■ BOXING
John retains world title
Indonesia's Chris John defeated Japan's Zaiki Takemoto on a technical knockout yesterday in Kobe, Jappan, to retain his WBA featherweight title. John sent Takemoto to the canvas in the sixth and eighth rounds with a series of punches to the head of the Japanese challenger, who was unable to continue after the ninth round. John, who successfully defended his title for the eighth time, opened a cut above Takemoto's left eye in the fourth round and was never seriously challenged by his opponent. The 27-year-old John, nicknamed `The Dragon,' improved to 40-0-1 with 21 knockouts. Takemoto dropped to 21-7-1 with 12 knockouts. John was the third Indonesian to win a boxing world title, following Ellyas Pical (three times IBF Junior Bantamweight Champion, 1985-1989), and Nico Thomas (IBF Strawweight Champion, 1989)
■ BASEBALL
Dye inks new deal
Outfielder Jermaine Dye ended free agency speculation when he signed a two-year, US$22 million contract extension with the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. The 33-year-old will receive US$9.5 million next year and US$11.5 million the following season, the White Sox said on their official Web site. The deal includes a mutual option of US$12 million in salary for 2010 or a US$1 million buyout. Dye, the Most Valuable Player of the 2005 World Series, has a team-high 24 home runs and has hit .245 with 62 RBI in 104 games for the White Sox this season. A twice All-Star, he has batted .274 with 260 home runs and 879 RBI in 1,434 games during a 12-year career.
■ GOLF
Norman stole my wife: Mill
Tennis legend Chris Evert's former husband says Australian golfing great Greg Norman stole his wife. Andy Mill, a US Olympic skiing champion, said he was broken-hearted by Norman's betrayal, saying he once regarded the golfing legend as his best friend. "Greg Norman at one time was my best friend, and a year and a half ago I would have taken a bullet for this guy," Mill was quoted saying in Australia's Sunday Telegraph. "I didn't realize he was the one who was going to pull the trigger." Evert filed for divorce from Mill last November, citing "irreconcilable differences". She had been romantically linked with Norman in media reports since October. Evert and Mill had long been close friends with Norman, 52, and his soon-to-be ex-wife Laura.
■ BASEBALL
Doping needs to be tackled
Baseball must continue its battle against doping if it wants to regain Olympic status, a high-ranking member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told baseball officials on Saturday. "Beijing will be a great opportunity for baseball," IOC vice president Thomas Bach told an extraordinary congress of the International Baseball Federation in Frankfurt. Baseball was voted out of the games in 2005 by the IOC after being an Olympic sport since 1992. It will be played in next year's Beijing Olympics, but will be absent in 2012 in London. It could, however, be reinstated by the IOC as early as 2009, which would put it back in the 2016 Olympics. IOC president Jacques Rogge has said baseball could return, but the sport needs to strengthen its anti-doping program. The IOC has also been critical of Major League Baseball, which doesn't allow players on major league rosters to play in the Olympics.
■ BOXING
Abraham retains title
Unbeaten Arthur Abraham knocked out Khoren Gevor in the 11th round in defense of his IBF middleweight title on Saturday in Berlin. Abraham, 24-0 with 19 knockouts, punished his fellow Armenian-born German with shot after shot from the eighth round. In the 11th, Abraham's short uppercut spun Gevor's head around sharply and lifted him in the air. Gevor sagged onto his knees and after a long second, toppled onto his back, going down for the first time in his career. "He's a warrior, he showed that," Abraham said. "But anybody that wants my title has to be punished." But Gevor, the fifth-ranked challenger, gave Abraham trouble early. He pressed from the opening seconds and threw blows nonstop. The fight turned when Abraham caught him flush with a right in the seventh. In the next round, Abraham hit Gevor several times with flurries -- a dozen shots on one occasion.
■ RUGBY UNION
Italy labor to win over Japan
Wing Marko Stanojevic ran in two first half tries as Italy labored to a 36-12 win over Japan on Saturday in a World Cup warm-up match in the Alpine town of St. Vincent, Italy. The Azzurri started well and were 22 points up after as many minutes thanks to Stanojevic's scores, a try by fellow wing Kaine Robertson and the boot of fullback David Bortolussi. There was an injury scare for Italy in the 27th minute when Ramiro Pez came off clutching his shoulder. The flyhalf will undergo tests but the Azzurri staff said the knock did not seem serious. Tries in either half by prop Tatsukichi Nishiura and flanker Hare Makiri revived the Brave Blossoms' confidence and knocked the home side off their stride. They never really regained it, although prop Andrea Lo Cicero and flanker Mauro Bergamasco scored tries, converted by Bortolussi, in the last quarter.
■ CRICKET
PM `amazed' by Warne
Australian Prime Minister John Howard says he will be "amazed" if Shane Warne opts to become a German citizen in order to play cricket in England. The Australian bowling legend said on Friday he was investigating whether he qualified for a German passport so he could play county cricket in England as a non-overseas player. Howard looked incredulous when asked for his reaction to the report that Warne might renounce his Australian citizenship. "I would be amazed if Shane ended up doing that -- amazed. So would a lot of Australians," he told reporters. "What people do with their citizenship in the end is their own business, but I think along with most Australians I'd be amazed." The 37-year-old leg-spinning great first played for Hampshire seven years ago and has been with the English county since 2004 in his current spell. English county sides are currently allowed to have two overseas players at present, but that will be reduced to one next summer. Players holding EU passports do not, however, count towards the quota.
■ SOCCER
Former Hammer dies
Former West Ham United striker Jeroen Boere died in his house in Spain on Thursday, Dutch radio station RTV Rijnmond said on Saturday. The 39-year-old, who retired from football in 1999 when he lost an eye after being stabbed in Japan, worked in Spain as a real estate agent. Cause of death could not be confirmed. Boere started his professional career at Excelsior Rotterdam before joining West Ham in 1993. He also played for Portsmouth, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Southend United.
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