Kia Tigers reject bid for Yang

The Kia Tigers on Wednesday rejected a bid submitted by a Major League Baseball club for their posted pitcher Yang Hyeon-jong, saying they weren’t happy with the amount of money put up for their southpaw ace.With the decision by the Korea Baseball Organization team, Yang, who was made available for interested big league clubs in a silent auction earlier this month, can’t be posted again until Nov. 1, 2015.The KBO first notified the Tigers of the result of the bidding last Saturday and the Tigers

BaseballNov. 26, 2014

High expectations

NAPLES, Florida (AP) ― The biggest challenge facing Lydia Ko is how she can top a rookie season like this one.The 17-year-old from New Zealand sat next to a pair of crystal trophies Sunday evening. At her feet was a glass box that was stuffed with cash to symbolize the $1 million bonus she picked up on an historic end to the LPGA Tour season.She was an instant millionaire when she closed with a 4-under 68 to get into a three-way playoff in the CME Group Tour Championship. She already had finishe

GolfNov. 25, 2014

High-scoring forwards, stout defender up for MVP award

Two high-scoring forwards and a veteran defender have been shortlisted for the MVP award in the top domestic pro football league.The K League Classic, the first division competition, announced on Tuesday that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker Lee Dong-gook, Suwon Bluewings forward Santos and FC Seoul defender Cha Du-ri will vie for the 2014 MVP honors.Lee and Santos are tied for the league lead at 13 goals apiece.Lee scored his 13 goals in 31 matches, helping Jeonbuk clinch the league championship

SoccerNov. 25, 2014

Korea to hold camp for Asian Cup in mid-Dec.

The South Korean men’s national football team will open a training camp for an upcoming continental tournament in mid-December, the sport’s national governing body said Tuesday.An official with the Korea Football Association said the national team, coached by Uli Stielike, will start a weeklong camp on the southernmost resort island of Jeju on Dec. 15 in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup. The continental competition will open on Jan. 9 in Australia, where South Korea will try to win its first ti

SoccerNov. 25, 2014

[Newsmaker] Ko wins LPGA finale, gets record haul

NAPLES, Florida ― New Zealand teenager Lydia Ko ended her rookie year on the LPGA Tour with the biggest payoff in women’s golf.Ko won the $1 million bonus from the inaugural “Race to CME Globe” on Sunday by getting into a three-way playoff. Then, the 17-year-old added an extra $500,000 when she defeated Carlota Ciganda of Spain on the fourth extra hole at Tiburon Golf Club to win the CME Group Tour Championship.Ko made par all five times she played the 18th hole on Sunday, and the last one paid

GolfNov. 24, 2014

Federer leads Swiss past France for Davis Cup

LILLE, France (AP) ― Roger Federer has now claimed all the big prizes on offer in tennis and, for once, will be happy to share his latest trophy with others. Federer ended a week of uncertainty about his aging back with a vintage performance to give Switzerland an emphatic victory over France and its first Davis Cup.His 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Richard Gasquet in the first reverse singles Sunday sealed an unassailable 3-1 lead. That also proved to be the final result, with the final match betw

More SportsNov. 24, 2014

Liverpool’s woes continue at Palace

Liverpool’s rapid downfall since losing Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer continued Sunday with a fourth consecutive loss, as Crystal Palace added to Brendan Rodgers’ woes with a 3-1 victory.The pressure, though, eased up a bit on coach Mauricio Pochettino after his Tottenham team came from behind to beat 10-man Hull 2-1 in the Premier League.A runner-up last season, Liverpool is now 12th after 12 matches ― closer to the relegation zone than the top four. Although Rickie Lambert finally sco

SoccerNov. 24, 2014

Stacy Lewis sweeps 3 biggest LPGA awards

NAPLES, Florida (AP) ― Stacy Lewis became the first American in 21 years to sweep the three biggest awards on the LPGA Tour, which she considered more valuable than a $1 million bonus.Lewis closed with a 1-under 71 in the CME Group Tour Championship on Sunday, tied for ninth in the LPGA Tour finale. But it was enough for her to win LPGA Tour player of the year for the second time in three seasons. She also won the Vare Trophy for the lowest scoring average and the money title.The last American t

GolfNov. 24, 2014

Granada clings to 1-shot lead at LPGA finale

NAPLES, Florida (AP) ― Julieta Granada stayed in front of a growing pack of challengers Saturday with a 2-under 70 and a one-shot lead in the CME Globe Tour Championship, only one part of what was shaping up as a tense conclusion to the LPGA Tour season.Stacy Lewis had more reason to be rattled by the name of Lydia Ko making a run and climbing to within three shots of the lead, boosting her chances of the $1 million bonus.Only one thing was clear. Sunday was shaping up as a nail-biting end to th

GolfNov. 23, 2014

Messi breaks goals record

BARCELONA (AP) ― Lionel Messi scored a hat trick to emphatically break the Spanish league’s all-time scoring mark in Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Sevilla on Saturday.Messi, already Barcelona’s all-time scorer, surpassed Athletic Bilbao great Telmo Zarra’s milestone of 251 goals that had stood untouched since 1955.Messi equaled Zarra’s mark in the 21st minute and added goals in the 72nd and 78th to claim the record for himself.“I have never seen a player like Leo,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.

SoccerNov. 23, 2014

Olympic speed skating champ Lee Sang-hwa wins World Cup race on home ice

South Korean Olympic champion Lee Sang-hwa finished first in the second 500-meter race at the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup in Seoul on Saturday, redeeming herself a day after her winning streak was snapped on home ice.   Lee, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, finished first among 21 skaters with a time of 37.99 seconds at Taeneung International Rink. Nao Kodaira of Japan, who defeated Lee for first place in the opening 500ｍ race on Friday, e

More SportsNov. 22, 2014

Lewis still in range of big prize

Korea’s Park Hee-young tees off on the ninth hole during the first round of the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, Thursday. (AP-Yonhap)NAPLES, Florida (AP) ― Stacy Lewis was three shots out of the lead Thursday and one step closer to the largest payoff in women’s golf at the CME Group Tour Championship.Lewis overcame the kind of tension she typically feels on the weekend at majors. She held it together with her short game, made a 25-foot eagle putt late in her opening round and wou

GolfNov. 21, 2014

Lee Sang-hwa finishes second on home ice

Olympic champion Lee Sang-hwa finished second in the opening 500-meter race at the International Skating Union Speed Skating World Cup in Seoul on Friday, as her early season winning streak was snapped unceremoniously on home ice.Lee, the two-time Olympic champ, finished second among 20 skaters with a time of 38.18 seconds at Taeneung International Rink. Nao Kodaira of Japan, who skated alongside Lee in the final pairing, won the title in 38.05 seconds.The second 500 race is scheduled for Saturd

More SportsNov. 21, 2014