Revolution hire Arena as coach
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. >> The New England Revolution are turning to one of the most decorated coaches in Major League Soccer to help revive a season and a franchise.
Bruce Arena, a five-time MLS Cup winner and former U.S. national coach, was hired Tuesday as the Revolution’s coach and sports director.
He succeeds Brad Friedel, who was fired as coach last week, and Michael Burns, the general manager who was dismissed Monday. New England is 3-8-2 and is last in the Eastern Conference.
“Boston is a great sports town with a history of championship teams,” Arena said in a statement. “And I am looking forward to working with the staff and players to make the Revolution a club that our supporters can be proud of and that can be part of the tradition of success in New England.”
The 67-year-old Arena, the eighth coach in club history, will be introduced at a news conference Thursday.
Arena has coached 14 seasons in MLS, with a record of 202-121-89 with the Red Bulls, D.C. United and L.A. Galaxy. He has had two stints as U.S. national coach and holds the record for victories with 81. Arena also won five NCAA Division I championships over 18 seasons at Virginia.
Polish minister to lead WADA
MONTREAL >> There was one key problem with the most high-profile candidate in the race to become the new president of the World AntiDoping Agency: Her name wasn’t on the ballot.
A group of government representatives chose Polish sports minister Witold Banka to be WADA’s next president, weeks after he mustered more votes among the critical European delegation than outspoken reform candidate Linda Helleland.
Helleland, a WADA vice president from Norway, had taken a number of unusual steps over the past several months, including strongly criticizing WADA for its response to the Russian doping scandal. She suggested a complete overhaul of the agency — one that would give a greater voice to athletes — was in order.
Bu the race was a twoman affair, between Banka and Marcos Diaz of the Dominican Republic.
Switzerland wins
KOSICE, SLOVAKIA >> Kevin Fiala scored his fourth goal of the tournament to help Switzerland beat Austria 4-0 for its third straight win at the hockey world championship.
Switzerland, last year’s finalist, joined Russia atop Group B in Bratislava with nine points, three more than two-time defending champion Sweden, the Czech Republic and Latvia.
Charges against ’Skins Nicholson dropped
Charges against Redskins safety Montae Nicholson stemming from an altercation in December have been dropped.
Loudoun (Va.) County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy McMullen confirmed the case against Nicholson has been dismissed. McMullen said attorney Michael Harrington, who represented victim Lamar Rolle, said his client had no interest in proceeding.