Ferguson has brain surgery

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in intensive care after emergency surgery for a brain hemorrhage on Saturday amid an outpouring of affection and get-well messages from across football.

Since retiring from United after almost 27 years in charge in 2013, the 76-year-old Ferguson has continued to attend matches at Old Trafford and participate in 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.”

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. He also triumphed twice in the Champions League.

NFL

49ERS SIGN THREE PICKS >> The 49ers have signed three of their draft picks to four-year contracts. The team announced that thirdround defensive back Tarvarius Moore and seventhrounders Richie James Jr.(receiver) and Jullian Taylor (defensive tackle) have all signed contracts. RAIDERS SIGN PICK >> The Raiders signed sixth-round linebacker Azeem Victor to a four-year contract.

Motorsports

ALLGAIER HOLDS OFF SADLER >> Justin Allgaier won a $100,000 bonus by holding off teammate Elliott Sadler in a door-todoor race through the final turn at Dover (Delaware) International Speedway to win the Xfinity Series race. Allgaier collected the $100,000 bonus from series sponsor Xfinity with the victory.

Tennis

VENUS LOSES IN SPAIN >> Venus Williams lost to Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in the first round of the Madrid Open. Kontaveit rallied from a set down to beat the eighth-seeded Williams 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on the outdoor clay court.

KVITOVA RALLIES >> Secondseeded Petra Kvitova came from a set down to beat seventh-seeded Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the Prague Open final. It was the 23rd career WTA title for the two-time Wimbledon champion.

Cycling

ITALIAN TAKES LEAD >> Elia Viviani won the second stage of the Giro d’Italia, nudging past Italian countryman Jakub Mareczko in a bunch sprint finish in the Mediterranean stage in Israel. Thanks to a time bonus, Australian rider Rohan Dennis, team leader of BMC Racing, took a one-second lead over defending champion Tom Dumoulin to capture the pink jersey. Victor Campenaerts of Belgium was third.

Viviani, riding for QuickStep Floors, finished the 104mile leg down the Mediterranean coast from Haifa to Tel Aviv in less than four hours before thousands of fans.

Hockey

TEAM USA BLANKS DENMARK >> The United States dominated host Denmark 4-0 for a second straight victory at the world ice hockey championship in Herning, Denmark. After saving 40 shots against Canada, goalie Keith Kinkaid was outstanding again, finishing with a 20-shot shutout. Will Butcher and Chris Kreider each had a goal and assist.

Boxing

GOLOVKIN HAS NO TROUBLE >> Gennady Golovkin won his 20th consecutive middleweight title defense with a second-round knockout of Vanes Martirosyan in Carson. Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) tied Bernard Hopkins’ record for middleweight title defenses by sending Martirosyan down at 1:53 of the second round. The fight was arranged at the last minute after Golovkin’s rematch with Canelo Alavarez fell apart.