RUGBY UNION
Etzebeth faces assault probe
South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth has denied any wrongdoing after an alleged racial assault at a bar on Sunday, as he met with the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) following a complaint by a member of the public. Local media reports said that a man was allegedly racially and physically abused in Langebaan by a group that contained Etzebeth. The commission confirmed it spoke with Etzebeth on Thursday to inform him of the process. Etzebeth has been named in the Springboks’ 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan and is a key leadership figure within the team. If found guilty, Etzebeth would have to issue a public apology and might have to pay a fine, but beyond that, it could have a significant effect on his reputation and standing within the team.
BASKETBALL
Warrant out for Cousins
Alabama police have issued an arrest warrant for Los Angeles Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, USA Today Sports reported on Thursday. The Mobile Municipal Court listed a charge of third-degree harassing communications, but provided no details. The warrant comes two days after TMZ released an audio recording allegedly of Cousins threatening to shoot his ex-girlfriend during an argument about their seven-year-old son. The NBA and the Lakers on Tuesday released statements saying that they were investigating the allegations.
FOOTBALL
Russell comes out as bi
NFL defensive end Ryan Russell came out as bisexual in interviews published on Thursday, saying that he hopes the revelation would not hinder his return to the league. Russell said he decided to go public with his sexual identity to be the best version of himself. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Cowboys in 2015. After one season in Dallas he played two for the Buccaneers, playing 14 games in 2017. He missed last season after sustaining a shoulder surgery, and said his twin goals now are “returning to the NFL and living my life openly... Those two objectives shouldn’t be in conflict, but judging from the fact that there isn’t a single openly LGBTQ player in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball or the NHL, brings me pause.”
CYCLING
Herrada wins sixth stage
A day after seeing his older brother miss out on a stage victory, Jesus Herrada on Thursday came through with a strong late charge on the final climb to win the sixth leg of the Vuelta a Espana, with Belgian rider Dylan Teuns coming in second to take the overall lead. Herrada moved past Teuns with about 200m to go on the 198.9km stage that finished on a mountaintop in Ares del Maestrat. Jose Herrada was in the breakaway group on Wednesday, but could not keep up with stage winner Angel Madrazo. It was the first Grand Tour win for Jesus Herrada, who last year wore the leader’s red jersey on two Vuelta stages. Yesterday, riders were to face a 183km stage that was to end on another mountain. Former leader Miguel Angel Lopez dropped to third overall. David de la Cruz moved to second. Irishman Nicolas Roche, one of the early overall leaders, was among the riders who had to withdraw after a crash about 100km into the race, along with Rigoberto Uran, Hugh Carthy and Victor de la Parte.
Major League Baseball (MLB) star Shohei Ohtani wants his former interpreter to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of baseball cards he says were fraudulently bought using his money. The Los Angeles Dodgers star is also requesting Ippei Mizuhara, who previously pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud for stealing nearly US$17 million from the unsuspecting athlete, return signed collectible baseball cards depicting Ohtani that were in Mizuhara’s “unauthorized and wrongful possession,” court documents filed on Tuesday said. The legal filing alleges Mizuhara accessed Ohtani’s bank account beginning in about November 2021, changing his security protocols so that he
US skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she sustained an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of an Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom race on Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just
CLASH OF MANAGERS: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Russell Martin of Southampton accused each other of disrespect, while both were booked Southampton on Friday were denied a priceless victory by a controversial decision as they drew with hosts Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 in the Premier League. Kaoru Mitoma spectacularly headed Brighton into a first-half lead and Flynn Downes hammered home an equalizer an hour in. Minutes later teammate Cameron Archer converted a cross from Saints substitute Ryan Fraser. A video assistant referee check of more than four minutes eventually decided that Archer was onside, but then penalized Adam Armstrong, who was offside, but did not touch the ball, for interfering with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. “I find it hard to accept,” Southampton manager Russell Martin
Mary McGee, a female racing pioneer and subject profiled in an Oscar-contending documentary, Motorcycle Mary, has died, her family said. She was 87. “McGee’s unparalleled achievements in off-road racing and motorcycle racing have inspired generations of athletes that followed in her footsteps,” her family said in a statement. The family said McGee died of complications from a stroke at her home in Gardnerville, Nevada, on Wednesday, the day before the release of the short documentary Motorcycle Mary, on ESPN’s YouTube channel. Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton was an executive producer on the film, which became available globally on Thursday. Its premiere
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