CRICKET
IPL season in doubt
The remainder of the suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) season would have to be played outside the country, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said, although it is unclear whether a window would be found to play the outstanding 31 games. Board head Sourav Ganguly told Sportstar magazine that COVID-19 restrictions meant it was impossible to stage the remaining games in India. “There are lots of organizational hazards like 14-day quarantine. It can’t happen in India,” Ganguly said. “This quarantine is tough to handle. Too early to say how we can find a slot to complete the IPL.”
Photo: AFP
BASKETBALL
NBA fines Griffin US$50,000
The NBA on Sunday fined New Orleans Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin US$50,000 on Sunday for publicly criticizing officiating and making comments the league considered detrimental. The decision came two days after Griffin spoke out about his concerns over the amount of contact NBA referees allowed New Orleans forward Zion Williamson to endure. Williamson is out indefinitely with a broken left index finger. Griffin said the Pelicans have told league officials many times that they feared Williamson was being exposed to injury because of the way defenders are allowed to play against the 200cm, 128.8kg standout. “He’s injured now because of the open season there’s been on Zion Williamson in the paint,” Griffin said on Friday. “He’s been absolutely mauled in the paint on a regular basis.”
HOCKEY
Tortorella leaves Columbus
John Tortorella is out as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets after six seasons. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement on Sunday that parting ways with the winningest coach in franchise history was a mutual decision. The 62-year-old Tortorella was in the last year of his contract, and the separation was not a surprise after a tumultuous season that saw the Blue Jackets plunge to last place in their division amid the coach’s admitted failure to influence the team culture. “Torts and I have had numerous conversations throughout the season, and we have agreed that the time is right for both he and the club to go our separate ways,” Kekalainen said a day after the Blue Jackets concluded the season with a 5-4 overtime win against Detroit. The Blue Jackets went 227-166-54 under Tortorella, including a franchise-best 50-24-8 finish in 2016-2017, but the wheels fell off during a terrible 2020-2021 season (18-26-12).
SOCCER
Club apologizes for breach
Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal yesterday apologized for an “inexcusable” breach of COVID-19 protocols by two of his players and a coach that led to the Indian club being told to leave the Maldives before an AFC Cup playoff game against a local team. Local media reported that the players and a member of the coaching staff had left their hotel in the capital, Male, on Saturday, sparking criticism from the Maldives sports minister. “The optics and timing of the breach has led to the reaction and what the players did was inexcusable,” Jindal said. “They were well aware of the protocols and they knew they couldn’t step out, however briefly.”
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