Fast Break

Baseball

McGwire doesn’t swing at Hall

Mark McGwire had little to say about being left out of Cooperstown in his first public comments since the Hall of Fame announcement.

The former slugger talked briefly Friday to the Cal State Fullerton newspaper about being denied baseball’s highest honor in his first time on the ballot. Amid questions about his role in baseball’s Steroids Era, McGwire was picked by 23.5 percent of voters in totals released Tuesday – far short of the 75 percent needed.

“I had an absolutely wonderful career that I am very proud of,” McGwire said at a charity event in Tustin, Calif. “I’m not in control of what happens – I was in control of hitting the ball.”

Soccer

Take a seat, Beckham

David Beckham won’t play again for Real Madrid after announcing his departure at the end of the season for the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy.

“He is not going to play any more. He will practice, but he is not going to play,” coach Fabio Capello said.

Beckham announced this week he will not extend his contract with Real Madrid when it expires in June and is instead leaving for the Galaxy and a five-year deal.

“The player’s decision is to go to Los Angeles. He has always been a great professional, but a player who has such a major contract with another team … we cannot count on him,” Capello said.

Hockey

A first for NHL, Japan

Los Angeles Kings goalie Yutaka Fukufuji became the first Japanese-born player in the NHL when he started the third period against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

“I was so nervous,” the 24-year-old Fukufuji said. “This was my first time playing in the NHL. I was so nervous, but I was excited, too.”