HONOLULU — Race officials expect the Honolulu Marathon in December to be one of the world’s 10 largest marathons, topping 30,000 entrants for the first time in 10 years. Honolulu marathon expected to be top 10 in world ADVERTISING HONOLULU
Honolulu marathon expected to be
top 10 in world
HONOLULU — Race officials expect the Honolulu Marathon in December to be one of the world’s 10 largest marathons, topping 30,000 entrants for the first time in 10 years.
Honolulu Marathon Association President Jim Barahal said the race already has 4,000 more entrants than last year with just over two months left to register.
Barahal says he expects the race to generate at least $125 million in direct and indirect revenue.
Just over 19,000 entrants finished the marathon last year. Running USA says the New York City marathon set a world record with 47,133 finishers last year.
Honolulu’s race has already proven more popular among Hawaii locals. More than 11,000 have entered, compared with more than 8,000 last year.
Tomlin optimistic Harrison, Polamalu are ready
PITTSBURGH — Looks like Troy Polamalu and James Harrison are good to go for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he’s optimistic his two star defensive players to be ready when the Steelers (1-2) host the Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) on Sunday. Harrison hasn’t played this season while recovering from left knee trouble while Polamalu has missed the last two games due to a strained right calf.
Both players practiced on Monday, and barring a setback Pittsburgh could have its original starting defense available for the first time this season.
The Steelers have started 6-2 in each of Tomlin’s five seasons and haven’t lost back-to-back games since 2009. A loss would put them in an early hole behind AFC North front-runners Baltimore and Cincinnati, both 3-1.
Tigers’ Scherzer twists ankle
in title celebration
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Max Scherzer’s shoulder appears to be fine. His right ankle is another issue.
The Tigers’ right-hander will miss his start in the regular-season finale in Kansas City after twisting it during the on-field celebration of Detroit’s AL Central title Monday night.
Manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday that someone apparently stepped on Scherzer after the Tigers had streamed out of the dugout and were jumping into a joyous pile behind the pitcher’s mound.
The Tigers had just wrapped up the division title with a 6-3 victory over the Royals, giving them back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 1934-35 seasons.
WR Gaffney signs
with Dolphins;
Naanee released
DAVIE, Fla. — Receiver Jabar Gaffney has signed with the Miami Dolphins, who terminated the contract of receiver Legedu Naanee.
Gaffney, 31, had the best season of his career last year with Washington, then signed with the New England Patriots and was released at the end of training camp. He tried out a month ago with the Dolphins, who have been plagued by poor depth at the receiver spot.
Gaffney, who is in his 11th season, had 68 catches for 947 yards and five scores last year. He scored 27 touchdowns in two years at the University of Florida.
Naanee made only one catch this season.
The Dolphins on Tuesday also terminated the contract of defensive lineman Andre Fluellen. They waived-injured linebacker Mike Rivera.
Heyward-Bey back at practice for Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey practiced for the first time Tuesday since being hospitalized by a helmet-to-helmet hit as the Oakland Raiders worked on fixing their problems during the bye week.
Heyward-Bey took part in individual drills as the Raiders (1-3) held their first of two practices this week before getting four days off for the bye. He ran some routes and caught some passes in his first step back.
Heyward-Bey was knocked unconscious on Sept. 23 by a helmet-to-helmet hit in the end zone from Pittsburgh safety Ryan Mundy. Heyward-Bey appeared to be knocked out by the hit. He then crashed to the turf headfirst and his neck twisted awkwardly. He was taken to the hospital for a concussion and sprained neck.
Heyward-Bey did not practice last week as he waited to pass the NFL concussion tests. But he was able to participate Tuesday and said he plans to play in the team’s next game Oct. 14 at Atlanta.
Former big leaguer Gathright suspended for drugs
NEW YORK — Former major league outfielder Joey Gathright has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for an amphetamine.
The commissioner’s office issued the penalty Tuesday for violating the minor league drug program. It will take effect if the free agent signs with another big league organization.
The 31-year-old Gathright played seven seasons with Tampa Bay, Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs and Boston. He was in the majors with the Red Sox last year.
Gathright played this year for Triple-A Louisville in the Cincinnati system and with Bridgeport in the independent Atlantic League. He struck out leading off the game against Roger Clemens in late August during the seven-time Cy Young Award winner’s comeback at age 50.
Angels LHP Wilson to have elbow surgery
SEATTLE — Los Angeles Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson will have elbow surgery after the regular season to remove bone spurs.
Wilson said Tuesday that no date has been set for the surgery. Wilson threw his final game of the regular season on Monday night and got the victory in the Angels’ 8-4 victory. Wilson finished the season with a career-best 34 starts and went 13-10 with a 3.83 ERA.
Other than some occasional struggles with command, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he didn’t seeing anything to indicate the bone spurs were causing Wilson trouble during the season. He said Wilson didn’t receive any special treatment during the season.
NHL defines preseason losses
as lockout continues
NEW YORK — The financial losses are starting to pile up as a result of the NHL lockout.
And on Tuesday, the league made that public.
In speaking to reporters after talks finished up for the day between the NHL and the NHLPA, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly estimated that the league has lost $100 million in revenues from the canceled preseason.
And though they can pick up at any time, for the moment, there are no further talks scheduled. That only further increases speculation that regular-season games could be lost, with an announcement sometime this week. The season was slated to begin Oct. 11.
Djokovic, Tsonga
win at China Open
BEIJING — Novak Djokovic won his opening match at the China Open by defeating German qualifier Michael Berrer 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2 on Tuesday in his first match since losing the U.S. Open final.
Third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga downed Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), firing 14 aces.
Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny beat seventh-seeded German Tommy Haas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Among the women, Li Na defeated Russian Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-2, and Marion Bartoli overcame Japanese qualifier Ayumi Morita, 6-4, 6-3. Jelena Jankovic downed Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-1.
Murray wins
opener in Japan
Open title defense
TOKYO — Andy Murray opened the defense of his Japan Open title by beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the first round on Tuesday.
Murray withstood 17 aces from Karlovic at Ariake Colosseum.
In other matches, sixth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4, while eighth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan ousted compatriot Go Soeda 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Tommy Robredo of Spain topped Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-2, 6-4; Jeremy Chardy of France downed wild card Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-1, 7-5; and qualifier Dmitry Tursunov of Russia dispatched Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-4, 7-5.
By wire sources
