U.S. SOCCER REBOOTS AND ELECTS CARLOS CORDEIRO PRESIDENT
FLA.» Carlos Cordeiro insists ORLANDO, he’s the right choice to lead the U.S. Soccer Federation, which must chart a new course after its men’s national team failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup.
The 61-year-old business executive won the governing body’s presidential election Saturday. He succeeds Sunil Gulati, who led the organization since 2006.
Cordeiro was Gulati’s right-hand man the past two years. Now, he’s charged, among other things, with running the U.S. end of a bid with Mexico and Canada for the right to host the 2026 World Cup.
He reiterated the ultimate goal is to help soccer realize its vast potential in the United States.
“I think we have an opportunity to transform it into a No. 1 sport. I think the demographics favor that,” Cordeiro said. “There’s a reason why the millennials identify with soccer. We have to do a number of things ourselves to make it happen, and make it happen more rapidly.”
The other candidates were: former men’s national team players Paul Caligiuri, Kyle Martino and Eric Wynalda, lawyers Steve Gans and Michael Winograd and former U.S. women’s goalkeeper Hope Solo.
Players now 7-6 in arbitration. PHOENIX» Atlanta pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and Oakland pitcher Kendall Graveman lost to their teams in salary arbitration.
The decisions left players with a 7-6 lead. There is one decision pending in the case of Cleveland pitcher Trevor Bauer, and there are nine upcoming hearings scheduled.
Foltynewicz went to arbitration with the Braves over a difference of $100,000, the smallest gap in a hearing since 1994.
He will get a raise from $544,000 to $2.2 million, rather than the $2.3 million he requested. Graveman goes from $545,000 to $2.36 million, instead of the $2.6 million he sought.
Venus puts U.S. on the board.
N.C.» Venus Williams defeated ASHEVILLE, Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-4 as the United States opened its Fed Cup title defense.
Williams broke five straight times to overcome her shaky serve. The players exchanged breaks in the first five games of the second set.
• Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova overcame a second-set scare to beat Viktorija Golubic 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 and give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead against Switzerland in the Fed Cup first round.
Truex starts sixth in Clash race.
FLA.» Furniture Row DAYTONA BEACH, Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. will start sixth, outside Row 3, in Sunday’s non-points Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway.
The qualifying order for the 17-car, 75-lap race at the 2½-mile tri-oval was determined in a random draw by the crew chiefs of the participating teams.
Austin Dillon will start on the pole. The Clash will be televised on Fox Sports 1 at 1 p.m. Mountain time.
Prior to the Clash will be Daytona 500 pole qualifying, and will be televised on KDVR-31. Truex will drive his primary 500 car in pole qualifying.
Father of Jason Garrett dies at 87. Jim Garrett, a longtime scout and NFL assistant coach and the father of Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, has died. He was 87.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers reworked the deals of two of their best players in all-pro guard David Decastro and standout defensive end Stephon Tuitt in an effort that cleared $13.26 million of cap space in 2018.
Saarel runs second-fastest time.
WASH.» University of Colorado SEATTLE, senior Ben Saarel ran the indoor 3,000 meters in 7:50.93 at the Husky Classic. His time is the second-fastest time in the NCAA and second alltime for CU.