Liverpool Manager BRENDAN RODGERS "has been rewarded for an impressive season with a new long-term contract." Rodgers took Liverpool to the runners-up spot behind Man City in the Premier League. Now he "has been rewarded with a contract which is understood to run until 2018." Chair JOHN HENRY said, "Players and supporters have made it clear how important Brendan is to our success and so to have him commit to us for the long term is a great boost for everyone going forward" (LONDON TIMES, 5/26). ... Sussex and England cricket player CHRIS JORDAN has been named brand ambassador for Octopus Investments, which sponsors the Birmingham Bears and Surrey T20 sides. The deal runs through the '14 season (Octopus Investments). ... FC Barcelona President JOSEP BARTOMEU has been appointed to the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council through '15. Bartomeu replaces former FC Barcelona President SANDRO ROSELL, who gave up his duties at the beginning of this year following his resignation at FC Barcelona (FC Barcelona). ... Mahindra Racing announced that KARUN CHANDHOK and BRUNO SENNA will join the team for the inaugural Formula E season (Formula E).
BOTTOMS UP: Former ManU Manager ALEX FERGUSON "has sold off part of his wine collection" for more than £2.2M ($3.7M) at auction. The wines "were offered at a sale in Hong Kong in the first of three auctions." Further sales "will take place in London on June 5 and online from June 9 to 23." A total of 257 lots were offered and 229 lots were sold. The auction house "was not able to confirm the number of bottles sold" (London INDEPENDENT, 5/24). ... Pakistani cricket chiefs on Friday "publicly disowned" Sussex pace-man NAVEED ARIF, "who has been suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board on charges of match-fixing." Pakistan Cricket Board Chair NAJAM SETHI said they had “no relations” with Arif (PAKISTAN TODAY, 5/24). ... Newly elected Korea Basketball League Commissioner KIM YOUNG-KI "has pledged to make the league more fun to watch in order to attract more fans." The 78-year-old KBL advisor "overwhelmed his opponent" KIM IN-KYU, a former president of state-run broadcaster KBS, "in his bid for the post by securing eight votes out of the 10 basketball clubs" (KOREA TIMES, 5/23).
