BASEBALL
A’s sign Lazaro Armenteros
The Oakland Athletics have landed another top Cuban prospect, agreeing to terms with versatile outfielder Lazaro Armenteros on Saturday. He is to receive a US$3 million signing bonus from Oakland, who originally signed Yoenis Cespedes before the 2012 season. The A’s also agreed to terms with third baseman George Bell, shortstops Marcos Brito and Yerdel Vargas — all from the Dominican Republic — and center fielder Kevin Richards. Each of the new acquisitions is to report to the club’s Dominican training facility and later to Arizona for instructional league this fall. A’s assistant general manager and scouting chief Dan Feinstein took the lead on acquiring Armenteros, nicknamed Lazarito. The A’s have been watching him seriously for two years. “It’s exciting. The scouts and Dan really did a great job with this,” manager Bob Melvin said. Armenteros, 17, a right-handed hitter with speed and a body Feinstein likened to that of “a young Frank Thomas,” batted .462 for Cuba in the 15-and-under World Cup in Mexico two years ago. He hit .416 with a league-leading six home runs in Cuba’s 15-and-under league.
BASKETBALL
Deng signs with LA: media
Sudanese-born British forward Luol Deng has agreed to a four-year NBA free-agent deal worth US$72 million with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to multiple media reports on Saturday. Players and teams can come to terms on free-agent agreements, but no deals can be signed until on Thursday, leaving reports unconfirmed and deals incomplete until then. Deng averaged 12.3 points, 6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 74 games last season for the Miami Heat. He joined the Lakers after talks with Washington and Utah. Deng, 31, spent time at small forward and power forward for the Heat last season after Chris Bosh was lost for the season in February with blood clots. He joined Miami in 2014 to replace LeBron James when the superstar playmaker left for Cleveland. In 12 NBA seasons, Deng has averaged 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Chicago, Cleveland and Miami. The Lakers on Friday signed four-year deals with guard Jordan Clarkson for US$50 million and Russian center Timofey Mozgov for US$64 million when free agency began. Terms were finalized late on Friday on Joakim Noah’s four-year deal for US$72 million with the New York Knicks.
RUGBY SEVENS
Williamses make Rio team
Rugby World Cup star Sonny Bill Williams and his sister Niall yesterday joined the rare Olympic siblings club when both were named in the New Zealand Sevens teams for the Rio Games. Serial code-hopper Sonny Bill Williams, 30, has targeted the Olympics to add to his list of sporting triumphs, which include winning two rugby union World Cups with the All Blacks, as well as success in rugby league and professional boxing. Niall Williams, 28, was a New Zealand touch rugby player for several years before switching to the tackle game last year. Sonny Bill Williams — who said before the team announcement that it would be “an amazing achievement” if he and his sister went to Brazil — made himself unavailable for Super Rugby and the Test series against Wales last month to focus on the sevens. Fellow World Cup-winning All Black Liam Messam also gave up the 15-man game to focus on Rio, but he missed out on the 12-man squad named yesterday. Coach Gordon Tietjens, who has guided New Zealand to 10 World Sevens titles, rated his side as medal contenders, despite finishing third in this year’s series.
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