Digest

BASEBALL

LeBron acquires part ownership of Red Sox

LeBron James has become a partner in Fenway Sports Group, making the NBA superstar a part-owner of the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

Fenway Sports Group is the parent company of the Red Sox as well as Liverpool Football Club of soccer's English Premier League and the Roush Fenway Racing NASCAR team. The paper reported that Maverick Carter, James' business partner, was also involved in the deal.

Fenway Sports Group Chairman Tom Werner did not immediately respond to an email from Associated Press seeking comment. A spokeswoman for the Red Sox and FSG declined to comment.

Los Angeles Lakers star James has had a relationship with FSG since 2011, when he signed a marketing deal in exchange for a small ownership stake in Liverpool.

Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said James being able to buy into the group is a huge step.

SOCCER

De Bruyne stunner fires City into quarterfinals

Kevin De Bruyne's blistering strike set Manchester City on its way to a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach and a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the fourth straight season under Pep Guardiola on Tuesday.

The Belgium midfielder unleashed a first-time shot from the edge of the area that flew in off the underside of the crossbar in the 12th minute, virtually ending Gladbach's hopes of a comeback after the German team lost the first leg 2-0 three weeks ago.

Ilkay Gundogan added a second goal by finishing off a flowing move in the 18th minute, and the Premier League leader had no problem securing a seventh straight clean sheet in the competition to seal a 4-0 win on aggregate.

City has only ever gone beyond the quarterfinals once in nine Champions League campaigns, and never under Guardiola since he arrived as manager in 2016. This might be the team's best chance given its form－make that 24 wins in the last 25 games in all competitions－and the fact Guardiola has an injury-free squad at his disposal.

The draw for the quartefinals will take place on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland.

GOLF

Woods returns home to continue recovery

Tiger Woods said on Tuesday he is back home in Florida and continuing his recovery following his serious car accident in California last month, according to a statement posted on his Twitter account.

"Happy to report that I am back home continuing my recovery... I will be recovering at home and working on getting stronger every day," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, the 15-time major champion on Tuesday announced a new video-gaming deal with 2K.

The company and Woods have agreed a long-term exclusive partnership. 2K said it has struck a deal to obtain HB Studios, developers of the PGA Tour 2K21 as well as The Golf Club franchise.

Woods has won 82 PGA Tour titles, tied with Sam Snead for the all-time record, and had partnered with EA Sports for 15 years on one of the most successful golf video games ever created before the deal ended in 2013.

SAILING

Team New Zealand wins America's Cup

The Emirates Team New Zealand won the America's Cup presented on Wednesday, defeating Italy's Luna Rossa 7-3 to claim yachting's most prestigious trophy for the fourth time.

The defending champion claimed the single win it needed to seal the best-of-13 series with a 46-second victory over the Italians in race 10 on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.

"It's absolutely unreal... it just means the world to us as a team," Team New Zealand helmsman Peter Burling said.

Team New Zealand entered the regatta as heavy favorite but the Italians matched it in the early stages, taking the scores to 3-2.

But the host then reeled off five successive wins, helped by its superior speed and local knowledge as Auckland produced days of light, inconsistent winds.

As the official partner of Team New Zealand, the China Sports Industry Group has leveraged the event's global profile to promote and further develop the sailing industry in China.

Xinhua - Agencies