■ Hockey
Karpat leads series 2-0
Josef Boumedienne and Jari Viuhkola scored a goal each Thursday to give Karpat of Oulu a 2-1 victory over Jokerit of Helsinki in the Finnish hockey finals in Helsinki, Finland. Karpat leads the best-of-five series 2-0 and can clinch its second-straight title at home on Friday. Boumedienne, a Swede who played for the Washington Capitals last season, skated into the slot at 13:42 in the second period and scored through the legs of American goaltender Tim Thomas. Canadian center Glen Metropolit, Jokerit's leading forward, got a clean breakaway with his team playing short-handed and finished with a high wrist shot minutes at 18:12. Viuhkola wristed the winner past Thomas 6:31 into the last period. Karpat goalie Niklas Backstrom made 21 saves, while Thomas was credited with 33 stops.
■ Snowboarding
Putman pinched for pot
US snowboarder Kiana Putman accepted a 10-month suspension for testing positive for marijuana. Putman, 24, tested positive for metabolites of cannabis at the US Snowboard Grand Prix on Jan. 9, the US Anti-Doping Agency said on Thursday. Putman received credit for a provisional suspension she accepted and began serving on Feb. 16. She could return to competition on May 16 if she completes an anti-doping educational program, USADA officials said. She was disqualified from the Jan. 9 event, forfeiting her 13th-place finish.
■ Athletics
Marion Jones to return
Former Olympic champion Marion Jones is ready to run her first race since failing to win a medal in Athens last August. Jones, who won three gold medals and two bronzes at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, is slated to run the 400m at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on Sunday. She traditionally has used the meet at the community college near Los Angeles as her season opener. While Jones is a sprinter and long jumper, she occasionally runs the 400m for training purposes. The International Olympic Committee has been looking into allegations that Jones used performance-enhancing drugs. She has never tested positive and consistently has denied using any such drugs. She has filed a US$25 million defamation suit against Victor Conte, alleging the head of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative tarnished her reputation when he claimed she used drugs before and after the 2000 Olympics. Conte is one of four men charged with participation in an alleged steroid-distribution ring.
■ Football
State OKs new stadium
The New York Giants have reached an agreement with the state of New Jersey to build a new US$750 million stadium that will keep the team up to date with high-revenue NFL franchises. The deal, reached by the team and the state after contentious negotiations, provides for a new 80,000-seat stadium close to the current one in the Meadowlands. It is slated to open for the 2008 season. The deal seemed dead a few weeks ago, with both sides far apart on finances and the scope of the project. But several days of talks this week between acting Governor Richard J. Codey and John Mara, the Giants' chief operating officer, paved the way for "an agreement that will keep the Giants here in New Jersey, where they belong," the governor said on Thursday.
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