Lakers dispel Magic in overtime to open 2-0 lead

By Steve Ginsburg
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers pulled out a gritty 101-96 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points but he and Los Angeles were nowhere near as dominant as they were in a Game One 100-75 thumping of the Magic, who could have won in regulation had Courtney Lee's lay-in attempt at the buzzer not rimmed out.
"We just drove ourselves through the game," Lakers coach Phil Jackson told reporters. "I didn't think Kobe had a good game at all as far as his standards go.
"They double teamed him, they trapped him, they came on all his drives, and we didn't adjust to it."
Pau Gasol, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds, scored seven of the Lakers' 13 points in the overtime to key the victory. He hit seven-of-14 shots overall and 10-of-11 from the line.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to Orlando for the next three games, if necessary. Game Three is Tuesday and Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy is looking for a turnaround.
"You know, series can change," he said. "You've got to take it one game at a time. It's extremely frustrating not to have gotten tonight's game because I thought we fought hard.
"I didn't think we played great because we had 20 turnovers but we fought hard. We had chances to win. We didn't get it done."
LEE'S CHANCE
Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation, Bryant squandering an opportunity when his short jumper with 0.6 seconds remaining was blocked by Hedo Turkoglu.
After a timeout, the Magic delivered an alley-oop pass to Lee, whose potential series-tying shot at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
"I was obviously relieved when he missed that shot because it could have been a heartbreaker, and right now we could be in a totally different situation," Gasol said.
"I was surprised he was kind of wide open."
The Lakers outscored Orlando 13-8 in the extra session to remain on track for their 15th NBA title and first since 2002.
Orlando was paced by Rashard Lewis's 34 points on 12-of-21 shooting, while Turkoglu added 22. The pair hit a combined five-of-21 shots in the opener but nailed 20-of-38 Sunday. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Long jumper Phillips back on world record trail

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Just months after contemplating retirement, American Dwight Phillips thinks his ambition of becoming the best long jumper of all time might not be such a leap after all.
The 31-year-old's jump of 8.74 meters at the Prefontaine Classic Sunday equaled the fifth longest on record.
Only world record holder Mike Powell, Bob Beamon, Carl Lewis and Robert Emmiyan have jumped farther. Americans Larry Myricks and Erick Walder have also jumped 8.74.
"The world record definitely is my goal," the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-times world champion said. "I feel I am capable of it."
His jump, into a headwind, was the longest in 15 years and left him wondering if Powell's 1991 world record of 8.95 might have been in danger if the wind had been at his back.
"You put a 1.2 (meters per second) wind behind me instead of in my face, and we may have had a world record today," he said.
Chief rival and Beijing champion Irving Saladino of Panama finished second at 8.63, suggesting a season of outstanding jump competition lies ahead.
"I have a lot of confidence now so it is going to make it very difficult for my opponents," said Phillips.
This has not always been the case in recent years for the oft-injured athlete. Even before a series of injuries sapped his effectiveness on the runway he had become complacent about jumping, he said.
"I had lost a lot of love for the sport because I had accomplished almost everything I had ever dreamed," he told Reuters. "I was very complacent. I felt like I did not have to train that hard."
Phillips went from being No. 1 in the world in 2006 to not making the U.S. Olympic team in 2008.
Retirement was very much on his mind late last year until his father steered him back on track.
"'You still have more in you,'" Phillips recalled his father saying. "So I decided to give it one more try."
Phillips is America's best hope for long jump gold in August's world championships.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Reuters

Federer reigns in Paris -- at long last

By Pritha Sarkar
PARIS (Reuters) - As Roger Federer watched the yellow ball spin into the other side of the net, he sank to his knees, covered his face and knew that the French Open trophy was his at last.
It was meant to be Federer's day and not even a court intruder, gusting winds or rain showers could stop the Swiss from sweeping past Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 6-4 to achieve sporting greatness.
After burying the 23rd seed in one hour 55 minutes, Federer held his arms aloft and looked up to the sky as he became only the sixth man to complete a career grand slam. The triumph also gave him a record-equaling 14th major crown.
With so much at stake, it was little wonder that Federer started weeping the moment Soderling paddled that final forehand into the net, ending one of the most nerve-jangling weeks in the 27-year-old's career.
The contest was not a classic but the tension was still palpable as 15,000 soggy fans cheered Federer's winners, groaned at his mistakes and applauded his spectacular shots. When it was finally all over, they exploded into a roar of deafening cheers to salute their new claycourt king.
Fittingly, Andre Agassi, the last man to achieve the career grand slam, was on hand to welcome the newest member of the select club and gave Federer a hug before handing over the trophy.
"It is a magical moment," a drenched Federer told the crowd after holding up the Musketeers' Cup high above his head before planting a kiss on to its gleaming surface.
"It might be the greatest victory of my career. It takes away so much pressure. Now, I can play in peace for the rest of my career. Nobody will never tell me again that I have not won Roland Garros," added Federer, who won the title at his 11th attempt.
DARK CLOUD
Never have truer words been spoken as not winning the claycourt major had been a dark cloud on Federer's otherwise impeccable horizon.
While the oodles of talent that runs through Federer's veins helped him to capture 13 grand slam titles at Wimbledon, Flushing Meadows and Melbourne Park, it was never enough in the heartland of claycourt tennis.
If there was ever a place he needed divine intervention, it was in Paris and Soderling turned out to be the Swiss's lucky charm when he got rid of Federer's tormentor, four-times champion Rafael Nadal, in the fourth round.
The Swede, who lists Gladiator as his favorite film, had slayed four seeds to reach his first grand slam final but he stuck to the script and played only a bit part, allowing Federer to seal his standing as the greatest racket-swinger of all time.
All the ifs and buts that had hung over his career through three final losses to Nadal at Roland Garros disappeared like puffs of baseline dust.
In fact the major drama provided on Sunday was by an interloper who jumped on to the court from the stands as Soderling was serving at 2-1 down in the second set. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Woods wins at Memorial with birdie-birdie finish

DUBLIN, Ohio (Reuters) - Tiger Woods came from four strokes behind to win the Memorial tournament by a shot on Sunday, sealing his 67th PGA Tour victory with a dramatic birdie-birdie finish.
Helped by one of the best driving displays of his career, the world number one rammed in a nine-footer at the 17th before hitting an exquisite approach to 14 inches at the par-four last.
He tapped in the putt for his seventh birdie of the day and a seven-under-par 65 at Muirfield Village Golf Club before removing his cap to acknowledge the roars from the crowd.
Woods won the tournament for a record fourth time with a 12-under total of 276, finishing ahead of fellow American Jim Furyk who rolled in a 22-foot birdie putt at the 18th for a 69.
"That was unbelievable," tournament host Jack Nicklaus said to Woods as he shook hands with the 14-times major champion on the edge of the 18th green.
American Jonathan Byrd, who held a two-shot lead with six holes to play, battled over the tough closing stretch to card a 72 and share third place at eight under with compatriot Mark Wilson.
Tour veteran Davis Love III was a further two strokes back after closing with a 73, level with Americans Matt Kuchar (71) and co-leader overnight Matt Bettencourt (75).
Woods, sidelined for the second half of last year while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, was delighted to win his second PGA Tour title this season in just seven starts.
"It was just about being patient," the 33-year-old told reporters after shooting the lowest round of the day.
"It was a matter of time because I was able to start practicing after rounds again, and I had only been doing that for a couple of tournaments. I knew it was coming around."
PERFECT DRIVING
Woods hit a perfect 14 of 14 fairways in Sunday's final round, arguably the best teebox performance of his career on one of the PGA Tour's toughest courses.
"The driving this week was nice," he said after starting the last round four shots off the pace. "It was coming. It was just a matter of time. I finally put it together this week."
Byrd, who had holed out from 82 yards to eagle the par-five seventh, appeared to have the tournament firmly in his grasp when he sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the 12th to lead by two.
However, he made his first mistake of the day with a three-putt bogey at the 13th.
Woods, who had birdied four of the first seven holes, conjured a magical chip-in from tangly greenside rough to eagle the par-five 11th and lie one stroke behind Byrd at 10 under. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Penguins put Motor City meltdown behind them

By Steve Keating
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Penguins returned home on Sunday to prepare for Game Six of the Stanley Cup final series against the Detroit Red Wings insisting they had already put Saturday's Motor City meltdown behind them.
Certainly there is nothing from an embarrassing 5-0 Game Five drubbing on Saturday that the Penguins want to remember as the Red Wings eased to within one win of defending the Stanley Cup.
However, one thing the Penguins have not forgotten is the images of the Red Wings celebrating with the Stanley Cup after winning the best-of-seven series 4-2 at Mellon Arena a year ago.
It is a scene that could well be repeated on Tuesday with Detroit leading this year's series 3-2, though neither side has lost at home so far.
"The situation is pretty clear for us," Penguins center Sidney Crosby said. "We've got to go home and be desperate now.
"It's nothing new. We've got to respond the right way.
"The first two we played here (Detroit), they were close games and could have gone either way.
"Even the games at our rink. They were good hockey games.
"This (5-0 loss) was kind of out of left field but we've got a game to win at home now."
The Penguins did more than lose a game in Detroit on Saturday, they also lost their composure and all momentum from successive 4-2 victories.
Pittsburgh's indiscipline resulted in three Detroit power play tallies in a four-goal second period that buried the Penguins and chased a rattled Marc-Andre Fleury from the game.
The Pittsburgh players rallied around their goaltender on Sunday while coach Dan Bylsma said he had no hesitation in handing Fleury the start in Game Six.
"A goalie's going to be upset in that situation," explained Crosby. "That's a competitor in him (Fleury).
"We need him to bounce back in the next game, and we need everybody at their best, including him."
The Red Wings understand better than most the value of home advantage having lost just once at Joe Louis Arena in four best-of-seven series this post-season. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Summer Bird streaks to Belmont success

By Larry Fine
ELMONT, New York (Reuters) - Summer Bird streaked down the stretch to overtake Kentucky Derby hero Mine That Bird and win the 141st running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
Summer Bird, racing at 11-1 odds with Kent Desormeaux aboard, won the mile and a half race going away by nearly three lengths in 2:27.54.
Dunkirk, co-second choice at 9-2 with John Velazquez up, finished second ahead of 6-5 favorite Mine That Bird, who made his anticipated charge earlier than expected.
Mine That Bird surged in front as he rounded the turn for the stretch but after taking the lead faded at the end.
"I felt I was on the best horse coming in," said Mine That Bird jockey Calvin Borel, who was trying to register a unique jockey Triple Crown sweep after steering filly Rachel Alexandra to victory in the Preakness. "We just got outrun."
Charitable Man, also rated 9-2, finished fourth of the 10 runners.
Summer Bird, like Mine That Bird sired by 2004 Belmont winner Birdstone, paid $25.80, $9.30 and $4.70 for a $2 bet.
The victory was especially sweet for Desormeaux, who had won three Kentucky Derby crowns and two Preakness Stakes but had tasted bitter disappointment in the Belmont.
Desormeaux entered 0-for-6 in the race, twice failing in bids to complete the Triple Crown.
Last year he pulled up Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown and finished last as 38-1 longshot Da' Tara prevailed in the Belmont. In 1998, Victory Gallop edged him at the finish to deny him a Triple Crown sweep aboard Real Quiet.
"Last year's Belmont felt like swallowing a spoon sideways," Desormeaux said about his Belmont letdown.
"I tried to maintain my confidence and know that when God had it in my plans it would happen."
Desormeaux kept Summer Bird back and when he looked to make his move was surprised to see Mine That Bird already ahead of him on the fast track and was not sure he could overtake the gelding.
"This colt just laid down and took off," he said. "He exploded the last 500 yards. There was never any doubt. The only way Summer Bird was going to get beat was from someone coming from behind because he had dead aim on the leaders."
(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Dave Thompson)

Source: Reuters

Mexico drop deeper into trouble, U.S. recover

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Mexico slumped to their fourth successive away defeat in World Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 reverse in El Salvador on Saturday, while the United States recovered to get their campaign back on track for South Africa.
Midfielder Celso Borges scored twice as CONCACAF region leaders Costa Rica backed up their win over the U.S. on Wednesday with a 3-2 triumph at Trinidad & Tobago to stay top of the final stage standing as the marathon tournament nears its climax.
Mexico dropped to fifth in the six-team group after Eliseo Quintanilla's late penalty left them on three points from four games, ruining coach Javier Aguirre's second debut with the side.
The top three teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fourth plays off against the fifth South American team for an additional berth.
Mexico have lost all three away games -- against U.S., Honduras and El Salvador -- and were also beaten in Honduras in the last away game of the competition's previous stage.
Four of their remaining six games are at home but they have no more margins for error.
Former Atletico Madrid coach Aguirre, brought back after Sven-Goran Eriksson was sacked in April, had promised a more positive attitude but instead saw his team fall behind to Julio Martinez's 11th goal at San Salvador's hostile Cuscatlan stadium.
Mexico equalized in the 71st minute with a penalty converted by playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was recalled by Aguirre despite announcing his international retirement under Eriksson last year.
But Oscar Rojas was adjudged to have handled with four minutes left and Quintanilla stepped up to score and take El Salvador to third place with five points.
"Beating Mexico is a special sensation," El Salvador coach and former Mexico international Carlos de los Cobos told reporters. "We have a team of players who know how to play football."
DREAM START
The U.S. edged to a nervy 2-1 victory over Honduras after the visitors had made a dream start in Chicago when Carlos Costly scored with a 25-meter shot in the fifth minute.
Landon Donovan equalized with a penalty two minutes before halftime after Mario Beata handled and a brave diving header by captain Carlos Bocanegra in the 69th minute gave the relieved hosts the points.
"After we went behind, we were thinking 'not again' but we fought together and stayed together in a team effort and showed character to come back and win," Bocanegra said.
The U.S. stayed second with 10 points from five games while Honduras dropped to fourth with four from four.
Norwegian-based Borges, on target against the U.S. last Wednesday, scored twice in the second half as Costa Rica came from behind to beat the Soca Warriors. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Phillips leaps 8.74 meters to join elite

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Former world champion Dwight Phillips became the joint fifth-best long jump performer of all time when he leaped 8.74 meters at the Prefontaine Classic grand prix athletics meeting Sunday.
Phillips, the 2003 and 2005 world title winner, outdistanced Panamanian Olympic champion Irving Saladino by matching the longest jump in the world since 1994. Fellow American Mike Powell set the world record of 8.95 meters in 1991.
Saladino was second on Sunday at 8.63 meters.
"I have been to the top. I have been to the bottom. I think I am back on the upswing," said Phillips, who was hampered by injuries last year and failed to make the U.S. Olympic team.
Only Powell, Bob Beamon, Carl Lewis and Robert Emmiyan have jumped farther than Phillips. Americans Larry Myricks and Erick Walder have equaled the distance.
"Those guys are the gods of the long jump," said Phillips.
POWELL SECOND
In other events, former 100 meters world record holder Asafa Powell was beaten into second by upcoming American Michael Rodgers but expressed confidence he was on the road to recovery from an ankle injury.
"I am not worried," said Powell, who ran 10.07 seconds to Rodgers's personal best of 9.94. "I didn't try to push it. I was out of the blocks slow."
Best performances of the year also came in the men's mile and shot put and women's 400 meters.
Kenyan Olympic medalist Asbel Kiprop won the mile in 3:48.50, U.S. world champion Reese Hoffa bested the three Beijing shot put medalists with a toss of 21.89 meters and Olympic bronze medalist Sanya Richards won the women's 400 in 49.86 seconds.Olympic champions Angelo Taylor, Andrey Silnov, Dawn Harper and Shelly-Ann Fraser suffered defeat.
Beijing bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson relegated fellow American Taylor to fourth in the men's 400 meters hurdles. Jackson clocked 48.38 seconds with Taylor running 48.79.
Silnov wound up fifth in the men's high jump, which fellow Russian Ivan Ukhov won at 2.34 meters.
Harper failed to finish the women's 100 meters hurdles which U.S. world champion Michelle Perry won in 12.74 seconds. American runner-up Damu Cherry was given the same time. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Kuznetsova high on life after "birth" of second slam

By Pritha Sarkar
PARIS (Reuters) - Svetlana Kuznetsova wears the glow of a proud parent after securing her second grand slam title with a convincing French Open victory on Saturday.
Five years after capturing the U.S. Open crown, the Russian was elated that she was able to push herself to win a second major but retains strong memories of her breakthrough success.
"I can't compare because it's like parents having a second baby. One baby you are happy and second baby you are even more happier. It's just unbelievable," Kuznetsova told a couple of invited journalists after her straight sets win over fellow Russian Dinara Safina in the Roland Garros final.
Luckily for Kuznetsova, her 'babies' will not give her any sleepless nights and neither will her lack of success at the All England Club.
Despite enjoying a purple patch of form, Kuznetsova dismissed her chances of doing well at Wimbledon, which starts in just over two weeks.
She has made it through to the quarter-finals in three of her six visits but said she did not feel at home on the slick surface.
"I'm going to try and enjoy Wimbledon. I don't want to put any pressure on myself. I play great on clay, I can play good on grass but haven't done that," said Kuznetsova, who will turn 24 during the first week of the grasscourt major.
"For me, adjusting is the most difficult thing. That's why I have to force myself and go and play at Eastbourne (the week before Wimbledon)."
While her latest victim stands atop of the rankings despite not having won a slam, Kuznetsova said she had too much going on in her life to chase after the number one spot.
"It's great if I achieve it but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't. I've won two grand slams and that's big. I'm just happy with my life, to enjoy it. I live a good life, I do my job which is my passion."

Source: Reuters

Lannan shuts down Mets in surprising Nationals win

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - John Lannan pitched his first career complete game as the lowly Washington Nationals pounded the New York Mets 7-1 on Saturday.
Lannan allowed just four hits and an unearned run and was aided by a franchise-record-tying five double-plays as Washington belied their lowly position to snap a three-game losing streak with a second win in 11 games.
"John was just outstanding out there for us and the offense exploded," Washington manager Manny Acta told reporters.
"We had everything working for us tonight, offense and defense, and we were due."
Adam Dunn, Elijah Dukes and Nick Johnson all homered for the Nationals, as Lannan needed just 96 pitches to close out the two hour game.
"I haven't felt that good in a while," Lannan said. "And to get five double-plays in one game, well that sure helps too."
It was just the third complete game of the season by a Washington pitcher as Lannan (3-5) struck out two and walked three while staying in command all night before a crowd of 31,456, one of the biggest of the season in Nationals Park.
Lannan threw 61 of his pitches for strikes in picking up just his 14th career victory in his three-season career, all of them with Washington.
The Nationals (15-39) entered the game with a team ERA of 5.61, the worst in the majors, and the win was just their sixth in 32 games against NL East opponents.
The Mets (29-25) had won six of the previous seven meeting between the two teams, including a 3-1 win in the series opener on Friday.
John Maine (5-4) allowed seven runs and six hits, including the three home runs, in his shortest outing of the season. He failed to record an out in the fifth inning before leaving the game.
"I had nothing today," Maine said. "It was a waste of a day."
The Mets remained three games behind the first-place Philadelphia in the East after the Phillies lost 3-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Reuters