ICE HOCKEY
All-Star teams picked
Zdeno Chara went with offense in taking Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk with the No. 1 pick in the NHL All-Star draft, while opposing captain Daniel Alfredsson stuck closer to home, choosing Ottawa Senators defenseman and teammate Erik Karlsson with his first selection. Alfredsson’s selection of Karlsson was no surprise because the Senators captain acknowledged last week that his children wanted him to pick the high-scoring defenseman. Karlsson, a fellow Swede, lived with Alfredsson during his rookie season two years ago. Chara earned the right to choose first by winning the “puck flip” against Alfredsson. Team Chara will face Team Alfredsson in both the skills competition today and the All-Star game tomorrow. The distinction of Mr Irrelevant — the last man picked — fell to San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture. For being the last of the 38 players selected, Couture won a car and will have US$20,000 donated to a charity of his choice.
SOCCER
Redknapp cites illiteracy
Harry Redknapp denied tax evasion to police by saying he “couldn’t even fill a teamsheet in.” A tape recording of the interview was played at Redknapp’s court trial where he is accused of hiding US$295,000 of transfer bonuses in an offshore account. Redknapp said: “I can’t write, so I don’t keep anything,” adding that he pays “a fortune to my accountant to look after me.” In the recording, the manager said that being “utterly disorganized” showed he wasn’t “going to fiddle taxes.” His bank adviser, Alan Hills, said in court on Thursday how Redknapp made “disastrous” business decisions and lost £250,000 (US$392,000) trying to invest in Oxford United. Redknapp and co-defendant Milan Mandaric deny tax evasion charges relating to their time at Portsmouth.
RUGBY UNION
Toulon president banned
Outspoken Toulon owner and club president Mourad Boudjellal was handed a 130-day ban on Thursday after using lurid language to describe the level of refereeing in a recent Top 14 game. Boudjellal made the remarks on Jan. 8 following Toulon’s defeat at Clermont, saying his side had been “sodomized by the referees.” France’s National Rugby League (LNR) took exception to his remarks and on Thursday announced it had handed Boudjellal a ban that will see him unable to work as the club’s president until June 3. Boudjellal, who made his fortune in comic books, has the right to appeal the LNR decision. Last week the French Rugby Referees Union threatened to sue Boudjellal for defamation after the remarks. Boudjellal replied to the threat, saying: “I am not surprised that they are attacking me. With what they are paid, they need the money.”
GOLF
Els loses caddie after fall
An accident during a pro-am prize presentation in his native South Africa scuppered Ernie Els’ plans of starting the 2012 PGA Tour season with his long-time caddie Ricci Roberts on his bag. Roberts, who had competed in a charity tournament to raise funds for the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, broke his ankle after accepting a prize and will be out for at least two months. “I called Ricci up on stage and he did a little speech, but when he walked off he just kind of missed his first step and he went down,” Els said before Thursday’s opening round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. “It was so damn dark and this stage was about this high,” the South African added, pointing about 1.8m high.
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