est sporting event that should uphold ethics and an internati

Rory McIlroy?has been told true sports people rise above their concerns after the world No. 2 pulled out of this weeks Turkish Airlines Open.McIlroy has adorned posters, flyers and television commercials for the event, the first of the European Tours Final Series that will decide the outcome of the Race to Dubai, but withdrew on Sunday, describing his reasons to not play in a country which has been hit by a series of deadly bomb attacks in the past 18 months as obvious.But Ahmet Agaoglu, the president of the Turkish Golf Federation, was left surprised and confused by the four-time major champion for leaving it so late to make his decision not to travel to Carya Golf Club in Antalya.I learnt that Rory had dropped out in the media, Agaoglu told the Telegraph, before going on to praise Tiger Woods, who pulled out of the event after deciding he wasnt ready to return to competitive action.Tiger sent me an email an hour before his announcement and apologised, Agaoglu explained. He said he knew we would be disappointed but he was more disappointed than anyone.It isnt the first time McIlroy, who had been offered a ￡1 million appearance fee as well as the use of a private jet to fly to and from the event, has changed his plans at the eleventh hour. He also pulled out of the Olympic Games in Rio due to the threat of the Zika virus.Agaoglu added: There are things happening everywhere in the world. If they are afraid of such things there is no safe place in the world.This is one of the major golfing events in Europe and I think they have to respect the sponsors because they are investing huge money. Pulling out is not the correct approach. You can be a superstar, an excellent golfer and sit on top of the rankings but to be an athlete you need something more.Id like to thank Danny Willett and Lee Westwood and the guys who are here. Over the last few months we have seen there is a lot of difference between top golfers and top athletes with some golfers missing events because of a few mosquitoes. True sports people rise above this.Westwood himself said he was disappointed.Obviously the most high-profile withdrawal was that of Rory and he brings an awful lot to a tournament, the Englishman told reporters. Hes defending the money list and hes pretty much taken himself out of that by not playing. I guess he didnt feel the way I feel about the place and the security of it all. Rick Mahorn Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Joe Dumars Pistons Jersey . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. https://www.pistonsrookiesshop.com/Derrick-Rose-City-Edition-Jersey/ Louis King Pistons Jersey . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Jerry Stackhouse Jersey . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. RIO DE JANEIRO -- A senior Olympic executive from Ireland was arrested and taken to the hospital Wednesday after police raided his beachfront hotel as part of an investigation into the illegal sale of tickets for the Rio de Janeiro Games.Patrick Hickey, a member of the International Olympic Committees executive board, was accused of plotting with at least nine others to sell tickets above face value in a scheme that authorities say netted about $3 million in profits.At least a half dozen police officers went to the luxury hotel in the upscale Barra da Tijuca neighborhood in the early morning hours to arrest the 71-year-old Hickey, who fell ill and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.Irelands national Olympic committee -- the Olympic Council of Ireland -- said Hickey was admitted to Samaratino Hospital for investigation of chest pain and was in stable condition.In view of his previous cardiac history he will remain in hospital for a further 24 hours, the Irish committee said in a statement Wednesday night.Hickeys alleged involvement was through Irelands Olympic committee, which police said helped transfer tickets to an unauthorized vendor who would set high fees and disguise the transaction as a hospitality package. Hickey was charged with conspiracy, ticket scalping and ambush marketing and will be detained while the investigation continues.The Olympic Council of Ireland said Hickey decided to step aside temporarily as an IOC member and from all his other Olympic positions until this matter is fully resolved. Hickey is also president of the OCI, head of the European Olympic Committees and vice president of the Association of National Olympic Committees.Mr. Hickey will of course continue to cooperate and assist with all ongoing enquiries, the Irish body said in a statement.The IOC said it respectfully takes note of Hickeys decision to step aside from his Olympic roles.Until then, the presumption of innocence prevails, the committee said in a statement.Police arrived at the IOCs hotel at 6 a.m. and found only Hickeys wife, who refused to tell them where he was. Police, however, found Hickeys Olympic accreditation badge on the floor, along with his shoes, socks and bag. They asked for the hotels help and found him in the adjacent room, registered under his sonss name.ddddddddddddImages by ESPN Brazil show Hickey answering the door to police and stepping into the bathroom naked. Moments later, he walks out in a white bathrobe.Investigators said Hickey initially was shaken and the hotels doctor recommended his transfer to a nearby hospital for tests because of his age and medical history. He remained in the hospital under police custody.Hickey, a former judo athlete, has been an IOC member since 1995. He has served on the policy-making executive board since 2012.IOC spokesman Mark Adams said the committee would fully cooperate with the police investigation.We dont know what the allegations or charges are yet, he said. We have full confidence in the system here.The allegations centered on more than 800 tickets belonging to the Irish committee.Todays arrest shows that the law must be followed, top police investigator Ricardo Barbosa said after a news conference. Even more when we are talking about the biggest sporting event that should uphold ethics and an international spirit. We found out that the Irish Olympic Committee ended up facilitating the ticket scalping scheme.An Irish executive was arrested last week in the same investigation. Kevin James Mallon is one of the heads of British hospitality provider THG, the main company suspected in the scheme. Mallon was arrested along with a local employee who was working as an interpreter.Authorities have also issued warrants for four more executives at THG, including Marcus Evans, who owns Marcus Evans Group, the parent company and owner of English soccer club Ipswich Town.Police are also looking for two soccer agents and a financial adviser at Pro 10 Sports Management, which investigators allege was created to facilitate the transfer of tickets between the Irish Olympic committee and THG, an unauthorized ticket seller.After the first arrests last week, the Olympic Council of Ireland said it would investigate why some of its tickets were in the possession of the suspects. The OCI name was visible on tickets displayed by police, but the Irish said they had no knowledge of the people in custody.---AP Sports Writer Rob Harris contributed to this report. ' ' '