■BOXING
Giardello dies aged 78
Boxing Hall of Famer Joey Giardello, a former middleweight champion who sued filmmakers over a depiction of a title bout against Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, has died. He was 78. Giardello died at a nursing home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on Thursday, the International Boxing Hall of Fame said in a statement. He had been suffering from congestive heart failure and diabetes, Giardello’s family told the Philadelphia Inquirer. Giardello won the middleweight belt with a 15-round decision over Dick Tiger in December 1963. Giardello retired in 1967 with a pro record of 101-25-8, including 33 knockouts. Born Carmine Orlando Tilelli in Brooklyn, New York, Giardello started his professional career after moving to Philadelphia in the late 1940s. He was inducted into the boxing hall in 1993. The December 1964 fight between Giardello and Carter was part of the 1999 movie The Hurricane starring Denzel Washington that told the story of how Carter served 19 years in prison after being convicted in 1967 of three murders. The conviction was later overturned. It was the movie’s depiction of the bout, which suggested that Giardello had won a unanimous decision unfairly, that sparked a federal defamation lawsuit from the former champ.
■AIR RACING
Pilot dies in practice
It’s billed as “the world’s fastest motor sport.” Critics have another label, calling the Reno National Championship Air Races “the world’s most dangerous motor sport” after three pilots were killed during competition last year and another racer was killed during a practice flight on Saturday. The crashes have prompted the US Federal Aviation Administration to place greater scrutiny on the races and local school officials for a time reconsidered whether to continue student field trips to the event. Mike Houghton, president of the races, insists that organizers go out of their way to make the event as safe as possible. “Safety, safety, safety is the one thing people get tired of hearing me talk about,” Houghton said. “But in every competition there is risk and ours is the same. If you did away with the risk, you’d have checkers and pingpong.” About 150 racing pilots will compete from tomorrow to Sunday for US$1 million.
■SUPERBIKE
Bayliss stretches his lead
Troy Bayliss moved closer to his third World Superbike championship yesterday with victory in round 11 at Donington. The 39-year-old Bayliss, who is retiring at the end of the season, stretched his lead over fellow Australian Troy Corser from 82 to 101 points with just three races left. The Ducati rider took race one on aggregate from British rider Tom Sykes after two stoppages for poor weather, before crashing out of race two. The second race was more typical of his previous luck at the British circuit. Bayliss first raced there in 1998, but had never won and even lost a finger in a crash last season.
■TRIATHLON
Bennett wins again in LA
Australian Greg Bennett won his third straight Los Angeles Triathlon on Sunday. Bennett finished the course from Venice Beach to downtown Los Angeles in 1 hour, 46 minutes, 4 seconds, beating second-placed American Andy Potts by 43 seconds. Australian Paul Matthews was third, Britain’s Stuart Hayes fourth and Brent McMahon of the US was fifth. Becky Lavelle, the 2003 champion and an alternate for the US women’s Olympic team in Beijing, led an American sweep of the women’s podium in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 46 seconds. Mary Beth Ellis was second and Julie Swail Ertel third.
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