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■ Soccer
Bravo joins Olympiakos
Greek champions Olympiakos have signed Raul Bravo from Real Madrid. The Piraeus club said on Friday that the 26-year-old defender had signed a four-year contract, but financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. "I'm satisfied with my transfer to Olympiakos because I found the respect that I needed a lot ... I didn't get that at Real,'' Bravo told a news conference after the signing.

■ Baseball
Suzuki extends contract
Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki signed a US$90 million, five-year contract extension on Friday, three days after he was the unanimous selection for MVP of the Major League Baseball All-Star game. The deal ensures Seattle will not lose its franchise cornerstone to free agency this autumn. Instead, the Mariners will keep the seven-time All-Star and perennial Gold Glove outfielder under contract until age 39. When asked whose counsel he valued most during contract negotiations that began in January, he said, "Ikky, my dog. He said, `Ruff, ruff, ruff,'" a smiling Suzuki said through an interpreter. "That means, `Stay, stay, stay.'"

■ Soccer
Fulham sign N Ireland star
Northern Ireland striker David Healy joined up with former international manager Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham after signing a four-year deal with the London club. Healy, 27, has scored 29 goals in 59 appearances for his country and is now looking forward to life in the English Premiership after moving from Leeds. "Obviously I know Lawrie Sanchez well and through his time as manager of Northern Ireland he has given me a lot of support, so I'm really looking forward to playing under him in the Premiership," Healy said.

■ Soccer
Blades' legal challenge fails
Sheffield United failed with a legal challenge on Friday to force the Premier League to take fresh disciplinary action against West Ham regarding Carlos Tevez. The Argentina striker helped ensure West Ham's Premiership survival last season with seven goals in 19 games -- including the last day winner against Manchester United which contributed to Sheffield United's relegation. However, there were complaints West Ham had broken league rules as the player's advisor Kia Joorabchian had an interest in Tevez's registration which should have been the sole concern of the club. The Premier League fined the Hammers ?5.5 million rather than deduct points, prompting Sheffield United's action in London's High Court on Friday. But the court refused the Blades leave to appeal against an arbitration panel's decision to dismiss their claim for new disciplinary action to be taken against West Ham.

■ Baseball
Cuban applies to buy Cubs
Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, may branch out into baseball after applying to buy the Chicago Cubs. The Dallas Morning News reported on Friday that Cuban has added his name to the list of suitors seeking to buy the Cubs from the Tribune Company. As Mavericks owner, Cuban has often clashed with NBA commissioner David Stern about the league's officiating. He was fined a league-record US$500,000 for his remarks after a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 2002. The list of suitors to buy the Cubs is a long one, with at least six other individuals or groups in the running to buy the team and Wrigley Field, which the Tribune Company announced were for sale in April.

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