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■BASKETBALL

Tabuse shoots for NBA

Former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse is leaving the Japan national men’s basketball team for another shot at the National Basketball Association. Tabuse had been training with Japan’s national team but decided to leave the squad and head to the US after receiving an invitation to attend the Dallas Mavericks’ summer camp next month. “I got the news all of a sudden and am happy I was able to get another opportunity,” Tabuse said at a press conference on Saturday. Tabuse, 28 years old, played briefly for the Phoenix Suns in the 2004-2005 season and is the only Japanese player to make it to the NBA. The 173cm point guard joined the Suns’ training camp in 2004 and made the opening-night roster. He scored seven points in his first NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks, but was waived by the Suns on Dec. 16, 2004.



■AUTO RACING

Driver killed in crash

A 34-year-old driver has died after crashing in a race at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. Chad McDaniel of Concordia, Kansas, died after striking another car, injuring his head and neck during a US Auto Club Midget Nationals race on Friday night. Mercy Medical Center spokesman Gregg Lagan says McDaniel was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:37am on Saturday. McDaniel had scored five top-10 finishes in six races this season. USAC Racing official Kevin Miller said the sport had lost “a passionate racer.” Club officials said McDaniel is survived by his wife, Trisha, and two children.



■BOXING

Mosley wants Pacman bout

World Boxing Assocciation welterweight champion Shane Mosley said he was eager to fight Philippine superstar Manny Pacquiao and was willing to change weight classes to do it. Mosley, the WBA’s 147-pound champ, is hopeful he and Pacquiao can come to a compromise on an ideal weight (or catch weight) to make the fight happen. “There are conflicting reports from the Pacquiao camp an upcoming fight between me and Manny Pacquiao,” Mosley said. “I want it to be known that I want to fight Pacquiao and I want to fight him now. I’m willing to meet at a catch weight to make that happen. I know this is what Freddie Roach wants as well. I am the best fighter in boxing and I am ready to reclaim the title of number one pound-for-pound fighter.” In his last fight, Mosley pounded Antonio Margartio in January, registering a ninth-round knockout. Pacquiao, considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is coming off a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton last month.



■SOCCER

Nedved leaves Juventus

Czech veteran Pavel Nedved has announced his departure from Juventus in a statement released by the club on Saturday. Nedved had said earlier in the season that he would retire when this campaign is over but this statement seemed to contradict that. “After eight seasons with Juventus the time has come to say farewell to the fans, my teammates and the club and thank them all for the support I’ve received over the years,” Nedved said. “In Turin I have won four titles [actually two as two were anulled for match-fixing] and a Ballon d’Or.” Nedved said that he was not leaving for economic reasons, but with Juve having signed Brazilian Diego and with young Italian Sebastian Giovinco pushing for a more regular starting berth, Nedved risked being pushed down the pecking order.


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