MLB to help Australia set up new league

(AUSTRALIA, BASEBALL, LEAGUE, GOVERNMENT, SPORT, AUSTRALIAN)

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia will establish a new professional baseball league as early as next year with backing from the government and North America`s Major League Baseball.
The sport has struggled to gain a foothold in Australia, and the country`s first professional league folded under heavy debts in 1999 after lasting only 10 years.
Australia`s government has pledged $400,000 to help the league`s development.
"Australian baseball has done a great job in securing this significant partnership with Major League Baseball -- developing up-and-coming athletes and strengthening the game in Australia," sports minister Kate Ellis told the Australian Baseball Federation`s (ABF) website (www.baseball.com.au).
"This funding will help baseball to develop the next generation of Australian baseball stars."
Paul Archey, head of MLB International, said in a statement on the website Wednesday that his organization was keen to develop the sport in Australia.
"I cannot tell you when this will happen or where, but I can tell you that MLB is committed to this initiative and look forward to working with the Federal Government and the ABF to further develop the game of baseball in Australia through planning a new national league."
QUESTIONABLE CLIMATE?
The new league would likely include eight to 10 teams and schedule matches between November and February, the Australian Associated Press said.
"Some people may think we`re crazy with the present economic climate: `Why would you even be thinking about doing a national league?`" the agency quoted ABF Chairman Mark Peters as saying.
"Well we`ve got the confidence that there are people out there that will support us and with MLB`s backing, one of the best brands in the world, this will be successful."
Peters said the federation had learned from the experience of other leagues and from the previous league`s failure.
"One of the big issues is going to be facilities," he said.
"If we`re going to run a spectator-friendly sport then we`ve got to have the right facilities in place.
"The days of playing on the side of rugby and football ovals are something we can`t cope with if we`re going to be professional."
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Original article

Orioles complete record rally to soar over Red Sox

(BALTIMORE, BOSTON, SEVENTH, INNING, BEFORE, THREE)

BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The Baltimore Orioles rallied from a nine-run deficit to shock the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox 11-10 on Tuesday.
The Orioles looked dead and buried when they trailed 10-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but tallied five runs to reduce the margin to four before completing the biggest comeback in team history with five more scores in the eighth.
Oscar Salazar`s three-run homer in the seventh sparked the unlikely recovery before Nick Markakis sealed the comeback with a two-run double to deep center field an innings later.
Boston enjoyed a five-run inning of its own in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead before Dustin Pedroia`s single in the seventh took the visiting team`s score into double digits.
Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis both drove in three runs for Boston with the latter, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeff Bailey each collecting three hits.
Both teams had 16 total hits with Nolan Reimold going 3-for-5 for Baltimore, which had lost 11 of its past 12 games against Boston.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by John O`Brien)
Original article

Yankees hold off Mariners to record sixth straight win

(SEATTLE, MARINERS, CABRERA, EIGHTH, BEFORE, FIELD)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees shrugged off a rain delay to record a sixth consecutive victory on Tuesday, the 8-5 win over the Seattle Mariners set up by Melky Cabrera`s tie-breaking double in the eighth inning.
Cabrera drove in three runs overall but the one that mattered most was an extra-base blast to break a 5-5 deadlock after the gritty Mariners had twice rallied to tie the score.
Alex Rodriguez`s two-run shot in the seventh, his 565th homer, had given the Yankees (44-32) a 5-3 lead before Seattle battled back for a second time with two runs in the top of the eighth.
Kenji Johjima, who had three hits, singled in the first run and Russell Branyan added the second with a sacrifice fly to left field.
Cabrera wasted little time regaining the initiative for the home team before Derek Jeter`s single to center field brought two more runners home to complete the scoring. (Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina. Editing by John O`Brien)
Original article

Few thrills as Williams sisters thrive

(WIMBLEDON, CENTER, COURT, WOMEN, VENUS, WOULD)

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Sobriety returned to Wimbledon on Tuesday after the heady brew of the night before with Center Court open to the sunny skies and the insatiable Williams sisters blasting through to the semi-finals.
British hope Andy Murray`s intoxicating five-set defeat of Switzerland`s Stanislas Wawrinka on Monday, a thrilling match which ended way after sunset under Center Court`s gleaming roof and blazing lights, raised excitement levels far beyond the reach of women`s quarter-final day.
Murray`s four-hour epic was played out in an adrenaline-fueled Davis Cup style atmosphere but polite applause was the order of the day as first champion Venus Williams, 29, romped to a 6-1 6-2 defeat of Pole Agnieszka Radwanska and then Serena powered past Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2 6-3.
Neither have dropped a set in the tournament so far -- they even won a women`s doubles 6-0 6-0 on Monday -- as they career headlong toward a seemingly inevitable fourth meeting in a Wimbledon final on Saturday.
"That first set for me was really almost perfect," Venus, who is chasing a hat-trick of singles title here and her sixth overall, told reporters of her match against former Wimbledon junior champion Radwanska on Court One.
"Do I feel invincible? I`d like to say yes, but I really do work at it."
Asked if she and Serena were now head and shoulders above the rest, Venus did not exactly dismiss the suggestion.
"I think we are definitely the frontrunners in tennis as far as being some of the best players out there," she said. "But if there were just two players, it would just be a final. There`s got to be 128. So that`s the way it`s got to be."
At least Elena Dementieva, the graceful Russian fourth seed, is doing her best to keep up with the Americans.
The 27-year-old performed a Williams-type demolition job on diminutive Italian Francesca Schiavone, winning 6-2 6-2 on Court One where fans who forked out for expensive tickets received just two hours and 14 minutes of singles action.
With Serena needing little more than an hour to polish off Azarenka it meant Murray and Wawrinka`s fourth-round duel lasted longer than three of the women`s quarter-finals put together.
She refuted a suggestion that fans were being short-changed by one-sided women`s matches but said maybe they should play best of five sets -- a scenario that would strike fear into most who face them across the net.
"Yeah, I`m ready for five-set matches. On grass it would be fine. I can definitely play five sets," she said.
World number one Dinara Safina and unseeded German Sabine Lisicki did provide a contest worthy of the name with the Muscovite wearing down her opponent 6-7 6-4 6-1 on Center Court.
Safina now stands between Venus and an eighth Wimbledon singles final when they meet for the first time on a grasscourt in the last four.  Continued...
Original article

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Williams sisters still a tough act to beat

Boozer and Okur decide to stay with Jazz

(BOOZER, SEASON, GAMES, ASSISTS, LEVEL, PLAYED)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Utah Jazz starters Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur have decided not to opt out of their contracts to remain with the team for next season, the Jazz said on Tuesday.
Both players had early termination options and could have tested the NBA`s free-agency market, which opens on Wednesday.
Boozer appeared in only 37 games last season after suffering numerous injuries, but averaged 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a starting forward.
"We are excited that Carlos has decided to remain with the Jazz," Utah general manager Kevin O`Connor said in a statement on the team`s website (www.nba.com/jazz).
"We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season."
An NBA All-Star in 2007 and 2008, Boozer also played on the gold-medal winning U.S. basketball team at the Beijing Olympics.
Turkey`s Okur played in 72 games for Utah and averaged 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
"He has clearly been an integral part of our success since his arrival and we are hopeful that he will continue to perform at such a high level in the future," O`Connor said of Okur.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Original article

Canadiens secure Gomez in seven-player trade with Rangers

(CANADIENS, GOMEZ, RANGERS, SEVEN, SEASON, FIRST)

MONTREAL (Reuters) - The Montreal Canadiens acquired Scott Gomez, and his sizeable contract, from the New York Rangers in a seven-player trade on Tuesday.
With the free-agent signing window opening on Wednesday, Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey got an early jump on the competition landing the play-making center he had been seeking.
Gomez will earn $8 million next season.
The Canadiens also received forward Tom Pyatt and defenseman Michael Busto from New York while sending forward Christopher Higgins and defensemen Ryan McDonagh, Pavel Valentenko and Doug Janik to the Rangers.
"We are extremely pleased to have acquired an impact centreman in Scott Gomez," Gainey said on the Canadiens website (www.canadiens.nhl.com) "He is an outstanding playmaker and an excellent skater.
"Having won the Stanley Cup twice with the New Jersey Devils, he brings a lot of playoff experience to our team."
The first Hispanic player taken in the first round of the NHL draft, Gomez was selected 27th overall by the Devils in 1998 and went on to claim the Calder Cup as the league`s top rookie.
He spent seven seasons in New Jersey winning two Stanley Cups before signing a seven-year contract as an unrestricted free agent with the Rangers two years ago.
Gomez tied Nikolai Zherdev for the lead in team scoring last season with 58 points but is more renowned for creating opportunities for others.
He has scored 148 goals and accumulated 578 points over nine seasons, where he has missed just 32 games because of injury.
Higgins, selected by the Canadiens 14th overall in the 2002 draft, struggled last season scoring just 12 goals and 23 points.
It was the first time the left winger had scored less than 20 goals since entering the league.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
Original article

Team USA opt for youth in ice hockey training squad

(BURKE, TUESDAY, VANCOUVER, GOING, PLAYERS, ORIENTATION)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Team USA general manager Brian Burke signaled a changing of the guard by naming a youthful training camp squad Tuesday for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
"We`re going to be the underdog in Vancouver, we know that," Burke told a conference call Tuesday to announce the 34 players to take part in a Team USA orientation camp from August 17-19. "There is not going to be a penny bet on us in Las Vegas.
"We are probably going to be the youngest team in the tournament but we are going there to win and we have tried to identify a group that will give us our best chance to do that.
"We think we have a good blend. We have some first violins and we have some tuba players too."
Team USA will have a youthful new look in Vancouver with Burke extending camp invitations to only five players with Olympic experience, led by three-time Olympian Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars.
Future Hall of Famers such as 47-year-old Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios and national team stalwarts like Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin were not included on Burke`s list, signaling a changing of the guard at USA Hockey.
In their places, rising talents like Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane, the top pick in the 2007 draft and young St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson, the number one selection in 2006, will get their opportunity to shine.
"We`re turning the page to a large extent and some of those choices will be questioned, which we are prepared for," said Burke. "This is not the U.S. Olympic team for 2010, these are the invitations to our orientation camp.
"Some of the guys who were not invited are going to jam it right down my throat and I welcome that.
"If we`re right with our identification virtually all the team will come out of this group but my prediction is a couple of guys are going to make this real hard for us."
The final 23-man rosters are expected to be confirmed in late December.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Justin Palmer)
Original article

Curry sacked as Pistons coach after one year

(DETROIT, CURRY, PISTONS, SEASON, NUGGETS, IVERSON)

DETROIT (Reuters) - Michael Curry was sacked as Detroit Pistons coach on Tuesday after just one season in charge.
"This was a difficult decision to make," said Joe Dumars, Pistons president of basketball operations in a statement on the team`s website (www.nba.com/pistons).
"I want to thank Michael for his hard work and dedication to the organization. However, at this time, I have decided to make a change."
Under Curry the Pistons finished with a regular-season record of 39-43 and advanced to the playoffs where they were swept from the first round in four games by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The results fell far short of the high expectations for a team that had reached the conference finals the previous six years.
A former Pistons player, Curry watched the season unravel following an unpopular trade in which popular point guard Chauncey Billups moved to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Allen Iverson.
While Billups revived the Nuggets, Iverson flopped in Detroit and ended the season on the injury list.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Ed Osmond)
Original article

Tiger has extra incentive to win at Congressional

(WOODS, WORLD, NUMBER, WINNER, MAJOR, GREAT)

By Steve Ginsburg
BETHESDA, Maryland (Reuters) - Tiger Woods said his role as host of this week`s $6 million AT&T National provided an added incentive to finish top of the leaderboard at Congressional Country Club.
"It is fun winning your own event," the 33-year-old world number one told reporters Tuesday. "No doubt. It is awfully fun to do that."
Woods headlines a 120-player field at pristine Congressional, site of the 2011 U.S. Open. The four-day event at the 7,255-yard, par 70 course outside Washington, D.C., begins Thursday.
Among those also entered are newly crowned U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, 2008 AT&T winner Anthony Kim, world number three Paul Casey and triple major winner Vijay Singh.
World number five Sergio Garcia and three-times major champion Padraig Harrington sit out the AT&T, preparing instead for next month`s British Open by playing the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond next week.
Woods, still searching for his first major of the year, sat out the 2008 AT&T while he recuperated from knee surgery.
"Unfortunately I wasn`t able to attend last year," he said. "I was at home watching it on the couch, and it wasn`t a whole lot of fun."
The 14-times major winner said he was thrilled to have his injury behind him, adding that it "feels good to wake up in the morning and not ache, not want to move out of bed."
"I went through all of that," he said. "I don`t want to go through that again. It feels great to be back. What my surgeons and trainers did to get me to this point has been great.
"I feel so good getting up and doing things each and every day.
"I`m able to play with (children) Sam and carry Charlie around and do all those different things. I was really struggling with it for a while."
Woods is expected to be challenged for the $1 million winner`s prize by Kim, who won the AT&T title a year ago in a demonstrative wire-to-wire victory. Kim said the triumph "definitely elevated my confidence."
The native Californian, seen by many as having as much potential as anyone on the tour, said he will remain patient as he improves his game.
"I just turned 24 ten days ago," said Kim, who finished tied for 16th at the U.S. Open at Bethpage two weeks ago. "I have no pressure from anybody. I want to play great golf. I want to win golf tournaments.
"I`m here to do that, but at the same time, I have so much to look forward to.  Continued...
Original article

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NHL`s Panthers use football agent in ad campaign

(PANTHERS, MARKETING, CAMPAIGN, SEASON, TICKET, WOULD)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Drew Rosenhaus, a sports agent who typically battles with football team owners to get lucrative contracts for his clients, has been enlisted by the NHL`s Florida Panthers in a marketing campaign to boost season-ticket sales.
"This is part of our new marketing campaign that`s launching next week," Panthers President Michael Yormark said in a statement Tuesday. "The premise of the campaign is that he`s been retained by Panthers` fans to renegotiate the season-ticket pricing."
Sports teams have been hurt by the recession as fans cut back on spending at games or attend fewer events. In the National Hockey League, the tight credit markets have led to the expected sale of several teams as well as the bankruptcy of the Phoenix Coyotes.
The Panthers last season had an average attendance of 15,621 at its home arena, which seats 19,250 people. A full-season Panthers ticket currently costs an average $54.16.
Rosenhaus, who represents such National Football League players as wide receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson, will appear in television, radio and print ads talking about how he has been hired by fans of the hockey team to negotiate lower season-ticket prices and other benefits for the 2009-2010 season that begins in the fall, Yormark said.
The campaign is set to start on July 7, but the team would not confirm if it would result in lower season ticket prices.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman, Editing by Maureen Bavdek)
Original article

Venus restores order after Murray epic

(WIMBLEDON, NIGHT, CENTER, COURT, WOMEN, VENUS)

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Sobriety returned to Wimbledon Tuesday after the heady brew of the night before with Center Court open to the sunny skies and women`s champion Venus Williams blasting through to the semi-finals.
The 29-year-old American romped to a 5-0 lead against Poland`s Agnieszka Radwanska and completed a 6-1 6-2 victory on auto-pilot as slumbering Court One fans applauded politely in temperatures soaring into the 30s Celsius again.
Fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva then crushed Italy`s Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-2 in quick time meaning that holders of costly Court One tickets were treated to a mere two hours 14 minutes of singles play.
Venus will face world number one Dinara Safina for a place in her eighth Wimbledon singles final after the Muscovite wore down unseeded German Sabine Lisicki 6-7 6-4 6-1 on Center Court in a match that at least resembled a proper contest.
Second seed Serena plays Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the day`s last quarter-final with a sense of predictability sweeping women`s tennis. Most pundits have already pencilled in a fourth Wimbledon final between the insatiable sisters Saturday.
"That first set for me was really almost perfect," Venus told reporters. "Do I feel invincible? I`d like to say yes, but I really do work at it."
Having won 33 consecutive sets at Wimbledon it seems only Serena is capable of stopping her. Asked what it must be like to have to play herself, Venus said: "I have no idea. I guess the same way I feel when I have to face Serena Williams."
The drowsy nature of what should be one of the biggest days in the women`s draw was all a stark contrast to Monday`s late-night blockbuster in which Andy Murray fought tooth and nail for nearly four hours to beat Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka under Center Court`s illuminated canopy.
That electrifying five-set contest will go down in Wimbledon folklore as the day the tournament changed forever and it was pretty much all anybody was talking about as the fans poured through the gates on another sweltering day.
Murray`s victory -- played out in front of 15,000 fans on Center Court, thousands more crammed together in the dark on Henman Hill and a British television audience of 12.6 million -- has set a high standard that sadly the women could not match.
"The only danger to the roof was that it could have been blown off by the crowds," Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins said of the events of the previous night.
Murray, who had a day off to recover before his last eight assignment against Juan Carlos Ferrero, said it was the noisiest crowd he had ever played in front of -- which for somebody with experience of U.S. Open night sessions was quite a statement.
(Editing by Miles Evans)
Original article

Yao injury could be career-threatening, says doctor

(HOUSTON, INJURY, CLANTON, SEASON, COULD, WOULD)

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Houston Rockets center Yao Ming`s foot injury is severe enough to end his career, the team doctor told the Houston Chronicle newspaper.
A CT scan showed Yao`s injury not only failed to heal as expected but has got worse, Rockets physician Tom Clanton said.
"At this point, the injury has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career-threatening," Clanton said on the paper`s website (www.chron.com).
Clanton said he was trying to "make certain there is no option we are overlooking that would provide an earlier return or would be an option for treatment that he would prefer rather than doing additional surgery."
The 7-ft-6in (2.29m), 310-pound (140.6 kg) Chinese center could try to immobilize the left foot in the hope that the hairline fracture will heal on its own, Clanton said.
He added that because Yao had no pain or other symptoms there was reason to be optimistic that approach could work.
Yao, a seven-times NBA All-Star, fractured his foot during the Western Conference semi-finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on May 8.
He averaged 19.7 points per game and 9.9 rebounds this season.
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Sonia Oxley)
Original article

Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic

(WIMBLEDON, NIGHT, MURRAY, AUSTRALIAN, PERKINS, REGULAR)

By Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - "Andymonium" reigned supreme at Wimbledon as fans of newly crowned "King of The Night" Andy Murray threatened to blow the new roof off Center Court.
But Wimbledon officials were quick on Tuesday to stress after Murray`s epic night marathon that the world`s most famous tennis tournament would always be a daytime, open-air event.
Players at Wimbledon will not be following the U.S. and Australian Opens with matches played deep into the night.
Anyone who watched the first late night match in the cathedral of tennis will never forget the deafening roar on Monday evening.
The British third seed got a standing ovation from 15,000 screaming fans who leapt to their feet whenever he struck a winner in his titanic five-set victory over Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
Forget the British stiff upper lip. Reserve was abandoned. Fans punched the air, cheering till they were hoarse. Union Jack flags were frenetically waved.
"At the end, that was probably the noisiest crowd I played in front of," Murray said.
But he was not complaining. "Support is great. If it`s loud, then it`s better."
Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins, reflecting on Murray`s gladiatorial fourth-round battle with Wawrinka, said: "The only danger to the roof was that it could have been blown off by the crowds."
London`s transport system was suddenly confronted late at night with thousands of spectators pouring onto the streets in search of a bus or a train.
"A lot of people descended on the system when not expected. This will not be a regular experience," Perkins told Reuters.
"This is not the start of regular night shifts. This is not the U.S. or the Australian Open. We are conscious we are in a residential area. We need to think of our neighbors," he said.
Murray thought Wimbledon should stay a daytime tournament and not adopt regular night-time sessions.
"You can`t really do it. I don`t think for the outside courts and stuff. They can`t play because of the dew and they don`t have floodlights. I like it being a day event."
Once the euphoria of novelty had died down, Wimbledon spokesman Perkins agreed: "It was an historic occasion but as with all historic occasions, it is best if they don`t happen too often."
(Editing by Miles Evans)
Original article

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Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic
Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic

Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic

(WIMBLEDON, NIGHT, MURRAY, AUSTRALIAN, PERKINS, REGULAR)

By Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - "Andymonium" reigned supreme at Wimbledon as fans of newly crowned "King of The Night" Andy Murray threatened to blow the new roof off Center Court.
But Wimbledon officials were quick on Tuesday to stress after Murray`s epic night marathon that the world`s most famous tennis tournament would always be a daytime, open-air event.
Players at Wimbledon will not be following the U.S. and Australian Opens with matches played deep into the night.
Anyone who watched the first late night match in the cathedral of tennis will never forget the deafening roar on Monday evening.
The British third seed got a standing ovation from 15,000 screaming fans who leapt to their feet whenever he struck a winner in his titanic five-set victory over Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
Forget the British stiff upper lip. Reserve was abandoned. Fans punched the air, cheering till they were hoarse. Union Jack flags were frenetically waved.
"At the end, that was probably the noisiest crowd I played in front of," Murray said.
But he was not complaining. "Support is great. If it`s loud, then it`s better."
Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins, reflecting on Murray`s gladiatorial fourth-round battle with Wawrinka, said: "The only danger to the roof was that it could have been blown off by the crowds."
London`s transport system was suddenly confronted late at night with thousands of spectators pouring onto the streets in search of a bus or a train.
"A lot of people descended on the system when not expected. This will not be a regular experience," Perkins told Reuters.
"This is not the start of regular night shifts. This is not the U.S. or the Australian Open. We are conscious we are in a residential area. We need to think of our neighbors," he said.
Murray thought Wimbledon should stay a daytime tournament and not adopt regular night-time sessions.
"You can`t really do it. I don`t think for the outside courts and stuff. They can`t play because of the dew and they don`t have floodlights. I like it being a day event."
Once the euphoria of novelty had died down, Wimbledon spokesman Perkins agreed: "It was an historic occasion but as with all historic occasions, it is best if they don`t happen too often."
(Editing by Miles Evans)
Original article

Related articles:
Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic

Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic

(WIMBLEDON, NIGHT, MURRAY, AUSTRALIAN, PERKINS, REGULAR)

By Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - "Andymonium" reigned supreme at Wimbledon as fans of newly crowned "King of The Night" Andy Murray threatened to blow the new roof off Center Court.
But Wimbledon officials were quick on Tuesday to stress after Murray`s epic night marathon that the world`s most famous tennis tournament would always be a daytime, open-air event.
Players at Wimbledon will not be following the U.S. and Australian Opens with matches played deep into the night.
Anyone who watched the first late night match in the cathedral of tennis will never forget the deafening roar on Monday evening.
The British third seed got a standing ovation from 15,000 screaming fans who leapt to their feet whenever he struck a winner in his titanic five-set victory over Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
Forget the British stiff upper lip. Reserve was abandoned. Fans punched the air, cheering till they were hoarse. Union Jack flags were frenetically waved.
"At the end, that was probably the noisiest crowd I played in front of," Murray said.
But he was not complaining. "Support is great. If it`s loud, then it`s better."
Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins, reflecting on Murray`s gladiatorial fourth-round battle with Wawrinka, said: "The only danger to the roof was that it could have been blown off by the crowds."
London`s transport system was suddenly confronted late at night with thousands of spectators pouring onto the streets in search of a bus or a train.
"A lot of people descended on the system when not expected. This will not be a regular experience," Perkins told Reuters.
"This is not the start of regular night shifts. This is not the U.S. or the Australian Open. We are conscious we are in a residential area. We need to think of our neighbors," he said.
Murray thought Wimbledon should stay a daytime tournament and not adopt regular night-time sessions.
"You can`t really do it. I don`t think for the outside courts and stuff. They can`t play because of the dew and they don`t have floodlights. I like it being a day event."
Once the euphoria of novelty had died down, Wimbledon spokesman Perkins agreed: "It was an historic occasion but as with all historic occasions, it is best if they don`t happen too often."
(Editing by Miles Evans)
Original article

Costs squeeze profits at Japan`s baseball teams

(BASEBALL, REVENUE, TEAMS, THEIR, COSTS, TIMES)

By Junko Fujita
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese baseball pulls in the fans, produces the players and rakes in revenue many American clubs would be proud of -- but in terms of profit they still languish in the little league.
Despite earning similar revenues to Major League Baseball teams in North America, few of Japan`s 12 big professional outfits say they are profitable, prompting even their once-indulgent owners to cut costs in tough times.
Add in the credit crunch and sliding TV revenues and teams are tightening their purse strings in ever more dramatic and visible ways, including the imminent departure of high-profile American manager Bobby Valentine from the Chiba Lotte Marines.
"However hard Japanese baseball teams work to cut costs and boost revenue, most of them can`t become profitable," said Munehiko Harada, a sports management professor at Waseda University. "They have done so much but they are still struggling. We might be seeing the limit of their potential now."
The contrast with U.S. teams, almost all of which are reported to be profitable according to a Forbes magazine list, comes down to huge stadium fees faced by Japan`s teams.
DIFFICULT TIMES
U.S. baseball teams typically own stadiums or get subsidized access to public facilities but most Japanese teams hire venues at commercial rates, often from private investors.
The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks pay 4.8 billion yen ($49 million) a year, a quarter of their annual revenue, to the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC), owner of the team`s home stadium, said Itaru Kobayashi, a team director.
That is about seven times the sum the New York Yankees paid New York City for its former home, the Yankee Stadium, records from the New York City Comptroller`s Office show.
The Hawks, now owned by a mobile phone company, Softbank Corp, have never made a profit since the team was founded in 1938 despite having the fourth-highest audience.
"I always ask myself why it costs so much to operate a baseball team in Japan," Kobayashi laments.
Japanese teams survive because their losses are treated as tax-deductible marketing costs for their corporate owners, which include meat packer Nippon Meat Packers Inc, leasing company Orix Corp and drink maker Yakult Honsha.
But the sustainability of that model may be in doubt as team owners such as Orix, with a huge exposure to a troubled property market, face difficult times.
FIGHTING BACK
The departure of just one team could threaten a 60-year-old system of two leagues with just six teams each, as it did when high costs drove out Kintetsu Corp`s Buffaloes.  Continued...
Original article

McGehee grand slam propels Brewers to top spot

(BREWERS, FIRST, PLACE, MCGEHEE, INNING, THREE)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Milwaukee Brewers moved into sole possession of first place in the National League Central with a 10-6 victory over the slumping New York Mets on Monday, the win highlighted by Casey McGehee`s first career grand slam.
McGehee acknowledged a curtain call ovation from the 39,872 fans at Miller Park after his sixth inning blast, winning over the same spectators who booed him for dropping a routine fly ball that led to two New York runs in the top of the inning.
"If somebody would have told me this time last year I`d have 40,000 people calling me out of a dugout for a curtain call, I would`ve said they were lying," McGehee, who has hit all five of his career homers in the last 13 games, told reporters.
"I didn`t really know what was going on. I`m just glad I was able to redeem myself a little bit."
Milwaukee`s win combined with the Cardinals` 10-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants put the Brewers (41-35) one game ahead of St Louis in the division, while the Mets lost their fourth straight game.
Braden Looper (6-4) went 6 1/3 innings for the win. Four relievers finished the game, including Trevor Hoffman, who came on in the ninth and needed just one pitch to induce a double-play and record his 18th save in 19 chances.
J.J. Hardy had four hits, including a homer, and Jason Kendall added three hits and an RBI for the Brewers, who had 19 hits off five New York pitchers.
"We were all really excited for him," Hardy said of McGehee, who was playing in just his 50th Major League contest.
"It`s also great to get into first place."
New York (37-38) fell one game under .500 for the first time since May 5 and slipped into third place in the NL East, three games behind the first place Philadelphia Phillies.
"If we cannot sustain a level of .500 play, then yeah, we need help," New York manager Jerry Manuel said. "We`re a below average team. Period."
Fernando Nieve (3-1) was roughed up for three runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings and took the loss. Gary Sheffield homered, had three hits and three RBI and Ryan Church had four hits for New York.
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by John O`Brien)
Original article

Williams sisters head for familiar final tussle

(VENUS, SERENA, WIMBLEDON, HAVING, COURT, GRAND)

By Neil Maidment
LONDON (Reuters) - Sisters Venus and Serena Williams will go into Tuesday`s quarter-finals increasingly confident of setting up a fourth family showdown in the Wimbledon final.
Five-times Wimbledon winner Venus has ground to make up, having lost twice here to Serena in 2002 and 2003 before enjoying success in the 2008 showpiece.
Third seed Venus, consigned to Court One for the second day in a row despite being defending champion, faces Polish 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska having won the last three of her four encounters with the Pole.
Opening on Center Court will be Russian top seed Dinara Safina, who will enjoy her second consecutive day in the limelight against unseeded German Sabine Lisicki, despite not having yet won a grand slam title.
Serena will follow Safina as the American continues her quest for an 11th grand slam title against eighth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
Serena, who destroyed Slovakia`s Daniela Hantuchova on Monday, will be looking for revenge having lost to Azarenka in this year`s Miami final.
Last up on Court One is unseeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy who plays Russian fourth seed and serial grand slam semi-finalist Elena Dementieva.
Dementieva has reached the semi-final at every grand slam event including three at Wimbledon in 2000, 2005 and 2008 and is tied 4-4 in her head-to-head record with Schiavone.
(Editing by Miles Evans)
Original article

Related articles:
Murray wins thriller under new roof

Murray wins thriller under new roof

(SECOND, MONDAY, FIRST, CHAMPION, THIRD, TITLE)

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Heatwave conditions heralded the start of Wimbledon`s second week on Monday as the surviving 32 men and women in the singles draws chased quarter-finals slots.
With the mercury shooting past 30 degrees as Elena Dementieva polished off fellow Russian Elena Vesnina to become the first player into the last eight, fans grabbing spots near Henman Hill`s huge video screen in advance of the Andy Murray show later sizzled in the sunshine.
Defending women`s champion Venus Williams, looking for a third consecutive title here, was able to conserve vital energy, the American third seed strolling through to the quarters when tearful Serbian opponent Ana Ivanovic retired after losing the first set 6-1.
Like the third round of a golf major, nicknamed moving day, when the top players begin to rise up the leaderboard, Wimbledon`s second Monday is traditionally the moment when the main title contenders turn it up a notch.
Men`s favorite Roger Federer, seeking to reclaim the title he has won five times, has not been absent from the second week of Wimbledon since 2002, the year before his domination of the grasscourt slam began.
Federer, on course for a record 15th grand slam title, was scheduled first on Center Court for his fourth-round match against Robin Soderling, the Swede he beat in the French Open final earlier this month.
At times during the first week Federer appeared to be playing exhibition tennis, so untroubled was his progress, Soderling`s grass scorching serve and the baking temperatures should make the cool-as-a-cucumber Swiss break sweat.
SOARING TEMPERATURES
With older sister Venus already safely through, twice champion Serena Williams was also expected to make short work of unseeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova in the furnace-like bowl of Court Two.
Murray, the 22-year-old Scot tipped as Federer`s most likely opponent in the men`s singles final on Sunday, has become a tea-time fixture at this year`s championships.
The world number three was again scheduled third on Center Court to play the second best tennis player in Switzerland, Stanislas Wawrinka, when temperatures should have dipped to more comfortable levels.
Support for Murray has grown steadily since the start of the tournament and expectation levels, like the temperatures, are soaring with acres of newsprint mapping out the Scot`s likely route to greatness.
"The biggest question mark this week is whether Murray can maintain his poise," former men`s champion Boris Becker, now a BBC pundit, said on Monday. "If he can, then he is going all the way to the final."
Lleyton Hewitt`s vocal fan club, the Fanatics, will be back on Court Two to watch the 2002 champion take on Radek Stepanek having serenaded the Australian battler into the last 16 for a sixth consecutive year on Saturday.
After a first week of record-breaking crowds, up almost 10 percent on last year, large queues of hot and bothered fans snaked toward the All England Club again on Monday with another busy day expected for the club`s first-aiders.  Continued...
Original article

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Early slip costs Barnes outright lead

Russians enjoy mixed success in 4th round of Wimbledon

(WHILE, DEMENTIEVA, RUSSIAN, SAFINA, 6-3, PLAYER, WIMBLEDON)

Maria Sharapova poses, plays down Wimbledon hopes
MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti) - World No. 1 Dinara Safina and fellow Russian Yelena Dementieva won on Monday to secure places in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, while two compatriots were knocked out.
Top seed Safina enjoyed a narrow victory over Amelie Mauresmo, beating the French player in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, while No. 4 seed Dementieva sent another Russian Yelena Vesnina home in straight sets 6-1, 6-3.
A fourth Russian player, Nadia Petrova (10), is also packing her bags after losing to Belarusian Victoria Azarenka (6) 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 3-6.
Safina will play against Germany`s Sabine Lisicki for a semifinal place while Dementieva faces Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
 
Original article

Villarreal confirm interest in Pavlyuchenko

(MILLION, RUSSIAN, PAVLYUCHENKO, PAPER, TOTTENHAM, MOSCOW, TRANSFER)

MOSCOW, June 29 (RIA Novosti) - Spanish club Villarreal have confirmed their interest in Tottenham Hotspur`s Russian forward Roman Pavlyuchenko, Sport Express said on Monday.
The paper cited a Villarreal spokesman as saying that the former Spartak Moscow striker was one of the players the club was looking at to bolster its attacking force.
However, the paper also said that as the side was not prepared to spend more than 12 million euros ($16.8 million), a loan deal was the most likely option. Tottenham paid some $28 million for Pavlyuchenko last August.
Pavlyuchenko scored 14 times for Tottenham in his debut season. However, the majority of these goals came in the less-prestigious Carling Cup.
In other transfer news, Sport Express said that a deal to take CSKA Moscow`s Russian international Yury Zhirkov to Chelsea could be concluded in the next 48 hours. The Russian club could earn as much as $33 million from the transfer, the paper said.
The attacking left midfielder / defender has been an integral part of CSKA`s and Russia`s success over the past few years, scoring the second goal in a 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the 2005 UEFA Cup final and starting every game in Russia`s run to the semifinals of Euro 2008.
He was recommended to the club by Russian national coach Guus Hiddink, who managed Chelsea from February to the end of the 2008/2009 season.
 
Original article

Three Russian women through to fourth round at Wimbledon

(ROUND, MATCH, VESNINA, PETROVA, DEMENTIEVA, 64, FRENCH)

MOSCOW, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia`s Dementieva, Petrova and Vesnina all made their way through to the fourth round of Wimbledon on Friday.
Twenty-seven-year-old Elena Dementieva trounced her unseeded compatriot, Regina Kulikova, in just under an hour 6:1, 6:2 to set up a fourth round meeting with another Russian, Elena Vesnina.
Vesnina, ranked 37th in the world, dropped the second set in her three-set thriller against Slovakia`s Dominika Cibulkova, seeded 14, but dug deep in the third to break the Slovak`s serve and win the match 7:5, 4:6, 6:4.
Earlier Nadia Petrova, seeded tenth, was also involved in a three setter against Argentine Gisela Dulko, who dumped Maria Sharapova earlier in the week. Petrova dropped the first set but her power began to tell as she broke back to take the final two sets and run away with the match 3:6, 6:3, 6:4.
In a post-match interview Dementieva, who was the 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist, said that she had been working on her fitness following her surprise third-round defeat in the French Open.
"I took some time off after the French Open and was working on my fitness and I was more focused on the footwork and just the core build exercise. I just started to practice a couple days before Eastbourne and came there early to get used to the surface. It`s really worked for me," the Olympic gold medalist winner told journalists.
 
Original article

Russian billionaire Prokhorov may buy NBA`s New Jersey Nets

(PROKHOROV, RUSSIAN, WEBSITE, BASKETBALL, RICHEST, PLANS, WOULD)

Prokhorov jumps to top of Russian richest list, Deripaska tumbles
Richest Russians
MOSCOW, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov is part of one of four groups interested in buying the New Jersey Nets basketball team, Sports Illustrated reported on Friday on its website.
SI said a highly placed National Basketball Association source predicted that Prokhorov - Russia`s richest man according to this year`s Forbes list - would get through the league`s vetting process for prospective owners.
The Sports.ru website said that the businessman`s Onexim group had denied having plans to buy the Nets.
"Mikhail Prokhorov has not made any plans to purchase this club nor held any negotiations," Igor Petrov was quoted as saying.
The 2.06-meter (6-foot-9) Prokhorov is known to be a big basketball fan, and as a major shareholder in Norilsk Nickel funded the Euroleague champions CSKA Moscow, before selling his stake in the metals giant last year.
He has long been interested in buying an NBA franchise, and has entered into preliminary negotiations with several teams, Sports.ru reported.
"Prokhorov would prefer to acquire a team, firstly, on the East Coast, where it`s easier for him to fly, and secondly, in a city where there are Russians," the website quoted a source as saying. "New Jersey fits this plan perfectly: it is virtually in New York, and soon will be right in New York - the team plans to move to Brooklyn."
 
Original article

Arsenal`s Andrei Arshavin dismisses his agent

(ARSHAVIN, CONTRACT, HOWEVER, ARSENAL, THINGS, EXPRESS, PROBLEM)

MOSCOW, June 26 (RIA Novosti) - Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin has parted company with his agent, the player`s official website announced on Friday.
Dennis Lachter was regularly quoted by world sports media as Arshavin`s protracted, and at times torturous, move to Arsenal from Zenit St. Petersburg dragged on. Arshavin eventually signed for the London club in February.
He has however expressed dissatisfaction with his contract, worth 80,000 pounds ($127,000) a week.
"I have a problem with my contract. Certain nuances emerged linked to taxation and some other things. As a result, I`m getting less money than I expected. It`s not critical but I still need to put it right," the player told The Mail on Sunday in May.
However, the Russian international denied that contract problems lay behind his decision.
"This is in no way connected with the drawing up of my contract with Arsenal," Arshavin told Sport Express. "In fact, I would like to express my immense gratitude to Lachter for helping me make the move."
"However, Dennis, who has a newborn son, is living in Israel and can not be close by all the time. It`s simpler for me to solve things myself," he said.
 
Original article

Ukraine`s Euro 2012 prospects bleak admits President Yushchenko

(UKRAINE, UEFA, CONFIRMED, 30, VENUE, NOVEMBER, CITIES)

MOSCOW, June 25 (RIA Novosti) - Euro 2012 joint host Ukraine faces serious difficulties in completing preparations for the tournament, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said on Thursday.
Ukraine has been hard hit by the global financial crisis, and delays in the implementation of plans to improve infrastructure have lagged far behind UEFA requirements. UEFA president Michel Platini said recently that, "There are huge infrastructure problems to be resolved in Ukraine."
European football`s governing body has so far only confirmed that the capital, Kiev, will host games, although it has not yet approved the city as the venue for the final. A decision on the suitability of the three other cities - Donetsk, Lvov and Kharkov - will be made on November 30.
"November 30 is Judgment Day," Yushchenko said, as quoted by the Rosbalt news agency. "Believe me, I don`t want to play the role of a bearer of bad news, but all of this is a major warning."
Ukraine and Poland were named as joint hosts for the tournament in April 2007. All four Polish cities put forward for Euro 2012 - Warsaw (opening game), Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk - have been confirmed by UEFA as venues.
 
Original article

Zenit `offer Fenerbahce $14 million for Spanish striker Guiza`

(TURKISH, 2008, GUIZA, RUSSIAN, ZENIT, MILLION, RUMORED)

ANKARA, June 25 (RIA Novosti) - Zenit St. Petersburg have offered Fenerbahce 10 million euros ($14 million) and Turkish striker Fatih Tekke for Spanish international Daniel Guiza, Turkish media said on Thursday.
Talks between the two clubs are believed to have been continuing for the past 10 days and a decision is expected by the end of the week.
Fenerbahce signed 28-year-old Guiza from Mallorca in July 2008 for 14 million euros. However, the forward has scored a mere 16 times in 50 matches since joining the Turkish side.
Guiza is well known to Russian football fans, scoring in Spain`s 3-0 semifinal win over Russia at last summer`s Euro 2008.
Zenit trainer Dick Advocaat has transfer-listed Tekke over what he called his "unprofessional;" attitude.
There has so far been no official comment on the rumored deal.
Zenit are currently in 7th place in the Russian Premier League after 12 games. The club has lost a number of key players since lighting up the European arena in 2008, with Andrei Arshavin leaving for Arsenal, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk signing for Bayern Munich, and Argentine star Alejandro Dominguez returning to Rubin FC.
Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak is also rumored to be on his way out, possibly to an English Premier League club.
 
Original article

Roddick outguns Berdych to set up Hewitt clash

(BERDYCH, AFTER, RODDICK)

LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Roddick booked a tantalizing quarter-final date against former champion Lleyton Hewitt after outgunning Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-4 6-3 at Wimbledon on Monday.
The American sixth seed fired down 24 aces as he outclassed the 20th seed with a combination of guile and power.
After giving Berdych the runaround, Roddick sealed his place in the last eight here for the fifth time when his opponent could only paddle a backhand into the net.
Berdych had been one of only two men who had not dropped a set coming into the fourth round but he failed to trouble Roddick with his baseline tactics and went out after an hour and 48 minutes.
(Editing by Miles Evans)
Original article

Top U.S. court agrees to hear case on NFL licensing

(COURT, AMERICAN, NEEDLE, NFL, LEAGUE, NATIONAL, ANTITRUST)

By Ben Klayman
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday it would decide whether the National Football League should be treated as a single entity under federal antitrust law in a dispute over an exclusive license to make caps and other headgear.
In a case that could affect other sports leagues, the court agreed to hear an appeal from American Needle Inc, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, on whether the NFL and its 32 teams can be sued under federal antitrust laws for signing an exclusive licensing deal with Reebok International in 2001.
The case will be argued during the court`s upcoming term that begins in October. A decision is expected in the first half of next year.
American Needle, a former licensee of the NFL, challenged the deal, which offered Reebok an exclusive license for 10 years according to court documents, claiming the NFL was 32 separate business entities and not a "single entity" as the popular professional sports league said.
Germany`s Adidas AG bought Reebok in 2006 for $3.8 billion in a move to boost its U.S. presence.
In its original lawsuit, American Needle had charged the NFL with unlawful restraint of trade and monopolizing the team products licensing, manufacturing and wholesale markets by violating antitrust laws by working too closely together, according to court documents. The cost of basic fitted caps jumped to $30 from $19.99, American Needle said in court documents.
American Needle lost the case in U.S. District Court as well as in the federal appeals court in Chicago in 2008.
"American Needle has pursued this litigation because it feels that if it could compete for the use of NFL trademarks in selling hats that it could provide lower priced merchandise than is currently available on the market," said Glen Nager, an attorney at Jones Day, which is representing American Needle.
The NFL also had urged the Supreme Court to take the case in the hope of winning a national victory, as it and other sports leagues have lost similar cases in other appeals courts.
"We look forward to the opportunity to explain why the court should confirm and extend on a nationwide basis the favorable rulings of the Court of Appeals on the application of the antitrust laws to the unique structure of a sports league," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email.
The National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League filed briefs supporting the NFL with the Supreme Court, while Major league Baseball, which has an antitrust exemption on many issues, did not.
The U.S. Justice Department had urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case, saying neither American Needle nor the NFL had presented a question warranting review by the justices.
The case is American Needle v. National Football League, No. 08-661.
(Additional reporting by James Vicini in Washington; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
Original article

No rest for U.S. as they prepare for Gold Cup defense

(CONFEDERATIONS, THEIR, BRADLEY, SQUAD, GREAT, GROUP, US)

By Mark Gleeson
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - United States switch attention from the Confederations Cup, where they finished runners-up to Brazil on Sunday, to defending the CONCACAF Gold Cup this weekend.
Exhausted yet exhilarated by their exertions in South Africa, where they fought back in style to earn a place in the final after losing their first two games, the Americans leave for home on Monday to seek another trophy.
However, coach Bob Bradley has chosen just four players from his 23-man Confederations squad to play in the Gold Cup. The team kickoff against Grenada in Seattle on Saturday.
"It`s been a great experience here, we`ll turn the page quickly and get to work with the group. The Gold Cup is still very important to us," Bradley told Reuters before leaving for a 25-hour flight and a change of 10 time zones.
"We knew it was going to be a challenging summer. We go to the Gold Cup with a new squad but it`s a great opportunity for some of the new players.
"It`s different to the Confederations Cup but it`s still the championship of our confederation. We take it very seriously, it`s played in the U.S. and we want to do well," added Bradley.
The Americans, who also face Honduras and Haiti in their opening-round group, have won the last two Gold Cups in 2005 and 2007 and it was as champions of the CONCACAF region that they competed in the Confederations Cup.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
Original article

U.S. sprinters to shine in Berlin: coaches

(METERS, OLYMPIC, CHAMPION, MEDALIST, 200, HURDLES, 100)

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - The U.S. team at August`s world athletics championships are expected to take the fast track to success, with coaches tipping sprinters and hurdlers to lead the way in Berlin.
"We have put together a great team," women`s head coach Chandra Cheeseborough told Reuters at the conclusion of the four-day U.S. trials on Sunday.
"I really like the make-up of this team," men`s coach Harvey Glance added. "We have seasoned veterans, but I also like the fact we have some rookies."
Hurdles squads for both men and women should be especially strong after Olympic bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson and a rejuvenated Lashinda Demus delivered season-leading times in winning 400 meters hurdles titles.
Olympic champion Dawn Harper looked impressive in a wind-assisted women`s 100 hurdles with Beijing silver medalist David Payne claiming the men`s 110 hurdles with a narrow win over Terrence Trammell, twice an Olympic silver medalist.
Top American sprinter Tyson Gay ran only one race at the trials, as the defending 100 and 200 meters world champion has an automatic bye to Berlin in both events.
However, he showed plenty of speed in his only appearance, clocking a wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in a 100 meters preliminary round.
CRAWFORD FAST
Equally impressive was 2004 Olympic 200 meters champion Shawn Crawford. Although now 31, Crawford zipped through his final in a windy 19.73 seconds, his fastest time ever.
The 400 meters also looks strong with Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt heading the team that will also include world champion Jeremy Wariner, who ran the 200 at the trials.
The 2004 Olympic long jump champion Dwight Phillips had also returned to form, Glance noted while adding that he expected an improved showing from U.S. shot putters compared to Beijing.
Injuries knocked out Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay, sprint hurdles medalist David Oliver and Walter Dix, bronze medalist in the Olympic 100 and 200 meters.
"Clay`s injury, that was a big blow," Glance said. "But overall I don`t think this team takes a great blow."
Cheeseborough expressed delight in her team`s mixture.
"In the sprints, the young ladies have done well," she said, referring to 100 meters winner Carmelita Jeter, 200 meters world champion Allyson Felix and 400 meters U.S. winner Sanya Richards.  Continued...
Original article

Brazil fight back to sink U.S.

(BRAZIL, US, DONOVAN, HOWARD, HEADER, AFTER, BEFORE)

By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Holders Brazil fought back from 2-0 down with three second-half goals to beat the United States 3-2 and win the Confederations Cup for the third time in an entertaining final Sunday.
The U.S., who shocked Spain in the semis, looked set to complete an even greater upset when goals by Clint Dempsey and skipper Landon Donovan put them 2-0 ahead at halftime.
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard produced several good saves before striker Luis Fabiano took his tournament tally to five just after the restart and he equalized with a header.
Brazil captain Lucio completed his side`s stunning recovery when he rose superbly to power home an Elano corner six minutes from time.
The match was a fitting climax to an outstanding tournament which provided shocks, excellent football and noisy crowds, auguring well for next year`s World Cup finals in South Africa.
The U.S. stunned Brazil by taking the lead with a fortuitous goal by Dempsey.
He connected with Jonathan Spector`s cross and although he did not get a perfect touch the ball sped past Julio Cesar.
Astonishingly, the Americans doubled their lead after 27 minutes.
Donovan started the move deep in his own half when he found Ricardo Clark who broke down the left before sending a perfect cross back to Donovan.
His first touch wrong-footed Ramires, creating an opening for the striker who switched the ball to his left foot and cracked it past Julio Cesar for his 40th international goal in his 114th match.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Brazil had beaten the U.S. 14 times in 15 previous meetings but keeper Howard kept the outsiders firmly in control with a number of fine saves.
Brazil had the majority of the possession but rarely threatened until a minute after the restart when Luis Fabiano turned and shot through the legs of a defender in one movement.
Brazil twice went close to an equalizer, Howard pulling off an excellent diving save from a Lucio header and getting lucky when Kaka`s downward header looked to have crossed the line before the keeper held on to it.
But he was not quite as fortunate the next time Brazil hit the bar.  Continued...
Original article

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Brazil fight back to sink U.S. in Confederations Cup final

"Tired" Bolt cruises to 200m title in Jamaica

(JAMAICAN, WORLD, LITTLE, METERS, I`M, CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEFORE)

By Simon Evans
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Double Olympic champion Usain Bolt won the Jamaican 200 meters national title on Sunday, his first run at that distance this year, but conceded he is far from top shape ahead of the world championships in August.
After bursting through the bend, Bolt eased off in the final stages to finish with a time of 20.25, nearly a full second shy of his world record 19.30 set at the final of the Beijing Games last year.
"I`m feeling alright, I`m a little bit tired because I am not really in the best shape of my life, but I`m OK," Bolt told reporters after the race.
"There were a lot of fast guys behind me so I ran the corner pretty hard and then I came off and saw where I was and shut it down -- it was ok," said Bolt, who also won the 100 meters race on Saturday.
In contrast to his dancing jubilation in Beijing, a no-nonsense Bolt crossed the line without celebration in front of cheering home fans to finish ahead of Steve Mullings, second with 20.40, and Marvin Anderson on 20.63.
The run was enough to win the national title and secure passage to the world championships, but betrayed little of the awesome power the Jamaican revealed at last year`s edition in the lead-up to Beijing.
"I`m probably a little bit back, compared to that. I`ve still got a lot of work to do, day by day. But I am ready to do it," he said.
"I ran the corner very well I think and my coach will decide what to do to improve it."
SHOW-DOWN
Bolt faces a showdown in Berlin with world champion Tyson Gay, who last week said he could break the Jamaican`s 100m record if he could improve his start.
After winning the national 100m title on Saturday, Bolt hit back by declaring the American had little chance of setting a new mark.
The Jamaican said he hoped to come up against his main rivals, Gay among them, at least once before the world championships in Berlin.
"I wouldn`t mind meeting them in every race in the build-up so I know what I have to do but at least once before would be good," Bolt said.
Bolt and Gay may face off before the worlds at the London Grand Prix, with the Jamaican signed up and discussions being held with the American`s camp, according to organizers of the July 24-25 event.
Like Bolt, two-time women`s 200 meters Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown had little trouble securing first place in the Jamaican trials, holding off rival and 100 meters gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser to win in 22.40.  Continued...
Original article

French Open final repeat up next for Federer

By Tom Pilcher
LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer will have happy memories of his last encounter with Swede Robin Soderling at Roland Garros and will be hoping for a similar outcome when he opens the play on Wimbledon`s Center Court on Monday.
The Swiss master swept past Soderling to clinch his 14th grand slam title earlier this month, a performance so convincing on what is statistically Federer`s weakest surface that the 27-year-old is a big favorite to reach the last eight.
British world number three Andy Murray will again play last on the main show court against Swiss number two and 19th seed Stanislas Wawrinka, while in between stands an interesting duel between women`s world number one Dinara Safina and former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo of France.
Over on Court One holder Venus Williams, chasing a sixth title here, starts proceedings against Serbia`s Ana Ivanovic, then Spain`s number seven seed Fernando Verdasco is next in the firing line for Croatian ace-machine Ivo Karlovic.
The line judges will again need lightning reflexes to dodge the bullets from another massive server, American Andy Roddick, who is last on court against Czech Tomas Berdych.
Serena Williams finds herself on Court Two where she faces the unseeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. That match is followed by former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia up against Czech Radek Stepanek.
Serbia`s world number four Novak Djokovic is the latest top four player consigned to an outside court. The 2008 Australian Open champion plays Dudi Sela of Israel on Court Four.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
Original article

White Sox claim battle of Chicago with shutout win

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago White Sox took the decider of their three-game series with cross-town rivals the Cubs, as John Danks and Scott Linebrink combined on a four-hitter in the 6-0 win on Sunday.
Danks struck out five and walked four over seven innings, while Linebrink struck out four in two perfect relief innings to give the Sox their second straight win over the Cubs after losing the series opener.
Danks also beat the Cubs 4-1 on June 17 and has allowed just one earned run in his 14 innings against them this season.
"I didn`t throw as many strikes this time around, but I feel like I was still able to make the big pitch when I had to and guys were making plays all over the field for me," Danks told reporters.
Alexei Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the third inning and that was all the runs the Sox would need, but Jermaine Dye also hit a solo homer for the winners. Chris Getz stole home for another run in the sixth inning.
The White Sox took two of three games during the week against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the best record in the majors, and then won two of three in this series.
Manager Ozzie Guillen was not ready to talk up the team`s prospects despite their run of good form, however.
"I`m going to take it one day at a time and try to move on real sneaky and quiet and see where we are in September," Guillen said.
Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano (4-3) struggled, allowing five runs, four of them earned, on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.
"You have to give credit to the other pitcher, Danks," Zambrano said. "Sometimes the other pitcher comes with his best stuff, and there`s nothing you can do about it."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella was frank about Zambrano`s performance.
"He was so-so," Piniella said.
The White Sox lead the all-time series 36-35, with the teams yet to play a make-up game later this season from their first series at Wrigley Field.
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by Ian Ransom)
Original article

Contador out to hold off Armstrong

By Julien Pretot
PARIS (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong`s return to the race he dominated for seven years should not stop team mate and hot favorite Alberto Contador from stamping his authority on a Tour de France more scrutinised than ever before.
Spaniard Contador, winner in 2007, will lead the Astana team but with deluxe domestiques like Armstrong and Tour podium finishers Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden, his margin for error is extremely slim.
The Armstrong v Contador rivalry is reminiscent of that between Bernard Hinault and American Greg LeMond, who won the 1986 race despite repeated attacks from his French team mate.
Although Astana manager Johan Bruyneel made clear Contador would be the leader and Armstrong his lieutenant, the seven-times champion is likely to try his luck early in the race to turn the hierarchy upside down.
"I would love to be a little mouse and see how it goes within Astana," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told Reuters.
"Contador will have only a week, and actually two stages, to show he is the boss in his own team."
The opening 15.5-km time trial in Monaco on Saturday should give an indication of the favorites` form on a course tailor-made for climber Contador with its 7.5-km ascent to the Cote de Beausoleil in the first part.
Contador, one of only five riders with victories in all three Grand Tours, is also expected to make a move in the seventh stage which finishes with an out-of-category climb to Arcalis.
Should he still be in contention at that time, Armstrong, back on the bike after 3 1/2 years in retirement, is convinced he can cause an upset.
"I feel strong, I feel strong enough to win," he told French radio Europe 1. "It will be close. Three to one."
SCHLECK THREAT
But Contador has shown he has no rival when the slopes get really steep and he has dramatically improved against the clock as he proved by winning the Spanish time trial title last week.
The ascent in the penultimate stage to the Mont Ventoux, where Armstrong has often struggled, will be his last master card.
"I`m a much stronger rider all round," the 26-year-old told Reuters.
Contador will also have rivals outside his team.  Continued...
Original article

Perry seals River Highlands win with flawless 63

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kenny Perry held off late charges by fellow Americans David Toms and Paul Goydos with a superb all-round display to win the Travelers Championship by three shots in Cromwell, Connecticut on Sunday.
The 48-year-old, who began the final round a stroke off the pace, fired a flawless seven-under-par 63 at the rain-softened TPC River Highlands to clinch his 14th PGA Tour title.
Perry, who needed only 25 putts, birdied four of the last nine holes on a sun-drenched afternoon to set a tournament record total of 22-under 258.
"It`s hard to talk right now," an emotional Perry said in a greenside interview after parring the last and raising both arms in celebration before removing his cap.
"This is as good a win as I`ve ever had, the way I finished today. To shoot 22-under par and break the all-time record of all the great champions that are on this trophy, it`s unbelievable.
"I knew there was so many guys right there in contention who could catch me ... I knew I had to keep making birdies. I wasn`t going to play defensive golf," Perry added, after winning his second title this year.
Toms birdied two of the last four holes for a 65 to finish in a tie for second with 54-hole leader Goydos, who closed with a 67.
American Hunter Mahan, the 2007 champion, signed off with a 64 to share fourth place at 17-under with compatriots Ben Curtis (65) and Ryan Moore (64).
A stroke behind the pacesetting Goydos overnight, Perry took control with three birdies in the first eight holes.
TWO-SHOT SWING
He benefited from a two-shot swing with his birdie at the par-three eighth after playing partner Goydos bogeyed the hole when three-putting from 28 feet.
Two ahead of the chasing pack at the turn, Perry tightened his grip with further birdies on 10 and 11 where he drained putts from 16 and 28 feet.
He lipped out with a long-range birdie attempt at the 14th before sinking an 11-footer at the 15th to forge three strokes clear.
Although Toms cut the deficit to two with a birdie at the par-three 16th, Perry responded at the par-four 17th, hitting a seven-iron approach to eight feet and nervelessly holing the putt.
"That seven-iron was one of the sweetest shots I`ve hit in a long time to give me birdie and a three-shot cushion to make the 18th hole, where I didn`t have to stress out," Perry said.
Goydos covered the last four holes in four under after eagling the 15th but was left to rue missed birdie putts from inside eight feet at the ninth and 17th.  Continued...
Original article

Brazil fight back to sink U.S. in Confederations Cup final

By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Holders Brazil fought back from 2-0 down with three second-half goals to beat the United States 3-2 and win the Confederations Cup for the third time in an entertaining final Sunday.
The U.S., who shocked Spain in the semis, looked set to complete an even greater upset when goals by Clint Dempsey and skipper Landon Donovan put them 2-0 ahead at halftime.
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard produced several good saves before striker Luis Fabiano took his tournament tally to five just after the restart and he equalized with a header.
Brazil captain Lucio completed his side`s stunning recovery when he rose superbly to power home an Elano corner six minutes from time.
The match was a fitting climax to an outstanding tournament which provided shocks, excellent football and noisy crowds, auguring well for next year`s World Cup finals in South Africa.
The U.S. stunned Brazil by taking the lead with a fortuitous goal by Dempsey.
He connected with Jonathan Spector`s cross and although he did not get a perfect touch the ball sped past Julio Cesar.
Astonishingly, the Americans doubled their lead after 27 minutes.
Donovan started the move deep in his own half when he found Ricardo Clark who broke down the left before sending a perfect cross back to Donovan.
His first touch wrong-footed Ramires, creating an opening for the striker who switched the ball to his left foot and cracked it past Julio Cesar for his 40th international goal in his 114th match.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Brazil had beaten the U.S. 14 times in 15 previous meetings but keeper Howard kept the outsiders firmly in control with a number of fine saves.
Brazil had the majority of the possession but rarely threatened until a minute after the restart when Luis Fabiano turned and shot through the legs of a defender in one movement.
Brazil twice went close to an equalizer, Howard pulling off an excellent diving save from a Lucio header and getting lucky when Kaka`s downward header looked to have crossed the line before the keeper held on to it.
But he was not quite as fortunate the next time Brazil hit the bar.  Continued...
Original article

Federer ready to make Soderling feel queasy

By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Facing Roger Federer on grass is usually a daunting enough prospect but lining up against the Swiss with a dodgy stomach could make Robin Soderling feel more than a little queasy on Monday.
The Swede has been in the Federer firing line 10 times and on each occasion he has come off second best.
The most recent was in the French Open final and just three weeks on from that drubbing, Soderling is hoping to find a quick cure for his health problems if he is to have any chance of upsetting a man chasing a record 15th grand slam title.
"My stomach has been pretty bad since Wednesday, so I didn`t eat a lot. I felt pretty bad," said the 13th seed after reaching the second week of the grasscourt major for the first time.
"And it`s tough to play against Roger. I`ve played him 10 times, and after the match I never felt like I played well.
"It`s not because of me, I think it`s because of him. It`s tough to play well against him, put it that way. I`d like to improve everything from Paris."
Revamping his game in just 22 days is almost a mission impossible. Gifted with a thunderous forehand, Soderling has the ability to leave many opponents huffing and puffing as they chase after his winners.
He also employs a high-risk strategy of blunting his opponents strengths instead of exploiting their weaknesses. Those tactics can catch out most players but Federer is no ordinary rival.
FREE-FLOWING BEST
The five-times champion and favorite to reclaim the title snatched from his grasp last year by Rafael Nadal, has been at his free-flowing best during the opening week and there is little to suggest that anyone will be able to stop him from gliding into his seventh successive final here.
The second seed left Lu Yen-hsun, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Philipp Kohlschreiber in a spin to make the last 16.
"What stands out to me, is that I`ve beaten him so many times that it gives me an incredible amount of confidence, knowing that if I do play my game well, I should be fine," said Federer, who has lost just once in his last 69 matches on grass.
"It`s going to be interesting to see how he`s going to enter that match after coping with such a long tournament in Paris and see how fresh he still is. But I`ve played him here in the past, and I`ve played him on grass a few times now.
"Yeah, I`m definitely got to be ready for that match."
Soderling, however, was not quite ready to wave the white flag.  Continued...
Original article

Ivanovic to use past lessons in Venus clash

By Kylie MacLellan
LONDON (Reuters) - Former French Open winner Ana Ivanovic will draw on lessons from her last Wimbledon clash with Venus Williams when she plays the five-time champion on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
The 21-year-old Serbian, who marched past Australia`s Samantha Stosur 7-5 6-2 on Saturday to secure a meeting with Williams, said she had learnt a lot from playing the world number three in the semi-finals two years ago.
"I`m very excited. I can take a lot from that match," she said referring to her 6-2 6-4 defeat by Williams in 2007.
"She (Venus) likes to go for her first shot. She likes to dominate the points. I just think I have to try to make a lot of returns."
"Obviously, it`s going to be important for me to serve well in that match because she has great first serves," added the 13th seed. "So if I can hold on to my serve and then put pressure on her, that would be a key."
But Ivanovic, who has slipped from the world number one spot she held last year, is not the only one who will be drawing on her memories of the 2007 match in preparation for Monday.
Williams, who recorded her 17th successive win at the grasscourt major on Saturday with a 6-0 6-4 triumph over Spain`s Carla Suarez Navarro, also remembers her fourth round opponent`s strengths.
"We had a lot of great exchanges," the American said of that semi-final two years ago. "I just remember playing aggressively."
"She is talented," added Williams. "This is a good surface for her... she does everything well."
Venus and sister Serena, who faces unseeded Daniela Hantuchova on Monday, are firmly on course for a repeat of their 2009 clash in the final and are characteristically stepping up a gear with each round.
But Serena, who won the last of her two Wimbledon crowns six years ago, is not expecting her bid to reach the quarter-finals to be an easy ride.
"She is such a smooth player and she takes her time on the court," said Serena. "I have to make sure I don`t rush myself because she is playing well... so I`m going to have to really bring a tough game."
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
Original article

Washington finally gets his 2003 world gold medal

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - A pleased American sprinter Tyree Washington finally got his 2003 world 400 meters gold medal Saturday.
USA Track & Field (USATF) chief executive Doug Logan presented the medal to a smiling Washington as an appreciative crowd applauded at the U.S. world championships trials.
"It felt extremely, extremely good today," the 32-year-old Washington told Reuters.
"It`s one stop among many to make this come to an end," Washington, the 2003 silver medalist, added.
The gold medal is a duplicate of one originally presented to 2003 winner Jerome Young, who last year admitted to using prohibited substances and agreed to return the medal.
Young was already serving a lifetime ban for the sport for a 2004 positive doping test.
"I am just happy that Doug Logan presented the medal to me," Washington said. "He obviously is against drug use and wants to send a statement to the world that we are not going to let these drug users get all the fame any more."
But Washington, who lives in Southern California, said he was disappointed the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) was not presenting him the medal at its world championships in August in Berlin.
He said he also would continue to seek the $30,000 first prize from the 2003 championships, adding he had proof Young was not paid.
The IAAF disagreed.
"The IAAF has different information -- namely that Jerome Young was indeed paid and has not repaid us," spokesman Nick Davies told Reuters in an e-mail last week.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
Original article

Jankovic melts, Murray blasts through

By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Jelena Jankovic`s challenge melted in soaring temperatures at Wimbledon on Saturday while Andy Murray scorched the Center Court turf as he blasted his way into the second week of the grasscourt championships.
Facing an opponent who is allergic to grass, Murray produced a rash of aces -- 17 to be exact -- to leave Serbia`s Viktor Troicki in agony during a 6-2 6-3 6-4 demolition job.
For much of the 96-minute third round match, played under stormy skies, it seemed as if the All England Club`s new retractable might finally make its debut but Murray appeared in a hurry to get off court as thunder rumbled in the distance.
"It would have been a nice bit of history, I guess, the first match to play under the roof. (But) once it was 5-3 in the third set, I obviously wanted to finish it before the rain came," said Murray, who is bidding to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon crown in 73 years.
While the Scot was lucky enough to charge his way into the last 16 of the tournament in the cool evening shade, Serbia`s Jankovic looking dazed and confused in searing afternoon heat as she repeatedly called for medical attention.
It was all too much for ex-world number one who was stifled 6-7 7-5 6-2 in the third round by 124th-ranked teenage American qualifier Melanie Oudin on a roasting Court Three.
Blaming her plight on "some woman problems," the sixth seed added: "I was like a ghost... I didn`t know where I was. I felt really dizzy and I thought that I was gonna end up in the hospital. I started to shake. I was losing my consciousness.
"It`s not easy being a woman sometimes," she said.
French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova joined Jankovic at the exit door. German Sabine Lisicki ruined the Russian`s 24th birthday celebrations with a 6-2 7-5 win over the fifth seed.
Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams faced no such problems.
However, the Serb wisely opted not to spend too much time topping up her tan on Court Two as she hurried past Australian Samantha Stosur 7-5 6-2 in 70 minutes to reach the last 16.
Next up for the 13th seed is world number three Williams.
FLORIDA HEAT
She cannot afford any lapses on Monday as American Williams chalked up her 17th successive win at the grasscourt major with a 6-0 6-4 walloping of Carla Suarez Navarro and then declared the weather was not hot enough for "a Florida girl."
"You don`t understand the heat in Florida. I needed a sweater out there," grinned the five-times champion.  Continued...
Original article

Bolt sees little chance of Gay record

By Simon Evans
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Olympic 100 meters champion Usain Bolt won the Jamaican title over rival Asafa Powell on Saturday and then declared that American world champion Tyson Gay had little chance of breaking his world record.
Bolt, who holds the record with 9.69 seconds set at the Beijing Games last year, ran home in 9.86 against a negative wind at the National Stadium to post the year`s fastest non-assisted time.
Powell, who was quicker out of the blocks, was second in 9.97 ahead of Michael Frater (10.02).
Gay ran a speedy, albeit wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in his first 100 meters of the season at the U.S. world championship trials in Eugene, Oregon on Thursday, and said after the race that he felt he could break Bolt`s record if he could improve his start.
"Personally, no disrespect to Tyson but that is going to be a hard for task for him," Bolt told reporters.
"Tyson is more of a 200 runner than a 100 runner so it is going to be very hard. He had a lot of (wind) assistance for that time. It is going to be very hard for him."
Gay failed to qualify for the finals at Beijing after injury hampered his preparations but he is set for a showdown with Bolt in the world championships in Berlin in August.
FINISH WITH EASE
Bolt overtook Powell midway through the race and had enough of a lead to finish with some ease in front of a cheering crowd.
"It was good. I am just happy that I finished injury-free and I am feeling good," he said.
Bolt said that Powell, who has struggled with a left ankle injury since April, looked to be on his way back.
"I would say Asafa is coming into shape and that is a good thing, his ankle is getting better. It is going to be a good season, as soon as he gets into shape its going to be very interesting," said Bolt.
Powell was pleased with his result, set against a 0.2 negative wind, given his ankle was still troubling him.
"It was a fairly good race because I am basically running on one leg, so I`m fairly happy. The aim was just to finish in the top two," he told reporters.
"The ankle has really surprised me -- I thought it would be gone by now but still there," he said, adding that he was in some discomfort after three rounds of racing.  Continued...
Original article