BASKETBALL
Stern eyes cutting teams
NBA Commissioner David Stern raised the possibility of cutting the number of teams in the league to help resolve the conflict with the players over a new labor agreement amid the global economic downturn. While Stern said any such contraction was “a sensitive subject,” he felt the option had to be on the negotiating table as the 30-team league headed for projected losses of about US$350 million this season. “The league is viable as long as you have owners who want to continue funding losses,” Stern said on a pre-season conference call on Friday. “But it’s not in the long-term a sustainable business model that we’re happy to be supporting.”
ICE HOCKEY
Rypien suspended six games
Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien was suspended for six games by the National Hockey League on Friday, following an altercation with a fan during his team’s 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Rypien’s suspension is the longest imposed by the NHL for player-fan interaction since March 20, 1982, when Vancouver’s Doug Halward was banned for seven games. Since Rypien had already been suspended indefinitely before the hearing on Friday, he will be eligible to play against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 6, the NHL said in a statement. In line with league policy, the Canucks were also fined US$25,000. Video replays showed Rypien grabbing the fan while heading to the dressing room in the second period.
GYMNASTICS
Uchimura, Mustafina win
Japan’s Kohei Uchimura and Russia’s Aliya Mustafina won the all-around titles at the World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Friday. Uchimura finished ahead of Philipp Boy of Germany to become the fifth man to win two world titles, but only the second to claim them consecutively after Yang Wei in 2006 and 2007. The 16-year-old Mustafina finished ahead of Olympic team champion Jiang Yuyuan of China to give the Russians a second gold, two days after leading them to their first world title.
FOOTBALL
Dallas Clark’s season ends
Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark will have season-ending wrist surgery next week, leaving the team without two of its top receivers, the team said on Friday. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s been confirmed that surgery is necessary,” Clark said in a statement on the Colts’ Web site. “I look forward to supporting my teammates the rest of this season and rehabilitating my wrist back to full strength for next season,” said Clark, a Pro Bowl selection last year, who will go on the injured reserve list following surgery. Indianapolis are already without wide receiver Austin Collie, who is sidelined indefinitely following thumb surgery this week.
FOOTBALL
Vikings’ Edwards fined
The National Football League’s disciplinary committee has slapped Minnesota Vikings player Ray Edwards with a US$20,000 fine for an illegal hit on a Dallas Cowboys player. The fine was announced on Friday and cited Edwards for spearing Cowboys running back Marion Barber in the game on Sunday last week. Edwards is a repeat offender having already been penalized with fines on Aug. 28 for roughing the quarterback and Sept. 26 for unnecessary roughness. Edwards complained about the amount of the fine on Friday. “I just got fined 20,000 dollars for a spear that really wasn’t a spear,” Edwards said. “Don’t just fine defensive guys.”
SOCCER
Pompey likely to close down
Cash-strapped English Championship side Portsmouth said on Friday they would close down unless they can reach a deal with former owner and creditor Alexandre Gaydamak as well as prospective buyer Balram Chainrai. “It appears likely that the club will now be closed down and liquidated” by the administrators as they are unable to support continued operations, the club said in a statement. Portsmouth, still in administration following financial woes which accompanied their relegation from the Premier League last May, said they believed striking a deal would likely prove “impossible.” If the club do go to the wall, Portsmouth would become the first Football League club since Maidstone United in 1992 to go out of business. That year, Aldershot were also closed down. A Football League spokesman said Pompey’s match yesterday at Hull City, also relegated last term, would go ahead, although he added: “The league is continuing to monitor the situation.”
CRICKET
Asif withdraws his appeal
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has withdrawn his appeal against the suspension imposed on him by cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), over spot-fixing allegations. “Mohammad Asif confirmed earlier today that he has withdrawn his challenge to the provisional suspension imposed on him on Sept. 2, 2010, pending determination of the charges brought against him under the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code,” the ICC said in a statement on Friday. Asif, fellow pace bowler Amir and Test captain Salman Butt were banned from playing by the ICC for allegedly agreeing to bowl pre-determined no-balls in the fourth Test against England in August. Amir and Butt are still appealing their bans. “Arrangements are now being made for the challenges being made by Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir against their provisional suspensions to be heard in Dubai on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31 2010,” the ICC added. British police are also investigating the spot-fixing allegations against the players, who all deny any wrongdoing.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Skipper subdues comeback
New Zealand captain Benji Marshall scored and converted a 64th-minute try that subdued an England comeback and gave his team a 24-10 victory yesterday in the opening match of rugby league’s Four Nations tournament. New Zealand seemed to be coasting to victory when they led 12-0 at halftime and 18-0 when they converted their third try three minutes into the second half, but England fought back with two tries in as many minutes midway through the second half, slashing New Zealand’s lead to 18-10. That forced the home side to rely on Marshall’s brilliance to create and score the try that clinched the match.
RALLYING
Loeb starts well in Spain
Fresh from securing a record seventh successive world rally championship, Sebastien Loeb’s bid for a sixth straight Catalunya Rally win started well as the Frenchman took a 3.8 second lead after the first day. Loeb won three of six stages on the 126km course, finishing on Friday in a combined 1 hour, 25 minutes, 26.8 seconds. Sebastien Oger was next for Citroen, followed by Jari-Matti Latvala of Ford, who was 19.9 seconds adrift in the mixed surface event. Kimi Raikkonen did not race after rolling his Citroen beyond repair during the shakedown on Thursday. Loeb clinched the season title at the last race in France. There remains only the Rally of Wales after Spain.
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