RUGBY UNION
Fiji player ban to stay
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that calls for Fiji to boycott the Rugby World Cup would not force Wellington to lift a ban on players linked to the Pacific nation’s military regime. Fiji’s Olympic chief Vidya Lakhan has urged a boycott if the travel sanctions, imposed after a 2006 military coup, remained in place for the Sept. 9 to Oct. 23 tournament in New Zealand. Key said relaxing the ban on anyone with ties to Fijian strongman Voreque Bainimarama’s military regime “would make a bit of a mockery” of New Zealand’s efforts to restore democracy in the country.
RUGBY UNION
New colors already fading
Fans of the Otago Highlanders are dismayed at their team’s decision to change the colors of their strip from the traditional blue, maroon and yellow. The new colors, widely expected to be mostly green, are being kept under wraps until the team host the Western Force at Carisbrook in Dunedin, New Zealand, in their final game at the ground on Friday before they move to a new indoor stadium next season. Television cameras have been banned from the dressing room before kickoff so the strip will not be seen until the players run out onto the field. The Highlanders have undergone a renaissance this season under new coach Jamie Joseph and the move to the new stadium had prompted the decision to unveil new colors, the Highlanders’ general manager Roger Clark said earlier this week. The fans are less than enthused, with more than 90 percent of the 2,500 people taking part in an online poll on the Otago Daily times Web site against the decision. “Highlanders in green. What next, the All Blacks in nipple pink?” a reader named Torea wrote on the Web site.
BASKETBALL
McHale to coach Rockets
Former Boston Celtics stalwart Kevin McHale on Tuesday confirmed he has agreed to become the new coach of the Houston Rockets. The long-time general manger of the Minnesota Timberwolves, following a decorated playing career with the Celtics from 1980 to 1993, McHale accepted an undisclosed three-year contract with an option for a fourth season, according to the NBA’s Web site. McHale’s announcement will end his recent stint as a television broadcaster and return him to the sidelines where he briefly stepped in for the Timberwolves’ final 63 games of the 2008 to 2009 season, along with a stretch as interim coach from 2004 to 2005. The 53-year-old McHale expects to be introduced by the Rockets at a news conference in Houston tomorrow. Rick Adelman departed the Rockets days after completing his fourth season at the helm of the franchise.
BASKETBALL
NBA approves Pistons sale
NBA commissioner David Stern said on Tuesday that the league has approved the proposed sale of the Detroit Pistons to California billionaire investor Tom Gores. Stern said prior to game one of the NBA finals that he expected the sale to close officially this week. The Pistons said in April that Gores had reached a tentative deal to buy the club from Karen Davidson. The deal ended a lengthy effort by Davidson to sell the club. She became owner when her husband died in March 2009. Davidson had hoped to reach a deal to sell the team by the time the season started last year, but talks with Mike Ilitch, owner of baseball’s Detroit Tigers and the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, collapsed. Gores, a Michigan native, will take over a struggling franchise.
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