IN BRIEF (Page 23)

Fabio Capello factbox

LONDON: Factbox on Fabio Capello, who looks set to become the new England coach.

Sports

Team has 'mental block', Fabio says

LONDON: Fabio Capello, the favorite to become the next manager of England's national team, said on Thursday that he thought England's players suffered from a "mental block" when playing international matches.

Capello just the tonic for England

ROME: Anytime over the next day or two, one of the worst-kept secrets in football should be revealed as Fabio Capello is named the new manager of England.

Sources: Doping report to name MVPs, All-Stars

NEW YORK: American Major League Baseball's long-awaited doping report exposes a "serious drug culture" within the league, "from top to bottom," identifies top players and calls for increased testing by an outside agency to clean up the game, the Associated Press learned on Wednesday.

Monty tips Woods to achieve calendar GS

THOUSAND OAKS, California: Britain's Colin Montgomerie believes Tiger Woods will become the first player to complete a calendar grand slam by winning all four professional majors in a single season.

Top shot

Jackson signs two-year contract extension with Lakers

Sports

Stricker puzzled by 2nd award

THOUSAND OAKS, California: Steve Stricker was a little perplexed after winning the PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year award on Tuesday for the second successive season.

Woods rates 2007 close behind his golden 2000

THOUSAND OAKS, California: Tiger Woods rates his 2007 season almost on a par with his annus mirabilis in 2000, which is widely regarded as one of the best years in golfing history.

'Lucky' Hiddink keeps his magic touch

MOSCOW: Long before Guus Hiddink took over Russia's national team midway through 2006, he was considered a lucky coach after quickly turning mediocre teams into formidable opponents.