■BOXING
Calzaghe admits cocaine use
Former undefeated super-middleweight world boxing champion Joe Calzaghe apologized for using cocaine on Sunday after being caught out by a British newspaper. Calzaghe, 38, who retired from boxing a year ago having won all 46 of his professional fights, released a statement on his Web site apologizing to fans for his “occasional use of cocaine” since retiring. “I’m not proud to say that I have joined a list of royals, sports and showbiz stars who have been scammed by the News of the World’s notorious Fake Sheikh,” Welshman Calzaghe said, explaining how he had been secretly filmed by the newspaper’s reporters speaking about his drug use. The News of the World, whose leading undercover reporter sometimes poses as a sheikh to befriend celebrities, carried the story on its front page on Sunday. “In talking directly to my fans, I would only add that I am deeply sorry if anyone feels let down and I will make sure that nothing like it happens again,” Calzaghe said.
■SOCCER
Gazza in trouble again
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and without a license or insurance. Gascoigne, who has been plagued by alcohol and mental health problems since he quit the game in 2005, was charged on Sunday following the incident in Leeming Bar, north Yorkshire, last month. Gascoigne scored 10 goals in 57 matches for England before his career was cut short by injuries and off-field troubles. Gascoigne — nicknamed “Gazza” — was detained three times for mental health problems in 2008. Considered one of the most talented English players of his generation, he is best known for his exploits at the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, where he helped England reach the semi-finals.
■SOCCER
Match lasts 60 seconds
A Bulgarian third-division match was abandoned after less than a minute on Sunday when injury and suspension-hit Gigant Belene were reduced to six men shortly after kickoff. Gigant made the 200km trip to the northwestern town of Belogradchik for the match but could only field seven players. Referee Boycho Boychev was forced to abandon the match after less than a minute when Gigant’s Momchil Vraikov informed him he had picked up an injury and could not continue. Teams have to field at least seven players according to the rules of the game. Balkan Belogradchik were awarded a 3-0 win.
■RUGBY UNION
Delve heading Down Under
Welsh forward Gareth Delve has become the Melbourne Rebels’ second international recruitment ahead of their debut Super 15 season next year. Officials announced late on Sunday that Delve, the Gloucester captain, will join England flyhalf Danny Cipriani at the Rebels. “The opportunity to test myself alongside the best players in world rugby in a competition I have grown up admiring was one I couldn’t refuse,” Delve said in a statement. “I am delighted to join the Melbourne Rebels for their entrance into Super Rugby in 2011.” Delve, 27, who has played 11 times for Wales, said one of the key factors in his decision to move to Melbourne was the opportunity to work with Australian World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen. “For Rod Macqueen to come out of retirement, this must be something special,” he said. “The chance to be involved with the building of a club from the ground up has great appeal. I’m looking forward to it immensely.”
OFFENSE SHINES: First baseman Pan Chie-kai hit a solo homer in the fifth inning as all 10 batters Taiwan used contributed at least one hit toward their team total of 14 One day after their first shutout loss at the WBSC Premier12, Taiwan yesterday bounced back with a commanding 8-2 victory over the US, keeping their hopes for a spot in tomorrow’s final alive. The win in the Super Round marked Taiwan’s first triumph over the US at a top-tier international baseball tournament since 2003. Their previous win over the US was at the 2003 Baseball World Cup, with only one win in the previous 10 matchups since 1999. Yesterday’s game was tightly contested through the first six innings, with the margin never exceeding two runs. However, the tide turned in the top of
Taiwan last night defeated Cuba 2-0 in their World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 Group B game at the Taipei Dome and finished the group second. At the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium, South Korea yesterday defeated Australia 5-2, while Japan last night won 11-3 against the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome to advance to the Super Round. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champions and Group B winners Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the
TWO-NIL LOSS: Taiwan’s best chance to score came at the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but Venezuela’s Liarvis Breto got out of the jam Taiwan yesterday suffered a shutout 2-0 loss to Venezuela in the opening game of the WBSC Premier12 Super Round at the Tokyo Dome. Taiwan had seven hits, one more than Venezuela’s six, but catcher Carlos Perez’s two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning delivered the only runs scored by both teams and secured victory for Venezuela. Taiwan’s best chance came at the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and only one out. However, Venezuela reliever Liarvis Breto struck out Chen Chen-wei before reliever Pedro Garcia finished the inning by allowing an infield flyball by Lin
As sporting celebrations go, it does not quite have the charm of Roger Milla’s hip-wiggling shimmy with a corner flag at the 1990 World Cup or the imperious swagger of Usain Bolt’s iconic lightning pose. However, a dance move inspired by US president-elect Donald Trump’s stilted on-stage boogieing has rapidly become the celebration of choice across the US sporting world. From the blood-soaked UFC to the hard-hitting NFL and the reliably decorous world of the LPGA Tour, athletes across North America have succumbed to the viral Trump dance craze in the past week. On Monday, US soccer star Christian Pulisic became the latest
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