■BASKETBALL
Call me Monkey King: Sun
Los Angeles-bound guard Sun Yue (孫悅) has said he does not want to be known as “China’s Magic Johnson” as he seeks a spot on the Lakers roster, but is happy to be known as the “Monkey King.” Sun is expected to depart for the Lakers’ training camp as soon as the US embassy in Beijing issues his visa, and he is confident that he can make a roster that is led by superstars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. “I don’t want to be called the next Magic Johnson,” Sun told the China Daily of the nickname given him to by the Chinese sporting press. “He was a great player, and he has everything you could ask for in a coach, but I don’t think I am going to pattern my game after him in my rookie year,” he said of the legendary player and Lakers part-owner. The 23-year-old Sun was signed by Los Angeles to a multi-year contract after he helped China to an eighth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics, averaging 6.8 points and 2.5 assists a game. Chinese fans in Los Angeles are already calling him “Sun Wukong,” after the mythical “Monkey King,” the legendary simian hero of the Chinese Buddhist literary classic Journey to the West. “If they want to name me after the fighting Buddhist master then I guess that will make me a bit more literary,” Sun told journalists.
■BASEBALL
Players penalized over fight
Yankees catcher Ivan Rodriguez and the Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter were suspended two games each on Wednesday for their roles in a bench-clearing scuffle. Rodriguez took an openhanded swing at Hunter after getting shoved in the back by the Angels star, and both players were ejected on Monday. Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president in charge of discipline, cited them for “violent and inappropriate actions.” Both were fined, as was Angels pitcher John Lackey. Los Angeles went on to win 12-1.
■BASKETBALL
Rivers’ contract extended
The Boston Celtics extended the contract of coach Doc Rivers as a reward for leading the club to their first championship in 22 years, the team said on Wednesday. “We are pleased to be able to extend Doc’s contract,” Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said in a statement on the team’s Web site. “Doc molded a championship team last season through his leadership and we are confident that he is the man to lead this franchise on the court now and in the future.” Terms of the extension were not released.
■BASKETBALL
Rookies fined over women
Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers were fined US$20,000 apiece by the NBA on Wednesday after being banished last week from the league’s rookie symposium. Security at the resort near New York where the event took place found Arthur and Chalmers in a room with two women, and the scent of marijuana was detected. No drugs or drug paraphernalia were found, but having guests in the room violated NBA policy, and the two rookies were sent home. Arthur and Chalmers apologized but denied using marijuana. Next year they’ll have to again attend the symposium, which addresses the challenges of making the transition to professional basketball. Arthur and Chalmers helped the University of Kansas win the US college championship and were selected in the June draft. Arthur is with the Memphis Grizzlies and Chalmers with the Miami Heat.
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