Hamilton ‘close’ to new deal:
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Lewis Hamilton says he is close to signing a new Mercedes contract after winning Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix watched by several members of the all-conquering German constructor’s board.
In the aftermath of his dominant triumph ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas the defending four-time world champion indicated he will soon be inking a long-awaited new deal with the champions. An announcement before or during the Monaco Grand Prix later this month is now expected. (AFP)
Sports betting likely to be legal:
The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. The 1992 law barred state-authorized sports gambling with some exceptions. It made Nevada the only state where a person could wager on the results of a single game. One research firm estimated before the ruling that if the Supreme Court were to strike down the law, 32 states would likely offer sports betting within five years. (AP)
Hall of Famer Drake dies:
Clare Drake, the winningest coach in Canadian college hockey history and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, died Sunday at the age of 89.
Drake coached the University of Alberta to 697 victories and six University Cup championships over 28 years before leaving in 1989. He also coached the Edmonton Oilers during the 1975-76 Wold Hockey Association season and served as a cocoach for the 1980 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team in Lake Placid, NY.
Drake was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last November. (RTRS)
Drake
Tsonga ruled out of Garros:
JoWilfried Tsonga has lost his race for fitness for Roland Garros after surgery on his left knee, the 2013 and 2015 French Open semifinalist confirmed on Monday.
No Frenchman has won at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah in 1983 and Tsonga’s two previous semi-final runs had given home fans reason to hope. “Despite all our best efforts to be fit in time I am afraid to say unhappily I’m ruled out of Roland Garros,” the 33-year-old wrote on Twitter on Monday. (AFP)
Morocco loses appeal:
Morocco’s soccer federation has lost its case against FIFA to recruit Spain forward Munir El Haddadi before the World Cup.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it dismissed Morocco’s appeal against a FIFA ruling that blocked the Barcelona player from transferring allegiance. The verdict was given after a hearing on Monday. FIFA rules prohibit switching nationality after playing in a competitive match. (AP)
Bangalore crush Punjab:
Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed Kings XI Punjab by 10 wickets in a must-win Indian Premier League match on Monday and kept its hopes alive for a place in the playoffs.
Umesh Yadav’s short-pitched deliveries got the big wickets of Lokesh Rahul (21) and Chris Gayle (14) as Punjab was bowled out for 88 in 15.1 overs after Bangalore won the toss and opted to field. Captain Virat Kohli (48 not out) and Parthiv Patel (40 not out) then piloted Bangalore to 92 without loss in just 8.1 overs as Punjab missed its injured mystery spinner Mujeebur Rahman. (AP)