Feds seize Winter Classic merchandise
PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities investigating the sale of shirts and jerseys bogusly branded NHL Winter Classic merchandise say they’ve seized counterfeit goods worth an estimated $350,000.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations office says they intercepted 150 international mail parcels and seized merchandise from vendors outside Citizens Bank Park, where the Flyers met the Rangers on Monday.
Investigators seized more than 1,600 items in all, including counterfeit MLB, NFL, NBA and NCAA merchandise.
Authorities say the investigation is continuing and no arrests have been made.
TENNIS Serena withdraws with injury BRISBANE, Australia — Serena Williams’ Australian Open preparations took a major hit Wednesday when she injured her left ankle and withdrew from the Brisbane International.
In her first tournament since losing the U.S. Open final in September, Williams was serving for the match with a 6-2, 5-3 lead against Bojana Jovanovski of Serbia when she twisted her ankle and crashed heavily to the court.
The 13-time Grand Slam winner lay near the baseline for several minutes while getting medical attention. She was helped to a courtside chair and had the ankle re-taped before resuming the second-round match and losing the next point to surrender a service break to Jovanovski.
Nadal, Federer reach quarterfinals DOHA, Qatar — Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer eased into the Qatar Open quarterfinals in rare cool and windy conditions in Doha.
Nadal routed qualifier Denis Gremelmayr 6-2, 6-2, while Federer overwhelmed qualifier Grega Zemlja 6-2, 6-3.
Czech Republic beats U.S. PERTH, Australia — Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and teammate Tomas Berdych won their singles matches in straight sets to give the Czech Republic an insurmountable 2-0 lead over the United States at the Hopman Cup.
Kvitova opened with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bethanie Mattek-sands and Berdych beat Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3.
Lisicki reaches quarterfinals AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Top-seeded Sabine Lisicki survived a day in which five seeded players were beaten, reaching the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic with a 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 win over fellow German Mona Barthel.
Raonic advances CHENNAI, India — Milos Raonic moved into the quarterfinals of the Chennai Open by beating Victor Hanescu 6-1, 6-4.
WTT finals back in Charleston COLUMBIA, S.C. — The World Team Tennis conference championship and finals matches are returning to the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston.
The finals weekend will take place at the Daniel Island facility from Sept. 14-16, nearly seven weeks after the regular season ends. League officials say the break will allow competitors to play in the 2012 Olympics in London next summer.
SOCCER Goalie scores goal LONDON — Manchester United lost its second straight Premier League game, a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle that left Manchester City with a three-point lead.
The most unusual occurrence of the night was in Liverpool, where Everton’s Tim Howard became just the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League. The American’s clearance from his own penalty area in the 63rd minute bounced about 30 yards from the Bolton goal and was blown by the wind over leaping goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. Bolton rallied for a 2-1 win on goals by David Ngog in the 67th and Gary Cahill in the 78th.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Boise State coach gets raise BOISE, Idaho — Boise State’s Chris Petersen is now among the college coaches making at least $2 million a year.
The State Board of Education unanimously approved a $375,000 pay raise for Petersen for 2012.
The board is also expected to consider a new five-year deal next month designed to keep Petersen in Boise until January 2017 rather than in some other lucrative and challenging coaching job.
The pay raise and new contract come as Petersen’s name resurfaced this week in Penn State’s search for a new head coach.
Apple Cup day after Thanksgiving SEATTLE — Washington State will host Washington in the Apple Cup on Friday, Nov. 23, in Pullman, the day after Thanksgiving.
The schools have typically tried to avoid playing around the Thanksgiving holiday in Pullman in the past because most students are not on campus during the Thanksgiving break.
MAC shifts divisions CLEVELAND — The Mid-american Conference has shifted in football.
With Umass joining the East division in 2012, the league announced that Bowling Green has moved to the West division. The alignment, which was approved in a unanimous vote by the MAC’S presidents, is in football only.
AUTO RACING Barfield ready to rewrite Indycar rules INDIANAPOLIS — Beaux Barfield bringing a plan to the Indycar Series.
He’ll tighten the rules, create a more consistent penalty structure and change the way he communicates with teams.
Barfield accepted a 1-year contract to replace Brian Barnhart, who was criticized by drivers last season for what they deemed arbitrary calls.
Barfield wants to change that perception. He says he will continue to call blocking, though he intends to use the same penalty in the first race as the final race unless it’s a repeat offense. He wants to use instant messaging to communicate with teams during races rather than radio communications.
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He’ll be permitted to write the rules the way he wants them.
Almirola to drive No. 43 CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Richard Petty Motorsports has hired Aric Almirola to drive the famed No. 43 in NASCAR’S elite Sprint Cup Series.
Almirola is leaving a job driving for JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series to take over the car seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty made famous.
AT&T ends Williams sponsorship LONDON — Williams is searching for a new title sponsor after communications company AT&T’S deal with the Formula One team ended.
Dallas-based AT&T, which runs the second-largest wireless network in the United States, was Williams’ main sponsor for five years until the contract ended last month.
NORDIC SKIING Kofler wins 3rd leg of Four Hills Tour INNSBRUCK, Austria — World Cup leader Andreas Kofler won the third leg of the Four Hills Tour ski jumping competition, denying fellow Austrian Gregor Schlierenzauer the chance of earning the bonus prize for a clean sweep of four wins.
Kofler, who won the Four Hills Tour in 2010, posted jumps of 127.5 and 131.5 meters for a total of 252.8 points to gain his 10th career World Cup victory.
SAILING Groupama wins ocean race leg ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — French team Groupama earned its first stage victory in the Volvo Ocean Race, defeating overall leader Telefonica in a sprint to Abu Dhabi to complete the second leg.