Auto Racing
From Vettel to Ecclestone; from the road to the court
LONDON – Two days after Sebastian Vettel won his fourth Formula One title, the spotlight shifted to London’s High Court and the latest case that leaves the motorsports series’ boss Bernie Ecclestone’s future in doubt.
The longtime commercial head of F1 already is under investigation in Germany over an alleged payment of $44 million relating to the sale of the racing series in 2006.
A German court won’t say until next year whether the 83-year-old Ecclestone will stand trial on charges of bribery and incitement to breach of trust.
German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky already has been jailed for taking the payment from Ecclestone. Gribkowsky was in charge of selling the bank BayernLB’s stake in F1 to investment group CVC Capital Partners.
Now at the London trial that began Tuesday, former F1 shareholder, German media company Constantin Medien, is suing Ecclestone and three other defendants for up to $144 million, claiming F1 was undervalued at the time of the sale.
Cycling
New UCI president Cookson to audit own operations
AIGLE, Switzerland – The International Cycling Union ordered an audit of its own anti-doping operations and discussed how to investigate the governing body’s links to Lance Armstrong.
The modernizing moves were announced Tuesday after newly elected president Brian Cookson chaired his first management committee and began fulfilling campaign pledges which included revealing his $379,000 salary.
Golf
EA and Tiger Woods to split from their video game ties
EA Sports’ popular PGA Tour game no longer will be named for Tiger Woods.
The company announced on its blog that it and Woods have made a “mutual decision to end our partnership” and that the company would keep working with the PGA Tour on its next golf title.
EA Sports’ popular golf game has been named for Tiger Woods since it first came out in 1998. This year’s game, titled “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14,” will be the last one to bear his name.
MLB
Chicago and Cuban slugger Abreu finalize $68M deal
CHICAGO – Cuban slugger Jose Abreu finalized a $68-million, six-year contract with the Chicago White Sox. The deal was announced Tuesday, about a week-and-a-half after the sides reached an agreement.
The 26-year-old will receive a signing bonus of $10 million, with $6 million payable upon approval by Major League Baseball and $4 million due Nov. 14, 2014. He will get salaries of $7 million in each of the next two seasons, $10 million in 2016, $10.5 million in 2017, $11.5 million in 2018 and $12 million in 2019.
Abreu, who defected last summer, batted .360 (9-for-25) with three home runs and nine runs batted in at the World Baseball Classic last March. The 6-3, 250-pound Abreu is expected to play either first base or fill the designated hitter role.
Soccer
Beckham reportedly wants his MLS franchise in Miami
LONDON – A person with knowledge of the situation said David Beckham has chosen Miami to start a Major League Soccer franchise. The former England captain will ask the MLS to approve the ownership option in his league contract when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because plans for the team have not been made public.
Beckham has been mulling the location of an MLS team in anticipation of his new career as a team owner. He left the Galaxy in December after five years and retired from playing in May after four months with Paris Saint-Germain.
There are 19 MLS teams, and Commissioner Don Garber hopes to expand to 24 by the 2020 season.
Associated Press
