BOXING
Johnny Tapia dead at 45
Five-time world boxing champion Johnny Tapia has died at his house in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Albuquerque Journal reported on Sunday, citing a family source. According to the newspaper, Albuquerque police were called to Tapia’s house on Sunday evening by a family member who found a body there. Police spokesman Robert Gibbs told the Journal that the death did not appear suspicious. Tapia, 45, was known for his battles with cross-town rival Danny Romero, Paulie Ayala and Marco Antonio Barrera. He earned world titles in the super flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight divisions in a professional career that began in 1988. Tapia, whose battles with addiction led to several brushes with the law, amassed a record of 59 wins, five losses and two draws with 30 knockouts. Tapia’s last fight was an eight-round unanimous decision over Mauricio Pastrana in Albuquerque in June last year.
INDY CAR
Franchitti wins Indy 500
Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 for the third time on Sunday after Takuma Sato crashed on the final lap. The Japanese driver went for the lead going into the first turn, pulling even with Franchitti. However, he went in too low, and the crash sent him into the outside wall. Sato’s car barely missed Franchitti, who coasted across the line under a yellow caution flag to become the 10th driver to win at least three Indy 500s. Franchitti’s teammate, Scott Dixon, finished second. Tony Kanaan, who had the lead off the last restart with six laps to go, settled for third on a blistering day.
RALLYING
Two die in Ireland crash
Police say two people have been killed and seven injured after a race car went out of control on a rural Irish road and crashed into a crowd of about 30 spectators. Sunday’s accident highlighted the regular dangers posed to drivers and viewers alike by Ireland’s annual high-speed contests on hedge-lined, narrow country roads. Organizers of the Cavan Stages Rally involving about 100 souped-up cars in the border county of Cavan canceled the event following the accident.
BASEBALL
Orioles sign Adam Jones
The Baltimore Orioles signed All-Star outfielder Adam Jones to a six-year contract that runs through the 2018 season, the American League team said on Sunday. Financial terms of the deal were not announced, but Major League Baseball’s Web site reported the deal was worth US$85.5 million, making Jones the second-highest paid center field in the MLB behind the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp. The contract, the richest ever for a Baltimore player, includes a no-trade provision and could be worth US$91.5 million with incentives, mlb.com said. Jones, 26, is batting .309 with 14 home runs and 31 runs batted in for 47 games this season, his seventh in the Major Leagues.
ROWING
Britain wins three golds
Britain justified its status as the rowing powerhouse heading into the London Olympics by winning three golds on its way to a table-topping haul of five medals at the World Cup regatta in Switzerland on Sunday. China also placed first in three finals on the Rotsee course in Lucerne, which attracted the world’s top crews two months before the Olympic regatta begins on Dorney Lake outside London. The men’s four and the women’s pair and double sculls all won for Britain.
SOCCER
Fan killed in shooting
Two people were being treated on Sunday for bullet wounds after a shooting that claimed the life of a 21-year-old member of a gang of Argentine soccer hooligans. The shooting occurred on Saturday in Buenos Aires outside the stadium where a first-division match between Lanus and All Boys was about to start. Officials identified the dead man as Daniel Sosa, who was shot in the chest as three motorcycles passed by and gunmen opened fire, police said. Violence has intensified in Argentina, with at least five dying this year in soccer-related violence, according to non-profit group Let’s Save Football. Juan Moretti, director of the hospital, said neither of the other two men hit during the shooting had suffered life-threatening injuries. Moretti also said that two other people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries after the attack, but fled before being treated. He said they got away “amid the confusion.” The incident is the latest of the unrelenting violence that haunts the game in Argentina. “It’s sad what’s happening with football in Argentina,” Lanus coach Gabriel Schurrer told reporters. “If one really wanted to get rid of the violence, it could be done. English football was more violent and they did it. If England and other countries can get rid of it, I don’t understand why it can’t be done here.”
SOCCER
Deportivo back in top flight
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruna returned to the Spanish top flight on Sunday after their 2-1 success at SD Huesca assured them of the second division title with one game to play. The side from Galicia in the northwestern corner of Spain were relegated last season, but are top of the second division with 88 points and cannot be caught by Real Club Celta de Vigo or Real Valladolid with just one game to go. Deportivo won their only La Liga title in 2000 and two year’s later they won both the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. They were relegated after finishing 18th last year.
SWIMMING
Evans finishes 800m in sixth
Janet Evans finished sixth in the 800m freestyle at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine, California, in her last tuneup meet before the national trials next month when she will try to make the US team at 40. Haley Anderson, who also competes in open water swimming, won the race on Sunday in 8 minutes, 33.65 seconds. Anderson raced former Olympian Kate Ziegler to the wall, with Ziegler touching second in 8:33.97. Ziegler won the 200m and 400m freestyles earlier in the three-day meet. Megan Rankin, an 18-year-old who trains with Evans, was third. Former Olympic champion Evans finished in 8:49.36. She stayed close to the top three in the early stages of the 16-lap race, before fading in the second half.
BADMINTON
China retain Thomas Cup
Lin Dan inspired China to retain the biennial Thomas Cup for a record-equaling fifth time after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over South Korea. Lin outplayed Lee Hyun-il 21-14, 21-17 in 54 minutes to set the hosts on their way in Wuhan on Sunday. Doubles pair Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng increased the lead with a 21-16, 25-23 victory over Lee Yong-dae and Kim Sa-rang, before Chen Long secured the title by brushing aside Shon Wan-ho 21-9, 21-13. The Uber Cup women’s team event on Saturday again saw the Chinese beating South Korea 3-0. Wang Yihan took the honors, surviving four match points before outlasting Sung Ji-hyun 14-21, 22-20, 21-13.
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