■ Hockey
Fears of NHL shut-down
Wayne Gretzky fears the NHL could be shut down for as long as two years if a labor deal is not reached soon. Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer and part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, said an "even more alarming" scenario could await the league if the lockout is not settled in the next few days. "I'm scared we could be looking at a year, year-and-a-half, two years, not just three months like a lot of people thought back in September," Gretzky said at a news con-ference. The NHL board of governors is to meet on Jan. 14 in New York.
■ Soccer
Tsunami victims honored
French and Italian footballers will show their solidarity with the victims of the Asian tsunamis this week, observing a minute's silence and collec-ting donations. All 64 clubs playing in the French Cup will pay tribute to the victims of the devastating tsunamis, the French football federation announced on Monday. "A minute's silence will be ob-served before kick-off at all games ... to show solidarity with the victims," the fed-eration said. Both Paris St. Germain and Marseille football clubs said they would collect donations for charities helping those affected by the disaster that has killed an estimated 150,000 people around the Indian Ocean.
■ Athletics
De Lima enters marathon
Brazil's Olympic bronze medalist Vanderlei De Lima will take part in Japan's Lake Biwa Marathon in March, organizers said on Monday. De Lima chose the March 6 race as his first marathon since battling to third at the Olympics in August after being attacked by a crazed spectator while leading in Athens. The 35-year-old lost about 20 seconds after being shoved off the road by defrocked Irish priest with about 6km to run. Italian Stefano Baldini went on to win gold. De Lima, honored as Brazil's sportsman of the year by the Brazilian Olym-pic Committee (COB) last month, won the 1996 Tokyo Marathon.
■ Rally Racing
Gordon wins Dakar stage
American Robby Gordon won his second stage of the Dakar Rally and regained the overall lead on Monday's trek from Rabat to Agadir in Morocco. Gordon, who also won the first stage of this year's two-continent race, covered the day's 123km timed section of stage four in one hour, 14 minutes and one second in his Volks-wagen Touareg. Defending champion Steph-ane Peterhansel of France was second in his Mitsubishi in a time of 1:14.54, with France's Bruno Saby third in 1:15:09, also in a VW Touareg. Overall, Gor-don has a 59-second lead over Peterhansel and a lead of one minute, 14 seconds over Saby.
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