Lietuvos Rytas finished one of its best basketball seasons in history last week. The Euroleague debutants not only had a good regular season (8 wins, 6 losses, 3rd place in Group B), but also fared will in the Top-16 tournament (3 wins, 3 losses, 3rd place in Group F). But most importantly, Lietuvos Rytas won both the Lithuanian Basketball League and SEB BBL tournaments by winning every game against longtime rival Zalgiris Kaunas (5 wins combined in two leagues' finals). Yet their performance doesn't mean an automatic title win, especially when up against Zalgiris. Lietuvos Rytas'main goal is to defend both titles (SEB BBL and LKL) and to claim the ULEB Cup final 's a repeat of its 2004/2005 season.
The Latvia 2006 rally ended the Baltic state's auto rally season last week, with Ivars Vasaraudzis and Valdis Spredzis taking first place. Yet, according to the daily Diena, the duo's 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer WRC drew more attention than the drivers themselves. Latvians had never seen such a high quality car in rally history, the newspaper reported. The duo also carries the Latvian championship title in the N4 class. Out of the 59 teams participating, 40 finished the course on Oct. 1. Janis Vorobjovs and Guntis Ervalds took second place.
Tiger Woods won the World Golf Championship by eight shots last week, despite strong winds and rainy weather. The world number one began the final day leading by six and, after two rain delays totalling almost three hours, posted a 67 for a 23-under total. The American stayed well clear of Ian Poulter and Adam Scott who both came in second place, with Jim Furyk one shot back in fourth. This is Woods' sixth straight strokeplay tournament triumph.
Antanas Sireika, head coach of the Lithuanian men's basketball team, has resigned from his post due to criticism from players, the daily newspaper Lietuvos Rytas reported. "I see no point in staying amid the current situation," said Sireika, who has coached since 2001. Earlier this season, star players Arvydas Macijauskas and Sarunas Jasikevicius publicly complained about Sireika's coaching. Sireika agreed to resign after Lithuanian Basketball Federation President Vladas Garastas told the lrytas.lt Web site that the team was "turning into a concentration camp." The basketball federation will decide Sireika's fate on Oct. 5.
