■SOCCER
FAT players get free burgers
Thailand’s top players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with fast food giant McDonald’s worth almost US$900,000, the country’s soccer president said yesterday. McDonald’s will provide 25 million baht (US$747,000) for the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and will offer 5 million baht in products in exchange for shirt sponsorship for the next three years. “This will be a great help towards our efforts to reach the 2014 World Cup finals,” FAT president Worawi Makudi said. “This funding will help develop our game, especially youth football, and all the players, junior and senior, will get to enjoy the food too,” he said.
■SOCCER
Norway keep faith with Olsen
Norway’s soccer federation have kept faith with manager Egil Olsen, who signed a contract extension on Tuesday that will keep him in the job till 2012. The 67-year-old is the most prolific national team manager in the history of Norwegian soccer, and was at the helm for Norway’s two appearances in the World Cup finals, in 1994 and 1998. Norway failed to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa. Despite finishing runners-up to the Netherlands in Group 9 their points tally was not good enough to put them among the best runners-up for the play-offs. Olsen has been given an option in his contract that could see him stay on through the 2012 European Championships, if Norway qualify. If he refuses this option, Olsen will hand over to Staale Solbakken, a former national team player who is now coach of FC Copenhagen, on Jan. 1, 2012. After a brief stint as coach of Iraq, Olsen returned to coach Norway in January.
■TENNIS
Swine flu hits Haas
German player Tommy Haas has overcome a bout of swine flu quickly because of his fitness as a professional athlete, the nation’s Davis Cup team doctor said on Tuesday. “Athletes are more resistant than other people, leading to a shorter and less violent illness,” Erich Rembeck said. The Bild daily reported on Tuesday that Haas, 31, contracted the A(H1N1) virus and had to withdraw from a tournament in Stockholm after the first round two weeks ago. He subsequently canceled his appearance this week in Basel. “It started after the game [in Stockholm]. A sore throat, and then shivering fits and a fever during the night. It was really bad for three days and I could not leave my hotel room. I felt really bad,” Haas told Bild. “I did the test because I suspected swine flu. The test was positive. Naturally that was a shock for me,” he said. “Like all tennis players Tommy Haas travels a lot. That leads to a greater risk of infection,” Rembeck said.
■CRICKET
Henriques joins injury list
An already weakened Australia were dealt another injury blow in the one-day series in India after Moises Henriques was ruled out of today’s fifth match with a damaged hamstring. Henriques, himself a replacement for the injured James Hopes, hurt his right hamstring during Monday’s fourth game in Mohali. Injuries have already forced the tourists, who are level 2-2 with the hosts in the seven-match series, to send back fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Brett Lee, wicketkeeper Tim Paine and Hopes. Aussie captain Ricky Ponting was understandably frustrated at the growing injury list that left just 13 fit players to pick from. “It’s disappointing to see these guys go down because you know how much they want to play and be a part of the series, and do the best they can to win games,” Ponting said.
■BASKETBALL
Charges added against West
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West faces up to 18 years in prison on weapons charges after more misdemeanor indictments were filed against him on Tuesday from a Sept. 17 arrest. West was arrested for speeding on a motorcycle while carrying multiple weapons on the Beltway around Washington. The original counts were for speeding and two counts of carrying a handgun. The 26-year-old playmaker had a large knife added to the weapons list, which previously included a loaded shotgun and two loaded handguns. Carrying concealed weapons and transport of handguns are illegal in Maryland, where he was arrested near his residence. West is now indicted on two counts of carrying dangerous weapons, two counts of carrying a handgun, two counts of handgun transport, one count of reckless driving and one count of negligent driving.
■BASKETBALL
Detroit re-elects Dave Bing
Hall of Famer Dave Bing has been re-elected Detroit mayor. The 65-year-old Democrat defeated accountant Tom Barrow in Tuesday’s nonpartisan general election. Bing’s NBA career lasted 12 seasons, nine with the Detroit Pistons. As mayor, he has laid off workers and demanded a 10 percent wage cut to help address the city’s ongoing budget deficit. It was the fourth time Detroit voters cast ballots this year for mayor. Bing received the most votes in a February primary and defeated incumbent Ken Cockrel Jr in a May runoff to complete Kwame Kilpatrick’s second term. Kilpatrick resigned as part of pleas in two criminal cases. Bing also received the most votes in the August primary.
■BASKETBALL
Joba’s mom faces 20 years
The mother of New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced next month on a felony drug charge. Jackie Standley pleaded no contest on Monday to an amended charge of delivery of a controlled substance, Lincoln, Nebraska, court records show. The 44-year-old Standley was arrested in May after selling a gram of methamphetamine to an undercover officer at her Lincoln residence. Standley was originally charged with a Class II felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 50 years, but the prosecutor reduced the charge to a Class III felony. She is to be sentenced on Dec. 16.
■BOXING
WBC to get tough on dads
The World Boxing Council (WBC) wants to once and for all banish fathers from working their sons’ corners during fights after a study showed it could prove fatal. Speaking at the WBC’s annual convention in the South Korean island of Jeju, council president Jose Sulaiman said the WBC already had a rule banning fathers from their sons’ corners, but that it was being flouted. The WBC must strictly enforce this law to prevent errors in judgment that could lead to tragedy in the ring, he added. Art Pelullo, president of Banner Promotions, said the emotional link between father and son should preclude them working so closely together during a fight. “A father is not detached enough to make the right decision, because he’s looking at what he loves and maybe not seeing what’s really going on,” Pelullo said. WBC governor Rex Walker said there was the added danger to fathers living out their own dreams through their sons’ fists. “Too many fathers live through their kid in the ring,” he said. “They transform from the corner to the kid, and they want to stay in the fight — but they’re not the ones getting hit.”
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