■BASKETBALL
Hornets trade big man
Tyson Chandler was traded from the New Orleans Hornets to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday in a move that can give New Orleans room under the National Basketball Association salary cap. The Hornets traded 216cm Chandler, who has two years and US$24.6 million remaining on a contract he can opt out of next year, to the Thunder for forward Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox and the rights to DeVon Hardin. Smith is in the final year of a US$4.8 million deal while Wilcox’s US$6.7 million contract is also expiring.
■BASKETBALL
Shaq gives Obama shoe
What’s the ideal gift for a president obsessed with basketball? Try a size 23 sneaker personally autographed by Shaquille O’Neal. The Phoenix Suns center couldn’t be around himself when US President Barack Obama arrived at Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. So when the president stepped off of Air Force One, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s son Jake made the presentation at the foot of the stairs. The orange-and-white sneaker made a big impression. Obama set it on the ground next to his own, much smaller shoe, and grinned as photographers captured the moment. Then Obama scooped it up and took it with him as he stepped into a limo.
■FOOTBALL
Gloves sell for US$70,200
The gloves used by Pittsburgh receiver Santonio Holmes to make the winning catch in Super Bowl 43 brought US$70,200 in a charity auction, officials said on Tuesday. Holmes was the Most Valuable Player in the National Football League title game on Feb. 1 when the Steelers captured an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title by defeating Arizona thanks to Holmes’ tip-toe touchdown catch. Holmes auctioned off the gloves for the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. Holmes’ six-year-old son, Santonio III, has the blood disease.
■FOOTBALL
Saints release McAllister
The New Orleans Saints released running back Deuce McAllister, their all-time leading rusher, on Tuesday. Selected in the first round of the 2001 draft, McAllister spent his eight-year professional career in New Orleans and established franchise records for touchdowns (55), rushing yards (6,096) and rushing attempts (1,429). McAllister’s production had dropped off in recent seasons because of injuries, including surgery to repair torn ligaments in both knees.
■ATHLETICS
Liu Xiang set to return
Former Olympic champion Liu Xiang is on the verge of returning to China to resume training following Achilles tendon surgery two months ago in Houston, Texas. A statement on Liu’s Web site yesterday said he would return early next month and might resume training sooner than that. Shanghai-based newspaper the Xinmin Evening News quoted Liu’s coach Sun Haiping as saying that training on the hurdles will only resume when Liu returns to China. Liu, the 2004 Olympic champion, limped off the track six months ago as he was warming up for his first race at the Beijing Olympics. He had surgery in December to remove four pieces of bone from his Achilles’ tendon. Liu’s coach has said he will compete in the World Championships in August at Berlin if he can run the 110m hurdles in 13.2 seconds. Liu is a former world-record holder who established his mark of 12.88 seconds in 2005. It was surpassed on June 12 by Cuban Dayron Robles (12.87 seconds).
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