CYCLING
Germans pull out of race
A German team has dropped out of the Tour de Taiwan, the country’s biggest international cycling event, because of concerns over the possible radiation risk caused by the Japanese nuclear crisis, the organizer said yesterday. “The cyclists said they were advised by German authorities to avoid visiting the Asia-Pacific, not least Taiwan, which is so close to Japan,” said Sara Chen, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association. Among the six team members was Dirk Mueller, a member of Team Nutrixxion Sparkasse and last year’s Tour de China champion. Eighteen teams from 14 countries, including Britain, Japan and Malaysia, will still compete in the Tour de Taiwan, which starts at Taipei City Hall today, Chen said. The race is designated by the International Cycling Union as a qualifier for next year’s London Olympic Games. The event, now in its 23rd year, has been extended to 10 days instead of its previous seven, and will cover a total distance of 1,270km.
SKIING
Ligety claims title
Ted Ligety of the US won the giant slalom World Cup for the third time after the final race of the season at Lenzerheide was canceled because of bad weather yesterday. Ligety, who also won the world championship in the same discipline this year, had been leading the standings ahead of Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal and Frenchman Cyprien Richard going into the race. He dominated the season in the discipline, winning the first three races. Ligety is the fifth skier to win a hat-trick of crystal globes in the discipline following Ingemar Stenmark, Alberto Tomba, Michael von Gruenigen and Hermann Maier. The 26-year-old previously won the title in 2008 and last year.
BASKETBALL
Campaign hits below belt
A clinic’s ad campaign hits below the belt by urging sport fans to indulge in some alternative March madness: Have a vasectomy on Thursday or Friday then spend the weekend recovering while watching NCAA tournament basketball. The college basketball tournament is called “March madness,” with teams competing to come out on top by process of elimination. Iowa Clinic marketing executive Jessica Grant told the Des Moines Register that the campaign is designed to appeal to men whose partners want them to get the snip and who complain they spend too much time in front of the TV. The ad reads, “After your vasectomy: Stay on couch. 32 games in two days. Return to work on Monday.” Urologist Dr Mark Kellerman says he thinks the campaign is “a great idea.”
BOXING
Bute faces Ulsterman
Unbeaten Lucian Bute will make the seventh defense of his International Boxing Federation super middleweight crown against Brian Magee of Northern Ireland in Montreal today in a showdown of southpaw stars. Bute, a Romanian-born fighter based in Canada, is 27-0 with 22 knockouts and has stopped opponents inside the distance in six of his past seven starts dating to his 2007 title-claiming victory over Colombia’s Alejandro Berrio. It will be only the second time in his career that Bute, 31, has walked into the ring against a fellow left-hander, but he is not worried. “We had left-handed sparring partners and watched a lot of video on Magee,” Bute said. “He’s experienced. He is very aggressive and he can punch. I can’t underestimate him. I’m ready for a long, tough fight.” Magee, 34-3 with one drawn and 24 knockouts, is the former European champion in the weight class. The 35-year-old is on a 10-fight unbeaten run and has not lost since being stopped by Britain’s Carl Froch in 2006.
SOCCER
City, Bualien in showdown
The BML soccer league reaches its climax this evening as expat side Taipei City take on local boys Hong Min Bualien in a winner-takes-all clash at Bailing Bridge Sports Park in Shilin (士林), Taipei. City have a one-point lead going into the final game of the season against a Bualien side that last won the title in 2004. Adding to the drama, Bualien are the only team to have beaten City during this campaign, a 3-0 defeat early in the season. A win or a draw will see the title go City’s way for the third time in four seasons, but a loss will hand Bualien the crown. The game kicks off at 6pm and spectators are welcome.
SOCCER
Lehmann back at Arsenal
Former Germany international Jens Lehmann came out of retirement at the age of 41 on Thursday to solve Arsenal’s goalkeeping crisis. Lehmann, who left Arsenal in the summer of 2008 after a five-year spell with the English Premier League club, signed a rolling monthly contract until the end of the season. “We have no cover in the Premier League, so that is why I decided to bring Jens back,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “Jens knows the club very well, is vastly experienced and will also be an extremely positive influence in the dressing room during his time with us.” Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone are all out injured, leaving Wenger with just one fit goalkeeper — Manuel Almunia. Lehmann, who played 61 times for Germany, is available for selection for Arsenal’s Premier League match at West Bromwich Albion today. He retired last year when his contract expired at VfB Stuttgart after two seasons with the Bundesliga team. “I’m very excited to be rejoining Arsenal,” Lehmann said. “I have kept myself fit since the end of last season and I’m ready to contribute at any time for the team.”
CRICKET
Australia eye US talent
Cricket Australia has decided to tap the Boston Red Sox for tips on uncovering new talent, with selector Greg Chappell heading to the US at the weekend. Chappell, who is the national talent manager, leads a group of Australian cricket officials flying to Florida for a week-long reconnaissance exercise. While there they will meet with Boston Red Sox and University of Texas representatives on a range of topics covering talent identification and player development, Cricket Australia said. “In order to continually improve cricket’s high performance pathway system, the focus of the tour is to explore best practice being used by two world-leading organizations,” it said. As well as talent identification, they will be focusing on recruitment strategies, player preparation, opposition analysis and team culture.
SOCCER
Ferguson accepts ban, fine
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has accepted a five-match touchline ban and heavy fine he received for making critical comments about a referee after a Premier League match. Ferguson is “disappointed”’ to have been fined £30,000 (US$48,000) and banned, but will not appeal. The Football Association has accepted a request for Ferguson’s suspension to begin immediately rather than on Tuesday, meaning the Scot can return to the dugout for the league match against title rivals Arsenal on May 1. Ferguson was banned for condemning Martin Atkinson’s performance during the 2-1 loss to Chelsea on March 1, saying his team didn’t get a “fair”’ referee. Ferguson said on Thursday that soccer is “the only industry you can’t tell the truth in.”
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