Liberian President GEORGE WEAH will award his former football coach, ARSÈNE WENGER, his country's highest honor. Weah, the only African to have been named World Player of the Year, was signed by Wenger in '88 when he coached Ligue 1 side Monaco. Wenger is expected to be in Monrovia for the award ceremony on Friday (BBC, 8/21). ... French driver PIERRE GASLY will replace the departing DANIEL RICCIARDO at Red Bull Formula 1 next season. The 22-year-old, who drives for Red Bull's junior team, Toro Rosso, will line up alongside MAX VERSTAPPEN (BBC, 8/20). ... Cyclist PATRICK BEVIN signed a two-year extension with BMC Racing, "despite attracting interest from other World Tour teams." The "late scramble" for a new naming rights sponsor resulted in some of BMC Racing's leading riders "jumping ship" (STUFF, 8/21). ... MLB Miami Marlins Manager DON MATTINGLY will lead a team of major league all-stars against Japan's national team, Samurai Japan, in November. MLB VP for Asia JIM SMALL said that he hoped to announce a few players for the series that will start on Nov. 9, with three games at Tokyo Dome, one at Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium on Nov. 13 and the final two at Nagoya Dome "over the following two days" (KYODO, 8/21).
