Associated Press
MANCHESTER, England ó Michael Phelps helped his American team trounce a group of European all-stars in the Duel in the Pool, anchoring a relay to one of the eight world records the U.S. set over the two-day meet that ended Saturday.
The U.S. team won 185-78 in the last major meet before the Jan. 1 ban on high-tech polyurethane suits.
Phelps, who already has reverted to wearing an old-style textile suit, anchored the U.S. victory in the 400-meter freestyle relay in a world-record time of three minutes, 3.3 seconds, but didn’t fare well in the individual races.
In the 200 butterfly, the 14-time Olympic champion lost by a body length to Michael Rock of Britain, who was wearing a high-tech suit. And in the 200 freestyle, Phelps slumped to third. His only individual victory was Friday in the 100 butterfly.
“I’m disappointed a little bit because I would like to have swum a little faster, but this is more of a team event than anything else,” Phelps said. “I’m not in great shape and I know what I have to do to improve. I’d rather lose a race now than when it really counts.
“The biggest things I’m looking forward to is the world championships next summer and the Olympics after that. If I can be prepared for those races I will be absolutely fine. These are all baby steps towards the big picture.”
BASEBALL
SAN FRANCISCO ó San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera is calling on Major League Baseball not to allow the Oakland Athletics to move to San Jose, saying it would hurt San Francisco financially.
Herrera sent a stern letter to baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday expressing “grave concern” about a move and saying he would do everything possible to protect the city’s interests. The San Francisco Giants hold territorial rights to the San Jose area, and say much of their revenue comes from there.
The A’s would need approval from Major League Baseball and other team owners to terminate those rights and make the move.
The A’s are tired of sharing a rundown space with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and want to leave the city.
– BALTIMORE ó Mike Gonzalez wants to close games, and the Baltimore Orioles lack an experienced arm to protect ninth-inning leads.
Though they aren’t handing the veteran left-hander with the herky jerky delivery the closer’s job outright, the Orioles are likely to give him a chance after finalizing a $12 million, two-year contract on Friday.
– NEW YORK ó Nick Johnson is returning to the Yankees, a move that likely will end Johnny Damon’s time in New York after four seasons.
Johnson reached an agreement on a $5.5 million, one-year contract.
– CINCINNATI ó Scott Rolen agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds through the 2012 season, an indication of how much they value the 34-year-old third baseman as a clubhouse leader.
Rolen had one season left on an eight-year, $90 million deal that he signed with St. Louis.
BOBSLED
ALTENBERG, Germany ó Andre Lange of Germany has won the two-man bobsled World Cup race on his home track, while the U.S. team of Steven Holcomb and Justin Olsen avoided injury when their sled crashed.
Americans Shauna Rohbock and Michelle Rzepka took third in the women’s two-man race won on Saturday by Kallie Humphries and Heather Moyse of Canada.