HOUSTON -- Major League Baseball owners approved the sale of a controlling stake in the Seattle Mariners from Nintendo of America to a group of minority owners led by Western Wireless Corp. founder John Stanton and retired Microsoft executive Chris Larson.The sale was announced in April and approved Thursday. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the deal will close Friday or Monday.This will be the first transfer in control of an MLB team since Ron Fowler led the purchase of the San Diego Padres in August 2012.Stanton will take over as control person from current chairman Howard Lincoln, who is retiring. The Mariners anticipate a seamless transition in management.Theres not a soul, other than the people retiring, that will be impacted, because all of these same partners are still involved, Mariners chairman emeritus John Ellis said.Nintendo of America, under the direction of Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi, bought the Mariners from Jeff Smulyan in 1992. Under Nintendos ownership, the Mariners moved from the Kingdome to Safeco Field in 1999.We all started it with this very generous input from Mr. Yamauchi and Nintendo. Its the only way we saved the team, said Ellis, who will remain a director. Now to have the same group rearranging its percentages, John Stanton taking over, the Japanese backing down to 10 percent, is the transition that guarantees to the team for the future.Nintendo is selling all but 10 percent of its stake in the franchise and the regional sports network ROOT Sports. The transition shifts the percentage of ownership shares within First Avenue Entertainment LLLP, which owns the franchise and a majority interest in ROOT Sports, holdings the team said in April were valued at $1.4 billion.Stanton said in April the ownership group includes 17 investors and there will be no majority owner among the group. Denver Nuggets Jerseys . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Paul Millsap Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-alex-english-nuggets-jersey/ . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Jamal Murray Nuggets Jersey . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid.Lord Coe has reacted with anger to news that Nestle has terminated its sponsorship of the IAAF over fears the doping scandal and corruption afflicting athletics governing body could damage the companys image. Nestle has been funding the IAAFs kids athletics program for four years, but announced on Wednesday that the partnership is ending.The news was reacted to with disappointment by IAAF president Coe later in the day as he said: Angered and dismayed by todays kids athletics announcement. We will not accept it. Its the kids who will suffer. In an earlier statement, the Swiss company said: We have decided to end our partnership with the IAAF Kids Athletics program with immediate effect.This decision was taken in light of negative publicity associated with allegations of corruption and doping in sport made against the IAAF.We believe this could negatively impact our reputation and image and will therefore terminate our existing agreement with the IAAF, established in 2012.We have informed the IAAF of our decision and await a formal acknowledgement from them that our partnership has ended.The IAAF had prevviously issued a response to Nestles decision, highlighting the positive contribution made by the Nestle-backed scheme.dddddddddddd Children at a Nestle-backed IAAF Kids Athletics scheme in Togo The IAAF is in discussion with Nestle concerning the final year of its five year partnership with IAAF Kids Athletics, read a statement.This has been a successful programme with 15 million kids aged 7 to 12 years in 76 countries taking part in fun team activities which promotes a healthy, active life style.In 2016, IAAF Kids Athletics plans to reach a further 15 countries, training 360 lecturers, instructing 8640 Physical Education teachers, with three million children participating by the end of the activation. Also See: Bolton quits World Championships committee Banned IAAF officials appeal to CAS ' ' '