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November 23rd, 2008
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Sports Roundup


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JÁGR Hockey star Jaromír Jágr confirmed the unexpected, announcing his move from the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers to Avangard Omsk in Russia. The 36-year-old forward played for Avangard during the NHL’s lockout season in 2004–2005. Jágr had completed the final season of his seven-year, $78-million U.S. contract, but could not work out a new agreement with Rangers’ general manager Glenn Sather, rejecting a one-year contract worth $6 million. He announced the move to Siberia July 4.

 
CAREER Jágr began his NHL career in 1990 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played for the Washington Capitals before joining the Rangers. In 1,273 NHL games, he had 1,599 points on 646 goals (12th all-time) and 953 assists. Jágr won the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer in the NHL five times and captured the Hart Trophy in 1999 as league’s most valuable player. He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in the early ’90s.
BOX OFFICE Jágr’s move served a blow to organizers of the NHL’s opening games between New York Rangers and Tampa Bay, to be played in Prague’s O2 Arena Oct. 4–5. Jágr was expected to become the event’s main box office draw. Following his departure and that of Czech forward Martin Straka, the Rangers lost much of their “Czech appeal.” The two games were sold out hours after the tickets were put on sale last spring.
SOCCER Eighteen-year-old soccer striker Libor Kozák became the first Czech second division player to move to Italian Serie A. Kozák, who played with Opava last season and scored 11 goals in the second division, signed a five-year contract with Lazio Roma.
SKI Tickets for the 2009 Nordic Skiing World Championship, to be held in Liberec Feb. 18–March 1, went on sale July 2. Prices range between 200 Kč (practices) and 1,500 Kč (ski jumping finals). Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek supported the organizers whose struggle for funding put the championship in jeopardy last year.
RANKING The Czech national soccer team sank two spots after Euro 2008, ending up eighth in the national teams’ rankings, as listed by the game’s governing body, FIFA. Spain, the new European champions, took the lead for the first time ever.
MILLIONS According to the Czech Olympic Committee, sending athletes and their support teams to Beijing will cost 40 million Kč ($2.7 million). Transportation to and around China costs nearly 9 million Kč. Just over half of the total cost is covered by a government contribution. Some 230 people, including athletes, trainers and coaches comprise the Czech Republic’s Olympic squad.


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