TENNIS
China to face Kazakhstan
China defeated Uzbekistan with ease in Pool A at the Asia/Oceania Group I Fed Cup tournament in Shenzhen yesterday to set up a promotional playoff with Kazakhstan today and leave Taiwan to battle Thailand for third place. China’s Zhang Shuai beat Sabina Sharipova 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-1, while world No. 9 Li Na defeated Nigina Abduraimova 6-2, 6-3. In the doubles, China’s Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie beat Akgul Amanmuradova and Iroda Tulyaganova 6-3, 6-4. Kazakhstan edged Thailand 2-1 to top Pool B. Uzbekistan face a relegation playoff against Indonesia.
GOLF
Mickelson sues Web service
Phil Mickelson is suing a Canadian Internet service provider in an effort to expose the identity of whoever has been posting “defamatory statements” about the four-time major winner, press reports said on Thursday. The American is suing Videotron SENC in a Quebec court to learn the name of the person or persons who Mickelson said have attacked his reputation and made the statements under the pseudonyms “Fogroller” and “Longitude.” “The postings suggest that plaintiff has an illegitimate child, that his wife has affairs and other similar vexatious statements that are absolutely untrue,” the complaint reads, according to a report in the Toronto Star.
SAILING
Camper relies on rope stunt
A daring rope stunt boosted Camper’s bid to win the Volvo Ocean Race’s third leg yesterday as five yachts battled for the lead just a day from the finish line in southern China. South Africa’s Mike Pammenter acrobatically dangled over the side of the speeding yacht in a harness to free flotsam rope that had become attached to Camper Lifelovers’ hull, slowing the Spanish/New Zealand challengers. Pammenter was lowered to just centimeters above the water, where he was able to cut the rope free, Camper Lifelovers Australian skipper Chris Nicholson said. Camper, placed third, are in a five-way fight to the finish, with Spanish boat Telefonica leading the 3,051 nautical mile (5,650km) stage from the Maldives to Sanya.
FOOTBALL
Madonna promises no slipup
Superstar singer Madonna promised no wardrobe malfunctions for her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, saying she has never worked so hard on preparing for a performance. The self-styled “Material Girl” promised she would not have a halftime clothing mishap such as the one that took place at the 2004 Super Bowl in Houston and exposed Janet Jackson’s nipple to a global television audience. “Great attention has been paid to my wardrobe,” Madonna said. “There will be no wardrobe malfunctions.” She will sing three classic songs and a new tune.
FOOTBALL
Super Bowl fakes seized
US authorities have seized a record US$4.8 million in fake Super Bowl souvenirs and tickets and shut down 669 Web sites, most from China, aimed at duping consumers with counterfeit items. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement director John Morton and NFL legal affairs vice president Anastasia Danias announced on Thursday the details of a nationwide operation that began in October last year and seized 42,692 items. Authorities, who seized only US$3.72 million in fake Super Bowl merchandise last year, have shut down 669 Web sites since June last year and 307 during Operation Fake Sweep.
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38