Track great Johnson suffers mini-stroke
Olympic track great Michael Johnson says he is recovering from a mini-stroke last week.
The 50-year-old sprinter said on Twitter he “rather surprisingly” was stricken with a transient ischemic attack, known as a TIA or mini-stroke. According to the Mayo Clinic, a TIA usually lasts only a few minutes and causes no permanent damage.
Johnson wrote that he has been “cleared of any heart issues.” He added that he is back home with family and has “already made great progress on my road to recovery.”
Johnson is a four-time Olympic gold medalist. At the 1996 Atlanta Games, he became the only male athlete to win the 200 and 400 meters at the same Olympics. He had held world and Olympic records in those events.
England falls to Spain at home
England’s World Cup satisfaction has been punctured by Spain on its homecoming.
Back in action after a surprising run to fourth place at the World Cup, England was sent to its first competitive home loss in 11 years yesterday.
Saul Niguez and Rodrigo scored as Spain came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley Stadium at the start of its UEFA Nations League campaign.
It was a bright start for Luis Enrique, who was hired after Spain’s last-16 exit at the World Cup. While Spain departed earlier than anticipated, England unexpectedly made it to the final weekend.
England reached the semifinals in Russia, but lost to Croatia and then fell to Belgium in the third-place game. It means for all the optimism surrounding Gareth Southgate’s side, England has lost three competitive matches in a row.
Luke Shaw was taken off at the start of the second half after a serious-looking head injury.
Spain fans chanted “Gibraltar is Spanish” during the match, risking a sanction from soccer authorities.
UEFA could fine the Spanish soccer federation if it deems the chant politically provocative . . . .
Carli Lloyd scored in the 74th minute and Sky Blue defeated the Orlando Pride 1-0 in Piscataway, N.J., in the final game of the National Women’s Soccer League regular season for the team’s only win.
Sky Blue finished 1-17-6, struggling despite the addition of the former FIFA Player of the Year, a New Jersey native who came to the team in a three-team draft-day trade.
The Pride finished 8-10-6, with four straight losses.
Cavaliers sign Nwaba
The Cleveland Cavaliers made another move in their post-LeBron James makeover, signing free agent guard David Nwaba to a one-year contract.
The deal is for the veteran’s minimum of $1.5 million . . . .
Authorities say two people are in critical condition after suffering electrical shock at a motorsports track near Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said one of the patients was in cardiac arrest after the incident at the Irwindale Speedway. The incident occurred before gates opened to the public for last night’s NASCAR Whelen All American Series event.