CRICKET
Rain ends second ODI
Rain washed out the second one-day international between New Zealand and Pakistan at the Queenstown Events Centre in New Zealand yesterday. Constant drizzle delayed the start of play by an hour before the match began at midday and was reduced to 48 overs each. Pakistan made a breezy start to their innings, reaching 31 without loss off 4.2 overs with Ahmed Shahzad racing to 25 off 16 balls and Mohammad Hafeez on four, when rain forced them off again less than 20 minutes after play began. Rain continued to fall and play was abandoned at 3:17pm when the umpires decided there was no chance of play beginning an hour later — the cut-off point for a match of 20 overs each side. The series moves to Christchurch for the third game on Saturday. New Zealand hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-six series following a nine-wicket win in Wellington.
SOCCER
Mum gets Messi in trouble
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Tuesday fined Barcelona star Lionel Messi after the Argentine world player of the year showed off a T-shirt bearing a birthday message to his mother. Media reports said the fine was believed to be between 2,000 euros (US$2,700) and 3,000 euros, which the RFEF deemed Messi should pay for ripping off his shirt after scoring at the weekend against Racing Santander and showing a tee-shirt emblazoned with the words “Happy Birthday Mum.” The Federation stipulates that no such slogans should be shown off.
GOLF
Chavez praises Vegas
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday that he is no enemy of golf, despite his concerns about elite golf courses on prime urban real estate in Caracas. Chavez made the remark while congratulating Venezuelan golfer Jhonattan Vegas on his win in the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday in California. “I’m not an enemy of golf. I’m not an enemy of any sport,” Chavez said in a televised speech. “What I’ve done is criticize that there are some rich guys in Caracas who have ... golf courses and next to them the ranchos are falling down,” he said, referring to the simple brick homes clinging to hillsides that have been destroyed in recent landslides. Chavez has suggested the land on Caracas golf courses could be better used as his government seeks to speed construction of public housing — a stance that has raised the possibility the courses could eventually be expropriated. The president said he hoped to speak with Vegas soon by phone to congratulate him personally. “He beat all the gringos,” said Chavez, laughing. “Let’s go, buddy.” Chavez noted that Vegas is black, saying “he looks like [US President Barack] Obama.”
SOCCER
Atletico says offers rejected
An Atletico Madrid official says the club rejected big money offers from Real Madrid and Chelsea for striker Sergio Aguero this week. Senior adviser Miguel Angel Gil says the club turned down a 45 million euro (US$61 million) offer from crosstown rival Madrid for the Argentina striker as well as a 60 million euro proposal by the Premier League club that would have seen defender Diego Godin included in the deal. Gil says Atletico turned down the offers because it “believes in the players and the project we are building here.” Reports suggest Madrid could pay Aguero’s 60 million euro buy-out clause at the end of the season. Gil says coach Quique Sanchez Flores will see out the season despite the club’s recent struggles.
FOOTBALL
Vick endorses products
Philadelphia Eagles star Michael Vick, who lost NFL riches and went to prison after becoming reviled for killing dogs in gruesome fashion, is once again endorsing corporate products. Vick on Tuesday signed his first pitchman deal since serving 18 months in federal prison for his financing role in a dogfight gambling conspiracy, a two-year contract with gridiron padding producer Unequal Technologies. Vick wore a vest from Unequal after missing three games with a rib injury this season and later wore the firm’s shoulder and thigh pads. When playing for the Atlanta Falcons, Vick was the NFL’s top-paid player and a star for six seasons, but his 2007 arrest and the spiral that followed left him despised by many, particularly by dog lovers, after court documents revealed how he brutally killed losing dogs.
BOXING
Mayweather hearing delayed
Unbeaten US boxing star Floyd Mayweather’s evidence hearing on felony domestic violence charges was postponed to March 10 at the request of defense attorneys. Mayweather’s lawyer, Karen Winckler, asked for the delay on Monday so her law partner, Richard Wright, could examine material and Justice Melissa Saragosa agreed after there was no objection from prosecutors. Mayweather, 33, said nothing during his brief courtroom appearance and did not want to talk about the case, in which he is accused of striking and threatening former girlfriend Josie Harris, stealing her cellphone and threatening two of their children in an incident on Sept. 9. Attorneys for Mayweather have denied the fighter has done any wrong, but Mayweather faces up to 34 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
BASKETBALL
Hornets to stay in place
The NBA New Orleans Hornets will remain in the Louisiana city for at least another season after meeting an attendance goal that prevents an escape clause activation in their arena lease. The Hornets, who were forced to play two seasons out of Oklahoma City in the wake of devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, clinched the attendance mark when 17,233 fans watched them edge Oklahoma City 91-89 on Monday night. The club, owned by the league, has a lease through 2014, but it can opt out early if attendance drops below an average of 14,735 for a two-season span that is calculated at the end of each January. A last-minute push by Louisiana political leaders ensured the Hornets would meet their goal, but state governor Bobby Jindal hopes businesses will boost the team’s season ticket holder total from barely 6,000 to almost 10,000.
BASKETBALL
Popovich to coach All-Stars
Gregg Popovich, coach of the NBA overall pace--setting San Antonio Spurs, was named on Tuesday as coach for the Western Conference in next month’s NBA All-Star Game at Los Angeles. Under the guidance of Popovich, the Spurs are off to a club record 38-7 start with the best record in the NBA so far this season, four games better than Eastern Conference leader Boston. Popovich, who previously guided the West All-Stars in 2005, has coached the Spurs to four titles in his 14 prior seasons as the team’s coach, bringing the crown to San Antonio in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Popovich has a career record of 774-369 and his 106 playoff triumphs rank third on the all-time list.
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