April 10th 2010
Sports Bites

Flattened by an inadvertent elbow, Toronto All-Star forward Chris Bosh broke a bone in his face Tuesday night as the Raptors' playoff hopes took a blow with a 113-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight at home. Bosh was accidentally struck by Cleveland's Antawn Jamison in the first three minutes. Bosh, who had blood dripping from his nose and mouth area as he was assisted from the floor, was taken to the Cleveland Clinic for a CT scan. Following the game, the Raptors said in a statement that tests showed Bosh suffered a "maxilla and nasal fracture to the right side of his face."

Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi has urged his senior team-mates to inspire the younger players through example in the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies. Afridi was appointed captain after Mohammad Yousuf was banned by the PCB and later announced his retirement from international cricket. "I believe that the main responsibility will be on the senior players. They are ones who have enough experience of playing in top-level events like the World Cup," Afridi told the News.

Los Angeles Lakers starting center Andrew Bynum has missed the last eight games with a strained left Achilles tendon and while there is no official timetable set for when the 7-footer will return, head coach Phil Jackson told Bynum on Tuesday not to feel pressured to rush back for the five remaining games left in the regular season. "I'm not holding my breath on a timetable," Jackson said after the team's practice that ran about a half-hour longer than usual after an off day on Monday.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola chose to praise the human side of Lionel Messi after the Argentinian winger destroyed Arsenal with a remarkable four-goal performance at the Nou Camp. The Argentinian struck a superb first half hat-trick to switch the balance of power in a tie Arsenal had momentarily threatened to win, before adding a fantastic fourth goal in the closing stages to seal a memorable night for Guardiola's side. Guardiola, who recently claimed to be lost for words to describe the brilliance of his star player, chose to focus on the player's human aspect while all around were marvelling at the latest chapter in the consecration of a truly wonderful footballer

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