■ Rugby Union
All Blacks commit future
All Blacks Jerry Collins and Greg Somerville are among 75 players to have committed their playing futures in New Zealand until after next year's World Cup, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said yesterday. Prop Somerville, the most experienced player on the list with 55 caps, flanker Collins, back Luke McAlister and lock Greg Rawlinson are the key players to have recently recontracted to play through 2007 and beyond, the NZRU statement said. "By recommitting to New Zealand, many of our players believe they still have a lot to offer New Zealand rugby and enjoy the game and lifestyle here," NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said.
■ Cricket
Kiwis call up Taylor
New Zealand have called up batsman Ross Taylor as standby for Scott Styris at the Champions Trophy, a team spokesman said yesterday. The all-rounder was a doubtful starter for yesterday's day-night match against Sri Lanka due to the recurrence of a back problem. The 31-year-old Styris had missed the opening match against South Africa with a hamstring twinge. "Ross is not joining the official tour party. He is on stand-by and will arrive on Sunday," team spokesman Lindsay Crocker said. New Zealand, winners in 2000, also have injury concerns over strike bowler Shane Bond.
■ Soccer
Bosnian fans want chiefs out
Up to 600 fans of Bosnia's national team protested on Thursday demanding the resignation of the country's soccer chiefs, including coach Blaz Sliskovic, over alleged fraud. "Thieves, get out! [Soccer] federation, get out!" the protestors chanted in front of the office of Bosnia's soccer federation in downtown Sarajevo after authorities implicated its officials in the scandal. They called for all of the federation's officials, as well as Sliskovic, be replaced. "We demand that competent people be appointed in the federation," said the fans' leader Nizar Aldinavij. Local authorities have started investigating the federation for alleged fraud of up to 500,000 euros (US$630,000).
■ Soccer
Chile suspend Pizarro
Peruvian soccer officials on Thursday indefinitely suspended striker Claudio Pizarro from the national team after he skipped a friendly match with Chile to return to Germany to train with Bayern Munich. "The player is suspended from the national soccer team," the Peruvian soccer federation said in a statement. "Pizarro returned [to Germany] before the end of the [training] period without the permission of the coaches of the Peruvian national squad." The statement said Pizarro's conduct "constitutes an infraction of the regulations on the statute and transfer of players approved by FIFA." Local media speculated that Pizarro left without permission because he was angry with coach Franco Navarro for leaving him on the bench for most of that first game. Pizarro on Tuesday called Peru's Radioprogramas radio to say he would not play for his country as long as Navarro was in charge.
■ Soccer
Legalized gambling debated
Vietnamese lawmakers are divided on whether to legalize soccer betting, a move that could generate revenue for the sport and curb rampant illegal betting, state media reported yesterday. "Now is the time that we should acknowledge this issue and work out legal regulations," the Thanh Nien newspaper quoted Dang Van Xuong, a legislator from southern Long An Province, as telling the National Assembly's plenary session on Thursday. But the newspaper said legislator Nguyen Van Nhuong from the central province of Quang Binh disagreed, saying Vietnam should continue its current approach, prosecuting cases of match-fixing and illegal betting on soccer.
■ Soccer
Rocks thrown, game halted
Colo Colo's Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal match with Gimnasia y Esgrima in Santiago, Chile, was suspended in the 86th minute on Thursday after an Argentine midfielder was struck by rocks with the Chilean club leading 4-1. Humberto Suazo scored three goals before Paraguayan referee Carlos Torres halted the first leg match when debris from the crowd hit Gimnasia's Nicolas Cabrera. The South American soccer confederation will have to decide the fate of the match and if any sanctions should be imposed. Matias Fernandez put Colo Colo ahead at minute 23rd on a penalty kick and Maias Escobar scored the equalizer 15 minutes later.
■ Athletics
Fenton hangs up her spikes
Two-time Olympic silver medalist Lorraine Fenton, who returned from the Sydney Games with both the individual 400m and 4x400m relay runner-up prizes, has decided to retire from athletics. Fenton, who also earned individual silver medals at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships and a bronze in 1999, turned 33 last month. She has missed the last two major events, the 2004 Olympics and last year's worlds. "With the World Championships next summer in Japan, I had to look seriously at what I believed I was capable of achieving there and so this is the right time to say goodbye to the track, although not to the sport which I loved since I was in high school," she said.
■ Basketball
O'Neal lawsuit dismissed
A federal jury dismissed a civil lawsuit on Thursday by a man who claimed Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal permanently injured him during the 2004 NBA brawl between Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Charles Haddad, 23, alleged O'Neal's punch to his head caused him to suffer migraine headaches, memory loss, trouble sleeping, inability to socialize and aversion to bright lights and loud noises. The defense presented evidence that Haddad flew to Las Vegas the day after the Nov. 19, 2004, brawl and had been a regular visitor to the gambling mecca ever since.
■ Football
Punter charged in stabbing
Prosecutors filed a charge of attempted first-degree murder on Thursday against a former University of Northern Colorado reserve punter accused of stabbing the starter in his kicking leg. Mitchell Cozad, 21, is accused of stabbing Rafael Mendoza on Sept. 11 outside Mendoza's apartment. Cozad also faces one count of second-degree assault. Prosecutors said he could face up to 48 years in prison if convicted. Weld County district attorney's spokeswoman Jennifer Finch said a warrant was issued for Cozad's arrest.
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