■ SWIMMING
Rice delays departure for US
Triple Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Rice will delay her departure to the US for the Pan Pacific championships to take more time to recover from a shoulder injury. Rice had been set to fly to the US with the 59-member Australian team yesterday, but she will remain behind in Brisbane to have treatment on her shoulder, which has been bothering her since before last month’s Australian short course championships. Rice will arrive in California on Sunday, two days before the Pan Pacific meet begins in Irvine, California, missing Australia’s pre-meet camp in San Diego.
■ BASKETBALL
MJ to present for Pippen
Fittingly, Scottie Pippen will have Michael Jordan by his side again when he goes into the Hall of Fame. Pippen will be presented by his former Chicago Bulls teammate when he is inducted on Friday night. Each inductee is presented by a current Hall of Famer. Jordan was enshrined last year. Pippen will be inducted twice, as he and Jordan — who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles — were part of the 1992 Dream Team that highlights the class along with Karl Malone and the 1960 US Olympic team.
■ BASEBALL
Mariners fire Wakamatsu
The last-place Seattle Mariners have fired manager Don Wakamatsu. The team announced the move hours before Monday night’s game against Oakland. Seattle entered the day 42-70, the second-worst record in the American League. The Mariners began the season with expectations of their first postseason in nine years, following last year’s winning season in Wakamatsu’s first season. However, a poorly constructed roster has produced the worst offense in baseball and doomed them to last place in the AL West.
■ HOCKEY
Kovalchuk contract voided
An arbitrator ruled on Monday that the NHL acted properly in voiding Ilya Kovalchuk’s landmark US$102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. The league had rejected the 17-year contract, saying the longest deal in league history violated its salary cap. The NHL Players’ Association filed a grievance against the league. A hearing was held last week and arbitrator Richard Bloch sided with the NHL in his ruling. The decision puts Kovalchuk back on the free agent market. The contract would have paid Kovalchuk US$95 million over the first 10 years and only US$550,000 over the last five years. The low salary at the end was implemented to lower the team’s hit against the salary cap. The NHL wants to eliminate this kind of “retirement contract.”
■ SOCCER
Sahara shelves Liverpool bid
Indian finance and media giant Sahara India Pariwar has shelved its plan to acquire English Premier League club Liverpool. “The deal for acquisition of the Liverpool Football Club was in our consideration in the recent past. However, after considering all related factors, we have decided not to go ahead with it, at least for the time being,” Sahara spokesman Abhijit Sarkar said in a statement carried by Indian media yesterday. Sahara, which sponsors the Indian cricket and hockey teams and owns the Pune cricket franchise of the Indian Premier League, had been among a raft of bidders linked by British media to Liverpool, who were put up for sale by US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in April. Sahara had discussions with Manchester United last year about a potential shirt sponsorship, but no deal materialized.
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