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Bonds' San Francisco all-star bid dims after voting slip
NEW YORK: Embattled San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds has slipped into four place and is in danger of being excluded from Major League Baseball's all-star game in his home city.
Barry Bonds, a 13-time all-star, has drawn 651,246 votes, putting him behind the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran (1.02 million), the Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey (759,484) and the Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano (693,255).
Bonds is batting .276 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI on the season.
The seven-time MVP has not participated in an all-star game since 2004.
Other National League position leaders include the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols at first base, second baseman Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies, catcher Russell Martin of the Los Angeles Dodgers and two other players from the Mets - Jose Reyes at shortstop and David Wright at third base.
The 78th MLB all-star game is scheduled for July 10 at the Giants ballpark.
Barthez set for Mexican stint despite previous retirement
MEXICO: France's World Cup winning goalkeeper Fabien Barthez signed for Mexican club Nexca Aguascalientes on Monday according to the team president.
The 35-year-old 87-times capped goalkeeper had already announced his retirement from football after a stormy term with French First Division outfit Nantes - who have since been relegated - last April.
"We can anounce the transfer of Fabien Barthez, who will come here for a year," said club president Javier Perez Teuffer.
Necaxa is owned by the private television station of Mexico, Televisa.
Wrist injury forces England's Howell out of US Open
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania: Injury woes continue for England's David Howell, who withdrew from the US Open golf championship on Monday because of a wrist injury.
Howell, who missed last month's PGA Championship at Wentworth as he continued to battle a long-standing back injury, had expected to make his competitive comeback at the second major of the year, which starts Thursday at Oakmont.
"The year's second major championship at Oakmont, scene of Ernie Els's first grand slam title success (in 1994), is where I will return to the game after yet another injury layoff," the 31-year-old had said on his website last week.
However, he hurt his wrist practising and confirmed on Monday that he wouldn't be able to play.
The Ryder Cup star will be replaced in the field by alternate Luke List of the United States. List, the 2004 US Amateur runner-up and 2003 US Amateur Public Links semi-finalist, will be playing in his third US Open.
(China Daily 06/13/2007 page23)
