Bulls’ Rose believes playoff return possible

Bulls’ Rose believes playoff return possible

CHICAGO

Derrick Rose isn’t quite ruling out a return to the Chicago Bulls this season.

The superstar point guard left the door slightly open for a comeback in the playoffs if his surgically repaired right knee is healed — even though the team has said he will miss the rest of the year.

Rose suffered a medial meniscus tear in his right knee in a game at Portland on Nov. 22. He had surgery in Chicago three days later, cutting short his long awaited return after he sat out last season recuperating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“If I’m healthy and the situation is right, I will be back playing,” Rose said Thursday when asked if he might return for the playoffs. “If I’m healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course I’ll be out there playing. But if it’s something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there’s no need.”

Mariners target Yankees’ Cano

NEW YORK

The Yankees are girding themselves for the possibility that Robinson Cano will bolt the Bronx for an offer worth at least $225 million from the Seattle Mariners.

Cano flew to Seattle on Thursday to meet with the Mariners, who have emerged as the biggest obstacle as the Yankees attempt to re-sign the free-agent second baseman on their terms — about $50 million less than what Seattle plans to offer.

The Mariners, who are desperate for offense and have a new television contract, are considering an offer to Cano for nine years and $225 million, according to the source, and might be willing to go even higher.

The Yankees have offered Cano a seven-year contract worth $160 million and are willing to go as high as $175 million.

Johnson leads World Challenge

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.

Zach Johnson birdied four of the par 5s and shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-shot lead Thursday over Matt Kuchar in the World Challenge.

Only five players in the elite 18-man field managed to break par at Sherwood Country Club. One of them was tournament host Tiger Woods, who had a new driver in the bag and missed only two fairways. The problem was his putter, including a short birdie attempt that missed on the last hole. He had a 71.

Kuchar hit his approach to 2 feet on the final hole for a 68.

Hunter Mahan and Bubba Watson were at 70. They are among seven players who have yet to win a tournament this year, even though everyone at Sherwood is among the top 30 in the world.

Donald atop Nedbank Challenge

SUN CITY, South Africa

England’s Luke Donald topped the Nedbank Golf Challenge leaderboard at 5 under when first-round play was suspended for the day because of lightning.

Donald completed 11 holes at Gary Player Country Club.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Wales’ Jamie Donaldson were 3 under. Bjorn played six holes, and Donaldson completed 12. Defending champion Martin Kaymer of Germany was 2 under after six holes.

FIFA won’t sell tickets for World Cup final

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil

FIFA says tickets for the final and the opening match of the 2014 World Cup will not be available to fans when a new sales phase opens after Friday’s draw in Brazil.

Soccer’s governing body had been saying it would sell tickets to all 64 matches beginning Sunday, but the high-demand matches in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will be blocked off again for now.

Tickets for the two matches were among those already not available in the previous ticket sales. More than 720,000 tickets were requested for the June 12 opener at the Itaquerao stadium in Sao Paulo and more than 750,000 were requested for the July 13 final at the Maracana Stadium in Rio.

Fans can apply for tickets to all other matches from Sunday until Jan. 30.

Wire reports