by THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Mosley has called for the introduction of a low-cost Cosworth engine from the 2010 season as part of cost-cutting measures being discussed with the teams. The FIA World Motor Sport Council will vote on the proposals Friday in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

"I don't think that's going to happen. Formula One is a manufactured sport, and you won't have Formula One without the manufacturers," Hamilton said. "What are you going to do? I can't imagine it (Formula One) ever being without Ferrari, without Mercedes Benz, without Renault."

-Bobby Labonte has been released from his contract with Petty Enterprises. Petty Enterprises has been unable to find sponsorship for the former NASCAR champion and is in danger of closing its storied organization if it can't work out a merger with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports.

\ GOLF

SORENSTAM STARTS LAST TOURNEY

Annika Sorenstam started the final tournament of her career with a 2-under 70, four shots off the lead at the Dubai Ladies Masters in the United Arab Emirates.

The defending champion closed with back-to-back bogeys at Emirates Golf Club after starting from the 10th tee. She double-bogeyed the 18th, but had seven birdies at the season-ending tournament on the Ladies European Tour.

Johanna Head of England opened with a bogey-free 66 to lead Anja Monke of Germany by two shots. England's Katharina Schallenberg, Sweden's Maria Boden and Italy's Veronica Zorzi each shot 69s.

-Corey Pavin was introduced as the next U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup, selected to lead a team in 2010 that will try to successfully defend the cup for the first time since 1993.

-Michael Jonzon of Sweden had three birdies and an eagle through seven holes en route to a bogey-free, 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with American Len Mattiace at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa.

\ SOCCER

ALLEGED MATCH BRIBE RECORDED

The Spanish football federation asked the State Prosecutor's Office to investigate an allegation of match-fixing relating to Athletic Bilbao's league match against Levante at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Last week, the station Popular TV released a recording of an alleged conversation between Levante president Julio Romero and defender Inaki Descarga which concerned a payment to several team members for throwing the match.

Bilbao beat Levante 2-0 to avoid its first-ever relegation and send Celta Vigo down to the second division.

-Colombian authorities have arrested 13 former top officials of the Independiente Medellin soccer club on money laundering and other charges related to drug traffickers' infiltration.

\ ETC.

SHORT-COURSE RECORD TRUMPED

The Italian 200-meter medley relay team set a world record in winning gold at the European short-course swimming championship in Rijeka, Croatia.

Mirco Di Tora, Alessandro Terrin, Marco Belotti and Filippo Magnini finished in 1 minute, 32.91 seconds, 0.85 seconds faster than the world mark set by the Russian team earlier in the day.

Also, Amaury Leveaux of France set a world record in the 50-meter freestyle, finishing the semifinal in 20.48 seconds.

-Two Belarusian hammer throwers were officially stripped of their silver and bronze medals from the Beijing Olympics because of high levels of testosterone, and a Polish canoeist also was disqualified for steroids use. The three cases bring to nine the number of athletes caught for doping in Beijing.

-Former NBA player Dirk Minniefield has been charged in an alleged $10 million mortgage scheme in the Houston area.

NORTHWEST

UW RUNS AWAY WITH HONORS

Washington's NCAA champions swept the postseason honors in Pac-10 women's cross country with freshman Kendra Schaaf named athlete of the year, Greg Metcalf named coach of the year and freshman Christine Babock named newcomer of the year.

In addition, UW runners earned six of the seven spots on the all-conference first team with Schaaf and Babcock joining seniors Anita Campbell and Amanda Miller, junior Katie Follett and sophomore Mel Lawrence.

-UW senior midfielder George John was a first-team pick on the All-Far West Region Team selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

-The Seattle Thunderbirds will move to their new home and play their first game at the new ShoWare Center in Kent on Jan. 3 against the Everett Silvertips. Tickets for the game go on sale Friday at 9 a.m. online only at seattlethunderbirds.com.

-Aubrey Villyard, a long-time thoroughbred trainer and a top conditioner at Emerald Downs, died Tuesday after a long battle with leukemia. He was 67.

Copyright 2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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