A Thai sports official announced that former Major League Baseball player JOHNNY DAMON "has followed his family roots to Thailand to help the baseball minnows qualify for a leading int'l tournament." The 39-year-old, whose mother is Thai, will represent Thailand in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers (AFP, 11/15). ... German Hockey League (DEL) club EHC Red Bull Munich "has signed NHL Colorado Avalanche player PAUL STASTNY during the league's lockout." Stastny, 26, has scored 374 points in 427 NHL games. He "is expected to make his EHC debut on Friday in the team's game against Hannover" (DPA, 11/15). ... Spanish Davis Cup captain ALEX CORRETJA has chosen DAVID FERRER and NICOLAS ALMAGRO as his singles players for this weekend's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic (LIBERTAD DIGITAL, 11/15).
FATAL CRASH: Motorsport "has been rocked by the death" of biker LUIS CARREIRA ahead of the Macau Grand Prix. The 35-year-old Portuguese "crashed on Fisherman's Bend during qualifying" Thursday at the Guia circuit. No other riders "were involved in the accident." Race organizers said that "two doctors went to the rider's aid, and he was then taken to a hospital but was declared dead about 20 minutes after arriving" (London DAILY MAIL, 11/15). ... UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI has presented an award to Ireland's supporters for their exemplary behavior at Euro 2012. Platini traveled to Dublin to present the award ahead of Wednesday's int'l friendly between Ireland and Greece. The award "has been dedicated by the FA of Ireland and Irish fans to the memory of 21-year-old JAMES NOLAN, who tragically lost his life while supporting his country in Poland (UEFA). ... Swim coach BILLY PYE, whose swimmers took home 11 medals at this summer's Paralympic Games, "won Sport Wales Coach of the Year" (ITV, 11/15).
RED CARPET: Prometheus actor MICHAEL FASSBENDER "will lend his voice to 1, a high-octane documentary from award-winning filmmaker PAUL CROWDER. 1 is being billed as an action documentary that tells the story of the charismatic drivers who risked their lives during F1’s golden era from the late '60s onward. Using rare archival footage, 1 will chart the birth of the sport. It will also feature interviews with F1 icons including BERNIE ECCLESTONE, JACKIE STEWART, NIGEL MANSELL, MICHAEL SCHUMACHER, LEWIS HAMILTON and JENSON BUTTON." The film, made by Exclusive Media's Spitfire Pictures, made its "debut at a specially arranged preview in Texas" Thursday night with Fassbender's voiceover set to be added at a later date (RADIO TIMES, 11/15). ... FIFA General Secretary JÉRÔME VALCKE will be assisted by Brazilian model ADRIANA LIMA and Brazilian Chef ALEX ATALA with the drawing for the 2013 Confederations Cup in São Paulo on Dec. 1 (FOLHA DE S. PAULO, 11/15).
