SÃO PAULO — A tearful Ronaldo said goodbye to soccer, having finally met an opponent he couldn’t overcome.
His body no longer able to meet the demands of the game, the 34-year-old striker retired Monday.
He ends a magnificent career in which he won two World Cups with Brazil and thrived with some of Europe’s top teams. He played 18 years despite repeated knee trouble and leaves as a three-time FIFA player of the year and the top goal scorer in World Cup history with 15.
“It’s very hard to leave something that made me so happy,” Ronaldo said. “Mentally, I wanted to continue, but I have to acknowledge that I lost (the fight) to my body. With this announcement, it feels like it’s my first death.”
• Defender Nat Borchers agreed to a four-year contract extension with Real Salt Lake after being voted to the league’s top 11 last season.
Woods apologizes for spitting
VIRGINIA WATER, England — Tiger Woods apologized after he was fined an undisclosed sum by the European Tour for spitting — a “breach of the tour code of conduct” — on the green during Sunday’s final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
“The Euro Tour is right — it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better,” Woods said on Twitter. “Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry.”
The tour would not give the amount of the fine, but it is probably between $400 and $16,000.
• Greg Norman underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and hopes to get back to his limited golf schedule by July.
• Ernie Els withdrew from the Northern Trust Open at Riviera this week because of a sore neck.
Montana headed to Montana
MISSOULA, Mont. — Nate Montana is going from Notre Dame to the University of Montana.
Montana, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Fighting Irish great Joe Montana, played in three games for the Fighting Irish as a junior last season. He was 9-for-18 for 116 yards with an interception. It became apparent he was destined to be buried on the QB depth chart at Notre Dame. Because Montana is transferring from an FBS school to an FCS school, he’s eligible to play immediately.
• A grand jury in White Plains, N.Y., determined a police officer did not commit a crime when he shot and killed Pace University defensive back Danroy “D.J.” Henry Jr. through the windshield of the junior’s car Oct. 17.
• Fiesta Bowl chief executive John Junker has been placed on administrative leave while officials investigate allegations of improper political campaign contributions and expense reimbursements by bowl employees.
Footnotes.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Kris Versteeg to the Philadelphia Flyers for first-round and third-round draft picks in 2011.
• South Pointe (S.C.) defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, considered the country’s top football prospect, said he will play football at South Carolina, rejecting Clemson and Alabama.
Denver Post wire services
