■ Basketball
Spanish team nets award
Spain's national basketball team received the prestigious Prince of Asturias sports award on Friday in recognition of the World Championship title it won in Japan. The team beat 29 other candidates for the award, including French Open tennis champion Rafael Nadal, retiring eight-time Grand Slam event winner Andre Agassi and this year's World Cup chief Franz Beckenbauer. "To receive a first like this is a completely different emotion than in playing a game," World Championship most valuable player Pau Gasol said.
■ Baseball
Francona to lead MLB stars
Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has accepted an offer to manage a team of players from US Major League Baseball on an exhibition tour of Japan next month. Ken Macha had been scheduled to manage the team but the former Oakland skipper was fired two days after the American League West Division champions were swept out of the MLB playoffs by Detroit. "Unfortunately, Ken Macha was not able to represent a major league team," Francona said on Friday. Francona said he spoke to Macha before deciding to take the post. There are no Red Sox players on the team. Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets and Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox are among the players scheduled to play.
■ Rugby
Wannenburg to miss tour
Loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg was ruled out of South Africa's tour of Ireland and England on Friday because of a wrist injury. The 25-year-old has been a fringe player all season and team management said in a statement that there were no immediate plans to replace him for next month's four-game tour. Wannenburg, who has played in 16 tests, was hurt in last week's Currie Cup final and will undergo surgery tomorrow. His Blue Bulls side shared the trophy with the Free State Cheetahs after a 28-28 draw. Springboks coach Jake White will have five other loose forwards on the tour.
■ Cricket
Clarke plays down banter
Australian batsman Michael Clarke played down an incident with West Indies' Chris Gayle, saying it was only a bit of banter. Gayle was fined 30 percent of his match fee for his part in the incident after West Indies scored a 10-run victory over Australia on Wednesday. "There was definitely some banter, but it certainly wasn't personal ... Chris and I spoke after the match, so we're fine," said Clarke. "We give as good as we get, but we certainly cop some back, don't worry about that," the New South Wales batsman sai on Friday. "I remember after an over, Chris walked the whole way down to where Gilly and I were talking in the middle. He was right on my shoulder the whole time. I could imagine how that would look on TV. But for me personally, it was nothing but banter."
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