Associated Press
MADRID ó Real Madrid has signed a 7-year-old soccer prodigy from Argentina who goes by the name Leo ó just like Lionel Messi.
Leonel Angel Coira signed with the Spanish club and will begin training Sept. 6, Madrid spokesman Juan Tapiador told The Associated Press on Monday.
Coira told the Argentine sports daily Ole last week that his idol is Messi, the Barcelona forward who is also Argentine and goes by the name Leo. Coira said he prefers to pass rather than score. He already has a Facebook page featuring photos of his visit to Real Madrid.
Madrid reportedly made the push to sign Coira because Spanish league rival Atletico Madrid was also pursuing the youngster.
BASEBALL
One day before their big series against second-place Cleveland, the Detroit Tigers ended months of speculation about their manager and front office.
The Tigers have extended manager Jim Leyland’s contract through the 2012 season, and general manager Dave Dombrowski has agreed to a four-year extension through 2015. Both contracts were set to expire after this season, but with Detroit in first place, owner Mike Ilitch decided the time was right to work out new deals.
SAN FRANCISCO ó Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino is appealing a three-game suspension imposed Monday for his part in a weekend brawl at San Francisco.
A pair of Giants players who expected one-game suspensions only received fines after playing key roles in the benches-clearing brawl between NL division leaders Friday night. Nobody was injured.
Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco, Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez and catcher Eli Whiteside were fined, as well. Victorino, Ramirez and Whiteside were ejected.
NEW YORK ó The New York Mets put star shortstop Jose Reyes on the disabled list with another hamstring problem and said infielder Daniel Murphy is likely done for the season because of a knee injury.
Both players were hurt during Sunday’s 6-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Reyes left in the second inning because of stiffness in his left hamstring.
NBA
HOUSTON ó Retired Houston Rockets center Yao Ming could enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as early as next year ó not as a player, but as a contributor to the game.
John Doleva, the president and CEO of the Hall, said Tuesday that Yao has been nominated by a member of the Chinese media and his credentials will be considered by an international panel. As a contributor, Yao would bypass the usual five-year waiting period for retired players.
The 7-foot-6 Yao retired in July after leg and foot injuries ended his eight-year NBA career. The eight-time All-Star averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds in the NBA.