SOccer
Messi wins FIFA Player of the Year
• Lionel Messi became the first four-time winner of the FIFA Player of the Year award after shattering the world record with 91 goals last year for Barcelona and Argentina.
The 25-year-old won for the fourth straight time, beating Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta in voting announced Monday. His 91 goals topped Gerd Mueller’s mark of 85 for Bayern Munich and Germany in 1972.
Abby Wambach became the first American to win FIFA Women’s Player of the Year since Mia Hamm in 2001 and 2002.
Pia Sundhage was voted top women’s coach
College Football
Sooners’ Jefferson, Stills leave for NFL
• Oklahoma safety Tony Jefferson and receiver Kenny Stills plan to enter the NFL draft and skip their final season in college. Coach Bob Stoops said Monday that the Sooners wish Jefferson and Stills the best in the NFL. Jefferson was a second-team All-American this season after leading Oklahoma with 119 tackles. He also had two interceptions. Stills was the team’s leading receiver with 82 catches for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns. Oklahoma’s season ended Friday night with a 41-13 loss to Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
• Nevada athletic officials say they have reached an agreement with Texas A&M assistant Brian Polian to become the Wolf Pack’s next football coach. Nevada President Marc Johnson and athletic director Cary Groth said in a statement Monday that the deal is subject to approval later this week by the state Board of Regents. But they say they agree Polian is the man to replace longtime Nevada coach Chris Ault, who announced his retirement last month. The 38-year-old Polian was special teams coordinator and tight ends coach last season at Texas A&M.
• Former Virginia starting quarterback Michael Rocco is transferring to Richmond. Richmond coach Danny Rocco announced Monday that his nephew is joining the Spiders next season. Two other transfers — wide receiver Shane Savage from Cornell and tight end Sean Fitzpatrick from North Carolina — have also transferred to Richmond. Rocco played in 30 games over three seasons at Virginia and threw for 4,731 yards and 27 touchdowns with 24 interceptions.
• Eastern Michigan has hired ex-Ball State head football coach Stan Parrish as its new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Eagles head coach Ron English announced the appointment Monday. Parrish was an assistant at Ball State in 2005-08 and head coach for the Muncie, Ind., school in 2008-10.
Baseball
Reliever Gonzalez, Brewers finish deal
• Reliever Mike Gonzalez and the Milwaukee Brewers have finalized a $2.25 million, one-year contract. The deal with the 34-year-old left-hander, which had been agreed to on Dec. 28, allows him to earn an additional $400,000 in performances. Gonzalez had a 3.03 ERA and no record in 47 games last year with Washington, holding left-handed hitters to a .179 batting average. He has a 17-21 record with a 2.94 ERA and 56 saves with Pittsburgh (2003-06), Atlanta (2007-09), Baltimore (2010-11), Texas (2011) and Washington (2012).
— Associated Press
