Reuters Sports News Summary

Maze to take year's break from glittering career

Double Olympic champion Tina Maze announced on Thursday that she has decided to take a year-long break from one of the most successful careers in skiing to consider her future. "After 16 long and successful seasons, practicing all disciplines, I feel that my body and my mind need a longer rest than usual," the 32-year-old Slovenian wrote in a blog on her website.

Agent for Patriots QB Brady says NFL's 'Deflategate' probe flawed

The agent for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Thursday called the National Football League's "Deflategate" report "a significant and terrible disappointment" and suggested the league reached its conclusion before hearing the facts. "Its omission of key facts and lines of inquiry suggest the investigators reached a conclusion first, and then determined so-called facts later," Don Yee said in a statement.

Boxing pulls out of World Combat Games over IOC row

Boxing will no longer be part of the World Combat Games and the international federation is also leaving the SportAccord umbrella organization after its row with the International Olympic Committee, AIBA said on Thursday. The federation is the latest to leave SportAccord, an organization representing close to 100 Olympic and non-Olympic sports federations and organizers of multi-sports games, after SportAccord President Marius Vizer's scathing attack on the IOC last month.

NFL says Patriots probably deflated the balls in AFC title game

The New England Patriots probably deliberately deflated the footballs to gain an advantage in the AFC title game in January, and quarterback Tom Brady was "at least generally aware" of the scheme, the National Football League said on Wednesday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league would consider possible disciplinary action and what rules, if any, need to be changed.

Caterham F1 team's former factory to be sold

The failed Caterham Formula One team's Leafield factory in central England is to be sold off with auctioneers saying on Thursday they were seeking offers of more than 5.5 million pounds ($8.36 million). BNP Paribas Real Estate and Carter Jonas said they had been appointed by administrators to sell the facility which previously housed the now-defunct Super Aguri and Arrows F1 teams.

Lebron leads Cavaliers past Bulls to tie up series

LeBron James recorded 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls 106-91 on Wednesday to knot their Eastern Conference semi-final series at 1-1. Bulls forward Pau Gasol, who tormented the Cavs with 21 points and 10 rebounds in Game One, was limited to 11 points and did not score his first basket until the final two minutes of the first half.

Rockets rally past Clippers to tie series at 1-1

Dwight Howard carried them early and James Harden took over in the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers for a 115-109 win on Wednesday to tie up their Western Conference semi-final series at 1-1. Harden scored 32 points and dished out seven assists, while Howard posted 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, playing doggedly at both ends despite picking up his fourth foul early in the third quarter.

Pacquiao shoulder surgery a success

Manny Pacquiao underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on Wednesday, just days after his loss to Floyd Mayweather in the so-called "Fight of the Century". Surgeon Neal ElAttrache, who performed the operation to repair a torn rotator cuff, said he could "not be more pleased with the results" and expects Pacquiao to recover fully.

Williams, Sharapova heading for Madrid showdown

Top seed Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova remained on course for a heavyweight Madrid Open final showdown with contrasting victories in the last eight of the clay premier event on Thursday. Williams, who triumphed in the Spanish capital in 2012 and 2013, when she beat Sharapova in the final, swept past local favourite Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-1 6-3.

Nadal breezes past Bolelli into Madrid quarters

Local hero Rafa Nadal raced into the last eight of the Madrid Open when he brushed aside unseeded Italian Simone Bolelli 6-2 6-2 on Thursday to set up a quarter-final clash against Bulgarian 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov. Chasing a third straight title at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, and a fifth overall, third seed Nadal needed little more than an hour to see off an outclassed Bolelli, saving both break points he faced on his serve.