Phelps having fun in his return to swimming
MESA, Ariz. — Michael Phelps is making a comeback after nearly two years out of the pool for the simplest of reasons: He missed the sport that has been his entire life.
The 22-time Olympic medalist says he’s been having fun and smiling a lot during training in his hometown of Baltimore. Having shed the 30 pounds he piled on since retiring after the 2012 London Olympics, Phelps will resume his career starting today at a meet in Mesa, Ariz. He’ll swim the 100-meter butterfly, having dropped his plans to compete in the 100 freestyle the same day.
Phelps was noncommittal about whether his comeback would lead to swimming in the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, he admits that if he wants to compete at the highest level, he has to be ready by this summer.
Boxer sentenced to prison on assault weapon charge
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Boxer Tramaine “Mighty Midget” Williams has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison on an assault weapon charge.
Williams, a nine-time amateur national champion, was arrested in January, two days before he was scheduled to fight as a super bantamweight in Madison Square Garden. He was 8-0 as a professional.
Police say he was one of 11 arrested during a series of raids in New Haven. Police say Williams was found in a home with a Tec-9 automatic pistol and drugs.
His attorney, Michael Dolan, told the New Haven Register he was disappointed with Wednesday’s sentence, because Williams had no prior record.
Dolan told the judge that Williams never intended to use the gun and considered it a collector’s item.
Benzema gives Real Madrid first-leg win over Bayern
MADRID — Karim Benzema scored in the 19th minute to give Real Madrid a 1-0 win over defending champion Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Madrid got its goal on a counterattack when Cristiano Ronaldo found Fabio Coentrao speeding down a flank. Coentrao crossed for Benzema, who tapped the ball past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from 4 yards.
Ronaldo returned from a left leg injury that had sidelined him from April 2 and missed a number of scoring opportunities. Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas denied substitute Mario Goetze in the 84th.
Madrid, which won the last of its nine European titles in 2002, has been knocked out of the semifinals for three straight years.
The second leg is Tuesday in Munich. Chelsea hosts the other semifinal next Wednesday following a 0-0 tie at Atletico Madrid this week.
By wire sources
