Ferguson has brain surgery

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is recovering after undergoing emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage Saturday.

The 76-year-old Ferguson retired from managing in 2013 after almost 27 years in charge of United, but he has continued to regularly attend matches and participate in UEFA coaching initiatives.

“Sir Alex Ferguson has undergone emergency surgery today for a brain hemorrhage,” United said in a statement. “The procedure has gone very well but he needs a period of intensive care to optimize his recovery. His family request privacy in this matter.”

Ferguson remains the most successful manager in British football history, winning 49 honors in his career including 38 titles at United.

The Scot, who joined United in 1986 from Aberdeen, won 13 Premier League titles to take the club’s haul of English championship crowns to a record 20.

HOCKEY

The National Hockey League told Brad Marchand to stop licking opponents or the Boston Bruins forward will face punishment.

Senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell spoke to Marchand and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney on Saturday about Marchand’s actions against Tampa Bay a night earlier. Marchand licked Lightning forward Ryan Callahan during Game 4 of their second-round series after appearing to do the same to Toronto’s Leo Komarov earlier in the playoffs.

The league said Marchand has been put on notice that his actions are unacceptable and that similar behavior in the future will be dealt with through supplemental discipline. Marchand could be fined or suspended by the NHL if he continues to lick players.

World championships: Will Butcher and Chris Kreider each had a goal and an assist as the United States rolled past host Denmark, 4-0, to improve to 2-0.

TENNIS

Second-seeded Petra Kvitova came from a set down to beat seventh-seeded Mihaela Buzarnescu, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, in the Prague Open final.

It was the 23rd career WTA title for the two-time Wimbledon champion.

Madrid Open: Anett Kontaveit of Estonia upset Venus Williams, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the clay court tournament.

BASEBALL

Matt Quartel belted a tie-breaking, three-run double in the seventh and UW-Milwaukee outlasted Northern Kentucky, 10-9, at Henry Aaron Field.

Chad Roberts hit a grand slam and had six RBI for the Norse, who scored four runs in the ninth.

From Journal Sentinel wire reports

ON DECK