■BASKETBALL
Wizards try to forget Arenas
Even as the Washington Wizards went to great lengths to erase all traces of Gilbert Arenas from the Verizon Center, one teammate gave a nod to his suspended NBA teammate on Sunday. DeShawn Stevenson took the court for pre-game warmups with the words “AGENT” and “ZERO” written in red on tape wrapped just above his shoes as the Wizards prepared to play the New Orleans Hornets. “Agent Zero” is a nickname for Washington’s gregarious playmaker, who was suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Wednesday in the wake of an incident involving unloaded guns that he brought to the Wizards arena and stored in his locker. Arenas remains under investigation by authorities over the firearms and NBA commissioner David Stern was clearly angered that Arenas appeared to be taking the situation lightly. In suspending Arenas, Stern said he was “not currently fit to take the court.” NBA rules forbid players from bringing guns to league facilities or when traveling on league business. Four other Wizards players have been fined for making light of the situation prior to a game last week.
■TENNIS
McEnroe pans suspension
John McEnroe has criticized the handling of tennis match-fixing claims, saying the suspension of Russia’s Ekaterina Bychkova does not make sense. Last week, the Tennis Integrity Unit fined Bychkova US$5,000 and barred the Russian from playing for 30 days, saying she failed to report that she was asked to provide inside information and throw matches. McEnroe called match-fixing a “huge concern” for tennis and said Bychkova had been suspended after turning down an illegal approach, which he said would dissuade other players from being honest.
■SOCCER
Who should stop the game?
Italy’s soccer federation president Giancarlo Abete has clashed with Interior Minister Roberto Maroni about who should halt matches in the case of racist chants. Italian soccer has a severe problem with fans singing racist chants, particularly aimed at Inter Milan’s Italian-born black striker Mario Balotelli. Both the government and federation agree matches should be suspended immediately if racist chanting is heard, but Abete said the referee could not act alone. “As long as the rules are as they are, the federation, and therefore the referee, can do nothing against racist chants because right now the power to stop a game lies with the police,” Abete told reporters. Teams are frequently fined for fans’ racist chants and Juventus had to play a game behind closed doors last season, but threats to suspend a match have not been followed through.
■BOXING
Pacquiao to fight in Dallas
WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will defend his title against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on March 13, the Filipino’s promoter and the Cowboys owner said on Sunday. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum finalized the deal after talks of a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr fizzled out over Mayweather’s demand for a rigorous dope testing procedure. “I have wanted to bring a major boxing event to North Texas for many years, so why not bring in the biggest and the best?” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in a statement. “Manny Pacquiao is boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound attraction and the world champion,” Jones added.
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