■ Water Polo
Serbia trounce Japan
Vanja Udovicic scored four goals yesterday to lead defending champion Serbia to an 18-3 thrashing of Japan and into the world championship quarter-finals. Croatia also booked its final eight berth with a tight, 10-8 win over the United States in Group B. Miho Boskovic led Croatia with three goals, while Teo Dogas had two. Aleksandar Sapic and Vladimir Vujasinovic added three goals for Serbia, which came to the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center as clear favorite after adding the 2006 European title to its 2005 gold medal at the Montreal worlds. It also won a four-nation warmup tournament in February which also featured Greece, Spain and Russia.
■ Cricket
Raja reveals bookie incident
South Africa manager Goolam Raja revealed an Indian bookmaker approached one of his players on a 2005 tour to ask about the composition of the team. Raja said the unnamed player on that limited-overs tour isn't at the World Cup. Johan Botha, Albie Morkel and Justin Ontong went to India, but aren't in the Proteas' 15-man World Cup squad. "It wasn't [about offering him] money. It was purely, `What is the team tomorrow?,'" Raja said on Friday. Raja was illustrating how corruption is rife in cricket, five days after Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was murdered in his hotel room amid rumors he was writing a book to expose a match-fixing ring.
■ Cycling
Di Luca on comeback trail
Former Pro Tour champion Danilo Di Luca will make his comeback following a bout of flu at the Coppi-Bartali International five-stage cycle race, his Liquigas team said on Friday. The 31-year-old Italian, who won the Milan-Turin race at the beginning of the month, pulled out of last week's Tirreno-Adriatico and yesterday's Milan-San Remo because of the virus. The Coppi-Bartali International, part of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Europe Tour, begins on Tuesday.
■ Soccer
Dutch heading East
The Netherlands will play friendly internationals against South Korea and Thailand during a 10-day tour of Asia in June. The Netherlands faces South Korea on June 2 in Seoul before playing Thailand four days later in Bangkok. The Dutch soccer federation made the announcement on Friday. South Korea, coached by Dutchman Pim Verbeek, and Thailand will use the matches to prepare for this year's Asian Cup which takes place in July. South Korea lost 5-0 in its first-ever game against the Netherlands at the 1998 World Cup finals in France. Thailand and the Netherlands have never played each other.
■ Rugby Union
Euro crisis unresolved
Fresh talks held on Friday between Rugby Football Union (RFU) chiefs and their French counterparts have failed to stave off the threat of a French boycott of European club competitions next season. The Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) announced two months ago that all 14 French first division clubs would not participate in the continent's top club competitions. The LNR blamed the RFU over their refusal to hand over share and voting rights in European Rugby Cup (ERC) Limited to leading English clubs, although domestic fixture congestion in France caused by the World Cup is being seen as the major reason for the planned mass withdrawal. The RFU said they rejected the LNR's latest proposal regarding English shareholding in ERC, claiming it did not provide a long-term solution to current difficulties.
■ Football
Texans cut Carr, Williams
The Houston Texans released quarterback David Carr and running back Domanick Williams on Friday. The acquisition of Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday spelt the end for Carr, who threw for 59 touchdowns and 65 interceptions beginning with the 2002 season. Houston finished last in the AFC South last season with a 6-10 record as the 27-year-old Carr threw 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Williams, 26, is Houston's career rushing leader with 3,195 yards but missed all of last season with a knee injury.
■ Football
Reid returns to Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid returned from a temporary leave of absence on Friday, five weeks after leaving the team because of his two oldest sons' legal troubles. Reid returned to his duties full time on Friday, in time for the NFL owners meetings in Arizona next week. He also is the team's head of football operations. "It's good to be back," Reid said. "I thought it was very important that I took a little time and had the chance to spend the time with my family." Reid took a leave of absence Feb. 12 because his sons were embroiled in legal troubles stemming from separate arrests on Jan. 30. Reid said he never seriously considered quitting as coach.
■ Golf
Ochoa takes Safeway lead
Lorena Ochoa made two eagles to take a one-stroke lead over Catriona Matthew in the suspended second round of the Safeway International on Friday. The Mexican star was 9 under with four holes remaining when play was suspended because of darkness. She was to face a 4m putt for birdie on the par-4 15th hole when play was scheduled to resume yesterday. "I'm in a good position where I like to be," Ochoa said. Matthew was 8 under through 17 holes, twice making chips for birdies. The Scot will have a 6.6m putt for birdie on the par-4 ninth hole when she closes out the second round. Norway's Suzann Pettersen was the clubhouse leader at 7 under after a 68.
■ Baseball
Figgins diagnosis worsens
The injury report on California Angels third baseman Chone Figgins went from bad to worse on Friday when a second broken finger was discovered on his right hand. Figgins originally was diagnosed with a broken middle finger after suffering an injury in Wednesday's pre-season exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, X-rays taken at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Anaheim, California, by hand specialist Steve Shin on Friday revealed a fracture of the index finger as well. He is expected to be sidelined five to six weeks.
■ Soccer
Chelsea rumor stuns kid
A Bolivian 14-year-old who does not earn enough to pay for his bus fare to go training says he is stunned by rumors that English premier league club Chelsea are interested in him. The Bolivian media has been awash with reports that midfielder Diego Suarez, who became the youngest player in Libertadores Cup history when he turned out for Blooming against Santos in January, could be given a trial by Chelsea. However, the player, his agent and Blooming technical director Oswaldo Paz all deny any contact has been made. "I found out that Chelsea were after me when I was watching TV," Suarez told Reuters in a telephone interview. The teenager lives in a poor town around 50km from Santa Cruz, Bolivia's largest city.
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