■HOCKEY
Atlanta trade Kovalchuk
Atlanta traded high-scoring winger Ilya Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday after the Atlanta Thrashers were unable to sign him to a long-term contract, Atlanta General Manager Don Waddell said. The Thrashers, who said they had offered Kovalchuk a 12-year deal worth US$101 million, received rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick in this year’s NHL draft from New Jersey. Russian Kovalchuk, 26, can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He has 31 goals and 27 assists in 49 games this season for Atlanta. “It’s been a very tough day for all of us with the Thrashers,” Waddell told reporters. “When you have to trade this type of player there are a lot of emotions. But he was too important an asset to let walk away on July 1.” Kovalchuk leaves the Thrashers after setting many offense records for the team who drafted him with the No. 1 pick in 2001. A two-time 50-goal scorer, Kovalchuk has 615 points in 594 career games.
■OLYMPICS
Kangaroo flag stays
Australia yesterday defied “ridiculous” orders to tear down a large Boxing Kangaroo flag at the Winter Olympics athlete’s village in Vancouver over trademark rules. Australian Olympic Committee spokesman Mike Tancred said the iconic flag was still flying from the team’s windows despite verbal instructions to remove it because it is a registered trademark. “The flag is still up, we haven’t moved it,” Tancred said from the Canadian city. “They told us to take it down and we haven’t.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) told Australia to remove the flag on Monday because it is a registered trademark, which violates Games rules. Tancred said the image, which has been displayed at previous Games, was the team’s mascot and was also used to promote Olympic ideals to children. Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard slammed the IOC’s order as “ridiculous” and called for more flags bearing the famous symbol of a kangaroo wearing boxing gloves. “It’s a scandal,” Gillard told the Nine Network TV station. “I think we want to see a lot of the Boxing Kangaroo, particularly now that we’ve had this ridiculous ruling. So, yes, boxing kangaroos everywhere.”
■BASEBALL
Tigers, Verlander reach deal
Ace Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers finalized a US$80 million, five-year contract on Thursday that avoids a salary arbitration heading. Verlander’s deal includes a US$500,000 signing bonus, US$6.75 million this season, US$12.75 million next year and US$20 million in each of the following three seasons. Verlander would have been eligible for free agency after next year’s World Series. “I have one goal and that’s to make it to the Hall of Fame,” Verlander said. The 2006 American League rookie of the year tied for the major league lead with 19 wins last season.
■FOOTBALL
Harvin named top rookie
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin was named the NFL’s rookie of the year on Thursday after setting a franchise record for total yards. Harvin posted 2,081 total yards during 15 regular-season games en route to winning the award, determined by fan voting, the NFL said in a statement. The other finalists for the award were Buffalo’s Jairus Byrd, Houston’s Brian Cushing, Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Baltimore’s Michael Oher.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two