■INDYCAR RACING
Kanaan set for AJ Foyt 225
Tony Kanaan is expected to drive in this weekend’s AJ Foyt 225 despite bumps and bruises he received in a hard crash at the Indianapolis 500. Andretti Green Racing made the announcement on Friday ahead of today’s race at the Milwaukee Mile. Kanaan’s rear suspension broke near the halfway point of last Sunday’s race, sending his car bouncing off the wall twice at more than 290kph.
■BASEBALL
Myers has hip surgery
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers could be sidelined for the rest of the season after opting to have surgery on his right hip, the team said on Friday. Myers has been diagnosed with a torn labrum but no date has yet been set for his surgery, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr said.
“We don’t know how the rehab will go but we have to operate under the assumption that he’ll be missing, if not the rest of the season, a significant amount of time,” Amaro Jr told the team’s official Web site. Myers, who left Wednesday’s game against the Florida Marlins in the sixth inning after his hip kept locking up, is 4-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 10 starts this season.
■TENNIS
Damir Dokic appears in court
Jelena Dokic’s father appeared in a Serbian court on Friday to face charges of having threatened to bomb the Australian embassy in Belgrade. Dressed in a maroon-colored shirt and surrouned by guards, Damir Dokic was led into a courtroom in Ruma to answer to charges that could see him end up in jail for up to eight years. Dokic was arrested at his home earlier this month before being charged over alleged threats made to the Australian ambassador Claire Birgin. Police said they later found an illegal stash of weapons at his home including two bombs, seven hunting rifles and Berretta pistols, and 20 bullets, for which he had no permit. His threats were reportedly prompted by an Australian magazine’s decision to publish an interview with Jelena in which she said she left her family in 2002 because he had mistreated her.
■BOXING
Barrera denied rematch
Marco Antonio Barrera has been denied a rematch with Amir Khan by the WBO despite an early clash of heads before the English fighter won their recent clash. Barrera’s promoter, Don King, had hoped the “tainted” lightweight bout in March at Manchester would be declared a no-contest. But the British Boxing Board of Control cleared the referee on Friday of making a mistake by not stopping the bout in the second minute of the first round when their heads collided. The Mexican received a huge cut on the left side of his head, and the ring doctor in Manchester later stopped the contest in the fifth round. Had the fight been stopped in the fourth round, it would have been declared a no-contest to automatically force a rematch.
■CYCLING
McEwen set to miss Tour
Australian sprint specialist Robbie McEwen appears certain to miss this year’s Tour de France after badly injuring his knee in a race fall in Belgium and undergoing surgery. “Robbie McEwen’s surgery was successful. He will probably need three or four weeks to recover,” his Katusha team said in a statement on Friday. Earlier, the Russian team said: “His knee joint is OK, but he cuts his ligaments under his left knee and the doctors rebuilding it [sic]. It’s almost impossible his participation at the Tour de France.”
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