MAGIC JOHNSON, will attend Sunday's Barcelona vs. Real Madrid clash at the Nou Camp stadium (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 10/4). ... RAFAEL NADAL's Coach TONI NADAL revealed that Rafa will start training again in 15 days and could possibly play in the Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic (SPORT, 10/3). ... FIFA will "reach a decision on Friday" about midfielder PARK JONG-WOO, who held up a sign asserting Korea's sovereignty over the Dokdo islets after a 2-0 victory over Japan at this year's London Games (THE CHOSUNILBO, 10/4). ... European Athletics revealed that Olympic heptathlon champion JESSICA ENNIS has been named the women's European athlete of 2012 (REUTERS, 10/4). ... The 2013 World Athletics Championship organizers in Moscow have declined the services of sprinter USAIN BOLT, who was supposed to appear in its promotional video, after he asked for "too high a fee" (RT.com, 10/4). ... Olympic kit designer STELLA MCCARTNEY has "taken gold" after enjoying her label's most successful year since its '01 launch. Profits for her label soared 16% to £3.29M ($5.31M) on turnover up 19% to £21M ($33.9M) (London GUARDIAN, 10/3). ... England Manager ROY HODGSON has apologized to ManU defender RIO FERDINAND after it emerged he had told fellow passengers on the Tube that Ferdinand would not be selected for the England squad (London INDEPENDENT, 10/4).
READY TO SERVE: Former Hiroshima Carp Manager KOJI YAMAMOTO has accepted the job of managing Japan at next March's World Baseball Classic. An announcement is expected after the end of Japan's regular season on Oct. 10 (KYODO, 10/4). ... Hanwha Eagles pitcher PARK CHAN-HO said Wednesday that he is "thinking about retirement." Park said, "I feel there is a strong need for further development in the administration side of the sport, not in players’ performance" (KOREA TIMES, 10/4). ... Vodafone Warriors prop BEN MATULINO "joined club greats" JOE VAGANA, JERRY SEUSEU, RUBEN WIKI and STEVE PRICE when he became the fifth prop in the club's history to win the premier Lion Red NRL Player of the Year award. A multiple winner of the players' Player of the Day accolade, Matulino finished "well clear of the other nominees, hooker NATHAN FRIEND, rookie centre-back rower BEN HENRY, captain SIMON MANNERING and back rower FELETI MATEO" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 10/4).
NOT ABOUT THE MONEY: F1 driver LEWIS HAMILTON has "denied that his decision to switch teams from McLaren to Mercedes was for financial reasons." The British driver spoke for the first time since signing a three-year deal with Mercedes that starts next season. Hamilton said, "It was not about the offer. I had two offers on the table, which were very, very similar. Martin [McLaren Team Principal MARTIN WHITMARSH] asked me what more they could have done. I said: 'To be honest, Martin, it was about the new challenge and a step that I wanted to make'" (London GUARDIAN, 10/3).
