Sports in Brief: MLS honors Union's Le Toux
Sebastien Le Toux of the Union won Major League Soccer's fair play award Wednesday in voting by the league's players, front-office personnel, and coaches, along with media members who cover MLS.
Sebastien Le Toux of the Union won Major League Soccer's fair play award Wednesday in voting by the league's players, front-office personnel, and coaches, along with media members who cover MLS.
The award goes to the player who exhibits sportsmanship and receives the fewest yellow and red cards during the regular season. Le Toux, 26, has not received a card in his two-year MLS career.
The Frenchman collected 14 goals and 11 assists for the expansion Union this season. He committed only 10 fouls in 2,520 minutes over 28 games.
"I'm very flattered to win this award," Le Toux said. "It is proof of what I try to show on and off the field on a daily basis, as well as my respect to the MLS rules and the fans."
The Los Angeles Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts was named the league's top goalkeeper. Andy Najar of D.C. United was named rookie of the year.
New England Revolution star Taylor Twellman retired because he is still feeling the effects of a concussion he suffered two years ago. His 101 career goals rank sixth in MLS history.
Branislav Ivanovic scored twice as Chelsea defeated Spartak Moscow, 4-1, and advanced to the Champions League's knockout round.
COLLEGES: Star forward Trey Thompkins severely sprained his right ankle in a scrimmage and is unlikely to play in Georgia's basketball season opener.
SURFING: Three-time world champion Andy Irons, 32, was found dead Tuesday in a hotel room in the Dallas area. The cause of death was not immediately known, but the county medical examiner ruled out foul play.
Irons was slated to compete Saturday in Puerto Rico, but he backed out, telling tournament organizers he had become ill during an event in Portugal.
TENNIS: Andy Roddick defeated fellow American Sam Querrey, 7-5, 7-6 (6), at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.
Juan Monaco of Argentina ousted defending champion Andy Murray, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, in the second round of the Valencia Open in Spain.
NOTEWORTHY: Destinee Hooker scored a team-high 20 points as the U.S. women beat Cuba, 30-28, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, at the world volleyball championship in Hamamatsu, Japan. . . . Edison Pena, one of the 33 rescued Chilean miners, is going to run in Sunday's New York City Marathon. Pena ran for miles each day in the gold and copper mine where the men were trapped for 69 days.
- Staff and wire reports