CRICKET
Flintoff lets rip at Atherton
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has launched a foul-mouthed attack on Michael Atherton, his former Lancashire and England teammate who now works as a cricket pundit. Flintoff, speaking to the London Evening Standard at a Sky TV party on Tuesday, criticized Atherton’s work as a Sky commentator and cricket correspondent for the Times newspaper. “He’s a prick,” Flintoff said of former England captain Atherton. “He’s a fucking prick. He sits there making judgements about players that are much better than he ever was, believe me, he’s a prick. How can he talk about a player like Alastair Cook, who is 10 times the player he ever was? He has a much bigger average and will go on and on. Atherton averaged in the 30s for England and yet he thinks he can judge others.” Asked if he wanted his comments taken as “off the record,” Flintoff replied: “I don’t care. Say what you like. There’s no love lost there.” When opening batsman Cook was made England’s one-day captain last year, Atherton, himself a former opener, described the left-hander as a “plodder” with the bat and a “donkey” in the field. However, Cook, still only 27, has a superior Test record with 19 hundreds in 80 matches at an average of nearly 49, compared with Atherton’s 16 centuries in 115 Tests at nearly 38. Atherton’s relationship with Flintoff is said to have become strained when in 2006 he wrote: “The only positive benefit of the injury to Flintoff may be the end of his immediate captaincy ambitions.”
CRICKET
Zimbabwe fall by 6 wickets
Zimbabwe failed to build on their stunning win over South Africa and fell by six wickets to Bangladesh on Thursday in a non-cap Twenty20 tournament. Much was expected of Brendan Taylor and his team after they shocked strong favorites South Africa by 29 runs on Tuesday, but a total of 149-8 off 20 overs proved insufficient at Harare Sports Club. Bangladesh, needing a win to retain a chance of making the final tomorrow, responded with 153 for four off 17.3 overs to give recently appointed England-born coach Richard Pybus his first win in charge of the Tigers. South Africa played Bangladesh yesterday and face Zimbabwe today, and the top two finishers in the table qualify for the final of the unofficial tournament, as it falls outside the future tours schedule.
OLYMPICS
Aussies get ‘war room’
Australia’s athletes and coaches will have 24/7 access to a “Green and Gold” war room during the London Olympics, where their performances can be analyzed and scrutinized with the latest video and computer technology. Rather than rely solely on facilities provided by the hosts, the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Institute of Sport will operate a performance analysis center deep within a sponsor-owned building adjacent to the main London Olympic Park. “For the first time ever our Olympic athletes will have access to the technology and specialist staff they need at the Games to enhance their performance, and ensure they peak at the right time to boost our medal tally,” Australian Sports Minister Kate Lundy said. Scientists and staff at the national sports institute in Australia’s capital will also be monitoring the data collected in London. The Green and Gold room will be able to cater for more than 50 people at a time and will even have rollout beds for staff who might need to work through the night. The 400-plus Australian team will also have access to a recovery center nearby.
BOXING
Ruling favors Pacquiao
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) ruled on Wednesday that Manny Pacquiao should have won his controversial defeat to Timothy Bradley and has recommended a rematch between the fighters. US boxer Bradley won a split decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on June 10 that prompted disbelief from the sporting world and had many calling the outcome corrupt. The WBO met with five international judges to evaluate video of the match and they unanimously scored the fight in favor of Pacquiao, though they do not have power to overturn the initial ruling and the result will stand. Pacquiao has indicated that he would prefer a rematch over Bradley forfeiting the belt, according to Bob Arum, the promoter for both fighters.
OLYMPICS
Murray to play for Britain
Andy Murray was on Thursday selected to play singles and doubles for Britain at the London Olympics. The fourth-ranked Scot’s participation was announced by the British Olympic Association for the tournament that will be contested on grass at Wimbledon from July 28 to Aug. 5. The 25-year-old Murray will play doubles with his brother, Jamie. “I can’t wait for the Olympics to start. It’s such an incredible event and for it to be in London is extra special,” Murray said. In Beijing, Murray was defeated in the first round of the singles tournament. He reached the second round in the doubles. “I remember being part of the Olympic ceremony in Beijing, which was an unbelievable atmosphere and like nothing I’d experienced before” Murray said. Tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988, and Britain last won a medal in the sport when Tim Henman and Neil Broad took silver in the men’s doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
SOCCER
Hiddink to lead S Korea
Dutch soccer coach Guus Hiddink will lead members of South Korea’s 2002 World Cup squad, which reached the semi-finals, in a match celebrating the event’s 10th anniversary, organizers said on Thursday. The star soccer manager, currently coaching Russia’s FC Anzhi Makhachkala, is widely revered as a national hero and became the first foreigner to be awarded honorary South Korean citizenship for his efforts. Hiddink will lead the 2002 squad in a match against up-and-coming stars from the domestic K-league to be held in Seoul on July 5, a Korea Professional Football League spokesman said. It is unclear whether Park Ji-sung, a key member of the 2002 game who went on to become a Manchester United midfielder, will take part due to his schedule in England, he said.
GOLF
Simpson to miss Open
US Open champion Webb Simpson will miss next month’s British Open at Royal Lytham to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. The 26-year-old US player won his first major championship on Sunday when he edged compatriot Michael Thompson and Britain’s Graeme McDowell by one stroke at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. “I’m a guy who loves my family and … I have the rest of my life to play in the British Open,” Simpson told reporters. “I don’t want to miss the birth of my second child so it’s an easy decision. I’d love to go and try to win another major, but in the grand scheme of things it’s a decision I know I’ll always be happy I made.” Simpson’s victory at the weekend lifted him to fifth in the world rankings and up to third in the US Ryder Cup points table ahead of the match against holders Europe in Illinois in September.
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
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
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