BASKETBALL
Nash named Canada GM
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns was named general manager of Canada’s national basketball team on Tuesday. Nash, who is Canada’s biggest basketball star, will guide the Canada team as they attempt to qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. His appointment comes as a surprise because Nash still plays in the NBA for the Suns. The 15-year NBA veteran will become a free agent this summer. He helped Canada finish seventh at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, a team coach by former Canada Olympian Jay Triano.
FIELD HOCKEY
Argentine player dropped
The Argentine player filmed training on the Falkland Islands in a controversial video that caused a furor in Britain last week was dropped from Argentina’s final Olympic Games warmup event. Fernando Zylberberg, a 34-year-old midfielder who has captained Argentina, was not included in the 18-man squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia posted on the Argentine Hockey Confederation Web site. The other teams participating in the six-nation tournament from May 24 to June 4 are the hosts, India, Pakistan, South Korea, New Zealand and Britain. A veteran of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, Zylberberg was in the Argentina side that qualified for London as Pan-American champions last year and his absence in Malaysia does not mean he is definitely discarded for the July 27-Aug. 12 Games. The Argentine state-supported television advertisement aired in the run-up to the London Games and featuring Zylberberg was branded by Britain as “tasteless and insulting.”
PARALYMPICS
N Korea to make debut
North Korea will make their debut in the Olympics for the disabled when they take part in this summer’s Paralympics in London, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper said yesterday. Chosun Sinbo, a Japan-based paper that reflects Pyongyang’s thinking, said the North were stepping up preparations for the Paralympics, which will take place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 9, two weeks after the Olympics close. Athletes and coaches left for Beijing on May 3 to take part in joint training with Chinese counterparts until early next month, the newspaper said on its Web site. The North will field disabled athletes in various sports including table tennis, swimming and athletics, it said. North Korea joined the International Paralympics Committee in March, an official of South Korea’s Korea Sports Association for the Disabled said. The North said in January they would compete in at least seven events in the main Olympics — women’s soccer, weightlifting, the marathon, wrestling, table tennis, archery and shooting. A sports official said at the time it could also send contestants in sports such as boxing, judo and diving.
TENNIS
Street named after Federer
Roger Federer has had his name on the trophy and now he has it on a street sign as well. The town of Halle in western Germany hosts the Gerry Weber Open, a grass-court tournament that serves as a Wimbledon warmup. Federer has won at Halle five times and has a “lifetime contract” with the tournament — if the Swiss great plays a pre-Wimbledon event, then it is the one in Halle. Since the start of this month, a street leading to the stadium, known as Weststrasse, has been called the Roger-Federer-Allee. Tournament officials released a letter from the third-ranked Swiss star in which he said he is “extremely humbled and honored” by the gesture, calling it an “amazing honor.”
CRICKET
Starc thrown out of Britain
Cricket Australia yesterday denied having anything to do with Mitchell Starc being thrown out of Britain, as the fast bowler attempted to play down the visa problems that saw him deported. The left-armer was due to leave London on Tuesday evening with his English side Yorkshire, coached by former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, blaming either Cricket Australia or Starc’s agent for problems with his paperwork. The 22-year-old arrived at Heathrow Airport at the weekend and was initially cleared to remain, but he was unable to make his Yorkshire debut against Gloucestershire yesterday. Cricket Australia said the issue had nothing to do with them. “Mitchell is on annual leave and decided to organize a short-term contract with Yorkshire. It has absolutely nothing to do with us,” a spokesman said. “We have sent plenty of people to England and know all the requirements. Saying that, we have made it clear that if Mitchell needs our help, we are happy to do that.” While Cricket Australia have been blamed by some, Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves has also fingered Starc’s agent for the “fiasco,” the Guardian reported. Starc was due to begin an initial five-week deal with Yorkshire to help offset the departure of English seamer Ajmal Shahzad, who joined county champions Lancashire on loan this week. Yorkshire coach Gillespie said it was a pity Starc would miss the Gloucestershire clash, but said he would be back, hopefully in time to face Hampshire next week.
FORMULA ONE
Ferrari honor Villeneuve
Ferrari has honored the 30th anniversary of Gilles Villeneuve’s death by having his son Jacques drive one of his old cars. Jacques Villeneuve took to the wheel of the 312 T4 driven by his father in 1979, the season the Canadian and Jody Scheckter ensured Ferrari won the constructors’ title. Also at Ferrari’s track in Fiorano, Italy, on Tuesday were other Villeneuve family members, Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, current Ferrari drivers and former mechanics who worked with the elder Villeneuve. Gilles Villeneuve died in a high-speed crash while qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix on May 8, 1982. Now retired, Jacques Villeneuve was also an accomplished driver, winning the 1997 Formula One title.
RUGBY UNION
Blues to advertise for coach
The Blues say they will advertise the position of head coach, increasing speculation current coach Pat Lam will not retain the job beyond this season. In a statement yesterday, Blues chairman Gary Whetton said the Auckland franchise and the New Zealand Rugby Union had agreed to advertise Lam’s position to test the degree of interest in the role. Lam is contracted to the end of this year with an option of a further year, but with the Blues having won only one of 10 Super Rugby games so far, his chances of reappointment seem slim.
RUGBY UNION
McCaw in starting lineup
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is set to be in a starting lineup for the first time since last year’s World Cup final when he lead the Crusaders against the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday. McCaw has played off the bench in the Crusaders’ last two games after recovering from a foot injury that affected him in the second half of New Zealand’s winning World Cup campaign. He will also take over the captaincy from his All Blacks teammate Kieran Read, who has led the Crusaders in their 10 matches so far this season. The Crusaders are seventh in the Super Rugby standings, with seven wins and three losses.
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