■RUGBY UNION
Mackay stable after crash
ACT Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay is in a critical but stable condition in a Durban, South Africa, hospital after being hit by a vehicle in the South African city over the weekend, the team said yesterday. The Australian Super 14 team, on tour in South Africa, said the accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when Mackay was struck by a security vehicle while crossing a road. Mackay sustained a cervical spinal fracture and dislocation, a compound fracture to his left leg and multiple facial fractures and lacerations, the Brumbies said on their Web site. The forward underwent surgery and will remain in traction in a medically induced coma for the next 48 hours as he undergoes further medical treatment, they said. Mackay was returning to the hotel when he was struck. The Brumbies said the accident was being investigated by Durban police.
■CYCLING
Guo wins gold in Poland
China’s Guo Shuang took the gold medal in the world track championships in Pruszkow, Poland, on Sunday and Australia finished top of the medals table. Guo held off France’s Clara Sanchez and Willy Kanis of the Netherlands to claim China’s only medal of the event. In the men’s Omnium, Howard Leigh outclassed Canada’s Zachary Bell in the five-event series to win Australia’s fourth gold medal. Australia’s four golds, four silvers and two bronzes put them top of the final medal standings. France came second with three golds, two silvers and one bronze and favorites Britain took two golds, four silvers and three bronzes. In a tense men’s sprint final, France’s Gregor Bauge saw off Malaysian challenger Azizulhasni Awang in the deciding round of three. Bauge’s team mate Kevin Sireau took bronze. In the women’s points, consistent placing gave Giorgia Bronzini of Italy victory. Cuba’s Yumari Gonzalez Valdivieso was second and Britain’s Elizabeth Armitstead third.
■NASCAR RACING
Johnson wins at ‘paperclip’
Jimmie Johnson nudged Denny Hamlin aside in the third and fourth turns with 15 laps to go in Martinsville, Virginia, to give team owner Rick Hendrick a perfect place to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series: Victory Lane. Johnson, dubbed “Mr Martinsville” by Jeff Gordon, lived up to his moniker, winning for the fifth time in the last six races on the smallest, trickiest track in the series. It was his sixth victory at the 0.85km oval, second only to Gordon’s seven among active drivers. Hamlin, the defending champ, never challenged Johnson after he slid high into the banking after the bump and pass and his winless streak extended to 32 races. Hamlin finished second, followed by Tony Stewart, Gordon and Clint Bowyer. The victory was the 18th for Hendrick Motorsports at Martinsville, where a victory by Geoff Bodine 25 years ago gave the fledgling company a needed boost.
■BASKETBALL
James Posey suspended
New Orleans Hornets forward James Posey was suspended for one game by the National Basketball Association on Sunday for tossing a ball at the feet of a referee following a foul call against him. Posey was ejected on Friday during a 103-93 Hornets’ loss to New York Knicks after he hurled the ball at the feet of referee Gary Zielinski. While trying to grab a defensive rebound, Posey was whistled for a loose ball foul, prompting the outburst. Posey, averaging 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds a game, was forced out of Sunday’s Hornets game against San Antonio.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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