BASKETBALL
Cousins rejoins Kings
Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was reinstated by the NBA club on Monday, two days after being suspended indefinitely for unprofessional behavior and detrimental conduct. Cousins missed the Kings’ 108-96 home victory over Portland on Sunday because of the suspension, a triumph that lifted the team’s record to 9-18, still last in the Pacific Division. Cousins exchanged angry words in the locker room with coach Keith Smart at half-time of the Kings’ 97-85 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Smart decided to bench Cousins for the entire second half, ordering him not to join the other players when they returned to the court for the second half. After the game, an apologetic Cousins said his outburst was wrong.
FOOTBALL
Vick likely to start again
Michael Vick is expected to start again for the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s NFL season finale after the team said on Monday that quarterback Nick Foles has suffered a broken right hand. Foles, who became a starter after Vick suffered a concussion seven weeks ago in a loss to Dallas, was hurt during the first half of last Sunday’s loss to the Washington Redskins. “Nick will obviously not play this week,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “This was something that showed up on the MRI this morning. It wasn’t present on the X-ray.” Foles threw for 1,699 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions over seven games and to replace him, the Eagles will activate Vick for Sunday’s season-ending game against the reigning Super Bowl champion New York Giants. “There’s a pretty good chance Michael will be the starter,” Reid said. Vick, 32, was an NFL superstar with the Atlanta Falcons for six seasons before being sent to prison for his role in a dogfight gambling ring.
SOCCER
Owen desperate to score
Michael Owen is desperate to break his scoring duck against former club Liverpool today and end an eight-year wait. The 33-year-old hit 118 goals during his prolific Anfield career, but since leaving for Real Madrid in 2004, he has not been able to break through.“It is a strange feeling really playing against your old club, especially one where you were for around 15 years,” Stoke striker Owen told reporters. “Liverpool are a big part of my life and career and I had some of the best times of my life at the club. So certainly I have happy memories. I have not been so happy playing against them since; I have never scored and not particularly enjoyed it,” he said.
ICE HOCKEY
Lockout reaches 100th day
National Hockey League (NHL) players and club owners reached the 100th day of the league’s shutdown over money issues on Monday with no talks planned and shrinking hope to salvage even a shortened season. Owners locked out players in September after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement that was reached after the 2004 to 2005 season was wiped out by a similar bitter fight over money. Team owners have wiped out 625 games through Jan. 14, just over half the planned schedule that was to have started in October, and vow they will not stage a season with less than 48 games per team, requiring a mid-January deal. Players, who were paid 57 percent of revenues under the old deal, have moved closer to the 50-50 split found in other North American sports, but want owners to increase the amount of shared revenue from strong teams to bolster the fortunes of owners pleading poverty under the previous system.
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