BASEBALL
Ohtani could pitch in May
Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in May is “about right,” manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday at the team’s annual fan fest. He reiterated that Ohtani would not pitch in the season-opening Japan Series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19 in Tokyo. The two-way superstar has not pitched in the majors since August 2023, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander had surgery on his left shoulder on Nov. 5 last year after dislocating it on a stolen base attempt.
BOXING/
Benavidez defeats Morrell
David Benavidez on Saturday night unified the light heavyweight championship by earning a unanimous decision over challenger David Morrell to keep his interim WBC belt and win the WBA title. Judges Patricia Morse Jarman and Steve Weisfeld both scored the fight 115-111, while Tim Cheatham scored it 118-108. “This is ‘El Monstro’s’ world,” said Benavidez, nicknamed The Mexican Monster. “Shout out to Morrell. I knew he’d be tough and that’s why I prepared so hard for this. I’m happy we were able to give the fans a great show tonight.”
SOCCER
DRC urges clubs to end deal
Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Therese Kayikwamba Wagner has urged soccer clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain to end their “blood-stained” sponsorship agreements with “Visit Rwanda” following the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country, amid an offensive by Rwanda-backed M23. Wagner wrote to the three clubs last week and questioned the morality of their sponsorship deals. “Thousands are currently trapped in the city of Goma with restricted access to food, water, and security,” Wagner said in her letters, a media statement from her ministry said yesterday. “Countless lives have been lost; rape, murder and theft prevail. Your sponsor is directly responsible for this misery. If not for your own consciences, then the clubs should do it [end their sponsorship agreement] for the victims of Rwandan aggression.”
CYCLING
UCI bans carbon monoxide
Cyclists and teams can no longer use carbon monoxide gas outside of a medical facility, UCI said on Saturday. The gas, which can be lethal, is used in low doses in training as a way of helping teams measure critical blood metrics in riders, especially hemoglobin levels. An investigation published by the Web site Escape Collective during this year’s Tour de France highlighted the use of carbon monoxide rebreather devices by several teams to optimize altitude training. The ban goes into effect on Monday next week.
FOOTBALL
More accuse Ravens’ Tucker
Three more massage therapists have accused Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of sexually inappropriate conduct, the Baltimore Banner reported on Saturday. The news site said nine massage therapists from five spas and wellness centers have shared accounts with the Banner. In its initial report on Thursday, the Banner said it spoke to six massage therapists who recounted firsthand experiences with Tucker from 2012 to 2016. Several therapists said they ended Tucker’s sessions early or refused to work on him again, and managers from two spas said they banned him from returning.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
After fleeing Sudan when civil war erupted, Al-Hilal captain Mohamed Abdelrahman and his teammates have defied the odds to reach the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. They are today to face title-holders Al-Ahly of Egypt in Cairo, with the return match in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, on Tuesday next week. Al-Hilal and biggest domestic rivals Al-Merrikh relocated to Mauritania after a power struggle broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and a paramilitary force. The civil war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo-born Al-Hilal
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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