Briefs | Soccer: Beckham, wife enjoy posh introduction in Italy

Soccer

Beckham to play for AC Milan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy: David Beckham insists this has everything to do with soccer and nothing to do with fashion and celebrity.

The 33-year-old midfielder also acknowledged Saturday that playing for AC Milan of Italy on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer is a gamble.

Beckham, a former superstar for Manchester United of England and Real Madrid of Spain, said the move fulfills his dream of playing with a top Italian team and his goal of staying in shape during the MLS offseason in an attempt to keep a spot on England's team.

"I wouldn't take this opportunity if I didn't think that I could help the team and help the club," Beckham said during his introductory news conference at San Siro Stadium in Milan. "There are some great players out there. I don't expect to be starting on the first day because it doesn't happen that way."

England manager Fabio Capello has said it is not enough for Beckham to train with AC Milan — he also must play in matches to be considered for the national team.

Beckham, who will wear No. 32, is bringing plenty of celebrity buzz with him to Italy. He is married to fashion icon Victoria Beckham and the player himself has done underwear ads for the designer Armani. Beckham said Milan's status as a fashion capital did not enter into his decision.

"No, fashion had nothing to do with my choice in coming to Milan," he said. "The red-and-black shirt was the reason I came to Milan, and the history behind the club."

Victoria Beckham sat in the front row during the news conference, wearing a short-sleeved dress, black gloves and stiletto heels. "Posh Spice" has recently signed as the spokeswoman for an Armani lingerie line.

The loan begins Jan. 7 and expires March 9, AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said. Beckham is to join AC Milan teammates at a training camp in Dubai on Dec. 29.

Baseball

Retired pitcher Ellis dies at 63: Dock Ellis, who infamously claimed he pitched a no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates under the influence of LSD and later fiercely spoke out against drug and alcohol addiction, died Friday at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 63.

"It's a tremendous loss to the family," said his wife, Hjordis. "He's been struggling for about a year with the end stages of liver disease."

Ellis went 138-119 with a 3.46 earned-run average from 1968 to 1979, spending most of his career with the Pirates. He went 19-9 in 1971, when Pittsburgh won the World Series.

In 1970, Ellis overcame eight walks to pitch a no-hitter for the Pirates in San Diego. Several years after he retired, the right-hander said he was high on LSD during the victory.

Volleyball

Penn State perfection: Megan Hodge had 16 kills and Penn State ended its perfect season with a second consecutive NCAA championship, sweeping Stanford 25-20, 26-24, 25-23 in the final in Omaha, Neb.

Penn State (38-0) won its NCAA-record 64th match in a row since a September 2007 loss to Stanford.

The Cardinal (31-4) became the first team to lose in the women's title match three consecutive times.

Olympics

IOC has almost $5 million tied to Madoff: The International Olympic Committee could lose nearly $5 million in investments tied to the Wall Street financier accused in a $50 billion financial scam.

Richard Carrion, IOC finance commission chairman, said the IOC has about $4.8 million at risk in the alleged Ponzi scheme by Bernard Madoff. Although the IOC's money wasn't directly in Madoff funds, Carrion said it is "in funds invested in Madoff funds."

Horse racing

Pioneerof the Nile prevails in photo finish: Pioneerof the Nile beat 6-1 shot I Want Revenge by a nose to take the Grade I CashCall Futurity for 2-year-olds at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

Pioneerof the Nile, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Garrett Gomez, ran 1-1/16 miles in 1 minute, 41-4/5 seconds. The Kentucky-bred colt was favored in the field of 11 and paid $4.80 to win in the $750,000 race.

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