Johannesburg, Oct 25(ANI): All rounder Angelo Mathews has been named as Sri Lanka’s new captain for the next one year following Mahela Jayawardene’s resignation after their World Cup final loss to the West Indies.
Baseball-Forgotten Giants Sandoval, Zito stand tall
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 24 (Reuters) – Pablo Sandoval had just three at-bats when San Francisco won the World Series two years ago, and Barry Zito was left off the roster altogether, but those forgotten Giants stood tall in the 2012 Fall Classic opener against Detroit on Wednesday. Sandoval bashed three home runs to put his name alongside Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols as the only players to accomplish the feat in a World Series game as the Giants beat the Tigers 8-3 at AT&T Park. …
"Out of sync" Verlander laments poor Game One display
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Justin Verlander conceded he was "out of sync" in the opening game of the World Series but the Detroit Tigers ace was unable to pinpoint the exact cause of his rare off night. Whatever the reason, the right-hander widely considered to be the game's best pitcher gave up two of Pablo Sandoval's three homers in the San Francisco Giants' 8-3 rout at raucous AT&T Park on Wednesday. Verlander, a five-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner, surrendered five runs on six hits in just four innings before being yanked from the game by Tigers manager Jim Leyland. … Baseball-'Out of sync' Verlander laments poor Game One display
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 25 (Reuters) – Justin Verlander conceded he was “out of sync” in the opening game of the World Series but the Detroit Tigers ace was unable to pinpoint the exact cause of his rare off night. Whatever the reason, the right-hander widely considered to be the game’s best pitcher gave up two of Pablo Sandoval’s three homers in the San Francisco Giants’ 8-3 rout at raucous AT&T Park on Wednesday. Verlander, a five-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner, surrendered five runs on six hits in just four innings before being yanked from the game by Tigers manager Jim Leyland. …
(Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers have shut down Kobe Bryant for the remainder of the preseason in a bid to get the ailing All Star guard fit for next week's regul ar season opener, the team said on Wednesday. Bryant, who strained his right foot at the weekend, missed the Lakers' exhibition loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and will also sit out of Thursday's preseason finale against Sacramento. The Lakers begin their regular season campaign on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks. … 
With three mighty swings, Pablo Sandoval put the San Francisco Giants ahead in this World Series and put himself in a class with Mr. October. 
Barry Zito is playing his part in this World Series, all right. 
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – The San Francisco Giants, powered by three home runs from Pablo Sandoval, got the better of ace right-hander Justin Verlander to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-3 in the opening game of the World Series on Wednesday. Sandoval became just the fourth player to hit three homers in a World Series game with his solo shot in the first, a two-run blast in the third and another roundtripper in the fifth. He joined Babe Ruth (1926, 1928), Reggie Jackson (1977) and Albert Pujols (2011) in accomplishing the feat. … 
Though Americans have made their mark at the highest levels on the field, the United States fails to export coaches outside North America. 
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Play by play of Wednesday's opening game in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven World Series. Pre-game: Both Detroit manager Jim Leyland and San Francisco skipper Bruce Bochy have won the World Series previously, Leyland in 1997 with the Florida Marlins and Bochy in 2010 with the Giants. Leyland: "You realize how good the feeling is, and obviously that's why you'd like to have another one, be a part of another world championship would be quite a treat obviously, but there's a lot of games to be played before that happens. … 
Unbelievable. Opposing pitcher Barry Zito slaps an RBI single to left field off Justin Verlander with two outs in the fourth inning to give the Giants a 5-0 cushion. 
Pablo Sandoval got the Giants off to a quick World Series start, homering against Justin Verlander in the first and third innings as San Francisco took a 4-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers in Wednesday night's opener. 
(TNO) Thái Lan tr? h?n giao sân thi ??u cho Liên ?oà n Bóng ?á th? gi?i FIFA ?? t? ch?c gi?i bóng ?á Futsal World Cup 2012 dù ngà y chÃnh th?c tranh gi?i ?ã g?n k?. 
Pablo Sandoval hits a solo homer to center off Justin Verlander on an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Giants lead 1-0. 
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland has been around long enough to know what he likes about baseb all and what he can do without. Daily meetings with the media are not on the top of the 67-year-old's fun things to do list. "The hardest part is probably dealing with the media, and I don't mean that disrespectful," he told reporters before the Tigers faced the San Francisco Giants in the World Series opener on Wednesday. "It takes a lot of time. You're answering a lot of questions. You're questioned a lot, you're second-guessed a lot. The fun part is normally the game. … 
The South American tournament is set to be played away from the continent for the first time in its 100-year history and will be comprised of 16 teams 
This is going to be a very hairy World Series. 
The New York Islanders finally have a new home and it's in Brooklyn, the borough that is suddenly a hot bed of pro sports 54 years after baseball's Dodgers headed west. 
(Reuters) – It is no coincidence that the return of Buster Posey to the San Francisco Giants lineup after missing most of last season with an injury has led to their return to the World Series. The 25-year-old catcher might be one of the youngest and smallest players on the Giants but there is no doubt that he is the heartbeat of a team just four wins away from their second Major League Baseball (MLB) championship in three seasons. In his 2010 rookie season, Posey played an integral role in helping the Giants win their first World Series in almost half a century. … 
New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed motions Wednesday to have former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue removed from hearing the appeals of the four players suspended in the Saints bounties case. 
Critics say the figure is promoting the wrong image of the former France captain and believe that it violates football's moral code, instead preferring a goal-based tribute 
Critics say the figure is promoting the wrong image of the former France captain and believe that it violates football's moral code, instead preferring a goal-based tribute 
Considering the short list of surprisingly impressive teams in the NFL this season, the Minnesota Vikings haven't gotten much love. That could change Thursday night. 
Critics say the figure is promoting the wrong image of the former France captain and believe that it violates football's moral code, instead preferring a goal-based tribute 
Serena Williams proved Wednesday at the WTA Championships that even when her serve is malfunctioning, she can still beat a top player. 
Chad Knaus was as specific as he could be as he barked out orders from the pit box at Kansas Speedway. 
The players' union opposes former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue hearing the appeals of the four players suspended in the Saints bounties case. 
Now hockey is coming to Brooklyn. 
Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews hits a shot during their Twenty20 World Cup Super 8 cricket match against England in Pallekele October 1, 2012. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/Files 
Linebacker Sean Lee, the leading tackler for the Dallas Cowboys, has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season because of a right big toe injury. 
Yankees manager Joe Girardi says he expects Alex Rodriguez to be his everyday third baseman next season despite benching the slugger several times during the postseason. 
The Indiana Fever and their fans didn't let a little rain ruin their celebration of the WNBA championship. 
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has spoken to former team boss and mentor Ron D ennis for the first time since the 2008 Formula One world champion's switch to Mercedes was announced last month. Hamilton, who has signed a three-year deal to drive for the German manufacturer from next year, said he had visited the McLaren factory in Woking on Friday but there had been no big farewell speech. "I haven't sat down and spoken to anyone just because we're still in the motion of the year… … 
World Cup Futsal 2012 
H?u tr??ng: 
Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews hits a shot during their Twenty20 World Cup Super 8 cricket match against England in Pallekele October 1, 2012. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte 
Belgium's coach Franky Vercauteren reacts during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match against Armenia at Republican stadium in Yerevan September 9, 2009. REUTERS/Thierry Roge 
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Tiger Woods has found himself somewhat overshadowed by Rory McIlroy' s glittering rise to the top of world golf, but Woods' Ryder Cup team mate Jason Dufner says the 14-times major winner has not lost any of his lustre. While McIlroy is in China this week to compete in the BMW Masters in a stellar field of major winners and former world number ones, Woods is competing in the CIMB Classic in Malaysia where he is one of only eight players from the top-50 competing at the $6.1 million event. … 
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Justin Rose knows he needs to win one of two events over the next fortnight in China to have a chance of denyi ng world number one Rory McIlroy his first Race to Dubai title. Rose arrived in Shanghai for this week's BMW Masters trailing McIlroy by 437,334 euros ($567,000) and with six official events remaining on the season schedule. The Englishman, ranked world number five, can move ahead of McIlroy in the Race if he comes first or second and the Northern Irishman finishes outside the top seven in the elite 78-player tournament being staged on the Lake Malaren course. … 
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Let down by a faulty wind tunnel, Ferrari and Fernando Alonso must now throw caution to the wind in Sunday' s Indian Grand Prix after falling behind in the Formula One championship battle. Alonso lost the lead to Red Bull's double world champion Sebastian Vettel in South Korea 10 days ago but the gap between the two is a mere six points with four high-stakes races remaining. … 
LONDON (Reuters) – Frank Lampard could miss Chelsea's top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United on Sunday after limping out of his side's Champions Leag ue defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk after only 18 minutes on Tuesday with a calf injury. The 34-year-old midfielder was having a scan which will determine whether he can play in the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, the first of two matches between the sides in four days. They are also meeting each other at Stamford in the League Cup next Wednesday. …