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Japanese players headline Mid East Falcons roster for Baseball United’s first season

Japanese players headline Mid East Falcons roster for Baseball United’s first season
Shuhei Fukuda is one of 13 Japanese players who have joined the Mid East Falcons roster ahead of Baseball United's inaugural season. (Supplied)
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Japanese players headline Mid East Falcons roster for Baseball United’s first season

Japanese players headline Mid East Falcons roster for Baseball United’s first season
  • With 13 players aged 18 to 44, the Falcons will have a strong following of baseball fans from Japan

DUBAI: Baseball United has announced that 13 of the 23 roster spots for its Mid East Falcons franchise will feature Japanese players.

The Falcons will compete in the league’s inaugural season this November and December in Dubai.

The group represents nearly 60 percent of the team’s roster and includes nine players who have competed in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, the highest level of the game in Japan.

Japan is currently ranked No. 1 in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, a position it has earned through decades of international dominance.

The country boasts a deep heritage dating back to the 19th century, with the NPB widely regarded as the No. 2 professional league in the world, behind Major League Baseball.

Japan has won multiple World Baseball Classic championships and consistently produces elite talent on both the domestic and MLB stage, including the reigning MVP from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani.

Japan boasts the highest per capita baseball viewership in the world. The nation’s games in the 2023 World Baseball Classic posted massive viewership, with all seven drawing 30 million or more viewers.

More recently, the 2024 MLB World Series averaged 12.9 million viewers in Japan, making it the most-watched Fall Classic in the country’s history.

Baseball United has been making inroads in the country over the past year, including through a partnership with the Tokyo Broadcasting System that includes a reality TV series to discover the nation’s next stars.

 The competition’s top players will also join the Falcons roster. The winners will be announced before the start of the season.

“Japan is one of the greatest baseball nations in the world,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Baseball United.

“It has everything that produces elite baseball — an elite professional league, strong minor and independent leagues, exceptional high school programs, widespread youth engagement, and one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports.

“It’s an honor to have so many Japanese players representing the Falcons. Their experience, talent, and knowledge of the game will make an immediate impact — not only on the field, but also in inspiring fans back home and across the world.”

The Japanese players represent a mix of international stars, NPB standouts, as well as young prospects from the Yokohama DeNA Baystars organization.

Munenori Kawasaki, 44, an infielder from Kagoshima, is a veteran whose career spans the NPB, MLB, Chinese Professional Baseball League, and now the Route-Inn BCL, a Japanese independent league.

He debuted with the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (currently Fukuoka Softbank Hawks) in 2001 and later played in the US for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Chicago Cubs. He also represented Japan at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics, winning both tournaments.

Kawasaki played in Taiwan with Wei Chuan Dragons in 2019, and since 2020 has been a member of the Tochigi Golden Braves in Japan’s independent BCL, where he plays and serves as a technical advisor.

Hiroyuki Nakajima, 43, an infielder from Hyogo, has built a distinguished career as a shortstop in the NPB, starring for the Seibu Lions, later joining the Orix Buffaloes, Yomiuri Giants and Chunichi Dragons.

In 2012, he signed with the Oakland Athletics, bringing his talents to the US. During his career in the NPB, he earned multiple Best Nine and Golden Glove awards and represented Japan in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic.

After announcing his retirement in 2024, Nakajima is now making a surprise return for Baseball United’s inaugural season, bringing veteran presence and decades of expertise to the clubhouse.

Shuhei Fukuda, 36, an outfielder from Kanagawa, who has played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Chiba Lotte Marines in the NPB, is known for his speed and defensive range.

He announced his retirement in 2024, but in February 2025 returned to play in the Baseball United UAE Series. Later that year, he began serving as a special assignment coach and consultant with the Seattle Mariners, an uncommon honor for a Japanese player without prior MLB experience.

Manato Tanai, only 18, an infielder from Hiroshima, began his professional career when he was drafted by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in 2024, and is regarded as one of their top prospects.

A right-handed hitter, he is known for his speed, strong arm, and reliable defense. In his rookie year, he played in the Eastern League, the NPB’s farm system, gaining experience and selection to the 2025 Fresh All-Star Game.

The Mid East Falcons will debut alongside the Mumbai Cobras, Karachi Monarchs, and Arabia Wolves in Baseball United’s first season this November. The Falcons’ first game is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19, against the Monarchs.

The first season will feature 21 games in four weeks at Baseball United Ballpark in Dubai, with broadcasts to fans around the world. The season will culminate with the United Series — a best-of-three championship final — from Dec. 12 to 14.


Historic win for Dubai Basketball on EuroLeague debut

Historic win for Dubai Basketball on EuroLeague debut
Updated 15 sec ago

Historic win for Dubai Basketball on EuroLeague debut

Historic win for Dubai Basketball on EuroLeague debut
  • Result ‘means a lot,’ says Head Coach Jurica Golemac after 89-76 victory over Partizan Mozzart Bet at Coca-Cola Arena

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball made history on Tuesday night in their first-ever EuroLeague game with an 89-76 win over Belgrade powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet, in front of their home fans at the Coca-Cola Arena.

Dubai Basketball opened the game in style, with Davis Bertans leading the charge from long range to give the team an early advantage at 18-10. By the end of the first quarter, Dubai Basketball were in control at 28-18.

In the second quarter, the rhythm slowed down, but Dubai Basketball managed to maintain composure and stayed ahead 47-40. However, at the start of the third quarter Partizan stormed back to briefly take the lead at 47-48.

Dubai Basketball’s Head Coach Jurica Golemac said: “We were focused, I would say, most of the game.

“At one moment, Partizan came back, but with the defense we managed to get back, to take the lead, and to come peacefully to the win in the end. It is a very important win for us.

“To win at home is very important; we have a very tough schedule, but for the confidence and the knowledge that we can play with everybody if we play together, this win means a lot.”

In the third quarter Mfiondu Kabengele rose to the occasion. With a series of powerful plays, and with strong support from Dwayne Bacon and Dzanan Musa, Dubai Basketball regained control with a score of 68-56.

The momentum continued into the final period, as Dubai Basketball opened the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run to push the lead to 73-56. Soon after, the gap grew to 78-58, allowing the team to cruise through the closing minutes.

Dubai Basketball head to Monaco for their second EuroLeague game of the week, and then play their ABA League opener on Monday, Oct. 6, at the Coca-Cola Arena.


Ryder Cup has been getting out of control for years. New York took to it a new level

Ryder Cup has been getting out of control for years. New York took to it a new level
Updated 01 October 2025

Ryder Cup has been getting out of control for years. New York took to it a new level

Ryder Cup has been getting out of control for years. New York took to it a new level
  • The Ryder Cup crowd has been getting out of control going back to Brookline in ‘99, when Colin Montgomerie took so much personal abuse that his father walked off the golf course
  • Along with being the leading points-earner for Europe at Bethpage Black, Tommy Fleetwood won the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award, which honors the player who best embodies the true spirit of the Ryder Cup

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.: Rory McIlroy got so fed up with one American at the Ryder Cup that he asked security to throw out the spectator. The noise was so loud and relentless that McIlroy talked about taking medicine for a headache.

This was 2016 at Hazeltine.

The behavior at Bethpage Black took the atmosphere to a new level, which surprised no one who has seen championship golf on the Long Island public course even without an “us versus them” competition involving flags like the Ryder Cup.

The tone was set Friday morning when a fan screamed out, “Fore, right!” as Jon Rahm was over his tee shot. A small section started an expletive chant at McIlroy, which was repeated Saturday morning by Heather McMahan, hired as a master of ceremonies by the PGA of America.

The Ryder Cup crowd has been getting out of control going back to Brookline in ‘99, when Colin Montgomerie took so much personal abuse that his father walked off the golf course. The crowd began turning on the home team for losing in a year when money was at the forefront. And then on Sunday, it flipped hard the other direction with the US comeback to win.

There was curiosity going into the week if the New York fans — no stranger to teams underperforming — would turn on the Americans or double down on their vitriol toward the Europeans. It turned out to be the latter.

“Things got out of hand — that was disappointing. We knew the crowds would be like that,” former PGA of America president Ted Bishop told golfchannel.com. “If you’ve attended any New York sporting event, Yankees, Mets, that’s what you’re going to get in New York.”

Bishop was PGA president when the Ryder Cup was awarded to Bethpage Black. He also was the president who appointed Tom Watson captain of the ‘14 matches at age 65, which led to a task force to give players more control.

What makes it worse now is a culture in which fans think it’s acceptable to do this. Think back to The Players Championship in a practice round when a University of Texas player took video of heckling McIlroy after a tee shot into the water. McIlroy walked over and took his phone.

There is loud, and there is lewd. Bethpage was the latter. That prompted McIlroy to say golf should be held to a higher standard. “I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf. I think golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week.”

Then again, McIlroy and Shane Lowry retaliated with F-bombs of their own.

Equally troubling, however, is another trend on both sides of the Atlantic. When the visiting team missed a putt or missed the fairway, there used to be a lag time of a few seconds before the home crowd clapped or cheered. Now it’s immediate.

There’s little chance of that going back to the way it was.

Back to work

The extreme highs and lows of the Ryder Cup are over, and now it’s time to get to work for 10 players directly involved at Bethpage Black.

Rasmus Hojgaard went from his Ryder Cup debut to trying to keep his full PGA Tour status. The Dane is No. 87 in the FedEx Cup standings and playing in the Sanderson Farms Championship this week in Mississippi.

The top 100 in the FedEx Cup keep their PGA Tour cards. Also in Mississippi are vice captains Brandt Snedeker and Francesco Molinari.

Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntire have flown to Scotland for the Dunhill Links Championship, where Hatton is the defending champion.

And then there was this reminder from Tabitha Furyk, the wife of Jim Furyk who does most of the heavy lifting for the Constellation Furyk & Friends event on the PGA Tour Champions this week in Jacksonville, Florida. She told of Thomas Bjorn approaching her at Bethpage Black and asking about his pro-am time.

Bjorn and fellow vice captain Jose Maria Olazabal were on a flight Monday from New York to Jacksonville. Furyk, meanwhile, goes from being a vice captain to his first time playing since hip replacement surgery in April.

Fleetwood Honor

Along with being the leading points-earner for Europe at Bethpage Black, Tommy Fleetwood won the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award, which honors the player who best embodies the true spirit of the Ryder Cup. It’s named after Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin, part of Ryder Cup lore for allowing the 1969 matches to end in a draw.

Fleetwood went 4-1-0, raising his record in four Ryder Cups to 11-4-2.

He also kept a cool head during the one tense moment inside the ropes, when Justin Rose barked at Bryson DeChambeau’s caddie for walking in his space as Rose was studying his putt during fourballs.

“Sportsmanship is important to our game and the Ryder Cup is the most intense environment we experience, and things can always happen that test you,” Fleetwood said. “But Luke Donald has instilled in this team an amazing attitude that we should always play with the right spirit. That has really helped us get over the line and win the Ryder Cup once again.”

Moving on

Wake Forest alum Michael Brennan is among 10 players from the PGA Tour Americas who are moving up. Brennan won three times to secure Korn Ferry Tour membership, and he picked up a $25,000 bonus for leading the Fortinet Cup in Canada.

Brennan also secured a spot in the RBC Canadian Open next year.

The others from the top 10 who move on to the Korn Ferry Tour are Jay Card III, Davis Lamb, David Perkins, Brett White, Derek Hitchner, John Marshall Butler, Drew Nesbitt, Theo Humphrey and Carson Bacha.

Nesbitt also gets into the Canadian Open as the top Canadian on the points list.

Divots

Tyrrell Hatton now has gone eight consecutive Ryder Cup matches without losing, dating to his singles loss to Justin Thomas in 2021 at Whistling Straits. ... The Netherlands can count on local presence when it hosts the Solheim Cup next year. Anne van Dam has been appointed a vice captain for Anna Nordqvist. ... Nicolas Colsaerts is making his 500th career start on the European tour this week in the Dunhill Links Championship. Colsaerts is retiring from full-time golf after this year. ... The Travelers Championship generated more than $4 million for 245 charities, the most in its tournament history. ... The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and the Memorial again will provide one spot into the British Open for the leading player not already exempt. The Canadian Open will have three spots.

Stat of the week

Starting with the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone, Scottie Scheffler has won 38 percent of the tournaments he has played and 22 percent of his Ryder Cup matches.

Final word

“It’s the best. It’s more fun than any event we play. There’s nothing else you can be a part of where you can just get your face kicked in like we did the first two days and have that much fun.” — Justin Thomas on the Ryder Cup.


Osimhen scores from the spot as Galatasaray beat Liverpool 1-0

Osimhen scores from the spot as Galatasaray beat Liverpool 1-0
Updated 01 October 2025

Osimhen scores from the spot as Galatasaray beat Liverpool 1-0

Osimhen scores from the spot as Galatasaray beat Liverpool 1-0
  • The win was a first in seven years at home in the Champions League for the Turkish side and a notable one against opponents unbeaten in all competitions until last weekend
  • Liverpool’s Brazilian keeper ruled out of Chelsea game

ISTANBUL: Victor Osimhen scored from the spot as Galatasaray dealt Liverpool a stinging second successive defeat on a tough Champions League night in Istanbul on Tuesday.

To add injury to the 1-0 result, Liverpool lost goalkeeper Alisson and French striker Hugo Ekitike with manager Arne Slot ruling the Brazilian out of Liverpool’s next Premier League game at Chelsea.

“It’s never positive if you go off like this. You can be sure he’s not playing on Saturday and let’s wait how long it’s going to take,” he said of Alisson, who made key saves but could not keep out Osimhen’s 16th-minute penalty.

The masked Nigerian striker stepped up after Baris Alper Yilmaz went down on being swiped in the face by Dominik Szoboszlai.

Salah started on the bench

Liverpool made three changes to the lineup that suffered a first league defeat of the season by Crystal Palace at the weekend, with Mohamed Salah on the bench along with record signing Alexander Isak.

Both came on in the 62nd minute when Liverpool made a triple substitution, with Salah replacing starter Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing, after Alisson had gone off injured and was replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 56th.

Ekitike, in the starting lineup on his return from a domestic suspension, went off in the 68th on a bruising night for the visitors who had their chances but looked alarmingly vulnerable in defense.

The win was a first in seven years at home in the Champions League for the Turkish side and a notable one against opponents unbeaten in all competitions until last weekend and now dealt two losses in a row.

Galatasaray could have been in front already in the second minute when Yilmaz caught the defense napping and went one on one with Alisson, who stood firm and shut out the danger.

Liverpool then missed a golden chance of their own in the 13th when Ekitike miscued the ball after getting into a scoring position and Cody Gakpo had a shot cleared off the line on the rebound.

From almost taking the lead, Liverpool found themselves behind seconds later.

“We are sometimes a bit outsmarted in situations like this, and I cannot blame Dom for that situation. They make from a 20 percent penalty, maybe a 100 percent penalty. And that is something that is very smart of them,” said Slot.

The visitors had the chance to equalize in the 32nd, with another Ekitike shot blocked and Ibrahima Konate missing from close range, but continued to look vulnerable and gave away a free kick on the edge of the area on the stroke of halftime.

The second half brought a raft of substitutions but no change on the pitch and Liverpool still looking nervous in defense, with loose passing as Galatasaray worked constantly to keep up the pressure.

Alisson limped off after saving from Osimhen and Ekitike then pulled up after stretching for the ball.

Liverpool sniffed an equalizer in the 88th when referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot but was overruled by a VAR review correctly deciding that Wilfried Singo had played the ball.

“For me this was a different performance on the ball and off the ball than it was last Saturday,” said Slot.

“First half I think we played quite well, we had a big chance to go one-nil up and then the counter-attack. I don’t think he touched him with his leg, it was the hand that made it a penalty.”

Fans displayed banners protesting the war in Gaza at both ends of the pitch, with a tribute to the late Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva before the kickoff.


Griezmann scores 200th Atletico goal in 5-1 win over Frankfurt

Griezmann scores 200th Atletico goal in 5-1 win over Frankfurt
Updated 01 October 2025

Griezmann scores 200th Atletico goal in 5-1 win over Frankfurt

Griezmann scores 200th Atletico goal in 5-1 win over Frankfurt
  • Griezmann eventually reached his milestone with a strike from close range in first-half stoppage time, celebrating with an Atletico shirt bearing “200” on the back as the club’s record goalscorer

MADRID: Antoine Griezmann scored his 200th goal for Atletico Madrid as they secured their first Champions League win of the season with a 5-1 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday after Julian Alvarez also netted twice.
Playing without suspended manager Diego Simeone after his red card in their 3-2 opening defeat at Liverpool, Atletico took charge from the start, buoyed by a fervent home crowd still celebrating Saturday’s 5-2 derby thrashing of Real Madrid.
Atletico opened the scoring after four minutes through Giacomo Raspadori, who capitalized on a loose ball in the box after the defense failed to clear an Alvarez effort from a Giuliano Simeone cross, leaving the former Napoli striker unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box.
Griezmann missed a gilt-edged chance midway through the first half, slicing a volley from close range and immediately falling to his knees in disbelief.
But Robin Le Normand extended Atletico’s lead in the 32nd minute, firing home the rebound after Griezmann’s back-heeled effort from a corner was saved.
Griezmann eventually reached his milestone with a strike from close range in first-half stoppage time, celebrating with an Atletico shirt bearing “200” on the back as the club’s record goalscorer.
Alvarez provided the assist with a brilliant run past two defenders before serving the ball on a plate for the French forward to score.
Frankfurt threatened a comeback when Jonathan Burkhardt’s deflected effort wrongfooted keeper Jan Oblak in the 57th minute but Giuliano Simeone restored a three-goal cushion with a clever near-post header from a corner two minutes after Griezmann had a second goal ruled out for handball in the build-up.
Alvarez completed the rout in the 82nd minute, chipping home a penalty after VAR spotted a handball by Robin Koch that the referee initially missed, sealing a comprehensive victory that sets up a mouth-watering clash at Arsenal in three weeks’ time.
“I have enjoyed a lot this evening, it’s a great feeling. I’m very proud to have reached the 200-goal mark,” Griezmann told Movistar Plus. “It’s been tough but together we’ve managed to achieve it.
“The team is in good form. The comeback against Rayo (Vallecano in a 3-2 LaLiga win last Wednesday) did us good. We’re on a roll and we have to keep it up. We’re pressing hard, being aggressive and setting a fast pace for the game.
“That’s our strength, our style of football, and we have to keep it up. We want to score goals and not concede. We always want more.”


Kane shines again as Bayern cruise past Pafos in Champions League

Kane shines again as Bayern cruise past Pafos in Champions League
Updated 01 October 2025

Kane shines again as Bayern cruise past Pafos in Champions League

Kane shines again as Bayern cruise past Pafos in Champions League
  • The result made it two wins from two in the league phase for Bayern following their 3-1 win at home to Premier League side Chelsea on matchday one, in which Kane netted twice

PAPHOS, Cyprus: Harry Kane continued his rich goalscoring form with a brace and Nicolas Jackson scored his first Bayern Munich goal in a 5-1 win at Pafos in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The result made it two wins from two in the league phase for Bayern following their 3-1 win at home to Premier League side Chelsea on matchday one, in which Kane netted twice.
“We struggled away from home in the league phase last season,” Kane told German TV, calling the match “a good away win.”
“I’m going into games with confidence, knowing I’ll get my chances. Scored a couple more goals today, I’m happy with that,” he added.
Having set the record for the fastest man to 100 goals in a top-five league on Friday, doing so from 104 games, Kane was quick to get on the scoresheet, sliding the ball in with 14 minutes played.
Raphael Guerreiro got in on the action six minutes later, before Jackson added a third for the visitors on the 31st-minute mark.
The goal was Jackson’s first since joining on a season-long loan from Chelsea in the summer.
Not known for his dribbling, Kane took the ball past the Pafos defense down the left flank and hammered in with 34 minutes played. The goal was Kane’s 17th in nine games in all competitions for Bayern this season.
Pafos needed a stunner to pull one back just before half-time when Mislav Orsic unleashed a dipping rocket from outside the box, the club’s first-ever Champions League goal.
With 21 minutes remaining, Bayern’s Michael Olize rewarded himself with a goal, knocking in from a tight angle after Jackson shot straight at the goalkeeper.
The score was a fortunate reflection of the night for the Cypriot side, with Bayern hitting the woodwork three times.
The defending German champions have now won nine from nine to start the season, their best start in 13 years.