■RUGBY UNION
Injury sidelines Toeava
The All Blacks suffered another blow to their injury-marred midfield yesterday when Isaia Toeava was ruled out for the rest of the year with a stress fracture. Toeava, 23, the third-choice outside center for the All Blacks this year, produced his best international performance in the final Tri-Nations Test last week when New Zealand beat Australia 33-6. A scan revealed that Toeava had played with a stress fracture in his pelvis at the back of the right hip joint, All Blacks Doctor Deb Robinson said. “Confirmation of the stress fracture means that he now needs up to three months rest from rugby,” she said. Toeava earned his start in the No. 13 jersey with Conrad Smith (hamstring) and Richard Kahui (shoulder) sidelined by injury. Kahui, like Toeava, will also be unavailable for the end of year northern tour, which includes Tests against Australia, Wales, Italy, England and France as well as a match against the Barbarians.
■ICE HOCKEY
Fleury gives up comeback
Theo Fleury, attempting a NHL comeback after a six-year absence at age 41, announced his retirement on Monday, giving up his dream of a return to the Calgary Flames. While Fleury scored four points in four pre-season games with the Flames, his release last week prompted him to call it quits rather than try and play somewhere else ahead of tomorrow’s start of the NHL season. “I could not sign with another team,” he said. “I retire a Calgary Flame.” Fleury began his career with the Flames in the 1988-1989 season and won a Stanley Cup with Calgary in that inaugural campaign. He also played for Canada’s 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic gold medal hockey champions. Fleury ranks second to current captain and 2002 Olympic teamate Jarome Iginla on the Flames’ all-time scoring list. Fleury scored 455 goals in 15 total NHL seasons with Calgary, Colorado, Chicago and the New York Rangers.
■FOOTBALL
Four Vikings to don pink
Brett Favre, whose touchdown toss with two seconds remaining Sunday kept the Minnesota Vikings unbeaten, will be wearing pink when he faces his former Green Bay teammates on Monday. And it won’t be just a feeling. Favre will be among four Minnesota players wearing pink-colored accessory equipment in the game as part of the National Football League’s paying tribute to breast cancer awareness next month. Chester Taylor, Antoine Winfield and Chad Greenway will also wear purple jerseys with pink cleats, gloves, wristbands, wristbands and sideline caps as part of the program for the showdown at the Metrodome. Certain players will wear pink items in games throughout the month to raise awareness of breast cancer. The condition has hit home in sports as US pro golfer Phil Mickelson’s wife and mother began breast cancer treatments in July. Favre spent 16 seasons with Green Bay and will face the Packers for the first time on Monday.
■BASKETBALL
Van Gundy stays with Magic
Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy reached a deal on a contract extension with the NBA team. The Magic also decided to extend the contract of general manager Otis Smith, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper reported on Monday. Smith became general manager in 2006 and hired Van Gundy a year later. Van Gundy has recorded a 111-53 record in two seasons coaching the Magic. He led Orlando to a 59-23 mark and a trip to the NBA finals last season for the first time since 1995 before they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
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