BASKETBALL
Refs to staff replay center
The NBA says current referees will staff its replay center this season and be able to make decisions in certain situations. All replay reviews will still be triggered by the three reviews on the court. However, they will no longer make all the calls after the reviews, as some will now be done in the Secaucus, New Jersey, facility that opened last season. Those will include determinations such as whether a shot was a two or three-pointer, or whether it beat the shot clock or end of quarter buzzer. Out of bounds calls and goaltending rulings also will be handled by the replay center. The NBA says the modifications were unanimously approved by owners on Wednesday. The league believes the changes can speed up games. Rulings on flagrant and clear-path fouls, and player altercations will continue to be made by the three game officials.
MILITARY GAMES
Rowdy Russians deported
Several Russian athletes gunning for gold at the Military World Games in South Korea have instead been deported without setting foot outside Incheon airport after getting drunk and causing a commotion on their flight from Moscow. An official from Incheon International Airport Police said yesterday: “Complaints were received from inside the plane before it landed that the Russians were shouting, drinking and making noise.” The official said police took them into custody as soon as they arrived in South Korea. “The nine were then transferred to the immigration office. They were booked without physical detention for violating aviation security law,” the official said. An official from South Korea’s immigration service confirmed the nine had been deported yesterday. Police confirmed local media reports that said the Russians “drank whiskey and vodka, and walked around shouting” on the plane and that they refused to show their passports until a representative of the Russian consulate was present.
OLYMPICS
US beat Canada in qualifier
Jordan Morris proved again on Thursday night why so many pro teams are eager to sign him. The 20-year-old Stanford star scored a pair of goals, the second off a steal and feed from Wil Trapp, to give the US a 3-1 victory over Canada in the opener of Olympic soccer qualifying. Morris also scored in the first minute off Jerome Kiesewetter’s cross, and Luis Gil tacked on a penalty-kick for the US in stoppage-time to put the game away. Canada got their lone goal from Michael Petrasso after a corner-kick in the 80th minute. It was a solid start for the US, who stumbled against Canada four years ago and ultimately failed to survive the group stage of qualifying for the London Games. It was the second time in the past three Olympic cycles that the US failed to advance.
OLYMPICS
Japan launches new agency
Japan has launched a new sports agency tasked with improving athletic performance ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Japan Sports Agency, with a staff of 121, was launched on Thursday by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Daichi Suzuki, who won the men’s 100m backstroke at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was named as the agency’s first commissioner. The 48-year-old Suzuki became the youngest chairman of the Japan Swimming Federation in 2013. Currently, he is an executive board member of the Japanese Olympic Committee. The agency will allocate funds to train Japanese athletes for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and also encourage more people to play sports as a way to improve community health.
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