■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.
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