GOLF
Jang in lead at Coates
Top-ranked Lydia Ko shot a 3-under 69 on Wednesday in the Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Fla., in her first round of the season, leaving her four strokes behind leader Ha Na Jang. Ko, 18, closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th, her fourth birdie on the back nine on the Golden Ocala course that features some tributes to holes at Augusta National, St. Andrews and others. Ko tied for second last year in Ocala to reach No. 1 in the world ranking, and went on to win five times and take the Race to the CME Globe and LPGA Tour's points-based player of the year award. Jang also birdied the 18th for a bogey-free 65 and a three-stroke lead over six players. Winless on the LPGA Tour, the 23-year-old South Korean player also tied for second last year behind Na Yeon Choi. Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) had three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey for an even-par 72. Stacy Lewis (Razorbacks) had two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey for a 2-over 74.
BASEBALL
Cespedes: 1st choice Mets
Yoenis Cespedes said his first choice was to remain with the New York Mets. In his first public comments since agreeing to a $75 million, three-year contract, the outfielder maintained his welcome last summer was the key to his decision. Speaking through a translator Wednesday, he said "from my first day when I came last season, that very first day, the fans showed incredible support. I just knew I wanted to come back." New York, which reached the World Series for the first time since 2000, treated Cespedes as a newly signed player, showing video highlights of his performance last season after he entered the news conference. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and General Manager Sandy Alderson presented Cespedes with his No. 52 jersey, which fit snugly over his street clothes. The Mets gave him his own hashtag: #GotYoBack.
• Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) and the Tampa Bay Rays have argued baseball’s first salary arbitration case this year. The 26-year-old lefthander asked arbitrators Elizabeth Neumeier, Andrew Strongin and Phillip LaPorte for a raise from $2.65 million to $3.75 million during a hearing Wednesday. The Rays argued for $3.2 million. A decision is expected today. Smyly was 5-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts last season with 77 strikeouts and 20 walks in 66 2/3 innings. He started the season on the disabled list because of left shoulder tendinitis, made three starts from April 24 to May 5, then went back on the DL until Aug. 16 because of a torn labrum in the shoulder. Fifteen additional players remain in arbitration, with hearings scheduled through Feb. 19.
HOCKEY
Wideman suspended
The NHL suspended Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman 20 games on Wednesday for cross-checking a linesman during a game last week, the second-longest suspension in NHL history for abusing an official. Wideman was suspended for violating the league rule on physical abuse of officials after he struck linesman Don Henderson and knocked him down during the Flames' game against Nashville on Jan. 27. The 32-year-old will forfeit $564,516 in salary as a result of the suspension. Only Gordie Dwyer of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who was suspended 23 games in part for abuse of officials during an exhibition game in 2000, was suspended longer for such a violation. Wideman had a hearing with the NHL's department of hockey operations on Tuesday that included representatives from the Players' Association and the NHL Officials Association. He may appeal the suspension to Commissioner Gary Bettman, which he is expected to do. After the game last week, Wideman said he was in pain after a hit from the Predators' Miikka Salomaki and couldn't avoid hitting Henderson. He was not penalized and skated over to the officials and apologized moments later. "Throughout my career -- and I've been around for a few years -- I think I've treated every official with the utmost respect," Wideman said, "and I would never intentionally try to hit a linesman or a ref or anything like that." Wideman has no previous history of on- or off-ice incidents and is known as a player who often avoids penalties. He has just 30 penalty minutes in 48 games this season.
TENNIS
Gasquet advances
Top seed Richard Gasquet comfortably reached the quarterfinals of the Open Sud de France at Montpellier by beating Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-4, 6-4, while second-seeded Marin Cilic went out to lowly ranked Alexander Zverev 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) on Wednesday. Gulbis, a French Open semifinalist two years ago, had nine aces compared to three for backhand specialist Gasquet. But he dropped serve once in each set and failed to create a break-point chance against the Frenchman, who next plays Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. In another upset, Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat No. 5 Gael Monfils 6-4, 7-6 (5) in an all-French match, proving slightly more consistent on serve and breaking Monfils twice. No. 8 Baghdatis advanced earlier by defeating Taro Daniel of Japan 6-2, 7-6 (7). Also advancing to the last eight was Michael Berrer, who defeated qualifier Kenny De Schepper 6-3, 6-4, and next plays countryman Zverev.
• Roger Federer has torn his meniscus and undergone surgery, an injury that will keep him out of upcoming tournaments in Rotterdam and Dubai. A statement on Federer's website Wednesday said he sustained the injury on Saturday, the day after losing the Australian Open semifinals against later champion Novak Djokovic. Federer, 34, has withdrawn from next week's tournament in Rotterdam, and the Feb. 22-27 event in Dubai where he is the title holder. The next scheduled event for the record 17-times Grand Slam winner is the Indian Wells Masters starting March 7.
SOCCER
Players union sued
The U.S. Soccer Federation sued the union of its world championship women’s soccer team Wednesday, saying it fears players may attempt to strike ahead of this year’s Olympics. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Chicago. The USSF said Richard Nichols, the new executive director of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team Players Association, refuses to acknowledge a Dec. 31 expiration date contained in a memorandum of understanding agreed to by the governing body and the union in March 2013. The memorandum listed changes agreed to from the previous collective bargaining agreement. The USSF claims Nichols informed it on Dec. 23 that the deal will end on Feb. 24 and at a meeting Wednesday refused to agree that the union wouldn’t strike before Dec. 31. The USSF asked the court to determine the CBA exists and expires Dec. 31. The players union called the lawsuit “unfortunate and “a regrettable distraction.”
Football
Stabler suffered from ‘quite severe’ brain damaage
BOSTON — Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, the late NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner who is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had the brain disease CTE, Boston University researchers said Wednesday.
Stabler, who died of colon cancer at 69 in July, had Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Dr. Ann McKee told The Associated Press. McKee said the disease was widespread throughout his brain, with “quite severe” damage to the regions involving learning, memory and regulation of emotion.
“We’ve now found CTE in former NFL players who played every position except kicker,” said McKee, a professor of neurology at Boston University. “While we know on average that certain positions experience more repetitive head impacts and are more likely at greater risk for CTE, no position is immune.”
The diagnosis was first reported by The New York Times.
The disease, which can only be diagnosed after death, is linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia. CTE has been found in the brains of dozens of former football players.
“There was no evidence of any other brain disorder to explain the difficulties he experienced during life,” McKee said.
The left-handed Stabler, nicknamed “Snake” for his ability to escape from defenders, led Alabama to an undefeated season in 1966. A second-round draft pick by Oakland, he was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1974 and led the Raiders to victory in the 1977 Super Bowl.
In all, Stabler threw for 27,938 career yards and had a .661 winning percentage over 15 seasons, which also included stints with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. He was selected as a finalist for the Hall of Fame by its Seniors Committee. The inductees will be announced Saturday.
Sports on 02/04/2016