■CYCLING
Armstrong to race in Giro
Lance Armstrong has told organizers that he will race in the Giro d’Italia. The announcement posted on the Gazzetta dello Sport’s Web site on Thursday removed doubts that the seven-time Tour de France champion would miss the race after having surgery to fix his broken right collarbone last month. The Gazzetta said the American contacted organizers on Thursday from Colorado, where is currently training. The Giro runs from May 9 to May 31. It will mark the first time Armstrong has raced in the Italian classic, considered cycling’s second most important race after the Tour de France.
■RUGBY UNION
Baxter eyes Europe
Australian rugby’s most-capped prop forward Al Baxter said he was likely to play in Europe next season following a breakdown in contract negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), reports said yesterday. Tight-head prop Baxter, 32, said talks with the ARU had failed and that he had told the national and NSW Rugby unions he intended to pursue negotiations with several European clubs. Baxter, who has played in 64 Tests and two World Cups, said he had received three offers from European clubs before the ARU talks collapsed. He said he hoped the ARU would reconsider its stance over the financial component of a two-year deal that would extend his Wallabies career to include the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
■SOCCER
Helsingborg go top
Christoffer Andersson scored a fluke goal with 11 minutes left to give Helsingborg a 1-0 win over Hammarby on Thursday and top spot in the Swedish first-division. Andersson curled a corner kick past the Stockholm side’s goalkeeper Kristoffer Bjorklund in the 79th minute after heavy pressure by Helsingborg in the second half. Helsingborg tops the standings after three rounds with nine points on better goal difference than second-place Malmo FF, who beat AIK 1-0 in Solna.
■GOLF
Senate acts on language
The California Senate has voted to make it illegal to hold events that require participants to speak English in a move prompted by the US LPGA Tour’s English-only proposal. The women’s golf tour wanted last year to require its players to speak English so they could talk with each other and the media, and give acceptance speeches in English. The US LPGA backed off the plan after Senator Leland Yee and others criticized it as discriminatory. Yee says the proposal insulted women, minorities and immigrants, and might disqualify the best golfers. Her bill makes such policies illegal in California without a “business necessity.” It was approved on Thursday by 21-14 without debate.
■SOCCER
Arellano out after 17 days
After 17 days as manager, Omar Arellano was fired by Chivas Guadalajara and immediately replaced by Francisco “Paco” Ramirez on Thursday. Arellano took the job on March 30, a week after Efrain Flores was removed from the position. Arellano managed just three matches; a win and two draws. “We decided to give the manager job to Francisco Ramirez,” Chivas owner Jorge Vergara told a press conference. “We know that it might be hard for some of you to understand the change before a classic, but we were not in good shape in football terms, so we needed a change.”
■BASKETBALL
Ainge suffers heart attack
Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge was hospitalized after suffering what the team described as a minor heart attack on Thursday. The team issued a brief statement saying that Ainge, 50, was taken to a Boston hospital, but provided few other details. “Danny Ainge is recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital after having a minor heart attack. He is recovering nicely,” the team said. “Mr Ainge is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days.” A spokeswoman for Massachusetts General Hospital referred queries to the team. Ainge helped the Celtics raise their record 17th NBA championship by assembling a “New Big Three” by acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join veteran Paul Pierce.
■ICE HOCKEY
Celine Dion in Canadiens bid
Singing superstar Celine Dion is part of a consortium considering a bid for fabled ice hockey side the Montreal Canadiens, it was reported on Thursday. Dion, as well as press baron Pierre Karl Peladeau and Seagram drinks heir Stephen Bronfman, form the group that wants to purchase the 24-time Stanley Cup champions from owner George Gillett, who bought the club nine years ago for US$185 million, the Globe and Mail reported. “There is a group bid being discussed and it’s clear that Gillett is very willing to sell if the price is right,” a banker, who is helping line up financing for potential bidders, was quoted as saying. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte dropped out of the bidding for the team last week, sources in the financial community said.
■ICE HOCKEY
Jagr’s winner downs Sweden
Jaromir Jagr scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes, 6 seconds left to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the first round of the Ceska Pojistovna Cup on Thursday. The Czech forward also set up Petr Cajanek’s opening goal for the host nation after 12 minutes, 33 seconds of the second period. Christian Berglund made it 1-1 with 1 minute, 42 seconds left of the second period with a one-timer past screened Czech goalie Jakub Stepanek. Jagr’s winner came with two Swedes in the penalty box. Hannes Hyvonen scored twice as Finland beat Russia 4-2 in the other opening-round game in Tampere, Finland. The Finns rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three goals in the final period. Toni Kahkonen equalized two minutes into the third period, Hyvonen put Finland ahead after 8 minutes, 29 seconds on a power play and then scored the game-winner with 4 minutes, 10 seconds left.
■ICE HOCKEY
Flyers’ Carcillo suspended
Philadelphia Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo was suspended for one game and coach John Stevens was fined US$10,000 by the NHL on Thursday, a day after Carcillo hit Pittsburgh’s Maxime Talbot in the head in their playoff opener. With seven seconds left in the Penguins’ 4-1 victory on Wednesday, Carcillo delivered a blow to Talbot’s head directly off a face-off. Talbot wasn’t hurt and Carcillo was not penalized for the hit.
■FOOTBALL
Travis Henry faces jail term
Former NFL running back Travis Henry was facing 10 years behind bars on Thursday after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine. Henry, 30, was arrested in Denver in October after a cocaine trafficking ring, operating between Colorado and Montana, was smashed. The former Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos player was freed on bail, but will be sentenced on July 15.
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