BASKETBALL
Rose fined for ripping refs
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose was fined US$25,000 by the National Basketball Association (NBA) for criticizing officials after Monday’s win over the New York Knicks, the league said on Tuesday. Rose, last year’s NBA Most Valuable Player, showed his displeasure early in the game when he thought he was fouled on some drives to the hoop, but did not get the call, and at another point complained that the Knicks were setting illegal screens. “I’ve got to be the only superstar in the league going through what I’m going through right now,” Rose said after his team’s 104-99 home win. “I was mad because they weren’t calling any calls the whole game.”
NFL
Buccaneers sign Jackson
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed prized wide receiver Vincent Jackson to a five-year deal just hours into the NFL’s free agency period, the team announced on their Web site on Tuesday. The deal was worth US$55.5 million, according to local reports, and will put Jackson in a new uniform after he spent his first seven seasons with the San Diego Chargers. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Jackson is a 2m target with three 1,000 receiving-yard seasons in his career. His departure from the Chargers comes after he held out for most of the 2010 season because of a contract dispute, but did make his way back to the field last season when he made 60 catches for nine touchdowns.
BASKETBALL
US player arrested in Japan
A US player who plays in Japan’s professional basketball league has been arrested over allegations that he and his wife imported marijuana into the country with plans to sell the drug, police said yesterday. Authorities on Tuesday detained Lynn Washington, 33, in the western city of Osaka where the California native plays, prompting the bj-league to say it would conduct mandatory drug testing on players. Washington, with the team Osaka Evessa, and his wife, Dana, 32, are suspected of importing 0.983kg of marijuana from the US, a shipment with a street value of about US$72,000, according to Osaka police. In November, investigators found that nine of more than 10 cereal boxes delivered by express mail to Washington’s wife, who was arrested last month, each contained about 100 grams of the drug. The couple has denied the allegations, an Osaka investigator said. Washington, a two-time most valuable player in the Japanese league who played at Indiana University under legendary coach Bob Knight, has invested in a California medical marijuana dispensary, police said.
GOLF
Shaq helps Tiger’s game
Tiger Woods, the injured golf star coming off record sales for his video game last year, has enlisted ex-NBA star Shaquille O’Neal’s help in selling the newest version. Woods posted a Twitter link on Tuesday to unveil a two-minute video of himself and the massive retired basketball star exchanging kung fu moves before making shots in hyping Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 — Duel of the Masters. “Watch me do battle with @Shaq using the ancient method of Golf-Fu,” Woods posted on his Twitter Web site. Woods and Shaq used the Xbox 360 Kinect motion sensor to make game swings after elaborate kung fu-style moves. The video-game duel between “Crimson Cat” Woods and “Swinging Giant” O’Neal is a nod to older kung fu movies and not unfamiliar to O’Neal, who had a 1990s video game called Shaq-Fu. Woods’ new video game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 goes on sale on March 27.
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