Sun, Dec 19, 2010 page18

• SPORTS BRIEFS

  • Agencies
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  GOLF

  Tseng scoops honor

  Yani Tseng of Taiwan, Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell and Germany’s Bernhard Langer were named players of the year on Friday by the Golf Writers Association of America. Tseng, who claimed the Kraft Nabisco and women’s British Open majors, received 69 percent of the vote for female player of the year. Next best was the American Cristie Kerr, named on 16 percent of the ballots. McDowell, who became the first European to win the US Open in 40 years with his victory at Pebble Beach, won four times this year and captured the decisive point for Europe in their Ryder Cup triumph over the US. He prevailed in a close race, receiving 43 percent of the votes for male player of the year against 32 percent for American Jim Furyk and 25 percent for the US PGA champion, Martin Kaymer. Langer was a runaway choice for Champions Tour player of the year, with 94 percent of the vote.

  ULTRAMARATHON

  Taiwanese wins silver

  Taiwanese extreme marathon runner Tommy Chen won a silver medal yesterday in the 100km ultramarathon race at the South Pole in a time of 15 hours, 15 minutes and 58 seconds. Chen, 24, was the first Asian to ever complete the race. He took part in the North Pole marathon in April and won a bronze medal, becoming the youngest-ever competitor to finish in the top three. It was also the best performance by a Taiwanese competitor in the North Pole marathon.

  BOXING

  Police arrest Mayweather

  Floyd Mayweather Jr was arrested at a Las Vegas casino on an outstanding misdemeanor battery charge after he allegedly assaulted a security guard at his gated community, authorities said on Friday. Police arrested Mayweather, 33, shortly before midnight local time on Thursday, police spokeswoman Barbara Morgan said. Mayweather was held overnight at the Clark County Detention Center and released on Friday, said Kathy Banto, executive assistant for Clark County assistant district attorney Chris Owens. Multiple world champion Mayweather is due to appear in court on Tuesday, Banto said.

  SOCCER

  Gyan tops Africa poll

  Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan was crowned BBC African Footballer of the Year on Friday after receiving more than half the public poll votes. Compatriot Andre “Dede” Ayew, Ivorians Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o were the other finalists. “It was really hard to win this award especially because of all the other players I was up against” the striker told the Fast Track radio show. Gyan scored three of the four goals that took Ghana to the African Nations Cup final last January and grabbed another three in South Africa as the Black Stars became only the third African country to make the World Cup last eight.

  SOCCER

  Ex-Spurs star passes away

  Former England and Tottenham midfielder Ralph Coates has died aged 64 following a stroke, his agent said on Friday. Coates won four England caps and also netted the winner for Spurs in their 1973 League Cup final win against Norwich. Earlier, he had played for Burnley and also had a spell with Leyton Orient. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp paid tribute to Coates. “He was just a great guy, one of life’s nice fellas. He is still loved here. I came across him in his Burnley days. We have sent condolences to his family,” Redknapp said.

  BASEBALL

  Kuo misses out on award

  Taiwanese pitcher Kuo Hong-chih of the Los Angeles Dodgers failed to win the Setup Man of the Year yesterday in the annual This Year in Baseball awards. The 29-year-old, who won the award in 2008, ranked third with 20 percent of the ballots cast, behind Joaquin Benoit of the Tampa Bay Rays, who is now with the Detroit Tigers, and Mike Adams of the San Diego Padres, who finished with 21 percent. Benoit, who had a 1.34 ERA, garnered 49 percent of the vote to win the award, which recognizes the best setup pitcher — a relief pitcher who usually pitches in the seventh and eighth innings before the closer comes in. Kuo finished the season with three wins, two losses and 12 saves in 56 appearances, his best performance since making his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2005, and became the first Taiwanese player to earn a spot in the All-Star Game. The left-hander, who has had four surgeries on his elbow, also broke the Dodgers franchise record for the lowest ERA, finishing the season on 1.20. He struck out 73, while yielding 29 hits and 18 walks in 60 innings.

  BASEBALL

  Bartlett rejoins the Padres

  The San Diego Padres have reacquired shortstop Jason Bartlett from the Tampa Bay Rays along with a player to be named later in an exchange for four prospects, the team said on Friday. The Rays will receive major league relief pitchers Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos, plus minor leaguers Brandon Gomes and Cole Figueroa, an infielder. Bartlett, an All-Star with Tampa Bay last year, returns to the organization that drafted him in 2001, before he was then traded to the Minnesota Twins 13 months later. “I’m excited,” the 31-year-old said on a conference call. “I never got to the big leagues over there. I’ve heard the NL [National League] is a lot different. My wife and I love the beach. We’re all excited. Hopefully, I can be there for a while. I’m ready to go.” Bartlett hit .254 with four home runs and 47 RBIs for Tampa Bay last season.

  BASEBALL

  Nishioka, Twins agree deal

  Japanese batting star Tsuyoshi Nishioka and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a US$9.25 million, three-year contract on Friday that includes a club option for the 2014 season. Nishioka led the Pacific League with a .346 average last season. The Twins submitted the highest bid, US$5.329 million to the Chiba Lotte Marines to gain negotiating rights to Ni-shioka, who can play second base or shortstop. The Twins have openings at both positions, with J.J. Hardy traded and Orlando Hudson a free agent. One of their off-season goals was to add more speed to the lineup and Nishioka is part of that plan. He will be paid US$3 million for each of the next three seasons. The Twins can exercise a US$4 million option for 2014 or pay him a US$250,000 buyout.

  FOOTBALL

  Redskins bench McNabb

  Donovan McNabb has been benched in favor of Rex Grossman as starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins, who announced the switch on Friday and said McNabb might not be with the NFL team next season. Washington will travel to Dallas to face their archrivals the Cowboys today in a game that will have no impact on the playoff race. John Beck will serve as the backup to Grossman, rather than having McNabb ready as first substitute. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said on Friday that he told McNabb of the switch on Thursday. “He has not been more disrespected his whole career than he has this season,” McNabb’s agent, Fletcher Smith, told ESPN. “It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
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