Reuters Sports Schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday, May 8
Reuters sports schedule at 1400 GMT on Thursday: - - - - SOCCER World Cup Valcke discusses World Cup preparations ZURICH - FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke discusses preparations for next month's World Cup in Brazil. (SOCCER-WORLD/FIFA, expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, by Brian Homewood, 600 words) - - FA commission proposes English Premier League B teams LONDON - A Football Association commission set up to investigate ways of improving the England side wants to allow Premier League clubs to enter B teams in lower divisions from 2016-17. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/PROPOSALS, moved, 350 words, by Sam Holden) - - - - MOTOR RACING Spanish Grand Prix Alonso gears up for home race BARCELONA - Ferrari's Fernando Alonso appears at a news conference ahead of his home grand prix, a race he won last year, his most recent victory. (MOTOR RACING-PRIX/, expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, by Alan Baldwin) - - - - TENNIS ATP Madrid Open Nadal to play Niemenen MADRID - Top seed Rafa Nadal of Spain will play Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in the highlight of the third-round matches and Briton Andy Murray faces Santiago Giraldo. (TENNIS-MEN/MADRID (PIX), expect by 1600 GMT/12 PM ET, 400 words) - - WTA Madrid Open Li to face Stephens and Williams meets Navarro MADRID - World number two Li Na plays American Sloane Stephens in the first match on court, Maria Sharapova takes on Australian Sam Stosur and defending champion Serena Williams meets Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro. (TENNIS-WOMEN/MADRID (PIX), expect by 1500 GMT/11 AM ET, 300 words) - - - - NFL Draft gets underway in New York City NEW YORK - The annual National Football League Draft gets underway in mid-town Manhattan at Radio City Music Hall. It is staged over three days but most interest is on the opening night and who will be selected first overall. The top candidates include linebacker Khalil Mack, wide receiver Sammy Watkins and offensive lineman Greg Robinson. (NFL-DRAFT/, expect by 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET, by Larry Fine and Julian Linden, 500 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Players Championship (to 11) Scott, Stenson and Watson head elite field at TPC Sawgrass PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - World number two Adam Scott is one of four players, along with Swede Henrik Stenson and Masters champion Bubba Watson, who could dislodge Tiger Woods from the top of the rankings after the PGA Tour's flagship event this week at the TPC Sawgrass. Reigning champion Woods is a notable absentee as he continues his recovery from back surgery. (GOLF-PGA/ (PIX), expect by 1800 GMT/2 PM ET, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 450 words) - - European Tour: Madeira Islands Open (to 11) Scores only - - - - NBA Streaking Heat look to stay perfect in playoffs The twice defending champion Miami Heat look to extend their perfect run through the postseason to six games when they host the Brooklyn Nets for Game Two of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/HEAT (PIX), expect by 0215 GMT/10:15 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - In-form Spurs set out to tame Blazers The San Antonio Spurs, fresh from a resounding win in the opening game of the Western Conference semi-final versus the Portland Trail Blazers, look to grab a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. (NBA-PLAYOFFS/SPURS (PIX), expect by 0430 GMT/12:30 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NHL Canadiens try to push Bruins to brink The Montreal Canadiens, who lead the series 2-1, can push the top-seeded Boston Bruins to the brink of playoff elimination with a win in Game Four of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/CANADIENS (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - Ducks visit Kings for pivotal Game Three The Anaheim Ducks try to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole when they visit the Los Angeles Kings for Game Three of the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final. (NHL-PLAYOFFS/KINGS (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - BASEBALL Burnett takes mound against former team AJ Burnett faces his former team when he takes the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies against the host Toronto Blue Jays and pitching counterpart RA Dickey in one of nine games on the Major League Baseball schedule. (BASEBALL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 975 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0001 GMT/8:01 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - RALLYING Rally of Argentina (to 11) Copy on merit - - - - (Duty editor: Tony Jimenez)
