■BASEBALL
2012 Olympics may be out
MLB commissioner Bud Selig wasn’t optimistic about major leaguers participating in the Olympics, casting the sport’s bid to return to the games in doubt. MLB owners were briefed by Harvey Schiller, president of the International Baseball Federation, at a meeting on Thursday. Baseball will not be a part of the 2012 Olympics in London but was hoping to be back in 2016. The International Olympic Committee wants MLB players available for the games. Selig said MLB would be “flexible.” “We want to do everything to help, and Harvey knows that,” Selig said. “But this is not rocket science. You can’t stop a season in August and tell your fans, ‘We’ll see you in two-and-a-half or three weeks.’ That would not play well. Look, you’d then be playing [Major League] baseball almost to Dec. 1. So it’s just pragmatism takes over.”
■BOXING
Barrera to fight Amir Khan
Former multiple world champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico will fight British lightweight Amir Khan on March 14. The 34-year-old Barrera, who returned from a short-lived retirement in November by knocking out Sammy Ventura in his first lightweight bout, will be the biggest name opponent so far of Khan’s 20-fight career. The 22-year-old Khan, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, rebounded from a first-round loss in September to win the WBA international lightweight title last month.
■MARATHON
Gebrselassie wins in Dubai
Haile Gebrselassie has won the Dubai Marathon, but fell short of breaking his own world record on the flat and fast course. The 35-year-old Ethiopian finished in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 29 seconds Friday, well ahead of countryman Deressa Chimsa who came in second. Bezunesh Bekele Sertsu of Ethiopia was the women’s winner in 2:24:01. The race had offered a US$1 million bonus for breaking the world record of 2:03:59 set by Gebrselassie in Berlin in September.
■BASEBALL
Red Sox, Youkilis make deal
The Boston Red Sox and infielder Kevin Youkilis agreed to a four-year contract on Thursday, a Major League Baseball official said. The deal would reportedly guarantee Youkilis about US$41 million, with a $13 million club option for 2013 or a US$1 million buyout. The deal buys out Youkilis’ last two years of arbitration eligibility and delays his chance to become a free agent by at least two years. Youkilis had filed for arbitration earlier Thursday, a formality that would be negated if he passes a physical and the long-term deal was finalized. Youkilis finished third in American League MVP voting last season.
■BASEBALL
Dodgers release Jones
Andruw Jones, a US$36.2 million bust with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was released by the team on Thursday. Heralded as the answer to the Dodgers’ power-hitting void when he signed his rich two-year contract in December 2007, Jones was injured part of last season and was mostly ineffective otherwise, hitting only .158 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 75 games. The 31-year-old center fielder reported to spring training overweight, then was booed roundly by fans as he struggled at the plate during the season. He had knee surgery in May and finished the season on the bench as the Dodgers won the National League West and beat the Chicago Cubs in the NL divisional series before losing to Philadelphia in the NL Championship Series.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and