■SOCCER
Police arrest Romario
Former Barcelona and Brazil striker Romario was arrested on Tuesday for neglecting to make alimony payments to first wife Monica Santoro, Brazilian media reported. Romario, who helped Brazil win their fourth World Cup title in the US in 1994, might have to spend the night in a police cell, media reports said. Romario, 43, had two of his six children with Santoro before they separated in 1995.
■SOCCER
South African strike ends
A strike by workers at South Africa’s World Cup stadiums ended after an agreement on a wage dispute in the early hours of yesterday, public television reported. The week-long strike threatened the completion deadlines of five venues for next year’s World Cup and other major projects associated with the world’s most watched sporting event. The SABC reported unions accepted a 12 percent wage offer after 15 hours of “intense talks.” Construction workers had demanded 13 percent. Employers lost a bid to get construction workers to waive their right to strike in future. Zwelenzima Vavi of the union federation COSATU said workers would return to work this morning after signing the agreement. “It is a huge relief, we are hosting a World Cup next year and we can’t afford a delay in the construction of the stadiums,” Vavi said.
■TENNIS
Serena meets Obama
US President Barack Obama welcomed Wimbledon champion Serena Williams to the White House on Tuesday. “It was amazing,” Williams said. “I love President Obama; he has such an unbelievable presence, and he seems to be so normal — and he noticed my shoes. I think that was the highlight of the whole day, was he liked my shoes.” Williams said she was wearing 13cm heels for the presidential visit. “He asked me, ‘Should I be wearing high heels?’ So I thought that was kind of funny because he may have been right,” Williams said. “Because it is a job hazard for me, but I insist on wearing them.” Williams got to meet Michelle Obama and the rest of the first family. “I didn’t know she had such an amazing personality,” Williams said. “She had me cracking up and laughing. I knew she was a great person, but now I really understand how important this first family is to the United States. And the kids were just so cute and sweet, and the dog was nice.”
■SOCCER
Raul praises Ronaldo
Real Madrid captain Raul heaped praise on his new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday, calling the Portuguese international winger “super nice” and “hardworking.” “He is super nice, normal and very harworking,” he told a news conference in Maynooth, Ireland where the club began a nine-day pre-season training camp on Tuesday. “He is integrated. He seems very happy. In the media it seems like everything he does and says, every gesture, has a lot of meaning but he is much more normal than people think,” the 32-year-old said. Real signed Ronaldo from Manchester United last month on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (US$131 million) and he will reportedly be paid 13 million euros each season, making him the most expensive player in the world. The 24-year-old, was officially unveiled before some 75,000 ecstatic Real fans on July 6 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, is being protected by several security guards during his stay in Ireland. Real will play a friendly match against current Irish champions Shamrock Rovers on Monday, two days before its training camp in Ireland ends.
■ICE HOCKEY
Blackhawks oust Tallon
The Chicago Blackhawks abruptly ousted general manager Dale Tallon on Tuesday, less than two months after the team he helped revive from the bottom of the standings reached the Western Conference finals. Tallon, who was reassigned to senior adviser of hockey operations, was replaced by assistant GM Stan Bowman, the son of legendary NHL coach Scotty Bowman. The elder Bowman was hired last year as a senior adviser. A clerical mistake may have hastened Tallon’s departure. Last week, the NHL Players Association filed a grievance against the team, saying the Blackhawks missed the deadline for sending qualifying offers to restricted free agents. The Blackhawks ended up signing all their restricted free agents, including their top rookie from last season, Kris Versteeg. Tallon denied that the administrative problem and grievance had caused the Blackhawks to overpay the restricted free agents. Tallon, 58, has been a member of the organization for more 30 years, including five as a player and 10 in the front office. He was named general manager in June 2005.
■MOTOGP
Stoner has mild anemia
Australian rider Casey Stoner is suffering from mild anemia and gastritis, but will race in Germany this weekend, the 2007 champion’s Ducati team said on Tuesday. Stoner, who overcame sickness to win at the Sachsenring near Chemnitz last year, has undergone a series of medical tests in the US this month after complaining of a mystery illness that left him fatigued and dizzy after races. The illness was compounded by a heavy crash in qualifying for the last race at Laguna Seca in California. “I still don’t feel like I am 100 percent, but the biggest problem now is that my ribs are very painful after the crash,” the 23-year-old told the MotoGP Web site, www.motogp.com. Stoner is currently third in the championship, 16 points behind Italian leader Valentino Rossi and seven adrift of Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo.
■BASKETBALL
Walker faces check charges
Former NBA star Antoine Walker faces three felony counts of writing bad checks to Las Vegas casinos last year, the Las Vegas Sun reported on Tuesday. The 32-year-old, who played for Minnesota last year, won an NBA title with Miami in 2006 and was an All-Star playmaker for the Boston Celtics. Walker is accused of writing 10 bad checks worth a total of US$1 million to three casinos. Prosecutors said Walker repaid US$178,000 of what he owed, but still faced criminal charges for the remaining US$822,000. The debts were undertaken from last July to this past January.
■BASKETBALL
Rockets try to fill Yao void
The Houston Rockets, searching for a big man to fill in for injured center Yao Ming, have acquired the rights to Australian David Andersen, the NBA team said on Tuesday. “David has been a winner with every team he has played for in Europe,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said on the team’s Web site, www.nba.com/rockets. The 2.11m Andersen played for Regal FC Barcelona during the 2008-2009 season, averaging 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds. He also has played in Italy and Russia and was a member of last year’s Australian Olympic team. Andersen, 29, was picked by Atlanta in the second round of the 2002 Draft. The Rockets sent cash and future considerations to the Hawks in exchange for Andersen, the Rockets 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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and