BASKETBALL
Singletary contract extended
The Taipei Fubon Braves have extended the contract of two-time P.League+ finals Most Valuable Player Mike Singletary to the league’s 2022-2023 season following his strong performances over the past two seasons. The 1.98m American forward, also known as “Championship Mike,” played a major role in helping the Braves clinch back-to-back P.League+ championship titles since the league’s inaugural 2020-2021 season, the club said in a statement. Singletary saved his best for last in the finals series’ title-winning game on June 27, when he had 43 points and 13 rebounds. Regarding his upcoming third season with the Braves, Singletary said he was excited for another chance to win the championship. “We have a chance to do something special this year and go for that three-peat. It’s not going to be easy, but I can’t wait to go to battle with my brothers again,” Singletary said.
OLYMPICS
Paris unveils slogan
Organizers of the Paris Olympics on Monday marked the two-years-to-go milestone to the 2024 Games by unveiling the official slogan — “Games Wide Open” — and said they got fresh backing from French President Emmanuel Macron for their planned giant opening ceremony along the Seine River. Macron held talks in Paris with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and brought together ministers and security officials to review Olympic planning — signaling quickening efforts to ready the French capital for the July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024, Games. Amid questions over the costs and security for the opening ceremony, Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet said that Macron, his interior minister and the Paris police chief reaffirmed “their total support for the organization of this ceremony on the Seine.”
RUGBY LEAGUE
Players refuse pride jersey
Seven players from the Manly Sea Eagles are to boycott an Australian rugby league match after refusing to wear the club’s one-off pride jersey, which shows support for the LGBTQ community, over “cultural and religious” beliefs, their coach said yesterday. The Sydney-based Sea Eagles are to wear rainbow-themed uniforms for a game against the Sydney Roosters tomorrow, a move unveiled earlier this week. It is the first time that a club in the National Rugby League has had a pride jersey. Manly coach Des Hasler apologized at a news conference for how the issue was handled, saying it was a “significant mistake” for the club not to consult the players before the jerseys were released. “None of the coaching staff nor the players had prior knowledge of the jersey. They are not wearing the jersey as it conflicts with their cultural and religious beliefs,” Hasler said. Josh Aloiai, Jason Saab, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Haumole Olakau’atu, Tolutau Koula and Toafofoa Sipley are the players missing the key match, Australian media said. The two teams are eighth and ninth in the table, with only six rounds of games to play. Only the top eight go into the next round of the campaign. The nation’s leader weighed in on the issue. “I certainly hope this is resolved,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “It’s a good thing that sport is more inclusive... It’s important in Australian society that we respect everyone for who they are.”
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Ferrari’s F1 fortunes might be flagging, but the Italian team start this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans as favorites, targeting a third consecutive triumph in motorsport’s fabled endurance classic. Roger Federer is acting as celebrity starter with the tennis icon getting the 93rd edition of the jewel in four-wheeled endurance racing’s crown under way tomorrow. Twenty-four hours later, through daylight, darkness and dawn, the 21 elite hypercars are to battle it out over 300 laps (more than 4,000km) in front of a sold-out 320,000 crowd burning the midnight oil with copious quantities of coffee and beer. Ferrari made a triumphant return after
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