Tiger Woods announces return, Nets hire Jacque Vaughn as new head coach, Astros sign 1-year contract with Dusty Baker, NASCAR reveals 2023 season, Blatter says picking Qatar for World Cup "a mistake," and more sports news.
Tiger Woods announces return
After a long absence, Tiger Woods announced that he will be joining a limited field in his own golf event, " the Hero World Challenge, later in November at Albany in the Bahamas, golf.com reported. A week later, Woods will play in another edition of The Match with teammate Rory McIlroy against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
"I am excited to announce that I will be in the field for this year’s #HeroWorldChallenge," Woods tweeted on Wednesday. "A big welcome to
@K_Kisner and @TommyFleetwood1 for joining us as well. See you soon at Albany!"
Nets hire Jacque Vaughn as new head coach,
The Brooklyn Nets officially named Jacque Vaughn as the team's head coach on Wednesday. Vaughn had been serving as interim head coach since replacing former coach Steve Nash on Nov. 1. Vaughn's promotion comes with a deal through the 2023-24 season, ESPN reported.
Astros sign 1-year contract with Dusty Baker
The Houston Astros have offered manager Dusty Baker a one-year contract for the 2023 season, team owner Jim Crane announced on Wednesday. Details of the deal were not revealed, ABC reported.
"If I win one, I want to win two," Baker said ahead of the deal, referring to a world series victory.
"I wasn't just talking," Baker said after signing the contract. "I meant what I said. I'd love to keep my word."
NASCAR reveals 2023 season start times, TV networks
The 2023 NASCAR cup series will begin on Sunday, February 5 at the LA Memorial Coliseum, erring on Fox and beginning at 8 PM, with the second race "duel at Daytona" on Thursday, February 16 on FS1. Fox or FS1 will televise the remaining 2 Sunday races, as well as the 4 races in March, 5 races in April, 4 races in May, and the first 2 races in June. The remaining races from June through November will be carried on either NBC or USA. The season ends on Sunday, November 5, in Phoenix, starting at 3 PM on NBC, NBC Sports reported.
The 2023 NASCAR XFINITY series begins on Saturday, February 18 at Daytona starting at 5 PM on FS1, and will continue through Saturday, November 4 in Phoenix at 7 PM on USA. Fox or FS1 will televise the races from February through Saturday, June 10, then coverage will move to USA or NBC beginning June 24 through November 4.
Ex-FIFA Pres. Blatter says picking Qatar for World Cup "a mistake"
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said it was a mistake to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup finals, which FIFA's executive committee voted 14-8 in favor of hosting the tournament ahead of the United States, citizen digital reported.
"It was a mistake," Blatter said in an interview. "It was based on a decision when I was president, and therefore I bear part of the responsibility for it."
"I didn't care if someone was influenced here or there," Blatter continued, adding that, "other forces were at work."
"The Qataris didn't give gifts to the people who were voting, they gave them to their countries," Blatter added.
Blatter was forced to step down in 2015 as FIFA president after 17 years over allegations he unlawfully arranged a transfer of two million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) to Platini, who was also forced to resign from his position at FIFA. At a fraud trial in Switzerland in July, both were found not guilty.