Italy Crewman Injured in Loss to New Zealand
The America’s Cup turned into a bloody contact sport for Italy’s Luna Rossa.
Down one crewman and its hull splattered with his blood, Luna Rossa could only watch helplessly as New Zealand’s Black Magic sailed toward an overwhelming victory and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-nine America’s Cup on Tuesday at Auckland, New Zealand.
New Zealand won by two minutes, 43 seconds. Race 3 is scheduled for Thursday.
The most disastrous part of the day came with the boats sailing upwind on the first leg.
Luna Rossa bowman Massimiliano Sirena suffered a three-inch gash after he was apparently hit in the head by a pole being used by another crewman trying to remove a plastic bag from the keel.
Pro Football
The New Orleans Saints signed free-agent receiver Jake Reed to a two-year contract. The Minnesota Vikings released Reed, a nine-year veteran, on Feb. 10 as part of cost-cutting moves. . . . . The Detroit Lions re-signed unrestricted free-agent punter John Jett to a four-year deal and also signed free-agent quarterback Steve Stenstrom and tight end Tony Johnson. . . . The Carolina Panthers signed unrestricted free-agent Chuck Smith, a defensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons the last nine seasons, to a five-year, $21-million contract.
New Orleans sent receiver Eddie Kennison to Chicago for a fifth-round draft choice. . . . Phil Pettey, an assistant coach at USC, was hired by the Saints as offensive coordinator for quality control. . . The Phoenix Cardinals re-signed offensive lineman Matt Joyce.
Soccer
Longtime Southern California soccer promoter Tony Morejon has died at 79. Morejon was president of the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League for 20 years and for three decades promoted most of the international games played in Southern California. Funeral services are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Miscellany
Greg Rusedski beat Arnaud Clement of France, 6-3, 6-4, on opening day of the AXA Cup at London.
In other first-round matches, Marc Rosset of Switzerland stopped Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, 6-4, 6-4, and Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia defeated Wayne Black of Zimbabwe 7-5, 6-2.
Julio Cesar Chavez is back on the Felix Trinidad-David Reid card March 3 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Chavez, 103-4-2 with 86 knockouts, will take on Bobby Elkins (28-7, 22 knockouts) in a 12-round bout.
Temple tailback Elmarko Jackson was in critical but stable condition after being stabbed outside a dormitory at Philadelphia.
