■US SPORTS
Editors pick biggest story
The steroids scandal in baseball has been picked as the Story of the Year by sports editors in the US. Some of the biggest names in the game, including Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, were the latest to be linked to doping and the story received 800 points in votes from editors at US newspapers that are members of the Associated Press. Not even the Tiger Woods sex scandal was considered a bigger story. Because voting had started before the Nov. 27 car accident that touched off Woods’ travails, editors were given the unprecedented option of submitting a new ballot and about 10 did. The Woods scandal finished as the fifth-biggest story of the year (617 points), following Jimmie Johnson’s fourth straight NASCAR championship (690 points), Roger Federer’s 15th Grand Slam title (639) and quarterback Brett Favre ending his second retirement to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a division title (637).
■BASEBALL
Yankees sign Nick Johnson
Securing a new designated hitter to replace World Series Most Valuable Player Hideki Matsui, the New York Yankees signed Nick Johnson to a one-year Major League Baseball contract on Wednesday. The US$5.5 million deal, which includes hefty performance bonuses, brings Johnson back to the Bronx for a second stint after three seasons with the club starting in 2001. Japanese standout Matsui became a free agent and signed with the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month, with the Yankees filling the void with Johnson, who hit a combined .291 for Washington and Florida last season, with eight home runs and 62 runs batted in. Johnson was traded from the Yankees to Montreal in 2003 and stayed with them during their move to the US capital.
■ATHLETICS
Baala to receive medal
A special ceremony will be held next month to present French runner Medhi Baala with the 1,500m bronze medal from last year’s Beijing Olympics after Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi was stripped of the gold for doping. The French Olympic Committee said Baala is to receive the medal in Paris on Jan. 6. Baala finished fourth in the race, but has been upgraded after Ramzi was stripped last month for being among five athletes who tested positive in retroactive tests for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting drug EPO.
■SOCCER
Ajax hit 14 in Dutch Cup
Dutch giants Ajax whipped amateur outfit WHC Wezep 14-1 in a mismatched Dutch Cup round of 16 tie on Wednesday. Markoi Pantelic started the rout for former Tottenham boss Martin Jol’s trigger-happy team in the 18th minute and Ajax had raced to a 6-1 lead by the break. Ajax’s seventh goal came when the second half was minutes old, with goals 12, 13 and 14 coming in the final five minutes. The night proved a triumph for Ajax’s Uruguay winger Luis Suarez, who scored no fewer than six of Ajax’s haul.
■SOCCER
FA charge Arsenal and Hull
Arsenal and Hull City were charged with failing to control their players by the Football Association on Wednesday following their Premier League match last Saturday. A fiery match at the Emirates Stadium was inflamed further shortly before halftime when Arsenal’s Samir Nasri appeared to tread on the ankle of Hull’s Richard Garcia. Stephen Hunt then clashed with Nasri and a mass confrontation ensued, with Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia running the length of the field to get involved.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and