FOOTBALL
Panthers fire coach Rivera
The Carolina Panthers on Tuesday fired head coach Ron Rivera in the wake of the team’s defeat to the Washington Redskins last weekend. Rivera, who guided the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance, leaves Carolina after nine seasons in charge. “I believe this is the best decision for the long-term success of our team,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement. “I have a great deal of respect for Ron and the contributions he has made to this franchise and to this community. I wish him the best. I will immediately begin the search for the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers.” The 57-year-old’s position came under fierce scrutiny after the Panthers crashed to a 29-21 home defeat against 3-9 Washington on Sunday. The loss was the Panthers’ fourth straight defeat, leaving them at 5-7 for the season and on course to miss out on the playoffs. Rivera, who was appointed in 2011, led the Panthers to a National Football Conference Championship and three NFC South titles during his tenure and was named NFL Coach of the Year in the 2015 season. The Panthers would undertake a “comprehensive and thorough” review of the team’s operation following Rivera’s dismissal, Tepper said.
GOLF
Woods declines Saudi event
Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods on Tuesday said that he had turned down offers to play in the Saudi International tournament, but defended the right of players to participate in the event. Speaking on the eve of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods said that he had rejected approaches to play in Saudi Arabia, despite appearance fees reportedly in the region of US$3 million. “I just don’t want to go over there,” Woods told ESPN. “It’s a long way.” Golfers participating in the Saudi International faced criticism at the inaugural event, which took place just months after the killing of US-based Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October last year. ESPN reported that Woods had first turned down an approach from organizers to play in this year’s event prior to Khashoggi’s murder and rejected a second offer to play in next year’s tournament, which is to take place from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2. Woods’ comments came after Phil Mickelson became the latest golfer to confirm he would play the event.
RUGBY
RA, Folau settle lawsuit
Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau yesterday settled his unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia (RA) and the New South Wales Waratahs, bringing an end to a prolonged and bitter dispute triggered by an explosive social media post. Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, launched legal action after his four-year contract was torn up in May for posting a meme on social media that said hell awaits “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and other groups. RA and Folau announced the settlement in a joint statement yesterday after being locked in mediation for about 14 hours. Days before entering mediation at the Australian Federal Circuit Court on Monday, Folau had hiked his compensation claim for lost income and sponsorship from A$10 million to A$14 million (US$6.8 million to US$9.5 million), and reiterated his demand to have his contract reinstated. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
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