■BASKETBALL
Ainge fined over towel toss
Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has been fined US$25,000 for tossing a towel into the air in a bid to distract Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.J. Hickson at the free throw line, the NBA said on Thursday. Ainge, sitting courtside under the Cavaliers’ basket during Monday’s playoff game, threw the towel over his head while Hickson was shooting. Hickson made the free throw, but NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson said Ainge was fined for “creating an unauthorized distraction and for conduct detrimental to the game.” Ainge has apologized, calling his behavior unprofessional.
■BASKETBALL
All-NBA Team chosen
LeBron James and Dwight Howard were unanimous choices for the All-NBA Team, while Kobe Bryant received 119 of 122 votes from writers and broadcasters. James was a unanimous pick for the second straight season and made his fourth all-NBA Team. The Cleveland star won the MVP award for the second year in a row. Kevin Durant and Dwyane Wade completed the first team on Thursday. Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash and Deron Williams were selected to the second team. Tim Duncan, Spain’s Pau Gasol, Andrew Bogut of Australia, Joe Johnson and Brandon Roy were third-team picks.
■ICE HOCKEY
Krejci out with injury
Boston Bruins center David Krejci will miss the remainder of the playoffs after undergoing wrist surgery, the NHL club said on Thursday. Krejci dislocated his right wrist in Boston’s 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday and later had surgery at a Baltimore hospital. The 24-year-old Czech forward is expected to recover in time for the NHL preseason.
■ICE HOCKEY
Lindsay finalists announced
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Ovechkin and Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin were named finalists on Thursday for the new Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s most valuable player as voted by their peers. The same three players were named Hart finalists for the league MVP award a week earlier. Claiming the first Lindsay Award would add to what has been a spectacular 12 months for Crosby after leading the Penguins to a Stanley Cup last June. Sedin became the first Vancouver Canuck to win the Art Ross Trophy for finishing the season as the NHL’s top scorer with 112 points, while Ovechkin enjoyed another productive campaign scoring 50 goals for the third consecutive season and the fourth time in his five-year career. The Lindsay Award had been known as the Lester B Pearson Award, but was renamed in honor of Ted Lindsay, an all-star forward known for his skill, tenacity, leadership and his role in establishing the original NHL Players’ Association. The winner will be announced on June 23 at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.
■SOCCER
Costly injures ankle
Honduras striker Carlo Costly’s World Cup hopes were put in doubt when he injured his right ankle playing for his Romanian club Vaslui on Thursday. Costly, who was injured playing against CFR Cluj, was expected to be named on Monday when Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda announces his 23-man World Cup squad and a team spokesman said the striker should be fit for the summer tournament.
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