■BASKETBALL
Iverson out for season
All-Star guard Allen Iverson will miss the rest of the NBA season — and the playoffs if the Detroit Pistons make it — because of a sore back. “After talking with Allen and our medical staff, we feel that resting Allen for the remainder of the season is the best course of action at this time,” Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement on Friday. Iverson missed 16 games from Feb. 27 to March 28. He returned for the past three games and averaged 7.7 points and 2.7 assists in nearly 19 minutes. He complained about his role as a reserve, saying he would rather retire than come off the bench next season.
■BASEBALL
Ichiro treated for ulcer
Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki was being treated for a bleeding ulcer and placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday, sending them into opening day minus one of Major League Baseball’s best players. The Mariners said the ulcer was no longer bleeding, but doctors have restricted the 35-year-old outfielder’s activity. Suzuki played for Japan in the World Classic. He complained of severe fatigue and missed Seattle’s final three spring training games in Arizona, and was diagnosed with the ulcer — a relatively rare condition for an athlete — after seeing doctors on Thursday. Seattle opens the season tomorrow at Minnesota.
■SOCCER
Mexico acquires Aguirre
The Mexican soccer federation said on Friday it had appointed former coach Javier Aguirre as their new handler a day after sacking ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. Aguirre, 50, coached the Mexicans at the 2002 World Cup before moving to Spanish side Osasuna and thereafter to Atletico Madrid, who dispensed with his services in February. Eriksson, 61, was fired after barely 10 months in the job following Wednesday’s disappointing 3-1 loss to Honduras in a World Cup qualifier, which came after a previous defeat regional rivals the US. Media reports said Thursday that Eriksson is in line to receive a handsome payoff. “His sacking will cost the Mexican Federation US$3.5 million,” the El Universal daily reported.
■BOXING
Hurtado wins bloody bout
Former World Boxing Association super-lightweight champion Diobelys Hurtado of Cuba won a narrow split decision over Mexico’s Arturo Morua on Friday. Hurtado, who has fought only three times in the past five years, survived a physically intense and bloody 12-round welterweight match at Miami’s Miccosukee Resort against the brawling-minded Morua. Two judges scored the fight 114-113 for Hurtado and the other had Morua winning by the same margin. The 36-year-old Hurtado won the WBA super-lightweight title with a seventh-round knockout over Randall Bailey in May 2002, but was stopped in two rounds by Vivian Harris in his first defense five months later.
■FREEDIVING
Briton sets record of 96m
A 37-year-old British woman has set a new world record in freediving with a 96m ocean plunge on a single breath. Sara Campbell completed the dive in three minutes, 34 seconds in the Vertical Blue competition on Thursday off Long Island in the Bahamas. Campbell was competing in the constant weight discipline, which requires athletes to descend and surface using only the power of their body and a large fin attached to their feet. The previous record of 95m was held by Natalia Molchanova of Russia.
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely