Baseball

Ramos rescued in Venezuela

Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, whose kidnapping in his native Venezuela has anguished sports fans around the world, has been rescued alive, government officials said.

"Baseball player Ramos was found alive by security forces in the mountain region of Montalban," Information Minister Andres Izarra said in a Twitter message late on Friday.

Minutes later, the announcement was confirmed by the country's Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami.

"With a lot of joy, we would like to announce that an operation to rescue Wilson Ramos was completed several minutes ago," El Aissami said in a telephone call to a local television station.

Papelbon 'agrees to $50m Phillies deal'

The Philadelphia Phillies are poised to agree to a $50 million, four-year contract with free-agent pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, CSNPhilly.com reported on Friday.

If it goes through, the deal would make Papelbon the highest paid Major League Baseball relief pitcher ever.

Papelbon, who turns 31 later this month, will need to pass a physical before the deal becomes official.

Papelbon had 219 saves over seven seasons with the Boston Red Sox, including 31 saves this year, when he made $12 million.

The right-hander posted a 2.94 earned run average in 63 appearances last season.

Games

Gold Coast named 2018 host

Australia was celebrating on Saturday after Queensland's Gold Coast was chosen to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games over Sri Lanka's Hambantota.

Thousands of people gathered at Gold Coast's Broadwater Parklands erupted in jubilation as the announcement was shown live from the Commonwealth Games Federation's general assembly in the Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis.

"My sincere congratulations to Gold Coast- theirs was a fantastic bid and they are a very, very worthy winner," federation president Michael Fennell said after the 70 nations and territories in attendance voted 43 to 27 for the city.

Boxing

Fans flock to pay respects to Frazier

Thousands of boxing fans converged on Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center arena on Friday for a public memorial to mourn former undisputed world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.

Fans braved cold and whipping winds to line up and pay their respects to the hall-of-fame fighter, who died on Monday at the age of 67 after a battle with liver cancer.

Organizers estimate 15,000 people will file through the building over two days.

Frazier was laid out in the middle of the venue in a white closed casket. A black cowboy hat and white blanket that said, "Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier -Your friend, Jake" were placed on top.

Cycling

Evans named cyclist of the year

Tour de France winner Cadel Evans was named the Australian cyclist of the year at an awards ceremony in Sydney, the fourth time he has claimed the coveted gong.

Evans, 34, made history when he became the first Australian to win the race in July and in recognition of his achievement was awarded the Sir Hubert Opperman Medal at the ceremony late Friday.

Evans, who became Australia's first world road race champion in 2009, also received the Australian honor in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

He has ruled out competing at Australia's Tour Down Under in January as he looks at aiming for world and Olympic glory as well as defending his yellow Tour de France jersey.

Motor sports

'Greedy' Vettel crashes in practice

Sebastian Vettel said he was 'too greedy' after crashing out of Friday's second free practice ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The recently crowned double champion and Red Bull driver, who has already won 11 races this season, wound up in the wall at turn one, damaging the front wing of his car.

In spite of this, the 24-year-old German returned to the track and wound up sixth fastest.

"I lost the car on the entrance," said Vettel.

"I went a bit too wide and got too much on the kerb and lost the rears and couldn't catch the car any more."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 11/13/2011 page7)