■ BOXING
Caballero downs Molitor
Panama’s Celestino Caballero registered a fourth-round technical knockout of Steve Molitor, taking the Canadian’s IBF super bantamweight title belt at the Casino Rama on Friday. Caballero (31-2, 22 knockouts) also successfully defended his World Boxing Association belt and handed the Canadian his first career loss. It was Caballero’s 12th consecutive victory. The 32-year-old was booed on his way to the ring by the crowd, which was stunned at the result in the first unification bout ever on Canadian soil. Fighting in his native province of Ontario, Molitor (28-1) had no answer to Caballero’s strength and relentless pressure from the opening bell.
■ CRICKET
Bradman dropped from test
Australia is to modify a test for prospective new citizens to exclude questions on history and culture, specifically cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman, a government minister said yesterday. Immigration Minister Chris Evans said that following a review by seven eminent Australians, the Labor government had decided to modify the test, saying it should not be a “general knowledge quiz.” The test was introduced under former prime minister John Howard and originally included a controversial section on Australian history and culture. Bradman, who still has the highest career Test batting average of 99.94 more than half a century after he retired from Test cricket, is a national icon and legend in Australia. He died in 2001. Shortly before Bradman’s death at the age of 92, former prime minister Howard named him as the “greatest living Australian.”
■ BASEBALL
White Sox to sign Viciedo
The White Sox have reached a tentative agreement with young Cuban star Dayan Viciedo. The 19-year-old must pass a physical for the contract to be finalized, said the player’s agent, Jaime Torres. “He has agreed to a deal and is flying to Chicago,” Torres said on Friday. The contract was reported earlier by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. The White Sox have been successful in signing Cuban players. Last off-season they landed infielder Alexei Ramirez, who eventually became their starting second baseman and batted .290 with 21 homers and 77 RBIs. He finished runner-up in the American League Rookie of the Year.
■ BASKETBALL
Knicks re-tool their squad
The New York Knicks began to re-tool their National Basketball Association squad, trading guard Jamal Crawford and forward Zach Randolph in separate deals on Friday. New York sent Crawford to the Golden State Warriors for disgruntled forward Al Harrington. Later on Friday, the Knicks dealt Randolph and seldom-used Mardy Collins to the West Coast, acquiring guard Cuttino Mobley and forward Tim Thomas from the Los Angeles Clippers for the duo. The trades strip New York of its top two scorers in Randolph (20.6 points per game) and Crawford (19.6 points per game) and allows the Knicks to clear enough salary cap space by 2010 to make a run at LeBron James.
■ FOOTBALL
Rookie Ainge suspended
New York Jets rookie quarterback Erik Ainge was suspended for four games by the NFL on Friday for an undisclosed violation of the league’s policy on steroids and related substances. Ainge, already on injured reserve and out for the season with a foot injury, is not allowed to be with the team or at its facility during the suspension. He’ll be eligible to rejoin the team on Dec. 15, following the Jets’ game against Buffalo.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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