BASKETBALL
Star has only sex left
Lithuanian basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis said on Tuesday he would have to limit his pleasures after suffering a heart attack a week ago, as doctors decided to release him from hospital. “The doctors told me, ‘You can’t smoke, you can’t drink, you can’t play basketball.’ So of the things I like, only sex is left,” Sabonis told Lithuanian media at the clinic in his hometown, the central city of Kaunas. “The doctors decided this. I’m a newcomer here so I do what I’m told,” he was quoted as saying by the news Web site www.lrytas.lt. Sabonis, now 46, was inducted into the NBA’s Hall of Fame earlier this year. Considered one of the top passing centers of all time, he played seven seasons for the Portland Trail Blazers between 1995 and 2003.
FOOTBALL
Goodell defends test validity
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell defended the validity of current doping tests for human growth hormone (HGH) on Monday and said he is hopeful HGH tests on players will start this year. When NFL players and club owners struck a new collective bargaining deal in August to end a five-month lockout, both sides agreed that blood testing for HGH would be part of the new agreement once union leaders agreed to methods. However, that agreement has not come nearly a month into the season, with officials having doubts about the accuracy of the tests as well as the safety measures involved. “I think the science has proven there’s a valid test and we’re hoping we’ll get the green light from the union,” Goodell said on Monday.
SOCCER
Afellay out for six months
Barcelona says Dutch international midfielder Ibrahim Afellay will be out for six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee on Monday. The 25-year-old Afellay had only played twice this season before sustaining the injury in practice last week. The European champions have been hard hit by injuries this season, with midfielder Andres Iniesta, defender Eric Abidal and new signings Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez all currently sidelined. Barcelona is in first place in the Spanish league.
SOCCER
Stekelenburg out of squad
Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has pulled out of the Netherlands squad for two European Championship qualifiers because he is still suffering from the effects of being kicked in the head two weeks ago. The team has announced that the AS Roma goalkeeper is returning to Italy for further treatment. Stekelenburg has not played since being diagnosed with head and neck trauma after the Sept. 17 collision with Inter Milan defender Lucio. Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm is expected to take Stekelenburg’s place in goal when the Netherlands takes on Moldova in Rotterdam on Friday and Sweden four days later in Solna.
ICE HOCKEY
Ovechkin returns to Russia
Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is taking a leave of absence to return home to Moscow after a death in the family, the NHL club announced on Monday. Ovechkin learned of the death of a close relative and left a day after the Capitals completed their pre-season schedule with a 4-1 home victory over Chicago. A team spokesman said the Capitals hope the two-time NHL Most Valuable Player will be back with the team in time for Saturday’s season opener at home against the Carolina Hurricanes
SOCCER
Bologna look for new coach
Italian Serie A strugglers Bologna are on the lookout for what will be their fourth coach in 14 months after announcing the sacking of Pierpaolo Bisoli on Tuesday. Bisoli took over at the end of the last season when he replaced Alberto Malesani, who had taken over from Franco Colomba in August last year when Colomba was fired the day before their opening match of the season. Bisoli’s dismissal follows the team’s failure to win a match so far this season. After one draw and four defeats, Bologna sit bottom of the table. It also heaps further crisis on a club that has had five presidents since December last year. Sergio Porcedda, who was fired for putting the club into debt and left Bologna with a three-point penalty last season, has since had four successors, including current incumbent Albano Gueraldi. Bologna have yet to name a replacement for Bisoli, although Italian press reports cite former Genoa coach Davide Ballardini and Stefano Pioli, sacked by Palermo days before the start of the current season, as possible candidates.
RUGBY UNION
All Blacks put hands up
As New Zealand fret over the All Blacks’ future in the World Cup without injured fly-half Dan Carter, it seems there is no shortage of replacements. Colin Slade is the incumbent understudy at No. 10, scrum-half Piri Weepu has come off the bench to play there and last year’s All Black Aaron Cruden has been drafted into the squad to replace Carter. However, two other All Blacks reckon they should be given a go. Sonny Bill Williams, when questioned on his preferred position going into the play-offs after starring in the midfield and wing, shot back: “No. 10.” Not to be outdone, team wit and wing Cory Jane reeled off his credentials. “I don’t know if you noticed this, but from under-6s to under-12s, I played first-five [fly-half]. So I’ve got a bit of experience there if need be in the squad. So all I know is I can go into first-five if needed.” Blacks coach Wayne Smith said the idea, although daft, had merit. “The more I think about it, it might be a good idea because if we don’t know what we’re doing, then the opposition will have no show.”
RUGBY UNION
Auckland pays heavy price
If the climax of the World Cup is as close as an Auckland Council vote authorizing additional spending on bolstering “party zones” for fans, it may yet top the drama of Jonny Wilkinson’s winning extra-time drop-goal in the 2003 final. The casting vote of Mayor Len Brown was needed on Tuesday to secure a 10-9 victory for supporters of an additional NZ$1.5 million (US$1.14 million) outlay on a range of facilities, including a new waterfront fan zone. However, the outcome might have been different if City Vision councilor Cathy Casey had not left the council chamber before the vote was taken. The New Zealand Herald reported Casey as saying the reason she left early was to attend her step-daughter’s 14th birthday party — presumably rather less expensive than the one the city is planning for the world’s rugby fans.
RUGBY UNION
Memorabilia on auction
Collectors will have the chance to bid for more than 160 items of rugby memorabilia in Auckland next Thursday. Among the lots on offer is a cap from the 1884 New Zealand team, the country’s first representative side and one that played in dark blue, not black. “The All Blues? Doesn’t quite have the same ring, does it?”
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