Beltran takes shots at Mets

NEW YORK (AP) ― On his first day in Yankees pinstripes, Carlos Beltran had some choice words ― for the Mets.Having signed a $119 million, seven-year contract with the Mets before the 2005 season, Beltran was unhappy about his stay in Queens by the time he was dealt to San Francisco in July 2011.He felt he was unfairly targeted for taking a called third strike from St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of 2006 NL championship series Game 7. He was blamed for missing a team trip to the Wal

BaseballDec. 22, 2013

Luke Scott signs 1-year deal in South Korea

 Former Tampa Bay outfielder and designated hitter Luke Scott has signed a one-year deal with SK Wyvern, the South Korean baseball team has announced.  The Incheon-based Korea Baseball Organization team said it signed the 35-year-old Scott for $300,000, including a signing bonus of $50,000. Scott joined the Houston Astros in 2005 and then the Baltimore Orioles, where he hit more than 20 homers in three consecutive seasons. Last season he played with Tampa Bay, where he batted .241 with nine home

BaseballDec. 21, 2013

Kobe likely to miss 6 weeks with fracture in knee

EL SEGUNDO, California (AP) -- Kobe Bryant is expected to miss about six weeks with an injured left knee. 　 The Lakers said Thursday that an MRI showed Bryant has a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau of his knee.　 The team said Bryant had hyperextended the knee in Tuesday night’s game at Memphis. 　 The injury is the latest setback for the Lakers star, who had only returned to the court on Dec. 8 after nearly eight months away because of a torn Achilles tendon. 　 Los Angeles had signed the fo

More SportsDec. 20, 2013

Juventus to play A-League all-star team next year

SYDNEY (AP) ― Reigning Serie A champion Juventus will play an Australian A-League all-star team next August in Sydney. New South Wales state Premier Barry O‘Farrell said Friday the Italian team’s appearance on Aug. 10 will follow up on the successful Australian appearance by Manchester United in July. More than 83,000 fans attended a match at the former Olympic stadium in Sydney won 5-1 by the reigning Premier League champion over an A-League all-star side. One of the A-League’s marquee players

SoccerDec. 20, 2013

Police detain 19 involved in Brazil fan violence

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Brazilian authorities have detained 19 people for their alleged involvement in fan violence that marked the final round of the Brazilian league this month, with some of them likely to be charged with attempted murder. Police in three states had arrest warrants for nearly 30 people in a joint operation being called “Red Card,” with detentions made throughout the day on Thursday. Authorities used television images and photographs to identify the fans, among them a former council m

SoccerDec. 20, 2013

Top baseball league mulling abolishing salary cap on foreign players: official

General managers in the top domestic baseball league are considering abolishing the salary cap imposed on foreign players, a senior league official said Friday, after a series of offseason transactions raised questions about the rule's effectiveness.According to Yang Hae-young, secretary general of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), general managers of the 10 clubs agreed "in principle" to get rid of the current cap of $300,000 during their meeting this week. Yang insisted, however, that no

BaseballDec. 20, 2013

Hong to rest key defender for training

South Korea’s key defensive back Kim Young-gwon will be rested for the national team’s winter training camp in Brazil and the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup, his head coach said Thursday.Hong Myung-bo, the national team bench boss, told reporters that Kim, who plays for Guangzhou Evergrande in China, will not be traveling with the rest of the team when South Korea sets up its pre-World Cup training camp on Jan. 13.Kim, 23, played 28 out of 30 matches for Guangzhou in the Chinese Super

SoccerDec. 19, 2013

SK Wyverns acquire MLB veteran Luke Scott

The SK Wyverns announced Thursday they've signed Major League Baseball (MLB) veteran Luke Scott to a one-year contract.The Incheon-based Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said they inked the 35-year-old American for US$250,000, along with a signing bonus of $50,000.Scott made his big league debut with the Houston Astros in 2005 and most recently played with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013.He batted .241 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 91 games. For his nine-year career, Scott has hit 135 home

BaseballDec. 19, 2013

Kim Hae-jin honored to compete at Winter Games

Up-and-coming figure skater Kim Hae-jin said Wednesday she was eagerly anticipating her first Winter Olympics in two months’ time alongside her famous role model.The 16-year-old booked her spot at the Sochi Winter Games by placing second behind Park So-youn at last month’s Olympic trials.The two teenagers will be joined by the reigning Olympic champion Kim Yu-na, 23, an iconic star for Kim Hae-jin and many other young figure skaters here.Speaking to Yonhap on the sidelines of a corporate event i

More SportsDec. 18, 2013

Obama selects gay athletes for delegation

WASHINGTON (AP) ― President Barack Obama named openly gay athletes to the delegation that will represent the U.S. next year at opening and closing ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, sending a clear signal to Russia about its treatment of gays and lesbians.Tennis champion Billie Jean King will join the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony, while Caitlin Cahow, a women’s ice hockey player and Olympic medalist, will represent the U.S. at the closing ceremony. Both athletes have identif

Olympic GamesDec. 18, 2013

Hanwha Eagles announce signing of new foreign pitcher

The Hanwha Eagles announced Wednesday the signing of new pitcher Caleb Clay to a one-year deal.The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team said Clay, a 24-year-old right-hander, signed for $250,000, along with $50,000 in a signing bonus.Clay was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2006 but has never played in Major League Baseball (MLB). In seven minor league seasons for affiliates of the Red Sox and later the Washington Nationals, Clay has gone 26-33 with a 4.19 ERA in 147 games, 77 of them being s

BaseballDec. 18, 2013