Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla.ó The New York Yankees have put a statue of former owner George Steinbrenner at the teamís spring training complex.
The 600-pound, life-size bronze statue was put on a marble stand Friday at the entrance of the ballpark named for Steinbrenner, who died at 80 in July. The 6-foot statue, on a 3-foot granite pedestal, is identical to one in the lobby of new Yankee Stadium.
A formal ceremony is scheduled to take place before the Yankeesí spring training opener against the Phillies on Feb. 26.
The statue has Steinbrenner in a suit and wearing the 2009 World Series championship ring, the last of the seven titles won by the Yankees under his ownership.
ATLANTA ó The Braves locked up Dan Uggla with the team’s largest contract in nearly a decade. Now, they’re ready to take on the mighty Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.
Uggla completed a $62 million, five-year contract with Atlanta, passing up the chance to perhaps earn a more lucrative deal in free agency after the 2011 season.
ARLINGTON, Texas ó The Texas Rangers have acquired right-hander Ryan Kelly from the Oakland Athletics for right-hander Guillermo Moscoso.
SEATTLE ó The Seattle Mariners have announced a $2.75 million, two-year contract with infielder Brendan Ryan.
WASHINGTON ó Free-agent first baseman Adam LaRoche and the Washington Nationals have finalized a two-year contract worth about $16 million.
TENNIS
DOHA, Qatar ó Roger Federer won the Qatar Open without dropping a set when he beat defending champion Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4 in a 79-minute final on Saturday.
Federer became the first three-time winner in Doha, following titles in 2005 and 2006.
BRISBANE, Australia ó Defending champion Andy Roddick beat Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 on Saturday to advance to the final of the Brisbane International against top-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden.
Roddick extended his Brisbane International record to 9-0, looking in complete control when he took a 4-0 lead after 18 minutes, taking the first set in 31 minutes.
SWIMMING
BRISBANE, Australia ó Ian Thorpe is back training in the pool and hasn’t ruled out a return to competition in time for the London 2012 Olympics.
Dave Flaskas, manager for the 28-year-old five-time Olympic gold medalist, said that while “it’s a long way from here to London,” Thorpe is enjoying swimming again and “never say never.”
Flaskas said in order to be eligible for the London Games, Thorpe would have to begin drug-testing in the next six to eight weeks to make him eligible a year out from the Australian trials next February or March.
Thorpe retired in 2006 after setting 13 world records and winning 11 world championship golds.
NHL
NEW YORK ó Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault and Philadelphia’s Peter Laviolette have earned co-coaching positions in the NHL All-Star game on Jan. 30 in Carolina.
Under the All-Star Game selection process, the coaches of the teams with the highest points percentage in the Eastern and Western Conference through Saturday get to co-lead one of the All-Star teams.
SOCCER
LONDON ó Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says David Beckham’s potential two-month loan move to the Premier League club could become a permanent deal.
Negotiations over a loan deal for the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder are continuing this weekend, with the 35-year-old Beckham keen on a move to Spurs.
The former England captain is due back at the Galaxy in March for the new MLS season, but would be available for a free transfer when his Major League Soccer contract expires in November.
GOLF
KAPALUA, Hawaii ó Robert Garrigus recovered from an atrocious start Saturday by holing a 50-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to join Steve Stricker and Jonathan Byrd in the lead at the Tournament of Champions.Garrigus chunked a 4-iron into a hazard to open with double bogey and followed with a bogey to quickly fall out of the lead. By the end of the third round, he was back where he started.