■SOCCER
Germany crush UAE
Germany striker Mario Gomez scored four goals to lift his side to a crushing 7-2 win over United Arab Emirates in a friendly in Dubai on Tuesday. Gomez, who had not found the net for his country for more than a year, struck after 35, 45, 47 and 90 minutes to inspire the visitors. Heiko Westermann put the Germans ahead on 29 minutes and Piotr Trochowski and a Faris Juma own goal completed the rout. Ismail Salem and Nawaf Mubarak grabbed second-half consolations for the hosts.
■HORSE RACING
Trainer pays for comments
Australian officials have fined a trainer who threatened to shoot his horses and send their heads to a government minister after a decision to suspend jumps racing in the wake of a string of horse deaths. Racing administrators in the state of Victoria stopped racing last month after three horses died during a country carnival but reinstated the sport less than two weeks later. The suspension had prompted David “Butch” Londregan to tell local media he would “ring the knackery and start shooting his horses straight away” if the review panel moved to ban jumps racing. Londregan also said he would send videos of the shootings and “a few” horse heads to Victoria’s racing minister, the head of the state’s racing regulatory body and animal rights groups. The trainer was fined A$5,000 (US$4,100), of which A$4,000 would be suspended, after he pleaded guilty to “conduct prejudicial to the image of racing,” Racing Victoria spokesman Damian Booth said on Tuesday. “The suspended A$4,000 is reliant on no more derogatory comments until May [next year],” Booth said.
■RUGBY UNION
Rocky returns home
Wallaby flanker Rocky Elsom signed a new two-year deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) yesterday after returning home from a season in Ireland. Elsom left Australia last year to play for Irish province Leinster after the ARU granted him an early release on compassionate grounds. The forward was a big hit in Europe, winning the man of the match award in Leinster’s Heineken Cup win over Leicester, but said he wanted to come home because of the lure of playing for Australia. “Playing for Australia means a lot to me. Playing for the Wallabies is my No. 1 priority,” he said in a statement. Elsom’s new deal will take him through to the end of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. He also signed a two-year agreement to play Super 14 rugby for the ACT Brumbies. “When we let Rocky go last year there were personal circumstances that he raised which we took into consideration,” ARU chief executive John O’Neill said. “Rocky has repaid that goodwill by returning when he suggested he might. We were hoping Rocky’s desire to play for the Wallabies would be irresistible and see him back here and available for the 2009 international season.”
■RUGBY UNION
’Bok discards to face Lions
Springbok discards Heinrich Brussow, Meyer Bosman and Adriaan Strauss can remind the national selectors what they’re missing when they run out for Cheetahs against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday. All three, along with prop Wian du Preez, were in a South African XV which beat a Namibian invitation rugby side last Friday, but none made it into the ’Boks squad for the Test series against the Lions. Brussow’s only appearance for South Africa was off the bench in the drubbing of England last November. Strauss played all five of his Tests as a substitute during last year’s Tri-Nations. Bosman played three Tests in 2005-2006.
■BASKETBALL
Obama backs Lakers
US President Barack Obama thinks the Los Angeles Lakers are going to win the NBA crown. The president was on his way to the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday when a reporter shouted a question. The topic: Who is going to win the NBA championship, the Lakers or the Orlando Magic? Said the smiling president: “Lakers in six, I think.” So far, so good this year for Obama. A huge basketball fan, he correctly predicted that that the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team would win the NCAA college championship.
■GOLF
President to chair biennial
US President Barack Obama will be the honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup, the sixth straight time an active head of state has been involved in the biennial competition, the PGA Tour said on Monday. Tour officials said they didn’t know if Obama would attend the matches between the US and an international team featuring players from every continent except Europe. The competition is scheduled for Oct. 8 to Oct. 11 at Harding Park in San Francisco, where the US will defend the title they won at Royal Montreal. Former US president Gerald Ford was honorary chairman when the matches began in 1994, and former president George H.W. Bush accepted the role in 1996. Since then, every active head of state in the host country has served as honorary chairman — US presidents Bill Clinton (2000) and George W. Bush (2005), prime minister John Howard of Australia in 1998, South African president Thabo Mbeki in 2003 and and Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper in 2007.
■BASKETBALL
LeBron has growth removed
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James had a benign growth removed from his right jaw in a five-hour surgical procedure at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday. James has had the condition for several months, but with permission from his doctors, he and his family decided to put off the operation until the Cavs completed their NBA season. During the operation, Dr Frank Papay removed tissue from the parotid gland, which produces saliva. The Cavaliers released a statement saying doctors were “pleased with the outcome of the procedure, and at this time, are confident that no further treatment will be needed as LeBron is expected to make a full and complete recovery.”
■NASCAR
Long’s suspension upheld
Driver Carl Long lost his appeal of a 12-race suspension and points penalty on Tuesday. He was penalized for having an oversized engine at the All-Star race last month. Long and his wife, car owner DeeDee Long, were suspended for 12 races and docked 200 points. Crew chief Charles Swing was fined US$200,000. All were NASCAR records. Long appealed in hopes of leniency for his part-time, low-budget team. He got some relief, but not quite what he was looking for. The National Stock Car Racing Commission isolated Long’s suspension to the Sprint Cup Series, meaning he can find work in one of NASCAR’s lower levels. The problem with that, though, was Long’s full-time job was working with the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Chevrolet in the Cup series. “I’m truly disappointed in NASCAR,” Long told reporters. “The series I love and grew a part of has really given me a sour taste in my mouth.” Although the commission suggested that the fine might not fall to Long if Swing can’t pay it, Long believes NASCAR will eventually hold him responsible for the US$200,000.
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