BASKETBALL
Mavericks sign Stoudemire
Amare Stoudemire signed with Dallas on Wednesday, giving the Mavericks a front-line boost with a six-time All-Star as they fights for a playoff berth. The move came two days after the New York Knicks, with the NBA’s worst record of 10-43, released Stoudemire to give the playmaker a chance to join a title contender and boost their future funds under NBA salary cap rules. The Mavericks are 36-19, fifth in the Western Conference, but in the middle of a pack of clubs battling for the third through seventh seeding spots over the final two months of the season. “I’m excited to be a part of a first-class organization,” Stoudemire said. “To play alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and other great players, I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for me to compete for a championship.” Stoudemire, 32, averaged 12.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in 36 games this season with the Knicks, who bought out the remainder of the US$100 million, five-year deal he signed in 2010.
BASKETBALL
Anthony to go under knife
The New York Knicks leading scorer Carmelo Anthony is to have season-ending surgery on his left knee, the last-placed NBA team said on Wednesday. The eight-time All-Star forward will have a patella-tendon debridement, and repair to remove damaged and dead tissue that has been bothering him since the second game of the season, the Knicks said in a statement. Anthony, whose recovery is expected to take from four to six months, will miss New York’s final 29 games. Playing his first season of a five-year, US$124 million contract, Anthony was averaging 24.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 40 games. Anthony has been in and out of the Knicks lineup due to his knee, although he suited up and played in Sunday’s All-Star Game on his home court at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks (10-43) have gone 0-13 this season when Anthony sits out.
GOLF
Clarke to captain Europe
Northern Irishman Darren Clarke has been appointed captain of Europe for next year’s Ryder Cup against the US, the European team announced on Wednesday. “I am naturally extremely proud to be selected as European Ryder Cup captain for 2016,” Clarke said in a statement on the European Ryder Cup team Web site. “The Ryder Cup has been a massive part of my life and my career, so to have the chance to lead Europe next year is a huge honor.” Clarke, 46, beat off competition from Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn to succeed Paul McGinley, who led Europe to a five-point victory over the US at Gleneagles in September last year. Clarke, who was the favorite for the role, played in five Ryder Cups and was vice captain in 2010 and 2012. He will now lead Europe’s bid for a fourth successive victory at Hazeltine in Chaska, Minnesota, on Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 next year.
RUGBY UNION
Russell to miss Italy clash
Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell will miss the Six Nations game against Italy next week after tournament organizers announced on Wednesday that he had been given a two-week suspension. The 22-year-old Glasgow player was given a three-week ban, reduced to two weeks due to his good previous record, for a dangerous tackle on Dan Biggar during Scotland’s 26-23 loss to Wales in Edinburgh on Sunday. The Scottish Rugby Union subsequently announced in a statement that it was “disappointed” by the ruling and that it would launch an appeal once it had received the panel’s written verdict.
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was