| Hatton: 'I dabbled in daft, silly things' • Former world champion says 'I was binge-drinking heavily' • Hatton, in rehab, receives help offer from Amir KhanRicky Hatton spoke for the first time last night about the heavy drinking and "dabbling in other daft and silly things" that have derailed any thoughts of a comeback and forced him to seek professional help. And his friend Amir Khan, once touted as a possible opponent, pledged his "100%" support for Hatton, even as others in the business distanced themselves from him.The former light-welterweight and welterweight world champion is in the Priory in Cheshire recovering from the effects of alcohol abuse and the accompanying psychological damage that has built up over several years, although Hatton suggests his problems have surfaced only since he was shockingly knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in his last fight, 16 months ago in Las Vegas.In a promotional video for his revelations in tomorrow's News Of The World, Hatton says: "I'm Ricky Hatton, and I'm here to tell the truth. I'm currently in the Priory dealing with depression due to the fact that I've not been able to cope with my retirement from boxing. I've been binge-drinking heavily and dabbling in other daft and silly things. But it's going to be the toughest fight of my life and I'm here to win it."The newspaper last Sunday exposed Hatton – "caught on camera snorting cocaine in a shocking 10-hour drink and drugs binge" – in a Manchester hotel two weeks previously.The video was apparently provided by Hatton's friend, the Irish female amateur boxer, Emma Bowe, who said: "I'm doing this for Ricky's own good. I hope he gets help and advice before cocaine destroys him." But a source close to Hatton said the implication that Hatton's problems have only arisen since the Pacquiao fight is "nonsensical"."This has been going on for several years," he said. "Ricky has been out of control for a long time. People have told him but he refused to listen."His father, Ray, said Hatton's drinking got worse because he was always trying, "to please his mates".Hatton, 31, was unable to attend a fund-raiser in Bolton last night, organised by Khan, because of his move to the Priory, where he is likely to stay for at least a couple of weeks."I spoke to Ricky yesterday," Khan said. "He's in rehab, but we are all 100% behind him. If he needs any help, I am here, as is Team Khan. He is a rich young guy and has made mistakes. He got in with the wrong crowd. He has to learn from this mistake and come back stronger."Hatton looked bloated and downcast in the promotional video for tomorrow's revelations, and, while it might come as a surprise that he has chosen to give his story to the very paper that exposed him, Hatton retains the sympathy of one of the biggest fan bases in British sport.He packed out venues throughout the country at speaking engagements that earned him up to £7,000 a night and had embarked on a successful career as a promoter.The British Boxing Board of Control, as well as Manchester police, want to interview Hatton about his activities, suggesting he might lose his board licence and receive at least a police caution.Ricky HattonBoxingAmir KhanKevin Mitchellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
2012 Super Bowl organizers moving ahead with plans By MICHAEL MAROT 2010-09-23T20:01:46ZINDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Organizers say they don't expect the NFL's uncertain labor situation to delay the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis.... hosted.ap.org |
Mark Lewis-Francis eases into semis with fastest 100m in five years • Golds for Scott and Walton, Goddard, Dykun and Folwell• Illness hinders Halsall, who takes bronze in 100m freestyleEngland won 12 medals in Delhi today, but for a tedious amount of time the conversation around the camp was all about the state of the track at the JLN Stadium. Work went on late last night to repair the damage done to the surface during the opening ceremony.At the end of it all the track was just fine: good enough for Mark Lewis-Francis to record his fastest 100 metres for five years, 10.15sec, in the opening heat. Minutes later, when the second heat was recalled by the starter, the stadium announcer said: "There had been some confusion and trouble at the start." That could well be the motto for the entire Games.It was the intense heat and humidity that were the real problems for the British athletes. "It's like hell out there," said Lewis-Francis, after easing through the second round in 10.20 and securing a spot in Friday's semi-final. The huge swarms of moths drawn to the stadium by the floodlights did not help.Over at the SP Mukherjee aquatics complex Fran Halsall was also suffering. The "Delhi belly" she had complained about after winning gold in the 50m fly had got worse, and she was disappointed to finish with a bronze in the 100m freestyle, her specialist event. "I had nothing to give today," Halsall said, "and I couldn't stand up after the race. I don't know why I put myself through it sometimes." She left quickly, apologising as she went but explaining that if she stayed she was worried she would vomit on the reporters.Gemma Spofforth was also disappointed with her medal, a silver in the 100m backstroke, but then she is the world champion at the distance. Having led until the final 15 metres, where she let Australia's Emily Seebohm past her, Spofforth complained that she had been confused by the markers. "I don't even know what you call that finish, it wasn't a finish at all, and I hate coming second. We were talking before about how you couldn't see the flags and I thought: 'Yeah you can, what's the problem?' But then I couldn't see the flags at all. I missed the 15m one and then just got my head down, but it wasn't enough."The women who took bronze in the 4x200m freestyle, Jo Jackson, Rebecca Adlington, Emma Saunders and Sasha Matthews, were far happier. There was also a relay silver for Scotland, with Andrew Hunter, David Carry, Jak Scott and Robbie Renwick coming in behind Australia in the 4x200m freestyle. The cyclists Jenny Davis and Charline Joiner also took silver for Scotland, in the team sprint.The one British swimmer who did win gold was James Goddard, setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the 200m backstroke. Goddard last won the title in 2002. "Back then I was the youngest on the team, today I'm the oldest," he said. "I didn't think about the medal coming into the event, experience has taught me that, I just targeted a time."Goddard's was one of four golds that England secured today.The most entertaining of them was that of Myroslav Dykun in the 66kg Greco Roman wrestling final. Dykun, as his name suggests, was not born in England but arrived from Ukraine seven years ago. His was England's first wrestling medal in 24 years, and was won with impressive ease. Like Goddard, he may just have been concentrating on targeting a quick time – it took him 40sec to tie Canada's Jack Bond up into a knot and pin him.In gymnastics Luke Folwell won the all-round individual competition, with Reiss Beckford taking silver, and at the shooting arena Steven Scott and Stevan Walton set a new Games record as they won gold by one shot in the double trap pairs.Not one of them was nearly as happy as Zoe Smith was with her bronze in the 58kg weightlifting, though. Smith is only 16 and has had to take three weeks off school to come to her first major international meet. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry." It was the first weightlifting medal ever won at the Games by an English woman, and surely the first of many for Smith.Commonwealth Games 2010AthleticsSwimmingRebecca AdlingtonAndy Bullguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Tampa Bay Rays among teams on clock for playoff success Carl Crawford walked to pretty much the only position he has known as a major leaguer left field for the Tampa Bay Rays. rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Green fingers ENGLAND were denied a victory they just about deserved in their opening World Cup game here last night when a terrible error by goalkeeper Robert Green gifted a goal to the United States and allowed the Americans to emerge with a 1-1 draw that still leaves both teams with realistic chances of qualifying from Group C. timesonline.co.uk |