.

However, Real quickly asserted themselves and Karim Benzema headed narrowly wide from Marcelo's left-wing cross in the sixth minute.

Just as the home supporters were starting to grow restless, Ronaldo struck his first of the night.

Real centre back Pepe then needed treatment to a head wound after clashing with Daniel Braaten before Copenhagen went close to an equaliser from a corner four minutes before the break.

Nicolai Jorgensen beat keeper Iker Casillas to the ball and his header bounced down off the crossbar before appearing to strike the hand of Luka Modric on the line.

The Croatia midfielder was able to clear the danger but there were whistles of discontent from the home fans as the players trooped off at halftime.

Ronaldo settled any nerves in the stands with his second 20 minutes into the second half, his 55th goal on his 94th appearance in Europe's elite club competition and his 26th in his last 21 outings.

Record Madrid move was highly stressful, says Bale

2013-09-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

Gareth Bale said his drawn-out move to Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee was "stressful to say the least".

The 24-year-old joined Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday for 100 million euros ($131.97 million), a fee which made him the world's most expensive player, the day before the transfer window closed and after months of speculation about his future.

"It was a long time. It was very stressful to say the least," Bale told BT Sport on Thursday.

"I knew their interest from the start and I was always confident the move would go through but obviously the chairman Daniel Levy had to do his business and do Tottenham well so I kind of understood that.

"But at the same time, thinking of myself, it was a hard time, it was stressful and I just had to be patient and try and focus."

Bale is currently preparing for Wales's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia after being unveiled at Madrid's Bernabeu on Monday.

He has not played since July and missed most of Spurs' pre-season training due to injury, so is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes in either Friday or Tuesday's qualifier.

He rejoined his Wales team mates soon after being presented to thousands of fans as Madrid's latest "galactico" signing and said it was somewhat of a relief to be back among familiar faces.

"It's obviously been a whirlwind few days," the former Southampton player said.

"It's quite nice to come back, relax and get back to normality, really."

Having set the Premier League alight last season with 21 goals in 33 league appearances, Spurs fans were hoping he would stick with the club and help them continue their push for a spot in the Champions League, having missed out to bitter London rivals Arsenal by one point.

However, Bale said once Madrid showed their interest in him he was determined to move and realise a boyhood dream, with a picture being revealed at his unveiling of him wearing a club shirt as a child.

"When I was younger I had some close friends and we always loved European football and Real Madrid at that time were the dominant force and we always watched Real Madrid," he said.

"I remember family holidays, we used to go Spain, and we'd bring back replica shirts of Real Madrid and wear them out and always pretend to be the players when we played in the park.

"It just started from there and I followed them since.

Former scoring champ T-Mac retires from NBA after 16 years

2013-08-31T02:20:00.000-07:00

Seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady, a shooting guard renowned for his exceptional athleticism, announced on Monday that he was retiring from the National Baseketball Association (NBA) after 16 years in the league.

A two-time scoring champion who played a small role for the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs last season, McGrady averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in a career that began with much promise in 1997 when he was drafted out of high school.

"Thank all of you who have supported me over 16 NBA seasons, 7 All-Stars, and countless exciting moments. Retiring from NBA. Stay tuned," McGrady, whose career was curtailed by various injuries, tweeted on Monday.

The 34-year-old, known to many as "T-Mac," later told ESPN's "First Take" he had enjoyed "a great run, but it's time for it to come to an end".

However, McGrady did not rule out the possibility that he might consider playing competitively in China when asked to clarify his thinking about the future.

"Officially retired from the NBA. Door's still open," replied McGrady, who played for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association during the 2012-13 season before his last NBA hurrah with the Spurs.

Often bracketed with Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter as the best players of his generation, McGrady played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and the Spurs during his NBA career.

A six-foot nine-inch shooting guard who could shoot or pass with devastating effect, he was the league's scoring champion in 2003 and 2004 and an All-Star for seven consecutive years, from 2001 to 2007.

Djokovic eases into third round, Li reaches quarters

2013-08-30T02:16:00.000-07:00

Novak Djokovic survived an early test from Germany's Benjamin Becker on Friday before safely booking his place in the third round at windy Flushing Meadows.

The world number one saved two set points in the opening set before recovering to win 7-6 (2) 6-2 6-2 and advance to the next round against Portugal's Joao Sousa after his five-set win over Jarkki Nieminen of Finland.

"It was a struggle," Djokovic said. "It was a lot of unforced errors, very windy conditions. You couldn't really read and kind of predict where the ball is going to go, so you have to be very alert.

"At the start I had difficulty with my footwork. But, as I won a set, after that it was very much better."

Tomas Berdych, the men's fifth seed, also won a tough three-setter, beating American Denis Kudla 7-6 (3) 7-6 (3) 6-3. The Czech made the semi-finals in New York last year and is in good form again this time.

He will next face Julien Benneteau after the 31st seed beat his fellow Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-3 6-4.

Germany's Tommy Haas and Mikhail Youzhny also won on Friday as all of the early seeded men moved on.

China's Li Na became the first player to reach the round of 16 when she defeated British teenager Laura Robson 6-2 7-5.

Li fired down 11 aces and needed just 81 minutes to avenge her third round loss to Robson at Flushing Meadows last year.

"I was a little bit surprised because today I have a lot of aces. It was like, wow," said Li, who plays Serbia's Jelena Jankovic next.

Robson contributed to her own downfall by committing 30 unforced errors, 15 in each set, but said she was happy with her steady progress in the game.

"I think I'm going in the right direction. I feel like I'm improving and working on a more all-around game," she said.

"It's going to take a lot of hard work, but I'm willing to do that."

The ultra-consistent Agnieszka Radwanska wore down Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 7-6 (1) to also reach the fourth round, continuing her impressive streak at this year's grand slams.

If she wins her next match, the third-seeded Pole will become the only woman to reach the last eight at all four grand slams this year.

"Well, of course I will do everything to make the quarter-final this year," she said. "I like the hard court and I really had great results on that surface. I think it's just something wrong here that I can't pass the fourth round.

Sloane Stephens beat Jamie Hampton 6-1 6-3 in a battle between two of America's brightest prospects to set up a possible showdown with Serena Williams if the defending champion wins her night-time clash with Yaroslava Shvedova.

The defending men's champion, Scotland's Andy Murray, was due to face Leonardo Mayer on Louis Armstrong Stadium Friday afternoon.

Milan face Barcelona yet again in Champions League

2013-08-30T02:12:00.000-07:00

Seven-times champions AC Milan, knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona in the last two seasons, were drawn against the Catalans again in the group stage of this season's competition on Friday.

AC Milan were beaten 4-2 on aggregate by Barcelona in the round of 16 last year and 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals two seasons ago, when the two sides also met in the group stage.

The teams were drawn in Group H, alongside four-times winners Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic, the Scottish champions having also faced Barcelona in the group stage last season.

Nine-times champions Real Madrid will meet Juventus in two mouth-watering clashes in Group B which also features Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.

Defending champions Bayern Munich will face CSKA Moscow, Manchester City and Viktoria Plzen in Group D.

"We have to go into the competition with a lot of respect and a lot of focus from the very start," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

"We have to be especially careful not to underestimate CSKA Moscow and Manchester City. This will not be an automatic qualification but our aim is to make the knockout stage."

Group F was arguably the toughest, pitting Arsenal against Olympique Marseille, last year's runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Napoli. The first three of those teams also took part in the same group two seasons ago.

"This is a brilliant, balanced group with four teams who have what it takes to survive the group stage," said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp.

"The fact is we have to get something to put right against Arsenal and we have something to put right against Marseille. I have not been to Napoli but I am already looking forward to the atmosphere there."

Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo added on the club website (www.om.net).

"We play sports to feel emotions and with these three opponents group, we are certain to have that.

Austria Vienna, the only debutants in the draw, were placed in Group G along with former champions Porto, Atletico Madrid and Zenit St Petersburg.

Guardiola: I will coach in England one day,

2013-08-30T02:08:00.000-07:00

Pep Guardiola would like to work in England one day, said the new Bayern Munich coach on the eve of the UEFA Super Cup clash with Europa League holders Chelsea.

The Spaniard replaced the Champions League-winning Jupp Heynckes at the Allianz Arena in the close season and said he would be keen to work in the Premier League at some stage in his career.

"I feel I am a young trainer, just 42, so later I would like to go to England," Guardiola told a news conference on Thursday.

"For experience, to live there...but it is football fantasy. I am here for this final and that is what is important right now."

The former Barcelona coach said he was grateful for the way the Bayern squad had helped him during his early days in Bavaria.

"They are intelligent footballers and I feel they have helped me more than I have helped them," said Guardiola.

"In the future I hope this changes a little bit. I know the expectation is so high but I am convinced in April and May we will be up there to fight and to get the titles."

Guardiola praised Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, a former sparring partner when the Portuguese was at Real Madrid, but played down the significance of their long-standing rivalry.

"We are lucky that tomorrow the focus will be on the players," he said. "The reason why kids love the game is for the players not the coaches.

"I have lots and lots of respect for his career and I have to try to learn from all the coaches around the world.

"I did my best in Barcelona and I will try to do my best here. The records I might remember when I'm a grandfather but not now," added Guardiola.

"He is always very, very good ... with quick counter attacks ... he is a master at that and everybody knows he is an excellent, excellent trainer."

The two men were often at loggerheads during their time in Spain but Guardiola denied the battle with Mourinho was the reason for his Barcelona departure.

"In four years with Barcelona we had won everything," said the Spaniard. "That was the reason.

"I needed a little pause in my head. My enthusiasm at the club was not the same and that is why I decided to rest a little bit.

"That is why when Bayern came to me, I said I wanted to try this experience."

Guardiola was hopeful Bayern playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger would shrug off a strained right ankle in time to play against Chelsea.

"Bastian is better but we are going to ... check and evaluate his ankle," said the coach.

"In the morning I will speak with the doctors and we will decide. Hopefully he will play."

Frustrated Kaka says he wants to leave Real Madrid

2013-08-30T02:05:00.000-07:00

Real Madrid's Brazilian playmaker Kaka has told the Spanish club he wants to leave after deciding he will not get sufficient playing time under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The 31-year-old has failed to reproduce the form that won him a World Player of the Year award in 2007 since he joined Real from AC Milan for a fee of 65 million euros ($86 million) in 2009.

Real have several players ahead of him in the pecking order, including Germany's Mesut Ozil and Spain's Isco, and Kaka said he hoped to move on before the transfer window closes on Sept. 2.

"The club knows I want to leave and I would like them to help me find a solution for my exit," he told reporters on Thursday after scoring two goals in a 4-0 win in a friendly at Deportivo La Coruna.

"Things are difficult for me here, there is less room in the squad all the time," he added.

"I am ready every day to train and work but that does not mean that I am happy."

Kaka's departure is likely to be complicated by negotiations over his wages as he is one of the best paid players in the world, earning more than 10 million euros a season, according to media reports.

"I cannot go to Brazil because the market is closed, the exit would be within Europe," he said. "I don't want to talk about clubs because I have none at this stage."