■SKIING
Champ hurt celebrating win
Lindsey Vonn’s chances of racing the women’s giant slalom at the World Ski Championships today are listed only as “possible” after she cut into the tendon of her right thumb with the top of a champagne bottle in celebrating her downhill victory on Monday. Vonn’s problems began when she couldn’t open the champagne bottle because the cork broke. Someone used a ski to extract the remaining piece of cork, breaking the bottle in the process. Vonn didn’t realize what had happened and grabbed the damaged bottle as the champagne flowed. She underwent surgery on Tuesday. The 24-year-old’s chances of competing in the giant slalom, traditionally her weakest discipline, were listed only as “possible” by the US Ski Team’s medical director, Richard Quincy.
■SOCCER
Birmingham’s Brady arrested
Karren Brady, the managing director of Championship side Birmingham City, was re-arrested on Tuesday by police investigating allegations of corruption within English soccer. Brady, 39, was questioned by officers from the City of London police, England’s lead force in dealing with sporting corruption inquiries, and released on bail. Known as “the first lady of English football,” Brady was first arrested in April along with City co-owner David Sullivan. The pair were questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting. A City of London Police spokeswoman said on Tuesday: “A 39-year-old woman was today arrested on suspicion of a further offence as part of the ongoing football investigation.” She said she could not provide details of the offense, adding: “We have been working with HM Revenue and Customs [the tax department] from the outset of the investigation. The investigation has always focused on money laundering. The Fraud Prosecution Service has identified that tax offences may be involved.” Birmingham City later issued a statement saying that Brady “has not been charged with anything and vehemently denies any wrongdoing.”
■SOCCER
Leader offers cash for goals
Salvadoran President Tony Saca offered US$10,000 for each goal the national team scored in their World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago yesterday. “We are talking US$10,000 per goal, but the money is going to be spread among all the players,” said El Salavador soccer association spokeswoman Karina Hernandez after Saca visited the players in training. The tiny Central American nation last figured in the World Cup finals in 1982 while Trinidad and Tobago played in Germany in 2006.
■SOCCER
Player breaks ref’s arm
A Croatian player broke the arm of a referee after attacking him for being red-carded during a minor league match at the weekend, a daily reported on Tuesday. “When I showed him the red card, he attacked me,” referee Alen Jaksic, 21, told the Slobodna Dalmacija newspaper. “He hit me twice in the neck with his fist. After his teammates tried to separate us, he kicked me in the forearm,” he was quoted as saying. After the incident, which occurred on Sunday during a match between two local clubs on the island of Hvar, the referee sought medical help and an X-ray showed his left arm was broken. However, the father of the player, 22-year-old Juraj Petricevic, downplayed the incident. “From the very beginning, the ref’s decisions were not correct and when my son got the red card, he got so angry that he went after him ... They were pushing each other a bit and that was all,” the father said.
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