■ Rugby
McCaw named top player
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has been named the International Rugby Board (IRB) Player of the Year, the IRB announced on Sunday. The All Blacks captain scooped the top individual accolade at the IRB Awards held in Glasgow, Scotland. McCaw's award topped a successful year and night for New Zealand, with the All Blacks named IRB Team of the Year for the second consecutive year and head coach Graham Henry winning the IRB Coach of the Year award. New Zealand are unbeaten in the autumn internationals and will finish the year as the world's No. 1 team.
■ Rugby
Ireland defeat Islanders
Ireland brought the curtain down on "old" Lansdowne Road by thumping the Pacific Islanders 61-17 on Sunday. Flyhalf Paddy Wallace, making his first start, scored 26 points, and flanker Simon Easterby scored two of Ireland's eight tries in the last match at Europe's oldest rugby stadium. Renovation will start next year and the stadium will reopen in 2009. The Islanders completed their first tour of Europe without a victory and finished with their heaviest defeat. Tries by center Seru Rabeni and winger Lome Fa'atau helped the Islanders to be competitive in the first half, unlike previous losses to Wales and Scotland.
■ Soccer
US downs Canada 2-1
Kristine Lilly scored on a penalty kick in the final seconds of overtime on Sunday to give the US a 2-1 victory over Canada in the final of the Women's Gold Cup, North America's qualifier for the 2007 Women's World Cup in China. Lilly's winner came beyond the 120th minute in the second of two 15-minute overtimes after a scoreless second half. Leslie Osborne scored in the seventh minute for the US while Randee Hermus scored in first-half injury time to equalize for Canada, which like the US qualified for next year's global football showdown. Mexico defeated Jamaica 3-0 in the third-place game to reach a two-game series with Japan to decide one of the last vacant berths in the Women's World Cup field.
■ Cricket
Yousuf leads Pakistan
In-form batsman Mohammad Yousuf hit an unbeaten half century yesterday to lead Pakistan's charge on the first day of the third and final cricket Test against the West Indies. Yousuf smashed 12 fours to sit on 67 not out at tea as Pakistan made steady progress to 174-3 on a grassless National Stadium wicket. Captain Inzamam ul-Haq was not out on 17. Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin failed to catch a thin edge off Yousuf's bat from a Chris Gayle ball in the last over before tea. The West Indies bowlers could get only one wicket in the second session when Dwayne Bravo enticed Imran Farhat (47) to drive a wide delivery.
■ Soccer
Mexican women take third
Monica Ocampo scored two goals to lead Mexico to a 3-0 victory over Jamaica in the third-place game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday in Carson, California. Mexico will play Japan in a two-game series for one of the two remaining berths in next year's Women's World Cup, which will take place in September in China. Ocampo scored on a penalty kick in the 20th minute after being tripped in the penalty area by Jamaica's Alicia Wilson. Maribel Dominguez gave Mexico a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute, when she took a pass from Iris Mora, beat Wilson, drew goalkeeper Paula Jackson away from the goal and converted inside the left post from 15 yards.
■ Soccer
Pele helps with casino bid
Las Vegas firm Eighth Wonder is hoping soccer legend Pele can help it score Singapore's second casino license. A 5,000-seat multi-purpose stadium named after the Brazilian will be part of the "Harry's Island" gaming and leisure resort if Eighth Wonder beats out two other contenders for the Sentosa island development, Eight Wonder's chairman and chief executive Mark Advent said yesterday. Pele will also head the Pele Sports Academy dedicated to developing youth participation in sports. "The Pele Stadium on Sentosa will be an international beacon and symbol for athleticism, team spirit and personal accomplishment, and showcase Singapore as a premier destination for world class sports and entertainment," he said.
■ Golf
Trump plans Scottish resort
US billionaire Donald Trump will this week submit a planning application for a golf course development in Scotland worth ?1 billion (US$1.9 billion) he said in an interview with the Guardian published yesterday. Speaking from New York, Trump told the newspaper: "We have incredible ocean frontage, incredible dunes and unbelievable land. When we put it all together it will be the greatest golf course anywhere in the world." The proposal is for two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel, and low-rise accommodation in Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland.
■ Cycling
Spaniard killed on track
Isaac Galvez, the Madison world track champion and runner-up in the fourth stage of this year's Tour de France, died early on Sunday after crashing on the track. He was 31. The Spaniard crashed at high speed, hitting his chest against the side railing close to the end of the penultimate day of the traditional six-day race, event organizer Rob Discart said. Galvez, who raced for the Caisse d'Epargne team, was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead on arrival. "His injuries were so serious he died on the way to the hospital," Discart told VRT radio.
■ Soccer
Bush twins watch Boca win
Boca Juniors beat Colon 4-1 at home on Sunday with the twin daughters of US President George W. Bush watching from the stands as Argentina's front-runner moved within a whisker of clinching the Apertura title. Jenna and Barbara Bush, wearing blue-and-yellow Boca jerseys, watched from the official team box at Boca's La Bombonera stadium as the hosts easily trounced their rival in the 17th outing of the Apertura season. Former Boca star Diego Maradona, who had a statue unveiled in his honor before kickoff, was also on hand to watch Boca get to 44 points, four ahead of runner-up Estudiantes.
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