Sports Brief

BASEBALL

Free agent Ko re-signs with Doosan Bears for W500M

Ko Young-min, the only remaining free agent in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) this offseason, has re-signed his contract with the Doosan Bears.

The 2015 Korean Series champion Bears said on Wednesday that it has signed a one-year deal with Ko for a total of 500 million won ($415,000), with an option to extend to 2017. He will receive a 150 million won salary and 200 million won incentive depending on his performance.

The 31-year-old infielder became one of 22 free agents after last season, but he failed to ink any deals with the 10 KBO clubs until Wednesday.

Ko, who made his pro debut with the Bears in 2002, played only 41 games last season, hitting a .328 batting average with three home runs and 11 RBIs.

By JOO KYUNG-DON

FOOTBALL

Ronaldo statue tagged after rival Messi wins Ballon d’Or

MADRID - Vandals have painted Lionel Messi’s name on a Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Portugal.

Messi’s jersey number also was tagged with red paint on Ronaldo’s full-figured statue in Funchal, the Portuguese striker’s hometown.

Portuguese and Spanish media say the statue was vandalized early Tuesday, a day after Messi won the Ballon d’Or in Zurich to end Ronaldo’s two-year hold on soccer’s top individual honor.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

St. Louis Rams’ move to LA receives NFL approval

HOUSTON - NFL owners voted Tuesday night to allow the St. Louis Rams to move to a new stadium just outside Los Angeles, and the San Diego Chargers will have an option to share the facility.

The Oakland Raiders, who also wanted to move to the area, were left out of the deal, but could move to Los Angeles if San Diego doesn’t, Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

The moves end the NFL’s 21-year absence from the nation’s second-largest media market. The compromise was approved 30-2. AP