■RUGBY UNION
Fiji reinstates war dance
Fiji will perform the cibi, or war dance, before all future rugby internationals after briefly discarding the pre-match ritual on religious grounds. The Fiji Rugby Union said on Wednesday it would reinstate the 70-year-old tradition, which was dropped during the team’s northern hemisphere tour in November at the urging of coach Sam Domoni. Domoni encouraged players to discard the war dance, which he described as a relic of Fiji’s pagan past. He said players agreed with his decision because they “fear God.” The decision polarized Fijians, who are deeply religious but also rugby-mad. Fiji Rugby Union chairman Viliame Gavoka said the cibi was an important part of Fiji’s rugby tradition and should not be lost. “The FRU is committed to protecting the integrity of rugby in terms of its culture and traditions, and shall make as policy that the cibi be as protocol performed in any international match,” he said.
■GOLF
Woods had ‘fat lip’: report
Tiger Woods had a “fat lip” but no other visible facial injuries when he met with Florida state troopers four days after the car accident outside his home, a television report said. Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes told WESH-TV in Orlando on Wednesday that Woods and his attorney met with troopers on Dec. 1. The meeting at an undisclosed location came after troopers tried for three days to probe Woods about the accident in which his sport utility vehicle crashed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home. The officers arranged the meeting to deliver a US$164 citation for careless driving and to see if Woods had any injuries that were inconsistent with a car accident, Montes told the TV station. Woods had a “fat lip,” but no other visible injuries and officers had no reason to believe the golfer was a victim of domestic violence, Montes told WESH-TV.
■ICE HOCKEY
Crosby makes Olympic team
Sidney Crosby was among 15 Olympic newcomers on a 23-man squad named by Hockey Canada on Wednesday to carry the weight of the host nation’s gold medal dreams at the Winter Games. The squad announcement that brought workplaces to a halt when it was made live on 13 television networks in hockey-mad Canada. Crosby, the youngest captain in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup, was chosen for Canada’s Olympic hockey team four years after controversially being left off the underachieving squad that finished seventh in Turin, Italy. Among those selected were goaltender Martin Brodeur, who recently set the NHL record with his 104th career shutout; defensemen Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger; forward Jarome Iginla, the star of Canada’s 2002 gold-medal winning team; Joe Thornton, the NHL scoring leader; and Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, a pair of 24-year-old Anaheim Ducks teammates. Niedermayer is the captain, with Pronger, Crosby and Iginla as alternate captains.
■SOCCER
Boyd breaks Scottish record
Kris Boyd broke the Scottish Premier League scoring record as his five goals helped 10-man Rangers to a 7-1 mauling of Dundee United at Ibrox. It was the second time the goal-machine has netted five against United in his career and his goals move him two above former Celtic striker Henrik Larrsson’s previous record of 158 league goals. The emphatic win, in blizzard conditions, sends Walter Smith’s men seven points clear at the top of the SPL going into Sunday’s Old Firm derby after rivals Celtic’s game at Kilmarnock fell foul of the weather.
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