FOOTBALL
Brees aims to keep playing
Quarterback Drew Brees on Tuesday said that he intends to play for the New Orleans Saints again next season. The 41-year-old announced his intention to return for what would be his 20th NFL season in a social media post. “My feelings about the 2020 season! I look forward to the grind and the journey, for the reward at the end will be worth it,” Brees wrote. “Love you #WhoDatNation. Let’s make another run at it.” Brees missed five games with a throwing-hand injury that required surgery, but was still productive last season while leading New Orleans to a third straight playoff appearance. Brees’ 74.3 percent completion rate ranked second in NFL history behind only his 2018 record of 74.4 percent. He also passed for 27 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions and was selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl, the 13th of his career. Brees is the NFL’s all-time leader in completions with 6,867, yards passing with 77,416 and touchdowns with 547. Brees’ contract situation remains unclear. His last contract voids automatically at the end of the current league year, which concludes on March 18.
MOTORSPORT
Newman awake after crash
Driver Ryan Newman is awake and able to speak after a horrifying last-lap crash at Monday’s Daytona 500 resulted in him being rushed to a nearby hospital in a serious condition, his racing team said on Tuesday. “Ryan Newman remains under the care of doctors at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida,” Roush Fenway Racing said in a statement on social media. “He is awake and speaking with family and doctors.” After competitor Ryan Blaney tapped the 42-year-old’s car from behind during the NASCAR race, Newman’s vehicle careened into a wall, flipped into the air and was hit by another car on the driver’s side. Newman, who won the Daytona 500 in 2008, was immediately transported to a hospital following the incident, which stunned onlookers and fans.
SOCCER
Below-belt bite leads to ban
An amateur player was suspended for five years in a local league in eastern France for biting one of his opponents below the belt during a post-match fight. The incident occurred after a second-division game between Terville and Soetrich on Nov. 17 last year. Local media reported that after one player from each side started fighting, another Terville player joined in, apparently trying to separate them. The Soetrich player responded by biting the peacemaker’s penis. The victim required about 10 stitches and had to take four days off from work. “The events took place after the match, in the stadium car park. There was an altercation, an escalation and things got worse,” said Emmanuel Saling of the Mosellan soccer district, adding that the blame was “more or less shared.” Saling said that because the “case was quite original,” the disciplinary committee had called an expert witness before deciding to suspend the Soetrich player for five years. The injured Terville player was suspended for six months. “It’s quite rare to have sanctions of several years, there are less than 10 per year,” Saling said. “The case was a bit saucy, but ... there must have been some nasty tension, so the smiles on the disciplinary committee quickly faded.”
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