Skip to content
Rally High School Sports
Link copied to clipboard

Sports in Brief: FIFA's Sepp Blatter rips MLS

FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized Major League Soccer during an interview with Al Jazeera TV over the weekend, saying league officials have had plenty of time to get the world's most popular sport to take hold in the United States, but MLS has failed to generate much interest among American sports fans, ESPN.com reported.

FIFA president

Sepp Blatter

criticized Major League Soccer during an interview with Al Jazeera TV over the weekend, saying league officials have had plenty of time to get the world's most popular sport to take hold in the United States, but MLS has failed to generate much interest among American sports fans, ESPN.com reported.

"It is a question of time, I thought - we had the World Cup [in the United States] in 1994," Blatter said. "But it is now 18 years in, so it should have been done now. But they are still struggling."

WINTER SPORTS: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ryan Strome scored in the first period as Canada beat the United States, 2-1, Sunday to advance to the next round of the junior ice hockey world championships in Ufa, Russia.

Jacob Trouba scored for the Americans, who need to beat Slovakia on Monday to move on.

Heather Richardson won her third title in three days in the U.S. Long Track Championships in Kearns, Utah, setting a national record in the 1,500 meters at 1 minute, 53.84 seconds. That broke Jennifer Rodriguez's 1:54.19 mark set in 2009.

Brian Hansen won the men's race in 1:44.96.

COLLEGES: According to an ESPN.com report, Penn State quarterback recruit Christian Hackenberg said, "I've got my fingers crossed" that coach Bill O'Brien will stay at Penn State amid rumors about NFL openings, including the Eagles job.

Hackenberg, of Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, will play Friday in the Under Armour All-America football game in Orlando. Hackenberg made an oral commitment to Penn State but has not signed a letter of intent.

"I'd think about it," Hackenberg said of backing out if O'Brien leaves. "He was a big part of it. He's the guy who's going to develop me."

Le'Veon Bell rushed for 145 yards and helped set up Dan Conroy for a 47-yard field goal with 1 minute, 1 second remaining, sending Michigan State (7-6) to a 17-16 win over Texas Christian (7-6) Saturday night in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.

TENNIS: Venus Williams and John Isner led the United States to a 2-1 victory over South Africa in the Hopman Cup mixed-team competition in Perth, Australia.

Williams defeated 60th-ranked Chanelle Scheepers, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. After Kevin Anderson beat Isner 7-6 (0), 7-6 (5), the match came down to mixed doubles. Williams and Isner beat the South Africans, 6-3, 6-2, to clinch the victory.

Serena Williams defeated fellow American Varvara Lepchenko, 6-2, 6-1, in the first round of the Brisbane International in Australia.

- Staff and wire reports