■ ICE HOCKEY
Tootoo signs extension
The Nashville Predators signed forward Jordin Tootoo, the first Inuit to play in the NHL, to a two-year contract extension. General manager David Poile announced the deal worth US$1.95 million on Thursday, after the team's morning skate. Drafted in 2001, Tootoo has career-highs with seven goals and 13 points in 41 games this season. "Jordin is a physical player that can not only get under opponents' skin and draw penalties, but has proven he can score at this level as well," Poile said. "We are excited about watching his continued development over the next two seasons." The 24-year-old Tootoo has 40 points and 365 penalty minutes in 210 career games with the Predators.
■ BASEBALL
Gonzalez to sign for Marlins
Free agent outfielder Luis Gonzalez and the Florida Marlins have reached a preliminary agreement on a US$2 million, one-year contract. Gonzalez must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, a person familiar with the negotiations said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the deal. The contract for 40-year-old Gonzalez includes US$1 million in performance bonuses. Gonzalez, who has spent most of his career in left field, likely will be Florida's fourth outfielder. Left fielder Josh Willingham and right fielder Jeremy Hermida return as starters.
■ CYCLING
Napolitano wins fifth stage
Danilo Napolitano won the fifth and longest stage of the Tour of Qatar on Thursday ahead of Albert Loddo and Tom Boonen. Napolitano finished the 170km race in 3 hours, 49 minutes, 14 seconds in sunny weather. Boonen, who won the second and third stages, kept the overall lead with a 17-second advantage over Steven De Jongh of the Netherlands. Napolitano remained with the pack until the last sprint when the Italian went past fourth-stage winner Loddo and defending champion Boonen.
■ SOCCER
Barcelona through to semis
Thierry Henry scored the only goal as Barcelona beat Villarreal 1-0 to reach the Spanish Cup semi-finals on Thursday, with Ronaldinho playing for the first time this year. The former Arsenal striker headed in after 41 minutes for the only goal of the two-legged quarter-final clash. Villarreal's hopes of snatching what would have been a crucial away goal were dented when they had Pascal Cygan was sent off for a foul on Lionel Messi. Ronaldinho, who has been sidelined with tendinitis, played the last 15 minutes of the match and received a generous ovation from the crowd.
■ SOCCER
Judge files suit over injury
A South Korean judge has filed a lawsuit after injuring himself in a court-organized soccer tournament, a report said yesterday. The Seoul Administration Court said the judge filed a suit against the government pension service, saying the injury he sustained should be recognized as an industrial accident liable for compensation. The judge, identified only as Choi, needed hospital treatment for a twisted knee after playing in the tournament organized by the president of the Seoul High Court, the Korea Times said. Choi contested the pension service's ruling that the game was not part of his work duties, saying he was virtually forced to turn out. He plans to hire a lawyer to argue his case.
More than 180 years of horse racing came to an end in Singapore on Saturday, as the Singapore Turf Club hosted its final race day before its track is handed back to the Singaporean government to provide land for new homes. Under an overcast sky, the air-conditioned VIP boxes were full of enthusiasts, socialites and expats, while the grounds and betting halls below hosted mostly older-generation punters. The sun broke through for the last race, the last-ever Grand Singapore Gold Cup. The winner, South African jockey Muzi Yeni, echoed a feeling of loss shared by many on the day. “I’d
Former world No. 2 Paula Badosa has withdrawn from this week’s Wuhan Open, organizers said on Tuesday, amid a racism row over an online photograph. Tournament organizers said the Spaniard had pulled out of the WTA 1000 tournament, citing a gastrointestinal illness, hours before her first-round match against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. News outlets including Britain’s the Telegraph earlier reported that Badosa had posted a photo on Instagram in which she appeared to imitate a Chinese face by placing chopsticks on the corners of her eyes. The photo was taken last week in a restaurant in Beijing, where she reached the semi-finals of the
PREDICTION: Last week, when Yu’s father made a wrong turn to the former champions’ parking lot, he said that his son could park there after this year With back-to-back birdies on the 18th hole, Kevin Yu fulfilled his driving range-owning dad’s prediction that he would win the Sanderson Farms Championship and become Taiwan’s third golfer to claim a US PGA Tour title. The Taoyuan-born 26-year-old, who represented Taiwan in the Olympic golf at Paris, saw off Californian Beau Hossler in a playoff at the Country Club of Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. Having drained a 15-foot putt to claw his way into the playoff, Yu rolled in from five feet on the first extra hole, ensuring he joined Chen Tze-chung (LA Open in 1987) and Pan Cheng-tsung (RBC
LeBron James and eldest son Bronny James claimed a piece of NBA history on Sunday after making their long-awaited first appearance alongside each other for the Los Angeles Lakers. The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles. While LeBron James impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on court before sitting out the second half, Bronny found the going harder with zero points in just over 13 minutes on court. The younger James attempted just one
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