Galaxy’s Landon Donovan selected MVP of Major League Soccer
Galaxy and U.S. national team forward Landon Donovan was named Major League Soccer’s most valuable player for 2009. Donovan finished ahead of New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph and FC Dallas striker Jeff Cunningham to win the award for the first time. He is the second Galaxy player to take the honor. Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz won it in 2002.
A nine-year veteran of MLS, Donovan won league championships with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and 2003 and with the Galaxy in 2005. On Sunday, he will seek a fourth title when the Galaxy plays Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final in Seattle.
Preki, the only player to be twice named Major League Soccer’s most valuable player and to twice win the league scoring title, was named coach of Toronto FC. He spent three years as coach of Chivas USA, taking the team to the MLS playoffs each season but failing to advance beyond the first round.
-- Grahame L. Jones
Visiting Sacramento State defeated Loyola Marymount, 2-1, on a Bryan Baker goal in the 96th minute in the NCAA men’s tournament. UC Santa Barbara beat Wofford, 1-0, in Santa Barbara, and host Stanford beat St. Mary’s, 3-0.
GOLF
Ochoa takes lead; Wie withdraws
Michelle Wie is gone, putting all the attention on Lorena Ochoa’s player-of-the-year fight with Jiyai Shin at the LPGA Tour Championship in Richmond, Texas. Wie withdrew from the season-ending event because of a sprained left ankle, hours after Ochoa shot a six-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead over Reilley Rankin.
Champions Tour players John Cook and Olin Browne shot six-under 66s at Del Monte Golf Course to share the first-round lead in the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.
Robert Allenby of Australia shot a seven-under 65 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai World Championship, and Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy vied for the European Tour money title in the United Arab Emirates.
The LPGA Tour is adding a $1.7-million tournament at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad in 2010. The LPGA Classic will be March 22-28.
PRO BASKETBALL
Iverson free to sign with anyone
Allen Iverson has cleared waivers and can sign with any NBA team. The former MVP was waived Tuesday after playing three games with the Memphis Grizzlies, and no team claimed him in the following 48 hours.
JURISPRUDENCE
Jayson Williams agrees to plea
Former NBA star Jayson Williams has agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver to death at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told the Associated Press.
A judge warned Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros that he could spend the bowl season in jail if he doesn’t get his act together after being accused of showing a fake ID at a bar.
ETC.
San Diego State AD resigns
San Diego State Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel resigned after a university investigation of his travel expenses. . . . U.S. skier Resi Stiegler injured her left knee when she crashed after hooking a gate during giant slalom training in Copper Mountain, Colo. The extent of her injury isn’t known.
