BASKETBALL
Lin invited to ‘Time’ gala
NBA sensation Jeremy Lin has been invited to this year’s Time magazine gala to honor the most influential people in the world selected by the weekly, according to foreign media reports. Lin will attend the festivities along with an eclectic mix of celebrities, including New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, the reports said. Global pop diva Rihanna will perform at the gala, which will also feature a keynote speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Each year, Time invites its readers around the world to vote online for “the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes who they think are the most influential people in the world for that particular year.” Lin ranked ninth in the online poll to identify the Time 100, garnering nearly 90,000 votes. He was the top-ranked athlete in the online voting, edging out Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona.
SAILING
Spain pair head to London
Former Olympic champions Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez have the chance to avenge their disputed defeat in the 49er-class race in Beijing after being selected to represent Spain again in the London Games this summer. The pair were denied a second gold to follow their Olympic triumph in Athens in 2004 after a Denmark duo, whose boat was broken, borrowed a replacement from already eliminated Croatia for the deciding race in China. Denmark just pipped them for first place and sparked a furious protest from silver-medalists Spain and the Italy team, which was rejected. “I think we can be prepared, if not we wouldn’t even try,” Fernandez told the Spanish sailing federation Web site. The pair finished second in the Olympic practice event in Weymouth last year. “The Weymouth course is a good place for us,” Martinez added.
SOCCER
Brazil squad weak: Romario
Former star Romario said Brazil would not get past the group stage of the World Cup if the competition were played today. Now a Brazilian lawmaker, Romario used an expletive to describe what he thinks about the national team and said coach Mano Menezes needs more time to be able to form his squad. Romario said he would like to see former South Africa coach Joel Santana in command if Menezes is fired in case Brazil fails to earn a good result during the London Olympics. He also said in his interview to the local Rio de Janeiro daily O Dia that he was “by far” better than Argentina’s Lionel Messi. He said he is in the top three all-time, along with Pele and Diego Maradona.
GOLF
Watson out of Quail Hollow
Masters champion Bubba Watson withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina. Watson told tournament officials on Tuesday that he needed to spend time with his family after the tournament in New Orleans next week, where he will defend his title. The Wells Fargo Championship is May 3 through May 6, with The Players Championship the following week. He says that would be three weeks away from his wife and newly adopted son. Wells Fargo still expects to attract a strong field with Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and
SOCCER
Reading secures promotion
Reading capped a remarkable run of form by securing promotion back to the Premier League on Tuesday, after a 1-0 victory at home to Nottingham Forest guaranteed a top-two finish in the Championship (second division). Reading, who have taken 46 points from a possible 51 over their past 17 games, return to the top-flight four seasons after losing their place in 2008. Fans flooded the pitch in celebration after a victory at the Madjeski Stadium that moved Reading, beaten by Swansea in last season’s playoff final, on to 88 points from 44 matches, three ahead of nearest pursuers Southampton, who won 3-1 at Peterborough. Southampton are poised to join Reading in gaining automatic promotion. The south coast club have a five-point advantage over West Ham United, who could only draw 1-1 at Bristol City on Tuesday, with two matches remaining.
SOCCER
Turkey bids for Euro 2020
Turkey submitted its bid on Tuesday to host the 2020 European Championship, less than a month after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan began the race to stage one of soccer’s biggest tournaments. Erdogan told delegates at a UEFA congress in Istanbul last month that Turkey wanted to host Euro 2020, delivering a blow to Istanbul’s 2020 Olympic candidacy, because bidding for two major events usually held only weeks apart is unlikely to be successful. Turkey missed out on hosting Euro 2016 by one vote, but since then the country’s soccer economy has expanded to become the sixth biggest in Europe, Turkish Football Federation president Yildirim Demiroren said in a statement. “The construction of modern football stadiums, backed by state guarantees, in cities around the countries and the development of transport links are among the most important elements supporting our bid,” Yildirim said.
FORMULA ONE
New Jersey GP in doubt
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt on New Jersey hosting a grand prix in June next year, despite a 10-year agreement announced last year. “Maybe the New York race will be 2013,” he told the BBC on Tuesday. “It’s a when — 2013 or 2014.” The east-coast race is likely to be coupled with Canada on successive weekends and would give the US two rounds of the championship, with Austin in Texas due to make a debut on the calendar in November if its new circuit is ready in time. New Jersey’s street-circuit race is due to be held on the banks of the Hudson River with New York’s Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The US, a key market for Formula One manufacturers such as Ferrari and Mercedes as well as team sponsors, has not had a grand prix since Indianapolis in 2007.
OLYMPICS
UK athletes get tickets
British athletes will not have to worry about their nearest and dearest missing their moments of glory at the London Olympics. With just 99 days to go until the Games get under way, governing body UK Athletics (UKA) said it would buy tickets to ensure British competitors’ friends and families can watch every twist and turn. Athletes currently receive two tickets for their first Games appearance through the British Olympic Association, but UKA will now pay for two tickets for every subsequent round. “This is essentially a performance decision — the last thing we want athletes to be worrying about is the cost or availability of tickets for their mum and dad, boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife,” UKA chief executive Niels de Vos said in a statement.
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
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
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