BASEBALL
La Russa back next season
Tony La Russa will remain with the St Louis Cardinals to manage another season after signing a new one-year contract, the team said on Monday. La Russa, the franchise’s most successful manager in terms of wins, has signed the deal, which has a mutual option of an extension for the 2012 season. “We are excited to have Tony returning and are looking forward to 2011,” Cardinals chairman and chief executive Bill DeWitt Jr said on the team’s Web site (stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com). La Russa has spent 15 seasons with the Cardinals guiding the franchise to the 2006 World Series and eight division titles.
BASEBALL
Mariners hire new manager
The Seattle Mariners, who last reached the playoffs a decade ago, officially confirmed Eric Wedge as their new manager on Monday. “Eric brings the energy, passion and leadership that we think is important as we move forward and he has a track record of winning at the major league and minor league levels,” Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement. Wedge has faced the task of rebuilding a struggling franchise before. He did it in Cleveland, where he took the Indians within one victory of reaching the World Series in 2007. “Seattle is a great city for me and my family. With the fan support, the ballpark, the ownership and management, the Mariners are in a great position to be very successful,” Wedge said.
BOXING
Tyson charity visit canceled
A five-day charity visit by former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has been called off because of poor ticket sales, the organizers announced in Prague on Monday. The 44-year-old — who was world heavyweight champion from 1986 to 1990 — had been due to arrive here yesterday. “The tickets were unfortunately too expensive for the local market,” said the Swiss promoter Rey Karpf, quoted by Czech agency CTK. It would have cost 2,000 euros (US$2,780) to train with the former champion, 1,000 euros for spending an evening with him and 120,000 euros for dinner with Tyson. According to CTK, the organizers were going to pay Tyson US$1 million a day with part of that going to a Prague children’s hospital.
FOOTBALL
Junior Seau drives off cliff
Longtime NFL standout linebacker Junior Seau has driven off a cliff in Southern California and is hospitalized with minor injuries. The crash happened less than nine hours after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. Carlsbad police say the 12-time Pro Bowler’s Cadillac SUV was found on the beach about 9m below the roadside. Police Lieutenant Paul Mendez said Seau was conscious.
BADMINTON
Lee at Asian Games doubtful
World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei is doubtful for next month’s Asian Games with an ankle injury, the latest in a list of niggling ailments. The Malaysian two-time Commonwealth Games champion was to undergo an MRI scan to determine the extent of the injury. “He complained of pain ... on Saturday [after his return from New Delhi]. I had a look at it on Sunday and we are now investigating the injury,” Malaysia’s National Sports Institute director Ramlan Aziz told Malaysia’s Star newspaper. “We will not be able to make any conclusion on his preparation for the Asian Games, not until we are able to review all the reports following the treatment he gets over the next few days.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care