I Dig Sports
CLEVELAND -- Indians ace Corey Kluber is hopeful he will be able to come back from a broken right arm and pitch again this season.
The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner spoke Tuesday for the first time since he was struck by a 102 mph line drive off the bat of Brian Anderson during a start last week in Miami.
His arm wrapped in a soft cast, Kluber said it has been difficult to stay positive and patient with an injury that has dramatically impacted his season.
Kluber will undergo weekly X-rays so doctors can see if his bone is healing properly.
"I don't have a plan not to pitch again," Kluber said when asked if he thought he could return later this season. "Obviously, I don't have a definitive timeline because it's all depending on how things heal. But in my mind, I'm not looking at it as season ending."
The 33-year-old said it's been challenging to sit around and "be at your body's mercy."
The Los Angeles Angels announced that Shohei Ohtani will make his season debut on Tuesday night in Detroit, batting third against the Tigers.
He will be returning just seven months after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Ohtani, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year after finishing 2018 with a .925 OPS and a 3.31 ERA, will boost a lineup that is desperate for production behind Mike Trout, who leads the majors with 31 walks.
The 24-year-old Ohtani, who will help only as a designated hitter this season, said last week that his timing was "getting better each day" and that he was "a little ahead of schedule" with his rehab.
The Angels also reinstated third baseman Zack Cozart (neck strain) and reliever Cody Allen (back) from the injured list on Tuesday.
Cozart was placed on the IL last month. He is hitting just .109 with four RBIs this season.
Allen is 0-2 with four saves and a 6.00 ERA this season, his first with the Angels.
He will not return immediately to the closer's role, manager Brad Ausmus said recently. Allen had been removed from the closer's role just days before he was placed on the injured list with a back injury last month.
In other moves Tuesday, the Angels designated outfielder Peter Bourjos and right-hander Chris Stratton for assignment and optioned infielder Luis Rengifo to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Madrid Open: Britain's Kyle Edmund knocked out in first round by Fabio Fognini
British number one Kyle Edmund lost 6-4 6-3 to Italy's Fabio Fognini in the first round at the Madrid Open.
World number 12 Fognini, 31, took one hour and 30 minutes to secure victory as he broke Edmund's serve four times.
Edmund could not recover after losing serve at 4-4 in the first set, or once he went 3-2 down in the second.
It is the Briton's fourth straight defeat, having lost to American world number 82 Denis Kudla in the first round of the Munich Open last week.
The 24-year-old has also lost to Diego Schwartzman in Monte Carlo and, after a first-round victory over Ugo Humbert, to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Marrakech on clay this season.
Number one seed Novak Djokovic, 31, progressed to the third round in Madrid, beating 21-year-old American Taylor Fritz 6-4 6-2.
The Serb is joined by potential quarter-final opponent Marin Cilic, after the Croat recovered from a set down against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff to win 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Competing in his final tournament before retirement, 37-year-old David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 4-6 6-4 to set up a second-round tie against third seed Alexander Zverev.
Stan Wawrinka beat France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2 6-3 and will face Guido Pella in the second round after the Argentine overcame 12th seed Daniil Medvedev 6-2 1-6 6-3.
Meanwhile, Britain's Jamie Murray and partner Bruno Soares reached the men's doubles second round, taking just 18 minutes to win the first set in a 6-0 6-4 victory against Nikoloz Basilashvili and Radu Albot.
Later on Tuesday, Roger Federer will contest his first clay-court match in three years against France's Richard Gasquet, and Barcelona Open champion Dominic Thiem faces Reilly Opeka.
Nadal 'hopes to be ready' despite illness
World number two Rafael Nadal is preparing to begin his tournament with a second-round match against Canada's Felix Auger Aliassime.
A five-time champion in Madrid - most recently in 2017 - Nadal has been struggling with a virus as he aims to improve on back-to-back semi-final defeats.
The Spaniard lost to to Dominic Thiem in Barcelona and Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo as he failed to defend either of his titles in April.
"I've been going through a virus. The positive side is I've been able to train at least an hour-and-a-half [per session]," said 32-year-old Nadal.
He added: "I hope that tomorrow is going to be a bit better. It's true that when you have this virus and stomach viruses, the body's a bit weaker. I'm a bit better than yesterday and yesterday was better than the day before.
"There is a bit more risk of injuries. But of course, this is a very important tournament for me and I hope to be ready. Barcelona was a positive improvement for me. I'm building up my game with more confidence than I had in Monte Carlo. I'm enjoying training and I enjoy playing each day."
Today, Nantes is one of the most attractive and picturesque cities.
The Salle Sportive Métropolitaine de la Trocardière was built in 2015 to meet the expectations of the growth of city’s major sports clubs.
A modern arena, it was designed to welcome the city’s basketball clubs – l’Hermine de Nantes and Nantes Rezé Basket – as well as other major sporting organisations. The success of both male and female high-performance sports has enabled Nantes to become one of the most prominent places in France and Europe for indoor team sports.
Located in Rezé, south of Nantes, the arena is accessible by tramway and car (it has several parking lots adjacent). It can welcome up to 4,238 spectators including 42 places for persons with reduced mobility
Each year, millions of tourists come to discover the various cultural events and buildings of the Cité des Ducs (it posseses 121 protected edifices, including 23 classed as historic monuments). You will be able to enjoy artistical, cultural, historical, musical events and many more with or without the guides telling you the story of this beautiful city
Applications should be made no later than Friday 31st May.
Contact:
Gloria Wagener
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Claude Bergeret
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Read: Swaythling Issue No.106 – March 2019
In 2022, the tournament will be staged in the Gulf Area of the world, the destination is Oman, a national association that is rapidly making its presence felt on the international stage.
One year ago, a highly successful Oman Junior and Cadet Open was staged in the capital city of Muscat; this year an equally well received Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus tournament was held. Furthermore, later in the year in July, Salalah will host the ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge.
The fact that Oman has will now host the 2022 World Veteran Championships means that they have completed the full complement from the very youngest in the hopes category, to the most senior in the veteran’s event.
Present in Budapest, the Oman Table Tennis Federation was represented by Abdullah Mohamed Bamakhalef, President; Mohammed Humaid Al Kelbani, Secretary-General and Sajad Al Lawati, Head of the Competition Committee. They secured the vote in favour of Malaysia who were present in the guise of Edward Chua Soon Ann, Vice-President of the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia and his wife Ann.
Oman the destination and there is one player who I am sure can thoroughly recommend Oman as a destination.
In Budapest at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, matters closed with Mattias Falck receiving the Richard Bergmann Fair Play Award, from Claude Bergeret, a most fitting end to a very special tournament for the 27 year old Swede, who very much against the odds had reached the men’s singles final.
Notably it was the same outcome as earlier in the year; likewise at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Oman, he had been the men’s singles runner up.
Read: Swaythling Issue No.106 – March 2019
Swaythling Club Executive Committee, elected by acclamation
Most notably Ebby Schöler returned to the role of President, a position he had held prior to the Annual General Meeting last year in Halmstad when he has stood down in favour of Öivind Eriksen and assumed the role of Deputy President.
Reto Bazzi continues in the role of Rules Expert, the remaining members of the Executive Committee being new to office.
After years of loyal and most appreciated service, alongside Öivind Eriksen, Gloria Wagener tendered her resignation as Secretary as did Werner Schnyder in the role of Treasurer. Harvey Webb assumes the role of Deputy President, Claude Bergeret fulfils the role of Secretary, Richard Scruton shoulders the task of Treasurer.
However, Gloria Wagener is not lost to the Swaythling Club structure, becomes the Special Advisor to the Membership Committee, being the contact for the database.
Notably, Membership is one of only two sub-committees retained in major overall; the other being the World Veteran Championships. Chair of the World Veteran Championships is Hans Westling, Reto Bazzi is the Director with members being Ina Jozepsone alongside a representative to be nominated by the International Table Tennis Federation.
Meanwhile, Milan Orlowski is the Chair of the Membership Committee, the position of Director is vacant, the members being Jaroslav Stanek, Jonny Ternlind, Aloar Azevedo and Yao Zhenxu.
A new email address has been opened for membership: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Read: Swaythling Issue No.106 – March 2019
We’re back with another new edition of the SPEED SPORT Power Rankings! With rain stopping dozens of races across the country, was there any major movement in the Power Rankings? Click below to find out!
CONCORD, N.C. – Stewart-Haas Racing and Busch Beer have revealed what Kevin Harvick’s millennial car will look like when it rolls onto the track for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 18.
The car, which is primarily pink, features an array of emojis and new-age slang. The paint scheme came about as the result of a bet by Busch Beer prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season finale last November at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Busch Beer was so confident that Harvick would win his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship on Nov. 18 that the company said if he didn’t, his car would sport a millennial-inspired paint scheme at some point in 2019.
Old guys will rule again at Homestead. In fact, Busch is so confident that Harvick will win that if he doesn’t, we’ll give millennials the v lit paint scheme they always wanted in a race next year. Don’t @ us. pic.twitter.com/uZ63oc8wa2
— Busch Beer (@BuschBeer) November 15, 2018
Harvick didn’t win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship that night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, that honor went to Joey Logano. As a result, Busch Beer was forced to honor the Twitter bet.
Busch Beer fans on social media voted for what should go on the car back in March and the scheme was revealed Tuesday on Busch Beer’s Twitter page.
“I think the car and the program are a lot of fun,” Harvick said. “It sucks losing a bet, but I’m willing to live up to my end of the deal. Through the process of the car design, I’ve learned a lot of new words, none of which make sense to me, nor could I ever use in the right context. However, it’s the All-Star race, and we have a great partner in Busch, who always like to have fun and keep things fresh. In the end, I want to win. Whether I’m driving a millennial pink car, a purple car or my normal car, it’s all about winning.”
#MillennialCar is finally here IRL. Who else is ready for @KevinHarvick and the #MillennialCar to slay at the #AllStarRace? pic.twitter.com/3hqpFbM6KY
— Busch Beer (@BuschBeer) May 7, 2019
Some people love the old joke about the young race fan who grows up believing the last four words to the national anthem are “Gentleman, Start Your Engines.”
Others don’t see the humor in that. Maybe it all comes down to personal experience.
In July 1964, Johnny Rutherford was standing near Mario Andretti on the grid at New Jersey’s Trenton Speedway. On tap was a 150-mile Indy car race. Rutherford was starting 14th. Andretti, three rows further up, was in his maiden race with the Dean Van Lines team. Chief mechanic Clint Brawner and his assistant, Jim McGee, were performing the usual last-minute checks as the first notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” rang out.
In those days, before TV coverage turned everything into a pose, pre-race formalities were for spectators. For the combatants, the work went on.
“McGee was hammering on the wheel nuts, the old spinner type,” recalled Rutherford. “Mario, an immigrant, was standing there at attention. McGee kept banging the wheels as the national anthem played. Mario turned his head, just slightly, and in a thick Italian accent — much thicker than how he sounds today — said, ‘Jimmy! Jimmy! Don’t bang!’”
Subscribers Only
This content is accessible to subscribers only. To read the rest of this article, please login, or if you are not a subscriber, signup here and explore our subscription options starting at just $19.95 per year. Subscribers have access to all premium content including SPEED SPORT Magazine features and editorial and exclusive programs and features on SPEEDSPORT.tv. Don't miss out on this tremendous value!The anthem was sacred to Andretti, who had only been in the United States for nine years. He arrived in New York on June 16, 1955, a Thursday, just past sunrise. Already, the weather was out of a tourism brochure: blue skies, temps in the 60s, climbing toward a forecasted high of 80. Mario would always remember the day being “clear and sunny, just like in the movies.”
Today, so much of his life is a highlight reel: the four Indy car titles, the 1967 Daytona 500 win, the Indianapolis 500 victory in 1969 — jeez, 50 years ago — and the 1978 Formula One world championship. In June 1955, he couldn’t dream of the fame and fortune he would find.
He was 15 years old and staring at the Statue of Liberty from the deck of an ocean liner, the 668-foot Conte Biancamano. To his right, Manhattan’s skyscrapers glistened. But Mario was not smiling.
On board with him were his twin brother, Aldo, and their sister, Anna Maria, who turned 21 that very day. They’d sailed from Genoa, Italy, in the company of their parents, Alvise Luigi “Gigi” Andretti and his wife, Rina. Their journey over the blue Mediterranean, through the Strait of Gibraltar and across the Atlantic took 10 days.
Gigi and Rina were searching for a new life. The one they’d left had dissolved into no life at all. Before World War II, Gigi was caretaker for several farms and vineyards in Montona, on Italy’s Istrian peninsula, and the family lived comfortably.
But when the war ended and Europe’s borders were re-drawn, Istria belonged to communist Yugoslavia. Their freedom stolen, their wealth stripped away, 350,000 residents shuffled out of the region in what history books call the Istrian exodus.
Mr. and Mrs. Andretti, their kids and Rina’s parents were part of that diaspora. They spent several days in a camp in Udine, Italy, before being assigned to a displaced-persons compound in Lucca. There, the Andrettis were one of 17 families sharing a large room, with blankets for walls.
Eventually, they were given two tiny, connected rooms. The grandparents took one; in the other, Anna Maria had her own small bed, while Mario and Aldo shared the upper tier of a bunk bed, their parents below them.
Those crowded quarters were the family home for seven years. Next time you hear some race var driver talk about how he came from nothing, think about Mario Andretti in that bunk, in a building filled with strangers, in a place that wasn’t home.
But he and Aldo had spirit. In Lucca, they hung out at an auto repair shop owned by Sergio Seggiolina and Antonio Biagini, who allowed the teenagers to park the cars their customers dropped off. The men introduced the young Andrettis not only to the steering wheel, but also to the race car. They took the boys to the 1954 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where they marveled at Alberto Ascari and his blood-red Ferrari. And early in 1955, Sergio and Antonio brought the twins to Florence so they could glimpse the passing Mille Miglia, Italy’s storied open-road race.
“It was as if I was living for the first time,” Mario told his biographer, Bob Collins.
His excitement was short-lived. That same spring, Gigi Andretti announced the family would leave for America. To Mario and Aldo, the news was devastating. In the days leading up to the trip — and during the voyage itself, Mario told writer Ed Hinton — one would whisper to the other, “No corse in America.” No racing in this new home of ours. Hence the lack of smiles as their ship idled past Lady Liberty.
But to Gigi Andretti, the sunlight bouncing off those Manhattan windows looked like gold at the end of a rainbow. Clearing immigration, he and his family traveled 80 miles west to Nazareth, Pa., home of Rina’s uncle Tony, who’d sponsored their immigration. Gigi took a job at Bethlehem Steel.
On the family’s first Sunday in Pennsylvania, Aldo was in bed with a headache when Mario bounded up the stairs, claiming he’d heard the rumble of racing engines. Aldo sprang out of bed and the two of them were out the door, chasing the noise.
It drew them to Nazareth Speedway, a half-mile oval of hard-packed dirt, around which hulking jalopies were sliding.
Mamma Mia! Corse in America! Through sheer, dumb luck, they had landed in a race-track town.
INDIANAPOLIS – Chicago Blackhawks goaltender and two-time Stanley Cup champion Corey Crawford will lead the field to the green flag for the sixth annual IndyCar Grand Prix on May 11.
Crawford will serve as the driver of the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Coupe Pace Car for the opening event of the Month of May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Twice an NHL All-Star (2015, 2017) and a member of the NHL All-Rookie team in 2011, Crawford is just the eighth Blackhawks goaltender to win more than 100 games in the team’s storied history. The Windy City fan favorite is also an avid car enthusiast who enjoys restoring vintage vehicles.
“I’m honored to have been selected to drive this year’s Pace Car at a place as famous as the Brickyard,” Crawford said. “Indianapolis is an incredibly passionate sports city, and I couldn’t be more excited to represent the Blackhawks and see their love for IndyCar racing in person.”
Crawford, 34, a native of Montreal, was selected by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. He lifted the Stanley Cup with his teammates in 2013 and again in 2015.
“It’s great to have such a popular athlete with Hoosier sports fans and a dedicated car enthusiast like Corey Crawford lead the IndyCar Grand Prix field to the green flag in a Corvette,” said Michael Stouffer, Chevrolet motorsports marketing manager. “The IndyCar Grand Prix will be a thrilling race that kicks off an exciting three weekends of action in May at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”
Crawford will lead the starting field of the NTT IndyCar Series race on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at IMS in a Corvette Grand Sport that features:
– 460-horsepower (343 kW) LT1 direct-injected V-8 engine
– Eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission
– Z07 performance package
– Polished aluminum 19-inch front/20-inch rear wheels
– Competition sport bucket seats
– Performance data recorder
– Selective magnetic ride control
– Arctic white body color with unique GM design graphics package
“Corey is going to have a blast driving this year’s Corvette Pace Car, especially since he’s such a true fan of cars and racing,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Many Indy residents have long enjoyed cheering for Corey and his teammates, and between today’s news and the return of Jim Cornelison to the Indy 500, the Blackhawks are fast becoming the preferred NHL team of IMS.”
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
