SPORTS SHORTS

Israel’s national flag football teams off to Euros

Two years ago in Spain, Israel left the European Flag Football championships without a medal after finishing foruth in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.

Both teams are eying the podium at the 2017 IFAF European Flag Football Championships that will be played this weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Israeli women have earned one silver and two bronze medals in Europe, but a top-three finish eluded them in the last two championships. The Israeli men have yet to finish on the podium.

Both Israeli teams appear to be on an upward trajectory after the women finished seventh and the men took eighth place at last year’s world championship held in Miami.

After the Miami tournament, both head coaches were replaced and this will the first international tournament for men’s coach Akiva Rindenow and women’s coach Elissa Sagoskin.

The men are a young team with a new quarterback, but they are led by one-time World Championship MVP Dani Eastman and veterans David Abell, Binyamin Schultz and Bibi Goodman. Talented youngster Jonathan Curran and QB Avraham Farkas lead a talented group of newcomers.

The women have a new look with longtime defense stalwart Esti Bernstein taking over as QB from Shana Sprung. Sprung is considered among the top QB’s in the flag football world, and this is the first championship she will miss since the team was founded 14 years ago.

Former World Championship MVP Yael Freedman will lead a talented club that includes returning stars Jessica Sagoskin and Rachel Shmidman. Denmark, Great Britain and Sweden are Israel’s main competition in their battle to return to the podium.

The Israeli women are sponsored by the family of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The Kraft Family has sponsored the team since its founding in 2003. The late Myra Kraft was the founding sponsor of the team and the players honor her memory by wearing the letters “MHK” on their sleeves.

The Israeli men’s team is once again backed by New York businessman Ira Kleinman, whose sponsorship is based on combining his loves of football and Israel.

The top finishers in the European Championships will qualify for next year’s Worlds in Panama.

The Israel national teams are organized by American Football in Israel. The AFI is a member of the Ayelet organization of Israeli non-Olympic sports. There are about 2,000 players all over Israel who play in organized flag and tackle football leagues that operate under the auspices of the AFI federation. r +FSVTBMFN 1PTU 4QPSUT 4UBGG

Arsenal turns down Man City bid for Sanchez

Arsenal has turned down a notional offer of 50 million pounds ($64.6 million) for Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez from Premier League rival Manchester City, the London club said on Wednesday.

English newspapers had linked Sanchez with a move to Pep Guardiola’s side in exchange for England forward Raheem Sterling.

“No formal bid but fair to say that figure was turned down. No player involved,” an Arsenal spokesperson said.

There could be an exodus of players from the Emirates before Thursday’s transfer deadline with reports that an agreement for Chelsea to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was close.

But Arsenal said a deal for the 24-year-old England midfielder was not agreed. “Nothing has moved on with him yet,” the spokesperson said. In related soccer news, England made final preparations on Wednesday for its upcoming World Cup qualifier away to Malta on Friday.

The side remains undefeated from six matches in Group F having beaten the Maltese 2-0 at home back in October.

England leads the group with 14 points from six, two points BIFBE PG 4MPWBLJB BOE UISFF BIFBE PG 4MPWFOJB r 3FVUFST

Thomas: ‘I am not damaged,’ promises return

Isaiah Thomas, whose hip injury threatens to void a blockbuster deal between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, broke his silence about his condition on Tuesday.

“I am not damaged,” Thomas told ESPN. “I’ll be back, and I’ll be the same player.”

Thomas, who averaged 28.9 points per game last season, is entering the final year of his contract.

In the deal, he was sent to Cleveland, along with forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and a 2018 unconditional firstround pick. In return, Boston would get four-time All-Star forward Kyrie Irving, whose demand for a trade surfaced in July.

Thomas, 28, has a torn labrum in his hip, and he may not be ready for the start of the season.

“There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” Thomas told ESPN. “Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”

He had a physical last week, and the Cavaliers raised concerns at the time about the results.

The Cavs are no longer seeking one of the Celtics’ top young players, but they are still determined to land one of Boston’s firstround picks as compensation, and the conversation has included second-round considerations, too, league sources said.

The teams face a deadline – 10 a.m. EST on Thursday – to finalize the trade, although they could agree to an extension. r 5IF 0SFHPOJBO 5/4