BASEBALL
Ramirez to play in Japan
Former MLB slugger Manny Ramirez has joined Japanese independent league team the Kochi Fighting Dogs, the club said on its Web site. The 44-year-old, who has also played in Taiwan after retiring from the major leagues in 2011 as one of only 25 players to pass 500 home runs, is set to play in the four-team Shikoku Island League. The Fighting Dogs posted a picture of the Dominican Republic native, describing him a little underwhelmingly as having been “active in Boston Red Sox etc.” Ramirez, in his first year on the Hall of Fame ballot, hit .352 with Taiwan’s EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Professional Baseball in Taiwan in 2013.
OLYMPICS
Indian body backtracks
Already threatened with being suspended and stripped of government funding, the Indian Olympic Association has stepped back from a proposal to appoint two tainted former officials as honorary life presidents. Tirlochan Singh, a senior association official, said that president N. Ramachandran on Monday wrote a letter to the Indian minister of sports explaining that the honorary awards were just a proposal and not been bestowed. The ministry earlier said that Indian government recognition of the association would be revoked unless the positions for Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala were withdrawn. Kalmadi and Chautala, former association presidents, had been unanimously proposed for the positions, which were largely ceremonial and did not give any voting rights, during a in Chennai last month. Kalmadi spent time in jail on corruption charges relating to the 2010 Commonwealth Games before being released on bail. Chautala is facing trial on finance-related matters.
FOOTBALL
Clemson win championship
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with 1 second to play to lift them to a 35-31 victory over Alabama in college football’s championship game in Tampa, Florida, on Monday. The Tigers avenged their 45-40 loss to the Crimson Tide in last year’s final. Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts had given the Crimson Tide — unbeaten in 14 prior games this season — a 31-28 lead with 2 minutes, 7 seconds remaining. Watson responded by piloting a nine-play, 68-yard drive for the win, saying he told his teammates in the huddle not to panic because “we were built for moments like this.”
SOCCER
France gains from Euros
Hosting the Euro 2016 tournament cost France less than 200 million euros (US$211 million) and brought 1.221 billion euros into the nation, according to figures released by the French Ministry of Sports yesterday. There was controversy over the public funds poured into the tournament, with 24 million euros — double the expected cost — spent on security in light of an increased terrorist threat. The state spent a further 160 million euros on building and renovating venues for the event, while private funds and tournament organizer UEFA covered the remaining costs. Euro 2016 brought 1.221 billion euros into the country both in tourism and spending directly related to the organization of the tournament, according to data compiled by the Centre of the Law and Economics of Sport at Limoges University and consultancy firm Keneo.
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
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
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