LA LIGA
Rayo foot evictee’s rent
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid have vowed to pay an 85-year-old woman’s rent for the rest of her life after she was evicted from her home because her son could not pay his debts. Carmen Martinez Ayudo was driven from her house in Vallecas, a working-class part of Madrid, after her son used it as security for a 40,000 euro (US$49,500) loan. “We’re not going to stand around and do nothing, we’re going to help this woman,” Rayo coach Paco Jemez said. “Not just me but the technical team and the players. We’ll give her a hand to find a place where she can live in dignity and not feel abandoned.” Jemez added that he would like to help more people, but it was not possible. “In this case, because she’s from the neighborhood, as a club we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help.” There were 67,000 evictions in Spain last year, while an estimated 3.4 million properties stand empty.
LIGUE 1
l’OM pip PSG by one point
Late goals from Andre-Pierre Gignac and Michy Batshuayi helped Olympique de Marseille return to the top of Ligue 1 with a 3-1 victory against Girondins de Bordeaux on Sunday. Gignac’s glancing header in the 85th minute and Batshuayi’s simple finish after 89 minutes rescued all three points after Marseille’s Mario Lemina had canceled out Thomas Toure’s opening goal for the visitors. The win left l’OM one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and four points ahead of Olympique Lyonnais. Elsewhere on Sunday, Nantes leapfrogged Bordeaux into fourth despite being held to a goalless draw at home by sixth-placed AS Saint-Etienne, while Montpellier Harault rose to ninth after a 2-0 win at home to Toulouse.
BUNDESLIGA
Hamburg exit drop zone
Hamburg SV escaped from the Bundesliga’s bottom three on Sunday with a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Werder Bremen in the 101st north Germany derby, a result that pushed Borussia Dortmund back into the relegation places. Latvia striker Artjoms Rudnevs was Hamburg’s hero as he netted his first goal of the season on 84 minutes to put the hosts ahead. Bremen goalkeeper Raphael Wolf then pushed the ball into his own net in the third minute of stoppage-time. “That was three important points for us,” Hamburg coach Joe Zinnbauer said. The victory — only Hamburg’s third of the season — lifts them to 15th, putting Bremen at 17th and pushing Dortmund down into 16th. Also on Sunday, VfB Stuttgart stayed bottom after suffering their seventh defeat in 11 games as they lost 1-0 at home to Augsburg, who climbed to sixth.
ISRAEL
Arab club win grudge match
Under the eyes of hundreds of police and private security guards, the Israeli Premier League’s only Arab club beat mainly Jewish rivals Beitar Jerusalem 1-0 on Sunday. Despite on-pitch brawling between Beitar and Bnei Sakhnin players in extra-time, police reported only minor incidents off the field. Police had banned the game from being held in the Arab town of Sakhnin after a series of attacks in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, but on Friday rescinded the ban, saying security had “significantly” improved at Bnei’s Doha Stadium, built with donations from Qatar. On Sunday, police deployed 700 officers in and around the stadium, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. Another 200 private security guards patrolled the ground, where 5,000 spectators attended, he said. A photographer at the scene said that while Beitar fans waved Israeli flags, about a dozen Sakhnin fans waved the Palestinian flag.
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