Japan Times: Sports

Wings, Leafs to play at "Big House"

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:10:00 PST

A person familiar with the NHL's plan says the Detroit Red Wings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity Wednesday because the league is not expected to announce the lineup until Thursday.

Sanchez Vicario says $60 million lost

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:11:00 PST

Former tennis star Arantxa Sanchez Vicario said in a book published Tuesday that her parents lost an estimated $60 million in career earnings through mismanagement.
The 40-year-old Sanchez Vicario said her parents were obsessed with her tennis career and controlled most aspects of it. She said she's estranged from her parents and brothers Emilio and Javier, former tennis players.

Nishikori leads Japan into Davis Cup

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:12:00 PST

Kei Nishikori will be aiming to build on his success at the Australian Open when Japan takes on Croatia in this weekends Davis Cup World Group tie.
Nishikori, who became the first Japanese man to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open since the Open Era began in 1968, will face Croatias Ivo Karlovic on Friday. Japans Go Soeda takes on Croatia's top player Ivan Dodig in Fridays other singles match.

Capello steps down as England coach

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:13:00 PST

The soap opera of English soccer reached yet another a noisy climax Wednesday when national team coach Fabio Capello quit angrily just eight hours after potential successor Harry Redknapp was cleared in a London court of tax evasion charges.
Only four months before the European Championship, Capello's employers stripped John Terry of the England captaincy over racism charges without consulting the manager — and as a result now finds itself seeking a new team leader.

Lin lights up Wizards, wins over road crowd

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:14:00 PST

What a week it has been for Jeremy Lin.
With three breakout games, the Harvard graduate has become the NBA's newest playmaking sensation. He's a fan favorite — home and away — and has earned more than 60,000 Twitter followers in just five days.

Obuchi's return to form gives Evessa more firepower

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:15:00 PST

For Masashi Obuchi, an innate scoring sense and recognition of when and where to take shots served him well during his early days in the bj-league.
Now, in his third season in the league, and second in an Osaka Evessa uniform, the veteran guard is returning to form after a season-ending knee injury in December 2010 limited him to 17 games last season.

Red Wings skate past Oilers, extend home win streak to 18

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:16:00 PST

Back on home ice — where they have been unbeatable for three months — the Detroit Red Wings closed in on an NHL record.
Drew Miller and Henrik Zetterberg scored in the third period, and the Red Wings extended their home winning streak to 18 games with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.

Spanish federation to sue over skit

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:17:00 PST

The Spanish tennis federation said it plans to sue a French TV channel for using its logo in a video that poked fun at Rafael Nadal.
In the video skit on the satirical program called The Puppets, a life-size cartoon figure of Nadal is shown urinating into a gas tank before racing off and being pulled over by police for speeding.

Solid record not enough for Ogawa in Fukuoka

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:18:00 PST

The euphoria of Sunday's series-ending road victory for the undermanned Rizing Fukuoka against the Kyoto Hannaryz, a rising power, didn't last very long.
The Rizing (19-11) fired coach Tadaharu Ogawa on Wednesday.

Judge: Bari squad linked to gamblers

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:19:00 PST

A judge investigating match-fixing in Italy said "a considerable part of the Bari squad" had links to a betting ring that rigged games when the club was in Serie A last season.
Guido Salvini said the players who have already been questioned tried to "turn the attention to a more minor and subordinate person."

Longo's husband arrested for EPO

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:20:00 PST

French police raided the home of cycling great Jeannie Longo on Wednesday and arrested her husband on suspicion that he bought doses of the banned performance-enhancer EPO.
The 53-year-old Longo was expected to be questioned following the arrest of her husband and coach, Patrice Ciprelli, at their home in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux in the French Alps, said police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the case.

Billups vows to continue NBA career

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:21:00 PST

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups says he won't let his season-ending injury also finish his NBA career.
Billups tore his left Achilles tendon on Monday night, ending his first season with Los Angeles. He said the injury has left him "deflated" but he's confident the Clippers will be able to survive without him and can still have "a special season."

Phelps using hyperbaric chamber

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:22:00 PST

Michael Phelps is the latest athlete to use a hyperbaric chamber to aid his recovery from training.
The 16-time Olympic medalist said Wednesday he had been sleeping "at 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) every night" for almost a year. The 26-year-old swimmer noticed he bounced back from workouts better when he trained at altitude, so he's trying a device that simulates that.