BASEBALL
Kuo signs with Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent relievers Kuo Hong-chih and Shawn Camp to one-year contracts in a move to bolster their bullpen, the Major League Baseball (MLB) team said on Monday. Financial terms were not released. Kuo, who in 2010 became the first Taiwanese to make an MLB All-Star team, went 1-2 and had a 9.00 earned run average in 40 games last season while hampered by elbow and anxiety problems. The left-hander, 30, had spent his entire seven-year Major League career with the Dodgers before being released in the off-season. Camp, 36, appeared in a team-high 67 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, posting a 6-3 record and 4.21 earned run average.
ICE HOCKEY
Crosby works out with team
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby worked out with his teammates on Monday, but said he was still recovering from concussion-like symptoms and a neck injury, and offered no timetable for his return. Crosby practiced with the Penguins at the Bell Centre in Montreal ahead of yesterday’s game with the Canadiens, but he and coach Dan Bylsma cautioned there was no change in his status. “I didn’t want to skate by myself,” Crosby told reporters. “When I go back to Pittsburgh I’ll be skating by myself again. It’s getting tough. I miss being out with the guys.” The NHL’s top attraction has been out of the lineup since Dec. 5 with concussion-like symptoms and a recently diagnosed soft-tissue neck injury. He said he believed his health was improving. “I feel like I’m getting there,” Crosby said. “I don’t have a time frame, I wish I did, but I don’t. The good news is that there is some progression.” However, he said: “I’m not symptom free. As soon as I am, I’ll be out there.”
CYCLING
Garmin win second stage
Garmin won the second stage at the Tour of Qatar on Monday, beating Quick Step by 7 seconds in the opening time trial of the season. In a slick performance from start to finish, Garmin finished the 11.3km route in 12 minutes, 38 seconds in sunny conditions. Sky Procycling were third, 9 seconds back. The win lifted American rider Tyler Farrar into second place in the overall standings, behind 2005 world road race champion Tom Boonen of Belgium. Boonen, who won the first stage on Sunday, was satisfied with his team’s performance. “We did a very good job until the last four [kilometers],” Boonen said. “There was a tail wind and the plan was to go fast on the way back. I think the last 1km is where we lost the time trial. So like I said yesterday, a finish in the top three would be a very good job, but we tried hard and lost to a very good team. I am happy with our young guys.”
BASKETBALL
Love handed suspension
Minnesota forward Kevin Love was suspended for two games without pay by the NBA on Monday for stamping on Luis Scola as the Houston player lay on the court during a game on Saturday. In making the announcement, NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson said the incident had been upgraded by the league office to a flagrant foul two. The incident occurred with 8 minutes, 34 seconds to play in the third quarter of Minnesota’s 100-91 victory over Houston in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Scola hit the floor after a drive toward the basket and Love stepped on Scola’s head and chest with his left foot as he moved down the court. At the other end, the Rockets bench was called for a technical and the contest became increasingly physical from there.
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