■ATHLETICS
Former champ dies aged 26
Poland’s 2000 Olympic women’s hammer champion Kamila Skolimowska died suddenly in Portugal, on Wednesday, colleague Szymon Ziolkowski said. She was 26. “Kamila arrived in a weightlifting room and was taken ill and lost consciousness,” he told Polish press agency PAP. “We managed to revive her and call an ambulance. The ambulance was taking her to a medical center. However, en route to the center she had another attack. And despite the best efforts of the medical team they were unable to revive her and she died,” said Ziolkowski, who was attending a training camp with Skolimowska. She was the youngest Olympic champion at the 2000 games in Sydney. She also appeared in last year’s Olympic final in Beijing but failed to register a valid throw.
■Basketball
Cops nab Nets’ Williams
New Jersey Nets forward Sean Williams was arrested last weekend by Boston College campus police on charges he violated a no trespassing order. The former Boston College player was apprehended shortly before the team played Duke University on Sunday and reportedly resisted arrest. The Boston Globe reported that Williams, booted out of the school team in 2007, was banned from the campus last May after police smelled marijuana in a vehicle near him. Williams was arrested in 2005 for marijuana possession at the school. The New York Daily News reported that Williams was invited to attend the game by Boston College coach Al Skinner after Williams had called the school seeking permission to attend.
■Basketball
McGrady out for season
Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady will have season-ending surgery on his left knee, the seven-times All-Star said on Wednesday on his Web site. “As some of you may have heard, my season has come to an end. My knee hasn’t been right all year, and we can’t seem to get the pain to go away,” McGrady said. “We’ve tried just playing through it, taking back-to-backs off, and extended periods of rest, but none of it has really been effective in limiting the discomfort and allowing me to just go out there and play,” he said. “I’ve met with numerous doctors and gotten a number of opinions, and unfortunately I will be undergoing microfracture surgery on my left knee immediately,” McGrady said. He added he was “confident that I will be able to return next season with the same strength and explosiveness you are all used to seeing from me.”
■Basketball
Bulls nab Salmons, Miller
The Chicago Bulls acquired swingman John Salmons and center Brad Miller on Wednesday in a three-team, seven-player swap a day before the NBA trade deadline. The Bulls shipped forwards Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni and Cedric Simmons to the Kings and center Michael Ruffin to the Portland Trail Blazers, who dealt Ike Diogu to the Kings. In Miller, the Bulls gain a veteran who can provide both a scoring and rebounding presence inside. Miller spent one and a half seasons in Chicago from 2000-2002 before he was traded to Indiana. “Brad Miller is a skilled big man, who we feel will fit into many of the things that we run offensively. He is a good shooter and passer, and has a natural feel for how to play the game,” Chicago general manager John Paxson said. “John Salmons will bring us tremendous versatility in the backcourt, and at the small forward position,” Paxson said. “He has good size and length, and has shown the ability to score this year.”
Agencies
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