■SCOTLAND
Broadfoot injured by egg
Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot joined soccer’s roll-call of bizarre injuries after needing hospital treatment for scalding when an egg exploded in his face. Scotland defender Broadfoot was looking at two eggs he had just poached in his microwave when one of them blew up and squirted scalding hot water into his face. The 25-year-old, who is currently out injured with a foot problem, was treated at hospital for scalding to his cheek after the incident, but was otherwise unhurt and is expected to make a full recovery. Broadfoot isn’t the only player to suffer from a bizarre accidental injury. Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand suffered a tendon strain in his knee after watching television for several hours with his feet up on a coffee table. Former England goalkeeper Dave Beasant was sidelined in 1993 after dropping a glass bottle of salad cream on his foot, while current England goalkeeper David James missed matches when he pulled a muscle in his back after reaching for a television remote control. David Batty, the former England, Blackburn and Leeds midfielder, aggravated an Achilles problem when he was run over by his young child on a tricycle. Manchester City’s Darius Vassell, then at Aston Villa, missed several games after he drilled through his toe nail with a home power drill thinking it would relieve the pressure on a swollen toe. Stoke midfielder Liam Lawrence fell down the stairs and injured his ankle after tripping over his dog.
■SPAIN
Perez lines up Kaka
Real Madrid will reportedly sign AC Milan playmaker Kaka if presidential candidate Florentino Perez regains control of the Spanish club. Perez has agreed to a fee of 63 million euros (US$85 million) for Kaka, who has agreed to sign a five-year contract with an annual salary of 8 million euros, sports newspaper Marca said yesterday. All that remains to be agreed between Perez — who oversaw Madrid’s galactico policy when he was formerly club president — and Milan involves the commission which would be paid to Kaka’s father and agent, Bosco Leite. Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Valencia’s David Villa are others who Perez reportedly hopes to sign for next season.
■UNITED STATES
Jury finds Jones not guilty
British soccer star and Hollywood tough guy Vinnie Jones smiled and mouthed “thank you” to a jury that found him not guilty of assault charges on Friday. Jones was arrested for punching Juan Trevino-Barrera shortly after the man’s friend smashed Jones over the head with a beer mug during a brawl over a game of pool in the small city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He told the jury that he was “driven by fear” and acting in self-defense when he saw Barrera approach him as he made his way to the bathroom to wash the blood off his face. “My nose was hanging off. You could have put a quarter in it,” he testified.
■GERMANY
Wiese fined for taunting fans
Werder Bremen’s international goalkeeper Tim Wiese was fined 10,000 euros (US$13,500) on Friday after he climbed onto perimeter fencing, grabbed a megaphone and hurled abuse at Hamburg fans. Wiese’s extraordinary outburst came after his team’s 2-0 Bundesliga win last Sunday, a victory which had come hot on the heels of Bremen’s UEFA Cup semi-final triumph over their northern rivals. The keeper perched himself on the fencing and screamed: “Shit on Hamburg.” Wiese apologized for his behavior. “I got carried away by the emotions of the moment,” he said.
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