John Smoltz
MOTOR SPORTS
Petty merges
Richard Petty's famed No. 43 Dodge was rescued when Gillett Evernham Motorsports agreed to merge with Petty's slumping organization to create a new team. GEM had been in exclusive negotiations with Petty Enterprises to combine the teams into one four-car organization, and an agreement in principle was announced. The deal is not expected to be closed until the end of the month. The team will be co-owned by Petty, Petty Holdings - which is owned by majority shareholder Boston Ventures - and Gillett Evernham Motorsports. Ray Evernham, who formed his team in 1999 but sold majority interest to businessman George Gillett Jr. in 2007, will be a minority owner in the venture. The parties are leaning toward rebranding the organization Richard Petty Motorsports to capitalize on the seven-time NASCAR champion's name. Petty Enterprises is the winningest team in NASCAR history with 268 Cup victories.
TENNIS
No. 1 Nadal loses
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was eliminated from the Qatar Open in Doha and No. 2 Roger Federer advanced to the semifinals. Nadal lost to wild card Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, and Federer saved three set points to defeat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 7-6 (6). Nadal, who cruised through his first two matches of the seasonopening event, was broken twice in the first set and once in the second. He finished with only 10 winners, while Monfils had 35. Monfils had eight aces to none for Nadal. Federer trailed 5-1 and 6-3 in the tiebreaker, reeling off five consecutive points to win. Monfils will play eighth-ranked Andy Roddick, who defeated unseeded Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2. Federer will face Andy Murray, who defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-2. Roddick had 13 aces.
Venus Williams showed no signs of rustiness after a four-week break, defeating No. 1 Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-2 in Hong Kong. Jankovic dropped serve in the third game of the second set to trail 2-1. She missed a forehand in the seventh game to give Williams a second break and a 5-2 lead. Williams served an ace and two other serves forced errors in the next game to clinch victory. Team Americas beat Team Europe 2-1 when Argentina's Gisela Dulko beat Hungary's Agnes Szavay 6-4, 6-7 (8) 6-3.
The Russian sister and brother combination of Dinara Safina and Marat Safin won the mixed doubles match against France 6-4, 6-3 to secure a place in the final against Slovakia at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. Safina defeated Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-2 before Safin lost to Gilles Simon 7-6 (5), 6-3. The United States got its first victory of the tournament, beating Australia 2-1. Meghann Shaughnessy and James Blake defeated Casey Dellacqua and Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 5-7 and 10-6 in the tiebreaker - with Hewitt double-faulting on match point. Blake beat Hewitt 6-2, 6-2 and Shaughnessy lost to Dellacqua 6-3, 6-4.
Former No. 1 and two-time champion Carlos Moya lost in the second round of the Chennai (India) Open to a local player ranked No. 202. Unheralded Somdev Devvarman, a twotime U.S. collegiate champion, upset the sixth-seeded Moya 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo upset top-seeded Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane (Australia) International, her first victory over a top-10 player in two years.
Top-seeded and fourth-ranked Elena Dementieva beat fifth-seeded Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-1 to reach the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
HORSE RACING
Eclipse nominees
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, Dubai World Cup winner Curlin and the late filly Eight Belles were among Eclipse Award finalists announced. Big Brown, Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John and Raven's Pass were nominated for 3-year-old male honors. The Eclipse Awards are voted on by turf writers and racing secretaries at National Thoroughbred Racing Association tracks. Winners will be honored Jan. 26. Curlin, nominated with Commentator and Brazilian-bred Einstein for older male, is expected to be in the running for his second consecutive Horse of the Year honor. Eight Belles broke both front ankles moments after finishing second to Big Brown in the Derby and was euthanized. Along with Music Note and Proud Spell, she was nominated for 3-year-old filly. Undefeated Zenyatta, the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner, is also a candidate for Horse of the Year. She was nominated for older female, with Chilean-bred Cocoa Beach and Ginger Punch.
BASEBALL
Hoffman, Brewers agree
Career saves leader Trevor Hoffman, a 41-year-old free agent, closed his deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the sides reached agreement on a $6 million, one-year contract. Hoffman can make an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses, based on games finished. He had pitched for the San Diego Padres since 1993, but contract talks soured and the team pulled its offer of $4 million for 2009 with a club option for $4 million in 2010. Hoffman converted 30 of 34 chances last season, increasing his saves record to 554. Hoffman was 3-6 with a 3.77 ERA in 48 games. He has saved at least 30 games in 13 seasons, another major league record.
FOOTBALL
TCU coach gets deal
TCU Coach Gary Patterson agreed to a new contract that runs through the 2014 season. TCU didn't release terms of the contract. Patterson, 48, has won at least 10 games in five of his eight seasons and has a 73-27 record. The Frogs went 11-2 this season and handed Boise State its only loss with a 17-16 victory in the Poinsettia Bowl.
BASKETBALL
Hall coach returns
Hall of Fame and former Princeton Coach Pete Carril, 78, rejoined the Sacramento Kings as a consultant. Carril spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach with the Kings after retiring from his 30-year college coaching career, leaving the club in 2006 to spend more time at his home in New Jersey. Carril accepted the offer from Geoff Petrie, the Kings' vice president of basketball operations who played for Carril at Princeton. Carril is the winningest Ivy League coach, going 514-263 at Princeton, winning 13 conference titles and making 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. He coached one season at Lehigh.
BASEBALL Source: Smoltz agrees to deal with Red Sox
ATLANTA - After more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz is ready to finish his career wearing a different uniform.
Smoltz, 41, reached a preliminary agreement Thursday on a $5.5 million, one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox after failing to work out a deal to return for his 22nd season with the Braves.
A person familiar with the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Red Sox had yet to make an official announcement, said Smoltz can earn an additional $5 million in bonuses, some based on days on the active roster.
The deal is subject to a physical, which is scheduled for Monday.
Smoltz said there were large discrepancies between the offer from the Braves and offers from other teams.
Smoltz, the only pitcher in baseball history with 200 victories and 150 saves, had pitched for the Braves since 1988. He is coming off major shoulder surgery that sidelined him for most of last season but feels healthy enough to pitch at least one more year.
Smoltz began his career as a starter, winning 24 games and the National League Cy Young Award in 1996. Numerous elbow problems led him to shift to the bullpen to relieve the stress on his arm, and he set an NL record with 55 saves in his first full season as a closer in 2002.
After three years finishing games for the Braves, Smoltz moved back to the rotation in 2005 and didn't miss a beat, going 14-7 with a 3.06 ERA. He went 47-26 in his second run as a starter, but shoulder pain cut short the 2008 season after only six appearances.
Smoltz tried to pitch one game as a reliever, then underwent surgery to fix what he said were "five or six problems," including his labrum, AC joint and biceps.
Smoltz has a record of 210-147 with 154 saves and a 3.26 ERA, while also becoming the winningest pitcher in postseason history at 15-4.
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