BASEBALL
Papelbon hits jackpot
Former Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon has agreed to a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth a reported US$50 million, Major League Baseball’s Web site said on Friday. The deal is pending the four-time All-Star passing a physical and includes a fifth-year option, MLB.com said. The contract would be the largest in total monetary value for a relief pitcher, surpassing the five-year, US$47 million deal B.J. Ryan signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2005, the Web site said. The New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera is the highest paid reliever in annual pay. He has earned US$15 million each of the past four seasons.
POLO
Champion’s horses stolen
Thieves made off with six horses belonging to Argentine polo champion Adolfo Cambiaso, a living legend of the sport, from a ranch he owns south of Buenos Aires, a spokesman said. “They were ordinary ponies that the kids use, but we care about that because they learn to play on them, they have fun with them and they have great sentimental value,” said Guillermo Valent, manager of Cambiaso’s ranch La Dolfina. Valent said he could not estimate how much the horses were worth. The thieves, he said, “walked them away, cutting through the wires in the field.” Cambiaso, 36, in 1994 became the youngest polo player ever to achieve a 10-goal handicap, the maximum, and is considered the best in the world.
SOCCER
No. 11 in 11/11/11 campaign
Brazil’s highly-coveted striker Neymar, who wears the No. 11 shirt for his club Santos and the national squad, is starring in a new underwear ad campaign launched on Friday. The 19-year-old star, who already has contracts with five other brands, was paid US$2.35 million to wear boxers by top Brazilian underwear brand Lupo. The ad features an 11 representing the day, then Neymar making another 11 with his body, followed by another 11 to indicate the year. “Even the calendar recognizes him, today is Neymar’s day,” the ads say.
ATHLETICS
Gold Coast gets 2018 nod
The Commonwealth Games Federation on Friday named Australia’s Gold Coast as the site for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, over Sri Lanka’s Hambantota. “See you in Gold Coast in 2018!!!” the federation said on Twitter, following a vote of its general assembly in the Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis. Gold Coast, a tourist hotspot that is home to just 500,000 people, will provide a stark contrast with last year’s host, India’s teeming capital New Delhi. The 2014 event will be held in Glasgow.
FOOTBALL
Penn State rating reviewed
A major credit agency warns that Penn State University’s bond rating could be downgraded because of risks to its reputation and finances from a child sex abuse scandal. Moody’s Investors Service said on Friday it has put the university’s “Aa1” bond rating under review for a possible downgrade after former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with molesting eight children over a 15-year period. Moody’s will assess the potential impact on Penn State of risks from possible lawsuits, a decline in students applying, loss of donations from philanthropies and changes in its relationship with the state. Its strong current bond rating reflects its respected academic program and status as the state flagship.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and