SOCCER

GLAZER GAINS CONTROL OF MANCHESTER UNITED

Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer began a $1.47 billion takeover bid of Manchester United yesterday, raising his stake in the world’s richest soccer team to nearly 57% in what the leader of a fans’ group called “a really sad day.”

Glazer bought the 28.7% share held by Irish racehorse owners J.P. McManus and John Magnier. He previously owned 28.1% of the club. Glazer needs more than 75% of the shares to take complete control, and he will now make an offer for the remaining shares. There is strong opposition from the fan group Shareholders United, which fears Glazer will raise ticket prices and sell 67,000-seat Old Trafford stadium.

“I’m giving up my season ticket,” Shareholders United president Nick Towle said. “I’m not putting a penny of my money into this guy’s pocket.”

Shareholders United represents 17% of the club’s stockholders, and Towle said the group still hoped to block Glazer from reaching the 75% level.

GOLF

APPLEBY TAKES FIRST-ROUND LEAD AT BYRON NELSON CLASSIC

Stuart Appleby reeled off eight birdies, needing just 22 putts yesterday at the Las Colinas TPC to shoot 7-under 63 for a one-shot advantage over Ernie Els, John Daly, and Brett Wetterich at the Byron Nelson Classic in Irving, Texas. The other big names stayed in contention, with Vijay Singh shooting a 68, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson 69s, Retief Goosen 70, while defending champion Sergio Garcia carded a 71.

BASKETBALL

GARNETT NAMED TO SIXTH STRAIGHT ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive first team yesterday, the sixth consecutive season he has earned the honor. Garnett received 48 points, tied with San Antonio’s Bruce Bowen for second-most points behind defensive player of the year Ben Wallace of Detroit. The Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Washington’s Larry Hughes rounded out the first team.

TENNIS

FEDERER REACHES QUARTERFINALS IN HAMBURG

Top-ranked Roger Federer moved closer to his sixth title of the year yesterday, beating Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters.

Christophe Rochus came from behind to upset fourth-seeded Gaston Gaudio, last year’s French Open champion, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Juan Ignacio Chela rallied past fifth seeded Tim Henman 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and French teenager Richard Gasquet routed Dominik Hrbaty 6-1, 6-2 in this clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 23. Guillermo Coria, seeded 10th, stopped Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-3, and 15th-seeded Nikolay Davydenko recovered to oust Juan Carlos Ferrero 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

– Associated Press