CYCLING
Lance Armstrong at peace
Lance Armstrong said he was more at peace now than he has been in a decade. In his first interview since the US Anti-Doping Agency disciplined him with a lifetime ban from professional cycling and vacated his seven Tour de France titles, he said: “Nobody needs to cry for me. I’m going to be great.” Still, his ego was bruised after being beaten by 16-year-old Keegan Swirbul at the Power of Four mountain bike race on Saturday. Armstrong finished second, nearly five minutes behind the lanky teenager. Soon after crossing the finish line and skidding to a stop, Armstrong chatted for a few minutes before saying: “OK, I’m going to go eat a cheeseburger.”
BASKETBALL
NBA stars visits Myanmar
The US has appointed an ambassador to Myanmar and helped bring in US businessmen keen on doing business in the rapidly reforming Southeast Asian nation. Now, Washington is sending professional basketball players and coaches in a bid to boost cultural ties. The US embassy said ysterday that four “sports envoys” have arrived in the country as part of a US Departmentof State-sponsored program “to emphasize the importance of academics, cooperation and respect for diversity.” The group will conduct several sports workshops with local youth before leaving on Friday. The group includes Charlotte Bobcats basketball team manager Richard Cho, a Myanmar native who migrated to the US. Also traveling are Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Darvin Ham, former Women’s National Basketball Association player Allison Feaster and former NBA player Marty Conlon.
NASCAR
Hamlin wins in Bristol
Denny Hamlin won for the first time at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee with a calculated late pass on Saturday. Hamlin flirted with Carl Edwards for the lead late in the race, and set up his move with 39 laps remaining. Hamlin used a slide move to get past Edwards, then held on as Edwards tried to use a cross-over move to get back in front. It did not work for Edwards, and Hamlin drove away for his third victory of the season. Jimmie Johnson finished second and clinched a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr also locked down spots in the 12-driver field. Jeff Gordon was third, followed by Brian Vickers and Marcos Ambrose.
ATHLETICS
Merritt eyes world record
Olympic 110m hurdles champion Aries Merritt was eyeing the world record when he was to race at a Diamond League meeting in Birmingham, England, yesterday. The US hurdler, who was disqualified from the event at the Lausanne Diamond League earlier this week for a false start, said if conditions were agreeable, bettering the world mark of 12.87 seconds was within his reach. “I think the world record is obtainable,” Merritt told a news conference said. “I just need the right conditions and I need to stay in the blocks,” he said in reference to Lausanne. “I need to execute my race like I’ve been doing all season all hopefully it’ll come.” The field features Olympic silver and bronze medalists, Jason Richardson of the US and Jamaican Hansle Parchment. Merritt has dominated the event this year, with the most sub-12.95 second performances recorded in a single season. American sprinter Tyson Gay, fourth in the 100m at the Olympics, will race over 200m for the first time in two years.
GOLF
Garcia takes the lead
Spain’s Sergio Garcia held his own at demanding Bethpage Black in New York on Saturday, firing a two-under 69 to seize sole possession of the lead after three rounds of The Barclays. Garcia, who shared the overnight lead with Nick Watney in the first event of the US PGA Tour’s playoffs, had a 54-hole total of 10-under par 203, two strokes in front of Watney. Garcia, who has the Ryder Cup in his sights after his victory in last week’s Wyndham Championship, survived Bethpage’s fast, slick greens which caused plenty of trouble for others, including Tiger Woods. Woods appeared to be over the sore back that bothered him on Friday, but the 14-time major champion had four three-putts in a one-over par 72. “I hit good putts, but my speed was awful,” said Woods, who was tied for 10th at four-under par. “That was a bit of a shocker. It was slippery out there. I played a beautiful round of golf, unfortunately didn’t clean it up on the greens. It was unbelievable how fast it got. Some of the greens have grass, some of them are on the dirt side. They’re right at the limit. They’re slippery once you start putting.” Garcia finished the day with five birdies and three bogeys.
GOLF
Teenager Ko seizes lead
New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko seized a one-stroke lead in the Canadian Women’s Open on Saturday, setting her sights on becoming the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history. Ko, 15, fired an even-par 72 on the Vancouver Golf Club layout for an eight-under total of 208. She was one stroke in front of a quartet of players: the US’ Stacy Lewis and South Koreans Jiyai Shin, Inbee Park and Chella Choi. “It’s good to stay at the top of the leaderboard, but my first goal was to make the cut and hopefully top 15 or something,” Ko said. “But to be up there is just an honor, especially playing against the world’s best. Fifteen-year-olds don’t lead at an LPGA event all the time. Like I said, I’m very surprised. But I’ve been playing really good golf and I’ve been really confident with my game.” Choi, who shared the overnight lead with Ko, carded a 73. Lewis climbed up the leaderboard with a 66, Shin posted a 69 and Park carded a 70. World No. 1 Yani Tseng, who led after the first round, struggled to a two-over 74 on Saturday. The Taiwannese star is tied for 21st at one-under 215.
GOLF
Lawrie eyes Ryder Cup
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is determined to deliver European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal a third victory boost after muscling his way to a one-stroke lead on day three of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Lawrie, seeking his second Tour victory this year, grabbed seven birdies in a five-under 67 on Saturday to move to 12-under par and one stroke clear of Frenchman Romain Wattel. Earlier this week, Lawrie’s return to the European Team for the first time in 13 years since making his only appearance at Brookline in 1999 was confirmed. “I played very good again today and hit the ball very solid,” he said. “I gave myself a lot of chances and only hit two poor shots all day. But the big thing this week is that I have been working on my rhythm again. I was doing that at the start of the year, but what has been going on lately, it’s not been the same so if I can hang on tomorrow [yesterday] and that would be huge to have two wins in a Ryder Cup year.” If successful in capturing an eighth European Tour success, Lawrie would then join fellow European Ryder Cup members Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia as a third straight winner for Olazabal.
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