SOCCER
West Ham wins bid: BBC
West Ham United have been chosen to take over the London 2012 Olympics stadium after fending off rival bidders Tottenham Hotspur, the BBC reported on Wednesday. Both Premier League clubs have submitted bids to the Olympic Park Legacy Co (OPLC) which is to hold a board meeting today to determine which of the two will take over the stadium. Should West Ham, whose plan would retain an athletics track inside the stadium, be confirmed as the OPLC’s recommended bidder it would still need to be ratified by the government and London Mayor Boris Johnson. A spokesman for the OPLC said on Wednesday that no decision had yet been made. “It’s pure speculation,” he said. “Our board will meet on Friday when they will be presented with both bids and vote to recommend a preferred bidder.” The OPLC had been expected to announce which of the two Premier League clubs would be recommended to move to the east London site at the end of last month, but postponed its board meeting, saying its members needed more time to evaluate both proposals.
MOTORSPORT
Renault call Heidfeld
Renault gave Nick Heidfeld’s stalled Formula One career a jump start on Wednesday by calling up the German as a possible replacement for injured Polish driver Robert Kubica. The team said in a statement that Heidfeld, who was Kubica’s teammate at BMW-Sauber for the best part of four years, would join Russian race regular Vitaly Petrov and Brazilian Bruno Senna at the second pre-season test in Jerez, Spain, this week. Kubica is in hospital in Italy after suffering serious arm, leg and hand injuries while competing in a minor rally near Genoa last Sunday. He will be out for several months and could miss the entire season. Senna, nephew of the late triple champion Ayrton, is the official reserve driver, but lacks Heidfeld’s experience. “Vitaly will drive the R31 on Thursday and Friday, as originally scheduled,” said the Lotus-backed team, who also have Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi on their three-man list of possible stand-ins. “For Saturday and Sunday, the team will give mileage to Bruno Senna and will also evaluate Nick Heidfeld, who is a potential replacement for Robert Kubica as a race driver.”
SOCCER
Real, Barca top money list
Europe’s top 20 soccer clubs earned more than 4 billion euros (US$5.46 billion) between them last season, bucking the financial downturn and leaving them well equipped to comply with UEFA’s financial fair play rules. Deloitte’s Football Money League, published yesterday, showed an unchanged top six with Real Madrid and Barcelona leading the way for the second successive year. Real’s revenue last season was 438.6 million euros, up from 401.4 million euros in 2008 to 2009, while Barcelona made 398.1 million euros and will see a substantial rise after securing a 165 million euro, five-year shirt sponsorship deal — the first time the club has had a paid-for shirt sponsor, previously carrying the UNICEF logo. Manchester United, who topped the first six editions of the money league from 1996 to 1997, are third with 349.8 million euros. Bayern Munich are fourth and there are five more English Premier League clubs in the top 12 with Arsenal (fifth), Chelsea (sixth), Liverpool (eighth), Manchester City (11th) and Champions League newcomers Tottenham Hotspur (12th). City were the big climbers, up from 20th (152.8 million euros to 102.2 million euros), and they and Tottenham are both likely to move into the top 10 next year.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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