■BASKETBALL
Williams going to prison
Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told reporters on Thursday. Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count. The person, who was not authorized to speak about the case, told reporters on condition of anonymity that Williams is to plead guilty Friday to aggravated assault. Because a gun was used in the crime, Williams must serve at least 18 months in prison, the person said. The plea deal would resolve all charges in a case that dragged out for nearly eight years. Witnesses testified that Williams was showing off a shotgun in his bedroom in February 2002 when he snapped the weapon shut and it fired one shot that struck driver Costas Christofi in the chest, killing him. They also testified that Williams initially placed the gun in the dead man’s hands and instructed those present to lie about what happened. The defense has maintained the shooting was an accident and that Williams panicked afterward.
■CYCLING
Contador stays with Astana
Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has agreed to see out the final year of his Astana contract on condition that the team receives its Pro Tour license. Contador said in a statement on Thursday that the initial agreement to remain with the Kahzak-based team and see out his contract through next year also depends on the team maintaining its strict internal doping controls. Contador said he was convinced to see out the deal after Astana “ensured the reliability and competitiveness” of the team with several signings, including Yvon Sanquer as the new team manager and Giuseppe Martinelli as sport director.
■FORMULA ONE
Button takes pay cut
Formula One drivers champion Jenson Button admits he has taken a pay cut to join last year’s winner, Lewis Hamilton, at McLaren, but says he made the move from Brawn for a new challenge. A day after the move was revealed, Button said on Thursday it would be strange being a rival to Brawn after seven years even though his former team, which also won the constructors’ title, will now be under the name of Mercedes GP after Monday’s takeover by the German car maker. Button said he would be earning less than at Brawn.
■ATHLETICS
Gay, Richards honored
Tyson Gay and Sanya Richards were named the 2009 Jesse Owens Award recipients on Thursday, the second time that each has earned the USA Track and Field honor. Gay also received the Owens award in 2007, and Richards won it in 2006. They will receive their awards at a ceremony on Dec. 5. USATF chief executive Doug Logan said Gay and Richards “rank among this country’s all-time great track athletes.” Gay tied or lowered his American 100m record three times in three months this year, with a best of 9.69 seconds. That tied him with world record-holder Usain Bolt for the second-fastest time in history. Gay also ran the 200m in 19.58 this year, the fifth fastest ever. Richards won the women’s 400m world title and ran the anchor leg to help the US win the 4x400m relay at the world championships in Berlin.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was