Taiwan out of Futsal Cup
Taiwan was swept out of the qualifiers for the Asia Futsal Cup on Monday after its match with Lebanon ended in a 1-1 tie. Taiwan took the lead when Tseng Tai-lin (
Baseball up and running
The CPBL spring training schedule got under way on Monday when the Brother Elephants played the Macoto Cobras and the Chinatrust Whales matched up against the Sinon Bulls. After revamping their lineup following a disappointing season last year, the Elephants overcame a shaky start by lefty Nicholas Bierbrod to squeak by with a 6-5 win on an errant throw in the bottom of the ninth by Cobras shortstop Kuo Ming-jen (郭銘仁). The Whales-Bulls match turned into a pitchers' duel, ending in a 1-1 tie after nine innings.
Cobras to continue in 2007
Lin Chih-kuang (林致光), owner of the Macoto Cobras, yesterday announced that the team would retain the name for 2007 after a proposed deal to sell off the team finally fell through. Lin said that despite the pressure on him running the team, he would continue to do so over the coming season rather than disband it. The aborted deal to rename the team the Chiuho Dragons will reportedly cost it more than NT$3 million.
Wang's half-million bargain
Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-ming (王建民) yesterday agreed to a one-year deal with the team worth around US$500,000. Though much higher than Taiwanese salaries, the deal is a bargain for the Yankees. Wang's big payday will come this off-season, however, when he becomes eligible for arbitration.
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them. The New York Yankees starter on Sunday pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win. “I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.” The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a