Thu, May 14, 2009 page19

• Sports Briefs

  • AGENCIES
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  ■BASEBALL

  Yankees to sell sod, seats

  The New York Yankees on Tuesday announced one of sport’s biggest yard sales, with artifacts at the old Yankee Stadium, from seats, sod and dirt to foul poles, home plate and lockers, going on offer to the public. “This is a chance to own a piece of history, a piece of Yankee Stadium,” Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost told a news conference. A pair of stadium seats is priced at US$1,499. A single bleacher seat costs US$399 with a pair priced at US$699. A clump of freeze-dried grass in a small display case goes for US$80, and sections of sod range from US$120 to US$280 depending on size. Demolition of the old Yankee Stadium — the 1923 “House That Ruth Built,” across the 161st Street from their new US$1.5 billion home — is expected to begin next month, Trost said. All pieces sold will be authenticated by the Yankees and Major League Baseball and are available through numerous Web sites, including yankees.com and mlb.com. The Yankees’ memorabilia partners, Steiner Sports, said only about 40,000 seats would probably be sold after they are treated to abate dangers of lead paint.

  ■BASKETBALL

  Granger most improved

  Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger was named the National Basketball Association’s most improved player on Tuesday. Granger had a career best season in 2008-2009, averaging 25.8 points per game and finishing as the league’s fifth-highest scorer. He averaged 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and played in his first career all-star game. Granger joined Jermaine O’Neal (2001-2002) and Jalen Rose (1999-2000) as the only Indiana players to win the award. New Jersey guard Devin Harris finished second in the voting by sportswriters in the US and Canada, while Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City placed third.

  ■FORMULA ONE

  Todt to promote Malaysia

  Scuderia Ferrari’s ex-boss Jean Todt is in the hot seat to get tourists racing to Malaysia, a Tourism Ministry official said yesterday. Todt, whose fiancee is Malaysian-born actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊), will become Malaysia’s “tourism ambassador” for a year to help promote the country worldwide. Malaysian Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen will hand the appointment letter to Todt in Paris this weekend, the official said on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to make public statements. She did not immediately have details of what Todt’s activities would be. Todt, 63, resigned all his positions with Ferrari in March, concluding a 16-year career with the automaker highlighted by his direction of the Formula One team. Todt is a frequent visitor to Malaysia with the Hong Kong-based Yeoh. He recently joined a Malaysian government program that provides benefits in immigration, housing and taxes to attract foreigners to live or invest in the country.

  ■SOCCER

  Refs get anti-racism powers

  Referees will be given the power to take players off the field for as long as they see fit if there is racist behavior at club or international matches organized by UEFA. The Executive Committee of European soccer’s governing body ruled on Tuesday that referees will be allowed to take “strong and decisive action” if matches are marred by racist jeering from fans. The idea will now be examined more closely and new guidelines will be given to referees after the next Executive Committee meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, at the beginning of July. Whether matches could be forfeited as a result of racist abuse has yet to be decided.
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