First Posted: 1/12/2015
ZURICH — Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Player of the Year award for the second straight year on Monday and third time overall.
The Portuguese forward, who led Real Madrid to its record 10th European title, received 37.66 percent of votes of national team coaches and captains and selected media to add to the FIFA awards he won in 2008 and 2013.
Ronaldo scored 61 goals last year for club and country, and set a Champions League season record with 17.
“I want to become one of the greatest players of all time,” he said through a translator in his acceptance speech. “Of course, this requires a lot of effort and I hope to get there.”
Lionel Messi, the Argentine star forward on Barcelona, was second in voting with 15.76 percent, just ahead of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (15.72), who helped Germany to the World Cup title.
German midfielder Nadine Kessler won the Women’s Player of the Year for the first time, getting 17.52 percent to beat out Brazilian forward Marta (14.16) and American forward Abby Wambach (13.33). Marta was a five-time winner from 2006-10 and Wambach won in 2012.
Spencerville seeks volleyball coach
SPENCERVILLE — Spencerville High School is accepting applications for the position of varsity volleyball head coach for the 2015 season.
Applicants should send a resume to athletic director Troy Montenery at [email protected] or 2500 Wisher Drive, Spencerville, OH, 45887. Applications will be taken through January 31.
Sports card show in Fort Wayne
There will be a sports card and collectibles shows at the Hotel Fort Wayne, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Hotel Fort Wayne is at 305 E. Washington Center Rd. (exit 312a off of I-69) in Fort Wayne.
Admission is free.
Red Wings’ goalie Howard to miss All-Star Game
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says a groin injury will prevent starting goalie Jimmy Howard from playing in the NHL All-Star Game in two weeks.
Babcock listed Howard week to week in providing the update after practice in Buffalo on Monday.
Howard was hurt and carted off the ice during in a 3-1 win at Washington on Saturday. It was the same day he was one of five goalies named to play in the All-Star Game at Columbus on Jan. 25.
Howard has a 16-7-7 record and 2.11 goals-against average, which ranks second among goalies with 20 or more games played.
With Red Wings backup Jonas Gustavsson still nursing a shoulder injury, rookie Petr Mrazek will take over as the interim starter.
Jack Del Rio to get 2nd interview with Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will be the first candidate to have a second interview with the Oakland Raiders for their head coaching job as the two-week search could be nearing a conclusion.
A person with knowledge of the plans said Monday that Del Rio will interview with Oakland today.
Kentucky still No. 1 in AP Top 25
Kentucky remains No. 1 in the AP Top 25, though two overtime games loosened its hold on the top spot a bit.
The Wildcats (15-0) were atop 63 of 65 votes cast Monday, ending a run of five straight weeks as the unanimous No. 1. Kentucky beat Mississippi at home in overtime then won in double overtime at Texas A&M.
Virginia (15-0) earned the other two first-place votes and moved up a spot to No. 2 as the only other unbeaten team after Duke’s loss at North Carolina State.
Gonzaga was third, followed by Duke — which fell from second and was among five top-10 losers — and Villanova.
Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State and Wyoming were new to the poll, with 25th-ranked Wyoming in for the first time since 1988.
