Ronaldo will play against Australia
MUNICH, Germany, June 15 (UPI) -- Brazilian soccer coach Carlos Parreira said he's committed to playing Ronaldo against Australia in the World Cup Sunday despite his mysterious illness.
The star Brazilian player complained of dizziness and fatigue following the team's defeat of Croatia Tuesday and underwent a series of tests. Doctors said he was fit to play, O Globo reported Thursday.
Ronaldo's unexplained illness this week was reminiscent of when he fell sick before the 1998 finals against France in which Brazil lost 3-0. Though he played in the game, he performance was lackluster.
Montgomerie is the U.S. Open leader
MAMARONECK, N.Y., June 15 (UPI) -- Colin Montgomerie heads the leader-board by one-shot after Thursday's first round of the U.S. Open Golf Tournament in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
At 1-under 69 on the brutal Winged Foot golf course, the native of Scotland is challenged by overnight runner-up David Howell of England (70).
Montgomerie's 69 is highest first-round score to lead a U.S. Open since Bob Tway in 1986. He hit enough of the narrow fairways -- 65 percent -- to stay out of trouble for much of the round.
"That's how I play this course," said Montgomerie, a two-time runner-up in the Open, "and that's how it should be played."
Tiger Woods, playing for the first time since the death of his father last month, ballooned to a 6-over 76, his worst first-round score at the Open since he had amateur status in 1996.
Phil Mickelson, the reigning PGA and Masters champion, shot even-par 70.
Aguilar has the lead at Lumbres
LUMBRES, France, June 15 (UPI) -- Chile's Felipe Aguilar shot 5-under 66 Thursday to grab a one-shot lead after 18 holes of the rain-delayed Saint Omer Open Golf Tournament in Lumbres, France.
"I have a partnership in a construction company and another one that makes windows and doors (so) it's hard to find sponsors and you really have to put your hand on your own pocket," said a surprised Aguilar, who is the first native of Chile on the European Tour.
The overnight runners-up are Sweden's Klas Eriksson and Jean Hugo of South Africa at 4-under 67.
There is a five-way tie for fourth place. England's David Dixon, Cedric Menut of France, Cesar Monasterio of Argentina, France's Adrien Mork and Juan Parron of Spain all shot 3-under 68.
Thursday's rain delay lasted more than two hours.
In 2005, Sweden's Joakim Backstrom earned his first career victory on the tour in a playoff against England's Paul Dwyer.
Federer leads winners at Halle
HALLE, Germany, June 15 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Roger Federer led Thursday's winners at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.
The Swiss native struggled to beat unseeded Richard Gasquet of France, 7-6 (9-7), 6-7 (9-7), 6-4, in the second round. The win ran Federer's grass-court winning streak to 38 straight matches.
"It was very close," he said. "It is hard for me to play consistently from the baseline and that is where he had the edge today."
Seventh-seeded Olivier Rochus of Belgium was a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, victor over Russia's Marat Safin Thursday. Other winners included fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic; No. 6 seed Tommy Haas of Germany; unseeded Robin Soderling of Sweden; and France's Fabrice Santoro.
Nadal extends his winning streak
LONDON, June 15 (UPI) -- French Open winner Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick Thursday advanced to the quarterfinals of the Stella Artois Championships in London.
Nadal -- who began his 60-match winning streak during the clay-court portion of the 2006 season -- beat fellow Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3), in the third round.
No. 3 seed Roddick, a three-time defending champion, topped 16th-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
Other winners included fifth-seeded James Blake, who beat fellow American and No. 9 seed Robby Ginepri 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; 13th-seeded Gael Monfils of France, who knocked off No. 2 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia; No. 15 Dmitry Tursunov of Russia, and longtime crowd favorite Tim Henman of England.
The grass-court event is a warm-up to Wimbledon, which starts June 26.
Sharapova again wins at Birmingham
LONDON, June 15 (UPI) -- Russian Maria Sharapova Thursday beat China's Na Li, 6-2, 6-4, in the third round of the DFS Classic in Birmingham, England.
Sharapova, the No. 1 seed, is a two-time defending champion at this grass-court warm-up to Wimbledon. Na was the 13th-seed.
Second-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat Tszvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, and No. 4 Elena Likhovtseva of Russia topped American Lisa Raymond, 7-5, 6-4.
No. 6 seed Marion Bartoli of France ousted unseeded Ayumi Morita of Japan, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, and Vera Zvonareva beat No. 7 and fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze, 6-4, 6-3.
No. 12 Mara Santangelo of Italy beat No. 5 Ai Sugiyama of Japan, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
Jordan gets part ownership of Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 15 (UPI) -- NBA legend Michael Jordan Thursday became part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
The venture with majority owner Robert Johnson makes Jordan the second-largest individual owner of the club behind only Johnson.
Jordan was named managing member of basketball operations.
"I'm thrilled to have my friend, Michael Jordan, join me in my business and sports pursuits," Johnson said. "I not only respect Michael for his basketball knowledge and expertise, but also for his business skills, particularly in branding and marketing."
Jordan, a former part owner of the Washington Wizards, was a six-time NBA champion with Chicago, and led the NBA in scoring 10 times. He has been featured in numerous high-profile endorsement deals and his Jordan Brand -- a division of NIKE -- has become a fixture in the athletic shoes and apparel market.
"I am looking forward to providing my advice, where needed, to Bobcats' management in order to put the best possible team on the court," he said.
UND to sue NCAA over Fighting Sioux
BISMARCK, N.D., June 15 (UPI) -- State education officials are backing the University of North Dakota's fight to keep its "Fighting Sioux" nickname.
The NCAA has banished all mascots and nicknames that are linked to American Indians as disrespectful and has threatened to take away post-season rights if the schools don't change.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the North Dakota higher education board voted 8-0 Thursday to authorize a lawsuit against the NCAA in a bid to retain the 80-year-old moniker after getting a go-ahead from state Attorney General Wayne Stenehiem. No decision was immediately made on whether to file the suit in state or federal court.
Lakota Indian spokesman David Gipp, president of a tribal college in Bismarck, had urged the university to comply with the NCAA rule.
"We would hope that rather than spend funds on a lawsuit, the funds were instead used to create more opportunities for American Indians, and all North Dakotans, to improve their lives and to promote diversity," Gipp wrote. "Indeed, a university president's valuable time would be better spent on issues of academic opportunity and diversity. That is a tradition of which we all can be proud."
