Becker gets prison for bankruptcy crimes

Tennis great Boris Becker was sentenced to 21/2 years in prison on Friday for illicitly transferring large amounts of money and hiding assets after he was declared bankrupt.

The three-time Wimbledon champion was convicted earlier this month on four charges under the Insolvency Act and had faced a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Judge Deborah Taylor announced the sentence after hearing closing arguments from both sides. She told the former top-ranked player that he's shown no remorse.

“While I accept your humiliation as part of the proceedings, there has been no humility,” Taylor said.

Becker will have to serve at least 15 months before being eligible for release.

The 54-year-old German was found to have transferred hundreds of thousands of pounds (dollars) after his June 2017 bankruptcy from his business account to other accounts, including those of his ex-wife Barbara and estranged wife Sharlely “Lilly” Becker.

Becker was also convicted of failing to declare a property in Germany and hiding an 825,000 euro ($871,000) bank loan and shares in a tech firm.

The jury at Southwark Crown Court in London acquitted him on 20 other counts, including charges that he failed to hand over his many awards, including two Wimbledon trophies and an Olympic gold medal.

The six-time Grand Slam champion has denied all the charges, saying he had cooperated with trustees tasked with securing his assets — even offering up his wedding ring — and had acted on expert advice.

The judge said Becker's two-year suspended sentence for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion in Germany in 2002 was “a significant aggravating factor” in her decision.

American sets world mark in 50 backstroke

American Hunter Armstrong, 21, set a swimming world record in the men's 50-meter backstroke. Armstrong posted a time of 23.71 seconds in the non-Olympic event while competing in the International Team Trials at Greensboro, N.C. The meet is selecting the U.S. team that will compete at this summer's world championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Rahm has 2-shot lead

Jon Rahm faced the wind and handled it well in the Mexico Open, making eight birdies on his way to a 5-under 66 that staked the world's No. 2 player to a twoshot lead over Alex Smalley (66) in Puerto Vallarta.

Rahm birdied all four of the par 5s and was at 12-under 130 going into the weekend.

Smalley will join Rahm in today's final group.

• Steve Stricker played his first round in 201 days and it seemed as though he was healthy as ever, opening with a 5-under 67 to share the lead in the Insperity Invitational at the Woodlands, Texas, on the PGA Tour Champions.

Stricker was tied with Steven Alker and Ernie Els.

Stricker went through a health scare six months ago that left him hospitalized for nearly two weeks and caused him to lose 25 pounds. It was his first time playing since he tied for seventh on Oct. 10 at the Furyk & Friends Invitational in Florida.

• Laurie Canter shot a 5-under 67 to take the second-round lead of the Catalunya Championship in Girona, Spain. James Morrison (71) and Oliver Bekker (72) were a shot behind.

John Force breaks daughter's record

John Force broke both ends of the zMAX Dragway record, making the fastest run at the facility to power to the Funny Car provisional No. 1 qualifying position at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in Concord, N.C.

Force, 72, the 16-time Funny Car season champion, had a 3.850-second run at 334.24 mph in a Camaro, eclipsing the track record of 3.851 set by daughter Courtney, five years ago. The speed was the fastest in both nitro categories.

Justin Ashley led in Top Fuel and Steve Johnson in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Raiders decline options

The Las Vegas Raiders declined the fifth-year options on all three of their 2019 first-round picks because the new regime doesn't want to commit to players inherited on the roster.

General manager Dave Ziegler announced that the team will let defensive end Clelin Ferrell, running back Josh Jacobs and safety Johnathan Abram play out the final year of their rookie contracts instead of extending them through 2023.

The options were worth $11.5 million for Ferrell, and about $8 million each for Jacobs and Abram.

• The Carolina Panthers picked up the fifth-year option on Pro Bowl defensive end Brian Burns' contract, keeping him with the team at least through the 2023 season. That means Burns is guaranteed to make $16 million in the 2023 season.

Exercise rider dies

An exercise rider died after being thrown from a horse at Keeneland's training track in Lexington, Ky.

Callie Witt, 20, died Friday after being thrown from a 2-year-old horse, Keeneland track spokeswoman Amy Gregory said.