■BASEBALL
Irabu joins Fighting Dogs
Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu has reached an agreement to play for a team in a Japanese independent league. The 40-year-old Irabu will pitch for the Kochi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku-Kyushu Island League, team officials said on Saturday. Irabu signed with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League in April and posted a 5-3 record with an ERA of 3.58. He made 10 starts with 65 innings pitched and struck out 66 batters while walking only 19. Irabu started his career with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League and joined the Yankees in 1997 on a US$12.8 million, four-year contract. After three seasons with the Yankees, Irabu played for the Montreal Expos and Texas Rangers before returning to Japan to play for the Hanshin Tigers in 2003, helping the team win the Central League pennant. A year ago, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a bartender after drinking 20 mugs of beer at a bar in Osaka. Police said he admitted the assault.
■BOXING
‘Maco’ dies after bus crash
Panamanian super bantamweight Jose “Maco” Arboleda died from injuries suffered when the bus he took to training crashed over a cliff, media reported. Arboleda, who was 27, suffered stomach and lung injuries in the crash on Friday morning and died 22 hours later, the Panamanian newspaper El Siglo said on its Web site. He had a 23-4 record with nine knockouts and two draws.
■CYCLING
Ballan wins Tour of Poland
Italy’s Alessandro Ballan, of the Lampre team, won the 66th edition of the Tour of Poland in Krakow on Saturday after the seventh and final stage. The 136km stage, from Rabka to Krakow, was won by Germany’s Andre Greipel of the Columbia squad. World champion Ballan wasn’t assured of victory before Saturday’s mountainous finale, having only an 11-second lead over closest rival Advald Boasson Hagen of Norway, who had won the two of the earlier stages of the race. But the Norwegian failed to make any impression on the peloton and Ballan could breathe easy with Daniel Moreno Fernandez of Spain eventually edging Boasson Hagen for second spot overall, 10 seconds behind. “The fifth stage leading out of Krynica was decisive. I won that and took the yellow jersey,” Ballan said. “It was my first victory since the world championships last year and it’s an important victory because I have had some health problems and a mediocre season.”
■BASKETBALL
Dropout may play in Israel
The foreign odyssey of the basketball trailblazer Jeremy Tyler will probably begin in Israel. Tyler, a 211cm prospect from San Diego, is on the cusp of signing with Maccabi Haifa, which finished in second place in Israel’s top division last season. “We are very close,” said Sonny Vaccaro, an adviser to Tyler. “Everyone is in agreement. His agents need to formalize everything.” Tyler, 18, became the first player to drop out of high school to play basketball professionally outside the US. He had originally committed to Louisville, but instead took the road of Brandon Jennings, who played in Rome last season and became the No. 10 pick in the NBA draft. Tyler will play two seasons abroad before being eligible for the 2011 draft. He will team with the former Southern California forward Davon Jefferson, who starred for the team last season as it finished runner-up to the traditional power Maccabi Tel Aviv. “It’s a good situation,” Tyler said on Friday, “but I’m not sure at this point.”
■SOCCER
Mills hangs up his boots
Former Manchester City and England fullback Danny Mills retired from soccer on Saturday after admitting defeat in his battle to recover from a serious knee injury. Mills suffered the problem more than a year ago and has been told it will not recover sufficiently to allow him to resume his career. The 32-year-old, who also played for Norwich City, Charlton Athletic and Leeds United, won 19 caps for England and played at the 2002 World Cup. “Unfortunately, I have now got to the situation where I can no longer continue to play,” he told BBC Radio Five Live. “So, really as from today, I’ll be retiring from the professional game and looking to do other things. It has been difficult ... I’ve been around the world – America, Germany, Sweden, London — I’ve been everywhere trying to get it sorted. I’m likely to have another operation in three or four months’ time ... Basically, the knee just can’t cope with it any more.”
■RUGBY UNION
Richards resigns from ’Quins
The fall-out from Harlequins’ fake-injury scandal continued on Saturday with the resignation of the club’s director of rugby, Dean Richards. Richards’ departure comes after Harlequins were fined £215,000 (US$358,000) and winger Tom Williams was suspended for 12 months over an incident in last season’s European Cup quarter-final with eventual champions Leinster. Williams was found guilty of faking a blood injury so that he could be replaced in the dying minutes with his side trailing 6-5 by New Zealand kicker Nick Evans. Evans had left the field injured in the 47th minute, while his replacement, Chris Malone, also had to go off injured. TV footage appeared to show Williams winking as he left the pitch. Harlequins are reviewing the incident and a statement released on Saturday read: “During the course of this process, Dean Richards unreservedly tendered his resignation from his post as director of rugby. The board of Harlequins has accepted his resignation.”
■CRICKET
Mortaza to go under knife
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza needs surgery on both knees and is expected to have an operation today, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Saturday. Mortaza visited Australian orthopedic surgeon David Young in Melbourne on Friday and was advised to have arthroscopic surgery on his knees, the BCB said in a statement. “The surgery is likely to be performed on Monday, after which an assessment will be made on the extent of the injury and the possible duration for recovery.” Mortaza fell awkwardly while bowling on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies at St Vincent last month, limped off the field and has been sidelined ever since.
■VOLLEYBALL
Puerto Rico stun Russia
Puerto Rico pulled off an upset against world champions Russia for their first win at the World Grand Prix women’s volleyball on Saturday. Aurea Cruz scored 28 points, while Sarai Alvarez scored 22 points to lead Puerto Rico to a 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 28-26 success in the four-team round-robin competition. “This was a historical moment for Puerto Rico. It was the first time for me to play against Russia as the head coach of the women’s team, so this game had special meaning,” Puerto Rico’s Argentine coach Carlos Cardona said. “It is very significant for the country and for the team that we won today. It was our first win in the Grand Prix.” In the second match, Japan defeated South Korea 22-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-10 for their second straight win in Osaka.
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