NBA Phoenix Suns center ALEX LEN has taken to writing "#PrayForUkraine" on his shoes, an "understated symbol of solidarity with those suffering amid the roiling chaos in the Ukraine," where Len was born in June '93 (YAHOO, 3/6). ... Bulgarian club Lokomotiv Plovdiv has released Administrative Dir ATANAS UZUNOV, accusing him of "political games." The board of Lokomotiv claims he used his official position to "influence the supporters of the club and they participate in political actions against the government of country" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/10). ... National Rugby League club Cronulla forward ANDREW FIFITA's "imminent switch to Canterbury is set to make him the highest paid prop in NRL history." Fifita is "expected to announce" that he has accepted a four-year deal with the Bulldogs, "believed to be worth" close to A$850,000 ($767,000) a season (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/11). ... The Ministry of External Affairs "informed that the necessary clearance" regarding England batsman KEVIN PIETERSEN's visa "was received from the union sports ministry paving his way for upcoming India visit." MEA spokesperson SYED AKBARUDDIN tweeted, "Good news. Twiplomacy works!! Necessary clearance just received from Sports Ministry. Mission to grant visa soon. C u in India soon." It was "retweeted" by Pietersen. Earlier in the day, Pietersen wrote on his Twitter page to reveal that his passport is lying with the Indian embassy in the U.K. "for the past 10 days for a job that he claimed requires barely 24 hours, and subsequently requested the MEA to help him in this regard" (TIMES OF INDIA, 3/10). ... PELE is counting on NEYMAR "to lead Brazil to World Cup victory and erase the painful memory of the last time the football-mad country hosted the tournament" (AP, 3/11).
PUSHED OUT? Outgoing Australian Football League League CEO ANDREW DEMETRIOU said that he was "offended by a media report that he was pushed." Demetriou announced last week that '14 "would be his final year in the top job, a position he has held since 2003." The Australian reported Sunday that Demetriou "was pushed out the door" by the AFL Commission. Demetriou: "Yeah, well it offended me because it was wrong. I had made this decision a long time ago. I'd actually told a few people confidentially" (BRISBANE TIMES, 3/10).
KIM'S FAREWELL: The IOC falsely quoted Korean figure skater KIM YU-NA in a news story published on its website following the "controversial" women’s final, where Russian teenager ADELINA SOTNIKOVA "edged Kim for the gold." In the article, Kim is "described as calling Sotnikova the best skater of the competition." Kim’s representatives, however, said that she "never made such a comment." The article on the IOC website "was later re-edited" (KOREA TIMES, 3/10). ... Kim will "hold farewell ice shows" from May 4-6 in Seoul. These will be Kim's "last appearances on ice" as a figure skater (KOREA HERALD, 3/10).
