Sports Briefs: Donavan named MVP of MLS

SOCCER

Donavan named MVP

SEATTLE - Long considered the best player in the U.S., Landon Donovan is now the best player in Major League Soccer.

The Los Angeles Galaxy forward and six-time national player of the year was named the MLS most valuable player yesterday for the first time in his career.

Despite all his accolades as the leader of the U.S. national team, Donovan had yet to be recognized by his own league until this season when he helped the Galaxy race to the MLS Cup final and overcame some of his own off-the-field distractions.

• Ireland appealed to France and FIFA to replay their World Cup playoff after an obvious hand ball by Thierry Henry set up the deciding goal. Ireland's government and soccer association asked for Wednesday's 1-1 draw in the second leg at Stade de France to be replayed. FIFA said it received Ireland's request for a replay, though it was unclear if the governing body of soccer would seriously consider it.

  COLLEGE FOOTBALL

  Ex-Jayhawks say coach is abusive

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Former Kansas football players are speaking out about the treatment they received from embattled coach Mark Mangino.

The university is investigating an unspecified personnel issue involving the eight-year coach of the Jayhawks.

Former player Raymond Brown says he once dropped a pass in practice - and Mangino threatened to send him home, where he might be shot like his little brother had been only days earlier.

Another player told The Associated Press that Mangino made insensitive comments about a teammate's father being an alcoholic.

AUTO RACING

RWR moving team to Toyota

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Rusty Wallace Racing is moving its Nationwide Series team from Chevrolet to Toyota next season.

Wallace, who is a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, also will represent the Toyota brand on a national basis.

His team will field cars for Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan. RWR has used Chevrolets the past two seasons.

Wallace says he toured Toyota's racing facility in North Carolina and became convinced that the manufacturer has the best products for the Nationwide Series.

• Penske Racing has hired the Will Power, the 28-year-old Australian, to drive full time next year after giving the Indy Racing League driver a part-time gig last season. He will drive the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dallara/Honda for a team that features three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe.

GOLF

Ochoa takes 1-shot lead

RICHMOND, Texas - Lorena Ochoa shot a 66 and has a 1-shot lead over Reilley Rankin after the first round of the LPGA's season-ending Tour Championship.

Michelle Wie, fresh off her first LPGA victory last week, shot a 72. She limped through her round on a sprained left ankle that she first injured at the Solheim Cup in August. She was going for treatment after her round and withdrew about an hour later.

The first round was suspended due to darkness at 5:25 p.m. Four threesomes will finish their first rounds today.

• The LPGA Tour is adding a new $1.7 million tournament at La Costa Resort & Spa outside San Diego in 2010.

The LPGA Classic Presented by J Golf will be played March 22-28 at the resort in Carlsbad the week prior to the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the year's first major.

• After failing to find a venue to replace Upper Montclair Country Club, the Sybase Classic has dropped off the LPGA Tour schedule for 2010. Tournament organizer Octagon Worldwide didn't renew its contract with Upper Montclair after a three-run at the course, then was unable to reach a deal with Essex County Country Club in West Orange.

  ELSEWHERE

• Undefeated Zenyatta and her owners, trainer and jockey will be honored with the Big Sport of Turfdom award from the Turf Publicists of America. Owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs and his wife, Dottie, and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will receive the 44th annual award on Dec. 8 at the Race Track Industry Program Symposium on Racing & Gaming in Tucson, Ariz. The award is given to someone who enhances coverage of thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and the sport's racing publicists.

• Opponents of the Brooklyn arena planned for the New Jersey Nets have filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn a state agency's approval of the project. The lawsuit was filed yesterday in Manhattan state Supreme Court. It seeks to block a Sept. 17 move by the Empire State Development Corp. to approve a delayed construction plan for the Atlantic Yards project.

Uga VII, the white English bulldog mascot for the University of Georgia's football team for almost two seasons, died yesterday of heart-related causes, the dog's owner said. The 56-pound dog, nicknamed "Loran's Best," died of congestive heart failure. The school said there would be a no mascot at Saturday's game in Athens against Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky, but that a wreath will be laid on Uga's doghouse on the Sanford Stadium sidelines.