Sports briefs

Real Madrid defends spending spree

MADRID — Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano defended the club's spending spree, saying it was necessary to retain its place as the world's biggest club.

Madrid has spent $300 million on five players, taking on bank loans to fund the 65 million euro ($92 million) purchase of AC Milan's Kaka and 80 million pound ($131 million) acquisition of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. The team followed that this week by obtaining Lyon forward Karim Benzema for 35 million euros ($57.4 million).

"You only notice it because we are buying players of the highest caliber," Valdano said Thursday following the presentation of Raul Albiol, a defender bought from Valencia for 15 million euros ($21 million). "The dynamics of our business model have already been proven."

Mayweather disputes financial woes

LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. has said rumblings about his financial troubles are nothing more than rumors, but public records obtained by The Associated Press show the boxer nicknamed "Money" owes about $6.4 million to the Internal Revenue Service and others.

The IRS hit the former pound-for-pound boxing king with a lien in October for $6.17 million in unpaid taxes from 2007, according to the Clark County Recorder in Las Vegas. A New Jersey Superior Court judgment from the same year shows he owes $193,000 in state taxes there.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's manager, disputed the documents and said he believed they were inaccurate.

"Floyd Mayweather does not have a problem with the IRS," Ellerbe told the AP on Thursday. "He doesn't owe the IRS $6.1 million ... I don't (care) what a lien says."

CFL fines player for Jackson 'burial'

TORONTO — The Canadian Football League has fined Toronto Argonauts receiver Arland Bruce because it wasn't thrilled with his tribute to Michael Jackson after scoring a touchdown.

The league announced Thursday it fined Bruce an undisclosed amount for his "excessive actions."

After scoring on a 21-yard pass to put Toronto ahead 6-0, Bruce removed his helmet, shoulder pads and uniform top, then laid down in the end zone.

Bruce said he was honoring the memory of Jackson by pretending to be buried.

Bruce received two objectionable conduct penalties for his actions during the game, which the Argonauts won 30-17 on Wednesday night.