Keisuke Honda should seriously consider leaving AC Milan or risk losing his place on the Japan squad, according to national coach Vahid Halilhodzic. “I need Honda to play more on a regular basis,” Halilhodzic said in an end-of-year interview with members of the Tokyo Sportswriters’ Club. “The national team needs Honda. He is our best […]
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Takashi Uchiyama didn’t get his wish. Champion Jezreel Corrales handed the Japanese boxing great another loss, recording a a split-decision victory (117-110, 115-112, 113-114) and retaining his WBA super featherweight title at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium on New Year’s Eve. Uchiyama (24-2-1) knocked Corrales down late in the fifth round on Saturday night, though […]
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The Ryukyu Golden Kings closed out the year with a dramatic down-to-the-wire triumph over the Levanga Hokkaido on Saturday. Big man Lamont Hamilton converted a layup with 1 second remaining, giving the Golden Kings a 76-74 New Year’s Eve win and a series sweep in Sapporo. Asahi Tajima missed a potential game-winning layup at the […]
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Imtiaz Ahmed, Pakistan’s former test wicketkeeper-batsman who became a chief selector after his playing career, has died. He was 88. The Pakistan Cricket Board said Ahmed, Pakistan’s oldest living test cricketer, died Saturday in Lahore following a chest infection. Ahmed played 41 tests from 1952-62, scoring 2,079 runs at an average of 29 and taking […]
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Juuse Saros made a strong case for more playing time Friday night. The 21-year-old from Finland got his first career shutout, Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist and the Nashville Predators beat the St. Louis Blues 4-0. Saros made 25 saves and impressed Predators coach Peter Laviolette. “He made some important saves throughout […]
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Renegade, the horse that serves as Florida State’s mascot, took an uncharacteristic tumble while prancing on the field before kickoff. The horse got up and was just fine. Hours later, Florida State collapsed — and like Renegade, recovered with a flourish. Deondre Francois’ 12-yard touchdown pass to Nyquan Murray with 36 seconds left put No. […]
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Isaiah Thomas had a fourth quarter better than any other player for a team rich in history. Thomas set a club record with 29 points in the fourth quarter, finishing with a career-high 52 points and leading the Boston Celtics to a 117-114 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night. “It doesn’t seem real. […]
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J. League champions Kashima Antlers will be looking to complete a remarkable finish to the season with another title win when they take on Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the Emperor’s Cup on Sunday at Suita Stadium. Few could have predicted the recent form of Japan’s most successful club after it finished the league […]
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Fill-in batsman Neil Broom and skipper Kane Williamson produced a match-winning 179-run stand for New Zealand to crush Bangladesh in their final one-day match in Nelson on Saturday. Williamson was left unbeaten on 95 while Broom fell just before the close for 97 as the hosts overhauled Bangladesh’s 236 for the loss of only two […]
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Andy Murray received a knighthood in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honors list on Friday, recognition from the monarch for reaching the pinnacle of tennis by winning his second Wimbledon and Olympic titles on his way to topping the rankings. The 29-year-old Murray was previously named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, […]
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When Robert Mathis speaks, the Indianapolis Colts listen. Every time. It’s a right the outside linebacker earned by playing 14 productive NFL seasons — all with the same team, all with the same passion, all with the same penchant for putting quarterbacks on the ground. So when he finished practice Friday and gathered his teammates, […]
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Brazilian-born former Japan international midfielder Ruy Ramos revealed Friday that he has suffered a stroke. The 59-year-old said on his official website that he was diagnosed with a cerebral infarction after undergoing tests at a medical facility on Thursday. Ramos said in the post on his site that he did not know how much sick […]
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If the NHL needs a compelling reason to compete in the next Winter Olympics, Bill Daly says the league hasn’t found one yet. And the NHL deputy commissioner added Friday that he’s not going speculate on what it might take to convince a majority of the NHL’s board of governors that the world’s best players […]
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Getting a job in American pro baseball is an uphill battle, even more so for foreigners. But Naoto Masamoto is proof that the American dream is not an impossible one. Masamoto, the video coordinator for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs, spoke little English after graduating from high school in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, and entered […]
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WBO super flyweight champion and Japanese phenom Naoya Inoue had no problem safely extending his title defense streak to four, defeating ex-WBA champ and compatriot Kohei Kono with a sixth-round technical knockout in a year-end boxing show at Ariake Colosseum on Friday. The 36-year-old Kono, who lost his title to Luis Concepcion of Panama in […]
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The San-en NeoPhoenix didn’t have a banner performance on offense. They struggled to put points on the board. But San-en defenders limited the host Shiga Lakestars to 29.9 percent shooting, and that proved pivotal in a 62-58 victory on Friday night in the B. League. The NeoPhoenix (15-13) took a 28-23 lead into the locker […]
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Before LaVell Edwards was promoted to head coach, Brigham Young University ran a slogging run-first offense that yielded mediocre or worse records. Under Edwards, dizzying passing numbers became the norm, and college football fans stayed in front of their TVs late Saturday nights from the 1970s to ’90s to see just how many points the […]
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A brilliant all-around performance by Mitchell Starc propelled Australia to series-clinching victory over Pakistan by an innings and 18 runs in the second test as the visitors crumbled under pressure on the fifth day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. The rain-interrupted test had long seemed destined for a draw, with only 18 wickets […]
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Court and spark: Serena Williams is tying the knot. The tennis great announced her engagement to Alexis Ohanian on Thursday, posting a poem on Reddit that she accepted the proposal of the social news website’s co-founder. Williams’ agent, Jill Smoller, confirmed the engagement in an email to AP. Ohanian wrote on his Facebook page, “She […]
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Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam killed himself after struggling with depression, an autopsy report confirmed Thursday, but investigators will never know whether the one-time running back suffered chronic head trauma from playing football because his family did not consent to those tests. Salaam was found dead Dec. 5 in a park near the University of […]
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As he prepares himself to manage a team in South Korean pro ball, Trey Hillman intends to take a slower approach than he did when he first showed up in Japan 14 years ago. Hillman, a longtime minor league manager in the United States, managed the Pacific League’s Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters for five seasons […]
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Former Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura is eyeing a move from Yokohama F. Marinos to Jubilo Iwata and has entered negotiations with the Shizuoka club. Nakamura, 38, has been offered a contract extension by Marinos, but the former Celtic man holds a deep sense of distrust of French manager Erick Mombaerts and the club’s player reinforcement […]
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World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has turned down the chance to leave Real Madrid for an unnamed Chinese club for a transfer fee of €300 million ($315.24 million), his agent said on Thursday. Speaking to Sky Italia at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, Jorge Mendes said the deal would have been worth […]
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LeBron James accepted “Happy Birthday” wishes as he walked out of Cleveland’s locker room. He was in no mood to party after his final game as a 31-year-old. “I was horrible,” he said. Kyrie Irving scored 32 points and made two critical layups before leaving with a hamstring issue and Kevin Love scored 30, helping […]
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The Columbus Blue Jackets are among the hottest teams ever in the NHL. They’ll make history in their next game just by showing up. Alexander Wennberg had two goals and Brandon Saad also scored, helping Columbus beat the Winnipeg Jets 5-3 on Thursday night to extend its franchise-record winning streak to 14 games. The run […]
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One of the attractions of football is the inability to understand how the near impossible happens. The best coaches, the leading pundits, the most experienced observers and the club’s fans could not really explain how or why Leicester City won the Premier League last season. You still think you should check before writing “Champion Leicester.” […]
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Success is hard won in the world of elite motorcycle racing, something rider Hikari Okubo learned the hard way on his path to one of the world’s premier production bike categories. Despite having no race wins to show from his first year in the Supersport World Championship, Okubo learned that riding for the love of […]
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Sapporo will have the full backing of Asia should the city formally bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said in an interview with Kyodo News. Sapporo, which will host the Asian Winter Games for a third time in February and held the 1972 Winter Olympics, […]
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Fallen Japanese baseball star Kazuhiro Kiyohara, who was handed a suspended term for possessing, using and purchasing illegal drugs earlier this year, has admitted using different drugs during his playing days. The 49-year-old Kiyohara, speaking during a program aired on TBS on Thursday night, said he used greenies, an amphetamine that helps increase focus. Kiyohara, […]
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The Japan Times newsroom selected these sports stories as the most important of 2016. 1. Going for gold: Japanese athletes brought home 12 gold medals, and 41 overall, from the Rio Olympics. The victories included a historic triumph by wrestler Kaori Icho, who became the first woman in any sport to capture individual golds at […]
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The Osaka Evessa started and finished strong en route to a 79-67 victory over the visiting Sendai 89ers on Thursday night. The Evessa (16-12) jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the series opener in Osaka, and held the visitors to 36.8 percent shooting from the floor. More important, Osaka won the scoring duel in […]
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He knows it sounded weird, but Takashi Uchiyama said he’s spent significant time in training since he took his first professional loss to Jezreel Corrales earlier this year. Now it’s time for the 37-year-old to capitalize on that valuable time in a rematch against the Panamanian on New Year’s Eve at Ota City General Gymnasium. […]
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Shogo Taniguchi grabbed the late winner as Kawasaki Frontale reached their first Emperor’s Cup final after a 1-0 win over Omiya Ardija on Thursday. Kawasaki will meet the Kashima Antlers in the final on New Year’s Day after the J. League champions beat Yokohama F. Marinos 2-0 in the earlier semifinal. Runner-up in the season’s […]
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Justin Jackson ran for 224 yards and three touchdowns to power Northwestern to its third bowl victory, 31-24 over No. 22 Pittsburgh in the Pinstripe Bowl on Wednesday night. The victory at Yankee Stadium followed wins in the 1948 Rose Bowl and 2012 Gator Bowl victories in the program’s oft-futile history. Jackson had TD runs […]
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Tampa Bay running back Doug Martin has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and said Wednesday he’s entering a treatment facility rather than appeal the ban. The two-time Pro Bowl selection, slowed by a hamstring injury this season after rushing for 1,402 yards in 2015, will miss Sunday’s regular-season […]
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NFL games are being streamed live in China, and will be through the Super Bowl. The league announced Wednesday a partnership with Sina Weibo, one of the largest social media platforms in China. Six regular-season games were streamed recently, and Sina Weibo will stream the Packers-Lions showdown for the NFC North title on Sunday night. […]
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Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt plans to concentrate on the 100 meters in the 2017 season, which will bring the curtain down on a glorious career in which he has captured nine Olympic gold medals. “Right now, it’s my last season and I have to just go out there and enjoy,” Bolt told Jamaica-based The […]
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Artemi Panarin and the Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms Wednesday on a $12 million, two-year contract extension. The reigning Calder Trophy winner will count $6 million against the salary cap in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Agent Tom Lynn confirmed the deal in an email to The Associated Press. Panarin has 114 points in his […]
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Ana Ivanovic retired from tennis at age 29 Wednesday, ending a career in which she was ranked No. 1 in 2008 but can no longer play at the highest level because of injuries. In a live broadcast on Facebook, Ivanovic said “it was a difficult decision, but there is so much to celebrate.” The Serb […]
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Daisuke Matsuzaka showed what he came to Puerto Rico’s winter league to do Wednesday, throwing seven strong innings in his final outing. The 36-year-old allowed a run on three hits and two walks, while striking out three for Gigantes de Carolina. His team lost 3-2 to Tiburones de Aguadilla, but Matsuzaka, who didn’t allow a […]
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A season ago, established stars Nick Fazekas and Naoto Tsuji set the tone for the then-Toshiba Brave Thunders in the final NBL season. From a statistical standpoint, they were the driving force behind the team’s championship. Consider the dynamic duo’s performances in the decisive Game 5 of the NBL Finals against the Aisin SeaHorses in […]
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The Golden State Warriors played one of their most impressive quarters of the season to start the game, building a 25-point lead. Then, there were turnovers and second chances for Toronto and they had to hold off the Raptors at the end. Kevin Durant had 22 points, matched his season best with 17 rebounds, and […]
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Bradley Wiggins announced his retirement from cycling on Wednesday, ending an illustrious career in which he won a British record eight Olympic medals and became his country’s first winner of the Tour de France. The 36-year-old Wiggins posted a statement on his Facebook and Instagram pages, alongside a picture of his collected race jerseys, medals […]
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After waiting 26 months for her second career World Cup giant slalom win, Mikaela Shiffrin needed just one more day to add the third. On Wednesday, the American earned her second GS win in two days. Her only previous victory in the discipline was in October 2014 — at the season-opening race in another Austrian […]
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Montreal coach Michel Therrien was short and direct after the Canadiens blew a late lead and lost in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tyler Johnson scored his second goal of the game 1:36 into the extra session and the Lightning rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Canadiens 4-3 […]
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Plenty has changed around the Oakland Raiders between starts at quarterbacks by Matt McGloin. When McGloin last got the chance to start a game late in 2013, the Raiders were wrapping up a four-win season with a roster severely lacking in talent. When McGloin takes the field Sunday in Denver in place of the injured […]
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Just when it seemed the NFL was losing its tight grip on America’s fans, America’s team came riding to the rescue. OK, so maybe the Dallas Cowboys didn’t exactly ride to the rescue, though Jerry Jones might take credit for it anyway. But their surprising run behind a pair of spectacular rookies has helped turn […]
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Masato Akamatsu, a speedy reserve outfielder for the Hiroshima Carp, revealed Wednesday that he has stomach cancer. “It’s not life threatening, but I have to have surgery,” said the 34-year-old, who will have an operation early next month. “I want to recuperate quickly and get back to where I was.” The cancer was discovered on […]
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After a few days of turmoil and perhaps more to come, the Minnesota Golden Gophers played lights-out in shutting down Luke Falk and the Washington State Cougars to win the Holiday Bowl. Shannon Brooks caught a tipped pass from Mitch Leidner for a 13-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter and Minnesota, mired in controversy […]
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A run-a-ball hundred from David Warner gave Australia an outside chance of forcing a result after Azhar Ali posted a double-century for Pakistan in the second test in Melbourne on Wednesday. Warner smashed 144 off 143 balls in a pulsating 198-run stand with Usman Khawaja to cut Pakistan’s lead to just 165 runs with two […]
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Even thoroughly outplaying the Blue Jackets isn’t good enough to get a victory in Columbus right now. Not with the way Sergei Bobrovsky and the NHL’s most surprising Stanley Cup contenders are clicking. Bobrovsky had 37 saves, Nick Foligno scored a power-play goal midway through the third period and the league-leading Blue Jackets beat the […]
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The Chunichi Dragons have acquired lefty Elvis Araujo and right-hander Jorge Rondon, sources said Wednesday. The 25-year-old Araujo, who pitched in 72 games over the past two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, was recently released by the Miami Marlins. The 28-year-old Rondon has pitched in 13 big league games for four different teams. Both he […]
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Unlike for other players, the start of the 2016-17 Women’s Japan Basketball League season didn’t necessarily represent a fresh start for Jx-Eneos Sunflowers star player Ramu Tokashiki. The 25-year-old forward/center has basically been on the court for nearly two entire years, having also played for the Japan women’s national team and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. […]
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Russian anti-doping officials have acknowledged a massive doping conspiracy in their country, but still reject claims of government involvement in the affair that rocked world sport, The New York Times reported Tuesday. “It was an institutional conspiracy,” Anna Antseliovich, the acting director general of Russia’s national anti-doping agency, told the newspaper in an article datelined […]
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LeBron James was jolted forward when the massive crowd swelled from the sidewalks and into Cleveland’s streets, surrounding the convertible that he and his family were riding in. This wasn’t supposed to happen. James looked at his wife, Savannah, their baby daughter and two sons and feared for their safety. “We were kind of afraid […]
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Russell Westbrook took a charge in the final minutes with the outcome already decided, was diving for loose balls and grabbed more defensive rebounds than any four Miami Heat players did combined. Forget the triple-double. It was everything else that had Heat coach Erik Spoelstra marveling. Westbrook scored 29 points, grabbed 17 rebounds — all […]
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Jurors at Aaron Hernandez’s upcoming double murder trial shouldn’t hear about his tattoos or text messages sent to his sports agent, attorneys for former New England Patriots player told a judge Tuesday. Hernandez is charged with killing two men in a 2012 drive-by shooting, because one of the men bumped into the former football star […]
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A few days after Mikaela Shiffrin spent Christmas at Manuela Moelgg’s home in Italy and trained with her, the American and the Italian finished first and third in a women’s World Cup giant slalom on Tuesday. Shiffrin held on to her first-run lead on the icy Panorama course to beat Tessa Worley of France by […]
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Supermaxi Perpetual Loyal took line honors in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race Wednesday with its winning time nearly five hours faster than the previous record. Skippered by Anthony Bell, Perpetual Loyal crossed the finish line at Constitution Dock in Hobart around 2:30 a.m. local time to complete the 630-nautical-mile race in 1 day, 13 […]
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Rex Ryan’s inability to back up his boasts of building a bully — particularly on defense — in Buffalo led to the Bills firing their high-profile coach one game short of completing his second full season. Terry Pegula, who made Ryan’s hiring his first big splash as owner, was the person who informed Ryan of […]
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is looking forward to pitting his wits against Pep Guardiola again after seeing the Reds fight back to beat Stoke City 4-1 in the Premier League on Tuesday. Liverpool moved back above Manchester City into second place in the table, and to within six points of leader Chelsea, after claiming its […]
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Olympic champion Kjetil Jansrud extended his perfect start to the season in super-G, winning a World Cup race by a comfortable margin on Tuesday. Jansrud became only the second man to win the first three super-G races of the season after Austrian great Hermann Maier, who accomplished the feat twice — in 1997-98 and 1999-2000. […]
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Three Japanese ozeki were in contention for promotion to yokozuna in 2016, raising hopes that a homegrown wrestler may reach sumo’s top rank for the first time in nearly two decades. While Kotoshogiku, Kisenosato and Goeido could not manage to become the first Japan-born yokozuna since Wakanohana in 1998, the three are expected to continue […]
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The Tokyo Yakult Swallows acquired right-hander Ross Ohlendorf on a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, the Central League club announced Tuesday. The 34-year-old, who pitched in 64 games for the Cincinnati Reds this season, relies on a good fastball and sinker and has a high strikeout rate. Ohlendorf is scheduled to join his new team […]
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Former major leaguer Takashi Saito has been appointed club adviser for the San Diego Padres and will take on the new role starting Jan. 1, baseball sources said Tuesday. The 46-year-old had been working as an intern at the National League club’s front office after ending his 24-year career, seven years of which were spent […]
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Eight-time line honors winner Wild Oats XI has been forced to retire from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the second straight year after suffering damage to a hydraulic ram. The 30.4-meter supermaxi was leading the race by around 12.8 km and was several hours inside its 2012 race record early Tuesday morning when […]
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Some New Year’s Sports Resolutions MAS would love to see made for 2017 — and, more importantly, KEPT. We’ll cut to the chase: ■ The NBA and NHL agree to shorten each’s joke of a six-month regular season that merely serves to determine postseason seedings for a field that includes over half their teams. The […]
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There is nothing worse than seeing a great athlete that has hung on too long. Struggling to regain their past glory in the glare of the spotlight and growing increasingly frustrated when they can’t accomplish it, this can be a very humbling experience for even the most successful person and torture for their fans. Just […]
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Jaylen Samuels caught three touchdown passes from Ryan Finley, Nyheim Hines returned a kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown and North Carolina State beat Vanderbilt 41-17 on Monday night in the Independence Bowl. North Carolina State (7-6) won three of its final four games to finish with a winning record. The Wolfpack built a 28-3 lead […]
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Mike Sullivan’s arrival in Pittsburgh last season provided the spark that turned the Penguins’ listless season around. The franchise rewarded its fiery head coach with a three-year contract extension on Monday that will keep Sullivan with the team through 2019-20. The 48-year-old Sullivan took over for Mike Johnson last December and guided the team on […]
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Less than two weeks after falling out of the rotation for a couple of games, Nikola Mirotic is playing again and proving his worth to the Chicago Bulls. Dwyane Wade scored 21 points, Mirotic added a season-high 20 — including a key basket down the stretch — and Chicago survived a poor shooting performance for […]
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John Barfield, a left-hander from Arkansas who pitched three seasons for the Texas Rangers beginning in 1989, died in a shooting in Little Rock, police and family members said. He was 52. Police said Barfield was fatally shot on Christmas Eve after an altercation with an acquaintance in downtown Little Rock. William Goodman, 59, of […]
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Spanish forward Pedro Rodriguez scored twice as red-hot leader Chelsea crushed Bournemouth 3-0 on Monday to register a club-record 12th consecutive Premier League victory. Pedro struck either side of Eden Hazard’s 50th English League goal at Stamford Bridge as Antonio Conte’s side opened up a provisional nine-point lead at the summit in the Boxing Day […]
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Matthew Stafford lost to his hometown team again, and the playoff plans are on hold for the Detroit Lions. Dez Bryant threw his first career touchdown pass between a pair of scoring catches, Ezekiel Elliott ran for two TDs and the Dallas Cowboys kept the Lions from clinching a postseason spot with a 42-21 win […]
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Simone Biles tried to treat the 2016 Summer Olympics like just your average ordinary gymnastics meet. So what if the stage and the stakes were different? The floor was still the floor. The vault still the vault. The uneven bars still uneven. The balance beam still a 10.1-cm wide test of nerves. And the 19-year-old […]
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A little over 49 days — that’s all it took Frenchman Thomas Coville to sail around the world alone, to set what French officials say is a new world record. Coville sailed into the Brittany port of Brest on Monday on his Sodebo trimaran. He rejoined his family, weeping with joy, thanked his support crews […]
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Yomiuri Giants lefty Tetsuya Utsumi had surgery to remove a mediastinal tumor between his lungs, the Central League team said Monday. The tumor was discovered during a routine postseason physical. Utsumi, 34, is expected to be discharged from hospital within the year and could begin working out in January sometime, the Giants said. General manager […]
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes a little more luck on the injury front is all that is separating his team from Premier League leader Chelsea as the Reds prepare to face Stoke City on Tuesday. The Anfield club spent Christmas in second place in the Premier League table but trailed Chelsea by six points. Liverpool […]
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Everything changed for the Chicago Cubs on a rainy November night. A century-plus worth of heartache washed away by a wave of pure joy. There were hugs, cheers and tears — and bottles and bottles of booze, sprayed everywhere from Cleveland to the shadow of Wrigley Field. Lovable losers, no more. The story of so […]
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The Kansas City Chiefs knew before kickoff against Denver that they were going to the playoffs. They proceeded to play as if they have much bigger goals. Travis Kelce hauled in 11 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown, Tyreek Hill added a 70-yard TD run to his rookie highlight reel and the Chiefs routed […]
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The WNBA is offering an assist to players trying to stay safe while traveling overseas. The league has partnered with LiveSafe, a safety communications platform, to provide a mobile security app to its 60-plus players competing in Russia, Turkey, China and other countries this offseason. The app debuted this week and players are already signing […]
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Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. will be out for approximately four weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee. The Lakers announced the diagnosis Sunday night. Nance was hurt during the Lakers’ loss at Charlotte on Dec. 20 and was re-examined by team doctors Sunday. The second-year pro is a key reserve for Los […]
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Australia took honors on the rain-curtailed opening day of the first cricket test against Pakistan after only two sessions were possible at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday. Having won the toss, Pakistan was 142-4 with opener Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq unbeaten on 66 and 4 respectively. Light rain forced players to an early […]
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With the clock ticking and a season filled with promise evaporating, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took the snap, turned to his left and put the AFC North title in the hands of Antonio Brown. The star wide receiver caught the ball at the Baltimore 1 and waited for the hit he knew was coming. When […]
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Tamawashi and Shodai were promoted to sumo’s sekiwake rank for January’s New Year Grand Sumo Tournament it was announced on Monday, and the contrast between the two couldn’t be any sharper. When the 15 days of action kicks off at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 8, Tamawashi will be competing in his 77th tournament. Only […]
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With another clutch shot, Kyrie Irving took the Warriors on a trip down memory lane. Irving dropped a short, turnaround jumper over Klay Thompson with 3.4 seconds left as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied just the way they did in June’s NBA Finals to defeat Golden State 109-108 on Sunday in a marquee Christmas matchup that […]
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Tochigi Brex supporters came out in full force, putting fannies in every seat. There wasn’t an empty seat in the packed joint. The Brex returned the favor — a gift that didn’t need to be wrapped with a fancy bow — to the delight of their loyal fans, defeating the Yokohama B-Corsairs 84-69 on Christmas […]
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Satoko Miyahara wrapped up her third straight women’s title at Japan’s figure skating national championships on Sunday. The 18-year-old, who compiled a huge lead in Saturday’s short program, became the first woman to win three straight national crowns since Mao Asada won four from 2006 to 2009. “I wanted to perform better, so I feel […]
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Three-year-old favorite Satono Diamond celebrated a Merry Christmas by tipping Kitasan Black at the wire to win Japan’s season-ending Arima Kinen on Sunday. The Christophe Lemaire-ridden colt beat Japan Cup holder and spring Tenno-sho champion Kitasan Black, the leading vote-getter in the fan-chosen field of 16, by a neck to take the tape in 2 […]
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Frank Lampard admitted on Saturday he would relish a return to Chelsea as a player and is keen to rejoin the Premier League leaders in some capacity even if he is not offered a deal. The former England midfielder is Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer and is keeping his options open after leaving New York City […]
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Antonio Conte’s first few months as Chelsea manager could hardly have gone any better as his side heads into the holiday period six points clear atop the Premier League standings. The west London club faces Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Monday and will be seeking a 12th successive league victory, which would leave the Blues […]
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For the first time, Hue Jackson stood in front of the Browns as a winner. Through the injuries, the losses, the negativity and the late-night jokes, his team had stuck together. And as the Browns huddled around him in the postgame locker room, Cleveland’s first-year coach desperately wanted to make a point. “I told you […]
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est Palm Beach Florida Tiger Woods is having quite the week. First, he showed off a white goatee in a shirtless photo, saying it’s a Christmas tradition for his kids. Then, still sporting the white facial hair, he played 18 holes with President-elect Donald Trump. Trump and Woods met Friday morning at the Trump International […]
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Jose Mourinho explained how happy he was with his Manchester United project on Friday, acknowledging it was “easy to feel at home” with one of the world’s biggest clubs. It was not the most comfortable, nor consistent, of starts for Mourinho at Old Trafford, as he struggled to find his best team and the Portuguese […]
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Former Japan striker Masashi Nakayama is set to re-sign with Azul Claro Numazu in J. League’s third division next year when he will turn 50 years old come September, a soccer source said Saturday. Nakayama, who joined Numazu in September last year following a three-year absence from the game, will thus make a comeback to […]
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Former NHL forward Steve Downie went on a lengthy Twitter rant Friday night, taking aim at hockey commentator Don Cherry and the Arizona Coyotes. Downie, who played parts of eight seasons in the NHL, criticized the culture of violence that he believes Cherry perpetuates through his “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em” series of videos. In response […]
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England prop Mako Vunipola may join brother Billy on the sidelines for the Six Nations after Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall revealed his left knee injury could be serious. Vunipola, whose younger sibling and back-row forward Billy underwent knee surgery in November, damaged ligaments in his knee in a European Champions Cup clash against […]
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As Derek Carr fell to the turf with a broken leg, a celebratory day in Oakland immediately turned somber. The Raiders had suffered their most significant loss of the season. Carr broke a bone in his right leg in the fourth quarter of the Raiders’ 33-25 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, immediately throwing […]
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Shoma Uno won his first men’s national championship on Saturday, overcoming a 2.29-point deficit and a weak start in his free skate to capture the gold medal. Uno, a former world junior champion and a two-time bronze medalist at the senior Grand Prix Final, trailed Takahito Mura in second place after Friday’s short program at […]
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In a Christmas Eve clash of B. League heavyweights, the Alvark Tokyo avenged Friday’s series-opening loss and halted the Kawasaki Brave Thunders’ 15-game winning streak at the same time. Troy Gillenwater scored 32 points and Daiki Tanaka poured in 30 in Tokyo’s 106-92 victory on Saturday at Todoroki Arena. The Alvark improved to 20-5; the […]
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Louisiana Tech senior quarterback Ryan Higgins was bawling like a baby even before Jonathan Barnes’ game-ending kick went through the uprights to win the Armed Forces Bowl. “As soon as (the holder) put the ball down, I felt like the kick was money,” Higgins said. “Each person that I hugged after that, it was just […]
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The Toyama Grouses have experienced both ends of the emotional spectrum over the past seven-plus months. First, there was the euphoric ride of coming one win away from a storybook ending in the spring. Coach Bob Nash led them to a bj-league championship game appearance for the first time in May at Ariake Colosseum, where […]
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Shuhei Akasaki hit the winner as the Kashima Antlers defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 to advance to the semifinals of the Emperor’s Cup on Saturday. Akasaki struck with a clever finish in the 57th minute and goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata, one of the stars of Kashima’s magical run to last week’s Club World Cup final, saved a […]
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Suntory Sungoliath put themselves in the driver’s seat for theTop League title Saturday thanks to a 41-24 win over Yamaha Jubilo in a showdown between first- and second-place teams. On a blustery day in front of 10,574 fans at Yamaha Stadium, Kosei Ono once again proved he is the best flyhalf in Japan, while George […]
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Inter Milan and Japan national soccer team member Yuto Nagatomo and his girlfriend, actress Airi Taira, held a news conference Saturday to confirm rumors they will marry in January. In June, Nagatomo told media that Taira is “my amore” (my lover) after their relationship was reported in a weekly magazine. The word “amore” made it […]
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Third baseman Justin Turner and the Los Angeles Dodgers have finalized their $64 million, four-year contract. Turner gets a $4 million signing bonus, payable Dec. 31, under the agreement completed Friday, and salaries of $12 million next year, $11 million in 2018, $18 million in 2019 and $19 million in 2020. He would get a […]
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Nineteen-year-old jockey Nanako Fujita on Saturday claimed her sixth national race and her first since Oct. 9. In the day’s fourth race, Fujita steered the fourth-pick, 2-year-old colt Silver Meteor, through the middle of the 16-horse field before gradually picking up the pace. She snatched the win at the wire to a huge cheer from […]
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Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and the San Antonio Spurs handed the Portland Trail Blazers their fifth straight loss, winning 110-90 on Friday night despite resting key players. Patty Mills added 23 points off the bench for the Spurs, who led by as many as 21 points in the second half. Former Blazer LaMarcus Aldridge […]
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The defending NBA champions will be without a major piece for at least three months. Cavaliers starting guard J.R. Smith could be sidelined until the end of the regular season following surgery to repair what the team called a “complex fracture” of his right thumb. Smith’s injury will have a major ripple effect on the […]
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New York Jets coach Todd Bowles was hospitalized Friday with what the team called an “undisclosed illness,” and he did not travel for the game against the New England Patriots on Saturday. In a statement posted on the team’s website, the Jets said Bowles was in stable condition, but it was uncertain if he would […]
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The controversial soccer player Joey Barton is alleged to have placed over 1,000 football bets over a 10-year period and has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association. The 34-year-old Barton, who is due to rejoin Burnley after his departure from the Glasgow Rangers is alleged by the F.A. to have placed bets between […]
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Fans in London could get a taste of one of MLB’s fiercest rivalries if suggestions of a Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees series in London pan out, U.S. media reported Friday. The Boston Herald first reported the possibility, and Yankees president Randy Levine confirmed to MLB.com that there have been discussions on possible 2018 games […]
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Shohei Ono won the International Judo Federation’s Judoka of the Year Award for men on Friday after capturing his first Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro, where he triumphed in the men’s 73-kg category. Ono, 24, received 2,166 votes on the IJF Facebook page, ahead of two-time over-100-kg gold medalist Teddy Riner of France (983) […]
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On yet another doping-tainted day for Russian sport, 28 athletes now face IOC cases linked to cheating at the Sochi Winter Olympics and a major cross-country skiing event was removed from the country. The IOC said Friday it has opened 28 disciplinary proceedings against Russian athletes whose urine samples were likely tampered with at the […]
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The Columbus Blue Jackets gave their fans quite a gift two days before Christmas — a 12-game winning streak and the best record in the NHL. Columbus defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Friday night to maintain the best record in the NHL and improve to 23-5-4 — its best start in franchise history. The […]
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One of the most prolific hitters among foreign players in Japan, and a most fan- and media-friendly personality, returned to the country earlier this month to say “konnichi wa” and offer batting instruction to Japanese youngsters. He’s Alonzo Powell, a former Chunichi Dragons outfielder who found success playing in Japan more than 20 years ago […]
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Three months after losing his dream job as England manager, Sam Allardyce was back in soccer on Friday and facing a familiar task: Keeping a struggling team in the Premier League. Allardyce was hired as the manager of London team Crystal Palace, which fired Alan Pardew on Thursday with the club lying in 17th place […]
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Petra Kvitova says she’s determined to play tennis again — no matter what that involves after a knife-wielding intruder attacked her inside her home and injured her playing hand. The two-time Wimbledon champion was released from the hospital on Friday, three days after she was operated on following injuries suffered in the attack in the […]
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A sensational start fueled the Kawasaki Brave Thunders’ latest victory. Coach Takuya Kita’s club opened Friday’s game against the Alvark Tokyo, another powerhouse team, with a 16-0 run. Tokyo rebounded with a strong second quarter, but lost 93-81 as the Brave Thunders extended their winning streak to 15 games. Scoring maestro Nick Fazekas lit up […]
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Takahito Mura placed first in the men’s short program at the All-Japan Championships, earning 90.34 points to sit ahead of Shoma Uno’s 88.05 in the absence of flu-hit four-time reigning champion Yuzuru Hanyu. Mura pulled off a nearly flawless routine, nailing his opening quadruple toeloop and a triple lutz-triple toe-loop combination in what he described […]
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Miruts Yifter, an Ethiopian running legend who inspired world-class athletes like Haile Gebreselassie, has died in Canada at age 72, his family and Ethiopian Athletics Federation officials told the Associated Press on Friday. The athlete known widely by the nickname “Miruts the Shifter” won two gold medals at the 1980 Moscow Olympics at age 40 […]
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Rio Olympic gold medalists Risako Kawai and Sara Dosho wrapped up the year on a high note by winning their respective weight class at the All-Japan Wrestling Championships Friday. Kawai, who won the women’s 63-kg category in Brazil this summer, defeated Chiho Hamada 3-0 in the 58-kg final at Yoyogi National Gymnasium Annex in Tokyo […]
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David Legwand announced his retirement Thursday, ending a 16-year NHL career that began as the Nashville Predators’ first draft pick. The 36-year-old Legwand had 228 goals and 390 assists in 1,136 career regular-season games with Nashville, Detroit, Ottawa and Buffalo. He’s Nashville’s career leader in goals (210), assists (356), points (566), game-winning goals (41) and […]
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New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been fined $18,000 by the NFL for wearing unapproved cleats against Detroit, two people familiar with the fine told The Associated Press. Beckham wore cleats honoring the late broadcaster Craig Sager, who lost his lengthy battle with cancer last week. The people spoke on condition of anonymity […]
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Russia has lost biathlon and speedskating events it was due to host this winter following allegations it ran a vast state-sponsored doping scheme. World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren’s final report has prompted Western athletes to campaign for boycotts in several winter sports in Russia after 12 medalists from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi […]
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Duke suspended Grayson Allen indefinitely from the team Thursday, one day after he was caught tripping an opponent for the third time in a year. In a brief statement announcing the suspension, coach Mike Krzyzewski said the program “needed to take further steps regarding his actions that do not meet the standards of Duke basketball.” […]
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The Colorado Rockies promoted Duane Espy to hitting coach, his second stint in the role for the team. Espy was one of several coaches manager Bud Black announced Thursday in filling out his staff for 2017. The 64-year-old Espy spent last season as the hitting coordinator for the Rockies’ organization. He also was Colorado’s hitting […]
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The coach of South Africa’s national team was fired on Thursday following a disciplinary hearing into his public outburst after a World Cup qualifier last month. Shakes Mashaba was suspended after a television camera caught him ranting at his critics, while reports claimed he also insulted the head of the country’s soccer federation after a […]
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Arsenal FC — An Apology. I may have given the impression in recent weeks that this season Arsenal looked the real deal and could make a serious challenge for the title. I believe I said the team was stronger mentally and better equipped to be a contender rather than a pretender. However, events of the […]
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Some of the high energy seemed to be sucked out of Nationwide Arena when Sidney Crosby scored for Pittsburgh less than 3 minutes into the game against Columbus. But the Penguins wouldn’t find the net again for the rest of the night as the surging Blue Jackets rallied for a blowout win. Scott Hartnell had […]
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Hope Solo says she hopes that someday she can return to the U.S. women’s national team, but in the meantime she vows to keep fighting for equal pay for the players. Solo was handed a six-month suspension and her contract with U.S. Soccer was terminated following the Rio Olympics, after she called Sweden’s team “cowards” […]
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The New York Giants will have to wait a while to make the playoffs. Malcolm Jenkins had the second two-interception game of his eight-year career, returning one for a touchdown, and the Philadelphia Eagles snapped a five-game slide by beating the Giants 24-19 on Thursday night. The loss handed Dallas the NFC East title — […]
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The Golden State Warriors knew they would need energy and were missing the guy who often provides it, so they weren’t totally surprised by their poor first half. “It’s kind of what we expected,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I don’t know I expected to be down 16 at the half, but I knew that they […]
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In charge of English soccer’s worst-performing team of 2016, Alan Pardew was already under heavy scrutiny at Premier League struggler Crystal Palace. Some unwise comments about the club’s American owners might just have made his position untenable. Pardew was fired as Palace’s manager on Thursday, three days before Christmas and nearly two years into his […]
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Lionel Messi’s beaten Copa America finalist Argentina ends the year at the top of FIFA’s world rankings while France, defeated in the Euro 2016 final, was named “mover of the year.” Argentina finishes 2016 out in front of archrival Brazil to inherit the “team of the year” title from Belgium, displaced from the FIFA summit […]
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Japan manager Vahid Halilhodzic said Thursday he is relishing the chance to get revenge over the United Arab Emirates in March, when the final round of Asian World Cup qualifiers resumes. Japan was stunned 2-1 at home by UAE in its opening match of the final round in Saitama in September, with the game being […]
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Ex-major league general manager Randy Smith will be a senior adviser to the GM and major league scouting director to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, the Pacific League club announced Thursday. Smith, the general manager for the San Diego Padres (1993-95) and Detroit Tigers (1996-2002), rejoined the Padres front office in 2003, but was fired […]
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India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year on Thursday for taking 48 wickets and scoring 336 runs in eight tests during the voting period. The 30-year-old Ashwin, the world’s top-ranked test bowler, became the third Indian to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy while also scooping the ICC […]
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Steve Mason and the Flyers didn’t want to waste their recent winning streak. Mason made 36 saves before stopping three straight shots in the shootout, Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds scored in the tiebreaker and Philadelphia beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Wednesday night. Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux scored in regulation for Philadelphia, which […]
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All the New York Giants have to do to secure a playoff berth is beat a struggling division rival headed nowhere. That’s no simple task in front of a hostile crowd and a national audience. There’s plenty at stake when the Giants (10-4) visit Philadelphia (5-9) on Thursday night. A victory would secure New York’s […]
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Russell Westbrook’s left-handed, inside-out dribble wrong-footed Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, creating an open lane for a driving layup. That was one of many scoring highlights for the Oklahoma City star, who sometimes looked like he could have outscored New Orleans by himself. He didn’t have to, though, thanks to a reserve unit led by rookie […]
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Samurai Japan added the first major league player to its roster for the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, when Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki signed up for his third WBC. The move was a boost for manager Hiroki Kokubo’s team and likely a welcome addition for Japanese fans, for whom winning the WBC is a […]
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All Blacks prop Owen Franks has joined a growing group of top players who have re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through the 2019 World Cup. Franks, who turns 29 on Friday and is the second most-capped prop in All Blacks history with 90 test appearances, said he had rejected overseas offers to stay in New […]
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A former doctor for USA Gymnastics, already facing sexual assault charges in Michigan court, was arrested Friday on federal child pornography charges. Dr. Larry Nassar was arrested in Holt, Michigan, and transported to federal court in western Michigan. He appeared without a lawyer and remains in custody. Nassar has been under scrutiny since September when […]
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A leading member of Chelsea’s coaching staff has been hired as the No. 2 to recently appointed England manager Gareth Southgate. Steve Holland will leave his role as Chelsea’s assistant first-team coach at the end of the Premier League season to join up with the national team on a full-time basis. In the meantime, he […]
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Ex-Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre will join the B. League’s Sunrockers Shibuya, a basketball insider told The Japan Times. According to the source, the 27-year-old big man is scheduled to arrive in Japan in early January. The annual single-elimination All-Japan Championship is being played at that time, so he is expected to begin playing […]
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The Kumamoto Volters are a team on a mission. Sure, winning games is a top priority. But it’s an objective trumped by their ongoing quest to play in the first division next season. So far, so good. The Kyushu-based club is first overall in the 18-team second division with a 21-3 record. They have won […]
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Bayern Munich eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over promoted Leipzig in their top-of-the-table clash to claim the Bundesliga’s unofficial title of ‘autumn champion’ before the winter break. “We wanted to send a signal,” Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said. The two sides had been level going into their 16th-round showdown, with Leipzig, boasting the league’s […]
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Jaromir Jagr knows No. 2 is as high as he’ll go on the NHL career scoring list. In his mind, that’s a record in itself. Jagr’s next point will be the 1,888th of his career and give him outright possession of second place on the all-time NHL points list, breaking a tie with Mark Messier. […]
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Miho Takagi won the women’s 1,500 and 5,000 meters on Wednesday to complete a clean sweep of all four races at the Japan national championships. A day after winning the 500 and the 3,000 at Tokachi Oval in Obihiro, Hokkaido, Takagi won her first overall national title with a meet record 162.431 points. No woman […]
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Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed two runs in a Puerto Rican winter league start on Tuesday. The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks right-hander, who is trying to rebuild his career in Japan, was pitching in his third game for Gigantes de Carolina. He allowed two runs on six hits over four innings in a 4-1 loss to league-leading Santurce. […]
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Men’s Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu has withdrawn from Japan’s national championships due to influenza, the Japan Skating Federation announced Wednesday. The event, which starts Thursday, serves as a qualifier for Japan’s team for March’s world championships in Helsinki. Hanyu has won the national title the past four years, but is said to need […]
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Jaromir Jagr isn’t even thinking about retiring. Jagr had three assists to pull into a tie for second place on the NHL’s career points list, Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck scored in the shootout, and the Florida Panthers beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Tuesday night. Jagr pulled even with Mark Messier with 1,887 points, […]
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LeBron James had a big night beyond the arc and capped it with three pivotal points. James buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 24 seconds left in overtime and the Cleveland Cavaliers held on for a 114-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night to avenge a late November loss. “It’s something I practice before […]
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Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki has been added to the Samurai Japan roster for next spring’s World Baseball Classic, the team announced on Wednesday. The Japan national team revealed the first 18 players chosen for the roster a day earlier. The 19th man brings something extra to the table as he’s so far the only […]
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Kashima Antlers showed how far Japanese soccer has come when they gave Real Madrid a mighty scare in the Club World Cup final last Sunday, but it may be some time before a J. League champion gets to take advantage of Japan hosting the tournament again. Antlers pushed Madrid all the way to extra time […]
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Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has officially ruled out a move to Mercedes next season, saying he’s committed to Red Bull for the next two years. Following the retirement of world champion Nico Rosberg, Mercedes is looking for a new driver to team with Lewis Hamilton. The 27-year-old Ricciardo said in Perth on Wednesday […]
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England’s Alastair Cook Tuesday dismissed talk about the future of his captaincy after his team’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of India, saying it was not the right time to make such decisions. Cook’s side dramatically collapsed in the final session of day five to get bowled out for 207 and lose the fifth test […]
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German first-division club Eintracht Frankfurt said Tuesday it has extended the contract of Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebe. Two-time World Cup captain Hasebe, 32, joined Frankfurt from Nuremberg in the summer of 2014 and his extension will keep him at the club until the end of June 2018. Speaking after Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Mainz, a […]
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After more than a decade as the NFL’s black hole, the Oakland Raiders are back in the playoffs and filling up the Pro Bowl. The resurgent Raiders lead the league with seven players selected for next month’s all-star game. Quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, center Rodney Hudson, defensive end Khalil Mack, safety Reggie […]
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The Red Sox kept adding starting pitchers, and Clay Buchholz kept getting bumped further down in the rotation. There was David Price last offseason and Drew Pomeranz mid-year. By the time Chris Sale was acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the winter meetings this month, Boston had seven starters to choose from — most […]
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A man who survived a deadly 2012 drive-by shooting in Boston identified former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez in court on Tuesday as the one who pulled the trigger. The judge presiding over the upcoming murder trial also denied a bid by Hernandez’s lawyer to push back the February start. Prosecutors asked Raychides Sanches […]
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Real Madrid’s ban on signing players has been reduced to one transfer window after the club’s appeal against a FIFA punishment for illegally buying under-age foreigners was partially upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday. A CAS statement said world governing body FIFA’s decision handed down in April had been set […]
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