US sit-skier 'stable' after serious crash

A US sit-skier is reportedly stable and conscious in hospital after a serious crash during Sochi's Paralympic Games.

Tyler Walker fell heavily during the men's sitting downhill competition at Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre on Saturday and had to be airlifted from the slopes.

The 27-year-old cartwheeled several times at high speed and lay motionless on the snow before receiving attention from medical staff.

"#TeamUSA's Tyler Walker (@tbone_walker) is stable and conscious after crash in men's downhill (sitting) at #Paralympics," US Paralympics tweeted.

Competition was stopped several times as nine athletes of the men's 22-person sitting class crashed out.

They use a bucket-like seat on a mono ski, using outriggers to steer, and can race at speeds of up to 100km/h.

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Panthers belt wounded Knights

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PENRITH coach Ivan Cleary is confident his new-look side will get better as the season progresses after opening their NRL campaign with a 30-8 win over Newcastle on Saturday.

The Panthers produced an emphatic second-half display at Sportingbet Stadium, scoring 24 unanswered points against a Knights side badly hindered by injuries to hooker Kurt Gidley, fullback Darius Boyd and halfback Tyrone Roberts.

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All three were forced out of the game with Knights coach Wayne Bennett fearing Boyd could potentially face up to three weeks on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring in the first half.

Skipper Gidley left the field with concussion at halftime as did Roberts 20 minutes from time leaving the visitors with a makeshift spine for most of the game.

Despite facing patched up opponents, Cleary said he was delighted with the focus shown by his players with new boys Peter Wallace, Elijah Taylor and Jamie Soward all enjoying encouraging debuts.

``The start of the game wasn't like round one - both teams were pretty accurate,'' Cleary said.

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``It was really to and fro that first 20 minutes and it took a lot out of everyone. Our attack was a bit clumsy in the first half and that was because the boys were out on their feet a bit.

``But in the second, it was much better and the points seemed to come for us.

``They had some bad luck with injuries ... but we are very happy to get through that and get a win.

``It was a good, tough win but we had a few new faces and that is going to take time.''

Darius Boyd of the Knights seeks attention from a trainer. Source: Getty Images

Two tries from Josh Mansour and four-pointers from Adam Docker and debutants Taylor and Jeremy Latimore sealed the win for the hosts.

But Cleary was bemused by the decision to chalk off a first-half try from Wallace for a pull on Gidley's shirt in the build-up.

Wallace crossed the line following a Lewis Brown offload but the video referee overruled the on-field officials after footage showed a tug on Gidley by the back-rower.

Adam Docker of the Panthers is tackled. Source: Getty Images

``That's been going on since the game started,'' Cleary said.

``I thought it was a really tough call to take the try away.''

Bennett admitted there wasn't much his side could do in the second half with so many players and the interchange bench just down to one body and praised his side's efforts.

``We had two with concussion, one with a hamstring. These situations happen and you can't really plan for them,'' Bennett said.

``We had guys out of position and it just wasn't running for us. But I was elated with the effort.

"They didn't deserve to get beaten by 30-odd points.''

Beau Scott of the Knights celebrates scoring a try. Source: Getty Images

With key playmaker Jarrod Mullen estimated to be sidelined until about round nine, Bennett is hopeful Boyd's injury won't be too serious but is not expecting him to play next week against Canberra at Hunter Stadium.

``Hamstrings are always hard. It could be a week; it could be two or three,'' he said.pe``It will certainly be more than a week, you would assume. There is a tear in there somewhere.

``With the concussions, Kurt is still not good at the moment and will be touch and go; Tyrone is starting to come good.''

PENRITH 30 (J Mansour 2 A Docker J Latimore E Taylor tries P Wallace 4 J Soward goals) bt NEWCASTLE 8 (B Scott try K Gidley T Roberts goals) at Sportingbet Stadium. Referee: Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 11,369. AAP

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Sit-skier in hospital after crash

American Tyler Walker falls during Men's Downhill Sitting at the Paralympics in Sochi. Picture: AFP Source: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

A US sit-skier is reportedly stable and conscious in hospital after a serious crash during Sochi's Paralympic Games.

Tyler Walker fell heavily during the men's sitting downhill competition at Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre on Saturday and had to be airlifted from the slopes.

The 27-year-old cartwheeled several times at high speed and lay motionless on the snow before receiving attention from medical staff.

"#TeamUSA's Tyler Walker (@tbone_walker) is stable and conscious after crash in men's downhill (sitting) at #Paralympics," US Paralympics tweeted.

Competition was stopped several times as nine athletes of the men's 22-person sitting class crashed out.

They use a bucket-like seat on a mono ski, using outriggers to steer, and can race at speeds of up to 100km/h.

AAP ek/gjw

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Putin says Grand Prix on track

Russian F1 driver Vitaly Petrov. A Russian Grand Prix race was added to the calendar for this season as part of a revamp of the line-up. Source: News Limited

PREPARATIONS for the first ever Grand Prix in Russia are on track, President Vladimir Putin told Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, Saturday, on the sidelines of the Winter Paralympics.

The October 10 to 12 race meet, the first on Russian soil, will take place at the Sochi Olympic Park in the Black Sea resort, where athletes this week began competing in the Paralympic Games.

Mr Putin, under international pressure over the situation in neighbouring Ukraine, where thousands of pro-Russia troops have fanned out across the Crimean peninsula, told Mr Ecclestone the race would be a good use of the specially-built Olympic venue.

"It allows us to use the infrastructure more effectively once these big competitions come to an end,'' he said.

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, front, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, signed a contract in 2010 giving Sochi the right to host a Grand Prix from 2014. Picture: Mikhail Metzel Source: AP

Mr Putin acknowledged that there remained work to be done ahead of the race, which was added to the calendar for this season as part of a revamp of the line-up.

But, he said, difficulties had been of a practical, rather than a conceptual nature.

"We will overcome them. It is very pleasing for me that the project is going to be a bright, beautiful addition to what was done in the preparations for the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games,'' he said.

The Russian president did not give details of the problems, but reports have suggested a large number of stray dogs is a worry for organisers, while some of the facilities remain unfinished.

``We have been working on the project to bring Formula One to Sochi for a long time and it is moving to its full conclusion,'' he said.

The 19 races of the 2014 Formula One season begin next weekend in Melbourne, Australia.

Among changes to the competition this year is a doubling of the points awarded at the final race in Abu Dhabi on November 23.

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Time ticks down for ‘Zullo worrier’

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MICHAEL Zullo says he hasn't asked Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau for any favours to win Ange Postecoglou over.

But Zullo may be worried time is running out to earn a FIFA World Cup spot given the Socceroos have one farewell clash against South Africa in Sydney in May after Postecoglou names his final 23-man squad bound for Brazil.

The Socceroos boss last week said he would consider Zullo as a World Cup defender — rather than a winger — before the Socceroos dropped a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to Ecuador at London's The Den on Thursday.

"You'd like to think that everyone is still a (Socceroos) chance for every position on the field,'' said Zullo.

"I don't think anything is final in Ange's squad.

"I wouldn't ask Josep (Gombau) to move me around the pitch, I just want to play in the best position for the squad where he needs me and I enjoy playing on left wing as well."

Gombau blooding Zullo as a left back in Adelaide's 5-1 thrashing over Wellington Phoenix last week may have been a coincidence after Postecoglou was adamant the door was open for the skilful dynamo.

Adelaide United's Michael Zullo is still hoping for Socceroos selection. Picture: Paul Kane.

But that defensive move has potentially given the Brisbane-born former Roar gun his best chance of playing World Cup football in Brazil.

Zullo was yesterday playing in the left back role in Gombau's "preferred XI" in a training session at Hindmarsh before Adelaide faces table-topping Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

Zullo's brilliant cross led to Adelaide clinching a season defining 2-1 win in Brisbane in January.

Jordan Elsey nailed the match winner in stoppage time after Roar was reduced to 10 men for 50 minutes when Diogo Ferreira was expelled.

Zullo said he would again subdue celebrations in his home town out of respect for his old club and large family that are Roar membership holders if the Reds claimed three points.

"It's a nice thing to do (not celebrate wins against former clubs),'' Zullo said.

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"It think when players do I really appreciate it, it's such a big game and it means a lot for the fans and I don't really want to rub it in their faces because they were so good to me while I was there. That club still means a lot to me."

But Adelaide has been bolstered for the Roar clash.

The return of brilliant playmaker Marcelo Carrusca after missing last week's clash with an adductor strain and defender Jon McKain from suspension will add creativity, strength and depth.

Ryan Griffiths is also up for selection after recovering from a shin complaint and concussion.

Sergio Cirio also appears to be 100 per cent fit after he was knocked unconscious during the Phoenix clash while Bruce Djite is unlikely to recover from an adductor injury.

But Adelaide surely won't be firing blanks in Brisbane given the club's most potent attacking trio Jeronimo Neumann (eight goals), Cirio (seven goals) and Fabio Ferreira (seven goals) should start on Sunday.

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Departing Vidic ‘to remain captain’

Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic. Source: STEVEN GOVERNO / AP

MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes has confirmed that Nemanja Vidic will remain captain until the end of the season despite Inter Milan announcing the defender will join them in the summer.

Vidic revealed he would be leaving Old Trafford after more than eight years earlier this year.

Inter Milan have now confirmed that he has signed a precontract agreement with them and will move to Italy in the summer.

There are also doubts about the long-term futures of fellow defenders Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.

Moyes insists that Vidic's move will not affect the captaincy but said he is now keen to see what younger defenders Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans can do in the final weeks of the season.

He said: "It doesn't change but we've got a few more games to go before the end of the season and I've got some young centre-halves I want to see.

"I want them to show me what they're capable of and I'll be looking to introduce them in the last month or two.''

Moyes has been critical of the coverage of an online petition demanding that Tom Cleverley is not involved in the England squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

The 24-year-old midfielder has been criticised for his performances for club and country this season.

But Moyes has been angered that a social media petition has been flagged up.

He added: "I'm surprised that the media would pick up on something on social media and make a big case of it because I think that's wrong if that's the way it's come about in the first place.

"Tom Cleverley is a fantastic young player who is developing all the time, he's a great trainer and he's first out and does his best every day in training. He never gives it less than that.

"That's why Tom will succeed and that's why I'm surprised it's been picked up on.''

United have had to wait a week and a half for a match following their 2-0 Champions League defeat at Olympiakos.

Moyes admits there have been positives and negatives to the break and he has been eager for the chance to put right the failings in Athens.

He said: "It's allowed some players to get games. Darren Fletcher got a game for Scotland, Chicharito, Shinji Kagawa, people that have not featured as much as they or we would like.

"But it's also been a hindrance because we were off the back off a bad performance and a bad result at Olympiakos and we wanted to put that right much sooner but the way the league and the fixtures had worked out we didn't have a game.''

With United in seventh place and 12 points off the Champions League places ahead of the trip to West Brom, Moyes has written a letter to season-ticket holders thanking them for their support.

He believes the United fans have made a tough campaign easier to endure.

Moyes said: "The club is built on a fantastic supporter base throughout the world not just here in Manchester. Manchester United are supported everywhere.

"I saw that when I went on tour and more importantly I'm seeing it a lot at Old Trafford. I'm seeing it a lot and the supporters understand the difficult period we're in and they're really backing the players.

"If you're a football supporter you understand what loyalty is so if you follow a football club passionately you follow them whether it's doing badly or doing well and sometimes it takes stronger supporters to support the club when it's not going well.

"It's easier when you're winning and I think at the moment the Manchester United supporters realise there are some changes taking place and that their time will come again.''

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Daly’s brother joins the Nitro Circus

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DALY Cherry-Evans will only reveal this yarn on the proviso no one tells 'Tooves'.

After all, given how the Manly coach reacts to a dropped ball at training, imagine knowing his marquee halfback, a Dally M favourite no less, was almost killed on a halfpipe over summer?

"Actually, it wasn't that bad,'' Cherry-Evans laughs, chatting now with T he Daily Telegraph at a Manly skate park. "Back home in Mackay, we've got a big wooden halfpipe in the backyard, belongs to my younger brother.

"So when I went home over Christmas, I had a crack. Got on one of those little scooters and . . . yeah."

Darcy Cherry-Evans (R) with famous brother Daly. Source: News Limited

Less than a metre away, little brother Darcy, 17, is shaking his head.

"I tried to tell him what to do,'' he grins. "But Daly, he wouldn't listen.

"He came down flat on his back but thankfully there was no real damage done. Just took the wind out of him."

Darcy Cherry-Evans performs tricks in Manly. Source: News Limited

While he may not have the profile of his Manly, Maroons and Kangaroo sibling, Darcy Cherry-Evans - the youngest of five kids - is now looking to make his own leap to professional sports, as a scooter rider.

Already the Queensland teen is doing well enough to have been spotted by talent scouts for Nitro Circus, the famed, travelling stunt show led by American motorsports daredevil Travis Patrana.

Darcy Cherry-Evans. Source: News Limited

"And that would be great to be a part of,'' the Mackay rider says. "Obviously it's tough; a couple of years ago I broke my ankle fairly badly - tried a front flip onto the ramp and, instead, came down on my ankle, snapping it. But it's what I want to do."

With a show in Brisbane on May 15, the younger DCE has been invited to trial for a place among the Nitro acrobatic stars riding motorcycles, BMX bikes, skateboards, scooters, even roller blades.

"Eventually, my goal is to become professional and make a living from riding the scooter,'' Darcy continues. "I've put in a lot of effort to get this far but we'll see what happens in May and take it from there."

Darcy Cherry-Evans (top) and famous brother Daly. Source: News Limited

And as for big brother?

"Um, no more scooters,'' he smiles. "There was a time, growing up, where I was right into the BMX bikes, the skateboards and stuff, before rugby league eventually took over.

"But now, I'm just really proud of Darcy and what he's doing. I know first hand it's a lot harder than it looks."

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Davids warns Del Piero on manager move

Speculation emerged in February that Alessandro Del Piero could take over as player-manager of struggling Sydney FC. Picture: Brett Hemmings Source: Brett Hemmings / Getty Images

JUVENTUS legend Edgar Davids has warned Sydney FC star Alessandro Del Piero not to expect to stroll straight into management when he finally hangs up his boots.

Speculation emerged last month that the 39-year-old Del Piero could take over as player-manager of struggling Sydney FC next season, with reports indicating that the Italian had declared his willingness to take the job if the axe falls on current boss Frank Farina.

But Davids knows first-hand how difficult the transition from pitch to dugout can be after quitting his first posting with English Conference side Barnet in January, and the Dutchman has urged his former team-mate to take his time as he considers his next career move.

"I know him very well, but Alessandro Del Piero knows himself better than anyone else," Davids said on Friday in Tokyo, where he is on business as a Juventus ambassador along with club president Andrea Agnelli.

Juventus legend Edgar Davids (right) with Alessandro Del Piero. Davids knows first-hand how difficult the transition from pitch to dugout can be. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

"Only he can answer the question if he is going to stop or if he is going to play. It's his own decision. But he can be a great asset for a team, in a management position or whatever.

"But you also need to get some experience, because you can't stop one day and then be a manager the next day. He's bright and very intelligent, so he knows when the time is right and only he can answer the question if he wants to be a manager somewhere."

Del Piero is set to play for the A-League All Stars against Juventus when the Italian champions visit Sydney on August 10.

Several European clubs have achieved commercial success by signing players from the Asian market, and Agnelli admitted that Juventus were interested in doing the same.

"If you want to put a spotlight onto a team from a different country, having a player coming from that country is the easiest way forward," he said.

"I think Japan, especially in the recent years since 2010 onwards, has started again to deliver some fantastic talent. You could think about (Keisuke) Honda and (Shinji) Kagawa, and I think (Yuto) Nagatomo at Inter Milan is a superb left-back, so we are looking at that."

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A game for league’s dinosaurs

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GEEZ, old leaguies must love March.

Sitting at home in front of the box, can of Resches atop their oxygen tank, as the season gets underway just like, years ago, it played out all year - tough, intense, groggy.

A night where blokes are more likely to finish in hospital than on highlights reels.

And, sure, we know things will change as the weeks go by.

Sonny Bill Williams finding his flick, Adam Reynolds his feet ... and how you stop Greg Inglis with a month of footy under his belt is anyone's guess?

Rabbitohs fans celebrate. Source: Getty Images

But for now, as players search for rhythm, for cohesion and confidence, the dinosaurs can pull those dentures from the bedside table and smile.

Immersing themselves in games where Steedens get spilled, passes miss the mark and players shake those little birds from around their melons. Games that, all up, contain more crunch than your kid's breakfast cereal.

Take Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala, on Thursday night ushered from the field late in the first half -- shaking away the mist as he went - after a solid collision with Luke Burgess.

TAKE PART IN OUR SUPERCOACH CHALLENGE!

Sonny Bill Williams of the Roosters is tackled. Source: Getty Images

Then seconds before halftime, when defending Souths red zone, it was Burgess who suffered a knock . . . stumbling backwards before eventually falling over completely as a sweeping play moved passed him.

And in between?

Well, Ben Teo was penalised for a shoulder charge that sat Sonny Bill Williams on his arse. Sam Burgess charged like a waterfront restaurant. And young Rooster Dylan Napa, he went about business as you'd expect a hulking redhead intent on proving his worth.

Playing for a Cup named after a hero of the 1960s, Ron Coote, both teams acted accordingly.

It was promising, if not pretty. Willing, if not exactly well-oiled.

South Sydney Rabbitohs fans show their support. Source: Getty Images

A night where Inglis, a superstar for whom all the early Dally M betting cash has gone, dominated with power.

While he would eventually finish with three tries, it was the first the old blokes will be talking about in the front bar this morning.

Sitting around discussing how this hulking fullback from Macksville - "that's in bloody Queensland, incidentally" - pushed through one, two, three, four Roosters to find the tryline.

And, yes, come fulltime it would be enough. But only after the Rabbitohs cruelled as many tries as GI did defenders.

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Like when Issac Luke crossed early, only to be called back for an incorrect play-the-ball from John Sutton. And Luke Burgess, who was twice denied - first for a double movement, then later a knock on.

But what mattered was how, after the break, he returned to take his place on the field.

Part of win straight from the streets of Redfern.

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Walters reported for rough conduct

Michael Walters has been reported for rough conduct in Fremantle's practice match against West Coast. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

FREMANTLE forward Michael Walters faces an anxious wait ahead of his season-opening blockbuster with Collingwood next Friday after he was reported in Thursday's practice match against West Coast.

Walters, 23, was booked deep into the final quarter for rough conduct in that he crashed with high contact into Eagles utility Brant Colledge.

The charge was laid by controlling field umpires and will be sent direct to the AFL Match Review Panel.

The panel will review limited video or television footage of the incident with the match not televised.

Walters grabs hold of Callum Sinclair at Patersons Stadium in Perth. Source: Getty Images

Walters, who booted 46 goals from his 21 games last season to sit on the borderline of All-Australian selection, is a critical small forward scoring avenue in Fremantle's hopes of a critical first-up victory over the Pies.

He was well beaten on Thursday opposed to born-again West Coast small defender Jamie Bennell as well as being shut down in stints from robust big man Mitch Brown.

Walters managed 13 possessions and only one goal and pressed well outside the forward 50m arc for more than half of his disposals.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon declared after the 19-point loss that star midfielder Nat Fyfe and lively small forward Hayden Ballantyne will play against the Pies, despite missing the final dress rehearsal outing of the pre-season campaign.

Fyfe missed with a slight knee complaint, while Ballantyne is nursing a cork in his thigh.

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