CRICKET
Free beer for Ashes win
An Australian brewer yesterday offered a free beer to every adult in the country if Australia beat England in the upcoming Ashes cricket Tests. “This summer, when the final wicket falls and the Aussies lift the urn triumphantly, Australia’s best cold beer pledges to ‘shout the nation’” the company said. “That’s one ice-cold VB for every eligible person of drinking age and one huge celebration of the rightful return of the Ashes.” Australia have slipped below England in the Test rankings and are battling a raft of injuries and poor form ahead of the series. However, England have not won a series in Australia in 24 years. The five-Test series starts on Nov. 25.
FORMULA ONE
Tycoon gets new job
Richard Branson will serve as a “stewardess” on an Air Asia flight after losing a bet to Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes over which of their Formula One teams did better this season. Although neither team scored a point in their debut season, Lotus slightly outperformed Virgin. The two had made a bet before the season that the loser must serve as a “stewardess” on the winner’s airline. Fernandes owns Air Asia and Branson runs Virgin. Fernandes says “it’s time for Richard to start preparing himself for some hard work and the likely pain of a pair of high heels.”
ASIA GAMES
Paul (RIP) usurped by panda
First there was Paul the octopus, now there’s Bo Si, the “psychic” panda. Bo Si picked a Chinese athlete to be the first gold medal winner of the Asian Games — and Yuan Xiaochao promptly won the wushu, boosting the popularity of the 12 giant pandas at Xiangjiang Safari Park in Guangzhou. But given that China is the favorite to top the medals table and have the biggest squad at the games, critics said it hardly proved Bo Si’s telepathic powers. It also emerged Bo Si had been given the option of a bamboo shoot, which represented a Chinese winner, or an apple for a foreigner. Pandas exist on a bamboo diet.
BASEBALL
Rookies of year named
The San Francisco Giants World Series winning catcher Buster Posey won the National League Rookie of the Year Award on Monday while Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz took the American League’s prize. Posey comfortably defeated Atlanta right-fielder Jason Heyward in the vote by 32 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He spent almost two months at minor league Fresno before he was recruited as the Giants first base where he made an immediate impact. Feliz beat Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson in the AL vote. After taking over as the Rangers’ closer in mid-April, he saved 40 games, setting a Major League record for most saves by a rookie.
BASKETBALL
Nomination stuns LeBron
If the Miami Heat changing room was polled, LeBron James would not have unanimous support in the race for Time’s Person of the Year. James wouldn’t even vote for himself. Calling it “crazy” just to be on the list of finalists for the award, the NBA’s reigning two-time MVP seemed almost a bit embarrassed on Monday when he learned that he was one of the final 25 names under consideration. The winner is expected to be revealed next month. “I am who I am and I think I’m in a position of my life where I’m going to get better every day,” James said after Miami wrapped up its practice on Monday. “But it’s too much.”
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