Jay Cutler’s halftime speech — yup, that Jay Cutler — helped the Chicago Bears turn a strong start into one surprising victory. Cutler threw for 252 yards and a touchdown after missing five games with a thumb injury, rookie Jordan Howard ran for a career-high 153 yards and a TD, and the Bears beat the […]
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San Diego may lose its NFL Chargers. And because MAS considers himself an honorary San Diegan, he is despondent over that possibility. Why? Well, it’s a long but — MAS hopes — interesting story. So, here goes. Just one look, that’s all it took. Anyone who has ever been to San Diego, California, can understand […]
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Olympic and world champion Kohei Uchimura is set to become Japan’s first professional gymnast, sources with knowledge of the Rio Games gold medalist’s decision told Kyodo News on Monday. Arguably the best gymnast of all-time, Uchimura has won the all-around title at the last six world championships, and three gold and four silver Olympic medals. […]
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Until this past spring, forward Ryan Spangler played in a crimson-colored jersey for the University of Oklahoma Sooners. Half a year later, he’s still wearing the same color of jersey — but now he’s playing for the Brave Thunders Kawasaki in the B. League. Spangler signed with the Brave Thunders after playing for the Oklahoma […]
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For the Levanga Hokkaido, their Halloween treat was repeated trips to the free-throw line. Hokkaido sank 23 of 31 attempts in an 84-69 Monday victory, its second in as many days over the visiting Sendai 89ers. Free throws proved to be a big difference in the final outcome. Sendai (6-6) was 9-for-9 at the line, […]
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Former Yokohama B-Corsairs standout Omar Reed was the first pick in the fifth round of the 2016 NBA Development League Draft on Sunday. The Iowa Energy, the Memphis Grizzlies’ D-League affiliate, selected the 29-year-old swingman. The 2016 D-League season tips off on Nov. 11. The D-League draft consisted of six rounds. The Energy are led […]
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Hiroshima Carp closer Shota Nakazaki and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks outfielder Yuki Yanagita pulled out of Japan’s friendlies against Mexico and the Netherlands due to injuries, the national team said Monday. Nakazaki is suffering from pain in his right hip and groin, while Yanagita has an inflamed right elbow. The two have been replaced by their […]
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Dak Prescott won the rookie quarterback duel with Carson Wentz. Prescott rallied Dallas in the fourth quarter and threw a 5-yard pass to Jason Witten in overtime to give the Cowboys a 29-23 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night. Prescott won his sixth straight game filling in for Tony Romo, the 10-year starter […]
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Japan striker Takuma Asano opened his account for Stuttgart on Sunday, scoring the opener in his side’s 3-1 derby win away to Karlsruher in the Bundesliga second division. Asano, who is on loan in Germany from English Premier League giants Arsenal, fired the visitors in front on 10 minutes, slamming home a powerful effort after […]
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Yuki Ota, Japan’s first and only fencing world champion and a double Olympic medalist, will seek a place on the executive board of the International Fencing Federation, a source told Kyodo News on Monday. The 30-year-old Ota was selected as head of the player’s executive committee in 2013. He attended FIE board meetings and held […]
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The Hiroshima Carp are set to retire the No. 15 shirt worn by retired right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, the Central League club’s owner Hajime Matsuda said Monday. “There are two reasons, the first is his record along with the fact that we won the pennant this year,” said Matsuda. “The other is that he showed today’s […]
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Corey Crawford was perfect when needed, and the Chicago Blackhawks finally came through with a complete effort. Crawford made 32 saves, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa each had a power-play goal and Chicago beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 on Sunday night.? “All areas of our game were solid,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “I thought […]
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Hideki Matsuyama set his sights firmly on winning a major after destroying a world-class field to become the first Asian to win a World Golf Championship at the weekend. The 24-year-old Matsuyama finished on 23 under par to win by seven shots — the biggest margin in the history of the event dubbed “Asia’s Major” […]
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The Golden State Warriors with Kevin Durant are still an early season work in progress, as evidenced by a close call against the Suns in Phoenix. Durant scored 37 points, Stephen Curry added 28 and the Warriors held off the pesky Suns 106-100 on Sunday. “We are not clicking and everybody can see that,” Golden […]
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Goeido, who has been mostly mediocre during his time at the second-highest rank of ozeki, will have the unlikely chance of reaching the exalted rank of yokozuna at the Nov. 13-27 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. Two years on from appearing as ozeki for the first time at the 2014 Autumn tourney, Goeido exceeded all expectations […]
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Kei Nishikori’s hopes of a claiming his second title of the season were wrecked with a straight-sets defeat to Croatia’s Marin Cilic in the final of the Swiss Indoors on Sunday. Cilic, who beat Nishikori in the 2014 U.S. Open final, rode a dominant serve and strong forehand to his 16th tour title, winning 6-1, […]
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Japan was crowned Under-19 Asian champion for the first time on Sunday, beating Saudi Arabia 5-3 on penalties after 120 minutes failed to separate the sides in a 0-0 draw in the final at the Bahrain National Stadium. Koki Ogawa was Japan’s hero, scoring the decisive penalty after Abdullah Magrshi missed, to finally secure Japan […]
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They have waited 108 years for a championship. So with this World Series on the verge of slipping away, the Chicago Cubs could not wait any longer. Manager Joe Maddon summoned closer Aroldis Chapman from the bullpen in the seventh inning for the first eight-out save of his big league career, needing to hold off […]
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In a sense, two games were staged at Funabashi Arena on Sunday. It wasn’t planned that way. One lasted less than a quarter. The other was the consequence of the abrupt end of the first “real” game. And yes, in total 40 minutes of court time were contested. The result of an on-court scuffle with […]
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Hideki Matsuyama waved to a cheering crowd from the top balcony of a corporate suite over the 18th green at Sheshan International, where moments earlier he finished up a thorough beating of a world-class field in the HSBC Champions. He never felt higher. His game never felt better. And the 24-year-old Japanese star can only […]
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Maurice was dominant even at 2,000 meters as Japan’s reigning horse of the year won the fall Tenno-sho for his fifth Grade 1 title on Sunday. The favorite, ridden by Ryan Moore, came home on the outside down the 500-meter straight at Tokyo Racecourse, comfortably holding off seventh pick Real Steel by a length and […]
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Once again, the Pittsburgh Penguins showed their resilience. Their coach hopes they can make it a little easier on themselves, though. Evgeni Malkin scored twice, including the tiebreaker in the third period, and Sidney Crosby also had two goals to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-4 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday […]
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Sara Takanashi eased to the NHK Cup title on Sunday after landing a pair of over-130-meter jumps at Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium’s K-120 hill. Takanashi, who won her third World Cup title last season, reached 134 meters with her first jump, the day’s longest, and also marked 130 with her second to score 268.7 points, […]
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iami Beach Florida Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez had cocaine and alcohol in his system when his boat crashed into a Miami Beach jetty, according to toxicology reports released Saturday. It’s not clear whether Fernandez was driving when the boat crashed Sept. 25, killing the 24-year-old baseball star and two of his friends. But Fernandez […]
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Avery Bradley said his goal coming into the season was to expand his game. So far, so good. Bradley had 31 points on a career-high eight 3-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-98 Saturday night. Bradley was 8 of 11 from beyond the arc as the Celtics shot […]
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Three-time defending Grand Prix champion Yuzuru Hanyu finished second at Skate Canada on Saturday, with rival Patrick Chan taking top spot. The Sochi Olympic gold medalist topped the free skate with 183.41 points for a 263.06 total, but fell short of Chan’s 266.95. Fourth after the short program a day earlier, Hanyu again failed to […]
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The Hokkaido Ham Fighters’ never-say-die attitude culminated in a Japan Series title on Saturday night in Hiroshima. Hideki Kuriyama lauded his team’s resilience after Nippon Ham clinched its third title in franchise history with a 10-4 win over the Hiroshima Carp in Game 6. During the regular season, the Fighters were down, but not out, […]
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Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan each scored twice as Manchester City crushed West Bromwich Albion 4-0 on Saturday to keep its nose in front in the Premier League. Arsenal won 4-1 at Sunderland and Liverpool prevailed 4-2 at Crystal Palace, but City’s win kept Pep Guardiola’s side above them both on goal difference as it […]
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All Michigan needed was an exclamation point — a final flourish that would add a little extra satisfaction to this big victory on a rival’s home field. When Michigan State fumbled while attempting a puzzling 2-point conversion with 1 second left, Jabrill Peppers scooped up the loose ball and ran all the way to the […]
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One more win and baseball fans everywhere might finally believe in these Cleveland Indians. That’s all it will take for Corey Kluber & Co. to clinch this World Series. Kluber pitched six sparkling innings on short rest for his second victory this week and the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 Saturday night, taking a […]
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Kei Nishikori saved two match points to defeat Gilles Muller on Saturday, reaching the Swiss Indoors final for the first time in five years. The third-seeded Japanese came from behind to win 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 against the Luxembourgian and will face Croatian Marin Cilic in Sunday’s final. Nishikori has seven wins in 11 career […]
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A pitcher getting it done on the mound and at the plate helped the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters bring home a championship, just like everyone expected. Not many had reliever Anthony Bass as said pitcher. What third baseman Brandon Laird did, that was pretty much business as usual. The Fighters broke open a tense contest […]
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Former Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch said Saturday he is looking to speak to head coach Jamie Joseph next month with a view to returning to the national team fold next year. The 28-year-old, who opted out of the November tests citing the need for a break both physically and mentally, missed three test matches […]
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The Kobe Kobelco Steelers missed out on a golden opportunity to keep pace with the Top League leaders on Saturday, losing 38-24 to the NEC Green Rockets. The inaugural Top League champions (in the 2003-04 campaign) came into this Round 9 game at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground having lost just one game, as opposed […]
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Throughout the 21st century, J.R. Sakuragi has been one of the most prominent names in Japan men’s basketball. Formerly known as J.R. Henderson, the ex-UCLA standout and NBA player, made his debut with the Aisin SeaHorses in 2001. And he’s still going strong for the team now called the SeaHorses Mikawa. Sakuragi, who turns 40 […]
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Ai Ueda claimed this season’s final race of the ITU Triathlon World Cup on Saturday, clocking 2 hours, 1 minute, 2 seconds for her sixth career win. In the first event held in Miyazaki, the 33-year-old Ueda, 39th at the Rio Games in August, broke clear in the final 10-km run and shrugged off runner-up […]
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Sochi Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu struggled to fourth place after an uncharacteristically flawed short program on Friday at Skate Canada, the second event of the Grand Prix series. Skating to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” Hanyu had his opening quad downgraded after dropping to one knee on his landing and nearly touched the ice on his […]
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The Edmonton Oilers are rolling right now and it’s not just their touted, high-flying offense making the push. Oilers goalie Cam Talbot has been sensational to start the season and on Friday night he stopped 26 shots for his 13th career shutout in a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Talbot, who has started all […]
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It didn’t take long for Kevin Garnett to find work after retirement. The 15-time All-Star has a multiyear agreement with Turner Sports to join the network’s wildly popular NBA coverage team. Turner said Garnett will serve as a contributor to the coverage, appearing weekly throughout the season from a stand-alone set to provide insight and […]
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Quinton Flowers ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns to help South Florida get back on track in the American Athletic Conference with a 52-45 victory over No. 22 Navy on Friday. Rebounding from a 16-point loss to Temple that cost the Bulls (7-2, 4-1) sole possession of first place in the AAC’s East Division, […]
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Former Japan defender Daisuke Ichikawa will hang up his boots at the end of this season, his fourth-tier Japan Football League club Vanraure Hachinohe said on Saturday. Ichikawa, 36, became the youngest player ever to play for Japan when he made his debut in 1998 at 17 years, 322 days. He was part of Japan’s […]
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As Anthony Davis rose for a shot in the final minute of play, Kevin Durant met the Pelicans’ star at his apex and swatted the ball away. Golden State’s newly added All-Star then raced the other way for a game-clinching layup, completing a dominant night on both ends of the court. “I just tried to […]
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Cody Allen, Andrew Miller and the Cleveland Indians’ nasty bullpen shut down a Wrigley Field party 71 years in the making. Allen escaped a ninth-inning jam and the Indians set a major league record with their fifth shutout this postseason, holding off the Chicago Cubs 1-0 Friday night for a 2-1 lead in the World […]
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Kei Nishikori dispatched Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in straight sets on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors. The 7-5, 6-4 win was Nishikori’s first career victory in five matches against del Potro, a former world No. 4 who claimed silver at this year’s Rio Olympics in a comeback season […]
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Kawasaki Frontale ensured that the race for the J. League Championship top seed will go down to the final day of the regular season after a 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers on Saturday. Urawa Reds beat Jubilo Iwata 1-0 to stay top of the overall table — the winner of which advances straight to the […]
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Hideki Matsuyama took advantage of the par 5s for a 4-under 68 and maintained his three-shot lead in the HSBC Champions on Saturday. Matsuyama played bogey-free at Sheshan International for the first time all week. He didn’t produce as many birdies, picking up three of them on the par 5s. A two-putt birdie on the […]
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Winning the Roberto Clemente Award meant a lot to Curtis Granderson. Accepting the honor in front of his parents in his hometown made the moment even sweeter for the New York Mets outfielder. Granderson received baseball’s biggest honor for sportsmanship and community involvement before Game 3 of the World Series on Friday night at Wrigley […]
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C.J. Anderson tweeted Friday that his knee surgery was a “super success ” and he was in “great spirits” but he added there was still no timetable for his possible return to the Broncos lineup. Anderson had surgery in California on Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee 72 hours after getting […]
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Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks infielder Kenta Imamiya will be sidelined for three months after undergoing right-elbow surgery, the Pacific League club announced Friday. The 25-year-old, who batted .245 with 10 home runs and 56 RBIs during the regular season, had loose fragments removed from the joint and is expected to be ready for the start of […]
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The San-en NeoPhoenix have a new name and play in a new league. They have a first-year head coach and several new players, and they are just two years removed from their third bj-league championship. Friday’s game didn’t have the same pressure as past title contests for the club formerly known as the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa […]
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One win away from his team’s first Japan Series pennant in 10 years, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama has opted not to start ace Shohei Otani in Saturday’s Game 6 at Mazda Stadium. Instead, the game will see Game 2’s starters duke it out again with Central League wins leader Yusuke Nomura going […]
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It will be a new era for Japan rugby when the Brave Blossoms kick off their autumn test series against Argentina on Nov. 5 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. New head coach Jamie Joseph named a 32-man squad Friday that contains 17 uncapped players and just 12 survivors from last year’s Rugby World Cup. […]
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Hideki Matsuyama carded a sizzling round of 7-under-par 65 to seize the lead at the midway point of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions on Friday. Teeing off tied for third, Matsuyama brandished a hot putter at Sheshan International Golf Club, nailing nine birdies against two bogeys for a three-shot cushion over American Bill Haas and […]
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Ronald Jones just needed an opportunity to show he was still the running back that became Southern California’s most prolific freshman rusher a season ago. With starter Justin Davis sidelined because of injury and the Pac-12’s worst run defense trying to stop him, coach Clay Helton knew that the sophomore was “ready to explode.” Jones […]
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Two-time champion Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the Swiss Indoors quarterfinals by beating fifth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday. Del Potro, who won the Stockholm indoor title Sunday, extended his winning streak to seven matches — six against players higher in the standings than the 42nd-ranked Argentine player. Goffin, who beat […]
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Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin is donating $1 million to Harvard that will help pay for renovation of the school’s basketball arena and for undergraduate financial aid. Lin said his time at Harvard prepared him to be successful both on and off the court. He added that he wanted to put the same opportunities within […]
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The SK Wyverns, one of 10 Korea Baseball Organization franchises, signed a two-year contract with former Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman, Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday. According to the report, the 53-year-old American becomes the first manager in the Korean professional baseball league with managerial experience in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League […]
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The Premier League is awash with money. Middle-class clubs can afford to pay fees of £30 million. Never has the top flight been so prosperous. It also has the best collection of coaches in its history with Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Ronald Koeman and Jurgen Klopp a magnificent seven […]
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Kyle Schwarber wanted to play the field. The Chicago Cubs wanted to put him in the field. The doctors said no. Schwarber will be relegated to pinch-hitting duty for the next three games in the World Series after doctors said Thursday it was too soon after his major left knee surgery to risk putting him […]
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All Marc-Andre Fleury ever wants to do is give his team a chance to stay in the game. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ goalie did that and more on Thursday against the New York Islanders. Fleury had 31 of his 35 saves through two periods, keeping the game close and allowing Sidney Crosby to score the tiebreaking […]
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For three consecutive games, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters kept the Hiroshima Carp within striking distance. Each time, the Pacific League champions mounted successful comeback victories, taking a 3-2 lead in the Japan Series in the process. The runaway stars from those contests were Shohei Otani, who had a walk-off single in the 10th inning […]
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Kawhi Leonard ripped the ball away from Ben McLemore and drove the other way for a three-point play. Then the next time down the court, Leonard grabbed it away from McLemore and scored on the other end. Those two plays turned the momentum San Antonio’s way and sent the Spurs home with a very successful […]
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Gus Bradley isn’t worried at all about his job security as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His quarterback Blake Bortles says he doesn’t think about that topic. Yet, being routed by a pair of former Jaguars coaches in the span of five days can’t be very helpful to Bradley’s future in Jacksonville, and some of […]
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If nothing else, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters sure do make it exciting. Haruki Nishikawa hit a tiebreaking sayonara grand slam, and the Fighters moved within a win of their first Japan Series title in a decade with a 5-1 victory over the Hiroshima Carp in Game 5 on Thursday night at Sapporo Dome. The […]
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Jose Mourinho has been charged by the English Football Association for the first time since becoming Manchester United manager, after making comments about a referee before the Premier League game against Liverpool. Mourinho questioned whether it would be difficult for referee Anthony Taylor to have a “very good performance” in the Oct. 17 game because […]
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Hiroshige Osawa is raring to go for his first world title fight Nov. 5 against WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez in Las Vegas. Osawa faces a daunting task in squaring off against the 25-year-old Mexican with a 20-0 record, including 18 knockouts. But Osawa, the second-ranked featherweight, could not hide his excitement on Thursday for […]
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Since the Japan Series began last Saturday, Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters manager Hideki Kuriyama has repeatedly indicated that he wouldn’t hesitate to change the batting order on his lineup card in order to give his team the best chance to win. And that’s what he’s done. But there’s always been one guy penciled in the […]
The post Fighters’ Nakata thrives in role as cleanup hitter appeared first on The Japan Times.
World No. 10 Hideki Matsuyama got off to a solid start at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions on Thursday, carding a 6-under-par 66 for a tie for third place. Matsuyama, who last week become only the fourth Japanese golfer in history to make the top 10, reeled off 10 birdies against four bogeys in the […]
The post Matsuyama shoots 6-under 66 in opening round at HSBC Champions appeared first on The Japan Times.
Kei Nishikori advanced to the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors with a straight-sets win over Paolo Lorenzi on Wednesday. In his second match back since suffering an injury at the Japan Open in early October, world No. 5 Nishikori made 18 unforced errors in the first set but cleaned up in the second to overcome […]
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Credit the B. League for making an earnest effort to raise the professional reputation of men’s basketball in Japan. Elevating the sport is not just about having the former NBL, NBDL and bj-league teams under one umbrella. Little things that may go unnoticed to the general public are also a part of the equation and […]
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima defender Kazuhiko Chiba has been tentatively banned from playing due to a positive test for doping, the reigning J. League champions announced on Thursday. The 31-year-old Chiba tested positive for methylhexanamine, an energy-boosting stimulant that is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The test was carried out by the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) […]
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Monarchos, whose Kentucky Derby-winning time in 2001 was second only to Secretariat, has died. He was 18. Nuckols Farm owner Charles Nuckols III confirmed Tuesday that Monarchos died early Saturday after emergency surgery the day before to repair a ruptured intestine. The grey son of Maria’s Mon and Regal Band by Dixieland Band won four […]
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There’s nothing that can give Mayra Alvear back what she lost, or ease her pain, or calm her anger. With one gesture, she at least felt some joy again. Underneath a softly swaying banner displaying the number 49 — commemorating the number of lives lost — and as first responders unfurled and held a massive […]
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Ben Simmons took a spot in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room instead of the starting lineup on opening night. Simmons, the 2016 No. 1 overall draft pick, hoped to return at some point this season from a broken bone in his right foot and said he was never involved in any discussion about sitting out […]
The post Simmons says there’s no timetable for return appeared first on The Japan Times.
Former WBO bantamweight champion Tomoki Kameda said Thursday he is hopeful he can make a swift return before home fans after he was issued a license by the Japan Boxing Commission. The youngest of the three Kameda brothers, Tomoki, 25, and his now-retired older brothers Koki and Daiki had been barred by the JBC from […]
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The Atlanta Hawks signed point guard Dennis Schroder a four-year contract extension worth $70 million, a person familiar with the deal said Wednesday. The deal extends Schroder’s contract through the 2020-21 season. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Hawks did not release details when announcing a new four-year […]
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David Ortiz is heading into retirement with some more hardware. The Boston Red Sox slugger captured the Hank Aaron Award on Wednesday as the top hitter in the American League this season. Budding Chicago Cubs star Kris Bryant was honored as the top hitter in the National League. The award was presented before Game 2 […]
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DeMar DeRozan had clearly been itching for the start of the regular season. Like so many other veterans, he had to grind his way through exhibition games in training camp, gradually moving from 11 points in his first preseason game, to 15, to 20 and finally to 34 in the final warm-up game last week. […]
The post DeRozan drops 40 on Pistons in opener appeared first on The Japan Times.
Jose Mourinho got his own back on great managerial rival Pep Guardiola as Manchester United beat a weakened Manchester City 1-0 in the fourth round of the English League Cup on Wednesday night, with Juan Mata scoring the second-half winner. Six weeks after City’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League, United got […]
The post Man United blanks Man City in League Cup appeared first on The Japan Times.
The Edmonton Oilers aren’t used to this type of start to a season. Benoit Pouliot scored twice, Cam Talbot made 34 saves and the Oilers stretched their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. “I think this start is huge for us,” Pouliot said after his […]
The post Surprising Oilers beat Capitals for fourth straight victory appeared first on The Japan Times.
Jake Arrieta made a brief run at a no-hitter and ended another 71-year pause between celebrations for the Chicago Cubs and their faithful fans. Not only are they back in the World Series, they’ve won there again. One more drought quenched, one more to go. Arrieta carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, Kyle […]
The post Arrieta shuts down Indians as Cubs even World Series appeared first on The Japan Times.
Sushi time couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. Brandon Laird broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run home run and the Fighters pulled even in the Japan Series with a 3-1 win over the Hiroshima Carp in Game 4 on Wednesday night at Sapporo Dome. “I was happy,” […]
The post Laird sends Fighters past Carp to tie Japan Series appeared first on The Japan Times.
Kumi Nakada said Wednesday she hopes to rise to the challenge as the first woman to oversee the women’s national volleyball team. “I feel the heavy weight of responsibility,” Nakada, who has been appointed to replace 2012 London Olympic bronze medal-winning coach Masayoshi Manabe, told a press conference at the National Training Center. “I want […]
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Daniel Sturridge sent Liverpool into the League Cup quarterfinals and gave his manager a reminder of his talents with two clinical goals in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday. The England striker has struggled to convince Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp this season, but he was a livewire all night at Anfield where his […]
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The challenge of ensuring there are full stadiums at the next Rugby World Cup must be taken up by the 12 host cities if Japan 2019 is to rival the fiscal success of last year’s tournament in England, according to World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont. In an interview with Kyodo News during last week’s World […]
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Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is just happy to be back playing hockey again. His teammates feel the same way, as a goal from Crosby in his first appearance of the season was all the Penguins needed to overcome a slow start Crosby jump-started a comeback as the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from an early two-goal […]
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Kawasaki Frontale playmaker Kengo Nakamura has credited a newfound selfish streak for his resurgent form this season and is hoping to ride it all the way to the club’s first J. League title. “The younger players in the team have really improved this year and that has reduced the burden on me a lot,” Nakamura […]
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Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda gave a phenomenal performance in what could be the final outing of his storied professional career in Tuesday’s Game 3 of the Japan Series against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at Sapporo Dome. The 41-year-old went 5⅔ innings, allowing four hits and one run in 85 pitches in Hiroshima’s 4-3 […]
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Carlos Alberto, the captain of Brazil’s World Cup-winning team in 1970 and scorer of one of the sport’s most memorable goals, died on Tuesday. He was 72 and died of after a heart attack at his home in Rio de Janeiro. A statement on Carlos Alberto’s Facebook page confirmed the death. “It is in deep […]
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Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs put on such a basketball show they sent the loyal Golden State fans to a rare early exit. What a strange sight at Oracle Arena for opening night and Kevin Durant’s long-awaited Warriors debut. Leonard scored a career-high 35 points and the Spurs emphatically spoiled KD’s first game […]
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Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians are off to a pitch-perfect start in the World Series. The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, fell completely flat in their first appearance since 1945. Kluber dominated into the seventh inning, Roberto Perez had four RBIs with a pair of home runs and the Indians beat the Cubs 6-0 in Tuesday […]
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The legend of Shohei Otani continues to grow. The two-way star came up with the biggest hit of this Japan Series so far, connecting on a sayonara single in the 10th inning that gave the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters a 4-3 win in Game 4 on Tuesday night at Sapporo Dome. The Fighters earned their […]
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The host broadcaster for the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be International Games Broadcast Services, World Rugby announced Tuesday. IGBS, a partnership between HBS and IMG, will be responsible for the world feed delivery to rights holding broadcasters as well as production innovation and content production for the event. “As we look ahead to Japan […]
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Kei Nishikori made a winning return after three weeks out injured, beating Dusan Lajovic 7-5, 6-1 in the Swiss Indoors first round on Monday. The third-seeded Nishikori got the prime match slot after the opening ceremony at Roger Federer’s hometown tournament which is missing the seven-time champion and Rafael Nadal, who ended their seasons through […]
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda reflected on his rookie season in the major leagues Monday, saying that winning 16 games has boosted his self-confidence. In a news conference at Dodger Stadium, Maeda was joined by manager Dave Roberts, who gave his right-hander the thumbs up on the season he had. Roberts said Maeda adjusted […]
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Hokkaido, the northernmost place in Japan, opens the door to winter faster than other places, and the leaves are already changing colors from green to yellow and red. And this makes Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters skipper Hideki Kuriyama genuinely thankful to be playing baseball this late in the year. “It’s beautiful to see the leaves […]
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The Japan Volleyball Association’s executive committee on Tuesday decided to appoint Kumi Nakada as coach of the women’s national team and Yuichi Nakagaichi as head of the men’s side. The 51-year-old Nakada, a former setter for Japan, is currently in charge of the Hisamitsu Springs team in the women’s Premier League. She becomes the first […]
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The Yokohama BayStars hope to have found their third baseman as they announced the signing of Audy Ciriaco of the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. Ciriaco, 29, played for the Ishikawa Million Stars of the independent Baseball Challenge League this season, when he hit .332 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs in 68 games. Yokohama […]
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Rugby legend Seiji Hirao died of bile duct cancer, his family revealed in a statement through the Japan Rugby Football Union on Tuesday. Hirao’s family said the former Japan captain and head coach passed away at 7:16 a.m. last Thursday at the age of 53, having battled cancer since the fall last year. A private […]
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The IAAF’s ethics board will not open a formal investigation into a British official’s claim of bribery by Qatar’s bid to host the 2017 world track and field championships. Ethics investigators for track and field’s governing body say they will not probe further “simply on the basis of any rumors” that could not be traced […]
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Clayton Kershaw is unlikely to need back surgery for the herniated disk that sidelined the Dodgers ace for 2½ months during the season. That’s according to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who said Kershaw feels good and that he doesn’t anticipate surgery being necessary for the left-hander. Kershaw returned in early September, but never […]
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Former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling is joining the Breitbart News Network as host of the conservative organization’s first online radio show. The former Boston Red Sox World Series hero, who has said he’s considering a challenge to Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, will start his two-hour call-in show on Tuesday at 9 a.m. […]
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Former major league reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa will serve as senior adviser to the Orix Buffaloes, the Pacific League team announced Monday. The U.S.-based Hasegawa will primarily advise Orix on acquiring foreign players starting from Nov. 1, the Buffaloes said. “It’s important to sign good players, but equally important to look after them after you’ve signed […]
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NBA TV personality Kristen Ledlow was robbed at gunpoint at her home, she said. The host of “NBA Inside Stuff” said on Twitter and Instagram on Sunday that she was held up the day before “by three men who knew who I was, where I lived and were waiting for me when I got home.” […]
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England’s governing Football Association announced on Monday it had agreed to a new overseas broadcast rights deal for the F.A. Cup worth a reported $1 billion (£820 million). The new agreement will run for six seasons starting in 2018-19. Although the F.A. refused to specify an exact figure, simply saying the agreement was “hugely significant,” […]
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It all began with a dinner. Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Brandon Laird was out having dinner in Sapporo one night last year, when the chef delivered a serving of sushi that would spark a movement among Fighters fans. “I went to dinner and the chef said, ‘this is going to be your good-luck meal, […]
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The big news of the NBA summer was Kevin Durant leaving Oklahoma City for Golden State, thus, in theory, improving a team that set a record for the most wins in the history of the league. And then there was the shock, Dwyane Wade, Miami legend and, in effect, logo and franchise face and leader, […]
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They say that good things come in small packages. Never has that been more true than in the case of 159-cm Shoma Uno. The 18-year-old scored a decisive victory in the season-opening Grand Prix at Skate America on Sunday. Even more impressive than the win, was the way he achieved it — with poise and […]
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The Russian husband and wife team who felt betrayed by the IOC after blowing the whistle on state-sponsored doping in their homeland are now being offered financial and other assistance by the Olympic body. The International Olympic Committee said Monday that it was providing career opportunities to 800-meter runner Yulia Stepanova and her husband, Vitaly […]
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Michel Therrien liked what he saw from the Montreal Canadiens’ power play. He is still going to keep tinkering with it. Looking to jump start Montreal’s stalled power play, Therrien shuffled some players around and that was the difference as the Canadiens beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 on Monday night to extend their winning streak […]
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Brock Osweiler took one last dig at Denver’s fans after Houston’s 27-9 loss to the Broncos. He figured they would “be a little bit louder with the boos.” Denver’s defenders ruined Osweiler’s homecoming by hurrying, hitting and harassing their ex-quarterback Monday night, even if his ears weren’t ringing from the crowd noise. Osweiler famously declared […]
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The last time the Cleveland Indians won the World Series, Thomas Dewey led Harry Truman in the polls. The Chicago Cubs’ last title was 13 days after the first Ford Model T car was completed. Lovable losers known for decades of defeat meet in this year’s championship, a combined 174 seasons of futility facing off […]
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The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks’ Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to play in the winter leagues in Puerto Rico, manager Kimiyasu Kudo said Monday. “I’ve been told it’s Puerto Rico,” Kudo said at Yafuoku Dome, where Matsuzaka and the Hawks began fall training. “He may be close to figuring it all out. If it helps him get […]
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Japan’s preparations for its first test match under Jamie Joseph took another hit Monday with a further four players dropping out of the extended training squad. Yoshitaka Tokunaga was a no-show when the players met up Sunday evening as a result of injury, while Hitoshi Ono, Kazuhiko Usami and Keita Inagaki left Monday morning after […]
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In a year when no pitching candidates leaped off the stat sheet to seize the Sawamura Award by force, perhaps the selectors would opt for a long-shot candidate such as Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ace Shohei Otani. Like Sawamura, Otani is the fastest pitcher of his era — and the fastest ever recorded in Japan. […]
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Monday banned defender Mihael Mikic for the last two league games of the J. League season after the Croatian crashed his car into a taxi, injuring two passengers a day earlier. The club said the accident occurred while Mikic, 36, was driving in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture. A female passenger in the cab […]
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Sagan Tosu’s South Korean midfielder and captain Kim Min-woo said Monday he is leaving the J. League first-division side at the end of the season to begin his military service. “It would have been great if I could have stayed longer but I have to return home,” the 26-year-old said. “I’ve experienced many things over […]
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There was no Japan Series game played Monday, but it was still an eventful afternoon for Hiroshima Carp pitcher Kris Johnson. Johnson was named the 2016 Sawamura Award winner, becoming the first foreign player to earn the honor, given to each year’s top starting pitcher, since former Hanshin Tigers star Gene Bacque won in 1964. […]
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Former komusubi Haguroiwa, most famously known for snapping yokozuna Taiho’s then-second-longest 45-bout winning streak in March 1969, passed away Sunday morning of kidney failure, the Japan Sumo Association said Monday. He was 70. His birth name Tomojiro Toda, the Miyazaki native beat Taiho in controversial fashion on the second day of the Spring Grand Sumo […]
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Cam Talbot has watched two outdoor NHL games from the bench in his career. He made the most of his first chance to play in one Sunday. Talbot made 31 saves and Mark Letestu scored the first of three second-period goals, lifting the Edmonton Oilers over the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 in an outdoor game delayed […]
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Lewis Hamilton got the victory he needed to keep his Formula One championship hopes alive, winning the U.S. Grand Prix for the fourth time in five years Sunday. Hamilton cut Mercedes teammate and championship leader Nico Rosberg’s points lead to 26 with three races to go. Rosberg finished second ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo […]
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World No. 1 women’s doubles pair and Rio Games gold medal winners Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo won the Denmark Open on Sunday, defeating Rio bronze medalists Jung Kyung-eun and Shin Seung-chan of South Korea 19-21, 21-11, 21-16. Takahashi and Matsutomo led 11-2 before surrendering the first game but roared back. Takahashi pulled the strings […]
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Any other year, against any other team, the Cleveland Indians would be the sentimental choice in this year’s World Series. You know, because of that long championship drought and all. But not against the Chicago Cubs. The lovable Cubbies, who captured the nation’s heart by exorcising curses and winning their first NL pennant since 1945 […]
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A strong defense can only do so much. Josh Huff returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, Carson Wentz outplayed Sam Bradford and the Philadelphia Eagles handed error-prone Minnesota its first loss, 21-10 on Sunday. The Vikings relied on excellent defense and a mistake-free offense to start 5-0. But the Eagles exposed several of […]
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Pep Guardiola may have thought it a bad day when he suffered a fifth match without a win on Sunday but it was nothing compared to the nightmare that befell his old managerial rival Jose Mourinho on an extraordinary afternoon of Premier League action. Guardiola’s Manchester City went back to the top of the table […]
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Hideki Matsuyama has claimed 10th spot in the world golf rankings, the first time in 18 years that a Japanese has been named among the top 10 male professional golfers, according to the latest ranking announced Sunday. The 24-year-old Matsuyama, whose previous best was 11th, won the Japan Open Golf Championship last weekend to move […]
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Shoma Uno landed three quad jumps successfully in the men’s free program Sunday en route to victory at Skate America, the opening event of the ISU Grand Prix season. The 18-year-old Uno earned a career-best 279.34 points for his performance at Sears Center Arena while Americans Jason Brown and Adam Rippon finished second and third […]
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Hiroshima Carp fans might have gone home feeling that a little can sometimes go a long way after Game 2 of the Japan Series. Their Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters counterparts, however, head back to Sapporo thinking that snowballs have a nasty tendency to start avalanches. The Carp parlayed a leadoff double and a play at […]
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After a real slow start against the Niigata Albirex BB on Sunday afternoon, the Yokohama B-Corsairs mounted a spirited comeback in the third quarter, pulling to within five points. But hot-starting Niigata never trailed and finished strong in the fourth quarter en route to a 96-78 win over the B-Corsairs. Power forward Clint Chapman, a […]
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Favorite Satono Diamond sprung to claim the last race of the Japanese triple crown on Sunday, clocking 3 minutes, 3.3 seconds to capture the Kikka-sho by 2½ lengths over 3,000 meters at Kyoto Racecource. The 3-year-old colt deliberately moved up through the field, moved outside on the home turn and caught up with the leaders […]
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In Hiroshima’s Naka Ward, amid the excitement and revelry of the Japan Series being in town, sits the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the world’s most significant historical markers and a constant reminder of a darker time in the city’s history. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the dome […]
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Hideki Matsuyama finished runner-up at the CIMB Classic on Sunday, his six-birdie 66 not enough to catch American Justin Thomas as the defending champ raced to his second straight title. Matsuyama, who started the day tied for fourth, had three birdies on either side of the turn at the par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur to finish […]
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A try from Ricoh rookie Shuhei Matsuhashi — his third of the day — seconds before the final hooter handed the Blacks Rams a 33-28 win over Toshiba Brave Lupus on Sunday in the Japan Rugby Top League. The 22-year-old No. 8, who is in the extended Japan squad preparing for the November tests, also […]
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Shinji Okazaki reveled in his first goal of the season on Saturday as champions Leicester downed Crystal Palace 3-1 at home in the Premier League. Named in Claudio Ranieri’s starting lineup for the first time in five league games, Okazaki drilled in low to double his side’s lead in the 63rd minute, reacting quickest in […]
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Brad Eldred wants to savor every moment of this trip to the Japan Series. From every crack of the bat, every ouendan song and the thwack heard when the ball hits a glove, he wants to remember all of it. It’s Eldred’s first time here, and he’s not taking it for granted. “It’s hard to […]
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Grant Haley returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a touchdown with 4:27 left in the fourth quarter and Penn State upset No. 2 Ohio State 24-21 Saturday night for the Nittany Lions’ biggest win in the post-Joe Paterno era. Penn State (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) took its first lead when Marcus Allen leaped […]
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Mai Mihara reached the podium in her ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating debut, finishing third at Skate America on Saturday. Mihara, who was second after Friday’s short program, finished with 189.28 points. Her Japanese compatriot and three-time world champion Mao Asada finished sixth with 176.78. Ashley Wagner of the United States finished first with […]
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After losing three straight, the Nashville Predators got a balanced effort to get back on the winning track. Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals each as five Predators players came through with their first points of the season to lead illness-depleted Nashville to a 5-1 victory over the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins on […]
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Cursed by a Billy Goat, bedeviled by Bartman and crushed by decades of disappointment, the Chicago Cubs are at long last headed back to the World Series. Kyle Hendricks outpitched Clayton Kershaw, Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras homered early and the Cubs won their first pennant since 1945, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 Saturday […]
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Daiya Seto won the 200-meter individual medley on Saturday at a short-course World Cup meet in Singapore, touching in 1 minute, 52.80 seconds. Seto, who won the bronze medal at the Rio Games in August, won the 400 IM on Friday as well as the 200 butterfly. He settled for a runner-up finish in the […]
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World No. 5 Kei Nishikori on Saturday claimed to be fully fit after recovering from a gluteal muscle injury suffered this month and is raring to go at the Swiss Indoors. Nishikori, who pulled out of the Japan Open in the second round on Oct. 5 and was forced to skip the Shanghai Masters a […]
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The 2016 Japan Series got off to a wet start, but the Hiroshima Carp and their fans weren’t about to let a little rain, or Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters ace Shohei Otani, ruin their fun. Not when it took 32 years to get here again. Seiya Suzuki scored on a double steal, Ryuhei Matsuyama and […]
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Two former NBL powerhouse teams squared off on Saturday in one of the early marquee matchups of the B. League’s inaugural season, and coach Tom Wisman’s Tochigi Brex made a statement. The hosts delivered an impressive effort against their East Division foe, handing the Tokyo Alvark a 96-76 setback at Brex Arena Utsunomiya. The Alvark […]
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Yamaha Jubilo and Suntory Sungoliath maintained their unbeaten runs Saturday and made it even more likely their Christmas Eve clash will determine this season’s Top League champion. Yamaha was forced to work very hard to beat NTT Communications Shining Arcs 21-17, while Suntory had an easier day of it, beating the Toyota Industries Shuttles 52-15 […]
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Hideki Matsuyama shot a 3-under 69 but dropped down into a share of fourth at the CIMB Classic on Saturday, five strokes back of third-round leader Anirban Lahiri of India. Matsuyama carded five birdies and two bogeys at the par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur for a three-round total of 14-under. Lahiri scored a 65 and has […]
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Julian Savea’s stunning late try double ended Australian resistance as the All Blacks claimed a world-record 18th consecutive victory with a crushing 37-10 win Saturday. It was hardly vintage All Blacks and the tense game at Eden Park wasn’t settled until Savea’s game-breaking effort in the second half, scoring two tries and setting up a […]
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Shinzo Koroki struck twice to keep leaders Urawa Reds in contention for a league and cup double after a last-gasp 2-1 win away to Albirex Niigata in the J. League first division on Saturday. Koroki opened the scoring early in the first half with a sharp finish and bundled home the winner for the League […]
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The Detroit Red Wings appear to be gaining some momentum. Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist to help Detroit beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Friday night. It was the Red Wings’ third consecutive win after losing their first two games. “I think this was our best game of the season,” said Tomas […]
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The Detroit Tigers hired Lloyd McClendon as hitting coach and Leon Durham as assistant hitting coach Friday. McClendon is returning for his second stint with the Tigers after serving as bullpen coach in 2006 and hitting coach in 2007-13 before managing the Seattle Mariners for two seasons. He managed the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Toledo […]
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Teenager Naomi Osaka was named 2016 WTA Newcomer of the Year on Friday. The 19-year-old Osaka, the first Japanese winner of the award, has enjoyed a breakthrough year on the tour this season, rising to a career-high ranking of No. 40 after finishing 2015 ranked 203rd. Osaka made an impact at Grand Slam level, reaching […]
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Daiya Seto won the men’s 400-meter individual medley and also the 200 butterfly at a short-course World Cup meet on Friday in Singapore. Seto, who won the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in the 400 IM, logged 4 minutes, 4.60 seconds to top the podium, Germany’s Philip Heintz finished second in 4:07.08, and Ippei […]
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Wayne Gretzky will make a rare return to the ice Saturday to play alongside other former Edmonton Oilers greats against Winnipeg Jets alumni as part of the Heritage Classic weekend. “I mean, I skate once a year. I just really never find the energy, the enthusiasm to grab my equipment and say, ‘Oh, I’m going […]
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Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui was there in person at Tokyo Dome to see the Carp capture the Central League pennant. The baseball-mad residents of his city might make it hard for him to do the same should the Carp be on the verge of a Japan Series title. “I wish I could go, but I […]
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American Ashley Wagner won the Skate America short program Friday night with a score of 69.50, building on her second-place finish in the world championships. Mai Mihara, making her Grand Prix Series debut at 17, was second at 65.75, and U.S. champion Gracie Gold third at 64.87. The free skate will determine the champion on […]
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All that’s left for the Chicago Cubs to do is make history. The Cubs came home to Wrigley Field with a 3-2 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series and a chance Saturday night to end a more than seven-decade wait to return to the World Series. “We’re not going to […]
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Joy Standridge posted on social media Oct. 6 that her husband, Jason Standridge, “pitched his last game last night — maybe forever.” The Chiba Lotte right-hander started the Marines’ final game of the 2016 season at home, and he won, beating the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, 7-1. The victory evened Standridge’s record for the year […]
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Innsbruck would have “an excellent chance” of hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics if the Austrian city decides to bid for the games, a top IOC official said Friday. International Olympic Committee executive board member Gian Franco Kasper told AP that Innsbruck would need to join with other cities — probably Salzburg and venues in Italy […]
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This season hasn’t started and NBA commissioner Adam Silver already has good news about next season. It appears there’s no chance it will be affected by a work stoppage. Silver said Friday the league and players have made “tremendous progress” toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, saying he hoped a deal would be […]
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Steve Kerr fully expects plenty of growing pains for the Golden State Warriors as Kevin Durant finds his way on a new-look, superstar roster. He is guarding against any big predictions about his All-Star group led by two-time reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry and Durant and a supporting cast featuring All-Stars Draymond Green and Klay […]
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The Kawasaki Brave Thunders didn’t help their cause at the free-throw line during portions of Friday’s series opener against the Toyama Grouses. But it came down to free throws in the final minute, and center Nick Fazekas nailed 3 of 4 down the stretch as the Brave Thunders defeated the Grouses 74-72 at Todoroki Arena. […]
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The Yokohama BayStars are looking to acquire infielder Audy Ciriaco of the Ishikawa Million Stars in the independent Baseball Challenge League, BayStars general manager Shigeru Takada revealed Friday. “He is a right-handed batter who plays third base, with power,” said Takada, adding that the 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic has already had a tryout with […]
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World Anti-Doping Agency President Craig Reedie challenged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to put his money where his mouth is and increase Japan’s funding in the fight against doping on Friday. Abe met International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach earlier this week and pledged to support the IOC’s efforts to combat doping at the 2020 Tokyo […]
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When he took a defeat against ferocious challenger Jezreel Corrales in April, Takashi Uchiyama lost multiple things at once, not just the WBA super featherweight belt. It marked the first “L” for Uchiyama in his professional career, and his consecutive world title defenses was snapped (at 11, two shy of Yoko Gushiken’s Japanese record). But […]
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The Hiroshima Carp and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will play each other for the first time in the Japan Series, which starts on Saturday at Mazda Stadium. While both teams are making their seventh bid to become the top baseball club in Japan, the Carp are seeking their fourth title and first in 32 years, […]
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Hideki Matsuyama shot an 8-under 64 and moved into a share of third at the CIMB Classic on Friday, three strokes behind American leader and last year’s winner Justin Thomas. Matsuyama, who started the day in 16th, carded an eagle on the fifth hole and added six birdies in a bogeyless round at the par-72 […]
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