THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 SPORTS Giants pitchers suspended in Japan betting scandal

TOKYO: Japan’s pro baseball organisa- The ultimate impact on the Giants mass-circulation newspapers on Metropolitan Police Department said keen to see baseball reinstated after tion yesterday said it had suspended remains to be seen, but the scandal was Wednesday in Japan, where the sport is police “have questioned the three losing its status in the quadrennial sum- three pitchers indefinitely and fined its seen as damaging to the sport which is wildly popular and the level of play pitchers on a voluntary basis”. mer event in 2008, and has said the biggest team, the Yomiuri Giants, one of five proposed for inclusion in the world-class. “We can’t disclose the contents of scandal threatened the integrity of the $800,000 over a betting scandal which Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Many of Japan’s top players have the interviews,” he told AFP, when asked sport. Observers said the punishment has shocked the sport. At a press conference Tuesday, NPB migrated to Major League baseball in about local reports that investigators was appropriate but a key is to prevent Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki said the United States over the past two were checking if the players had violat- a repeat. “It is a serious concern that suspended Giants pitchers Satoshi it had “degraded professional baseball decades. Among top Japanese players ed the criminal law against gambling. this kind of problem occurred in the Fukuda, Shoki Kasahara and Ryuya and destroyed the trust of many fans”. currently in the US Major League are Top sports officials expressed con- Giants, the leader in the world of base- Matsumoto for betting on games, Hiroshi Kubo, president of the outfielder and ace batter Ichiro Suzuki cern over the impact. “It is an embar- ball,” Munehiko Harada, professor of which is illegal. They are reportedly the Giants, apologised at a separate press of the Miami Marlins, and Texas Rangers rassment for the world of sports,” Daichi sports science at Waseda University, first such sanctions in 56 years. conference late Tuesday, saying: “We pitcher Yu Darvish. Suzuki, former Olympic swimming told the Yomiuri newspaper. “They can’t play in the professional regard this as an extremely grave situa- champion and chief of Japan’s new gov- “The baseball league as a whole is league for an indefinite period of time tion, and express our sincere apology to ‘An embarrassment’ ernment sports agency, said according required to think about preventive but it’s possible that they can be rein- fans.” Gambling in Japan is generally ille- to the Asahi newspaper. measures,” he said. Shinya Miyamoto, stated later if there is a call for leniency,” An in-house NPB report submitted gal, including most sports betting. The “I will do my best through (adminis- formerly of the Yakult Swallows, a an NPB spokesman told AFP. on Tuesday found that the players bet bans were the first since 1969, when a trative) guidance to protect the nobility Central League rival to the Giants, and The NPB imposed 10 million yen money with known gamblers in about game-fixing scandal linked to gambling of Japanese sports.” Japan Olympic who was a member of the NPB probe ($800,000) in fines on the Giants-Japan’s 10 professional baseball games, but did and organised crime rocked the sport, Committee’s president Tsunekazu team, told the Asahi: “It’s undeniable most valuable team and the equivalent not find any evidence of game-fixing. according to local media. Takeda expressed similar sentiments. that there are various temptations (in of the New York Yankees in terms of One of them bet on a Yomiuri Giants It was not clear if the players will “We have to do our best in supervising professional baseball). “It’s important popularity-for failing to properly super- game but did not play in the game, it face criminal charges, but spokesman each sports organisation,” he told the to promote players’ awareness (that vise the players. said. The bans were front-page news in Satoru Matsunaga of the Tokyo Asahi. Tokyo 2020 Olympic officials are gambling is illegal).” — AFP

NHL Results/Standings

St. Louis 2, New Jersey 0; NY Rangers 3, Carolina 0; Colorado 4, Philadelphia 0; Vancouver 5, Columbus 3; Detroit 1, Washington 0; Buffalo 4, Tampa Bay 1; Florida 4, Calgary 3; Nashville 7, Ottawa 5; Minnesota 5, Winnipeg 3; Toronto 3, Dallas 2; Arizona 3, Los Angeles 2; NY Islanders 4, San Jose 2. Western Conference Central Division WLOTLGFGAPTS Dallas 12 4 0 56 42 24 St. Louis 11 3 1 42 31 23 Minnesota 9 3 2 43 38 20 Nashville 9 3 2 42 36 20 Winnipeg 8 6 2 45 46 18 Chicago 8 6 1 39 38 17 Colorado 5 9 1 40 42 11 Pacific Division Vancouver 7 4 5 48 39 19 Los Angeles 9 6 0 37 32 18 Arizona 8 6 1 42 43 17 San Jose 7 8 0 40 40 14 Anaheim 5 7 3 25 37 13 Calgary 5 10 1 40 63 11 Edmonton 5 10 0 39 47 10 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Montreal 13 2 1 59 29 27 Detroit 8 6 1 34 36 17 Ottawa 7 5 3 47 49 17 Tampa Bay 7 8 2 39 42 16 Boston 7 6 1 47 45 15 Florida 6 6 3 41 38 15 Buffalo 7 8 0 36 42 14 Toronto 3 8 4 32 47 10 Metropolitan Division NY Rangers 11 2 2 45 25 24 Washington 10 4 0 43 32 20 NY Islanders 8 5 3 44 39 19 Pittsburgh 9 5 0 31 28 18 New Jersey 8 6 1 37 38 17 Philadelphia 5 7 3 28 43 13 Carolina 6 9 0 30 43 12 Columbus 4 12 0 38 59 8 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings ST PAUL: Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) controls the puck in front of Minnesota Wild defenseman Nate Prosser (39) during the second period of an NHL hockey and are not included in the loss column (L) game in St Paul, Minn., Tuesday. The Wild won 5-3. — AP NY Rangers shoutout Lancaster steps down as England coach: RFU Carolina Hurricanes LONDON: Stuart Lancaster has stepped achieve success on the field when it mat- down as England head coach by “mutual tered and we all have to take responsibility consent”, England’s Rugby Football Union for that but me especially as head coach.” announced yesterday Lancaster’s depar- Lancaster, 46, led England to four succes- NEW YORK: Two goals 11 seconds apart from also scored for Colorado, who starting on Tuesday not been below .500 this late in the year since the ture, three-and-a-half years after his sive second-place finishes in the Six Jesper Fast and Rick Nash along with 33 saves from play 14 of their next 18 games away from home. 2012-13 season. appointment, was expected in the light of Nations Championship without winning goaltender Henrik Lundqvist helped give the New England’s disastrous World Cup campaign, the title, although this year’s World Cup was York Rangers a 3-0 victory against the Carolina Red Wings 1, Capitals 0 Panthers 4, Flames 3 which saw the team become the first host always his primary objective. Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers Goaltender Petr Mrazek made 38 saves for his Jaromir Jagr scored the winning goal with 11:49 nation to be eliminated in the group phase. It proved a spectacular failure, with have won six straight and sit three points behind sixth career shutout in the Detroit Red Wings 1-0 left in the third period, helping the Florida Panthers “I am obviously extremely saddened to fin- England crashing out following defeats by the Montreal Canadiens for the league’s best record. win over the Washington Capitals at Joe Louis snap a five-game losing streak by beating the ish the way we did in this World Cup and to Wales and Australia, while Lancaster faced Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh scored Arena Tuesday. Center Andreas Athanasiou scored Calgary Flames 4-3 at the BB&T Center. Jagr’s team- step down from the role,” Lancaster said in strong criticism for unsuccessful selection his first goal of the season 13 seconds into third the winner for Detroit. leading seventh goal of the season came off an a statement released by the RFU. gambles such as his decision to place his period. assist from Nick Bjugstad. Jagr had an assist earlier “As I have always said, I ultimately faith in rugby league convert Sam Burgess. Canucks 5, Blue Jackets 3 in the game. accept and take responsibility for the But Lancaster, initially appointed on a Blues 2, Devils 0 Vancouver’s Jannik Hansen and Daniel Sedin led team’s performance and we have not deliv- caretaker basis after Martin Johnson quit Jake Allen made 24 saves to record his second an offensive outburst with one goal and three Wild 5, Jets 3 ered the results we all hoped for during this following England’s quarter-final exit at the consecutive shutout as the St. Louis Blues defeated assists each, guiding the Canucks to a come-from- Thomas Vanek scored twice in the second peri- tournament.” England’s early exit prompted 2011 World Cup before taking the job on the New Jersey Devils 2-0 at the Prudential Center. behind 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets at od as the Minnesota Wild jumped out to a four-goal a still ongoing RFU review and Lancaster full time in April 2012, said the future was Allen, who made a career-high 45 saves in a 4-0 win Nationwide Arena. Henrik Sedin added two goals lead and sailed past the Winnipeg Jets 5-3. said: “I did, however, want to take part in bright for a largely youthful England side. over Nashville Saturday, registered back-to-back and an assist, and Brandon Sutter also scored, as the Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula and Chris Porter the review to ensure I understood the “I took on the role in difficult circum- shutouts for the second time in his career. He also Canucks snapped a three-game losing streak. The also scored for the Wild, who won their second views of others before making a decision. stances and it has been a huge challenge to blanked the Devils last November after shutting out Canucks came back from deficits of 1-0 and 3-2 to game in a row and improved to 7-1-0 at home. “The reality is that, while many aspects transition the team with many hurdles Anaheim. win, scoring the final three goals of the game in the Goaltender Devan Dubnyk had 25 saves for of the review were very positive, we didn’t along the way,” explained Lancaster, who final 9:55. Minnesota (9-3-2). won 28 of his 46 Tests in charge. Avalanche 4, Flyers 0 The Colorado Avalanche kicked off a vital stretch Sabres 4, Lightning 1 Predators 7, Senators 5 Genuine contenders of games with a 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia After losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning three Blanked despite pouring 45 shots at St. Louis “However, I am immensely proud of the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. times in the first month of the season, the Buffalo goalie Jake Allen on Saturday night, the Nashville development of this team and I know that The Avalanche (5-9-1), who opened a seven- Sabres got their revenge Tuesday with a 4-1 road Predators more than made up for that on Tuesday. there is an incredibly strong foundation for game road trip, were led by a pair of goals from win sparked by rookie center Jack Eichel at Amalie Nashville got goals from seven skaters and rallied them to progress to great things in the Matt Duchene and a shutout from backup goal- Arena. Buffalo (7-8-0) picked up just their third road for a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators in future. “We have played some excellent tender Reto Berra. Jarome Iginla and Cody McLeod win of the season, while the Lightning (7-8-2) have Bridgestone Arena. rugby and it was always going to be tough to get the right level of experience into Maple Leafs 3, Stars 2 them in time for 2015. “It is a young group Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner of players with the huge majority available Kyrgios, Tomic ignored had a goal and an assist and goaltender James for the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019, Reimer stopped 36 of 38 shots in a 3-2 victory over where I believe their recent experience will the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. make them genuine contenders.” for Newcombe Medal Gardiner scored the game-winning goal with 3:28 Right from the outset of his time as remaining with a slap shot from the right point that England coach there were questions as to SYDNEY: Controversial stars Davis Cup tie. But the 23-year-old remains deflected in off the stick of Stars center Colton whether he was the right man for the job, and have been ignored as the highest-ranking Australian in the world Sceviour. given the former Leeds rugby director and nominees for the Newcombe Medal-which at number 18. England Saxons (the national A side) boss’s rewards Australia’s “most outstanding elite The six nominees for the Newcombe Islanders 4, Sharks 2 lack of experience with a top-flight club or tennis player and ambassador”. Showman Medal are , , Ex-Sharks goalie Thomas Greiss became the lat- international side. Kyrgios, 20, has made headlines for all the Sam Stosur, doubles stars and est backup to take two points from San Jose as the “The Rugby World Cup was hugely dis- wrong reasons with his sex slur at Stan and wheelchair champion New York Islanders handed the hosts a 4-2 loss at appointing for everyone associated with Wawrinka in August sparking stinging criti- . SAP Center. Greiss stopped 34 of 36 shots as the the England team and the subsequent cism from fellow players. “It is not just about honouring Australia’s Sharks (7-8-0) dropped under .500 for the first time review into the team’s performance was Despite reaching his best form, Kyrgios most outstanding tennis player, the awards this season. San Jose capped a poor homestand always intended to be extremely compre- with three losses in four tries. earned a suspended ban for the comment are about recognising and celebrating the WORSLEY: A picture taken on October hensive, which it has been,” said RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie. to Wawrinka and went on to pick up three exceptional accomplishments and contri- Coyotes 3, Kings 2 11, 2015 shows England’s head coach code violations in other matches. butions of tennis communities, coaches, Stuart Lancaster leaving the England “Stuart has been fully involved and has Brad Richardson scored the go-ahead goal in the given feedback as well as the other coach- Tomic also endured a turbulent year in clubs and schools around the country,” said third period, lifting the Arizona Coyotes to a 3-2 vic- Rugby team’s hotel following a press which he was arrested in Miami for failing Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley. conference in Worsley, northern es, players, management and a wide variety tory over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. of people from around the game. to follow police orders over a raucous pent- The winner will be announced at an England on the morning after Richardson scored with 8:13 remaining, delivering “Following the review, Stuart and I met, house party and clashed with Tennis awards ceremony in on 23 his second goal of the season after receiving an England’s final match of the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup. —AFP where we agreed that he should step down Australia, leading to his suspension from a November. —AFP excellent pass from Jordan Martinook just outside as head coach.”— AFP the crease. —Reuters