■ Hockey
Robitaille moves to Kings
Free agent Luc Robitaille signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, as he returns for a third stint with the NHL team. Robitaille is the highest-scoring left winger in hockey history with 631 career goals. He played the last two seasons for the Detroit Red Wings. But the 37-year-old scored just 11 goals and 20 points with the Red Wings last season, after a 30-goal effort during Detroit's Stanley Cup season in 2001.
■ Basketball
Kidd re-signs with Nets
The New Jersey Nets made an official announcement on Thursday that free agent guard Jason Kidd had re-signed to a multi-year contract. Kidd had visited the San Antonio Spurs, but the Nets said on July 11 that he would stay with the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions. That statement was ratified by Thursday's announcement. The team did not release contract details, but reports have the deal being for six years worth between US$99 and US$103 million. "We are obviously delighted to re-sign Jason to a long-term contract," Nets president Rod Thorn said.
■ Soccer
Newcastle reign in Asia
Goals from captain Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi gave Newcastle United 2-1 win over 10-man Birmingham City in Thursday's opening game of the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) Asia Cup. Shearer converted a penalty in the 37th minute after City's Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham was dismissed -- and now faces a suspension -- for having felled Wales forward Craig Bellamy in the box. Birmingham's goal also came from a penalty, converted by substitute Paul Devlin in the 73rd minute, just two minutes before substitute Ameobi's header booked his side into Sunday's final against either Chelsea or Malaysia's national side.
■ Golf
Langer gets Ryder charge
Bernhard Langer was Thursday named as captain of the European Ryder Cup team that will defend the trophy against the US in Michigan next year. The highly respected German, 45, succeeds Sam Torrance. Last year, Torrance led Europe to victory by 15-1/2 points to 12-1/2 at The Belfry but did not want to be considered again. "It's a fabulous honor to be named European captain," Langer said. "I've never made a secret of how much I enjoy being part of the Ryder Cup, and to be captain makes me very proud, especially as the first German golfer to hold this prestigious honor." The Ryder Cup is scheduled for Sept.17 to Sept. 19 at Oakland Hills, Michigan. The US team will be captained by Hal Sutton.
■ Athletics
Mom wins Death Valley race
A 42-year-old mother from Arizona won a 217km, 28-hour-plus ultramarathon in temperatures that reached 51?C. Pam Reed defended her title on Wednesday in a race that begins at the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere and ends halfway up 4,348m Mount Whitney -- the highest point in the contiguous US. Reed finished the ultramarathon in 28 hours, 26 minutes and 52 seconds -- ahead of the first male finisher. "God was very good to us today -- we had less sun," Reed said. Dean Karnazes, 40, finished first among men in 28:51.26. "It was as close to hell as I ever want to get," said Karnazes, of San Francisco.
■ Motor racing
Jaguar hunt driver
Jaguar are still looking for a Formula One test and reserve driver after Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia rejected the offer, team bosses said on Thursday. Rookie Pizzonia was replaced as a regular race driver by Briton Justin Wilson this week after a disappointing 11 starts without a point. He turned down a reserve role. Jaguar managing director David Pitchforth said the door was still open for the 22-year-old but Jaguar was looking for someone to fill the role.
■ Soccer
Mexico joins Brazil in finals
Rafael Marquez banged in a 45m strike on Thursday to give Mexico a 2-0 win over Costa Rica and secure a CONCACAF Gold Cup finals berth. Mexico will play Brazil in the final tomorrow. Brazil advanced on Wednesday with a 2-1 overtime victory against the US in Miami. Because Brazil is an invited guest to this tournament, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, Thursday's win earned Mexico a berth in the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany. Costa Rica earned a shocking 2-1 victory over Mexico in the qualifying rounds for last year's World Cup.
■ Basketball
China denies Yao injury
China's basketball association yesterday denied reports that Houston Rockets center Yao Ming broke a bone during practice with his homeland's national team, saying he suffered only a cut eyebrow. "It's just a cut," said Xu Minfeng, a spokesman for the association. "The bone was not broken." State newspapers on Wednesday quoted a doctor for the Chinese team as saying the 22-year-old Yao suffered "some fractures" in a bone above his left eye in a collision this week with another player. The doctor said Yao would need a week to recuperate.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or