Buchanan named top female player
Defender Kadeisha Buchanan capped a remarkable campaign overseas Thursday with a domestic triumph, earning Canadian female soccer player of the year honours for the second time in three years.
The 22-year-old from Brampton, Ont., became the first Canadian international to hoist the Champions League trophy in June when Lyon outlasted Paris Saint-Germain 7-6 in a penalty shootout. Buchanan already has 72 caps for Canada. On Wednesday, Atiba Hutchinson was named male player of the year for a record sixth time.
Cards deal Piscotty to A’s
Stephen Piscotty has been traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Oakland Athletics for two infield prospects, allowing the outfielder to be near his family’s home in Pleasanton, Calif., following his mother’s diagnosis with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The 26-year-old Piscotty hit .235 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 107 games last season.
St. Louis receives Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock in the deal.
Player rights declared
Leaders from the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball players associations helped unveil a universal declaration of player rights that’s designed to establish a new approach to governing sports and protecting athletes.
Among the 17 articles laid out in the declaration are rights to unionize and collectively bargain, express opinions freely and receive equal pay for equal work.
The declaration was made Thursday by the World Players Association, which is affiliated with 100 organizations that represent 85,000 professional athletes.
Armstrong not welcome
Authorities in Belgium have criticized an invitation to disgraced former cyclist Lance Armstrong as a special guest at next year’s Tour of Flanders cycling classic.
Armstrong won seven Tour de France titles, but the American was stripped of them because of doping. Regional Sports Minister Philippe Muyters called it “a totally wrong signal” to aspiring riders and the cycling world at large.
A virtual Raptors Uprising
Toronto’s virtual entry in the NBA 2K League next season will be known as the Raptors Uprising Gaming Club (GC). The first year of the basketball video game circuit will feature 17 teams. Competition starts in May — CP FILES