■ ICE HOCKEY
Modano breaks record
Mike Modano scored two goals to become the all-time leading scorer among US-born players as the Dallas Stars beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Wednesday. Dallas won their third consecutive National Hockey League game while the Sharks dropped to one win and four losses at home. Modano broke Phil Housley's record of 1,232 points by a US player in the first period when he beat goaltender Evgeni Nabokov on a breakaway. Two minutes earlier, he had tied the record with a laser shot that beat Nabokov to the glove side giving the Stars a 1-0 lead. The Livonia, Michigan, native has 1,233 points in 1,253 career games.
■ TENNIS
Nalbandian stays put
Former champion David Nalbandian will not travel to the Masters Cup in China as the first alternate because it's too far away. Nalbandian beat Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal twice each en route to Masters Series victories in Madrid and Paris in the last three weeks and missed out on the eight-man season-ending ATP championships by 11 points. A three-time participant in the Masters Cup, he won it in 2005 as a replacement. But he and coach Martin Jaite decided not to attend the tournament starting on Sunday. "To travel as an alternate to Shanghai would be a very long trip," Nalbandian told a news conference in Cordoba on Wednesday.
■ OLYMPICS
Blood campaign launched
Beijing has launched a drive to boost stocks of a blood type rare in China but likely to be more common among the thousands of visitors expected during the Olympics, state media reported yesterday. Beijing Red Cross Blood Center wants to double its stocks of rhesus negative blood in time for next year's Games, the official Xinhua news agency said. Only 0.3 percent of ethnic Chinese have rhesus negative blood, compared to 15 percent of Caucasians, Xinhua said. "All healthy Chinese citizens, no matter what type of blood they have, should contribute to the Olympic Games," said Yang Lan (楊瀾), a TV anchorwoman who is promoting the blood drive.
■ SOCCER
Stadium workers down tools
Construction at one of the stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa came to a halt on Wednesday after workers went on strike in a pay dispute. "Our members downed tools this morning" at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said. "We are hoping to do the same in a number of days to come until the employer comes up with something quite clearly positive," he said.
■ HORSE RACING
Fallon reveals Owen tips
Six time champion jockey Kieren Fallon was contacted every day by England soccer star Michael Owen for racing tips, the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday. The 42-year-old Irishman revealed Owen's interest during a trial into an alleged race-fixing scam involving a syndicate run by professional gambler Miles Rodgers. He said the Newcastle striker, who owns several racehorses, regularly sent text messages to him asking for his opinion on forthcoming races. Fallon also gave tips to his former driver Philip Sherkle but did not realize they were being passed on to Rodgers. He said in an interview with detectives: "I thought that by texting Phil he was having his own couple of quid on it."
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