NFL stadium could be site for World Cup
Developers of a new NFL stadium on a hilly strip of land in the City of Industry are sketching out plans for a second high-profile use for the venue: World Cup soccer.
Architects for Majestic Realty Co. said Monday they were tweaking the design of the stadium to incorporate field measurements and bleacher configurations based on guidelines from World Cup organizer FIFA, which wants a width of 68 meters (75 yards).
The news came amid possible competition from sports and entertainment powerhouse AEG, which is deciding whether to build a stadium in downtown Los Angeles to lure an NFL franchise.
Dan Meis, principal stadium architect for Majestic, said he can adjust his plans further to include additional guidelines FIFA may release ahead of the 2018 and 2022 games that are being sought by the United States.
“Because we’re building a new stadium, we could incorporate anything FIFA could want,” said Meis, who also designed Staples Center, Manchester Evening News Arena and Japan’s Saitama Super Arena.
Los Angeles is among the 18 U.S. cities proposed as sites if FIFA’s executive committee votes on Dec. 2 to give the 2018 or 2022 tournament to the United States.
The Rose Bowl, site of the 1994 final, is among the proposed venues.
U.S. soccer player Charlie Davies was fined $1,040 and his license was suspended by French police because of a speeding violation in which he said a teammate was driving.
Davies was with Sochaux teammate Jacques Faty when they were pulled over in the early hours of Oct. 3 after being clocked at 125 mph in France’s Jura region.
Faty and Davies have both said Faty was driving, but they switched positions because Faty thought his license was still suspended from a previous speeding infraction.
A French police official, who was not authorized to be publicly identified, said that Davies has been fined.
The official said neither player has officially contradicted the original version of events to police.
The 24-year-old Davies was a passenger in a car accident Oct. 13, 2009, in which another passenger died. Davies was left with two broken bones in his right leg, a broken and dislocated left elbow, a broken nose, forehead and eye socket, a ruptured bladder and bleeding on the brain.
ETC.
Djokovic, Wozniacki win
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer of Spain, 6-2, 6-4, to defend his China Open title and claim his second championship of the year heading into this week’s ATP Masters in Shanghai.
In the women’s final in Beijing, top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki beat No. 3 Vera Zvonareva, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Portland Trail Blazers swingman Rudy Fernandez has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for comments his European agent made last week.
Gerard Darnes spoke on a Portland radio show and e-mailed reporters defending the Spanish player, who had said he was homesick and no longer wanted to play in the NBA when the Trail Blazers opened preseason practice.
Fernandez also was fined $25,000 for statements his U.S. agent made in August.
Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was back on the bench for Monday night’s exhibition game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, three days after collapsing at a team practice.
Carlisle was hospitalized after a fainting spell during Friday’s team workout and missed Saturday night’s outdoor game against Phoenix in California.
The 50-year-old Carlisle rested over the weekend, and was back for Monday’s shootaround. He insisted he experienced no ill effects from the episode.
