Star

The San Juan Daily Star Monday, March 21, 2016
41 Sports
Brazil President Rousseff Corruption Scandal
Threatens to Overshadow Rio Olympics
By ANNE BARKER
More than a million protesters
have taken to the streets of Brazil
in recent days, calling for
President Rousseff’s resignation over a
corruption scandal and her cabinet appointment
of a former president as her chief
of staff.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as
Lula, faces wide-ranging charges over bribes
and political kickbacks at state-owned
oil company Petrobras.
The corruption investigation has already
ensnared dozens of public figures
from across the political spectrum, as well
as prominent business leaders.
But his appointment to the government
job would give him immunity from prosecution.
Critics have denounced his appointment
as a bold-faced attempt to help
him avoid possible detention.
President Rousseff presided over Lula’s
swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.
“I count on the experience of Minister
Lula, I count on his identity, the identity
that he has with this country, with the
people of this country,” she said.
“I count on this. Inacio Lula da Silva,
chief of staff of the civil house.”
Damning phone conversation between
Lula and president
But seconds after he was sworn in, the
investigating judge issued an injunction,
blocking Lula’s appointment.
President Roussseff had barely given
Lula a post-ceremony hug when the judge
suspended his nomination to the cabinet
chief post “or any other that grants him
immunity”.
Judge Itagiba Catta Preta also released
the recording of a taped phone conversation
in which President Rousseff offered to
send Lula the paper confirming his appointment
— a move that would have secured
his immunity from prosecution.
“Lula let me tell you something,” she
José Altuve, Carlos Correa to
Make Astros’ Trip to México
By JOSÉ DE JESÚS ORTÍZ
A.J. Hinch revealed part of the traveling
party for the Astros’ two-game
set against the Padres in Mexico City.
Three-time All-Star Jose Altuve, 2015
American League Rookie of the Year Carlos
Correa, Luis Valbuena, Marwin Gonzalez,
Preston Tucker and Jake Marisnick are the
biggest names scheduled to travel to Mexico
City this week. Reliever Will Harris is scheduled
to pitch in both games in Mexico City.
Minor-league righthander Chris Devenski
will start the game on March 26, and
righthander Brady Rodgers will start the next
day.
said to the former president in the phone
call.
“Tell me dear,” Lula replied.
“I’m sending you Bessias,” President
Rousseff said, referring to an advisor.
“With a paper for us to have it and use it
only if necessary.
“It’s the investiture documents, ok?”
“Uhuh. OK,” Lula said.
“I’ll be waiting.”
The widening scandal sparked unprecedented
protests across Brazil and in the
capital, Brasilia police fired tear gas when
the protests began to turn violent.
In the financial hub Sao Paolo and in
Rio de Janeiro, hundreds of thousands of
people called for Lula’s arrest and the resignation
of President Roussef, who appointed
him.
“I came here to fight for a better country,
without corruption, with dignity for
the population,” one woman Daiane Sampaio
said.
“Enough of corruption, it’s enough.
Down [out] Dilma and Lula, it’s enough.”
Puerto Rican star Mónica Puig Marchán
will host world number one
Serena Williams in a friendly match
to be held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico
José Miguel Agrelot on April 11th.
Despite the event being listed as friendly,
Puig, the world number 67th-ranked
player, is looking forward to the encounter.
“When I go to the court, I always try to
compete to the maximum. Whether or not
it is a friendly match, I will go to the court
to compete, but I think the atmosphere
will be quite relaxed. Our respective
agents have spoken, and things are going
to go well. She (Williams) is also excited to
play this game with me,” Puig said.
It will be the first time that Puig will
Another protester said: “Theft, corruption,
that’s the coup. That’s the coup.
We’re not clowns. Brazil is better than all
of this.”
President Rousseff attacked the judge’s
actions in releasing the damning phone
conversation as illegal and anti-democratic.
“Convulsing Brazilian society with lies,
reprehensible practices violates constitutional
rights as well as the rights of citizens
and sets serious precedents. Coups begin
this way,” she said.
“They want to take down the Government
by force,” Wadih Damous, from the
Government coalition, said.
“Disrespect the constitution. Carry out
selective, criminal leaks, like Judge Sergio
Moro does, who will be held responsible for
this.
“We will take legal and juridical measures
against Judge Sergio Moro. He can’t do
that.”
A parliamentary committee is due to
recommend whether President Rousseff
should be impeached.
Mónica Puig to Play Serena
Williams in April Friendly
play an athlete of Williams’ calibre on
Puerto Rican soil and she is determined to
make use of the opportunity
Aside from the match, Williams and
Puig will participate in a clinic targeting
young aspiring players.
The event will be produced by the JB
Group