The Korea Herald

Another day at the office

Lionel Messi scored twice to tie Raul Gonzalez’s career record of 71 Champions League goals, and Barcelona won 2-0 at Ajax on Wednesday night to advance to the tournament’s knockout stage for the 11th straight year.The 27-year-old scored with a header in the 36th minute and doubled the lead in the 76th after exchanging passes with Pedro Rodriguez. Messi moved one goal in front of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.Messi has played 90 Champions League matches, 52 fewer than Raul.“Messi is absolutely

SoccerNov. 6, 2014

Lawyer says A-Rod admitted steroids use

MIAMI (AP) ― A lawyer for the University of Miami’s former pitching coach said Wednesday that Alex Rodriguez admitted to federal investigators he used steroids supplied by the owner of a now-closed South Florida clinic.Attorney Frank Quintero Jr., who represents Lazaro “Laser” Collazo in his defense against charges of conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs, told the Associated Press that the New York Yankees third baseman confessed to steroids use, according to Drug Enforcement Adm

BaseballNov. 6, 2014

Faced with illegal surveillance charges, president for Lotte baseball team offers to quit

The troubled South Korean baseball club Lotte Giants announced Thursday their president, Choi Ha-jin, has offered to resign, faced with charges that he had been the mastermind behind alleged illegal surveillance of his players during the past regular season. The Busan-based Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Choi has expressed his intent to step down from his post but has not yet handed in his formal resignation as of Thursday afternoon. The Giants added that Bae Jae-hoo, the club's

BaseballNov. 6, 2014

Samsung evens Korean Series vs. Nexen thanks to power surge

The Samsung Lions pounded the Nexen Heroes 7-1 on Wednesday to even the South Korean baseball championship series at one game apiece. Veteran slugger Lee Seung-yuop hit a record 14th career postseason home run in the third inning and Yamaico Navarro homered for the second consecutive night at Daegu Stadium, as the Lions went off for 10 hits in Game 2 of the Korean Series. The teams are now tied at one game apiece in the best-of-seven affair. After a traveling day Thursday, the teams will be ba

BaseballNov. 6, 2014

Son doubles down

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) ― Son Heung-min scored twice to give Bayer Leverkusen a 2-1 win at Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League on Tuesday, putting the German team on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages.The South Korean striker opened the scoring in the 68th minute with a fierce shot from outside the box after a well-worked team free-kick routine.Son struck again five minutes later, finishing calmly after a through ball from Stefan Kiessling. Leverkusen’s Son Heung-min ce

SoccerNov. 5, 2014

Royals, O’s each win 3 Gold Gloves

NEW YORK (AP) ― All those snazzy plays by Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez earned them more than tips of the hat from their Kansas City teammates.The Royals trio wound up snagging Gold Gloves, too.“It was something that was pretty special to watch,” Gordon said.Three Baltimore players also were honored by Rawlings on Tuesday for fielding excellence, as was St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina for the seventh year in a row.The Royals paid tribute to each other throughout a run to the World

BaseballNov. 5, 2014

Presidents Cup leaders look forward to showdown

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― With a major international golf competition set to take place in South Korea in less than a year, principal figures of the event said Wednesday they’re already anticipating a big showdown.The 2015 Presidents Cup will come to Incheon, west of Seoul, from Oct. 8 to 11 next year. It is a biennial event that pits a team of Americans against a squad of non-European international players in match play for four days.Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon will be the host.The Presidents w

GolfNov. 5, 2014

Presidents Cup leaders look forward to showdown

Nexen shortstop Kang Jung-ho stays hot in potential audition for MLB clubs

With a possible move to Major League Baseball (MLB) for next season on the horizon, the Nexen Heroes shortstop Kang Jung-ho is having himself a fine audition, wielding a hot bat on the biggest stage in South Korean baseball. Kang belted a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 1 in the championship Korean Series against the Samsung Lions on Tuesday, helping his club defeat the three-time defending Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) champs 4-2 on the road in Daegu. Kang has now h

BaseballNov. 5, 2014

FIFA weighs winter World Cup in Qatar

GENEVA (AP) ― FIFA is targeting two options for holding the 2022 World Cup in the winter in Qatar, and organizers think that is “ideal” for the Middle East.After a meeting Monday about five proposals on when to play the tournament, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke quickly moved to slim down the field.“We are getting closer to narrowing the dates for the FIFA World Cup to two options ― January-February 2022 or November-December 2022,” Valcke said in a FIFA statement.Qatar’s organizing committ

SoccerNov. 4, 2014

Kim Yu-na appointed honorary ambassador for 2018 Winter Games

Retired figure skater Kim Yu-na (right) and Cho Yang-ho, head of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics organizing committee, holds up an oversized business card showing Kim as the new honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Games in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)Retired figure skating star Kim Yu-na on Tuesday was named an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea.Kim became the sixth goodwill ambassador for the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, the first South Korean

More SportsNov. 4, 2014

Kim Yu-na appointed honorary ambassador for 2018 Winter Games

Dodgers ace Kershaw voted top player by major leaguers

NEW YORK (AP) ― Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was voted the player of the year in balloting by his fellow Major League Baseball players.The players’ union said Monday that Kershaw also won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award.Kershaw was 21-3 with an MLB-best 1.77 ERA. He was voted the National League’s outstanding pitcher and became the first player to win three Players Choice awards in one season since voting began in 1992.Voting was conducted Sept. 16. That was before Kershaw wen

BaseballNov. 4, 2014

Dodgers ace Kershaw voted top player by major leaguers

Park to assume honorary chair of next year’s Presidents Cup

South Korean President Park Geun-hye plans to accept an invitation to be honorary chairman of next year’s Presidents Cup, Park’s office said Tuesday.Park plans to accept the invitation during her meeting with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem at the presidential office later in the day, the office said.Park will be the second woman to serve as honorary chairman next fall when the Presidents Cup is set to take place in Incheon, a port city just west of Seoul, in the biennial event’s first venture

GolfNov. 4, 2014

Korea Skating Union inks partnership with Dutch counterpart

The South Korean governing body of skating said Tuesday it has reached a partnership agreement with the top Dutch skating organization, as the two countries hope to exchange expertise in the run-up to the 2018 Winter Olympics.The Korea Skating Union said it signed a memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership on Monday with the Royal Dutch Skating Association at Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean presidential office.Kim Jae-youl, the KSU president, and his KNSB counterpart, Paul Sanders

More SportsNov. 4, 2014

Lee scores first Korean Tour win at Herald-KYJ

Lee Hyung-joon, a 22-year-old rookie, won the second Herald-KYJ Tour Championship. It was his first victory on the KPGA Korean Tour. He took first place with a 6-under 210 in the 300 million won ($279,000) tournament at Lotte Skyhill Country Club on the southern island of Jejudo on Monday. Hong Soon-sang, a 33-year-old Seoul native, took second with three shots behind Lee. Defending champion Hur In-hoi, 27, from Gyeonggi Province, placed third with 1-under 215. “I bogeyed two of the four holes I

GolfNov. 3, 2014

Lee scores first Korean Tour win at Herald-KYJ

United loses 1-0 in derby

LONDON (AP) ― A summer spending spree of $250 million on new players was supposed to restore the dwindling fortunes of Manchester United.If anything, it may be getting worse at Old Trafford.United is off to its worst 10-game start to an English league season since 1986 after losing 1-0 at rival Manchester City on Sunday, leaving the 20-time champions in ninth place with just half the points of unbeaten Premier League leader Chelsea.In the Spanish league, the logjam at the top remains after Valen

SoccerNov. 3, 2014

Korea recalls striker Park for friendlies

Korea head coach Uli Stielike speaks during a press conference on Monday. (Yonhap)South Korea coach Uli Stielike recalled former Arsenal striker Park Chu-young to the national team for friendlies this month against Jordan and Iran.Park, released by Arsenal in May and without a club until he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab in September, has not featured for his country since a disappointing 2014 World Cup when the Asian giant collected a solitary point.South Korea is preparing for January’s Asian

SoccerNov. 3, 2014

Korea recalls striker Park for friendlies

Oh vows to improve

Fresh off a successful first season in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, South Korean closer Oh Seung-hwan said Monday he will try to be even better in 2015.Oh arrived home Monday after finishing the season with the Hanshin Tigers. The Tigers lost to the SoftBank Hawks in the championship Japan Series last week.During the regular season, Oh, who’d previously pitched for the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization, went 2-4 with 39 saves and a 1.76 ERA. He led the Central League in

BaseballNov. 3, 2014

Lions face upstart juggernaut for title

The battle for South Korean pro baseball supremacy this year will pit the three-time defending champs against an upstart offensive juggernaut.The Samsung Lions, which have won every Korea Baseball Organization crown since 2011, will take on the Nexen Heroes, which often makes good pitching staffs look dreadful, in the best-of-seven Korean Series starting Tuesday.The Lions, managed by former All-Star shortstop Ryu Joong-il, are trying to become only the second team to win four Korean Series in a

BaseballNov. 3, 2014

Three-time defending champs face upstart juggernaut for S.Korean baseball supremacy

The battle for South Korean pro baseball supremacy this year will pit the three-time defending champs against an upstart offensive juggernaut. The Samsung Lions, which have won every Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) crown since 2011, will take on the Nexen Heroes, which often makes good pitching staffs look dreadful, in the best-of-seven Korean Series starting Tuesday. The Lions, managed by former All-Star shortstop Ryu Joong-il, are trying to become only the second team to win four Korean

BaseballNov. 3, 2014

Madrid climbs above Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 17th league goal of the season and 22nd in all competitions to help Real Madrid take the Spanish league lead Saturday after Celta Vigo won at Barcelona’s home field for the first time in 72 years. Other top European teams avoided upsets, with Bayern Munich and Chelsea both needing late penalty kicks for 2-1 home victories.Juventus took advantage of Roma’s loss to open a three-point lead in the Serie A, while Paris Saint-Germain pulled within a point of leader Marseil

SoccerNov. 2, 2014