RAFAEL NADAL received Spanish newspaper Marca's "La Leyenda" ("The Legend") award in an event "celebrating MARCA's 75th anniversary." Nadal received the most votes from Marca readers as "the best Spanish sportsperson in history," beating out former cyclist MIGUEL INDURAIN, who finished second, and NBA L.A. Lakers player PAU GASOL (MARCA, 11/26). ... Argentine first division side River Plate coach RAMÓN DÍAZ "has put in doubt his status as coach of the club." Díaz said, "When the season is over we will see what decision I make. I am going to do the best thing for the club." River Plate is currently 17th in the standings in the 20-team Argentine first division (CLARIN, 11/26). ... Former Paraguayan footballer CAYETANO RÉ, who played for La Liga sides Elche and Barcelona, died Tuesday at the age of 75 (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 11/26). ... The upcoming election for the presidency of Spanish second division side Deportivo La Coruña is "heating up." One of the candidates to lead the club, GERMÁN RODRÍGUEZ, said, "If I cannot convince fans to vote for us, vote for [incumbent] AUGUSTO CÉSAR LENDOIRO ahead of [fellow candidate] TINO FERNÁNDEZ" (MARCA, 11/25). ... J. League side Cerezo Osaka announced on Monday that it "will not extend the contract" of Manager LEVIR CULPI. No successor "has been named" (KYODO, 11/25). ... Philippine boxer MANNY PACQUIAO said on Tuesday that "authorities had frozen all his domestic bank accounts over allegations of unpaid taxes from lucrative fights" in the U.S., leaving him financially paralyzed. The "shock announcement came just two days after Pacquiao, 34, resurrected his boxing career with a unanimous points decision win" over American BRANDON RIOS in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau (AFP, 11/26). ... Former S-League player GAYE ALASSANE, who is being detained without trial for being part of a global match-fixing ring, said that "he is prepared to plead guilty to all the allegations against him." In a bid to end his detention, the 39-year-old, who in the past denied any links to match-fixing, added that "he is also willing to testify in any criminal trial" (STRAITS TIMES, 11/26).
