■ Soccer
Zidane put on FIFA shortlist
Former French playmaker Zinedine Zidane, sent off in the World Cup final in Berlin, was named on a 30-man shortlist on Thursday for FIFA's World Player of the Year award. Zidane retired from soccer after France lost to Italy in the final in July, his career seemingly ending in disgrace following his head-butt on defender Marco Materazzi 10 minutes before the end of extra time. The incident ensured he missed the penalty shootout that decided the match in Italy's favor. Zidane, Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho and Inter Milan's Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo are the only men on the shortlist to have previously won the FIFA award. Ronaldinho is bidding to lift the trophy for the third year in a row.
■ Soccer
S Africa unveils Cup digs
South Africa unveiled plans on Thursday to boost accommodation for the 2010 World Cup and encourage soccer fans to stay at small guest houses in sprawling city townships. "We are delivering on our promise to ensure that participants in the 2010 World Cup will be treated to a uniquely African experience," Tourist Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told an accommodation workshop. He said 170 million rand (US$22.5 million) would be spent to provide extra rooms for the 3.5 million people expected by organizers to attend the competition. "For the first time ever [in World Cup], non-hotel accommodation such as national park accommodation, lodges, guest houses and bed and breakfasts will also be contracted," Van Schalkwyk said.
■ Soccer
Chinese to train with Bolton
Chinese striker Yang Changpeng's dream of playing English Premier League soccer could be a step closer to reality after he was invited for a month-long stint with the Bolton Wanderers. The top-flight English club confirmed Asian reports when it said Yang and team mate Zhou Liao will train with the club as part of Bolton's partnership with Chinese Super League club Wuhan FC. The pair will spend a month training with Bolton's academy, the English club said on its Web site. "We always dreamed of this moment and the wait appears to be over. It is very exciting," Singapore's Today newspaper quoted Yang yesterday as saying. "It will be a learning experience, but we will strive to perform to the best of our abilities."
■ Baseball
Beanball coach gets jail
A youth baseball coach who offered an eight-year-old player US$25 to pitch the ball at an autistic teammate's head to put him out of the game was sentenced on Thursday to one to six years in prison. Judge Ralph Warman sentenced 29-year-old Mark Downs to consecutive sentences of six to 36 months for corruption of minors and criminal solicitation to commit simple assault. A jury convicted Downs in last month. He was acquitted on a more serious charge of criminal solicitation to commit aggravated assault. Jurors deadlocked on a charge of reckless endangerment. The judge declared a mistrial on the endangerment charge and prosecutors said they would not retry him. Authorities said Downs offered to pay one of his players US$25 to hit Harry Bowers, a nine-year-old autistic teammate, with a ball while warming up before a game last year.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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