FOOTBALL
Sam Bradford rookie finalist
St Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford was named a finalist for the NFL’s Rookie of the Year award on Friday after a record-setting season where he helped turn around one of the league’s worst teams. Bradford, the first pick in last year’s NFL Draft, set league rookie records for completions (354) and attempts (590), and his 3,512 passing yards were the second most ever by a rookie. The Rams, who finished with a league-worst 1-15 record last season, improved to 7-9 with Bradford, but fell one win short of making the playoffs after losing to the Seattle Seahawks on the last day of the regular season. Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was taken with the second draft pick last year, was also named a finalist after he led his team and all rookies with 10 sacks.
FOOTBALL
49ers name Harbaugh coach
The San Francisco 49ers have dipped into the US college system to find their new coach, hiring Stanford University’s Jim Harbaugh on Friday. Former NFL quarterback Harbaugh takes over a San Francisco team that underachieved this season missing the post-season for the eighth consecutive season. The 49-year-old Harbaugh, who gets to stay in the San Francisco area, replaces fired coach Mike Singletary. His Cardinal’s collegiate team finished with a 12-1 record in the just-completed NCAA season. Harbaugh compiled a 29-21 record in four seasons at Stanford.
FOOTBALL
LSU takes Cotton Bowl
Louisiana State (LSU) shook off talk about the departure of coach Les Miles and beat Texas A&M 41-24 in college football’s Cotton Bowl on Friday. Miles is likely a leading candidate for the coaching vacancy at Michigan, where he played and was an assistant coach. In the days leading up to the Cotton Bowl, Miles said his focus was on his Tigers and that he enjoyed where he was. LSU (11-2) has now completed its fourth season with at least 11 wins in Miles’ six years. The Tigers had only two 11-win seasons in their history before that. It was the 50th game between the border-state schools, but the first since the 1995 opener. Texas A&M had won the last five games in a series.
HOCKEY
Langenbrunner back to Stars
The struggling New Jersey Devils have traded their captain Jamie Langenbrunner to the Dallas Stars, returning the right-winger to the city where his NHL career began. The Stars will receive a conditional third-round draft pick as part of the deal, the Devils said on their Web site (devils.nhl.com). Langenbrunner, 35, made his NHL debut with the Stars during the 1994-1995 season and played with them until 2002 when he was traded to the Devils. He won Stanley Cups with both teams, the Stars in 1999 and the Devils in 2003, and captained the US team that won the silver medal at last year’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
GOLF
Lincicome to face men
Three-time LPGA winner Brittany Lincicome is starting another round in golf’s battle of the sexes, as she plans to tee off against the men at a Hooters Tour tournament in Florida. The 25-year-old Lincicome will compete against a field of men at an NGA Hooters Tour event next week at the Deer Island Golf Club. Lincicome says she has a modest goal in her first tournament against the men. “A small goal would be to make the cut,” Lincicome said. Lincicome is considered one of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
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