ICE HOCKEY
NHL stars to return to Games
NHL stars will again play in the Olympics next year in Sochi. The league and the players’ association announced on Friday that they had reached a deal with the International Ice Hockey Federation for the world’s best players to take part in the 2014 Games in Russia. It marks the fifth straight Olympics that the NHL will allow its players to participate. The league will take a break from the regular season on Feb. 9 and return to action on Feb. 26. The hockey tournament runs from Feb. 12 to Feb. 23.
GOLF
Gomez grabs share of lead
Argentina’s Fabian Gomez fired an eight-under-par 64 to grab a share of the lead on Friday in the second round of the storm-hit US PGA Sanderson Farms Championship in Madison, Mississippi. The South American made six birdies and closed with an eagle to grab a share of the clubhouse lead at 10-under 134 with Americans Vaughn Taylor, Paul Stankowski, Troy Matteson and Kyle Reifers. Daniel Summerhays, who opened with a 63 to lead after 18 holes, was also at 10-under with 10 holes to finish when darkness halted the second round. Fifty-nine players were still on the course after a storm delay had halted play. The second round was set to resume yesterday morning, with hopes of completing the 72-hole event this evening.
TENNIS
Star defends nude shoot
Polish star Agnieszka Radwanska on Friday defended her controversial nude photo-shoot which saw her dropped by a Catholic youth movement, claiming the pictures were in good taste. Radwanska, 24, who makes no secret of her strong Catholic faith, was photographed in the “Body Issue” of ESPN Magazine in profile without a stitch, sitting in a lawn chair by a pool filled with tennis balls. While not explicit, the nude pictures proved too much for a Catholic group known as Krucjata Mlodych (Youth Crusade). The group dropped Radwanska last week for what they said was “immoral behavior” in the ESPN spread. However, world No. 4 Radwanska insisted the pictures were a celebration of the “beauty of the bodies of the best athletes in the world.” “My tennis colleagues Serena Williams, Daniela Hantuchova and Vera Zvonareva have all participated in the past,” Radwanska wrote on a statement published on her Facebook page. “The pictures are certainly not meant to cause offense and to brand them as immoral clearly does not take into account the context of the magazine. Moreover, they do not contain any explicit imagery whatsoever.”
SOCCER
Stoke offer fans free travel
Stoke City’s fans will benefit from the club’s increased income from improved TV deals with free coach travel to all of the team’s away matches in the Premier League for the 2013-2014 season. Stoke’s chief executive Tony Scholes said in an interview on the club’s Web site that he believed it was the first time any club in England’s top four divisions had undertaken such a venture. “As a club we are conscious that following football can be an expensive business, especially at a time when so many people are feeling the squeeze financially. We work hard to try and provide our supporters with value for money which is why we have not increased our ticket prices since being promoted to the Premier League in 2008. However, we realize how expensive following the club away from home can be for supporters and we’re delighted to be able to offer free coach travel and hope it encourages more of them to give us their fantastic backing away from home.”
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