GOLF
Marino retains Pro-Am lead
Steve Marino maintained the lead at the USPGA Tour’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California, shooting a third round one-over 71 on Saturday. Marino moved to a 12-under 202 total for a one-shot lead over fellow Americans Jimmy Walker and Bryce Molder. Molder shot a 68 at Spyglass Hill on Saturday, while Walker fired a 63 at Monterey Peninsula. Molder was in the hunt in this event last year, before stumbling to a nine on the 14th hole. D.A. Points had an opportunity to grab a share of third round lead, but found the bunker and finished with a bogey on his final hole of the day at Pebble Beach.
ATHLETICS
Lagat sets two-mile record
Bernard Lagat set a new US indoor record in the two-mile run, breaking a 21-year old mark to become the American record-holder at the five distances from 1,500m to two miles. Lagat finished in 8 minutes, 10.07 seconds during a college meet at the Armory on Saturday night in New York, beating the mark of 8 minutes, 15.02 seconds that Doug Padilla set on Feb. 16, 1990, in Los Angeles. The 36-year-old Lagat now holds the US indoor marks in the mile and two mile, and 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m. He is also the US outdoor record holder for the 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m. It was the first time the seven-time Olympic and world championship medalist had run two miles indoors as a professional.
ICE HOCKEY
NHL suspends, fines players
The NHL suspended three players on Saturday for their actions in a fight-filled game between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins in New York a day earlier. Penguins forward Eric Godard received the longest suspension, 10 games, for leaving the bench and coming to the aid of Pittsburgh goalie Brent Johnson in his team’s 9-3 defeat. Godard will also lose US$40,322 in salary. Islanders forwards Trevor Gillies received a nine-game penalty and Matt Martin was suspended four games. Gillies delivered a hit to the head as well as several punches to Eric Tangradi, who was injured in the altercation, and will lose US$24,193. Martin was banned for punching Max Talbot from behind and as a repeat offender, he will surrender US$41,585.
BOXING
Hernandez KOs Herelius
Cuba’s Yoan Pablo Hernandez on Saturday saw off Frenchman Steve Herelius on a seventh-round knockout to win the WBA interim cruiserweight belt after a bout outside Duesseldorf, Germany. Herelius was hampered by a self-inflicted Achilles tendon injury from the fourth round reprise and was reduced to all but fighting on one leg. Hernandez took his career record to 24 wins — 13 of them by knockout — for one defeat as he saw off his fellow southpaw. The Cuban challenger deployed greater range throughout and one minute, 19 seconds into the seventh, he was able to savor victory. After dominating the early rounds to establish a healthy points lead, the Cuban rocked his rival with a left counter and another left finished him off.
BOXING
Cunningham defends title
Steve Cunningham successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title by beating Enad Licina of Serbia in an unanimous decision on Saturday in Muelheim, Germany. The American received scores of 118-110, 117-111, 115-113. Licina fought well and the result was not as clear cut as the scores suggest. The 34-year-old improved his record to 24-2 (12 KOs) while Licina dropped to 19-3 (10 KOs).
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and