■FOOTBALL
Cutler fined US$20,000
Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was fined US$20,000 by the NFL on Friday for abusive conduct toward a game official during a 41-21 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday. Cutler drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after an incomplete pass to tight end Greg Olsen on a fourth-down play with the Bears trailing 34-7 at the time. Cutler apparently thought there should have been an interference penalty. The fine came one day after Cutler threw five interceptions during a 10-6 loss to San Francisco. Cutler has thrown an NFL-worst 17 interceptions this season for the Bears.
■FOOTBALL
Bengals receiver fined
Chad Ochocinco’s US$1 jest will cost the Bengals receiver US$20,000 after the National Football League fined the Cincinnati player on Friday. The league reprimanded Ochocinco for taking a dollar bill onto the field last Sunday as officials reviewed one of his catches. As one official motioned him away, Ochocinco stood with the bill at his side. He said the gesture was just a joke, but the NFL wasn’t amused. “The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable,” Ray Anderson, executive vice president of football operations, wrote in a letter to Ochocinco. “Your conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming an NFL player.” In addition, Anderson reminded Ochocinco, players are prohibited from taking items onto the field that are not part of their uniform.
■BASKETBALL
James gives up 23 jersey
LeBron James is ready to give up the No. 23 jersey out of respect to Michael Jordan and is urging others in the NBA to do the same. Jordan, who wore 23 while accumulating six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, watched the Cleveland forward score 34 points in a 111-104 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday. James said in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he was willing to give up the number and would try to encourage others to do likewise. “I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon,” James told the newspaper. “There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn’t Michael Jordan first. “I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I’m starting a petition, and I’ve got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. “Now, if I’m not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it.” Jordan, who retired in 2003, is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time and is credited with spreading the league’s popularity globally.
■BOBSLED
Hefti, Baumann win gold
Beat Hefti and Alex Baumann won gold in the opening two-man World Cup bobsled race of the season on the 2002 Olympic track to cap a powerful night for the Swiss men on a frigid Friday. Hefti’s time over two runs was 1 minute, 37.08 seconds, just 0.11 seconds ahead of Americans Todd Hays and Steven Langton. Ivo Rueegg and Cedric Grand of Switzerland finished third. Germany’s Cathleen Martini has won the women’s event, driving her way to victory here for the second straight year. Martini teamed with Romy Logsch to finish two runs in 1:39.92 — just ahead of the fellow German team of Sandra Kiriasis and Berit Wiacker, which was 0.20 seconds back. American sleds finished third and fourth. Erin Pac matched her best World Cup finish, driving to the bronze with Michelle Rzepka. Bree Schaaf paired with Ingrid Marcum to finish fourth.
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