| Cubs keep Wood for $4.2 million
CHICAGO Given his history of arm problems, even Kerry Wood was surprised at all the interest he drew in free agency. While Wood was tempted to leave the Chicago Cubs, he couldn't be lured from the team he has pitched for his entire career. After making the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, Wood agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Cubs, spurning what general manager Jim Hendry said were numerous multiyear offers elsewhere. He called his decision to stay with the Cubs an easy one. "Chicago's my home," Wood said during a conference call. "Chicago's been great to me. There's no better place to play, especially if you're winning." Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses based largely on games finished from 20 to 55.
Hidayat, Super Dan on course for HK clash
HONG KONG � Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat and world number one Lin Dan remained on course for a Hong Kong Open badminton quarter-final showdown after crushing wins here yesterday. Lin �Super� Dan dispatched Englishman Andrew Smith 21-17, 21-5 while Hidayat routed China�s Chen Hong 21-11, 21-13 in just 23 minutes in the first round. Hidayat, still in search of his first Super Series title, will play South Korea�s Park Sung Hwan in round two on Thursday while Lin is strong favourite against Shoji Sato of Japan. Hidayat and Lin share badminton�s hottest rivalry, although the famously hot-tempered Indonesian has not beaten his Chinese rival since the 2005 world championship final. �I�m not thinking about Lin Dan yet,� Hidayat shrugged. �We�ll see the day after tomorrow.
Realignment process begins
A NCHSAA realignment committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday. No action will be taken at this meeting, but the preliminary draft proposal for the realignment of high school conferences for the 2009-10 school year will be given to the committee. The draft should be posted on the NCHSAA Web site by Thursday afternoon. * Prep basketball South Rowan is at Salisbury for a varsity basketball doubleheader tonight. The girls game will start at 6 p.m. Both girls teams are still unbeaten. Salisbury is 3-0, while South is 1-0. Both boys teams are searching for their first win. Davie County is home against Surry Central. * Mooresville's boys team was down the last two years, but the Blue Devils could return to being a big factor in the NPC this season.
Lights, music, parades set in south E.V.
�Tis the season to celebrate, and cities and towns in the south East Valley will be doing just that. Here is a list of holiday festivities in Gilbert, Queen Creek and Florence: � Gilbert is celebrating the holidays with Winter Wonderland at the Freestone Park Amphitheater, 1015 E. Juniper Ave. The free event, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13, will feature a holiday tree lighting, an appearance by Santa and performances by the Dickens� Carolers. For information, call Gilbert Community Services at (480) 503-6200. � Queen Creek is kicking off the holiday season by lighting up Town Hall and the 40-foot holiday tree out front with more than 20,000 lights. The event will feature local group performances, a snow play area and visits with Santa. Several new activities will be added this year, including a fine art market.
For your gamer's wish list
Someday Mario and Master Chief might replace Santa Claus as spokespeople for the holidays. Mario and Master Chief are the main characters of two of this season's hottest video games, and unlike jolly ol' St. Nick, all kids believe in Nintendo and Xbox. As always at this time of year, video games — specifically, the latest video game systems — are on the top of many wish lists. But what kid has the cash to drop on a new piece of hardware that can cost upwards of $500? It's up to the parents to pony up the coin. "X-Box 360 rocks 'cause the first-person online experience of 'Halo 3' is seamlessly integrated with the wireless technology." Um. What? Discussing video games with your child requires learning a somewhat foreign language. Don't worry about it; we'll keep it simple.
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