FOOTBALL
Gun in slain Smith’s SUV
Police found a fully loaded gun inside the vehicle former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith was driving the night he was shot, but there was no evidence that it had been fired, police said on Tuesday. In a statement, police shed new light on the shocking death of the New Orleans football legend who was shot and killed on Saturday night. Police have said that Smith and his wife were shot by Cardell Hayes after a traffic altercation. Among the other news released in the statement: Hayes told police on the scene that he was the shooter, police also found a loaded revolver inside Hayes’ vehicle and Smith had two other passengers in his vehicle in addition to his wife, although neither was wounded. Authorities said there was no evidence to suggest either weapon found during a search of the vehicles on Tuesday morning was fired during the shooting and that the gun in Smith’s vehicle was fully loaded. Police did not say whether the .9 mm handgun belonged to Smith or someone else in the vehicle. Instead, police said Hayes shot Smith with a different handgun. Police have said Smith and his wife were driving in the Lower Garden District, an upscale part of the city, when their Mercedes SUV was hit from behind by an orange Hummer driven by Hayes. The impact caused Smith to hit a gray Chevrolet Impala in which two friends of Smith were driving. No one was injured in the Impala. At some point, Hayes — who himself played defense in a semi-pro football league — and Smith exchanged words, and that is when police say Hayes pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting Smith and his wife. Smith died with his door open, slumped over the driver’s seat.
TENNIS
Sharapova in Olympic plans
Russia says Maria Sharapova is still in its plans for the Olympic tennis tournament in August, despite her provisional suspension for failing a drug test. Sharapova has been suspended since last month, when she admitted she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open. Sharapova said she had been taking meldonium for medical reasons for 10 years and had not seen a World Anti-Doping Agency ruling last year that it would be banned this year. Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev said in a statement: “We really hope that Sharapova will still be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games.” No date has been announced by the International Tennis Federation for a hearing into the case of Sharapova, who won Olympic silver in 2012.
GOLF
Rio golfers face alligators
Slow rounds are common in world golf, but players competing at the Olympics in August may need to be snappier than usual as they will have alligators, capybaras and other wildlife for company. The new Olympic golf course was built in a spectacular area surrounded by lagoons that are home to several species of wild animals including alligators, according to local media reports. At least five biologists will be on hand in case the reptiles need to be moved away from players or spectators, the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper said. Authorities are also set to erect signs issuing warnings about the nearby wildlife. Golf is returning at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after a 112-year absence from the Games and the course was built a few kilometers from the neighborhood of Jacarepegua, which means Alligator Lagoon. Rivers in local parks are filled with alligators while capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, are also commonly sighted.
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
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and