Obama hosts Presidents Cup golfers

Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju takes part in an event honoring the Presidents Cup golf teams in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. (AFP-Yonhap)WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama and his most famous golf partner, Tiger Woods, got together again Tuesday, but at the White House instead of on the course.Obama honored a team of American golfers who last year defeated an international team to win their fifth straight Presidents Cup, a victory that was clinched by Woods.“Now last year was the second time I’ve bee

GolfJune 25, 2014

Nadal’s grass-court win streak hits 1

LONDON (AP) ― Chasing a shot to his right, Rafael Nadal slipped and tumbled to the Center Court turf. He popped up, raced across the baseline to get back into the point, and later capped the 14-stroke exchange with a backhand passing winner.The reason for the two-time Wimbledon champion’s recent inability to play well on grass remains something of a mystery. As far as Nadal was concerned Tuesday, all that mattered was that he dusted himself off and eventually ended a three-match ― and seven-set

More SportsJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Brazil riding high with confidence

BRASILIA (AP) ― Brazil heads into the knockout stage of the World Cup with added confidence after finally coming up with a convincing win at its home tournament.The host played well in a 4-1 win over Cameroon on Monday to secure a spot in the Round of 16 and regain the trust of fans after two mediocre games.Players said that more important than the victory was the team’s performance, which showed that Brazil remains on track to contend for the World Cup title.Brazil’s forward Neymar (AFP-Yonhap)

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Uruguay sinks Italy to advance

Greece’s Giorgos Samaras (left) celebrates his goal against Ivory Coast in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tuesday. (AP-Yonhap)Underscoring a power shift away from Europe, Uruguay fought ― and apparently even bit ― its way to a 1-0 victory over Italy Tuesday to move to the World Cup’s next round with Costa Rica, which sent England home without a single victory after a goalless draw.South America’s strength was further highlighted when Colombia capped its perfect record in Group C with a 4-1 win over Japan. E

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Korea aims to keep heads held high

SAO PAULO ― In one painful outing, Korea’s hopes of passing the group stages for the second straight World Cup were all but wiped out.Korea seemed to have left behind the poor form it showed in the run-up to the World Cup with a solid 1-1 opener against Russia. But the concerns about its crucial defensive weaknesses returned with Sunday’s 4-2 loss. “I don’t think I’ve ever played such a terrible match in my football career,” confessed a disheveled and emotional Han Kook-young the day after Alger

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Greece scores late to advance at World Cup

Greece doesn't score often at the World Cup, but its goals certainly come at the right time. Greece doubled its total scoring tally at World Cup tournaments by netting twice against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday _ the second coming through an injury-time penalty that secured a 2-1 victory and a spot in the knockout rounds. Greece`s Giorgos Samaras celebrates scoring his side`s second goal during the group C World Cup soccer match between Greece and Ivory Coast at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Br

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Costa Rica survives 'Group of Death' with ease

The beach ball being thrown around the stand by bored, cheering fans captured just how serene Costa Rica's progress has been at the World Cup.It should never have been this easy for the only team in Group D which isn't a past World Cup winner and doesn't feature in the top 10 of the FIFA rankings. But history and status proved no hindrance for the central American minnows, who turned the group on its head by progressing as winners. Costa Rica`s Celso Borges, right, controls the ball past England

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Uruguay beats Italy to advance; Greece late winner

Underscoring a power shift away from Europe, Uruguay fought _ and apparently even bit _ its way to a 1-0 victory over Italy Tuesday to move to the World Cup's next round with Costa Rica, which sent England home without a single victory after a goalless draw.South America's strength was further highlighted when Colombia capped its perfect record in Group C with a 4-1 win over Japan. Europe did get one team through when Greece converted an injury time penalty for a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast whi

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Suarez bite storm as Uruguay sink Italy

Luis Suarez shocked the World Cup with a new biting storm Tuesday as Uruguay sensationally dumped ten-man Italy out of the tournament with a dramatic 1-0 victory.Uruguay captain Diego Godin hit an 81st-minute winner in the gritty Group D battle that saw Italy knocked out in the first round for the second straight World Cup.But Italy's stunning exit was overshadowed by an incredible incident involving Suarez -- already banned twice before for biting opponents -- just moments before Godin's winner

SoccerJune 25, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia boot Japan out of World Cup

(AP-Yonhap)Jackson Martinez scored twice as Colombia beat Japan 4-1 to end World Cup Group C with three straight wins and send the Asian champions packing from the tournament with just a single point.The match made World Cup history when Farid Mondragan beat Roger Milla's record as the oldest player at any finals tournament. The goalkeeper came on as a substitute for the last six minutes at the age of 43 years and three days.Colombia already had the game sealed.Disaster struck for Japan after 15

SoccerJune 25, 2014

NC's Charlie Shirek throws KBO's first no-hitter in 14 years

Charlie Shirek of the NC Dinos (Yonhap)Charlie Shirek of the NC Dinos on Tuesday threw the first no-hitter in the top South Korean baseball league in 14 years.The American right-hander held the LG Twins hitless while striking out seven and walking three batters, as the visiting Dinos won the road game 6-0 at Jamsil Stadium.Shirek became the first Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) pitcher to throw a no-no since Song Jin-woo, then with the Hanwha Eagles, on May 18, 2000. Shirek's no-hitter is the

BaseballJune 24, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium has the points but what about style?

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― First came boos and whistles. And then, a Brazilian taunt cascaded down the stands of the Maracana stadium ― “Little team, your place is in the second division.”The Belgians had felt honored to play at the famous stadium but the local fans didn’t exactly return the love during Belgium’s struggling 1-0 win over Russia at the World Cup.One day later, the Belgium squad was cherishing the two victories that have ensured their passage to knockout phase. But after much pre-tourna

SoccerJune 24, 2014

[World Cup] Party on, Brazil

Brazil relied on its star Neymar for two early goals to beat Cameroon 4-1 Monday and reach the World Cup’s knockout stage for a South American showdown against Chile. (AP-Yonhap)

SoccerJune 24, 2014

[World Cup] Son wants more individual leadership

FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) ― The young South Korean squad at this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil may be lacking leadership, but the players shouldn’t make an excuse out of their plight, one of the team’s stars said Monday.South Korea lost to Algeria 4-2 on Sunday in Group H, a loss that left the Asian side in last place among four teams with one point with the final group match versus Belgium set for Thursday.Back at the South Korean base camp of Foz do Iguacu, winger Son Heung-min said the

SoccerJune 24, 2014

[World Cup] Korea faces must-win situation in Group H finale

FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) ― After securing just one point in its first two Group H matches at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil, South Korea faces a must-win situation against the heavy favorite Belgium in Sao Paulo on Thursday.The match between No. 57 South Korea and the 11th-ranked Belgium will kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday (5 a.m. Friday in Seoul) at Arena Corinthians.The South Koreans have their backs against the wall after getting picked apart by the ruthless Algerian offense in their

SoccerJune 24, 2014

Wimbledon welcomes back Murray

LONDON (AP) ― It had been, famously, more than 75 years since a British man arrived at Wimbledon as the defending champion.So Andy Murray took a moment ― and, really, only a moment ― to take in the sights and sounds Monday at Centre Court as nearly 15,000 spectators, including Shaquille O’Neal up in the Royal Box, rose to greet him with a raucous standing ovation.Murray’s parents and grandparents were present. So, of course, was his much-discussed recent choice as coach, Amelie Mauresmo. The oth

More SportsJune 24, 2014