Auto Racing
GENEVA – The World Motor Sport Council has approved Formula One being sold to Liberty Media, a U.S. company that invests in entertainment and sports, for $4.4 billion.
Liberty Media Corp., which is controlled by 75-year-old tycoon John Malone, ended years of uncertainty about the ownership of the auto racing series with the takeover announcement in September.
Golf
LA QUINTA, Calif. – Phil Mickelson is set to play the CareerBuilder Challenge, returning from two sports hernia surgeries a week earlier than he originally expected.
The 46-year-old Mickelson had surgery Oct. 19 – three days after tying for eighth in the season-opening Safeway Open – and again Dec. 12. He hit balls for a week and played a practice round Wednesday.
Scheduled to open play Thursday at La Quinta Country Club, Mickelson is in his first year as the tournament ambassador. The Hall of Famer won the 2002 and 2004 events and tied for third last year.
MLB
TORONTO – Jose Bautista will stay with the Toronto Blue Jays, after all.
Toronto said Wednesday the free agent slugger had agreed to an $18.5 million, one-year contract with Toronto that includes mutual options for more years.
Bautista gets an $18 million salary this year, and the deal includes a $17 million mutual option for 2018 with a $500,000 buyout, payable if either side declines. There is a $20 million option for 2019 that becomes guaranteed if Bautista has 300 games played during the next two seasons and does not have a physical impairment that would prevent him from playing in 2019.
NFL
NEW YORK –Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., had the most engagement on Twitter among NFL players this season, while Colin Kaepernick was only a surprising 49th.
The list, compiled by MWWPR and sports influencer network Opendorse, looked not just at who tweeted the most, but also at which players had the highest engagement rate, with a minimum of 100,000 followers and 100 tweets. That was Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz, followed by Oakland QB Derek Carr and punter Marquette King.
Skiing
KITZBUEHEL, Austria – Steven Nyman posted the fastest time in training Wednesday for the classic Hahnenkamm downhill.
In perfect weather conditions, the American timed 1 minute, 57.25 seconds on the 3.3-kilometer Streif course to lead Beat Feuz of Switzerland by 0.37, and Johan Clarey of France by 0.95.
Soccer
CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy signed veteran midfielder Jermaine Jones on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Jones spent the past three seasons with the Colorado Rapids and the New England Revolution, making 37 appearances between the two teams while scoring five goals and adding six assists.
Before joining MLS, Jones played for nearly 15 seasons in the German Bundesliga, including stints with Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Leverkusen and Schalke. He’s a member of the U.S. men’s national team, making over 60 appearances since 2010, including in the 2010 World Cup.
Associated Press
