■Golf
Singh apologizes to Annika
Vijay Singh said he was sorry if his comments about Annika Sorenstam playing on the PGA Tour -- "I hope she misses the cut" -- came across as a personal attack. "If it was an attack on Annika at all, I would like to apologize to her," Singh said on Tuesday after a practice round for this week's Byron Nelson Classic. "It was not put that way. It came out the wrong way." Singh said on Sunday that Sorenstam had no business playing in next week's Colonial and said that on the odd chance he gets paired with her, he'd withdraw. "I hope she misses the cut. Why? Because she doesn't belong out here," Singh said during an interview as he left the locker room after the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. "If I'm drawn with her, which I won't be, I won't play."
■ Baseball
Ichiro hits top form
Ichiro Suzuki had four of the Mariners' season-high 17 hits on Tuesday as the Seattle Mariners took a 8-3 win over the Cleveland Indians. Randy Winn drove in three runs and Joel Pineiro settled down after a shaky start, while Edgar Martinez and Jeff Cirillo had two RBIs each. Seattle is 4-0 against Cleveland this season.
Suzuki is batting .341 in his last 19 games, raising his average from .250 to .299. In 10 games this month, he's hitting .442 with seven multihit games.
■ Soccer
Fulham narrows choices
Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed narrowed down the choice for his club's new manager to three yesterday -- Klaus Toppmoeller, George Burley and Chris Coleman. The three will be interviewed in Paris with the decision made by the end of the week. Former manager Jean Tigana, a former French international star, was told in March that his contract would not be renewed but he would stay in charge until the end of the season. He was fired on April 18.
■ Olympics
Paris launches 2012 bid
Paris will this month formally present its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, with beach volleyball to be played at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, a newspaper reported yesterday. Mayor Bertrand Delanoe plans to announce Paris' candidacy on May 21, daily Le Parisien said, without citing sources. The International Olympic Committee is to elect the 2012 host city in July 2005. Calls to Paris City hall seeking comment were not immediately returned. Paris failed in its bid to host the 2008 Olympics, which were awarded to Beijing, China. But its latest bid will incorporate a number of changes to the earlier one, including building the Olympic village above railway tracks in the city center.
Agencies
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely