Seahawks return to Super Bowl with miracle win

SEATTLE (AP) ― Never doubt the resilience of the Seattle Seahawks.Plagued by turnovers and outplayed much of Sunday by Green Bay, the Seahawks staged an improbable comeback and beat the Packers 28-22 in overtime. Russell Wilson, who struggled until the final minutes, hit Jermaine Kearse for a 35-yard touchdown 3:19 into the extra period on the only possession.The Seahawks became the first defending champion to make the Super Bowl in 10 years, and will play New England. How they got there was stu

More SportsJan. 19, 2015

Uzbekistan up next for S. Korea

MELBOURNE, Australia (Yonhap) ― The banged-up and weary South Koreans received a day off from their AFC Asian Cup training Monday after arriving at the site of their upcoming quarterfinals showdown against Uzbekistan.The Korea Football Association said head coach Uli Stielike didn’t schedule any practice for the day here in Melbourne, where South Korea is scheduled to face Uzbekistan on Thursday.South Korea, chasing its first Asian Cup since 1960, claimed the top seed in Group A with three conse

SoccerJan. 19, 2015

Kang, Bucs finalize $11m deal

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Even though the Pittsburgh Pirates employ one of the largest analytics departments in baseball, they are not exactly sure how Kang Jung-ho’s outstanding statistics in South Korea will translate to the major leagues.They are willing to find out.Pittsburgh and the 27-year-old infielder finalized an $11 million, four-year contract on a busy day for the Pirates. The deal includes a $5.5 million club option for 2019 with a $1 million buyout.Meanwhile, closer Mark Melancon was among

BaseballJan. 18, 2015

Lee comes through in key match

BRISBANE, Australia (Yonhap) ― Only last month, South Korean forward Lee Jeong-hyeop had been almost unknown in international football.After netting the winner in South Korea’s 1-0 victory over host Australia at the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday, the 23-year-old is about to become a tad more famous.The win clinched the top seed in Group A for South Korea, which will travel to Melbourne to face the yet-to-determined runner-up from Group B in the quarterfinals on Thursday.Lee was the most surprising s

SoccerJan. 18, 2015

Never letting up

BRISBANE, Australia (Yonhap) ― Despite having already secured a berth in the quarterfinals at the ongoing AFC Asian Cup, South Korea will go all out against Australia in its upcoming Group A showdown, a national team official said Friday.The Korea Football Association official rejected the possibility that South Korea will rest some regulars against Australia, when the two countries meet Saturday at Brisbane Stadium.“Our plan is definitely to have the best players in our lineup to play the best

SoccerJan. 16, 2015

After strong year, Yang hoping for better 2015

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― South Korean pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, who was honored as the top homegrown hurler in the nation’s top league last year, said Friday he is hoping for an even better season in 2015, both for himself and for his pitching brethren.Yang and his Korea Baseball Organization club, the Kia Tigers, left for their spring training site in Okinawa, Japan, on Friday. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Yang said he wants to improve on his 2014 season.The 26-year-old led

BaseballJan. 16, 2015

Casey, Simpson tied for lead at Sony Open

HONOLULU (AP) ― Webb Simpson made his debut with a conventional putter Thursday at the Sony Open and might have wished he had used one sooner.One year away from the new rule that outlaws anchored strokes, Simpson ditched his belly putter for a regular one for his 2015 debut and ran off eight birdies over his last 10 holes for an 8-under 62 that gave him a share of the early lead with Paul Casey.On a day that made the 144 players feel they were in paradise, Simpson and Casey led a morning of low

GolfJan. 16, 2015

Korea set for Australia clash

BRISBANE, Australia (Yonhap) ― With a quarterfinals berth already in the bag, South Korea will seek to clinch the top seed in Group A at the ongoing AFC Asian Cup with the final group match against host Australia on Saturday.The kickoff between the 69th-ranked South Korea and the 100th-ranked Australia will be at 8 p.m. Saturday at Brisbane Stadium, or 6 p.m. in Seoul. South Korea is seeking its first Asian Cup since 1960, while Australia is trying to win its first ever AFC title.Both teams have

SoccerJan. 15, 2015

MLB dream on hold, Kim moves on

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― With his dream of playing in Major League Baseball on hold, South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun said Thursday he has chosen only to look forward.Kim, a left-hander for the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization, departed for the team’s spring training site in Florida with his teammates. Speaking to reporters at Incheon International Airport ahead of the flight, Kim said he will try to put his past disappointments behind him.“I’ve had some difficult times and I was at fi

BaseballJan. 15, 2015

McIlroy opens defining year in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy isn’t divulging what is on his list of seven goals for 2015 that he jotted down on the back of his boarding pass on a flight to Dubai last week.Completing a career Grand Slam at the Masters in April? Surely that was No. 1. A court case against his former management company, scheduled for February, is also a defining early year date for the world’s top-ranked player.Winning this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship may not have been on the list, but it would end years of frustration for McI

More SportsJan. 15, 2015

Packers prep for Sherman, Seahawks D

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) ― Seattle’s Richard Sherman may have more to do this time against the Green Bay Packers.The Packers didn’t throw in the Pro Bowl cornerback’s direction when the teams met in the season opener in September, a 36-16 win for the Seahawks.The game plan for the rematch on Sunday in the NFC title game is still in flux. Still, the offense seems better equipped this time around to face Sherman and Seattle’s swarming defense. The Green Bay Packers’ Jordy Nelson (left) and Aaron

More SportsJan. 14, 2015