■DRAG RACING
Street caused crash: report
The final state report into a car show crash last year that killed six spectators and wounded 22 others blamed the design of the street where the event was staged. The report by the Tennessee Highway Patrol found the street was peaked slightly to aid drainage and it began to curve so it “differed vastly from the flat, straight surface of a drag strip in which the car was designed to be operated on.” The car’s driver, Troy Critchley, an Australian living in Texas, pleaded guilty in August to 28 charges of reckless assault. He was sentenced to 18 months probation. The 3,000 horse power dragster reached 148kph in 3.56 seconds before swerving into spectators standing six deep on the side of the street, the report found. The burnout was part of an annual car show and parade put on by Cars for Kids Southern Style Inc, a local charity that raises money for children’s hospitals.
■ALPINE SKIING
Lanning to miss race
American skier T.J. Lanning crashed at high speed in a World Cup downhill training session on Friday and was ruled out of racing this weekend. Lanning had cuts on his face and a possible bruise to his knee after losing control and slamming into the safety netting lining the Stelvio course. “He’s getting checked out. We’re still in the evaluation process,” US Ski Team head coach Sasha Rearick said. “He was able to ski down.” Lanning was not taken to a hospital, but team doctors advised him against racing. Rearick said the crash occurred at “very high speed.” The race is scheduled for today.
■BASEBALL
Giants sign ‘Big Unit’
Five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Friday. The 45-year-old Johnson signed a deal worth US$8 million, US media reported. He is five wins shy of becoming the 24th pitcher in MLB history to reach 300 in his career. A 10-time all-star, Johnson is second on the career strikeout list with 4,789. His 295 career victories currently rank sixth among lefthanders. A 21-year major league veteran, Johnson owns a 295-160 record with a 3.26 ERA in 596 games — 586 starts — with Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona and the New York Yankees.
■TENNIS
Amritaj may be barred
A government order unveiled on Friday that prevents non-natives from representing India could deny Prakash Amritraj a place on India’s Davis Cup squad. The sports ministry release said: “Players who are Indian citizens only can avail themselves of government assistance to represent the country in the national teams representing the country.” It effectively rules out Amritraj, 25, a US citizen who was born in Encino, California, from starting a sixth year on India’s Davis Cup team or in the Olympics or the Asian Games. Three women tennis players, Sunitha Rao, Shikha Uberoi and her sister Neha, will also be barred because they are all US citizens.
■ATHLETICS
Bolt’s choreographer killed
The dancer and choreographer who created the dance used by Jamaica sprinter Usain Bolt to celebrate his victories at the Beijing Olympics was shot to death at a Kingston nightclub on Friday, police said. David Alexander Smith, known in entertainment circles as “Ice,” was shot in the head and chest during an argument with two men. They then took his keys and fled in his car, police said. Smith created the “Gully Creeper” that Bolt danced each time he won a race at the Olympics last August.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
LONG TIME COMING: With the addition of Marcus Smart, the Washington Wizards finally held a team to under 100 points, the last team this season to do so The Detroit Pistons on Monday won their seventh straight game in the NBA with in-form Cade Cunningham making 32 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 106-97 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pistons, who are in the playoff position, moved to 32-26, their best record at this stage of a season for 17 years. It was an all-round effort from Detroit with Tobias Harris adding 20 points and Jalen Duren making 19 rebounds along with his 12 points. It was a tight contest until Detroit pulled away late in the third quarter to tie their longest winning streak since the 2014-2015
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