San Jose, Costa Rica – Los Angeles Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton died Thursday after an apparent heart attack while flying back from the team’s CONCACAF Champions Cup match in Costa Rica, a spokesman for the Costa Rican airline said.
A two-time Major League Soccer executive of the year, Hamilton died aboard a TACA airlines flight after it left San Jose airport Thursday night, TACA spokeswoman said Sofia Valverde said.
“He appeared to have symptoms similar to a heart attack,” Valverde said. She said the crew tried to resuscitate him before the pilot returned the plane to San Jose.
Hamilton, 43, was returning to the United States after the Galaxy played Saprissa of Costa Rica during a second leg of a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal Wednesday.
SOCCER
MetroStars get new owner, name
Anschutz Entertainment Group completed an agreement to sell the MetroStars to Red Bull Co. Ltd., which renamed the team Red Bull New York.
The league said the team would be informally known as the New York Red Bulls.
Team president and general manager Alexi Lalas did not confirm the sale price but said it exceeded the MLS record $26 million paid for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998.
D.C. United forward Alecko Eskandarian had hernia surgery this week and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2006 MLS season.
The U.S. women’s team opened the Algarve Cup with a 0-0 tie against China in Faro, Portugal.
The three-time champion Americans outshot China 16-8, getting 12 shots in the second half. Ally Wagner hit the crossbar in the 87th minute, and Abby Wambach just missed scoring in the 89th when her shot after goalkeeper Hope Solo’s long punt was just outside the left post.
NBA
Suns’ Nash, Barbosa miss Spurs game
The Phoenix Suns were without Steve Nash and his backup Leandro Barbosa for their game against the San Antonio Spurs. Nash, who had not missed a game all season, sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of Monday night’s game against New Orleans in Oklahoma City. The Suns rallied without Nash to beat the Hornets 101-88 for their 11th consecutive victory.
“He’s not 100 percent,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said before the Spurs’ game, “so we’re not going to just parade him out there.”
Barbosa was out with right groin pain.
SKIING
U.S. coaches Nystad, Loefshus resign
U.S. cross country head coach Trond Nystad and sprint coach Vidar Loefshus have resigned less than two weeks after the Olympics ended, and assistant Pete Vordenberg was promoted into the top spot at least through the 2010 Vancouver Games.
FIGURE SKATING
Kim wins first gold for South Korea
Kim Yu-na upset defending champion Mao Asada of Japan to win the women’s crown at the world junior championship in Ljubljana, Slovenia – South Korea’s first title at a major international skating event. Asada, a strong favorite coming into the junior worlds, missed on two of her triple jumps and finished second, while Christine Zukowski of the United States was third.
Turin Games gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa announced she is skipping the world championships March 20-26 in Calgary, Alberta.
IDITAROD SLED DOG TRAIL RACE
Gebhardt takes lead at halfway point
Paul Gebhardt regained the lead he gave up to musher Doug Swingley on Tuesday, when Gebhardt’s sled slammed into a tree and he temporarily lost his dog team, at the midway point of the 1,100-mile race in Alaska.
Swingley, a four-time Iditarod winner, was first to arrive at Cripple, chased by five teams during the 60-mile trek from the abandoned gold mining town of Ophir. Next into Cripple was DeeDee Jonrowe, who twice has finished second, and John Baker, who has finished in the top 10 every year since 2001. Gebhardt was sixth into Cripple. But while other mushers were hunkering down for a long rest, he departed with 15 dogs after a 5 1/2-hour rest.
CYCLING
Boonen takes stage; Landis keeps lead
Belgian Tom Boonen won the 120-mile fourth stage of the Paris-Nice race, while Floyd Landis kept the overall lead – a nine-second advantage over Spain’s Patxi Xabier Vila Errandonea.
