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Soccer

Beckham signs with Galaxy

Resisting the lure of Paris for the sake of his family, David Beckham pledged his future to America's Major League Soccer on Wednesday by signing a new two-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 36-year-old midfielder had been courted by leading clubs across Europe in the months before his initial five-year Galaxy deal ran out in December, with Paris Saint-Germain's wealthy Qatari owners offering the most lucrative deal.

But Beckham turned down around $12 million a year with the glamorous French capital club for a less lucrative base salary at the Galaxy, which was previously paying him at least $6.5 million a year.

For the former England captain, whose career at Manchester United and Real Madrid turned him into a celebrity who transcended sport, the deal wrapped up in Los Angeles could be the last of his playing career.

"This was an important decision for me," Beckham said in a statement. "I had many offers from clubs from around the world; however, I'm still passionate about playing in America and winning trophies with the Galaxy."

It took until November, though, to collect his first trophy in the United States, delivering the Galaxy's first MLS Cup since 2005. It followed Premier League, La Liga and Champions League triumphs during his career in Europe.

U.S. women's team staying put despite fatal hotel shooting

The U.S. women's team is staying put despite a fatal shooting at the hotel in Vancouver, B.C., where the players are staying for the Olympic qualifying tournament.

"We know we're in a very safe place," said goalkeeper Hope Solo, the former Huskies star.

No one in the American delegation witnessed the shooting, which took place at the Sheraton Wall Centre. Police found the body of a man dead in one of the hotel's restaurants.

After the shooting, Solo tweeted: "Saved by our instant yoga session. Was about to walk to starbucks when all hell broke loose in the lobby of our hotel! Life is precious."

Barcelona beats Real Madrid

Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal scored rare goals to rally Barcelona over defending champion and host Real Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal. Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid ahead with a goal in the 11th minute.

Sporting KC signs midfielder

Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Michael Thomas, a hometown player who spent the past two seasons with Ljungskile SK in Sweden.

NHL

All-Star captains named

Daniel Alfredsson of the host Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara will serve as captains for the NHL All-Star Game. Picked by their fellow All-Stars, they will lead the team selection process at the Jan. 26 draft.

Elliott gets extension

The St. Louis Blues signed All-Star goaltender Brian Elliott to a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension. Elliott is 15-5-1 with five shutouts and a 1.68 goals-against average.

Jovanovski sidelined

The Florida Panthers could be without Ed Jovanovski for two months after the veteran defenseman underwent surgery to fix a broken hand. Jovanovski injured his hand in a first-period fight against the Boston Bruins on Monday.

Michigan may host winter game

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said the school and the NHL are discussing bringing the Winter Classic to Michigan Stadium.

Brandon said conversations about the annual showcase game outdoors were continuing amid reports the Detroit Red Wings would play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 1, 2013, at the Big House, which holds 110,000 for football games.

The NHL said it had no comment.

Boxing

Mayweather donates $100,000

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has made good on a promise to a Nevada judge to donate $100,000 to a breast cancer support organization. The undefeated prizefighter gave the money to officials from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure research and support foundation.

Mayweather's lawyers promised the judge who sentenced Mayweather in December in a domestic battery case that the boxer would make the donation. Mayweather is due to serve a 90-day jail sentence in the case beginning June 1.

College squash

Trinity's winning streak ends

The longest winning streak in college sports is over. Trinity College lost a match to Yale 5-4, snapping a 252-match winning streak that dated back to the 1997-98 season. The Bantams are the 13-time defending national champions.

Elsewhere

• Doug Bruno, Marynell Meadors and Jennifer Gillom will serve as assistant coaches with the U.S. women's basketball team at this summer's London Olympics. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma is the Olympic head coach.

• Eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb took the lead on the first day of the season-opening Monte Carlo rally after Jari-Matti Latvala rolled his car and fell out of contention. Loeb powered his Citroen to the fastest time in three of the day's four stages, and the Frenchman leads Daniel Sordo of Spain by just over a minute.

• Lamont Peterson's camp submitted an appeal to the WBA asking it to overturn a decision ordering a rematch against Amir Khan, the British fighter who lost his WBA and IBF belts in a hotly disputed bout.

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