Sosa says he's mulling a comeback

BASEBALL

Sammy Sosa, 12 home runs shy of 600, said he wants to return to the big leagues in 2007 after taking a year off and contemplating retirement. "I feel good physically, and after a year of resting we are optimistic about making a decision soon about returning to baseball," the Dominican slugger told the Associated Press yesterday in Santo Domingo. Sosa, who will turn 38 next Sunday, did not play in 2006 after rejecting a non-guaranteed offer of $500,000 from the Washington Nationals. But the outfielder said he is motivated to return. "I still have a lot of passion for the game and I'm in shape. I want to get to 600 home runs before saying goodbye," said Sosa . . . Ryan Howard hit a pair of homers and Tadahito Iguchi drove in two runs with a clutch double as the MLB All-Stars defeated the stars of Japanese baseball, 8-6, in Tokyo, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-game tour. Bronson Arroyo picked up the win.

GOLF

Karrie Webb ended Annika Sorenstam's Mizuno Classic winning streak at five today, closing with a 6-under-par 66 for a four-stroke victory over Kaori Higo in Japan's lone LPGA Tour event. Sorenstam shot a 70 to finish five strokes back at 9-under 207. Webb won for the fifth time this season to match Lorena Ochoa for the Tour lead and push her career total to 35. The Australian earned $180,000 to move into second on the money list behind Ochoa with $2,069,613.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominated nearly every minute of every round, winning the unified welterweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision over a bloodied Carlos Baldomir in Las Vegas. The victory sets up a possible megafight next year for Mayweather (37-0) against Oscar De La Hoya . . . Shannon Briggs (48-4-1) won the World Boxing Organization heavyweight title, stopping Sergei Liakhovich (23-2) with a left in the 12th round in Phoenix. On the same card, Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz (31-0) successfully defended his World Boxing Association lightweight title, unanimously outpointing Fernando Angulo (18-4).

NHL

Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish and Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley each were fined $10,000 by the NHL for criticizing officials. On Friday night, MacTavish snapped after referee Mick McGeough called off Ales Hemsky's goal with seconds left in the third period. McGeough blew the whistle after a faceoff -- and just before Hemsky's shot went in the net -- convinced that Shawn Horcoff made a glove pass off the draw. It was something video replays showed didn't occur. McGeough acknowledged he blew the call. Hartley was assessed a gross misconduct penalty for verbal abuse of the officials in the Thrashers' game against Washington Friday . . . Bobby Allen scored 21 seconds into overtime to lift the Providence Bruins to a 4-3 AHL victory over the River Rats in Albany, N.Y.

TENNIS

Kim Clijsters beat Vera Zvonareva, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, to advance to today's final of the Gaz de France in Hasselt, Belgium. The top-seeded Clijsters will defend her title against first-time finalist Kaia Kanepi, who beat Michaella Krajicek, 6-4, 6-4 . . . Nikolay Davydenko reached his seventh final of the season, at the Paris Masters, beating Tommy Robredo, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. Davydenko will meet 17th-seeded Dominik Hrbaty, who advanced after 10th-seeded Tommy Haas retired because of gastroenteritis while trailing, 6-4, 1-0. Haas needed to win the event to overtake James Blake for the final spot in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

MISCELLANY

Mavericks forward Josh Howard was fined $5,000 by the NBA for shoving San Antonio's Bruce Bowen Thursday night. Howard was called for a flagrant foul, penalty one. Yesterday, the league fined Howard and upgraded the foul to a penalty two, which is called for "unnecessary and excessive contact" . . . Canadian champion Joannie Rochette, 20, rallied to win the Skate Canada women's title, beating Japan's Fumie Suguri in the free skate in Victoria, British Columbia. In the men's competition, world champion Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland rallied from seventh after the short program to win. Japan's Daisuke Takahashi finished second despite falling twice, and American Johnny Weir was third.