■ TENNIS
Roddick to skip Olympics
World No. 6 Andy Roddick has decided to miss this year's Olympic Games in Beijing to defend his Washington Open title. Both events take place from Aug. 11 to Aug. 17 and Roddick wants to remain in his home country to help his build-up for the US Open, which begins two weeks later. "My goal every summer is to win the US Open," the 25-year-old US player said in a statement released on Tuesday by Washington Open organizers. "I have won the Legg Mason Tennis Classic three times and feel defending my title in Washington best prepares me for another grand slam title."
■ CRICKET
Harmison and Hoggard axed
England have axed experienced pace bowlers Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard in a bid to save the Test series against New Zealand after their humiliating 189-run first Test loss. Harmison was widely expected to lose his place for the second Test starting here today but the dropping of Hoggard was more of a surprise. James Anderson returns for his 21st Test after getting some match practice last week playing for Auckland in New Zealand's first class cricket. Also back is Stuart Broad, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka last year. Harmison and Hoggard, with 124 Test caps between them, struggled in the first Test, taking a combined two wickets at the cost of 278 runs.
■ BASEBALL
Selig earning US$14.5m
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig earned about US$14.5 million in its latest fiscal year, roughly the same as the previous year. Selig received US$14,515,071 in compensation during the 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2006, according to MLB's tax return, which the commissioner's office released on Tuesday. That was up from exactly US$14.5 million in the 12 months that ended Oct. 31, 2005. MLB's contribution to Selig in its benefit plan was US$400,999, up from US$82,843 in the previous fiscal year, and Selig received US$140,603 in expense account and other allowances, an increase from US$20,184. MLB's return did not list compensation for other top officials.
■ FORMULA ONE
FIA to use hybrid technology
Formula One teams will start using hybrid technology next year to help the automotive industry build more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cars. Max Mosley, the president of world motor racing federation FIA, said at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday that F1 will introduce a new kinetic energy recovery system in engines in two years, which is meant to lead to better energy use in regular vehicles. Mosley also launched the FIA's "Make Cars Green" campaign, which calls on the UN to adopt a worldwide target for carbon emissions in passenger cars.
■ SOCCER
Bayern plan Asian tour
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have announced plans for a 10-day tour of Asia in May as the German giants look to raise their profile in the region. On May 18, the day after their final Bundesliga game, Bayern will fly to Indonesia to play the national side on May 21 before taking on the Chinese Olympic side on May 24 and will play Indian side Mohan Bagun on the way home. The tour will be the last appearance of former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who will finish his career at the end of the season. "The Asian market is very important, if not the most important in the world," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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