LEAGUE - The Salt Lake Tribune

Sports briefs: Krzyzewski returns to Team USA

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:35:20 MDT

Sports briefs: Krzyzewski returns to Team USA

Updated May 22, 2013 11:35PM MDT

Basketball • Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team. Krzyzewski will try to lead the Americans to a third straight gold medal, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday. Originally expected to step down, Krzyzewski will hold a news conference to confirm his return Thursday at Duke, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. The Hall of Fame coach has led the Americans ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Thursday’s sports TV/radio programming

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:35:20 MDT

Thursday’s sports TV/radio programming

Updated May 22, 2013 11:35PM MDT

Television — Auto racing • Formula One, practice for Monaco Grand Prix, 6 a.m., NBCSN • NASCAR, Nationwide Series, practice for History 300, 11 a.m. & 3 p.m., SPEED • NASCAR, Sprint Cup, practice for Coca-Cola 600, 1:30 p.m.; pole qualifying, 5 p.m., SPEED College softball playoffs • Texas A&M at Oklahoma, 5 p.m., ESPN • Washington at Missouri, 7 p.m., ESPN Golf • European PGA Tour, PGA Championship, 3 a.m., TGC • PGA of America, Senior PGA Championship, 10 a.m., TGC • PGA Tour, Crowne Plaza I...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Rangers top A’s 3-1 in Wolf’s 1st big league start

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:35:20 MDT

Rangers top A’s 3-1 in Wolf’s 1st big league start

The Associated Press

Updated May 22, 2013 11:35PM MDT

Arlington, Texas • David Murphy and Adrian Beltre homered in a three-run first inning, Ross Wolf was strong in his first major league start and the Texas Rangers avoided a sweep with a 3-1 victory against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Wolf was making his first big league appearance since Oct. 1, 2010, as a reliever with Oakland. He retired the first nine hitters and gave up one run with three strikeouts and two walks in five innings. Neal Cotts preserved Wolf’s lead by ...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sun Belt delays expanding to 12 teams

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:35:20 MDT

Sun Belt delays expanding to 12 teams

The Associated Press

Updated May 22, 2013 11:35PM MDT

New Orleans • Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson says plans to become a 12-team league are on hold. Benson, speaking after Wednesday’s conclusion of conference meetings in Destin, Fla., says the conference is comfortable with having an 11-team setup by 2014. He says member institutions don’t want to rush to add another school simply so the league can host a conference championship game in football. Benson says the decision to wait is aimed at seeking stability and ensuring a good g...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Agent: Enes Kanter out until August, will miss summer league

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:45:44 MDT

Agent: Enes Kanter out until August, will miss summer league

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 22, 2013 01:45PM MDT

Enes Kanter's recovery from April shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule, his agent said Wednesday, but the Utah Jazz center may not be cleared to play until August. That means Kanter will not participate in the Orlando Summer League July 7 through 12, although Kanter's agent, Max Ergul, said it was unlikely the Turkish big man would have played that week even if healthy. The second-year center underwent surgery on April 10 to repair a tear resulting from a dislocated left shoulder suffered again...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Soccer league to hold fund-raiser for Portillo family.

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:40:56 MDT

Soccer league to hold fund-raiser for Portillo family.

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 22, 2013 11:40PM MDT

La Liga Continental de Futbol league president Mario Vasquez is holding a two-day tournament fund-raiser for the family of Ricardo Portillo on Saturday and Sunday. The league is in need of sponsors who can provide refreshments that can be sold to raise funds for the family. For more information, call Freddy Jimenez at 801-793-5361 or Jose Alcara at 801-671-8217. Food and drink donations can be dropped off between 6-9 p.m. at 2480 S. 1000 West. Portillo was officiating a league game April 27 wh...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Brewers minor leaguer Williams suspended 50 games

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:54:31 MDT

Brewers minor leaguer Williams suspended 50 games

The Associated Press

Updated May 21, 2013 11:54PM MDT

New York • Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Alan Williams has been suspended for 50 games under minor league baseball’s drug program following a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The 23-year-old is 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA this year in three starts and 10 relief appearances for Huntsville of Double-A Southern League. He signed with the Brewers’ organization in May 2011 after he pitched in the independent Frontier League. The suspension announced Tuesday was the 21st this year under the minor...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Monson: The sisterhood of women’s football

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:54:32 MDT

Monson: The sisterhood of women’s football

By Gordon Monson Tribune Columnist

Updated May 21, 2013 11:54PM MDT

On a partly cloudy Saturday afternoon made for football, Utah’s Mixsa Kafi takes a short pass over the middle and explodes up the field, making like Barry Sanders, juking left and right, then firing off straightaway, shedding and burning past tacklers, turning an ordinary play into an extraordinary touchdown. It is one of five TDs the slot/wide receiver scores in a 47-22 crushing of a team called the Nevada Storm. Still gasping on the sideline after accepting congratulations from teammates, the...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Yanks, Man City to own NYC MLS team

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:54:32 MDT

Yanks, Man City to own NYC MLS team

The Associated Press

Updated May 21, 2013 11:54PM MDT

New York • The New York Yankees are going into the soccer business. The Yankees are partnering with Manchester City to own Major League Soccer’s 20th team, which will be called New York City Football Club and plans to start play in the 2015 season. Manchester City, owned by Sheik Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, will be the majority owner of the new team. Yankees President Randy Levine will be the lead person responsible for launching it. “They’ll be running all the soc...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Semipro football team being formed in Fargo

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:02:31 MDT

Semipro football team being formed in Fargo

The Associated Press

Updated May 18, 2013 12:02AM MDT

Fargo, N.D. • A man who owns a semipro football team in Minnesota that plays games in the spring is starting a team in Fargo-Moorhead that will play in the fall. James Kern owns the Brainerd (Minn.) Lumberjacks, who play in the Midwest Premier Football League. He tells The Forum newspaper that the team he is forming in Fargo-Moorhead will be an extension of the Lumberjacks and will play in the United National Football League. Players have to be at least 18 years old and are responsible for ...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

This Date in Baseball

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:02:31 MDT

This Date in Baseball

The Associated Press

Updated May 18, 2013 12:02AM MDT

1912 • Detroit players went on strike to protest Ty Cobb’s suspension. To avoid a forfeit and fine, manager Hugh Jennings recruited college players and others; they lost to the Philadelphia A’s 24-2. Joe Travers gave up all 24 runs on 26 hits. 1929 • The Brooklyn Dodgers outslugged the Philadelphia Phillies for a 20-16 victory in the first game of a doubleheader. Brooklyn’s Babe Herman and Johnny Frederick each had five hits. Frederick scored five times to give him a major league record eight ...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

National pastime alive and well in the Avenues

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:50:27 MDT

National pastime alive and well in the Avenues

By Nicholas J. Pappas Special to The Tribune

Updated May 16, 2013 01:50PM MDT

On May 11, the Avenues baseball league held its annual Diamond Day fundraiser, an event used to raise funds to sustain the league and to celebrate the national pastime. With more than 200 players ages 5 to 12, the league is one of the oldest and largest in the state. In a state that prides itself on outdoor activities, children have a plethora of choices during summer break. Baseball is one that makes each child the star, organizers say. “From the time the batter steps up to the plate, until t...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

David Beckham to retire, ending riveting soccer journey

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:52:09 MDT

David Beckham to retire, ending riveting soccer journey

By ROB HARRIS The Associated Press

Updated May 16, 2013 11:52PM MDT

LONDON • David Beckham is retiring from soccer, ending a career in which he transcended the sport with forays into fashion and a marriage to a pop star that made him a global celebrity. The 38-year-old former England captain, who recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain, said Thursday he will quit after the season. “It’s a good way to go out,” Beckham said in Paris. “It’s every athlete’s dream, every footballer’s dream to go out on the top — on top form or winnin...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

RSL’s Open Cup future becomes clearer

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:01:24 MDT

RSL’s Open Cup future becomes clearer

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 17, 2013 05:01PM MDT

Real Salt Lake will host its U.S. Open Cup game on May 28. RSL will play the winner of the May 21 contest between the Atlanta Silverbacks, of the North American Soccer League, and the Georgia Revolution, of the National Premier Soccer League. RSL is 5-80 all-time in U.S. Open Cup play and lost 3-1 to the NASL’s Minnesota Stars in the third round of last year’s cup. Salt Lake’s best finishes came in 2006 and 2011, advancing both times to the tournament’s quarterfinals. Come back RSL midfielder E...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Former RSL defender Russell retires, heads back to school

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:58:26 MDT

Former RSL defender Russell retires, heads back to school

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 11:58PM MDT

Washington • D.C. United defender Robbie Russell has retired after a 13-year career in Major League Soccer and in Europe, and will study medicine at Georgetown University. The 33-year-old Russell scored one goal in 20 appearances with United, which announced his plans Wednesday. He played in 98 games over six seasons in MLS and was a member of the 2009 league champions, Real Salt Lake. Russell also played in Iceland, Norway and Denmark.

Arsenal, Chelsea could face playoff to decide 3rd

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:58:27 MDT

Arsenal, Chelsea could face playoff to decide 3rd

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 11:58PM MDT

London • The Premier League could go into overtime. After the Sunday’s season-ending games, Arsenal and Chelsea might wind up in a one-match playoff to determine third place — and a berth in the group stage of next season’s Champions League. Chelsea (21-7-9) has a two-point lead over Arsenal (20-7-10). If the Gunners beat Newcastle 2-1 and Chelsea ties Everton 0-0, the teams would be even on points (73), goals (73) and goals allowed (38). Premier League rules call for a playoff at a neutral ...

Carlos Zambrano, Phils agree to minor league deal

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:58:27 MDT

Carlos Zambrano, Phils agree to minor league deal

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 11:58PM MDT

Philadelphia • Right-hander Carlos Zambrano has agreed to a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Zambrano will report this week to Clearwater, Fla., for extended spring training. The three-time All-Star hasn’t pitched in the majors since last September with Miami. Zambrano, 31, is 132-91 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 seasons, including 11 with the Chicago Cubs, averaging 14 wins with a 3.43 ERA from 2003-10. He was 16-17 with a 4.66 ERA the last two seasons.

Cup to drop: Wigan relegated with loss to Arsenal

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:59:10 MDT

Cup to drop: Wigan relegated with loss to Arsenal

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 04:59PM MDT

London • Wigan became the first team to win the FA Cup and get relegated in the same season, losing 4-1 at Arsenal on Tuesday night and ending its eight-year stay in the Premier League. Arsenal moved past Tottenham and into fourth place with one game remaining, on track to qualify for the Champions League for the 16th consecutive season. Lukas Podolski put Arsenal ahead in the 11th minute. Coming off Saturday’s FA win over Manchester City, Wigan tied the score on Shaun Maloney’s free kick in...

Lionel Messi could miss rest of Barcelona season

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:03:57 MDT

Lionel Messi could miss rest of Barcelona season

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 05:03PM MDT

Madrid • Lionel Messi’s Barcelona season may be over because of a reoccurrence of a hamstring injury that has slowed him for more than a month. Barcelona said Tuesday that the four-time FIFA player of the year will be sidelined for two-to-three weeks, which means he might not return in time for the season finale against Malaga on June 1. Messi has 60 goals in 50 games, down from a record-setting 73 goals in 60 matches last season. He has 46 Spanish league goals, four shy of the record he set...

Soccer parents

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:01:04 MDT

Soccer parents

By XXXXXX The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 14, 2013 01:01AM MDT

Kudos to Tribune sports writer Kurt Kragthorpe for expressing so well in “The death of respect” (Tribune, May 7) what many of us in the sports officiating world have said many times to each other. When things do not go well for a parent’s child or the team, parents often see officials as targets for their frustrations. In my four decades of umpiring baseball, from Little League through Division 1 NCAA and some minor league pro games, I have never been physically assaulted. However, I have had ...