FOOTBALL
Texans let Andre Johnson go
Andre Johnson was released by the Houston Texans on Monday, ending the star receiver’s 12-year tenure with the National Football League club after no trade deal could be made. The 33-year-old pass catcher would have cost the Texans US$16.1 million next season in the penultimate year of his contract, but his release frees up more than half that amount in salary cap space on the eve of the start of this year’s free agency signings. “After exhausting all options of a possible trade, we informed Andre Johnson that he would be released,” Texans general manager Rick Smith said. “Andre is a Hall of Fame-caliber player and we appreciate his years of service and contributions to our team.” Johnson was selected third in the 2003 NFL Draft and was the longest-tenured player on the Texans, who have managed only four winning seasons since their 2002 debut. Johnson has 1,012 career receptions for 13,597 yards and 64 touchdowns in 169 appearances for the Texans, including 85 catches for 936 yards and three touchdowns over 15 games last season.
BASKETBALL
Bosh benched till September
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh, sidelined for the remainder of the NBA season with blood clots in his lungs, could begin exercises this month, but would not resume basketball activities until September. The Heat provided the update on Monday after benching Bosh last month once his condition was diagnosed. A statement from the Heat said doctors would re-evaluate Bosh later this month, and with their approval he can begin regular exercise and strength training next month. The 30-year-old veteran averaged 21.1 points, 7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 44 games for the Heat this season. He returned to watch his teammates on Monday. “I’m making sure that I stay patient and not getting too ahead of myself,” Bosh said of his recovery plans. “I’m just happy to be back. It’s not under the circumstances I’d like, but beggars can’t be choosers.”
ICE HOCKEY
Russian officiates NHL game
Evgeny Romasko became the first Russian referee to officiate a National Hockey League game, joining Paul Devorski in whistling penalties on Monday as Detroit defeated Edmonton. Romasko has worked games in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League and spent the early part of the season making calls in games for the NHL’s top developmental circuit, the American Hockey League. Romasko made history without a stick in the same Joe Louis Arena where the Red Wings assembled a stellar Russian unit that helped Detroit win the 1997 Stanley Cup championship.
RUGBY UNION
Barritt cut from campaign
England head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed Brad Barritt has been ruled out of the rest of his side’s Six Nations campaign. Barritt was challenging for Luther Burrell’s place at inside center for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland at Twickenham, only for an ankle sprain suffered during Saracens’ victory at Wasps on Sunday to prevent him from facing the Scots or France seven days later. It is a cruel blow to Barritt, whose injury enables Burrell to continue operating in the backline. Burrell was a doubt himself after suffering a calf injury in the 19-9 defeat by Ireland, but yesterday was due to resume training as Lancaster finalizes his team selection for winless Scotland. The only change to the backline would see Mike Brown restored at fullback after completing his recovery from a concussion, forcing Alex Goode to drop out of the 23.
A sumo star was born in Japan on Sunday when 24-year-old Takerufuji became the first wrestler in 110 years to win a top-division tournament on his debut, triumphing at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka despite injuring his ankle on the penultimate day. Takerufuji, whose injury had left him in a wheelchair outside the ring, shoved out the higher-ranked Gonoyama at the Edion Arena Osaka to the delight of the crowd, giving him an unassailable record of 13 wins and two losses to claim the Emperor’s Cup. “I did it just through willpower. I didn’t really know what was going
The US’ Ilia Malinin on Saturday produced six scintillating quadruple jumps, including a quadruple Axel, in the men’s free skate to capture his first figure skating world title. The 19-year-old nicknamed the “Quad god,” who is the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, dazzled with an array of breathtakingly executed jumps starting with his quad Axel and including a quadruple Lutz in combination with a triple flip and a quadruple toe loop in combination with a triple toe. He added an unexpected triple-triple combination at the end to earn a world-record 227.79 in the free program for a championship
Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
HSIEH MAKES QUARTERS: Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Elise Mertens of Belgium won in the women’s doubles and face Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin of the US Top-ranked Iga Swiatek and US Open champion Coco Gauff were knocked out of the women’s singles at the Miami Open on Monday, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced in the women’s doubles. Swiatek lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-2, hours after third seed Gauff fell in three sets to No. 23 Caroline Garcia 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Alexandrova beat a top-ranked player for the first time and advanced to face Jessica Pegula, a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 winner over Emma Navarro, in the quarter-finals. Alexandrova recorded her second win over Swiatek, following a 2021 victory in Melbourne. Swiatek had won their three matches since. “We played quite