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Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts

Monday, 6 December 2010

Whoa! Jayson Werth signs with Nationals for 7 years, $126 million

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UNITED STATES

Scott Boras, you've done it again.On the eve of baseball's Winter Meetings, the super agent jumped in and worked a seven-year, $126-million deal for free-agent client Jayson Werth(notes) and the Washington Nationals.

That's also, more or less, what fellow Boras clients Matt Holliday(notes) and Barry Zito(notes) make. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported it first.

It's not so much the $18-million-per-season outlay that's shocking, but it's the length of the deal — Werth (pictured) turns 32 in May — along with the destination. Washington, unlike the front-running Philadelphia Phillies, tends to finish at the bottom of the NL East.

The Nats are seen as a team on the rise, but — with Stephen Strasburg(notes) out for the 2011 season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery and super prospect Bryce Harper barely old enough to vote — Washington doesn't seem on the verge of contending.

General manager Mike Rizzo, though, certainly found a replacement for Adam Dunn(notes).

As for Werth, getting the best deal obviously was paramount. Contending? Yeah, maybe in a couple of years.

And, according to ESPN's Buster Olney, other MLB executives are livid about what Werth's deal means for the league's salary structure.

What will Carl Crawford(notes) command, for example, and how can his contract span any less than eight years?

News of the deal also comes as a bummer for the Phillies, who won't get the Nationals' top draft pick — No. 3 overall — as compensation because it's too high and thus protected. Instead, Philly gets a supplemental pick for one of its top players the past several seasons.

And so the Boston Red Sox have missed out — for now — on getting Adrian Gonzalez(notes) and Werth. Theo Epstein is being conservative, so far, with payroll. But he might be pound foolish by not going the extra step with either slugger.

After all, folks were fretting 20 years ago when Kirby Puckett got $3 million a year. In five years, $18 million a season might seem reasonable.

Then again, it's hard to imagine a 38-year-old Jayson Werth putting up $18 million of production. sports.yahoo

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Thursday, 21 October 2010

Favre not disclosing details on meeting with NFL

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Brett Favre doesn't want to talk about any subject but the Green Bay Packers, while the NFL is seeking more information about allegations he sent suggestive messages and lewd photos in 2008 to a woman who worked for the New York Jets.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters in Green Bay ahead of Sunday night's Vikings-Packers game, Favre called the NFL's investigation into his alleged behavior a "league matter." Minutes later, he also declined to answer a series of questions about the situation in his weekly Wednesday news conference with Minnesota media.

"That's a league issue," Favre said, "that I just have to leave at that."

The Vikings quarterback met with NFL vice president for security Milt Ahlerich on Tuesday about his alleged advances toward then-Jets game emcee Jenn Sterger two years ago, when Favre played for New York.

Favre brushed off a question about whether the situation has weighed on him, insisting it was instead the "front five for Dallas" that weighed on him last week. He said this week his "focus is solely on Green Bay."

Asked why he hasn't denied the allegations, Favre said: "The one thing I'm going to say is that's something that's within the league, and I'll just have to leave it at that — let that process work itself out."

Sterger has hired lawyers but has not commented on the allegations, which were posted on Deadspin.com without her cooperation. The website paid a third party for the texts, voicemails and graphic photos, said to be of Favre, that it posted in a video. Sterger has not commented on the website's report.

Attorney Joseph Conway said Wednesday his firm will advise Sterger "and pursue any potential remedies that may exist." He confirmed being contacted by the NFL, but said nothing had been decided on a possible meeting between Sterger and the league.

Sterger is now a TV personality for the Versus network. Her manager, Phil Reese, said she's had no discussions with Favre representatives about a possible financial settlement stemming from the allegations.

A.J. Daulerio, Deadspin's editor in chief, posted on the website Wednesday that he told Ahlerich he was willing to cooperate with the NFL but "any and all information we have to offer is available on the site" and he wouldn't provide anything more than that at this point.

Favre appeared relaxed at the podium inside Minnesota's practice facility. While refusing to acknowledge concern about the investigation and insisting he's only worried about the Packers, Favre took time to mention their multiple-formation defense, the pressure of facing his old team and the magnitude of the game given a tight NFC North race.

Then, with a touch of self-deprecating humor, he poked fun at his age and questioned his ability to hold up in Green Bay.

"I look old, gray and weary, with crows feeding on me and that stuff," Favre said.

Asked about the reaction he's expecting from the Packers fans, Favre cracked a slight smile.

"I'd like for it to be a better reaction than last year, but I can't be concerned about that," he said. "I know what I did there, the legacy that I left behind, the commitment I had to that team, the way I played. And it was a long, long time. So I'm proud of that. And I'm not going to really think about it."

The Vikings played one of their best all-around games of the 2009 season while beating the Packers 38-26 at Lambeau Field last Nov. 1, and Favre's current teammates are eager to again lend their support.

Kicker Ryan Longwell, one of his closest friends, said he's spoken to Favre in the last few weeks even more extensively than usual.

"I can tell by looking at him. I can tell by what he's talking about and his words and what he's feeling," Longwell said, adding: "I think Brett's in a really good place right now. If anybody can compartmentalize over the years, he's certainly one that can do it with the best of them."

This wouldn't be a Packers-Vikings week without at least one reference to Favre's retirement plan. The 41-year-old was asked by the Green Bay media on his conference call why people should believe this will be his last season, as he declared upon reporting to the Vikings in mid-August.

Favre said, yes, that's still his plan, though he stopped short of making it official.

"Just hold your pen. We'll see what happens," he said. "Let's get through this game, and we'll figure out what happens the rest of the year. But I plan on ending it."

Favre also took one more opportunity to praise the place where he became a star.

"Not once did I ever step in that stadium — it was obviously different last year — that I did not respect and feel very privileged to be on Lambeau Field," he said. "Every touchdown I've thrown in that stadium was as joyous as the next. So I've always savored the moment. I never took it for granted. This will be no exception. But, yes, unless we were to go back in the playoffs, this will be it."

____

AP Sports Writers Jon Krawczynski and Chris Jenkins in Green Bay, Wis., contributed to this story.

By DAVE CAMPBELL, AP Sports Writer

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Mike Schmidt: Where did the hitters go in October?

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The playoffs have followed the regular season trend back to pitching dominance. Not that aces haven't done this in past postseasons, it's just that their supremacy this year stands out.

Roy Halladay's no-hitter, Tim Lincecum's 14 strikeouts in a two-hit shutout, Cliff Lee's three impressive wins, as well as Matt Cain, Roy Oswalt, Jonathan Sanchez and others dominating for seven innings.

The Yankees' averages going into Game 5 were pathetic. The Giants had little offense heading into Game 4 and their opponents, the Phillies, had only hit in Game 2.

Why is it so tough to put together a rally in this postseason?

I have the credentials to answer the question, maybe better credentials than anybody. I have two World Series trophies in my office — an MVP and a "Goat." In 1980, I hit in every game and had seven RBIs as we won the championship. In 1983, I went 1 for 20 with no RBIs and got the "Goat" trophy as we lost in five to the Orioles. What was the difference?

The difference was not the high quality pitching, it was my ability to execute my game plan in a relaxed at-bat.

In 1980, I got hits early and relaxed, a la Cody Ross. In 1983, I lined out against the right-center field wall with men on base the first two at-bats and started to press.

There's a big difference in "feel" and "confidence" when you hit in a big series early. It makes you relax, it gives you a sense that there's nothing to prove, that you've shown the opponent, your team and fans that you do hit under pressure.

The opposite is a mindset that tightens muscles and makes a hitter uncomfortable. It makes you overanxious, makes you feel a sense of urgency, which leads to impatience on every pitch. You want to hit now, not when the pitcher gives you a pitch to hit. Your body follows your mindset and a pitch you need to stroke the opposite way instead becomes a rollover, an easy out.

Yes, good pitching perpetuates this. The great ones, and there are several in play now, see this and know how to attack it. Basically, off-speed pitches, pitches that have late movement, in fastball counts do the job.

The reason the Phillies and Yankees are normally the favorites is that they drag out at-bats and don't fall prey to the easy out by being overaggressive to the pull side. They'll keep at-bats alive, run deep counts, take the walk and apply pressure.

The Yankees hitters jumped out and pulled hittable pitches foul and fell into trouble. The Phillies had their bout with this early in the season and around the All-Star break, then they became themselves again. Now there are traces of the past — just traces — showing.

Josh Hamilton is a good example of a hitter in these playoffs that has a carefree approach at a time when most clam up. He hits with a smile, a soft stride and easy swing. He doesn't clamp down when he connects, just applies the sweet spot and lets the ball go where it wants — 380 feet is far enough.

Most hitters never experience the feel of total relaxation through the ball. They all do in batting practice, but as game adrenaline takes hold, the tendency is to add something on impact. They want to make the impact with the ball harder, to make it go farther, and the result is funk city. The playoffs are the breeding ground for this funk. The big stage, big time TV, the best pitchers, and 24/7 face time for the big hit.

Having your stroke ready and applying the ingredients needed to hit the best pitchers in the game on the national stage is the ultimate challenge in hitting. They say hitting a round ball with a round bat, squarely, is the single most difficult thing in sports. Add baseball's postseason pressure and baseball's best pitchers, and believe me, it's true.

Watch the games. The hitters that smile at the plate are relaxed.

All three of them.

By MIKE SCHMIDT, For The Associated Press

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Charmed Giants just one win from World Series

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The San Francisco Giants keep showing that building a loaded, All-Star lineup isn't the only way to make a deep October run.

The second-chance players and homegrown talent can pay big dividends this time of year, too.

A club of castoffs and postseason newcomers is now just one win away from the World Series.

Juan Uribe, sore left wrist and all, hit a sacrifice fly off Roy Oswalt with one out in the ninth inning Wednesday night, sending the Giants past the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 for a 3-1 lead in the NL championship series.

"We've got some characters on this club," manager Bruce Bochy said. "In my mind, they're like the Dirty Dozen, the castoffs and the misfits."

Boosted by yet another big hit from late-season pickup Cody Ross, four hits and two RBIs from rookie Buster Posey and a timely double from struggling Pablo Sandoval, the Giants pushed the two-time defending NL champion Phillies to the brink of elimination.

Philadelphia will send Roy Halladay to the mound against Tim Lincecum in Game 5 on Thursday night. It's a rematch of aces that Lincecum won in the opener.

"Two of the best arms in the game," Posey said. "We're in a good position. But at the same time, we know anything can happen in baseball."

A champion with the White Sox in 2005, Uribe made his mark on this NLCS in a matter of moments — a great play with his glove, then one swing to win it.

Aubrey Huff singled with one out in the ninth and took third when Posey singled for his fourth hit of the game. Uribe hit a medium-deep fly, leaving left fielder Ben Francisco with no chance to get the sliding Huff with his throw.

Going to Oswalt — slated to start Game 6, if it's necessary — to begin the ninth backed up manager Charlie Manuel's words that this was his club's biggest game yet this year. Now, it will be Thursday.

"We know what is at stake, but the game is the same. We have an opportunity to win a game tomorrow," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.

Oswalt is one of the majors' top starters and beat the Giants in Game 2. He has made only a few relief appearances in the last several years, including in the 2004 NLCS for Houston.

"We faced him a couple nights ago," Posey said. "He's got great stuff, just battling."

Uribe entered at shortstop in the top of the ninth. He immediately picked up a hard one-hopper by pinch-hitter Ross Gload in the hole and made a strong throw while falling away for the out.

That started a perfect ninth for winning pitcher Brian Wilson, the major league saves leader.

"I got butterflies," Wilson said. "I got anxiety. I got a mini-ulcer developing, but it's all worth it. We never lost focus."

After Freddy Sanchez lined out to right to start the bottom of the ninth, Huff and Posey singled. Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth made a nice sliding stop on the warning track to keep Huff from scoring.

Then came Uribe, a quiet 1 for 7 in this NLCS before Game 4. On a 1-1 pitch, he claimed he got hit in the hand by Oswalt's fastball, but umpire Wally Bell said it was a foul.

Uribe wound up with the game-winner moments later, leaving the Giants just one victory shy of reaching the World Series for the first time in eight years.

Sandoval came jumping out of the dugout as Uribe's ball was in the air. Giants players streamed out of the dugout and mobbed Uribe after he rounded first base. Huff and Posey exchanged high-fives near the mound and Sandoval and Sanchez hugged.

"It seems like all the baseball talk is all East Coast," Huff said. "Everybody watching tonight saw exactly how we've played all year."

Manuel stuck with Joe Blanton rather than going to Halladay on short rest. Blanton hung tough in his first start in three weeks but was done after allowing Huff's two-out single in the fifth.

Ross produced again for the Giants. He hit a go-ahead single Tuesday after connecting for three home runs in the two games at Philadelphia. After Cole Hamels joked about hitting Ross as a way to slow him down, Blanton did just that to start the second. Not that it was on purpose: Blanton threw two wild pitches in the first.

One fan waved a "Ross for Governor" sign. Another read: "This is Rosstober."

But by the end, the familiar chants or "U-ribe! U-ribe!" rang through the Giants' packed waterfront ballpark.

Uribe was a late scratch before Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday before playing Tuesday. The wrist had bothered Uribe when swinging, Bochy said.

There was no sign of that on his final cut.

"Who doesn't want to play now? I want to be here," Uribe said. "In that moment, everybody knew my wrist was hurting a little bit. I think that's why he threw a lot of fastballs in because he knew. I was trying to hit the ball deep enough to get the run home and for us to win the game."

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Baseball Writer.

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Yankees beat Rangers 7-2 to close to 3-2 in ALCS

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Texas has two more chances to reach the World Series for the first time.

First, Colby Lewis gets a chance to win the pennant. If he can't finish the job, Cliff Lee would face the New York Yankees in Game 7.

"There's no frustration or feeling like we didn't accomplish what we wanted to do," Rangers third baseman Michael Young said after Wednesday's 7-2 loss in Game 5. "We'll just go home and try to finish it off."

Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano hit consecutive homers to build an early cushion, and CC Sabathia made the lead stand up as the Yankees closed to 3-2 in the AL championship series.

"We're right where we need to be," Swisher said.

A late-arriving crowd for the late-afternoon game wondered whether this would be it for the defending World Series champs after Texas outscored them 25-5 while winning three straight.

A difficult comeback? Yes.

Impossible? No.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi addressed his players early Wednesday after Game 4.

"Before we lost the three games in a row, we won four in a row," he told them.

By the time Curtis Granderson hit an eighth-inning homer for his second RBI of the game, belief among the Yankees was starting to grow.

Now the teams will go deep in the heart of Texas to decide the pennant in the best-of-seven series. When they resume in Arlington for Game 6, Phil Hughes starts for the Yankees against Lewis in a rematch of Game 2, won by the Rangers 7-2.

"It's great. We're going back home," Lewis said. "We've got to win one out of two."

Texas may be holding the ultimate postseason ace in the hole: Lee would be opposed by 19-game postseason winner Andy Pettitte in a seventh game.

"Who cares about Cliff going in Game 7?" Texas right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "We've got a game to win in Game 6."

Still, Lee's 7-0 postseason record is on their minds. In the 50th anniversary of a franchise that has never reached the World Series, Texas remains one win away.

"We're in a good position," second baseman Ian Kinsler said.

New York is trying to overcome a 3-1 postseason deficit for the first time since 1958. Since the LCS went to a best-of-seven format, 24 of the 30 previous teams to take 3-1 series leads have won pennants.

For Yankees fans, 2004 is still fresh. That's when New York won the first three games of the ALCS before the Boston Red Sox became the first major league team to rebound from a 3-0 postseason hole.

"Crazier things have happened," Swisher said.

Yankees players actually dressed for success. They all arrived at the ballpark ready for a postgame charter flight.

"Our guys came in, everybody was wearing a suit," Swisher said.

Sabathia recovered from an erratic opener, staying away from too much trouble against Josh Hamilton and Texas' big bats. Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz made an early exit because of hamstring trouble, a day after Yankees star Mark Teixeira was lost for the postseason with a hamstring injury.

Cruz expects to play Friday. But no matter what, the season is over for Teixeira. The All-Star first baseman was removed from the postseason roster and replaced by Eduardo Nunez, leaving Teixeira ineligible for the World Series. Lance Berkman took over at first base and had a scare when he slipped chasing Kinsler's foul pop, causing his head and back to snap back. Berkman needed smelling salts in the dugout at the half inning. He stayed in, and caught Elvis Andrus' foul pop for the final out.

"I hurt pretty much the entire back side from the top of the head to the rear-end area," Berkman said.

On what would have been Bob Sheppard's 100th birthday and Mickey Mantle's 79th, the Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the second as losing pitcher C.J. Wilson had trouble with the muddy mound and created a hole with a pair of four-pitch walks. Jorge Posada and Granderson had run-scoring singles, and another run scored on an overthrow of third by right fielder Francoeur for an error.

Posada, a snail-like runner with just 20 steals in 16 seasons, sped home from first base.

"He looked like Rickey Henderson out there," said Derek Jeter, Posada's core four buddy.

Girardi had sensed a change in attitude.

"There was determination that we were going to go out and play our game today," he said. "I saw it during BP."

Sabathia lasted just four innings in the opener, when he started on eight days' rest and the Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit. Leads of 5-0 and 6-1 never seemed comfortable in this one as he allowed two runs and 11 hits — matching his season high — in six innings with no walks.

"It's not disappointing. It's a seven-game series," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Those guys over there are champs. We didn't expect them to lay down, and they came out today and they were very aggressive."

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

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Players confused by NFL crackdown on hard hits

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Ray Lewis is worried about what's happening to his sport.

The Baltimore linebacker who epitomizes hard hits in the NFL fears that the league is stripping away the inherent violence and "the game will be diluted very quickly."

"My opinion is play the game like that game is supposed to be played, and whatever happens happens," Lewis said Wednesday about the NFL's decision to crack down on dangerous and flagrant hits.

The NFL imposed huge fines on three players — Pittsburgh's James Harrison, Atlanta's Dunta Robinson and New England's Brandon Meriweather — for illegal hits last weekend, although none of those plays drew penalties on the field. It warned that, starting with this week's games, violent conduct will be cause for suspension.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter was clearly perplexed by the decision.

"There's no more hitting hard. That's what our game is about. It's a gladiator sport," Porter said. "I mean, the whole excitement of people getting hit hard, big plays happening, stuff like that.

"Just watch — the game is going to change."

Violence has always been a part of the NFL, bringing soaring TV ratings and strong attendance — along with the allure that accompanied tackles by Chuck Bednarik, Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, and Jack "The Assassin" Tatum.

The question is how much to allow.

"Physical, tough football is what people are attracted to," said Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations. "Violent, unnecessary hits that put people at risk, not just for the careers but lives ... we're not subscribing to the notion fans want that."

Commissioner Roger Goodell told the teams that "further action is required to emphasize the importance of teaching safe and controlled techniques and of playing within the rules."

"It is incumbent on all of us to support the rules we have in place to protect players," he said.

But some players think the league is asking for something much more difficult: complete changes in playing style — changes that fans don't want to see.

Not surprisingly, defensive players are most critical.

"What they're trying to say — 'We're protecting the integrity' — no, you're not," Bears cornerback Charles Tillman said. "It's ruining the integrity. It's not even football anymore. We should just go out there and play two-hand touch Sunday if we can't make contact."

Miami linebacker Channing Crowder said the only way of preventing helmet-to-helmet hits is to eliminate the helmet.

"If I get a chance to knock somebody out, I'm going to knock them out and take what they give me," Crowder said. "They give me a helmet, I'm going to use it."

The players are questioning how they are supposed to adhere to the heightened emphasis on avoiding dangerous hits when it goes against everything they've been taught since they first stepped on the field as kids.

"Guys have to be coached differently because we've been coached a certain way our whole lives," said Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita, a member of the executive committee of the players' union, the NFLPA. "I think people out there would be shocked at the things players hear in their meetings with their coaches and the things they are supposed to do, the way they are taught to hit people."

Many players also wanted stronger discipline for flagrant fouls to be part of their negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, not something unilaterally imposed six weeks into the season.

"We want to protect the players, absolutely," Fujita said. "But we need to have a longer conversation about it, and if you're going to impose sweeping changes like that and talk about suspending players, that's something that you have to address in the offseason."

Anderson argues that the way the game is played, officiated and policed will only change for the better — and safer.

"We are not going to fundamentally change the game. We're focused on one thing, illegal hits to the head and neck area," he said. "We hope to culturally change it so players understand those head hits under existing rules should be taken out of the game. For players who can't make the adjustment on their own, they will get a lot of help from this office to make sure they don't play that way."

Officials will be instructed to have an even higher level of attention toward flagrant hits, which Anderson categorized as limited "but very high profile and damaging."

The NFL's crackdown was welcomed in the medical community.

Dr. William Bingaman, vice chairman of the Neurological Institute at the Cleveland Clinic and one of the independent doctors who examines concussed players to determine when they can return to action, sees it as a positive step.

But it's hardly a cure-all for preventing head injuries — or any other injuries — in the NFL, where the players are bigger and faster, and the enhanced equipment can make them foolishly gallant.

"We will never eliminate the dangers of a concussion occurring," Bingaman said, taking note that both Robinson and Jackson suffered concussions in their collision. "It's huge that we have the proper equipment and the proper training and proper tackling techniques.

"Anything that reduces a blow to the head, naturally I am in favor of that, because there is less risk and less incidents of concussions or something more serious. If you reduce helmet-to-helmet contact, it will reduce the number of concussions, but nothing they do can eliminate it."

Just as worrisome to some players, though, is limiting their ability to remain in the NFL.

"The guys who have had the knack to lay somebody out, I consider it a talent in itself," Broncos safety David Bruton said. "I feel as though these deterrents would be depriving them of the chance to showcase their abilities."

Anderson disagreed. "We're not subscribing to the notion you want these guys out there running wild and blowing people up," he said. "Everything is on the table with regard to advancing player safety."

___

Contributing to this story were AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver, and Sports Writers Steven Wine in Miami, David Ginsburg in Baltimore, Bob Baum in Phoenix and Tom Withers in Cleveland.


By BARRY WILNER, AP Pro Football Writer

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Toyota recalling 1.53 million cars globally

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Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday it is recalling 1.53 million Lexus, Avalon and other models, mostly in the U.S. and Japan, for brake fluid and fuel pump problems.

Toyota will call back about 740,000 cars in the U.S. for repairs and 599,000 in Japan. The remainder are in Europe and other markets around the world.

Over the past year, the world's biggest automaker has recalled more than 10 million cars and trucks worldwide for a variety of problems, including sticky gas pedals, dealing a major blow to its reputation for quality.

The majority of vehicles need to be fixed for a problem with the brake master cylinder, which could lead to weaker braking power, said spokesman Paul Nolasco in Tokyo.

Some of the models in Japan have an electrical problem with the fuel pump, which could lead the engine to stall, Nolasco said.

No accidents have been reported from the two problems, he said.

The models affected in the U.S. include the 2005 and 2006 Avalon, 2004 through 2006 non-hybrid Highlander and Lexus RX330, and 2006 Lexus GS300, IS250, and IS350 vehicles, the company said in a release from its U.S. headquarters in Torrance, California.

The release said a small amount of the brake fluid could slowly leak from the brake master cylinder, resulting in illumination of the brake warning lamp.

U.S.-based owners of the vehicles will be notified by mailings beginning early next month. Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the brake master cylinder cup with a newly designed one at no charge to the vehicle owners, the company said.

The models affected in Japan include the Crown, Crown Majesta, Harrier, Mark X, Alphard, Kluger, Lexus GX 350, Lexus IS250, and Lexus IS350.

This article was originally published By MALCOLM FOSTER, Associated Press Writer.

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Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Judge rules against owners in Liverpool dispute

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A British judge ruled against Liverpool's American owners Wednesday, clearing the way for the sale of the debt-ridden Premier League club after a bitter boardroom battle.

The owners of the Boston Red Sox and a Singapore billionaire are bidding to buy the club, with a decision expected by the Liverpool board on Wednesday night.

High Court Judge Christopher Floyd ruled that Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. do not have the power to oust the boardroom rivals who sanctioned the sale.

The board agreed last week, against the wishes of Hicks and Gillett, to sell the club to New England Sports Ventures for $476 million.

The New England group, which runs the Red Sox and is headed by financier John Henry, welcomed Wednesday's court ruling as a "huge step forward" for Liverpool.
The company said it has a "binding agreement in place" with the Liverpool board and looks forward to concluding the deal.

"We are ready to move quickly and help create the stability and certainty which the club needs at this time," NESV said in a statement.

Liverpool, which won the last of its 18 English league titles in 1990, is off to its worst start to a season since 1953 and is mired in the relegation zone.

Singapore businessman Peter Lim is still pursuing his rival bid for Liverpool. He urged the board to consider all the offers and "not simply ratify a sale to NESV."

Lim, who originally matched the Boston offer, made an improved bid Tuesday of $506 million.

"I have delivered my offer to the board and believe that my ownership represents the best option for the future of the Club and it's supporters," he said Wednesday. "I hope that when the Board is reconstituted tonight that it will not simply ratify a sale to NESV but will consider all the offers before them.

"I am asking the Board to run a full and fair process that enables all of the offers to be considered on their merits before the future of the Club is decided."

The board meeting comes ahead of Friday's deadline to repay the club's debts to the Royal Bank of Scotland.

"RBS has every confidence that having been put on a proper footing, the board will now reach appropriate decisions regarding the next steps," the bank said in a statement.

But Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton wouldn't specify which bid or bids would be considered at the board meeting.

"This will pave the way to a sale," Broughton said outside the court after Wednesday's ruling. "We will have a board meeting this evening and proceed with the sale process.

"I'm not going to prejudge the board meeting. It would be inappropriate to prejudge what the board is going to say. But the club's going to have a great future. ... We will get the right owners for the fans."

The ruling was a victory for Broughton, who was hired to oversee the sale process in April, managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre.

"Well done Martin, Christian & Ian," John Henry posted on his Twitter account after the announcement. "Well done RBS. Well done supporters!"

Hicks and Gillett claim the NESV offer undervalues the club and their legal team argued in court that other bids should be reconsidered.

The judge, who heard five hours of court arguments in the case Tuesday, ruled that Hicks and Gillett have "no absolute right to veto a sale" and said he didn't want to issue a ruling that could "damage" the Boston bid.

"In these circumstances, it would be entirely wrong to grant the owners "an injunction to stop the sale," he said.

The judge said it would be "inappropriate" for Hicks and Gillett to appeal. The owners will have to pay legal costs.

Keith Oliver, a lawyer representing the duo, said he was consulting with Hicks and Gillett on their next steps.

Outside the court, dozens of Liverpool fans — many wearing team shirts and waving banners and club scarves — cheered, chanted slogans against Hicks and Gillett and serenaded the three board members with the Liverpool anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Had the sale been blocked, Liverpool could have fallen into financial administration, a form of bankruptcy protection that would have incurred a nine-point penalty for the club from the Premier League.

"The work off the pitch has been done," 25-year-old fan Kam Dhinsey outside the court. "Now the players need to work harder and get the right results on the pitch, because this must have been playing on their minds."

It was also revealed Tuesday that American hedge fund Mill Financial has put in a bid that also pledges to wipe out the club's debts and would provide up to $158 million to fund a new stadium.

Mill Financial technically controls Gillett's 50 percent stake after he defaulted on the loan used by Gillett to fund his part of the leveraged takeover in 2007.

___

AP Sports Writer Steve Douglas contributed to this report.

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Goodell says he will meet with Favre if necessary

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has no plans to meet with Brett Favre — for now.

Goodell said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings that there is no timetable for wrapping up an investigation of an Internet report that the Vikings quarterback sent racy text messages and lewd photos to a former New York Jets game hostess.

"We're just looking for facts now," Goodell said at the meetings. "I am going to deal with it as we get the facts."

As for meeting with the game's all-time passing leader, Goodell said nothing is planned "but if it is something that would help us get to a conclusion and it is warranted, I will do so."

The investigation, announced last week, centers on a report by the sports website Deadspin that in 2008 Favre, then with the Jets, sent the photos and messages to Jenn Sterger.



Sterger's manager, Phil Reese, declined to say if his client has talked with the NFL.

"This is something that allegedly happened two years ago," Reese said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "We don't want a quick resolution, but the proper resolution."

Favre could be fined or suspended under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

"One of the reasons we instituted the personal conduct policy ... to make everyone understand their responsibilities," Goodell said. "We're not going down a line of speculation and hypothetical situations."

Favre has not responded to questions about the Deadspin report.

Deadspin reported the voicemails include a man asking to meet with Sterger, who now is a TV personality for the Versus network. The website posted a video that contained those messages and several below-the-waist photos — said to be of Favre — that were allegedly sent to Sterger's cell phone.

Deadspin also reported that Favre pursued two female massage therapists who worked part time for the Jets. The website didn't identify the women, however the Jets have said they gave contact information about them to the league.

Two high-profile quarterbacks recently were penalized for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Former Falcons star Michael Vick returned to the league in 2009 with Philadelphia after missing two seasons for his role in a dogfighting ring. He served an 18-month sentence in prison.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games in April after he was accused of, but not charged with, sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman at a Georgia college bar. Goodell shortened that ban to four games just before the season, and Roethlisberger will return to the field on Sunday against Cleveland.

___

AP Sports Writer Rick Freeman in New York contributed to this story.

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Roddick pulls out with thigh injury in Shanghai

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Andy Roddick retired at the Shanghai Masters because of a thigh injury, while Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray eased into the third round on Wednesday.

Roddick slipped while trying to change directions during his match against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The 11th-ranked American had his right thigh taped and played only one more game before quitting with a 6-3, 2-3 lead.

"It was to the point where moving at all felt like I was getting stabbed in the leg," Roddick said. "It's just frustrating. You've got to be able to get a little bit of momentum going, and I just feel like I haven't been able to do that since April or May and a lot of that has been out of my hands."

Roddick is attempting to finish in the top 10 for the ninth straight season.

American Sam Querrey defeated Michael Berrer 6-3, 7-6 (6) in a match that was postponed Tuesday because of rain.



Djokovic defeated Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-3, just two days after winning the China Open in Beijing. Murray defeated 465th-ranked wildcard Bai Yan 6-2, 6-2.

Roger Federer opens his campaign against big-serving American John Isner later Wednesday, while top-ranked Rafael Nadal faces Stanislas Wawrinka.

Djokovic was playing doubles later Wednesday to prepare for Serbia's Davis Cup final against France in December. He said he wasn't worried the extra matches would tire him out.

"I'm playing well, moving well, motivated mentally and full of energy. I'm hoping that it's going to stay that way," Djokovic said. "I didn't spend that much energy in Beijing. I won without dropping a set the whole tournament."

Djokovic will face Richard Gasquet, who upset Gael Monfils 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Also, fifth-seeded Robin Soderling beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 7-6 (5) and 13th-seeded Jurgen Melzer stopped Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 7-6 (2). Marin Cilic was upset by Andreas Seppi 6-2, 6-2.

AP(Yahoo! News)

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