The Korea Herald

Cespedes wins home run derby

BaseballJul 15, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ― Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes became the first repeat winner of the All-Star home run derby in 15 years, powering his way past Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier by a whopping 9-1 in the final round Monday night.Ken Griffey Jr. took the title in 1998 and 1999. With a serious, determined look on his face the whole time, Cespedes finished with 28 homers. That was four fewer than last year, when he beat Washington’s Bryce Harper 9-8 in the final round.Cespedes saved his best for last, a 138-m
[World Cup] Blatter gives Brazil 9.25 of 10

SoccerJul 15, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Brazil got 9.25 out of 10 from FIFA President Sepp Blatter for organizing a World Cup that was “very special” because of high quality football.Giving his tournament report on Monday, Blatter also criticized FIFA for not better tackling incidents of fan discrimination in stadiums. Blatter said he spoke with Russia President Vladimir Putin at Sunday’s final about making the issue a priority at the 2018 World Cup there.That tournament will be the third straight involving a hug
Europe-based footballers rumored to be on move

SoccerJul 15, 2014

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in the books and the summer transfer window fully open in European club football, some South Korean players are being rumored to be on the move.Ki Sung-yueng, under contract with Swansea City in English Premier League, is being linked to Aston Villa. Mirror reported that Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert wants “an experienced holding midfielder” and hopes to acquire Ki from Swansea City, where he has one year left on his contract.Daily Mail also said Villa h
[World Cup] World Cup a wakeup call for Korea’s youth development

SoccerJul 15, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO ― With the recent resignation of coach Hong Myung-bo and the exit of Luis Scolari after the utter destruction of his squad in the World Cup’s final stages, it’s been a dramatic few days both in Korea and Brazil as their football associations scramble for answers on how to fix it all.Humiliating defeats ― Korea to Algeria 4-2 in the group round and Brazil to Germany 7-1 in the semifinals ― exposed their squads’ weaknesses as overly dependent on star players with vulnerable defenses
[Newsmaker] Ryu Hyun-jin earns 10th win of season

BaseballJul 14, 2014

LOS ANGELES (Yonhap) ― Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers earned his 10th victory of the season after tossing six shutout innings against the San Diego Padres at home on Sunday.In his final start before the All-Star break, Ryu left the game after six innings with the Dodgers leading 1-0. Ryu allowed only two hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters before handing things over to Brandon League to start the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium.Ryu entered the day with a 9-5 record and a 3.65
[Graphic News] World Cup winners

SoccerJul 14, 2014
Rangers outfielder Choo Shin-soo hopes to start from scratch

BaseballJul 14, 2014

ARLINGTON, Texas (Yonhap) ― As he wrapped up a disappointing first half of the Major League Baseball season with the Texas Rangers on Sunday, South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo said he will try to start the latter half from scratch.Choo made an appearance as a pinch hitter and ended up going 0 for 2 against the Los Angeles Angels, as the Rangers fell 10-7.The Rangers, a trendy preseason pick to contend for the World Series, are entering the All-Star break with the worst record in the majors a
Martin captures Women’s Brit Open

GolfJul 14, 2014

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― Mo Martin knew she hit her 3-wood exactly how she wanted on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale.With the ball slightly below her feet, just under 240 yards away and a strong wind at her back, she let it rip and watched the ball track toward the flag. Martin thought it was short. Then she thought it might be too long. Moments later, she realized just how good it was.“I could hear it hit the pin from the fairway,” Martin said. “That was a pretty fun feeling.”The ball rolled i
[World Cup] Argentine World Cup celebration marred by violence

SoccerJul 14, 2014

BUENOS AIRES (AP) ― Riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a group of rock-throwing vandals who disturbed a rally by Argentines celebrating their team’s gutsy performance in a 1-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup finals.Thousands of Argentines, saddened but proud, had gathered peacefully at the iconic Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires to applaud their team’s best World Cup performance in 24 years.Police initially remained on the sidelines as fans poured into downtown Buenos Aire
[World Cup] Messi’s World Cup ends on a bitter note

SoccerJul 14, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Lionel Messi’s final act in the 2014 World Cup was lifting a free kick high over the bar, wasting Argentina’s last chance to equalize in the final against Germany.It was far from a fitting finish for the four-time world player of the year.This was supposed to be Messi’s World Cup, just like the 1986 tournament belonged to another Argentine great, Diego Maradona.But after carrying his team through the group stage in Brazil with four goals, Messi seemed to run out of steam.In
[World Cup] From sub to legend

SoccerJul 14, 2014

Goetze’s full talent on show in winning goal
[World Cup] Germany’s World Cup party gets underway

SoccerJul 14, 2014

BERLIN (AP) ― A quarter of a million German football fans reacted with unbridled joy, mixed with shock, on Sunday when Mario Goetze struck late in extra-time for Germany to win the World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Argentina.The supporters, packed into the “fan mile” in front of the German capital’s famous Brandenburg Gate, screamed as one when Goetze took the ball on his chest and let fly inside the far post from a narrow angle.Fans cheered, clapped and shouted, with groups of fans hugging and
[World Cup] Stars of politics, sports, music at World Cup final

SoccerJul 14, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Vladimir Putin chatted with Angela Merkel, and David Beckham hugged Pele at the World Cup final on Sunday.Tom Brady looked on from the VIP seats when his wife Gisele Bundchen brought the trophy on the field before the game.Mick Jagger and LeBron James were also in the Maracana Stadium to see Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time. Celebrities rubbed shoulders at the stadium, starting with Shakira singing and Carlos Santana playing guitar during the closing ceremony.At the
Ryu Hyun-jin earns 10th win of season with six shutout innings vs. Padres

BaseballJul 14, 2014

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers earned his 10th victory of the season after tossing six shutout innings against the San Diego Padres at home on Sunday.In his final start before the All-Star break, Ryu left the game after six innings with the Dodgers leading 1-0. Ryu allowed only two hits and struck out a season-high 10 batters before handing things over to Brandon League to start the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium.Ryu entered the day with a 9-5 record and a 3.65 ERA. He lowered his ERA
[World Cup] Germany defeats Argentina 1-0 to win World Cup title

SoccerJul 14, 2014

Germany's players celebrate with the World Cup trophy after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup final football match between Germany and Argentina 1-0 following extra-time at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. (AP-Yonhap)RIO DE JANEIRO -- Second-half substitute Mario Goetze broke a scoreless deadlock in extra time in the World Cup final with Argentina to crown Germany the victors of soccer’s biggest international tournament on Sunday night at Maracana Stadium.Andre Schurrle s