Monday, June 4, 2007
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger received a one-game suspension yesterday for his hit to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Dean McAmmond in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals.
Pronger, also given a one-game suspension during the Western Conference finals, leveled McAmmond with a forearm Saturday in the Ducks' 5-3 loss to the Senators. He will miss Game 4 of the series tonight in Ottawa. He is eligible to return for Game 5 in Anaheim on Wednesday. The Ducks lead the series, 2-1.
It is the sixth career NHL suspension for the 6-foot-6, 220-pound, hard-hitting all-star. During the previous round against the Detroit Red Wings, Pronger was barred for Game 4 after his hit to the head of Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom against the boards.
Pronger wasn't penalized on the ice for either of the hits that led to his suspensions.
"Mr. Pronger used his forearm to deliver a forceful hit to the head of his opponent," NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said. "Also, his actions caused injury to his opponent."
After receiving medical attention for several minutes, a dazed and woozy McAmmond was helped to the dressing room and didn't return. His status for Game 4 is questionable at best.
"McAmmond doesn't look promising," Senators Coach Bryan Murray said yesterday before the suspension was levied.
· SOCCER: At least 12 soccer fans were crushed to death Saturday in Chililabombwe, Zambia, as a crowd rushed from the stadium after Zambia's victory in an African Cup qualifier, official media said yesterday.
The state-owned Sunday Times said three women and nine men were killed, all of them Zambian team supporters, and five fans were hospitalized after the accident Saturday. Zambia defeated Republic of Congo, 3-0.
· CYCLING: Danilo Di Luca of Italy won the 90th edition of the Giro d'Italia, his first win in a major race.
Di Luca, who rides for Liquigas, completed the 2,166-mile, 21-stage race in 92 hours 59 minutes 39 seconds. It was his 42nd career victory.
Luxemburg's Andy Schleck was 1:55 behind, followed by Italy's Eddy Mazzoleni in third, 2:25 off the lead. The race ended in Milan.
Di Luca became the first rider from Abruzzo in Italy's south to win the race traditionally dominated by northern Italians.
· AUTO RACING: Another dose of Milwaukee Mile misfortune for Helio Castroneves gave Tony Kanaan an IndyCar Series victory.
Castroneves, who started from the pole at the track in West Allis, Wis., and led several times in the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225, was cruising toward an easy win when the rear wing on his Team Penske Dallara collapsed, sending him spinning into the wall 25 laps from the finish.
That gave the lead to Kanaan, his fellow Brazilian and longtime friend, who stayed out front the rest of the way to record his second straight win here and the ninth of his IndyCar career.
· MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: Former NFL wide receiver Johnnie Morton was knocked out less than a minute into his first professional mixed martial arts bout, then was suspended from the sport for refusing to take a drug test.
Morton's debut Saturday night in Los Angeles ended 38 seconds into the first round, when he caught a right hand to the head from Bernard Ackah of Ivory Coast.
Morton, who played for the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, was hospitalized but not seriously hurt, Armando Garcia, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, told the Los Angeles Times.
Garica later confirmed the 35-year-old Morton, who played in college for Southern California, had been suspended for refusing the drug test.
· RUNNING: Daniel Yego of Kenya pulled away from the lead pack just after the Mile 19 marker and ran away with the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, finishing in 2:09:04.
Cruising alone through the final seven miles of the 26.2-mile race in San Diego, Yego beat countryman Christopher Cheboiboch by nearly two minutes.
The Rock 'n' Roll Marathon features Elvis impersonators and bands playing at approximately every mile and near the finish line.
-- From News Services
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