Global Sport

Marciano hand-in-glove with the mob?
BROCKTON (MASSACHUSETTS): A new movie about Rocky Marciano has angered family members, who claim it falsely portrays the late heavyweight champion as a mob-connected fighter. Marciano was the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated. He died in a 1969 plane crash.

One scene in the movie, which premieres May 15, shows Marciano being scoldedby Frank Carbo, an organised crime figure. Carbo comments on Marciano’s lacklustre victory, and says he’d better improve or “I’ll drop you like a bad habit.” Marciano’s family members said the mob-connection implication was just one of numerous factual errors in the movie.

Basketball enters new time zone
BARCELONA: Fiba, the world governing body of basketball, has approved changes that include the elimination of foreign player restrictions. Fiba’s central board approved the free movement of club players for international competitions beginning July 1, 2000.

Fiba also announced rule changes that will be implemented beginning with the 2000 Sydney Olympics. A 24-second, instead of a 30-second clock, will be used with the game divided into four quarters of 10 minutes instead of two halves of 20.

World Veterans in Legend Cup final
KATHMANDU: World Veterans XI marched into the final of the limited-overs Tempo World Legends Cup, underway here, defeating Pakistan Veterans by 15 runs.Comprising cricket titans of yesteryears from West Indies, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, World XI had beaten an Indian XI by 20 runs in the tournament opener. In third and final league encounter, India XI clash with Pakistan XI and the winner shall meet World XI in Sunday’s final.

Brief scores: World XI 205-7 in 33 overs bt Pakistan 190-8 (Larry Gomes 4-36).