■ ICE HOCKEY
Ramage sentenced to prison
Former NHL player Rob Ramage was sentenced to four years in prison for a 2003 crash that killed ex-Chicago Blackhawks player Keith Magnuson. Magnuson, 56, died at the scene when a rental car driven by Ramage slammed head-on into another car north of Toronto. In October, a jury found Ramage guilty on all five charges he faced, including impaired driving causing death. Ramage, 49, is also banned from driving for five years after his release. The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled on Thursday that Ramage would be allowed to appeal his conviction. Ramage's lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said he would appeal the conviction and sentence. While his appeal is being processed, the court ordered Ramage to reside at his home in St. Louis, abstain from alcohol and not to operate a motor vehicle.
■ BASEBALL
FBI opens dossier on Tejada
The FBI has opened a preliminary investigation into whether Major League Baseball star Miguel Tejada lied to federal authorities when he denied taking performance-enhancing drugs. The inquiry, in response to a US congressional request, amounts to an initial look at facts surrounding the case. It does not mean charges will be brought against the Dominican, who in 2002 was the American League's Most Valuable Player. "The Justice Department has referred the Miguel Tejada matter to the FBI and a preliminary inquiry will be conducted," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said. At issue are comments Tejada gave to congressional investigators in August 2005 when he was playing with the Baltimore Orioles. He denied during the interview that he had used illegal performance-enhancing drugs or knew of other players using or talking about steroids.
■ BASKETBALL
Draft pick caught urinating
Chicago Bulls draft pick JamesOn Curry was arrested in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday for urinating in public and resisting police arrest. Curry, a 22 year-old guard, was charged with urinating in public and booked into the Ada County jail on a misdemeanor charge of resisting and obstructing an officer, the Boise Police Department said. A patrol officer saw Curry relieving himself in an alley outside a hotel at about 2:30am on Thursday and approached him, a statement from the police department said. The officer restrained Curry while he was trying to enter a locked door of the hotel, authorities said. Curry posted a US$600 bond and was released from jail at 4am. He is a second-round draft pick of the Bulls, who signed him last year. He is currently with a Bulls development league team.
■ BASEBALL
No timetable for Cubs sale
The sale of the Chicago Cubs does not appear to be imminent. Prospective buyers have been submitting to background checks, but Major League Baseball's ownership committee has not been given a formal financial offer to review. "There is no formal timetable for a sale," Bob DuPuy, MLB's chief operating officer, said during a two-day owners' meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, that ended on Thursday. Tribune Co said last month it anticipated closing on the Cubs sale by the middle of this year. Analysts have said the Cubs could fetch as much as US$1 billion if packaged with Wrigley Field. Miami-Dade County commissioners last month approved a public works project that includes a new 37,000-seat retractable-roof stadium.
■ FOOTBALL
TV station spites Giant
A local television station in Green Bay is doing its part in the gamesmanship war between the Packers and the New York Giants by scrubbing its usual showing of Seinfeld -- a favorite show of Giants quarterback Eli Manning -- on the eve of tomorrow's NFC championship clash. The station was asking viewers to vote on what should replace the show in the 5:30pm slot today. Giants veteran defensive end Michael Strahan was stunned. "Do they realize they have Seinfeld DVDs? We can always watch Seinfeld," Strahan said. "If they think that's going to mess him up, I've got to move to Green Bay. I could be very successful there with some of my ideas."
■ SOCCER
Americans not selling Reds
Liverpool's US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, whose relationship with the Anfield fans has become increasingly fraught, have denied reports they are planning to sell the club. Potential investors Dubai International Capital, who tried and failed to buy the club last year, were reported to have been planning a bid for the 50-percent stake owned by Hicks. The Liverpool Echo said that senior executives at the Dubai-based international investment company were given the go-ahead by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum to launch a second bid to buy into Liverpool in a year and that an offer has been agreed in principle. But a spokesman for the two Americans said there was nothing in the reports. "Any suggestion Hicks and Gillett are contemplating a sale of the club or any portion of it is categorically untrue," a spokesman told the BBC.
■ FORMULA ONE
Teams face budget cap
Formula One teams will face a cap on expenditure from next year, the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Thursday. FIA President Max Mosley confirmed in a letter, sent to all team principals on Wednesday, that the cap would apply to all costs other than engines, drivers and expenditure exclusively for promotion and marketing. "Because of the variety of arrangements, particularly shareholdings, team principals' remuneration will not be included in the cap," he said. The arrangements were agreed at a meeting with the teams in Paris on Jan. 11. Another meeting will be held in Paris on Jan. 31.
■ SOCCER
Inter earns quarters berth
Inter Milan kept on its winning ways and earned a birth in the Italian Cup quarter-finals by defeating Reggina 3-0 on Thursday. Hernan Crespo scored in the 34th minute, Reggina midfielder Emmanuele Cascione conceded an own goal in the 45th and midfielder Cesar's second-half injury time goal wrapped up a 7-1 aggregate victory. Most of the regular starters, including Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, were rested by Inter, which leads the Serie A, 32 points ahead of second-to-last Reggina. Inter will meet Juventus in the quarter-finals. In Thursday's other game, Napoli and Lazio drew 1-1, a result that pushes Lazio through to the quarter-finals on 3-2 aggregate. Lazio's Albanian striker Igli Tare scored for the visiting team in the 55th while Napoli's Maurizio Domizzi hit the equalizer in the 79th. Lazio held off a desperate Napoli in the last 11 minutes. Lazio will play Fiorentina in the quarter-finals, scheduled for Jan. 23 and 30. In the other quarter-finals Roma meets Sampdoria and Udinese plays Catania.
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