■BASEBALL
Barry Bonds’ son in court
Nikolai Bonds, the son of disgraced former baseball star Barry Bonds, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to a fight with his mother and threatening police. The 20-year-old Nikolai appeared in a San Francisco court on five misdemeanor charges on Tuesday with his father at his side. Police say a man tossed a doorknob at a woman and spit in her face during a Dec. 5 incident at a neighborhood park. Police also say the man blocked the woman from leaving, destroyed property worth US$400 and threatened an officer. Nikolai Bonds faces charges of battery, false imprisonment, vandalism, making threats to an officer and obstructing an officer. The court granted a restraining order barring him from contacting his mother.
■BOXING
Braehmer sentenced to jail
A German court on Tuesday handed WBO light heavyweight world champion Juergen Braehmer a 16-month prison sentence for attacking two people in separate incidents two years ago. Braehmer’s lawyers said they would appeal the verdict while his promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl said it had not yet come into force. Braehmer was found guilty by the court in the eastern city of Schwerin for hitting a woman in a Schwerin bar in May 2008 and attacking another person in one of the city’s clubs in September of that year. The 31-year-old southpaw, who became world champion last year and has a 35-2 record, has had run-ins with the law for much of his career and had been convicted for violent behavior in the past.
■BASKETBALL
Teams fined for standing
The NBA has fined two teams US$10,000 apiece for violating the rule preventing players from standing for long periods of time in front of their bench. League spokesman Tim Frank confirmed a memo was sent to all teams on Tuesday informing them of the fines. The teams were not identified in the memo. The rule was instituted this season as a way to stop players from blocking the view of fans sitting behind the benches.
■FIELD HOCKEY
Indian sponsor pays up
A major sponsor of the Indian hockey team released 10 million Indian rupees (US$219,000) to striking players yesterday in a bid to resolve a pay dispute that has disrupted preparations for the upcoming World Cup, Press Trust of India reported. The Indian hockey team began a training boycott on Friday when it refused to attend a camp in the western city of Pune until it was paid wages owed to the players. Team sponsor, the multi-industry conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar, said in statement it had paid the funds to Hockey India in a suspense account for distribution to the players so they can “peacefully and happily practice and play for the country.” The men’s field hockey World Cup is scheduled for Feb. 28 to March 13 in New Delhi.
■ICE HOCKEY
Goalie Curtis Joseph retires
Goalie Curtis Joseph retired on Tuesday, ending a 19-year career in the NHL in which he was No. 4 on the career victory list. The 42-year-old Joseph was the most successful goalie to have never won the Stanley Cup. He had 454 victories, trailing only Martin Brodeur (585), Patrick Roy (551) and Ed Belfour (484). He said he had a “great career” and “didn’t leave anything on the table” at a news conference in Toronto, where he ended his career with the Maple Leafs.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care