Auto Racing
Vettel wins pole, sets sights on Schumacher’s record
SAO PAULO – Sebastian Vettel was fastest on a wet and treacherous Interlagos track Saturday, taking the pole position for the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.
The German, who already has wrapped up a fourth consecutive Formula One title, can equal Michael Schumacher’s 2004 mark of 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in 1952-53.
The Red Bull driver was more than a half second ahead of Nico Rosberg of Mercedes in a rain-delayed qualifying session.
Boxing
Pacquiao halts 2-match slide with a unanimous decision
MACAU – Manny Pacquiao defeated Brandon Rios by unanimous decision Sunday, returning to his winning ways after consecutive losses.
Back in the ring for the first time in almost a year, Pacquiao wore Rios down with his trademark combination punching and won 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110 on the scorecards at The Venetian casino in Macau.
It was an emotional victory for Pacquiao after a devastating typhoon swept through his home nation of the Philippines this month, killing thousands.
Pacquiao grabbed the WBO international welterweight title with the victory.
MLB
Yankees close to catching McCann for 5 years, $85M
NEW YORK – A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that free agent catcher Brian McCann and the New York Yankees were about to complete a five-year deal for around $85 million.
The person spoke Saturday night on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn’t finalized.
The move would be the first major addition for the Yankees since they missed the playoffs for only the second time in 19 years.
The Yankees made finding a catcher a priority this offseason, and McCann was the best available. The seven-time All-Star played all nine of his big league seasons with the Atlanta Braves.
NBA
It was a bad day at the office for Rose and the NBA stars
Derrick Rose has another knee injury, and he wasn’t the only NBA star to get hurt Friday.
Memphis center Marc Gasol sprained his left knee, and Golden State guard Andre Iguodala limped off with a strained left hamstring on another painful night for some of the league’s best players.
They added to a growing list of big names already sidelined this season by one ailment or another, a scroll that includes Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry, Steve Nash and Deron Williams.
Not to mention Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo, both still recovering from surgery, haven’t suited up all season.
Rose, the 2011 MVP, injured his right knee in the third quarter and did not return during a 98-95 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, who won their ninth consecutive game. Rose, who sat out last season after surgery on his left knee, tore the medial meniscus in his right knee. The timetable for his return was not immediately clear. The three-time All-Star sat out last season recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Soccer
Sporting K.C. kicks its way back into the MLS Cup
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Dom Dwyer scored in the 63rd minute, and Sporting Kansas City advanced to its first MLS Cup final since 2004 with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in the second leg of the Eastern Conference final.
C.J. Sapong also scored for Kansas City, which will play host to either Portland or Real Salt Lake on Dec. 7. Sporting and the Dynamo played to a scoreless draw two weeks ago in the first leg of the conference final.
Houston, the runner-up in the 2011 and 2012 MLS Cup, will miss the title game for the first time in three years.
Associated Press
