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SPORTS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013 Tanaka eyes US move under new rules TOKYO: Star Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka Matsuzaka and Ichiro Suzuki move from Japan to him. Any American team that signed the player yesterday told his club he wants to try his hand in US clubs, American teams made blind offers for would pay his Japanese club the release fee. If he Major League Baseball, hours after a new “post- negotiation rights to a player. is not signed the release fee is not owed and the ing” system was announced that makes switching The highest bidder would win the rights to an NPB player remains under reserve to his Japanese to the United States easier. Major League Baseball exclusive signing period. If the player signed a club. Tanaka went 24-0 in the regular season this (MLB) said on Monday that it had reached an deal to leave Japan, his former club would receive year, helping to propel the Rakuten Golden agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball the posting fee as a purchase price for the player. Eagles to their first Japan Series title. (NPB) on the new rules and the 25-year-old If there was no deal, the player would stay with The right-hander was expected to command a Tanaka is keen for a fresh challenge. his Japanese club and the posting fee would be high fee for negotiation rights and a huge salary, “I told (Yozo Tachibana, president of the negated. Under the new system, if an NPB club but he had been in limbo as US and Japanese Rakuten Golden Eagles), ‘let me try in the Major wishes to make a player available to US clubs, league officials discussed changing the system. League next season,’” Tanak told reporters at the Japanese officials will notify the MLB commission- Rakuten officials could decide that since they can- team’s ground in Sendai. “After this season, I want er’s office of his availability and a release fee that not receive more than $20 million for Tanaka, to go on to a fresh stage,” he said. At a separate would be demanded. Such a fee cannot exceed they will keep him for another season. They could news conference, Tachibana said he would reply $20 million. have expected more under the old system. In to Tanaka’s request after holding talks with club The commissioner’s office would notify MLB 2012, the Texas Rangers posted a winning bid of management, saying: “We will take his decision clubs of the player’s availability and a day after $51.7 million just for the right to negotiate with seriously.” Under the previous system, which saw the player is posted any Major League club will- Darvish, eventually signing him to a six-year deal Japanese stars such as Yu Darvish, Daisuke ing to pay the release fee could negotiate with worth $56 million. — AFP Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka Pistons hand Pacers their first home loss INDIANAPOLIS: Josh Smith had 30 points, Greg Monroe fin- ished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and the Detroit Pistons handed Indiana its first home loss Monday night, stunning the Pacers 101-96. The Pistons won for the second time in six games, ending a six-game skid in the series and a nine-game losing streak on the Pacers home court. Lance Stephenson had a season high 23 points, while Luis Scola scored 13 of his sea- son-best 18 in the fourth quarter for Indiana (20-4), which was 11-0 at home coming into the game. Oklahoma City remains the only NBA team unbeaten at home with a 12-0 record. Detroit held a 55-40 rebounding edge and outscored the Pacers in the paint. Indiana tied the score four times and got as close as 96-94 late in the fourth. CLIPPERS 115, SPURS 92 Blake Griffin scored 27 points, hitting 11 of 15 free throws, and Los Angeles cruised past San Antonio 48 hours after com- pleting a seven-game road trip. Chris Paul added 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, and Jamal Crawford had 17 points in his second straight start for the Clippers, who repelled several threats in the third quarter to maintain their lead. Tim Duncan had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, whose four-game winning streak ended. Tony Parker limped off the court with a right shin contusion with 5:09 left in the third. He finished with eight points and six assists in 26 minutes. DeAndre Jordan added 11 rebounds and Griffin had nine to help the Clippers control the boards, 43-36. NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar female boxer Nwe Ni Oo stretches at the Wunna NETS 130, 76ERS 94 Theikdi boxing training centre during the 2013 SEA Games in Naypyidaw. Joe Johnson made 10 3-pointers, most in the NBA this sea- (Inset) Nwe Ni Oo poses for a picture at the Wunna Theikdi boxing train- son, and scored a season-high 37 points to lead Brooklyn over ing centre. — AFP Philadelphia. Johnson finished 10 for 14 from behind the arc, including 8 of 10 during an incredible third-quarter shooting performance. He passed the nine 3-pointers made this season ATLANTA: Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) and Myanmar women boxers by Jeremy Lin, who also did it against the 76ers’ inept perimeter Atlanta Hawks guard Shelvin Mack (8) scramble for the defense, and Stephen Curry. Johnson scored 29 points in the loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game on third, his most in any quarter in his career. Deron Williams had Monday, Dec 16, 2013. The Hawks won 114-100. — AP 13 points and 13 assists for the Nets, who led by as many as 42 land blows for equality and won for the fourth time in five games while playing with- out center Brook Lopez. James Anderson scored 17 points for NBA results/standings the 76ers, who lost their seventh straight overall and have NAYPYIDAW: Tough, stocky and packing a withering gender equality a practical reality”-including boosting dropped 11 in a row on the road since winning at Washington Detroit 101, Indiana 96; Atlanta 114, LA Lakers 100; left hook, Myanmar’s gold medal-winning boxer Nwe Ni women’s representation in public life and addressing in their road opener. Boston 101, Minnesota 97; Brooklyn 130, Philadelphia Oo cuts a surprising image in a conservative nation some restrictive cultural norms. 94; Miami 117, Utah 94; Washington 102, NY Knicks 101; where women are expected to be demure rather than Speaking at a women’s forum in Yangon in HAWKS 114, LAKERS 100 Orlando 83, Chicago 82; LA Clippers 115, San Antonio 92. combative. But the 19-year-old won hearts with a teary- December, Suu Kyi said the burden of keeping families Kyle Korver sank three 3-pointers in Atlanta’s dominant third eyed podium celebration at the Southeast Asian Games together during the repressive junta era had often fall- quarter, Al Horford scored 19 points to lead the Hawks past Eastern Conference cold-shooting Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles. Paul Millsap had in the capital Naypyidaw, after a bruising points victory en on women. But as the country opens, women are Atlantic Division over her Philippine rival in the 57 kilogram class. determined to help shape the future, she said. “We want 18 points and Jeff Teague had 17 with 10 assists for the Hawks. Horford grabbed 11 rebounds. Bryant made only 4 of 14 shots W L PCT GB “It’s very exciting because I have never fought for- to make our rightful contribution to our society... we Boston 12 14 .462 - eigners before... I’m happy to fight in front of Myanmar want to take a meaningful role,” she added. for eight points. Nick Young led the Lakers with 23 points while making five 3-pointers. Jordan Hill had 21, Xavier Henry had 18 Toronto 9 13 .409 1 fans too,” she said after Saturday’s win. Nwe Ni Oo is For the home athletes, the SEA Games is a chance for and Pau Gasol had 16, but no other Los Angeles player scored Brooklyn 9 15 .375 2 also blazing a trail for women, who have boxed for both personal glory and to play a part in that opening- in double figures. NY Knicks 7 17 .292 4 Myanmar at the regional showpiece event since 2001 which has been formalized in political and economic Philadelphia 7 19 .269 5 but failed to win gold, cramped by poor funding during change, but also wider social liberalization. As the com- WIZARDS 102, KNICKS 101 Central Division the corrupt junta era and a lack of wider support. petition, which runs until December 22, breaks new Bradley Beal’s driving layup with 6 seconds remaining car- Indiana 20 4 .833 - Emerging from the shadow of decades of military ground for women boxers, supporters hope their suc- ried Washington past New York. The Knicks didn’t use one of Detroit 12 14 .462 9 rule, the country is proud of its reputation for relative cess will open the pipeline of talent across the nation. their three remaining timeouts after Beal’s basket. Carmelo Chicago 9 14 .391 10.5 gender equality in a region where violence against “Myanmar women are traditional... most women can’t Anthony took the inbounds pass, dribbled the up court and Cleveland 9 14 .391 10.5 women is widespread. The nation’s most famous box,” said Aung San Oo, a former boxer who has spent attempted a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim as time expired.