Wed, Oct 21, 2009 page19

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■ATHLETICS

  Bolt honored in Kingston

  The world’s fastest man received one of his Caribbean homeland’s highest honors on Monday. Sprint superstar Usain Bolt received the Order of Jamaica award during heritage celebrations in Kingston. At 23, Bolt is the youngest person to ever receive the honor. In recent weeks Jamaica has also renamed a highway after the Olympic and world 100m and 200m champion and record-holder.

  ■RUGBY UNION

  Mortlock out with calf injury

  Former Australia captain Stirling Mortlock was yesterday ruled out of upcoming Tests against New Zealand and England because of a torn calf muscle, officials said. The Wallabies will play their first Test under new skipper Rocky Elsom against New Zealand in Tokyo on Oct. 31 and face England at Twickenham on Nov. 7. Mortlock, who said he had a “decent size tear in the muscle,” was hoping to rejoin the 35-man squad ahead of the Test against Ireland on Nov. 15. “I think realistically we’re targeting being 100 percent right by that week leading into the Ireland match,” he told reporters. “I’ll be ready to go, don’t worry about that.” Mortlock has just recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of this year’s Tri-Nations series.

  ■FOOTBALL

  Wesley suspended for hit

  Carolina Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley has been suspended for one game for a hit on Clifton Smith of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wesley “launched himself” and hit the “neck and head area” of Smith during a punt return, NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson said in a statement on Monday. Anderson said Smith, who had not touched the ball, was in a “defenseless posture.” The hit ignited an on-field scuffle between the two teams. Smith sustained a concussion and did not return to the game, won by Carolina, 28-21, on Sunday at Tampa Bay. Wesley will sit out the Panthers’ game this Sunday against Buffalo.

  ■BASEBALL

  Tigers pursue Johjima

  Japan’s Hanshin Tigers are keen to sign catcher Kenji Johjima after his decision to leave the Seattle Mariners and return home. The 33-year-old, who helped Japan retain the World Baseball Classic title earlier this year, opted out of the final two years of his contract with Seattle earlier this week. Johjima had signed a three-year, US$24 million contract extension with the Mariners during the 2008 season. “As a right-hander who can be a clean-up hitter he is a player we very much covet,” Tigers president Nobuo Minami told Japanese media yesterday. Johjima batted .268 during four seasons in Seattle, hitting 48 home runs with 198 RBI.

  ■TENNIS

  Roddick books finals berth

  American Andy Roddick has booked his place at the World Tour Finals with four weeks of the season remaining, the ATP said yesterday. The world No. 7 seven will join Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro at the end-of-season tournament. “The reaction I received from fans after the Wimbledon final was something I will never forget,” the 27-year-old Roddick told the ATP Web site. “I’ve always had great support in London and I’m looking forward to being back there in November.” Roddick, who reached the semi-finals in 2003 and 2004, has qualified for the season-ending event seven years in a row. Two places are still up for grabs with Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Spaniard Fernando Verdasco leading the chase.
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