China’s Olympic plans p.29
Best two-some p.27
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n JOBANNIE C. TABADA Editor
THE MORE THE BETTER
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2004
NEW YORK – Alex Rodriguez, an All-Star the Rangers to carry the load for most of the and the richest player in Major League Baseball, star’s salary, a condition that led to the deal being joined the New York Yankees here yesterday when nixed by officials. commissioner Bud Selig gave final approval of a Rather than have Rodriguez replace 4 Rodriguez is a lifetime .308 hitter with 345 trade from the Texas Rangers. Yankees captain Derek Jeter at shortstop, homers and 990 RBI over parts of 10 seasons Rodriguez, a shortstop who likely will move to Rodriguez is likely to take up the third baseman’s 4 He won the American League Most Valuable third base, was swapped for Alfonso Soriano and a position. Rodriguez will be introduced in Yankee Player award last year after hitting .298 with player to be named later. But a critical part of the pinstripes here today. Yankees’ third baseman 47 home runs and 118 runs batted in for the deal is the Rangers picking up $67 million of Aaron Boone tore knee ligaments playing last-place Rangers Rodriguez’s record salary. basketball, sparking New York’s interest in 4 Rodriguez is a seven-time All-Star - He led “I really cannot describe how happy I am to Rodriguez, a Gold Glove fielder last season. the league in homers each of the last three have been able to acquire a player of the caliber of Signing the 28-year-old will increase the seasons and has not hit fewer than 41 since Alex Rodriguez,” Yankees general manager Brian luxury tax amount the Yankees must pay for 1997 Cashman said. “It was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime violating baseball salary limits. But it will be 6 The Texas Rangers finished last in each of opportunity.” worth it to land a hometown talent and taunt the Rodriguez’s three seasons there, going a Rodriguez has a guaranteed contract for $189 rival Red Sox. combined 216-269 and ranking a combined 99 million over the next seven years. The Yankees, the “In acquiring Alex Rodriguez, we are bringing games out of first place wealthiest team in American sport, were set to push to New York one of the premier players in the their payroll over $200 million by adding Rodriguez. history of the game,” Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said. “As I’ve “I am very concerned about the large amount of cash consideration always said, the way New Yorkers back us we have to produce for them.” involved in the transaction and the length of time over which the cash is Conversely, the Yankees are the winningest team in American being paid,” Selig said. “I want to make it abundantly clear to all clubs sports history, claiming a record 26 World Series titles. They that I will not allow cash transfers of this magnitude to become the norm. have won four of the last seven World Series titles and “However, given the unique circumstances, including the size, reached the playoffs each year since 1995. length and complexity of Mr. Rodriguez’s contract and the quality of the But after losing the World Series in 2001 and talent moving in both directions, I have decided to approve the transaction.” 2003 and being eliminated in the first round of the The Rangers had been unable to afford enough pitching talent to 2002 playoffs, Yankees owner George build a competitive club around “A-Rod” because of the heavy drain his Steinbrenner has become impatient for salary took on the club’s total payroll. another championship edition of the The Rangers tried two months ago “Bronx Bombers”. (AFP) to trade Rodriguez to the Boston Red Sox, but the Yankees’ main rival wanted
HIGHS AND LOWS
Try-Outs ng Bayan ready for expected huge turnout
PERFECT COMBINATION?
THE RP-Cebuana Lhuillier “Try-Outs ng Bayan” will hit the Cebu Coliseum on Feb. 23 at 8 a.m., gathering hundreds of the city’s finest young cagers. “We don’t want to close our doors on the young basketball enthusiasts,” said coach Dong Verjere when asked what they would do if the number of participants exceed the limit. According to coach Boycie Zamar, close to 200 players and 300 children joined in the try-outs and clinics held in three stops in Mindanao last month. Verjere and Zamar will conduct the final stop of the Visayas series on Monday with a limited number of 100 slots. The Visayas leg started in Iloilo yesterday and will reach Bacolod on Thursday and Dumaguete on Saturday. “We only have 100 basketballs and shirts and we also want to see if the space can accommodate that many participants,” Verjere said. Zamar said that they expect more than a hundred participants in the Cebu leg of the free clinic and try-outs backed by John Henry Lhuillier. “But if some of the kids don’t mind having no basketballs and shirts then it will be a possibility to take in more,” said Zamar. The Mindanao leg went to Cagayan De Oro, Davao and Sultan Kudarat. CBR
Most expensive slugger joins MLB’s richest OVER THE CAP. Rodriguez’s arrival pushes the Yankees’ payroll to over $200 million. (AFP FOTO)
USC, USJ-R netters split top plums HOST University of San Carlos and the University of San Jose-Recoletos emerged with the most number of titles as the 1st University of San Carlos President’s Cup came to an end Monday at the USC tennis courts. The USC netters walked off with three titles as USJ-R racked up two championships in the different categories of the elementary, secondary and PREZ’S CUP. Marjorie Mabanga of USJ-R serves tertiary divisions. to Basalie Gabison of USC in the 1st USC President's Floureza Alesna joined early champions of USC, Cup high school division. (SUN.STAR FOTO/ARNI ACLAO)
Bernadine “Niño” Siso and his sister Sally Mae, after Alesna notched an upset finals victory over USJ-R bet Jin Querubin to complete USC’s three-title haul. Alesna, who was twice beaten by Querubin in the finals of two previous clay tournaments, proved she’s the better player in the hardcourt after recovering from an opening set debacle to edge out Querubin in a three-set marathon, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, and claim the championship plum in the High School Girl’s division.
USC’s two titles were earlier given by the Siso siblings after Niño, RP’s No.1 player in the Boys 12-Under division, blasted Liloan Elementary School’s Lowell Lloyd Cañete, 6-2, 6-3, in the Boys Elementary division finals as Sally Mae beat older sister Sallydine in the Elementary Girls finals. Leading the cast of the USJ-R champions is Collegiate Men’s division topseed, Lorelou “Bo” Alburo, who utilized his experience advantage to the hilt in booting out No.2 seed
University of Cebu’s Janjie Soquiño in a grueling three-set battle, 6-0, 1-6, 6-1. Benebeth Patindol wrapped up USJ-R’s list of champions after she registered an easy 6-2, 6-0 victory over teammate Dayan Bohol to secure the Collegiate Women’s division diadem. The University of the Visayas’ Wilbur Orellano outlasted University of Southern Philippines’ John Joshua Villa, 61, 6-2, to dominate the High School Boys division in the event. JSV