■TENNIS
Nishikori warned over phone
Japanese No.1 Kei Nishikori has been warned not to let his mobile phone go off on court during next week’s home Davis Cup clash with China. The 19-year-old has been told to leave his phone in the locker room after it kept bleeping during a first-round defeat in Memphis last week, Japanese media reported yesterday. “He will have to be very careful about his mobile phone,” said Japan’s Davis Cup coach Eiji Takeuchi. “I’ll be warning him about that just to be on the safe side.” Nishikori had left his phone in his jacket pocket while playing Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis and ended up a 7-5, 6-3 loser, later admitting the incoming call had put him off. “At the very least he will have to learn to put it on vibration mode,” Takeuchi said.
■SOCCER
Another star burgled
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has become the latest Premier League player to have his home in the northwest of England burgled. He was in Italy preparing for United’s Champions League match against Inter on Tuesday when three armed robbers kicked in the front door late on Monday, while his fiancee and her mother were inside the property. A knife was held to Hayley Grice’s throat as she was forced to hand over a ring. Grice’s mother also had jewelry forced from her, police said on Tuesday. In a similar incident, thieves armed with a knife raided the home of Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz while he was away for a match at Portsmouth in November. “It is a cowardly attack if they have targeted Mr. Fletcher, as with Mr. Santa Cruz, because they know the male of the house was away,” police inspector Frank Morris said.
■RUGBY UNION
Carter return uncertain
The All Blacks admitted yesterday there was a serious question mark over when star flyhalf Dan Carter will return to top-flight rugby after he recovers from his ruptured Achilles tendon. Carter, who was injured playing for the French club Perpignan, underwent surgery three weeks ago and was initially expected to be back with the All Blacks in six months, halfway through the Tri-nations series. But he may not now be available until the end-of-year tour. All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said that while Carter was on course to be playing again in six months, it may take him much longer to rediscover the form that saw him rated as one of the world’s best players. “This injury is a good example of how people can recover to play their sport but they may not get that absolute power and pace that’s required to play at the very top level,” Robinson said. “Guys come back and play rugby but they’re not really good for a little while,” she said, adding that Carter would eventually return to 100 percent but it would take time.
■CRICKET
New Zealand delays tour
New Zealand has postponed its tour of Zimbabwe in the face of strong political opposition, the country’s cricket board said yesterday. The one-year delay came after New Zealand Prime Minister John Key indicated he was prepared to stop the tour going ahead, citing “very real, genuine security risks” for the players. The decision followed talks between New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan and his Zimbabwean counterpart Ozias Bvuteat at an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Johannesburg. Vaughan said Zimbabwe Cricket was aware of the New Zealand government’s opposition to the tour, originally scheduled for July, and asked for the deferral.
■GOLF
Norman suggests pay cuts
Greg Norman thinks golfers need to take a pay cut as the global economic crisis bites. “Prize money’s being scaled back in Europe, I wouldn’t be surprised if prize money’s scaled back in the US just out of respect to every citizen and taxpayer over there who’s suffering dramatically,” the two-time British Open champion was quoted as saying yesterday on the Australian Broadcasting Corp Web site. “It seems like on the PGA Tour the players are still playing for a million dollars first week, like they’re recession-proof. I think there’s got to be a lot of sensitivity shown. If I was PGA commissioner that’s what I would be recommending.” The average PGA Tour purse last year was US$5.8 million. Norman, who was in Australia to play the Johnnie Walker Classic last weekend in Perth, also said golf’s international administrators should limit the impact of technology to save time and money rather than lengthen courses to accommodate for players hitting the ball further with increasingly advanced clubs.
■BASKETBALL
Knicks, Marbury part ways
Stephon Marbury was waived by the New York Knicks on Tuesday, ending a turbulent five-year stint in which the former NBA All-Star couldn’t lead his hometown team to a single playoff victory. The team released a statement saying an agreement between the Knicks and Marbury had been reached, but did not disclose financial terms. Knicks president Donnie Walsh has said the team and Marbury have been trying to work out a buyout. Marbury would be eligible to play in the playoffs for any team that signs him because he was waived by March 1. He has been linked to the Boston Celtics, who are in need of a backup guard with Tony Allen injured. The statement also said Marbury’s grievance against the Knicks had been resolved. The sides attended an arbitration hearing earlier on Tuesday regarding the nearly US$400,000 in salary the team had docked the point guard after alleging he refused to play in a game in Detroit in November.
■CYCLING
Zabriskie’s home burgled
Thieves who ransacked the home of David Zabriskie stole thousands of dollars in bikes and Olympic memorabilia from the world-class cyclist, Salt Lake City police said on Tuesday. Zabriskie’s loss was estimated at just under US$160,000, although not all of the 21 stolen items on a list made public by police have been awarded a value. Zabriskie’s mother, Sheree Hammick, discovered the theft on Monday, police said. Zabriskie had been away since Feb. 13 participating in the Tour of California. Hammick said she regularly checks on her son’s home when he and his family are out of town. On Monday, Hammick said she struggled to open the garage door, but once inside found both cars gone and “stuff just thrown everywhere.” Among those items are a watch and ring from the Beijing Olympics, Zabriskie’s Olympic time trials bike, other race medals and racing team-issued bikes and equipment that can be purchased commercially, Hammick said.
■YACHTING
Alinghi in match racing tour
America’s Cup champions Alinghi of Switzerland said on Tuesday they have entered the 2009 World Match Racing Tour as part of preparations for the next edition of yachting’s premier event. The four-man team led by American Ed Baird will take part in up to 10 match racing events around the world, starting with the Marseille International on March 10 and culminating with the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia in December.
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