■ BASKETBALL
Johnson gets probation
Anthony Johnson of the Indiana Pacers was sentenced to a year of probation in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on Friday after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge for his role in one of the worst brawls in US sports history. He was also ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, directed to attend counseling and fined US$250. Teammates Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, David Harrison and Stephen Jackson received similar sentences last month for their participation in the Nov. 19 fighting that broke out during a game with the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. A no-contest plea in Michigan is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.
■ OLYMPICS
Koreas decide to cooperate
Sports officials in South and North Korea hope to field a unified team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, IOC president Jacques Rogge said in Ostend, Belgium on Friday. "Authorities approached me to ask if the IOC wanted to support a unification process," Rogge said in an interview with AP. "At a sporting level, it will not be so difficult but there has to be a political agreement, too." Athletes from the divided peninsula marched together at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, but continued to compete for separate teams. An agreement for a unified team in Beijing would have to be reached by early 2007 for it to be eligible for qualifying events in the different sports, Rogge said. Rogge will visit Seoul on unrelated business Tuesday on his way to Beijing. After their nations' athletes walked around the Olympic Stadium together at last year's Athens Games, the South and North Korean table tennis teams had joint training sessions. The South had 290 athletes and the North 36.
■ SPEEDSKATING
Ohno bombs out in Seoul
Apolo Anton Ohno's World Cup title bid came to another crashing halt in Seoul yesterday as the world No. 4 earned his second disqualification in as many days at a short track speedskating meet. A dash for the lead halfway through the 500m quarterfinals saw the 2002 Olympic gold medallist called for impeding. The American was eliminated from the 1,500m Friday for shoving South Korean Lee Ho-suk. China dominated on the ice yesterday with gold medal performances in the men's and women's events. Li Haonan surged to gold in the men's 500m with a time of 42.583 seconds, ahead of Eric Bedard of Canada with 42.675 and South Korea's Song Suk-woo in 42.705. In the women's 500m, China clinched the top two spots thanks to Wang Meng with 44.736 and Fu Tian-yu's 44.762. Kalyna Roberge of Canada took bronze with 44.880.
■ OLYMPICS
A game of inches
Three months after being cut from the 2012 Olympics, baseball found out Friday how close the vote was -- very close. Baseball lost its place in the Olympics by three votes, international federation president Aldo Notari told AP from London. The result -- 54-50 against, with 53 votes in favor needed to remain -- was tight enough for the sport to push for a vote of reinstatement in February. "We have a duty to get back in the Olympics," Notari said. The International Olympic Committee voted in July to cut softball and baseball after the 2008 Beijing Games, the first sports removed from the program since polo in 1936. The vote totals were kept secret at the time, but the softball and baseball federations later asked the IOC for the figures.
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