■ Akira Ogi dies at 70
A Japanese Hall of Famer and revered manager who coached major leaguers Ichiro Suzuki and Hideo Nomo has died of respiratory failure, his former team said. Akira Ogi, most recently manager of the Pacific League's Orix Buffaloes, passed away Thursday at a hospital in his home town of Fukuoka in western Japan, Orix said in a statement. He was 70. Ogi was an infielder for the defunct Nishitetsu Lions in 1954-1967 before starting a successful coaching career. He won the Pacific League championship with the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 1989 and with Orix in 1995 and 1996, going on to clinch the Japan Series in 1996.
■ Auto racing
Toyota ends IRL affiliation
Toyota will end its affiliation with the Indy Racing League a year earlier than planned, leaving Honda as the only engine supplier for the open-wheel series next season. Toyota originally planned to withdraw from the IRL after the 2006 season. Chevrolet left after this season, and the elite Penske Racing team announced last month it would switch from Toyota to Honda, which has committed to remaining at least through 2009. Toyota said Thursday it decided to withdraw a year ahead of schedule to allow the IRL to move to a common engine for all teams next year. Jim Aust, Toyota's vice president of motorsports, said winning the 2003 Indianapolis 500 with Gil de Ferran was Toyota's greatest motorsports accomplishment.
■ Cycling
Armstrong to face trial
Lance Armstrong has been ordered to stand trial in Italy on charges of defaming cyclist Filippo Simeoni. Armstrong's lawyer in Italy, Enrico Nan, said Thursday that the seven-time Tour de France champion was indicted on Wednesday and scheduled to go to trial on March 7. Nan said Armstrong does not face jail time, but he could be fined if found guilty. Armstrong is being investigated for pursuing Simeoni during an early stage breakaway in last year's Tour de France and reportedly threatening him for testifying about doping abuse in the trial of an Italian doctor associated with Armstrong. Simeoni told an Italian court in 2002 that doctor Michele Ferrari advised him to take performance-enhancing drugs. Later, Armstrong reportedly called Simeoni a liar, and the Italian sued the American for libel.
■ Auto racing
Michelin finished with F1
French tire maker Michelin said Wednesday it was pulling out of Formula One after the 2006 season, leaving Japanese-owned Bridgestone as the sport's only tire supplier. The future of Michelin has been in doubt since seven of 10 teams pulled out of the US Grand Prix on June 19 because of concerns over the safety of their Michelin tires. Only six cars ran in that race, all equipped with Bridgestone tires. The FIA, the world governing body of motor racing, and many teams have been pressing for a single tire manufacturer as a money saving measure.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was