■ OLYMPICS
Rowing trial captivates NZ
Massive public interest in the Olympic trials showdown between New Zealand rowers Mahe Drysdale and Rob Waddell has convinced officials to perform a U-turn and allow spectators and media to attend. Officials had wanted to conduct the trials in private to avoid any distractions, but agreed to bend the rules because of the surge in public interest. The men's single sculls showdown has captured the imagination of the New Zealand public, with one local newspaper describing it as "the most riveting show in town." Drysdale has won the world title each of the past three years while Waddell has just come out of retirement after winning the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Under the qualifying rules for Beijing, only one of them can compete in single sculls. The loser is still likely to make the team on one of the other crews. Drysdale, 29, was inspired to take up rowing seriously after watching Waddell win in Sydney but is struggling to beat his older rival.
■ FOOTBALL
Marijuana found on Faulk
New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk was issued a misdemeanor summons last Friday for possession of marijuana. Captain John Babin of the Metro Narcotics Task Force in Lafayette, Louisiana, confirmed the summons. Faulk, a Louisiana native and former LSU star, was on his way to a suite in the Lafayette Cajundome to watch a performance by rapper Lil Wayne, when a routine search by a sheriff's deputy turned up four marijuana cigarettes, Babin said. Everyone heading to the suites was searched, Babin said. Faulk was not arrested or required to post bond.
■ BOXING
Mayweather the entertainer
Leonard Ellerbe defended a decision to have his unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather take part in a professional wrestling program next month in Florida. Mayweather, considered by some to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, claims to have been offered US$20 million to take part in Wrestlemania XXIV on March 30 in Orlando, Florida. The unbeaten World Boxing Council welterweight champ will battle 2.1m World Wrestling Entertainment star "Big Show." Mayweather will be conceding around 113kg to the wrestling giant, but Ellerbe says the move is all about underlining Mayweather's credentials as an entertainer rather than just a boxer, just as he did when the champion appeared on ABC's Dancing With The Stars in November.
■ BOXING
Three more for De La Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya plans to fight three times this year, then retire. "I'm at that stage of my career now where I can't take it further," the 35-year-old De La Hoya said on Tuesday. "I can't go on for the next two years, three years. It's just time to hang up the gloves. This is the year." De La Hoya was speaking after a news conference to discuss his May 3 bout against Steve Forbes, a runner-up on US television's Tournament of Contenders. A former champion in five weight classes and one of boxing's most recognizable fighters, De La Hoya wants to meet Floyd Mayweather in a September rematch of their bout last May. Mayweather won by split decision. A third fight would be determined afterward. He has a 38-5 record, with 30 knockouts, but has lost three of his last five. "I've been thinking about this for the longest time now, and now is the perfect year," he said. "This is the perfect moment for me to hang up the gloves and be one of a few, or maybe be the only one, to do it right.
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