Red Sox' Beckett suspended six games
NEW YORK, April 14 (UPI) -- Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett was suspended for six games for apparently intentionally throwing at a batter.
Beckett was also fined an undisclosed amount, American League officials said Tuesday, for his actions during a game against the Los Angeles Angels.
The league ruled the Beckett deliberately threw toward the head of the Angels' Bobby Abreu in the first inning of Sunday's game. Beckett was taking time between pitches and Abreu asked for a time out, and was given it, just before Beckett went into his windup.
Beckett completed the motion, with the pitch sailing up and in on the left-handed-hitting Abreu.
The batter wasn't hit but words were exchanged and both benches emptied. Three members of the Angels, but not Beckett, were thrown out of the game.
Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher was suspended for one game and fined while players Torii Hunter and Justin Speier were fined. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia, who was ejected an inning later, was also fined.
Los Angeles won the game 5-4.
De La Hoya, 10-time world champ, retires
LOS ANGELES, April 14 (UPI) -- Oscar De La Hoya, who won a total of 10 world championships in six different weight classes, said Tuesday he is retiring from boxing.
De La Hoya, 36, was nicknamed the "Golden Boy" and ends his career with a 39-6-0 record with 30 knockouts. He was considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of his time.
His last fight was Dec. 6 when he was beaten by Manny Pacquiao.
"Every time I stepped inside the ring, I gave it my best," De La Hoya said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to be the best outside the ring. That is just as important as everything I've accomplished inside the ring."
De La Hoya won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in 1992 and picked up his first professional title in 1994 with a WBO super featherweight win over Jimmi Bredahl. His last championship was won in May 2006 when he returned from a 20-month layoff and beat Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC light middleweight title.
He also won championships in lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and middleweight classes.
Maryland works to keep Preakness
ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 14 (UPI) -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed emergency legislation that will help the state keep the Preakness Stakes, the middle leg of the Triple Crown, in Baltimore.
The measure enacted Tuesday gives Maryland officials the right to buy or exercise eminent domain over properties owned by the Maryland Jockey Club, including the Pimlico Race Course where the Preakness is run. Two other horse facilities are included but so are rights and racing events associated with the Preakness, including the race's Woodlawn Vase trophy.
"Maryland's horse industry not only generates tens of thousands of jobs," O'Malley said in a statement when the bill was introduced, "and produces a substantial economic impact for our State, but our centuries-old heritage of horse racing and horse breeding is woven deeply into the cultural fabric of Maryland."
The Maryland General Assembly fast-tracked the Preakness measure in light of the bankruptcy filing by track owner Magna Entertainment Corp. All of the company's assets are for sale during reorganization.
The year's Preakness Stakes, the 134th since the race was first run in 1873, is scheduled for May 16.
Isiah Thomas named Fla. Int'l Univ. coach
MIAMI, April 14 (UPI) -- Florida International University Tuesday has selected former NBA star Isiah Thomas to be its men's basketball coach.
It will the first collegiate coaching job for Thomas, who led the Detroit Pistons to a pair of NBA titles during his 13-year Hall of Fame playing career and also has five seasons of pro coaching experience with Indiana and New York on his resume.
"Coming back to the college game has always been a dream of mine and I didn't want to pass up an opportunity to go somewhere where we can build a basketball legacy together," Thomas in a statement released by the school. "A lot of people don't know that FIU is one of the 25 largest universities in the country with a tremendously strong alumni community standing behind us.
"Most important, I think we can get good players from across Florida and around the country to buy into our plan to make this a top-tier basketball program."
Thomas, 47, has a career NBA coaching record of 187-223.
