RUGBY UNION
Otago stave off liquidation
The Otago Rugby Union (ORU) temporarily staved off becoming the first New Zealand union in the professional era to go into liquidation yesterday, though its financial situation still remained “grave” the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said. The ORU had said earlier in the week it was unable to service NZ$2.35 million (US$1.95 million) in debt, pay the wages of players and administrative staff or their bills, and that it would be forced to begin liquidation proceedings yesterday if it could not put together a rescue package. However, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew told reporters in Wellington they had asked the ORU to put off the proceedings for a week and continue working with potential sponsors, benefactors and financial institutions to find a solution. The Otago Highlanders are not directly affected by the bankruptcy, having been hived off as a separate legal entity.
SOCCER
Fowler trains with Blackpool
Former Liverpool forward Robbie Fowler is training with Blackpool and could be set to sign a short-term deal, the English second-tier club said on Thursday. The 36-year-old poacher quit English soccer three years ago to play first in Australia and then in Thailand, but he has returned home after an opportunity to join India’s Premier League Soccer fell through when the inaugural edition was postponed. Fowler, who also played for Leeds United and Manchester City, as well as representing England, is fourth in the all-time English Premier League scorers list with 163 goals. “Has he got some quality, can he find little pockets, can he play a pass, can he score a goal? Yes, he can,” Blackpool manager Ian Holloway said on the Lancashire club’s Web site. “I still think he’s hungry, I still think he wants to play and he’s got undoubted quality.”
SOCCER
Admiral defends costly pitch
The US admiral in charge of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp is defending the decision to build a US$744,000 soccer field for well-behaved prisoners, saying critics misunderstand the facility’s purpose and logistics. Rear Admiral David Woods said the camp’s mission was not to punish foreign captives unnecessarily, many of whom have been held there for 10 years already. He said his job is to detain them away from the battlefield under safe and humane conditions, and that providing socialization opportunities was part of that. “It does include things that keep their mind active, like the classes that we keep and the entertainment, newspapers, books, TV that they’re able to experience here,” Woods said on Wednesday night. The soccer field includes a soft gravel walking track, security cameras and a high fence topped with razor wire. It is expected to open in the spring, after goal posts and latrines are added.
ATHLETICS
Rodgers accepts doping ban
US sprinter Mike Rodgers has accepted a nine-month ban for a failed drug test, but he will still be able to compete in the London Olympics if he qualifies, the US Anti-Doping Agency said on Thursday. The former US 100m champion, who tested positive at an event in Italy in July last year, is banned until April 19, making him eligible for the US Olympic trials in June if he meets testing requirements. The agency said Rodgers gave “inaccurate and misleading testimony” at his hearing, but eventually agreed to his ban. “Needless to say, this has been both a humbling and enlightening experience,” Rodgers said in a statement. “I made a huge mistake and take full responsibility for my actions.”
BASKETBALL
Jordan to sue in China
Retired NBA superstar Michael Jordan on Thursday welcomed the news that Chinese courts have agreed to hear his lawsuit against a Chinese sportswear and shoe maker over unauthorized use of his name. “I am very happy that the Chinese courts have accepted my case to protect the use of my name and the interests of Chinese consumers,” Jordan said in a statement issued in both the US and China. “Qiaodan Sports has built a business off my Chinese name, the number 23 and even attempted to use the names of my children, without authorization,” he said. The lawsuit filed by Jordan in February charges that Qiaodan Sports Company deliberately misled Chinese consumers about ties to the six-time NBA champion. Jordan has been known in China by the name Qiaodan since he became a global basketball star in the 1980s, his playmaking skills being seen on Chinese TV since the 1987 NBA All-Star Game — the first NBA telecast in China.
MOTORSPORT
Barrichello joins IndyCar
Rubens Barrichello, the most experienced driver in Formula One, will become an IndyCar rookie after joining KV Racing Technology on Thursday to race in the US’ open-wheel series. Barrichello, who spent 19 seasons in F1 and started 322 races — more than any other driver — is scheduled to make his IndyCar debut on March 25 at the series opener on the streets of St Petersburg, Florida, with the team’s other drivers, fellow Brazilian Tony Kanaan and Venezuelan EJ Viso. “I am thrilled, it is something very new to me,” Barrichello said in a statement. The 39-year-old began racing in F1 in 1993, the year before his friend and mentor Ayrton Senna was killed in a crash at Imola, and has competed for Jordan, Stewart, Ferrari, Honda, Brawn and Williams, recording 11 career and 68 podium finishes.
CRICKET
Ryder, Bracewell suspended
Batsman Jesse Ryder and paceman Doug Bracewell have been suspended from the New Zealand team after an alcohol-fueled row following a loss to South Africa, officials said. Team manager Mike Sandle said the pair went out in Napier after the Black Caps’ six-wicket defeat in their second one-day international on Wednesday, becoming involved in an argument when they “verbally reacted to taunts from the public.” Sandle said neither player would be considered for the third and final game of the series in Auckland today. Sandle said the pair had broken team protocols by going out drinking, then showed a lack of judgement by becoming embroiled in a row in a hotel. “Despite the fact that the players were goaded and they didn’t allow the situation to escalate past a short exchange of words, we expect players to walk away,” he said.
BASKETBALL
Woolridge arrested
Former National Basketball Association forward Orlando Woolridge was arrested on charges of stealing aluminum tubing from a drill site in Louisiana. Woolridge, who played 13 seasons with seven teams after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1981, was arrested on a charge of theft of tubing worth more than US$1,500, according to Patrick Cobbs, chief deputy of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office in Mansfield, Louisiana. The 52-year-old Woolridge averaged 16 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. He was suspended during the 1987-1988 NBA season for substance abuse. Woolridge has coached in the Women’s NBA and the American Basketball Association.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
MLB on Friday announced a formal investigation into the scandal swirling around Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter amid charges that the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was the victim of “massive theft.” The Dodgers on Wednesday fired Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani’s long-time interpreter and close friend, after Ohtani’s representatives alleged that the Japanese two-way star had been the victim of theft, which was reported to involve millions of dollars and link Mizuhara to a suspected illegal bookmaker in California. “Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media,” MLB