CYCLING: Pedro Pablo Perez, a star Cuban cyclist who competed at the Sydney Olympics, was in a coma after a car crash and will miss the Beijing Games. The 31-year-old rider sustained “cerebral … lacerations and remains in a coma” following Monday’s accident in San Cristobal in the western province of Pinar del Rio, the Communist Party newspaper Granma said Tuesday. It was unclear if he was a driver or passenger.
BASKETBALL: Slovenia, Germany, Puerto Rico and Brazil won and reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament Tuesday. Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points to lead Germany to a 104-68 win over Cape Verde in its opening game. Slovenia beat Canada 86-70; Brazil coasted to an easy 94-54 victory over Lebanon and Puerto Rico survived a spirited Cameroon comeback to win 81-72 in the twelve-team tournament that will send three countries to the Beijing Olympics.
In other basketball news, Iran’s national basketball team has been invited by the NBA to train in Utah and play against NBA and NBADL teams in preparation for the Beijing Olympics. Iran will take part in the Rocky Mountain Revue, the Utah Jazz-hosted summer league and will play four games. The team will also observe NBA team practices and talk to players and coaches about basketball.
VOLLEYBALL: Lloy Ball and Reid Priddy were among the players chosen Tuesday for the U.S. men’s indoor volleyball roster for the Beijing Olympics. The roster must be confirmed by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Ball, a 6-foot-8 setter, will be playing in his fourth Olympics. Middle blocker Tom Hoff makes his third Olympic team, and outside hitter Priddy makes his second. The other players named to the team were Gabe Gardner, Kevin Hansen, Rich Lambourne, David Lee, Ryan Millar, Sean Rooney, Riley Salmon, Clay Stanley and Scott Touzinsky. Hugh McCutcheon will make his Olympic debut as a head coach. He was an assistant under Doug Beal in Athens, where the men finished fourth.
TENNIS: Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stefan Koubek and Karin Knapp withdrew Tuesday from the Olympic tennis tournament because of injuries. The 23-year-old Tsonga, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, is still undergoing physical therapy following a knee operation, according to the French tennis federation.Tsonga will be replaced by Michael Llodra for the tennis tournament at the Beijing Games. The 31-year-old Koubek has a back injury and will be replaced by Chris Guccione of Australia in the men’s singles competition, with Mara Santangelo replacing her 21-year-old Italian teammate in the women’s singles.
Associated Press
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