SportStyle

MLB to help Australia set up new league

2009-07-01T15:59:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T11:13:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T10:01:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T09:50:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T09:38:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T06:20:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T04:49:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T01:44:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-07-01T01:32:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T23:54:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T20:53:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T20:41:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T16:34:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-30T16:23:00.000+04:00

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

Slam stays open-air despite Murray`s roof epic

2009-06-30T16:12:00.000+04:00

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

Costs squeeze profits at Japan`s baseball teams

2009-06-30T14:37:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T11:35:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T08:07:00.000+04:00

(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

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Murray wins thriller under new roof

Murray wins thriller under new roof

2009-06-30T07:55:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T04:16:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T04:04:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T03:52:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T03:40:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T03:27:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T03:15:00.000+04:00

(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`

2009-06-30T03:03:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T02:02:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-30T01:24:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-29T19:07:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-29T15:51:00.000+04:00

(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.

2009-06-29T10:59:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-29T09:21:00.000+04:00

(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

2009-06-29T08:20:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-29T08:08:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-29T07:56:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-29T06:30:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-29T06:18:00.000+04:00

Federer ready to make Soderling feel queasy

2009-06-28T18:56:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-28T17:31:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-28T12:39:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-28T11:26:00.000+04:00

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

2009-06-28T11:02:00.000+04:00

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

Goydos snatches lead from Perry at River Highlands

2009-06-28T06:10:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Paul Goydos birdied five of the last eight holes to overhaul fellow American Kenny Perry and grab a one-shot lead in Saturday`s third round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Two off the pace when the weather-delayed second round was completed earlier in the day, Goydos fired a sparkling seven-under-par 63 to take charge at the rain-softened TPC River Highlands.
The double PGA Tour winner, helped by a sizzling run of four consecutive birdies from the 13th, covered the back nine in five-under to post a 16-under total of 194.
Perry, who briefly held a three-stroke lead with six holes remaining, missed a five-foot birdie attempt at the last and had to settle for second place after carding a six-birdie 66.
American David Toms, winner of the 2001 U.S. PGA Championship, was a further stroke back at 14-under after a matching 66.
For much of the day, it appeared that Tour veteran Perry would retain control of the tournament.
A stroke in front of the chasing pack after the second round, he was tied for the lead with American John Merrick after reaching the turn in two-under 33.
SLIPPED BACK
Back-to-back birdies from the par-three 11th put him three ahead while Merrick slipped back with a double-bogey at the par-four 12th where he drove out-of-bounds.
Perry did well to save par at the 523-yard 13th after pulling his second shot into water but he bogeyed the 14th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach.
That dropped him into a tie for the lead at 14-under with Goydos, who had birdied 11, 13 and 14.
Goydos picked up another shot at the 15th before collecting a fourth successive birdie at the par-three 16th where he sank an uphill 28-foot putt from behind the green.
Two ahead at 16 under, his lead was cut to one when Perry also birdied the 296-yard 15th.
Goydos, however, parred the last two holes to maintain a one-stroke cushion going into Sunday`s final round.
American Lucas Glover, surprise winner of the weather-delayed U.S. Open on Monday, fired a 65 to lie seven shots off the pace at nine-under.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles, editing by Tony Jimenez and Ian Ransom)
Original article

Jankovic wilts as fans wait for Murray

2009-06-27T22:15:00.000+04:00

By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Jelena Jankovic`s challenge melted away in soaring temperatures at Wimbledon Saturday while Andy Murray fans tried to stay cool as they waited for their hero`s prime time appearance on Center Court.
Before attention turned to Murray`s bid to become Britain`s first men`s singles champion in 73 years, spectators flocking into the grounds saw Serbia`s sixth seed looking dazed and confused as she needed medical attention for heat exhaustion.
It was all too much for ex-world number one Jankovic 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.
Jankovic`s compatriot Ana Ivanovic and five-times champion Venus Williams faced no such problems.
However, Ivanovic 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 just 70 minutes to reach the last 16.
Next up for the 13th seed is world number three Williams.
"It`s going to be a huge challenge. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to play her because in my first match I was half gone," Ivanovic, cheered on by Australian golfer Adam Scott, said referring to her opening win from match points down.
FLORIDA HEAT
She cannot afford any lapses 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 third seed.
Men`s 12th seed Nikolay Davydenko joined Jankovic at the exit door after being outclassed 6-2 6-3 6-2 by Czech Tomas Berdych.
Germany`s Tommy Haas, stranded at 6-6 in the fifth set overnight, needed to toil in the sun for another six games on Saturday before completing a 7-5 7-5 1-6 6-7 10-8 win over Croatian 11th seed Marin Cilic.
"It has never happened to me that we stopped playing at six-all in the fifth," said Haas, whose match was suspended in near-darkness at 0933 local time (0833 GMT) Friday.
"We should have a tiebreak at six-all like in the U.S. Open. When you`ve played so much tennis... it`s really draining."
As the temperature edged above 28 degrees Celsius many people struggled to cope with the stifling heat. Continued...
Original article

Fearless U.S. braced for Brazil showdown

2009-06-27T15:58:00.000+04:00

By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The United States are one victory away from claiming a major FIFA competition for the first time if they can produce another shock against Brazil when the Confederations Cup competition reaches its climax on Sunday.
Skipper Carlos Bocanegra, whose side were beaten 3-0 by Brazil in their Group A encounter on June 18, insists the U.S. will play without fear against their heavily favoured opponents and adopt an entirely different strategy for this match.
Unlike the U.S., Brazil know all about winning major trophies, crowned world champions five times and seeking a third Confederations Cup victory in attempting to retain the trophy they won in 2005.
"The first time we played Brazil we came out a bit timid," Bocanegra said at a news briefing Friday. "We gave them too much respect.
"We went out and sat back too much, but we changed it against Egypt, playing with a lot of energy from the start and we carried that into the Spain game. We had a go at them for 90 minutes rather than absorb pressure."
The U.S. beat Egypt 3-0 to secure a surprise semi-final berth and then secured an even more unlikely place in the final with a stunning 2-0 win over Spain, who suffered their first international defeat for nearly three years and 36 matches.
Now Brazil stand in the way of the U.S. scoring what would be a truly historic upset with coach Bob Bradley hinting his side would play another direct, physical game against a higher-ranked opponent.
"It is very important for us to win," he said, explaining how it would help their seeding for the World Cup finals draw being held later this year.
"In our history, the U.S. national team have had some important and very good victories but we have never won a major competition.
"We have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup and that is the reason we are here. Every team wants the chance to play in a final and we are looking forward to it. It would be incredible for us if we won it."
IMPRESSIVE CLINT
Bradley will not be able to choose son Michael for the game, however, after he was sent off toward the end of the semi-final victory.
But he will have the impressive Clint Dempsey in attack and the Fulham forward will be looking to complete an excellent tournament with a winner`s medal.
Dempsey has scored twice, including the second against Spain, and was praised by FIFA Technical Study member Holger Osieck for "winning nearly every ball in the air, keeping possession and working hard" in their 3-0 win over Egypt.
Osieck also praised his "tireless" performance against Spain in which besides his goal, he helped set up the first for Jozy Altidore. Continued...
Original article

Fearless U.S. braced for Brazil showdown

2009-06-27T15:46:00.000+04:00

Sabathia shines, A-Rod homers in Yanks romp

2009-06-27T13:19:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - C.C. Sabathia allayed any fears concerning his arm injury by firing seven strong innings to lead the New York Yankees to a 9-1 victory over crosstown rivals the Mets on Friday.
Sabathia, who withdrew from last Sunday`s start after just 1 1/3 innings, returned to form by striking out eight batters and allowing just one run to improve to 6-1 on his last 10 starts.
Alex Rodriguez pounded a home run to right field in the eighth inning to surpass Yankee great Reggie Jackson on the all-time list with the 564th of his career, as the Yankees capitalized on early errors to win their third straight game.
"I feel like my legs are coming back," Rodriguez, who had suffered a recent slump, told reporters. "I feel like I have more strength."
It was the second straight lop-sided win of the Subway Series after the Yankees routed the Mets 15-0 in the last meeting between the teams on June 14.
This time, lead-off hitter Brett Gardner recorded five hits and three runs for the Yankees, who scored four runs in the second inning where the Mets committed three errors.
Throwing miscues by Alex Cora and Nick Evans, who was called up from the minor leagues last week, put the Mets in a 4-0 hole.
"Nothing was going right but we had a shot to get back in the game," Mets outfielder Gary Sheffield said. "When you get that one shot that`s when you have to bear down."
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey pitched five innings and was only charged for two of the runs. The Yankees tacked on three more in the eighth, where Rodriguez and Gardner homered, and added two in the ninth.
Despite the loss, the Mets stayed within a half-game of the National League East lead thanks to the Philadelphia Phillies taking a loss.
"You`re kind of scoreboard watching at this time for us because we`re trying to survive," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "We caught a break with the way we played."
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O`Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Original article

Venus out for revenge at Wimbledon

2009-06-27T13:07:00.000+04:00

By Tom Pilcher
LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray once again fills the prime time viewing slot on Center Court late on Saturday, while five-time women`s champion Venus Williams will have revenge on her mind against Carla Suarez Navarro.
World number three Murray plays fiery Serbian 30th seed Viktor Troicki, seen arguing with an umpire on Court 14 during his doubles match with German Christopher Kas on Friday. Murray has lost just seven games in their two previous meetings.
"Rest up tomorrow Viktor. Big (doubles) match on Monday," Kas joked as the pair left the court.
Before Murray-mania reaches fever pitch, Williams will take to the main show court against Spaniard Suarez Navarro, who beat the prolific American champion in the second round en route to the Australian Open quarter-finals this year.
At five feet four, and weighing only 62 kgs, Suarez Navarro is dwarfed by the six-footer Williams, though what the Spaniard lacks in height she makes up for in determination.
Sandwiched between those matches is sixth seed Andy Roddick against Austrian Juergen Melzer with the American, twice a runner-up at Wimbledon, favorite to reach the last 16.
World number one Dinara Safina of Russia and Serbia`s Ana Ivanovic find themselves on Court Two against Belgium`s Kirsten Flipkens and Australian Samantha Stosur respectively.
Revitalized ex-champion Lleyton Hewitt follows compatriot Stosur on court, with the pair certain to be cheered on by a large contingent of green and yellow clad supporters.
Sixth-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic is up against American Melanie Oudin on Court Three while ninth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki, promoted to a Center Court slot on Thursday, finds herself cast away to the distant Court Four.
After five days of glorious sunshine, Wimbledon might finally get the chance to show off its latest innovation by closing the new multi-million pound roof. But forecasters had also predicted showers on Friday and they failed to arrive.
(Editing by Ken Ferris)
Original article

Rodgers wins U.S. 100 metres minus Gay

2009-06-27T12:55:00.000+04:00

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - Young Mike Rodgers, who almost quit running two years ago, claimed the top prize in the men`s 100 metres when he held on to win in a wind-assisted 9.91 seconds at the U.S. world championships trials on Friday.
Veteran Darvis Patton finished a close second with little-known Rae Edwards third to join defending world champion Tyson Gay on the American team for August`s world championships in Berlin.
Patton clocked 9.92 and Edwards 10.00 behind an assisting wind of 3.1 metres per second.
Fast times also came in a wind-assisted women`s final.
Carmelita Jeter edged Olympian Muna Lee by one-hundredth of a second for the title, clocking 10.776 seconds to Lee`s 10.777.
Former world champion Lauryn Williams claimed third in 10.96 seconds.
Rodgers called his victory a great accomplishment.
"I`m young, I did it early," said the 24-year-old who as a small-college champion has often been overlooked among America`s sprinters.
He said quitting was on his mind two years ago before encouraging words from a coaching friend led him to give sprinting one more try.
Gay drew a bye to Berlin as the defending world champion in the 100 and 200 metres. He raced once in the U.S. trials -- running a wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in Thursday`s preliminaries.
DIX OUT
The U.S. lost Olympian Walter Dix in the semi-finals when the double Beijing bronze medallist strained his right hamstring and ran a non-qualifying sixth.
Dix, who won bronzes in the 100 and 200 at Beijing, shook his head when asked if he would run the 200 later this week.
That means he will not make the U.S. team since only the top three finishers in the American trials and defending world champions qualify.
Jeter threw a scare in the crowd when she fell to the ground after her victory. Continued...
Original article

Islanders select Tavares with first pick in NHL Draft

2009-06-27T12:43:00.000+04:00

By Roger Lajoie
MONTREAL (Reuters) - The New York Islanders ended weeks of speculation by selecting high scoring forward John Tavares with the first pick in the National Hockey League draft on Friday night.
Tavares, 18, set the Ontario Hockey League`s career goal scoring record in four seasons in the junior league and was the top-rated prospect heading into the draft.
The Islanders refused to announce who they would take with their number one selection prior to the draft, leading to speculation that they would either deal the pick or perhaps take towering Swedish defenceman Victor Hedman.
"I was just like everybody else, wondering what the decision would be," Tavares told reporters. "It was obviously a great moment for me and a special feeling.
"I can`t wait to get started and it`s a great opportunity for me. I couldn`t be more happy right now and excited about my opportunity to play for Long Island and the Islanders."
New York General Manager Garth Snow said that Tavares was the player they most coveted from the outset.
"John`s a special hockey player and an even better person," Snow said. "We had some offers to deal the pick but nothing we really considered. We`re very fortunate to have a player of his abilities."
Tampa Bay used its second pick to take Hedman, a 6-foot-6 defenseman who played last season for Modo of the Swedish Elite League.
"I`m just happy to become an NHL player," Hedman said. "It became Tampa and I`m just as happy as I can be.
With the third pick, the Colorado Avalanche took forward Matt Duchene of the OHL`s Brampton, rated a good playmaker.
Atlanta selected forward Evander Kane from the Western Hockey League with the fourth pick, while the Los Angeles Kings took WHL`s Brandon forward Brayden Schenn, younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn.
The Phoenix Coyotes, who are in bankruptcy court as they try to find new owners, took defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson from Leksand in Sweden with the sixth pick.
The Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers swung a major deal early in the draft, with the Ducks trading veteran defenceman Chris Pronger.
The former Hart and Norris Trophy winner was dealt along with forward Ryan Dingle to the Flyers for defenseman Luca Sbisa, forward Joffrey Lupul, the Flyers 1st Round pick (21st overall) in 2009, 1st Round pick in 2010 and a conditional 3rd Round pick in 2010 or 2011.
Original article

Bolt set for showdown with rival Powell

2009-06-27T12:31:00.000+04:00

By Simon Evans
KINGSTON (Reuters) - Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Usain Bolt will resume battle with his Jamaican rival Asafa Powell in front of a passionate home crowd on Saturday in the Caribbean Island`s national championship.
The pair eased through their heats on Friday in a celebratory atmosphere at the National Stadium with fans delighted to see their Olympic hero running again on his home track.
Bolt, who is the world`s fastest man having run 9.69 in Beijing last year, barely broke sweat as he cruised through his heat in a time of 10.14, while Powell also took it easy with his 10.36.
Bolt, who also holds the Olympic gold and world record time in 200 meters, was frustrated by four false starts in his race.
"That was a little annoying because I started to get cold again so I couldn`t really explode out," he told reporters.
Powell said he had achieved his aim for the evening.
"I just wanted to get out in front and stay there and I was able to do that," he said.
The pair will have to be alert on Saturday, though, with places in Jamaica`s squad for August`s world championships in Berlin up for grabs.
Michael Frater, Steve Mullings, Marvin Anderson and Yohan Blake, all winners of their respective heats, are eyeing spots on the team, and with just the top four granted a slot in the relay side, there will be plenty at stake.
Powell, who has struggled with an ankle problem of late, described himself as "not 100 percent fit" in pre-race comments while Bolt, who has not run a 200 meters this season, is focusing on getting up to speed in that event.
In the women`s 100 meters, which did not feature preliminary heats, the true depth of Jamaican sprinting is on display with all the top three from Beijing facing off.
Gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser is up against the pair who shared silver in China, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson.
There will be an intense battle for the top three spots though with Simpson not having competed since knee surgery last year and Aleen Bailey, Simone Facey and Sheri-Ann Brooks all fancying their chances of an upset.
Veronica Campbell Brown, who is not competing in the 100 meters as she has a wildcard to defend her title in Berlin, is focusing on Sunday`s 200 meters race.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
Original article

Perry stays two ahead at River Highlands

2009-06-27T03:00:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American Kenny Perry maintained his two-shot lead early in Friday`s second round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut despite struggling with the pace of the greens.
The PGA Tour veteran, two ahead overnight after opening with a sparkling 61, parred his last 10 holes at the TPC River Highlands to card a two-under 68.
That left Perry at 11-under 129, with compatriot Ryan Moore alone in second after a 65.
Americans Colt Knost (66) and PGA Tour rookie Aaron Watkins (67) were a further stroke back at eight under while U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover was at four under after following a first-round 65 with a 71.
Perry, who flirted with a magical 59 before equaling the course record on Thursday, failed to increase his lead despite striking the ball even better on Friday.
"I hit a lot more quality, longer irons today," the 48-year-old told reporters.
"It was fun out there. I had control of the ball and hit it nice but just couldn`t get the speed (on the greens).
"I hit 16 greens and didn`t miss a fairway but I had 32 putts. I had 25 yesterday so that`s seven strokes. I`m in good shape though and happy with the round."
FIRST BOGEY
Perry, beaten in a three-way playoff at this year`s U.S. Masters, started at the 10th hole and mixed three birdies with his first bogey of the week, at the par-four 14th, to reach the turn in two-under 33 before parring the last nine.
"I kept hitting it in there 15 feet from the hole," said Perry, who won his 13th PGA Tour title at the Phoenix Open in February. "It`s a putt you think you should make but you probably don`t make many of them.
"I just kept hitting that range all day. I had a couple of close ones and I think I made one putt over six feet today. It was just a frustrating day on the greens."
Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, carded a 68 to lie six strokes off the pace with fellow Americans Boo Weekley (71) and Scott Verplank (68).
Spanish world number four Sergio Garcia, the highest-ranked player in the field, was among the late starters after opening with a 67.
The cut was projected to fall at three-under 137 with Britain`s Justin Rose and Swede Daniel Chopra among those in danger of making early exits.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles, editing by Tony Jimenez)
Original article

China`s Olympians win Laureus team award

2009-06-26T16:25:00.000+04:00

By Nick Mulvenney
BEIJING (Reuters) - China`s remarkable achievement in topping the medals table at last year`s Beijing Olympics was recognized on Friday when they scooped the team title at the 2009 Laureus Sports Awards.
The Chinese Olympic team got the nod from the 46 sporting greats who make up the Laureus academy ahead of soccer teams Manchester United and Spain, the British Olympic cycling team, the Jamaican Olympic sprint team and the NBA`s Boston Celtics.
China won 51 golds, 21 silver and 28 bronze medals in Beijing to top the medals table for the first time since the country returned to the Summer Games in 1984.
"Beijing was one of the great Olympic Games," academy chairman Ed Moses told a ceremony in the Chinese capital.
"To me one of the most amazing thing was the passion and determination of the Chinese athletes who produced so many epic performances, not just in the sports in which we knew they were good, but in others where China was not expected to do so well."
Deng Yaping, an academy member and part of the organizing committee for the Beijing Games, said the award was a tribute to the huge success of China`s first Olympics.
"This is international recognition of a great achievement," the three-times Olympic table tennis champion told Reuters.
"It is not only an honor for the athletes, team officials and coaches but for the whole nation."
The other awards handed out so far this year have also been dominated by the stars of the Beijing Games with sprinter Usain Bolt winning best sportsman, pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva best sportswoman and swimmer Rebecca Adington best newcomer.
Six gold medalists were at the ceremony to represent the 639 athletes in the Chinese team.
"The other teams were excellent, they did a fantastic job last year but last year was the Olympic year in China, so last year was our year," said Zou Kai, who won three gold medals in gymnastics.
"I feel excited to beat Manchester United (because) I`m a Liverpool fan."
"SMALLER SPORTS"
Past winners of the award have included Manchester United, the Brazil, France, Greece and Italy national soccer teams, the Australia cricket team as well as the England and South African rugby teams.
"This will really encourage athletes from small nations and smaller sports that they can be Laureus award winners," said Deng, who admitted being surprised. Continued...
Original article

Murray marches on, Hewitt back to best

2009-06-26T15:13:00.000+04:00

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Andy Murray made light work of a tricky tea-time assignment at Wimbledon on Thursday while Lleyton Hewitt, the man who has already lifted the trophy the Scot so cherishes, rolled back the years to cause a big upset.
In front of 15,000 Center Court fans and thousands watching the match on Henman Hill`s giant screen, Murray devoured Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-2 7-5 6-3 to clear another hurdle toward becoming Britain`s first men`s singles champion in 73 years.
Murray was joined in the third round by dogged Australian Hewitt, the 2002 champion, who produced a vintage display to dispatch fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets.
Women`s third seed Venus Williams, who along with her sister Serena has collected sackfuls of silverware here, powered past Ukraine`s Kateryna Bondarenko to remain firmly on course for a hat-trick of singles titles.
The American five-time champion, who played with a strapping on her left knee, powered into the third round with a 6-3 6-2 victory and was joined in the last 32 by Russia`s world number one Dinara Safina and French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.
DAZZLING MAURESMO
On another day of record-breaking crowds mercurial Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, champion here three years ago, also progressed, dazzling the sun-roasted fans on Court Three with a comfortable defeat of Kristina Kucova.
Argentina`s Del Potro, occupying the place in the draw vacated by injured champion Rafael Nadal, was given a lesson in grasscourt play by Hewitt who posted a 6-3 7-5 7-5 victory.
Hewitt, backed by a vocal section of Australian fans decked out in yellow and green, moved his opponent all across the court and even flicked some lobs over the towering 20-year-old.
"It was a big win. I wanted to beat a top five guy," said former world number one Hewitt, who has suffered with hip problems and now resides at 56 in the rankings.
"It was a lot of fun being out there. I guess, you know, kind of underdog out there a little bit as well."
Del Potro, who looked about as natural on grass as a giraffe on an ice rink, was gracious in defeat.
"He played a very good match," the Argentine told reporters. "He`s one of my idols. I said to him you`re in very good shape again, so I`m happy for you and good luck."
GINGER WIGS
Thousands bit their nails on Tuesday as Murray battled to victory over American Robert Kendrick in the first round. Continued...
Original article

Gay finds fault in speedy trial run

2009-06-26T15:00:00.000+04:00

By Gene Cherry
EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - World champion Tyson Gay ran a wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in what he called a "horrible" 100 meters preliminary at the U.S. world championships trials on Thursday.
Although the mark was the seventh fastest of all time under any conditions, Gay said he was disappointed with his execution in the race assisted by a wind of 3.4 meters per second.
"I ran a horrible race. Technically it was horrible. My focus was horrible," Gay told reporters.
But the fast time and a quick 200 meters last month should see Gay line up for a world championship showdown against Jamaican Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt in both sprints in Berlin in August.
With a bye to Berlin in both the 100 and 200 as the defending world champion, Gay had planned Thursday`s opening round of the 100 meters as his only appearance at the trials.
He talked of running another round, but after consulting with coaches, decided against it.
The assisting wind led to a number of fast first-round times. Olympian Darvis Patton and upcoming Mike Rodgers both clocked wind-assisted 9.92 seconds.
The world record is Bolt`s 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympics.
Defending world 1,500 and 5,000 meters champion Bernard Lagat claimed his wild-card berth for both events in Berlin with an easy run of 1:48.59 in 800 meters qualifying. He does not plan to run again in the trials.
Olympic champion Stephanie Brown Trafton topped the women`s discus final with a toss of 64.25 meters and Beijing gold medalist LaShawn Merritt clocked 45.23 seconds to lead qualifying in the men`s 400 meters.
CLAY OUT
Earlier, the U.S. lost one of its top hopes for a world championship gold medal when Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bryan Clay withdrew from the trials with a hamstring injury.
Only the top three finishers at the national trials or defending world champions qualify for Berlin.
"It is a big disappointment," Clay, 29, told Reuters.
"I really would like to be on the team, but at the same time I am trying to keep my mind wrapped around the big picture. I do want to go after the world record." Continued...
Original article

Rays beat Phillies in World Series repeat

2009-06-26T14:48:00.000+04:00

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays hammered the Philadelphia Phillies 10-4 on Thursday to take a small measure of revenge against their World Series foe.
The Rays, defeated by the Phillies over five games in October`s championship series, scored 10 unanswered runs to claim their second win of the three-game interleague set.
"I think our offense, after (Wednesday`s win) kind of erupted," Rays infielder Ben Zobrist told reporters after hitting his 16th home run of the season in the first inning.
"(It) just felt good to get things going. It`s nice to know that you come back after (being down) and you`re starting to chip away."
Willy Aybar tallied three of the team`s 15 hits and had three RBIs while Jason Bartlett extended his hitting streak to a franchise-record 19 games.
Tampa Bay (39-35) chased Phillies rookie starter Antonio Bastardo after just 3 2/3 innings, recording two home runs and six runs against the 23-year-old left-hander, who left with a shoulder sprain in the fourth.
Philadelphia (37-33) stormed to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Rays pitcher Andy Sonnanstine, but Tampa Bay responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and scored three more times in the second to begin their charge.
SECOND INNING ONSLAUGHT
Aybar, filling in for injured third baseman Evan Longoria, sparked the second inning onslaught with a solo home run that tied the game 4-4.
He added a two RBI single against Phillies reliever Chad Durbin in the sixth where the Rays tacked on three more runs to take a 9-4 advantage.
Bartlett had an RBI single in the inning and surpassed the team-record hitting streak of Quinton McCracken, who hit safely in 18 straight in 1998.
Sonnanstine (6-7) settled down after the first and picked up the win after striking out seven batters in 5 1/3 innings.
"It took me a little bit to find my control, but once I got it, I felt good and confident and effective," Sonnanstine said.
Despite playing below last season`s standard, the Rays are finding their form and have won 10 of their last 14 games.
Defending World champions Philadelphia have dropped 10 of 12 games and were without shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who was benched and has not managed a hit from his last 19 plate appearances.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom)
Original article

Will World Cup bring South Africans closer?

2009-06-26T05:09:00.000+04:00

By Barry Moody
LONDON (Reuters) - Beyond the angst about whether South Africa will pull off a successful soccer World Cup next year is a more profound question -- can the competition bring the races closer 15 years after the end of apartheid?
Organizers of the competition, Africa`s biggest sports event, are hoping for a moment akin to the legendary appearance of Nelson Mandela in a Springbok shirt when South Africa won the 1995 rugby World Cup in Johannesburg.
That gesture forged an iconic symbol of national unity from a sport passionately loved by whites and had a lasting impact in calming their raw fears a year after majority rule began.
The nation has come a long way since then, but distrust and tensions persist between the races and, in a sports-mad nation, successful staging of the most-watched competition on earth could mark a new watershed.
"The 1995 rugby World Cup helped establish South Africa as the `Rainbow Nation`. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will see that nation come of age," organizing committee chief executive Danny Jordaan told Reuters.
He said the current Confederations Cup tournament, seen as a dress rehearsal for next year`s extravaganza and watched by multiracial crowds, had already shown "the capability that soccer has in bridging the divide between different races...
"It is my belief that the FIFA World Cup will have an even greater effect."
Jordaan is not alone in trusting in the potential of the tournament to have a major impact at home, weakening divisions and misunderstanding and also drawing more whites into football -- traditionally a black South Africans` game.
"You can be a fairly right-wing white Afrikaner and still feel an immense sense of pride when you see your nation is hosting what is the biggest show on earth, even if you are a die-hard rugby fan," said Richard Maguire, editor of South Africa`s football magazine Kick-Off.
"I think definitely the World Cup will have an impact in bringing people together and developing a sense of unity and national pride," he told Reuters.
CAVEATS
But while there is widespread optimism and excitement is building, analysts warn the impact should not be over-estimated.
The only real way to bring South Africans closer is to end the stark wealth disparities that are among the reasons for one of the world`s worst rates of violent crime.
"You can feel good about all this stuff in a stadium but on a Monday morning, when it is raining on your little tin shack held together with pieces of plastic , you may not be feeling so good about South Africa," Maguire said.
"There are those harsh realities underneath that no World Cup is going to take away." Continued...
Original article

Cavaliers acquire O`Neal from Suns

2009-06-26T01:00:00.000+04:00

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired 15-times All-Star Shaquille O`Neal from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic, the teams said Thursday.
In exchange for the four-times NBA champion, the Suns will also receive a second round draft pick in 2010 and cash considerations.
The deal pairs the 37-year-old O`Neal with reigning most valuable player LeBron James, the dynamic forward who averaged an NBA second-best 28.4 points per game this season.
Cleveland had the league`s best record at 66-16 but lacked a dominating inside presence and lost to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals in six games.
The Suns were in a similar position last season when they acquired O`Neal from the Miami Heat, feeling they were just one piece away from their first NBA title.
But the Suns lost in the first round of the playoffs last year after finishing 55-27 and stumbled to 46-36 this season and failed to qualify for the postseason.
O`Neal, the NBA`s fifth all-time scorer with 27,619 points during a 17-year career, averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.38 blocks during one-plus seasons in Phoenix.
The 7-foot-1, 325-pound (147 kg) two-times NBA scoring champion is not the dominant player he was when he was selected by the Orlando Magic with top pick in the 1992 draft.
But at this stage of his career, he can still be a force inside and just four seasons ago helped the Miami Heat win their first championship.
Wallace, 34, will replace O`Neal in the paint for the Suns but the best days for the four-times NBA Defensive Player of the Year are behind him.
He was a credible presence defensively for the Cavaliers but averaged only 2.9 points per game this year and shot an anemic 42 percent from the free-throw line.
Pavlovic, 25, was originally selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft and has averaged 5.8 points over his career.
(Writing by Steve Ginsburg in New York; Editing by Alison Wildey)
Original article

Goosen relies on lucky break to lead in Munich

2009-06-26T00:36:00.000+04:00

By Norman Dabell
MUNICH (Reuters) - Twice U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen changed putters to seize a two-shot lead after Thursday`s BMW International Open first round.
The 40-year-old South African`s other ally was Lady Luck as he composed an eight-under-par 64 to head second-placed Richard Finch of Britain, with a large group three shots off the pace on 67.
While Goosen took only 26 putts, he also needed a stroke of good fortune when his ball looked to be heading for a pond beside the 18th green.
However, it hit a television tower, enabling him to take a free drop. From there he pitched to 10 feet and holed out to complete a hat-trick of birdies.
"Putting was the key," Goosen told reporters. "I hit the ball really well last week in the U.S. Open but didn`t make anything on the greens.
"Yesterday I was testing a new putter and it sort of felt good so I decided to give it a try. I haven`t changed putters for some time but this just has a different feel.
"I did get a break on 18. I scuffed my shot and could easily have gone in the water and made a (bogey) six."
It is five years since Goosen won the second of his U.S. Opens but he showed signs of a return to top form when he finished joint 16th at Bethpage Black in New York last week.
BETTER FITNESS
He puts his revival down to better fitness.
"I got lazy I suppose, as simple as that, so I decided to get fitter again and I`m getting some payback," said Goosen.
Heavy rain interrupted play in late morning and Finch, twice a European Tour winner, marred his round by three-putting on his return to the course.
There were nine players on 67 while world number five Henrik Stenson, the highest-ranked competitor here, opened with a 68.
Bernhard Langer, 51, a seven-times champion on the U.S. seniors tour, is making another bid to win the only German title to elude him and also started with a 68.
The German`s 20-year-old playing partner Rory McIlroy, who tied for 10th at the U.S. Open, could only manage a 71. Continued...
Original article

Dolphins shake their fins as Estefans take stake

2009-06-25T21:22:00.000+04:00

By Simon Evans
MIAMI (Reuters) - Pop singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio have become minority partners in the ownership of the NFL`s Miami Dolphins, the club said on Thursday.
Cuban-born Estefan and record producer Emilio held a news conference with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross but declined to discuss how much of a stake they had bought in the team.
"It is a private company and we will keep those things private but Emilio is a partner and Gloria is a partner," said Ross.
Estefan is best known internationally for her eighties hits such as "Rhythm is Gonna Get You" and "Dr. Beat" and together with her husband she owns several businesses in Florida.
"We are thrilled to be a part of our hometown team," said Gloria Estefan, adding that she had been a "hardcore" fan since the Dolphins` unbeaten season in 1972.
The link-up is an attempt to boost the profile of the Dolphins within South Florida`s huge Latin-American community which is strongly influenced by immigrants from Cuba.
"There is no community in America that has the diversity of South Florida and we want the team to be a part of South Florida and the best way to do that is to have an ownership which reflects that diversity," Ross said.
"There is no-one better that reflects the Latin community than Gloria and Emilio Estefan," he added.
The deal is the second Dolphins` link-up with an entertainment figure since Ross become owner of the franchise in January.
Singer/songwriter and businessman Jimmy Buffett, owner of Margaritaville Enterprises, signed a deal in May which includes the team`s stadium being renamed after his LandShark Lager beer for the 2009 season.
"It is all about creating a great game-day experience," said Ross. "We are seeing a convergence of sport and entertainment because sport is entertainment."
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Original article

Excitement builds ahead of Murray match

2009-06-25T19:46:00.000+04:00

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Expectation hung heavy in the air on a warm day at Wimbledon on Thursday with Andy Murray`s tea-time assignment on Center Court dominating the talk amongst the huge queues snaking their way into the All England Club.
Third seed Murray`s tricky second round match against showy Latvian Ernests Gulbis promises another crackling atmosphere up on Henman Hill where thousands bit their nails on Tuesday as the Scot battled to victory over American Robert Kendrick.
The 20-year-old Gulbis, tipped as future top-tenner, has not progressed as expected this year but is confident of making life uncomfortable for Murray and his growing army of fans, some of whom walked through the gates wearing ginger wigs and kilts.
"I lost two matches against him but I think in this tournament it`s a new match and the past won`t count," said Gulbis, who stirred things up by suggesting Murray deliberately took an injury time-out to disturb his concentration in their previous meeting on grass at Queen`s Club last year.
He also played down Murray-Mania, saying it would be tame compared to previous experiences in his career.
"For me it doesn`t matter if somebody is for my opponent," he said. "I played once in Macedonia. They were like showing fingers and laughing so I think here it`s easy."
EXCLUSIVE CLUB
While Murray is seeking his first major, Thursday`s schedule was littered with members of the exclusive club of grand slam champions with 2002 men`s winner, feisty Australian Lleyton Hewitt, hoping to stop rising force Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in a tasty-looking opener on Center Court.
Women`s fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won the French Open this month to add to the U.S. Open crown she claimed in 2004, has never looked at home on grass.
However, the Russian put on an impressive show of force to thrash Pauline Parmentier of France 6-1 6-3 as the results scoreboard began ticking over.
Kuznetsova crunched winners all over the court to send Parmentier packing in exactly an hour.
Women`s top seed Dinara Safina, beaten by Kuznetsova in the Roland Garros final, was hoping to follow her compatriot through later on Thursday against Paraguay`s Rossana De Los Rios.
Wimbledon, more than almost any other sporting fiesta, is stacked full of celebrities and wannabees but two unlikely newcomers were the talk of the media terrace as the world`s press corp tucked into their full English breakfasts.
Teenage ball girls Erin Lorencin and Chloe Chambers held an impromptu interview session after their moments of fame on Wednesday when first Lorencin was tumbled over by Frenchman Michael Llodra then Chambers played a light-hearted knock-about with Tommy Haas after the unfortunate Llodra retired injured.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Original article

Exuberant Ballesteros talks of miracle recovery

2009-06-25T16:32:00.000+04:00

By Iain Rogers
MADRID (Reuters) - Seve Ballesteros was in exuberant form Thursday at his first news conference since his collapse in October and four operations to remove a brain tumor.
Presenting his new cancer research foundation, a tanned but frail-looking Ballesteros, with a livid scar on the side of his head, spoke about the "miracle" of his survival, cracking jokes and peppering his speech with typically colorful language.
The Spanish five-times major winner thanked the doctors and staff of Madrid`s La Paz hospital who saved him and expressed his gratitude for the support of his family and to all those who had sent messages of goodwill.
"A few months ago my life was hanging by a thread but I managed to get through it," the 52-year-old said.
"This is like a dream," he added. "It was very tough at the beginning. And when the doctors explained all they had done in my brain it`s a miracle.
"Life goes on and life is full of setbacks. You have to fight, that`s all."
Ballesteros has been recuperating at home in northern Spain while he undergoes chemotherapy and said he recently played nine holes of golf with his son.
"He beat me but it was a big effort," he said. "In time I will beat him."
He recalled how his doctors had explained that the tumor in his brain was the size of two golf balls. "I am a better person because the doctors took out the bad bit," he joked.
He said his new foundation will also seek to help young golfers of limited means.
"My beginnings as a caddie were not easy and I had the good fortune to be able to rely on a number of people who helped my career take off," he said.
"Golf has given me everything and I am especially pleased to be able to support and help young people in need."
(Editing by Ed Osmond;)
Original article

China to cooperate with Sydney Olympics age probe

2009-06-25T14:56:00.000+04:00

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has promised to cooperate with an International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) probe into the age of two Chinese medalists from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The FIG announced Tuesday that it would investigate whether Yang Yun, the uneven bars bronze winner and her team mate Dong Fangxiao, who shared a team bronze, were younger than the minimum Olympic age requirement of 16 at the time.
"The decision was taken after the Federation sought a legal advice confirming that the statute of limitations had not yet expired, and that the FIG is in fact the authority competent to conduct a full investigation," it said in a statement.
The commission looking into the age of the gymnasts will report its findings, and recommendations for sanctions if a violation is confirmed, before the end of September.
If adjudged under age, Yang, wife of China`s three-time Olympic champion Yang Wei, could be stripped of her bronze. The entire Chinese team of six could also lose their medals if any of the two is ineligible.
"Yang and Dong were registered under the FIG`s Olympic entry procedure, and their ages were eligible," Lu Shanzhen, head coach of Chinese women`s gymnastic team, told Beijing Youth Daily.
"We will positively communicate with FIG and cooperate on their investigation in our authority.
"The FIG might have some information but we don`t know what they`ve got until we talk to them," Lu added.
During the Beijing Olympics last year, the FIG was ordered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to investigate the age of China`s He Kexin, women`s team and uneven bars gold medallist.
He, along with team mates Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, Li Shanshan and Deng Linlin, were subsequently declared eligible by the FIG two months after they won China`s first ever Olympic team gold in women`s gymnastics.
(Reporting by Liu Zhen and Emma Graham-Harrison; Editing by Nick Mulvenney
Original article

U.S. shock Spain to reach Confederations final

2009-06-25T10:06:00.000+04:00

By Mike Collett
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - United States scored their greatest win for almost 60 years by beating European champions Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
Goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey ended Spain`s world record run of 15 successive victories and their 35-match unbeaten sequence, a world record streak they share with Brazil, and caused one of the biggest soccer upsets in years.
However, the match ended in bitter-sweet agony for U.S. coach Bob Bradley when his son Michael, who had a brilliant game in midfield, was sent off three minutes from time.
He was the third U.S. player sent off in the tournament and now misses Sunday`s final against Brazil or hosts South Africa.
Overall though it was the best performance by the U.S. since they beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
It was also the first time the U.S. had beaten a team ranked number one in FIFA`s world rankings since they defeated Brazil in 1998.
The result was even more remarkable because the U.S. had lost their opening two group matches in the competition and were heading out until they beat Egypt 3-0 on Sunday and Brazil sank Italy by the same score as they squeezed through on the number of goals scored.
The fact the Americans are now in the final is testimony to their grit, determination and battling qualities in denying Spain time and space in midfield and up front.
Typical were brave blocks by defenders Jay DeMerit, Oguchi Onyewu and Carlos Bocanegra who were all outstanding.
GREAT EFFORT
"That was a great team effort, to beat a team like Spain, it`s big," coach Bradley told reporters.
"We played as hard as we could, everyone played their part. We will take a few hours to regroup now but we will be ready for the final. We are so excited about this."
Counterpart Vicente Del Bosque, who had guided his side to 13 wins in a row since taking over after Spain won Euro 2008, said: "We are not used to losing any longer.
"Every defeat hurts. Today we needed the final touch. We had many opportunities but they really closed the door on us."
Altidore, 19, said: "The fact I play my football in Spain at Villarreal was a big help. I have played against a lot of these guys and know them and gave the coach some information. Continued...
Original article

Griffin expected to be top pick by Clippers in draft

2009-06-25T05:33:00.000+04:00

By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin said he was unconcerned about the past as he faced the prospect of being taken by the long-time losing Los Angeles Clippers as first pick in Thursday's NBA Draft.
Griffin, a 6-foot-10-inch (2.08-meter), 251-pound (113.9 kg) power forward roundly acclaimed as U.S. college player of the year, said he and the Clippers would be starting fresh together if he were taken by them as top choice.
"That's the history, it's in the past," Griffin told reporters about the Clippers, who have managed to win more games than they have lost just twice in the last 26 years.
"It doesn't matter. I wasn't there. I have no control over it. A lot of those guys there now were not there five years ago, 10 years ago."
The Clippers are coming off a 19-63 record and are in sore need of a strong inside player such as Griffin, who averaged 22.7 points and 14.4 rebounds for the University of Oklahoma.
The Memphis Grizzlies select second, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings in the current order of the 30 NBA clubs, which could be shaken up by trades.
Wheeling and dealing enabled Minnesota to hold the fifth, sixth and 18th spots in the first round and put the Timberwolves in position to do more juggling in the NBA talent hunt night at Madison Square Garden.
BUYOUT CLAUSE
Other players expected to go high in the draft include 7-foot-three-inch (2.21-meter) center Hasheem Thabeet, a native Tanzanian who starred at the University of Connecticut, and flashy 18-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio of Spain.
Rubio's draft status might be affected by his contract situation with DKV Joventut in Spain. He has a 4.75-million-euro ($6.6 million) personal buyout clause.
"There is some possibility that where I'm selected could affect my decision whether to pay the buyout or not," Rubio said. "Because if I'm in a top position I can get my buyout. We're going to see what happens.
"I want to play here, it's my dream, even if I don't get any money my first year," he said about the prospect of paying off the Spanish club from his own pocket. "I want to play in the best league in the world."
Much speculation surrounds the ranking of a deep class of guards that includes Tyreke Evans of Memphis, James Harden of Arizona State, Stephen Curry of Davidson, Jrue Holiday of UCLA, DeMar DeRozan of USC and Jonny Flynn of Syracuse.
Thabeet said there would be a lot of interest in his native Tanzania to see where he went.
"There's like a bar back home where they are going to be showing the whole draft experience," said Thabeet, who grew up in Dar Es Salaam. Continued...
Source: Reuters

U.S. shock Spain to reach Confederations final

2009-06-25T03:35:00.002+04:00

By Mike Collett
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) - United States scored their finest win for almost 60 years by beating European champions Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Confederations Cup.
Goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey sank the world's top-ranked team. It ended Spain's world record run of 15 successive victories and their 35-match unbeaten sequence, a world record streak they share with Brazil.
However, the match ended in bitter-sweet agony for U.S. coach Bob Bradley when his son Michael, who had a brilliant game in midfield, was sent off three minutes from time. He now misses Sunday's final against Brazil or hosts South Africa.
Overall though it was the best performance by the U.S. since they beat England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.
It was also the first time the U.S. had beaten a team ranked number one in FIFA's world rankings since they defeated Brazil in 1998.
The result was even more remarkable because the U.S. had lost their opening two group matches in the competition and were heading out until they beat Egypt 3-0 on Sunday and Brazil sank Italy by the same score as they squeezed through on goal difference.
AMERICAN GRIT
The fact the Americans are now in the final is testimony to their grit, determination and battling qualities.
Coach Bradley said: "That was a great team effort, to beat a team like Spain, it's big.
"We played as hard as we could, everyone played their part. That's what it took, a great effort.
"We will take a few hours to regroup now but we will be ready for the final. We are so excited about this."
Both sets of players left the field in tears, the Americans crying with joy and the Spaniards frustrated after being thwarted by a superb defensive effort and the outstanding Tim Howard, who made an endless string of stunning saves.
Spain fell behind for the first time in the tournament through Altidore.
He muscled Villarreal club mate Joan Capdevila off the ball, turned and eluded Carles Puyol to score after Iker Casillas could only palm his shot on to the inside of his own post and into the net after 27 minutes.
The second goal came in the 74th when the Spanish defense failed to deal with a cross from Landon Donovan and Dempsey swiveled to beat Casillas from close range. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Sharapova ousted, Federer strolls on

2009-06-25T03:35:00.001+04:00

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova was heading for the airport after losing at Wimbledon on Wednesday while another former champion Roger Federer sauntered through to the third round in glorious sunshine after a clinical display.
Sharapova struggled on the Center Court where she made her name in 2004 by beating Serena Williams to win the women's singles title as a 17-year-old. The Russian looked a pale shadow of the player who once looked set to dominate the game.
Bedeviled by shoulder problems since losing in the second round here last year, the 24th seed ran into inspired Argentine Gisela Dulko, falling 6-2 3-6 6-4 to a player she had dropped just three games against in their two previous clashes.
Sharapova lost the opening set in 35 minutes and despite some typically tenacious resistance to win the second from 0-3 the booming weapons that used to blast the Russian to safety in such situations failed to function at crunch time.
ABSORBING SCRAP
Dulko eventually prevailed on her fifth match point when Sharapova, who was bumped up the seedings from a world ranking of 60, fired a forehand long to end an absorbing scrap.
"It took me a while to get going," former world number one Sharapova told reporters. "It's a little too late to start picking yourself up when you're down a set and 3-0."
Referring to Federer as a former holder of the Wimbledon title he won five years in a row still takes some getting used to but his form in a 6-2 6-2 6-4 win over Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez suggests he will soon reclaim his throne.
The Swiss was at his relaxed, free-flowing best as he reduced Garcia-Lopez to a bit-part role during most of an embarrassingly one-sided contest that was over all too quickly for the 15,000 spectators on a sweltering afternoon.
Unusually, the 27-year-old, who lost his crown to Rafael Nadal in one of the best Wimbledon finals ever seen, was not watched by his most loyal supporter, pregnant wife Mirka, but he played down suggestions that a new Federer was imminent.
"She's just not feeling 100 percent," said the number two seed. "We decided it's better if she takes it easy instead of sitting in the sun and maybe feeling worse the next day."
DOUBLE QUICK
Huge crowds flocked to the famous lawns again on Wednesday, but holders of expensive Court One tickets would have felt a little short-changed after the three scheduled matches were all over in double quick time.
Novak Djokovic, the Serbian fourth seed, crushed Germany's Simon Greul 7-5 6-1 6-4 before women's second seed Serena Williams trounced Australia's Jarmila Groth 6-2 6-1.
Dangerous German floater Tommy Haas then needed just seven games to get past Michael Llodra, leading 4-3 when his French opponent retired hurt after crashing into a ball girl. Haas had some fun instead by knocking up with a beaming ball girl. Continued...
Source: Reuters

U.S. Open champion Glover eager to rejoin tournament fray

2009-06-25T03:35:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - After riding a whirlwind of media commitments since winning his first major title at the U.S. Open on Monday, American Lucas Glover is eager to return to the normality of tournament golf this week.
Glover is scheduled to tee off on Thursday in the opening round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, an event he never considered missing.
"It's going to be good to get back to what's normal for me, and that's playing golf," the 29-year-old told reporters before playing in Wednesday's pro-am at the TPC River Highlands.
"I had a couple of guys who have been in my situation tell me through text messages and voice mails that the best thing you can do right now is play because that's the only sense of normalcy I'll have for a little while.
"Plus I feel that's the right thing to do. Just because I won a golf tournament doesn't change anything. I was committed (to this week) and I'm going to honor that commitment."
Glover, who held off late charges by Phil Mickelson and David Duval to win the U.S. Open by two shots at Bethpage Black, spent a frenetic Tuesday in New York appearing on television chat shows and radio programs.
"It was very different for me, and very eye-opening to what some people go through a lot," he said. "It was one of the greatest, but most tiring, days of my life."
SINKING IN
Asked whether the significance of his victory in the year's second major had finally sunk in, Glover replied: "It has. I don't crave the attention that I got yesterday but it was there and it was really fun.
"I don't think I could do that every day. And it sunk in a little more on the range today when a lot of guys came up to shake hands and say their piece. It was very cool."
Glover, whose only previous PGA Tour title came at the 2005 Disney Classic, is determined to build on his major breakthrough at Bethpage.
"I've got to use last week as a springboard, and I've kept saying this over the last couple of days as a motivation," he added. "I don't want to fizzle out. I want to use that as motivation to keep getting better and back in that situation.
"I'm not planning on winning five majors in the next four years but I'm planning on getting back into (regular) contention. And to do that, I'm going to have to keep working because everybody else is."
The tobacco-chewing Glover was less certain, though, about his expectations for this week.
"I haven't thought that far ahead to be honest with you," he said. "I'm still finishing up the whirlwind. I'll see how I play today. But I expect to play well."
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Clare Fallon)

Source: Reuters

Oldest active player Chelios looks for new team

2009-06-25T03:34:00.001+04:00

DETROIT (Reuters) - Chris Chelios, the NHL's oldest active player, hopes to sign with another team after being released by the Detroit Red Wings, he said on Wednesday.
"Whether I can get the opportunity in the right situation in the right city, it just remains to be seen," the 47-year-old defenseman told a gathering at his Detroit restaurant to discuss his plans. "That's all it is. There's no question I feel I can play."
If Chelios does find a team interested in his services it would be his 26th NHL season.
Described by his team mates as a "freak of nature," the ultra-fit Chelios has defied age with the help of a tough workout regime that has allowed him to survive nearly three decades of pounding.
Chelios is the second-oldest player to play in the NHL behind Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, who played when he was 52.
He is also the only player to appear in 400 games or more for three different teams: Montreal, Chicago and Detroit, and leads all American-born NHL players in games played with 1,644.
This past season, slowed by injuries, Chelios appeared in just 28 games for the Red Wings and failed to score a point.
The veteran blueliner also saw only limited action during the post-season, playing in just six games as Detroit made a run to the Stanley Cup finals, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
However, Chelios's trophy case includes three Stanley Cups, including two with the Red Wings, and three Norris trophies as the NHL's top defenseman.
"I have no regrets," said Chelios about his time with the Red Wings. "I was one game shy of winning the Stanley Cup and it couldn't have gone any better."
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto)

Source: Reuters

McIlroy surprised by Harrington's form slump

2009-06-25T03:34:00.000+04:00

By Norman Dabell
MUNICH (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy said he was surprised by the recent dip in form suffered by triple major champion Padraig Harrington.
The 20-year-old McIlroy has climbed to 16th in the world rankings while Harrington has slipped to 11th from a high of third last year.
Irishman Harrington, who missed the cut in last week's U.S. Open by eight strokes, has blamed his problems on a few small swing changes.
"I think everyone is surprised ," Briton McIlroy, from Northern Ireland, told reporters at the BMW International Open on Wednesday.
"A three-times major winner in two years, a two-year span and then to have a run of form like he's had, it is a surprise.
"Obviously he looked at his game at the end of the year and seen a few things he wanted to change or improve and he's tried to do that and it has not quite worked.
"I've played a couple of practice rounds with him and he still hits it well. I watched him last week and it just seemed he was not hitting as many fairways as he needed to give himself chances for birdies."
McIlroy said that Harrington's modifications appeared so small that he could not detect any change.
"His swing looks the same to me when he won (his three majors) at Carnoustie, Birkdale and Oakland Hills. I'm sure it is still the same. It could be a slight fraction of the clubface at impact."
After finishing tied 10th last week at Bethpage on his U.S. Open debut, McIlroy, in only his second season, has moved to third on Europe's money-list and is strongly fancied to excel in next month's British Open at Turnberry.
McIlroy, who practiced at the west of Scotland course this week, has already worked out how he might need to play to become the youngest British Open winner in the modern era.
"I think the major thing on links courses are the shots around the greens, because you have so many tight run-offs," he said. "And you have so many chip-and-runs; you could also be putting from 10 yards off the green. You get the feel for all that the actual week."
(Editing by Ed Osmond)

Source: Reuters

Dapper Federer prepares to dazzle

2009-06-24T19:33:00.001+04:00

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer's early bow at the 2009 Wimbledon championships confirmed the Swiss maestro as the dandiest dresser at the All England Club and he will be aiming to dazzle the fans and his opponent once again on Wednesday.
His gleaming white jacket, cut in the style of a military general, earned lots of coverage from the fashion writers who inhabit the two-week grasscourt grand slam and his gold-trimmed bag would have looked more at home in an LA boutique.
But Federer does not need props to attract attention and he will provide the main course on an appetizing day of second round matches when he takes on Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
With lots of sunshine and temperatures expected to be in the high 20s, it is all a far cry from the last occasion five times champion Federer met a Spaniard across the Center Court net.
That was 12 months ago when the sadly absent Rafael Nadal ambushed Federer in near darkness to rip the title from his hands and deprive him of a sixth consecutive triumph.
The 26-year-old Garcia-Lopez is no Nadal, however, and Federer should take another step toward what he hopes will be a record 15th grand slam title with relative ease.
On Court One twice women's champion Serena Williams was in action against Australia's Jarmila Groth after men's fourth seed Novak Djokovic opened the action against German Simon Greul.
Those arriving early on Court Three saw the end of Chinese 16th seed Zheng Jie, whose hopes of repeating last year's run when she became the first Chinese to contest a grand slam singles semi-final were dashed by Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 7-5.
Japan's 33-year-old Ai Sugiyama backed up her opening day victory over Patty Schnyder by reaching the third round with a 7-6 6-3 defeat of Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja. She next comes up against Hantuchova who is her doubles partner.
Tenth seed Nadia Petrova, one of the army of Russians that dominate the women's draw, cruised through with the loss of just five games against Israeli Shahar Peer.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Source: Reuters

"Spectacular" stadium to light up World Cup

2009-06-24T19:33:00.000+04:00

By Mike Collett
SOCCER CITY, South Africa (Reuters) - Built to look like a vast cooking pot simmering above a ring of fire, South Africa's Soccer City Stadium promises to be an unforgettable venue for next year's World Cup and one of the world's most spectacular sporting arenas.
Costing 3 billion rand ($373 million) the 94,000-capacity stadium is distinctive, resembling a huge calabash -- a hollowed-out gourd used as a cooking pot or water carrier throughout Africa.
The calabash has inspired the coloring of the orange and brown membrane that surrounds the stadium while a ring of lights will illuminate the bottom of the building, simulating fire underneath the pot.
When it is completed later this year it will be the biggest soccer stadium in Africa.
The stadium, which will host the World Cup final on July 11, 2010, embraces modern technology and will have more than 150 executive boxes commanding superb views of the pitch, comfort for fans and excellent working conditions for the media.
A 300-seat restaurant is being completed inside the stadium, with parking for 15,000 cars around the perimeter.
Six days a week, between 3,000 and 3,500 construction workers are busy at the site, 10 kms from Johannesburg and on the outskirts of Soweto.
Construction was on schedule, even though cost over-runs had resulted from unfavorable exchange rates and the price of the steelwork which was manufactured in Italy and Germany, Rod Pearce, the project manager, told Reuters.
DAZZLING MONUMENT
"When it is finished it will be the pride not only of South Africa but of the whole continent," he said.
"It will be a dazzling monument to what this country can achieve. I think it proves that we as South Africans, and Africans, can compete with the world's best in terms of what can be done here.
"There is no reason for us to think we cannot match what every other country in the world can do. This is clearly one of the world's most outstanding stadiums and will be a lasting legacy for generations of South Africa's World Cup."
Among the neat touches in the design are windows and seating aligned to point toward the other South African World Cup venues and toward Berlin, the venue for the 2006 World Cup final.
The players' tunnel that leads from the dressing rooms to the pitch has been built to resemble the inside of a gold mine, in tribute to the industry that led to Johannesburg's growth into the powerhouse city of the African economy.
There are plans to incorporate the result of every match in the World Cup into the tiling of the membrane as games are played -- another lasting testimony to the first finals to be staged on African soil. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Rookie Hanson shines in Braves' shutout

2009-06-24T11:33:00.000+04:00

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Rookie pitcher Tommy Hanson overcame control issues to shut down the visiting New York Yankees and give the Atlanta Braves a 4-0 victory on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old right-hander walked five batters in 5 1/3 innings but pitched his way out of trouble and improved to 3-0 with the victory in just his fourth career major league start.
"I was pretty pumped up. I felt like I made some good pitches, and I felt like I made some not-so-good pitches," Hanson told reporters. "I definitely battled the whole game. It just feels good to come out of here with a win."
Hanson was relieved in the sixth by Peter Moylan, who forced New York's Derek Jeter to ground into a double play to end the Yankees' (38-32) final scoring threat.
Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano breezed through the final two innings for the Braves to preserve the team's second successive shutout.
"Our team is capable of throwing shutouts," said Braves manager Bobby Cox.
"We've had good pitching performances all year long."
Catcher Brian McCann led the Braves with three hits including a solo home run in the eighth inning, his seventh of the year.
Atlanta (34-36) scored three runs against starter Wang Chien-ming (0-6), who pitched five innings and allowed six hits.
The Yankees have lost five of their last six games to fall five behind the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox.
New York slugger Alex Rodriguez continued his recent struggles at the plate by going hitless in four at-bats. He is batting just .143 in June.
Catcher Jorge Posada struck out four times.
"We didn't hit, we haven't hit, that's why we've been losing," Jeter said. "It's nothing deeper than that."
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Source: Reuters

Sutter names brother Brent as Flames coach

2009-06-24T05:33:00.001+04:00

TORONTO (Reuters) - Calgary Flames general manager Darryl Sutter named his brother Brent as the team's head coach on Tuesday.
Brent, who left the New Jersey Devils earlier this month, takes over from Mike Keenan who was sacked in May after losing in the first round of the playoffs for the fourth successive season.
His appointment brings the number of Sutters working in the Flames organization to five but Darryl said Brent's last name had nothing to do with him landing the job.
"They (the new coaching staff) were the very best people available," Darryl told reporters.
"It didn't really matter what their last name was," he added while also referring to assistants Ryan McGill, Jamie McLennan and Dave Lowry.
A member of the hockey family that had six brothers playing in the NHL, Brent coached the Devils for two seasons. He posted a 97-56-11 record, leading New Jersey to consecutive playoff appearances and an Atlantic Division title.
During an 18-year playing career Brent recorded 363 goals, 829 points and 1,054 penalty minutes in 1,111 regular-season games and won two Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders.
He also spent seven season with the Chicago Blackhawks including three playing for his brother Darryl.
"We've been involved in this business long enough to know how it works," said Brent when asked if it was wise to mix family and business.
"Darryl is the general manager of the hockey team and I'm the head coach. That's the way it is.
"I played for Darryl when Darryl was the coach and that was our relationship then and it's no different now."
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto, editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Reuters

"Spectacular" stadium will light up World Cup

2009-06-24T05:33:00.000+04:00

Red Wings trio united by Hall of Fame call

2009-06-24T03:33:00.000+04:00

By Steve Keating
TORONTO (Reuters) - Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, who won a Stanley Cup together with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002, were reunited on Tuesday when they were voted into the Hall of Fame.
The 2009 class also included Brian Leetch, the first U.S. born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup's Most Valuable Player (MVP), and New Jersey Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello.
The Red Wings trio will be led into the Hall by Yzerman, who spent his entire career in the Motor City. He guided Detroit to three Stanley Cups before retiring after 22 seasons as the sixth all-time leading scorer with 1,755 points.
Regarded as one of the best leaders to play in the NHL, Yzerman was the team's longest-serving captain (1986-2006).
He also won a Conn Smythe award and the Frank Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward.
Yzerman was a member of Canada's gold-medal winning side at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and now as general manager has the task of assembling his country's team for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
FATHER AND SON
Hull joins his father, "Golden Jet" Bobby Hull, in the Hall. They are the only NHL father-son duo to record 600 goals and 1,000 points apiece.
Brett, like Bobby, was one of the league's most feared snipers, his total of 741 goals is third behind the "Great One" Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801).
During a career that spanned 21 seasons, Brett also had stints with the Calgary Flames, St Louis Blues, Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes. He won two Stanley Cups and a Hart Trophy as
NHL MVP.
"It is hard to put into words what this means to me especially since I'm joining my father in the Hockey Hall of Fame," said Hull.
"Simply getting to the NHL was a challenge for me and I would like to thank all my supporters who made many sacrifices on my behalf."
Greatness was not predicted for Robitaille when he was taken with the 171st pick of the 1984 draft by the Los Angeles Kings. However he played 19 seasons, retiring as the highest scoring left winger of all-time.
Leetch, an offensively gifted player, won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1989 and the Norris Trophy twice as the league's top defenseman. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Murray keeps British faithful happy

2009-06-24T01:33:00.000+04:00

Wimbledon begins;rain roof ready
Play Video
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - The now familiar tide of Murray-mania swept across Wimbledon on Tuesday as Andy Murray began his bid to end Britain's 73-year wait for a men's singles champion in glorious sunshine at the All England Club.
The world number three appeared to have taken a leaf out of former local favorite Tim Henman's Wimbledon manual as he teased, tortured and finally thrilled the expectant crowd with a 7-5 6-7 6-3 6-4 first round win over Robert Kendrick.
Kendrick had talked up his chances of gatecrashing the British party by declaring: "I'd love to disappoint a nation."
Luckily for the fans the American, who entertained the crowd with his acrobatic antics, dived out with a forehand error.
John McEnroe's assessment was that Murray had produced "a B performance" but he did conjure a moment of magic. Sprinting toward the baseline, he flicked a forehand winner over his shoulder which even brought a smile to the dour Scot's face.
However, Murray agreed with McEnroe's verdict.
"He (Kendrick) doesn't give you a whole lot of rhythm, I could have returned better and I didn't hit my groundstrokes as well as I would have liked... but it got better," he said.
With the sun beating down on southwest London, record crowds again flocked to Wimbledon for the second day running as Murray made his much-anticipated appearance on Center Court.
But before the main Murray show began, there had been plenty of supporting acts around to entertain the fans on day two.
MINIMUM FUSS
Venus Williams performed her duties as champion with the minimum of fuss to stride into the second round with a 6-3 6-2 win over Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele.
Williams, described by American great Martina Navratilova as having "the wingspan of a 747," used her long limbs to great effect to easily fly past Wimbledon debutant Voegele.
"It's the best place to be when you are a pro tennis player and I savor every blade of it," said Williams, who is chasing a sixth title at Wimbledon. "I've had that crown for several years and I want to make it mine again."
Marat Safin lost his chance to ever win the men's title when he waved goodbye to Wimbledon. His 10th and final appearance ended in a 6-2 3-6 7-6 6-4 defeat by obscure American Jesse Levine.
His sister Dinara Safina's prospects of living up to her world number one status did not look too promising. Suffering from tendonitis in her knee, she played through the pain barrier to beat Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5 6-3. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Murray mania gathers momentum

2009-06-23T23:33:00.002+04:00

Wimbledon begins;rain roof ready
Play Video
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - The now familiar tide of Murray-mania swept across Wimbledon on Tuesday as Andy Murray began his bid to end Britain's 73-year wait for a men's singles champion.
With the sun beating down on southwest London, crowds flocked into the All England Club for the second day running as Murray made his much-anticipated appearance on Center Court.
One man hoping to gatecrash the British party was American Robert Kendrick, Murray's opening round opponent.
"I would love to disappoint a nation," he told British media in the build-up to the match. "But then I would probably have to leave the country the next day."
Third seed Murray was welcomed by a bumper crowd at the increasingly popular grasscourt tournament after 42,811 spectators came through the gates on the opening day.
That was 354 higher than the previous single-day record set during the 2002 championships.
But before the main Murray show began, there had been plenty of supporting acts around to entertain the fans on day two.
MINIMUM FUSS
Venus Williams performed her duties as champion with the minimum of fuss to stride into the second round with a 6-3 6-2 win over Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele.
The American, described by nine times former champion Martina Navratilova as having "the wingspan of a 747," used her long limbs to great effect to easily fly past Wimbledon debutant Voegele.
"It's the best place to be when you are a pro tennis player and I savor every blade of it," said Williams, who is chasing a sixth title at Wimbledon. "I've had that crown for several years and I want to make it mine again."
Dinara Safina's chances of living up to her world number one billing did not look too promising as she struggled past Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7-5 6-3.
Sixth seed Jelena Jankovic also struggled as she clawed her way back from 5-2 down in the second set to beat Germany's Julia Goerges 6-4 7-6.
While the bubbly Serbian skipped back into the locker room, her namesake Jelena Dokic buried her head in a towel after her return to Wimbledon ended in a 3-6 7-5 6-2 defeat by Tatjana Malek of Germany.
Almost four weeks after Dokic left court in floods of tears, when her Roland Garros challenge ended with a back injury, she suffered another blow at the grasscourt major. Continued...
Source: Reuters

NHL's bankrupt Coyotes to go to auction Aug or Sept

2009-06-23T23:33:00.001+04:00

By Ben Klayman
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Phoenix Coyotes may be sold in an August or September auction after a bankruptcy judge outlined a schedule to address whether the bankrupt hockey team will play its future games in Arizona or possibly Canada.
Judge Redfield Baum of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Arizona on Monday ruled a sale of the team -- for which BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd co-Chief Executive Jim Balsillie has offered $212.5 million -- will proceed along two tracks, according to Thomas Salerno, attorney for the National Hockey League team's owner, Jerry Moyes.
Under the judge's schedule, an auction for the Coyotes will be held on August 5 for bidders willing to keep the team in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Salerno said.
The NHL has said it wants to keep the team in Arizona and four potential bidders are committed to that.
If the August auction fails to attract a suitable offer, a second auction -- open to other bidders, including Balsillie, who could move the team -- would be held on September 10, Salerno said. The Coyotes, which filed for bankruptcy in May, have never made a profit since moving to Arizona in 1996.
"The judge is 'two tracking' it, but is accelerating the process such that a relocation bid, if approved by the NHL or the court, could still happen for the 2009-10 season," he said in an email.
The money-losing Coyotes are one of the less valuable NHL franchises. On Saturday, the Molson family tentatively agreed to buy control of the storied Montreal Canadiens club in a deal a source previously valued at almost $575 million.
Balsillie has no plans to bid in the first round in August, a spokesman for the avid hockey fan said.
"Mr. Balsillie has been very clear that his plan is to relocate the team to southern Ontario," Bill Walker said. "We don't see value in keeping a team that's losing $35 (million) to $40 million a year where it is."
Balsillie failed in previous efforts to buy NHL teams in Pittsburgh and Nashville, and move them to Hamilton, Ontario.
NHL officials said the league was prepared to adopt the two-tier approach to the auction.
"We are confident ... there's a viable offer that will make this team viable in Glendale," Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement.
The NHL said it will discuss the Coyote's bankruptcy at a league owners' meeting on Wednesday.
In a filing on Monday prior to the judge's ruling, the NHL had sought an auction limited to bidders committed to keeping the team in Arizona for at least one year and had expected to make a decision on ownership transfer by the end of July.
The NHL's original proposal would have left Balsillie free to bid on the Coyotes and possibly later move the team. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Fatigued Americans face daunting task against Spain

2009-06-23T23:33:00.000+04:00

By Mark Gleeson
BLOEMFONTEIN (Reuters) - The U.S. are prepared to battle fatigue and frustration in a daunting Confederations Cup semi-final against Spain on Wednesday.
"We are very excited to still be around in this tournament but it has been tiring," U.S. captain Landon Donovan said at a news conference in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
"It's a big challenge in a lot of ways. It's a game in which we know they will have a lot of possession and a big part of playing against them is not getting frustrated.
"On the other hand, we need to try and put them under pressure and see how they react to that," added the 27-year-old.
"We have never been to the semi-final of a tournament of this caliber and in some ways this is even tougher that the World Cup just in terms of the quality of opposition."
In terms of quality, it does not get any better than Spain, the European champions who extended their winning run to a record 15 matches with three comfortable victories in the group phase.
The U.S. lost their two opening group games to Italy and Brazil but staged a near-miraculous recovery to beat Egypt 3-0 in their last Group B game in Sunday and qualify for the last four ahead of the world champions on the number of goals scored.
"It's a big accomplishment to have gotten to this point," Donovan added.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley said he expected Spain to pose myriad problems for his team.
"They play the ball quickly, the keep possession well and they have some special players," Bradley said. "But we have the ability to put their defense under pressure. It will take a good game plan and a complete effort from the players to beat them."
Bradley said goalkeeper Tim Howard would return to the starting line-up after Brad Guzan was given a chance to play against Egypt. Defender Carlos Bocanegra is still not sure of a place despite returning to training after a hamstring injury.
The winners advance to the final in Johannesburg on Sunday where they meet either Brazil or hosts South Africa whose semi-final is at Ellis Park on Thursday. The third place playoff match is on Sunday in Rustenburg.
(Editing by Kevin Fylan)

Source: Reuters

Murray mania gathers steam

2009-06-23T21:32:00.000+04:00

Wimbledon begins;rain roof ready
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By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - The now familiar tide of Murray-mania began sweeping across Wimbledon on Tuesday as Andy Murray prepared to begin his bid to end Britain's 73-year wait for a men's singles champion.
With the sun beating down on southwest London, record crowds were expected to file into the All England Club for the second day running as the countdown began for Murray to make his much-anticipated appearance on Center Court.
One man hoping to gatecrash the British party was American Robert Kendrick, Murray's opening round opponent.
"I would love to disappoint a nation," he told British media in the build-up to the match. "But then I would probably have to leave the country the next day."
Third seed Murray can expect a bumper crowd to turn up after 42,811 spectators came through the gates on the opening day.
That was 354 higher than the previous single-day record set during the 2002 championships.
But before the main Murray show, they were plenty of supporting acts around to entertain the fans on day two.
Venus Williams performed her duties as champion with the minimum of fuss to stride into the second round with a 6-3 6-2 win over Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele.
LONG LIMBS
The American, described by nine times former champion Martina Navratilova as having "the wingspan of a 747," used her long limbs to great effect to easily fly past Wimbledon debutant Voegele.
"It's the best place to be when you are a pro tennis player and I savor every blade of it," said Williams, who is chasing a sixth title at Wimbledon. "I've had that crown for several years and I want to make it mine again."
Sixth seeded Jelena Jankovic clawed her way back from 5-2 down in the second set to beat Germany's Julia Goerges 6-4 7-6.
While the bubbly Serbian skipped back into the locker room, her namesake Jelena Dokic buried her head in a towel after her return to Wimbledon ended in a 3-6 7-5 6-2 defeat by Tatjana Malek of Germany.
Almost four weeks after Dokic left court in floods of tears, when her Roland Garros challenge ended with a back injury, she suffered another blow at the grasscourt major.
DIZZY SPELL Continued...
Source: Reuters

Mother Nature overshadows Glover's victory

2009-06-23T17:33:00.000+04:00

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Former major winners Phil Mickelson and David Duval provided the late spark and champion Lucas Glover nerves of steel but the 109th U.S. Open will primarily be remembered for Mother Nature.
When Glover sealed a surprise two-shot victory with steady pars on the last two holes at Bethpage Black Monday, there was a collective sigh of relief that the seemingly interminable event had at last ended.
Not since 1983 had the U.S. Open spilled over into a fifth day without requiring a playoff. For much of last week it seemed the 2009 edition was capable of going into a sixth and possibly seventh day in the face of bleak forecasts.
Persistent rain on Long Island over the last six weeks had saturated the par-70 Bethpage layout and with just 3- hours of golf possible on the scheduled opening day, the year's second major was thrown into disarray.
Rounds and days merged into a dizzying haze as the tournament's organizers and Bethpage's groundskeepers worked feverishly to play catch-up.
The players were hurled on to a roller-coaster of late finishes, early starts and occasional mudballs while the fans, turning out in impressive numbers, had to negotiate quagmires out on the course along with heavy downpours.
"We couldn't even remember what day we were playing," said world number one and defending champion Tiger Woods, who tied for sixth after playing in the tougher half of the draw at Bethpage. "It just all blurs together."
Britain's flamboyantly dressed Ian Poulter, who kept his supporters up-to-date with regular postings on twitter throughout the tournament, wrote: "It was the strangest week ever. Flippers and snorkel required."
Thankfully the weather Sunday did not pan out as badly as had been forecast and the tournament limped into round four before Monday's final action unfolded.
While the 2009 U.S. Open will most certainly not rank as one of the classics, there were enough compelling storylines to make it a worthy one.
PGA Tour rookie Ricky Barnes, who qualified for the event along with Duval and Glover in Columbus, Ohio, set a U.S. Open record of eight-under-par 132 to lead by one shot after 36 holes.
He then became only the fourth player to reach double digits under par at the event in the third round before finally succumbing to nerves and sliding back into a tie for second.
STANDING OVATIONS
Crowd favorite Mickelson received standing ovations all week from boisterous galleries as he competed in his first major since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The American world number two came close to delivering a U.S. Open victory high on emotion when he spectacularly eagled the par-five 13th to tie Glover for the lead at four under. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Beckham wins damages over topless model slur

2009-06-23T15:32:00.000+04:00

LONDON (Reuters) - England soccer player David Beckham won substantial libel damages at London's High Court on Tuesday over a newspaper claim that he "made a play" for Hungarian model Mariann Fogarasy.
The 34-year-old football star was awarded the undisclosed settlement in his case against Express Group Newspapers over an article which appeared in The Daily Star in April, the Press Association reported.
The front page story, which was headed "Becks and the Blonde Beauty" and "Topless Model Claims She Was Chatted Up by Footie Star," was also published on the newspaper's website.
Beckham's solicitor, Gerrard Tyrrell, told Justice Eady the allegations were completely untrue.
The article claimed that Beckham had "made a play" for Fogarasy after an AC Milan match in Hungary and that he had been emailing her with private party invitations since they "got close" after the match.
Tyrrell said the newspaper now accepted that Beckham did not behave in the manner described and unequivocally retracted the allegations.
Kate Wilson, for Express Group Newspapers, which has agreed to pay Beckham substantial damages and his legal costs, apologized to him and his family for the distress, embarrassment and injury caused.
Football's biggest pin-up was not present in court to hear the latest damages award.
Last week, the multi-million pound player and his wife Victoria received an apology from a former nanny at the High Court over her disclosures of confidential information about the couple.
The case resulted from allegations made by Abbie Gibson about the private lives of the LA Galaxy player and his former Spice Girl wife after she had resigned from her job.
(Reporting by Stefano Ambrogi; Editing by Steve Addison)

Source: Reuters

Federer starts with precision

2009-06-23T13:34:00.001+04:00

Wimbledon begins;rain roof ready
Play Video
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer turned up at Wimbledon Monday resembling an army general ready to conduct his latest campaign and soon disarmed the opposition on the opening day of the grasscourt championships.
The Swiss strolled on court in a white monogrammed military-style outfit, complete with a waistcoat underneath, and was soon firing winners past Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun to secure a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win in the first round.
Wimbledon's famed lawns became slippery like an ice rink later in the day as Novak Djokovic and Julien Benneteau skidded around on the slick surface before the Serbian fourth seed pulled out a 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-4 victory.
Federer had the honor of opening Center Court proceedings, a privilege usually reserved for the champion, after his great rival Rafael Nadal pulled out with a knee injury.
Although Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign was ended by the Spaniard last year, it was not long before he was acting every inch a champion and swatted aside Lu with a glorious forehand winner.
"It's a very privileged spot, Monday 1pm, of course I feel honored. I know Rafa deserved it more than I do this year but somebody had to do it and I'm happy they chose me. It gets your heart beating, that's for sure," the French Open champion said after beginning his pursuit of a record 15th grand slam title.
Asked about his fashion statement, the second seed added: "I went for a modern military look, hope people like it."
UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE
However, All England Club officials might have been slightly concerned when second seed Serena Williams stepped out in a white raincoat that could be handy should the heavens open.
It looked like no one had told the American there was now a retractable roof over Center Court. Luckily neither roof nor raincoat was needed as Williams slipped into the round two with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Portuguese qualifier Neuza Silva.
Maria Sharapova, who is slated to meet Williams in the last eight, has often raised eyebrows with her Wimbledon wardrobe.
But, a year after turning up in a tuxedo-inspired ensemble, the Russian opted for understated elegance in a classic white dress as she tried to improve on her 2008 second-round showing.
Sharapova, bumped up to 24th seed despite being 60th in the world as she continues her comeback from a nine-month layoff after shoulder surgery, recovered from 4-1 down in the first to claim a 7-5 6-4 win over Ukrainian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova.
"I was just trying to hold in there. I was only down two breaks and I thought, 'It's not over till it's over'," she said.
It was a sentiment shared by Djokovic who looked to be in serious trouble when he lost the opening set. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Redding solid as injury-plagued Mets pip Cardinals

2009-06-23T13:34:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tim Redding pitched seven solid innings for his first win of the season as the injury-riddled New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Monday.
Omir Santos had four hits and Daniel Murphy homered for the Mets, who were missing center fielder Carlos Beltran after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a badly bruised knee.
The Mets are already without shortstop Jose Reyes, first baseman Carlos Delgado and three pitchers, but got a morale-boosting win despite their make-shift lineup.
"That was a huge win for us," New York manager Jerry Manuel told reporters. "We got some great pitching when we needed it and a lot of different guys stepped up in a tough situation."
Redding (1-2) allowed four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
"I told myself we had to get off to a good start, show we're not just going to lay down," Redding said of his mindset with all of the injuries in the clubhouse.
"Nobody is expecting a lot right now with all the injuries we have but we have to keep going."
New York also pounded out 14 hits and managed to keep red-hot St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols in check to move to within 1- games of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.
"We're not as bad as people think we are," said Mets shortstop Alex Cora, who hit two RBI singles. "As long as your mind and your effort is consistent, we're going to be fine."
Ryan Ludwick and Brendan Ryan both homered for the Cardinals, who had their lead in the NL Central cut to one game over the Milwaukee Brewers with the loss.
Todd Wellemeyer (6-7) allowed five runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.
(Writing by Roger Lajoie in Toronto; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Source: Reuters

Glover holds nerve to triumph at Bethpage

2009-06-23T05:37:00.000+04:00

Glover wins U.S. Open
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By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Lucas Glover stayed rock steady to hold off thrilling charges by fellow Americans Phil Mickelson and David Duval and claim his first major title at the weather-delayed U.S. Open on Monday.
Five strokes ahead of the field overnight with compatriot Ricky Barnes, Glover closed with a three-over-par 73 at a blustery and overcast Bethpage Black to triumph by two shots.
The 29-year-old, whose only previous PGA Tour victory came at the 2005 Disney Classic, kept his composure in nerve-jangling conditions to post a four-under total of 276.
"It was a test of patience today," a beaming Glover said after earning the winner's cheque for $1.35 million. "It was tough. The golf course played fantastic but it was just hard today.
"I was pretty nervous coming down the stretch and 16 obviously was huge," he added, referring to a six-foot putt there for his only birdie of the day. "I hit the shots today that I had to hit in the situation."
Tour rookie Barnes, like Glover a qualifier, slid out of contention with five bogeys in seven holes from the fifth on the way to a 76 and a tie for second place.
Also at two under were three-times major winner and crowd favorite Mickelson, who carded a topsy-turvy 70, and former world number one Duval, after a five-birdie 71.
"I put myself in a great position to close it out but unfortunately I didn't finish it off," Mickelson said after claiming a record fifth runner-up spot at the U.S. Open.
"Certainly I'm disappointed but, now that it's over, I've got more important things going on."
Mickelson's wife Amy, diagnosed with breast cancer last month, is scheduled to start treatment on July 1.
Britain's Ross Fisher eagled the par-five 13th to close to within a stroke of the lead before bogeying two of the last four holes for a 72 and fifth place at one under.
BIRDIE OPPORTUNITIES
Triple champion and holder Tiger Woods, who failed to make the most of his birdie opportunities all week, closed with a one-under-par 69 to tie for sixth at level-par 280.
Mother Nature finally stepped aside after a rain-soaked week of lengthy delays at Bethpage to allow the golf to dominate as the year's second major came alive on the back nine.
Left-hander Mickelson spectacularly eagled the 13th to move into a tie for the lead with Glover at four under, striking a superb second shot to four feet and coolly knocking in the putt before pumping his left fist in celebration. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Federer starts with military precision

2009-06-23T05:36:00.000+04:00

Wimbledon begins;rain roof ready
Play Video
By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer turned up at Wimbledon on Monday resembling an army general ready to conduct his latest campaign and soon disarmed the opposition on the opening day of the grasscourt championships.
The Swiss strolled on court in a white monogrammed military-style outfit, complete with a waistcoat underneath, and was soon firing winners past Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun to secure a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win in the first round.
Wimbledon's famed lawns became slippery like an ice rink later in the day as Novak Djokovic and Julien Benneteau skidded around on the slick surface before the Serbian fourth seed pulled out a 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-4 victory.
Federer had the honor of opening Center Court proceedings, a privilege usually reserved for the champion, after his great rival Rafael Nadal pulled out with a knee injury.
Although Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign was ended by the Spaniard last year, it was not long before he was acting every inch a champion and swatted aside Asia's only contender in the men's draw with a glorious forehand winner.
"It's a very privileged spot, Monday 1pm, of course I feel honored. I know Rafa deserved it more than I do this year but somebody had to do it and I'm happy they chose me. It gets your heart beating, that's for sure," the French Open champion said after beginning his pursuit of a record 15th grand slam title.
Asked about his fashion statement, the second seed added: "I went for a modern military look, hope people like it."
UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE
However, All England Club officials might have been slightly concerned when number two seed Serena Williams stepped out in a white raincoat that could be handy should the heavens open.
It looked like no one had told the American there was now a retractable roof over Center Court. Luckily neither roof nor raincoat was needed as Williams slipped into the second round with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Portuguese qualifier Neuza Silva.
Maria Sharapova, who is slated to meet Williams in the last eight, has often raised eyebrows with her Wimbledon wardrobe.
But, a year after turning up in a tuxedo-inspired ensemble, the Russian opted for understated elegance in a classic white dress as she tried to improve on her 2008 second-round showing.
Sharapova, bumped up to 24th seed despite being 60th in the world as she continues her comeback from a nine-month layoff after shoulder surgery, recovered from 4-1 down in the first to claim a 7-5 6-4 win over Ukrainian qualifier Viktoriya Kutuzova.
"I was just trying to hold in there. I was only down two breaks and I thought, 'It's not over till it's over'," she said.
It was a sentiment shared by Djokovic who looked to be in serious trouble when he lost the opening set. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Game, set and grunt: Wimbledon faces noise pollution

2009-06-23T05:35:00.000+04:00

By Paul Majendie
LONDON (Reuters) - Martina Navratilova thinks it is cheating, Serena Williams does not even know she is doing it and now there is a Portuguese teenager who appears to cry out in agony when she hits the ball.
Grunting is back on the tennis agenda at the world's most famous tournament, which starts on Monday, and the big noise at Wimbledon could be 16-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito.
At the French Open, her opponent Aravane Rezai complained about the racket across the net, telling the umpire it was distracting her.
Unrepentant as she heads into Wimbledon's first round as a wild card, Larcher de Brito has said grunting is "just something I have done always since I started playing tennis. I am going to keep on doing it because it is really part of my game."
Nine-times Wimbledon champion Navratilova, who found the grunting of Monica Seles off-putting, feels tennis officials should take a stand.
"The grunting has reached an unacceptable level. It is cheating pure and simple and it is time for something to be done," she said at an awards ceremony in Paris earlier this month.
Jimmy Connors grunted his way to eight grand slam victories in the 1970s and 80s. Ivan Lendl complained that Andre Agassi's grunting put him off. Today female players are under the spotlight as "decibel demons."
SEX APPEAL
A lion's roar is reckoned to reach 110 decibels. Former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who says she grunted since the age of four and cannot help it, has been measured at 101.
At her pre-Wimbledon news conference on Saturday, the first question to Sharapova was about grunting.
She was asked to comment on former champion Michael Stich saying that women players should not grunt because it was not sexy and sex appeal was the main attraction of women's tennis.
"No, I don't have an opinion on that," she replied crisply.
Also probed about her grunting, which has been measured at 88.9 decibels, 10-times grand slam champion Williams said it was "definitely not conscious. Sometimes I am so zoned I don't grunt, sometimes I'm so zoned that I do grunt."
Larcher de Brito was trained at the Florida academy of Nick Bollettieri, who nurtured such grand slam champions as Sharapova, Seles and Agassi.
He says his academy has never encouraged grunting but argues that it does help players to release energy and stay focused. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Fehr to step down as head of players' union

2009-06-23T05:34:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Fehr, the hard-nosed chief of Major League Baseball Players' Association (MLBPA), said on Monday he would step down, ending nearly 25 years of overseeing one of the sporting world's most powerful unions.
Players' association general counsel Michael Weiner will take over for Fehr, pending board approval.
"It has been a high privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of this extraordinary union for the last 25 years, and I am enormously proud of what the players have accomplished during that time," Fehr said in a statement.
"But now, about two years before the next round of collective bargaining, is the right time for me to relinquish my position and for the players to name new leadership.
"Accordingly, I have informed members of the executive board I will resign effective not later than next March 31."
Fehr, who went to work for the union as general counsel in 1977 and was elected executive director in 1985, gave no reason for his decision other than it was "time to go."
Over his 32 years with the MLBPA, Fehr crossed swords with five Major League Baseball commissioners, including current chief Bud Selig, who acknowledged their differences.
"For more than 25 years, Don has represented his constituency with passion, loyalty and great diligence," Selig said in a statement. "Although we have had our differences, I have always respected his role.
"In recent years, we have worked together to find common ground for the betterment of the game, which will have resulted in 16 years of unprecedented labor peace by the end of our current collective bargaining agreement.
"We hope to continue to build upon the game's prosperity as we work with the new leadership."
Under Fehr's watch, players' salaries have increased tenfold from an average of about $300,000 to over $3 million this season, gains won through three work stoppages including a 1994 players' strike that forced the cancellation of the World Series.
Fehr waged a fierce fight to keep owners from enforcing a salary cap, won the collusion cases of the 1980s and fought off efforts to reduce the size of the two leagues in 2002.
Baseball has enjoyed labor peace in recent years but Fehr exits under a cloud with the sport facing a doping crisis that has been laid at the feet of the union and its refusal to agree to tough drug-testing.
"We have had some good times and some difficult times over the years," said Fehr.
"Over all of those years, players remained unified, involved, and absolutely determined to achieve fair agreements.
"That is what counted. That is what will count in the years to come."
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Source: Reuters

Game, set and grunt - Wimbledon faces noise pollution

2009-06-22T13:37:00.000+04:00

Early slip costs Barnes outright lead

2009-06-22T07:33:00.000+04:00

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Americans Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover held a share of the lead after one hole in the U.S. Open final round on Sunday as the weather-delayed tournament spilled into a fifth day.
PGA Tour rookie Barnes, surprise pacesetter after the second and third rounds at Bethpage Black, bogeyed the par-four first after driving into the left rough to join playing partner Glover at seven under, five ahead of the chasing pack.
The duo then teed off at the second, Barnes again ending up in the left rough while Glover found the fairway, before the siren sounded to end play for the day in fading light.
Although they had the option to complete the hole, the co-leaders decided to leave the course and will return for the resumption of the final round at 0900 local time (1300 GMT) on Monday.
Former world number one David Duval, making a popular return to form after spending most of the last eight years in the golfing wilderness, was among their closest challengers, bogeying the first to lie two-under overall after two holes.
Level with Duval in a four-way tie for second were fellow Americans Hunter Mahan and three-times major winner Phil Mickelson, plus Britain's Ross Fisher.
Mahan and Bethpage crowd favorite Mickelson, playing his first major since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer last month, had 16 holes remaining while Fisher was yet to complete the second.
"I feel like if I can get a hot round going, I can make up the difference," left-hander Mickelson said of his bid for a first U.S. Open title.
Triple champion and holder Tiger Woods, who won the 2002 Open at Bethpage, was seven shots off the pace, having knocked in a six-foot birdie putt at the par-four seventh shortly after play was suspended for the day.
For much of a marathon day at Bethpage, the long-hitting Barnes was in firm control in pursuit of his first PGA Tour title, forging six shots clear midway through the third round.
AFTERNOON WOBBLE
He became only the fourth player to reach double digits under par at a U.S. Open when he rolled in a 25-foot eagle putt at the fourth but he began to wobble in the late afternoon.
"If you don't have a little bit of nerves when you're in the heat of competition, and especially in the last group, you're not human," the 2002 U.S. amateur champion said.
Glover, a more experienced campaigner than Barnes, liked his own position atop the Open leaderboard but felt a five-shot cushion could be easily overhauled at Bethpage.
"There are too many great players and the golf course is too good," said the 29-year-old who clinched his maiden victory on the U.S. circuit at the 2005 Disney Classic. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Early slip costs Barnes outright lead

2009-06-22T05:39:00.000+04:00

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - American Ricky Barnes became only the fourth player to reach double digits under par at a U.S. Open when he eagled the par-five fourth hole at Bethpage Black on Sunday.
A stroke in front after the rain-delayed second round was completed the previous day, the PGA Tour rookie drained a 25-foot putt to get to 11 under in the third round.
He then narrowly missed a birdie attempt at the par-four fifth to stay three ahead of his compatriot and playing partner Lucas Glover.
Canadian left-hander Mike Weir, the 2003 U.S. Masters champion, was a further shot back in third at seven under after five holes.
Only three other players had previously reached double digits under par at a U.S. Open.
World number one Tiger Woods clinched the 2000 title at Pebble Beach with a 12-under total of 272 and fellow American Gil Morgan got to 12 under at the same venue during the third round in 1992.
Jim Furyk of the U.S. reached 11 under at Olympia Fields in 2003 before winning the tournament with an eight-under aggregate.
ATTACKING PINS
Although Bethpage Black at 7,426 yards is the second longest layout to stage a U.S. Open, rain-softened conditions this week have allowed the players to attack the pins with impunity.
Barnes, who grabbed the overall lead by firing a five-under-par 65 on Saturday for a record 36-hole total of eight-under 132, took advantage early in round three with a birdie at the par-four second.
That put him two strokes clear of the chasing pack before his spectacular eagle at the fourth.
While Barnes relished the low-scoring conditions, three-times champion and holder Woods failed to make any headway on Sunday.
Having started the third round a distant 11 strokes off the pace, he bogeyed the par-three 14th, his fifth hole, after taking two shots to escape thick fescue grass on the edge of a greenside bunker.
Although Woods chipped in from greenside rough to birdie the par-three 17th and get back to three over, he trailed the pacesetting Barnes by 14 strokes.
The 109th U.S. Open was heading for a Monday finish at the earliest after heavy overnight rain delayed the resumption of the third round by 4-1/2 hours on Sunday morning.
(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Source: Reuters

Federer steps in for absent Nadal

2009-06-22T05:37:00.000+04:00

By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer may well feel like an imposter when he steps out to open Center Court proceedings at Wimbledon on Monday.
The 27-year-old Swiss has been given the honor usually bestowed on a reigning champion after his great rival and title holder Rafael Nadal pulled out of the grasscourt major with a knee injury before a ball had even been struck.
That left officials in no doubt about who should step in for the Spaniard.
"I shouldn't deserve it this year because Rafa deserves it but am obviously very honored that the championships chose me again to open the tournament," Federer, whose five-year Wimbledon reign was ended by Nadal in a spectacular five-set final last year, told Reuters.
The newly-crowned French Open champion, who became only the sixth man to complete a career grand slam, will begin his pursuit of a record 15th grand slam title against the only Asian man in the draw, Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan.
While British fans have already started anticipating a Federer-Andy Murray final on July 5, they will have to wait until Tuesday to catch a first glimpse of the third seed.
Instead, local supporters can exercise their vocal chords by cheering on 15-year-old grand slam debutante Laura Robson, who earned a wildcard thanks to her run to the junior title 12 months ago.
She and her opponent Daniela Hantuchova have been given the honor of contesting the first ever match on the new 4,000-seater Court Two.
QUICK WORKOUT
Should Robson need any tips on how to deal with the pressure at such a young age, she could ask Serena Williams who has been making headline news since her teenage years.
U.S. and Australian Open champion Williams, who has contested three of the last four grand slam finals, should enjoy a quick workout against Portuguese qualifier Neuza Silva.
The only real threat lurking in Williams's quarter of the draw is Maria Sharapova, who has been bumped up to 24th seed despite being ranked 60th following a nine-month injury layoff.
The Russian showed that her patched up shoulder could take the strain after she survived four successive three-setters to reach the last eight on her least favorite surface in Paris.
Now she is eager to do well on the lush green turf, where she won the first of her three grand slam titles in 2004, and will begin her account against Ukrainian Viktoriya Kutuzova.
"When I look back to where I was say, 10 or 11 months ago, or even three months ago ... to be here I guess is already an accomplishment in itself," the 22-year-old told reporters. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Upton powers Rays to rainy win over Mets

2009-06-22T05:36:00.000+04:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - B.J. Upton drove in four runs as the Tampa Bay Rays pounded the New York Mets 10-6 in a rain-delayed interleague game on Sunday.
Upton, who had four hits and scored three runs, leveled the score at 2-2 with a two-run double in the fifth inning. He then put Tampa Bay ahead to stay with a two-run homer in the seventh.
"It's starting to come around, slowly but surely," Upton, who tied a career high with his four RBIs, told reporters. "Just have to stick with it and keep doing what I'm doing."
Tampa Bay claimed the series by winning their second consecutive game over the Mets.
"When B.J. gets going -- leadoff hitter, whoever's in the spot -- when they get going early, it gives the guys a little more confidence," said Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria, who also had four hits.
The Rays, the defending American League champions, shelled seven Mets pitchers for 17 hits in a game delayed by rain for 34 minutes in the seventh inning.
Tampa Bay scored four runs to take the lead in the fifth inning and tallied four more in the seventh after the National League Mets had taken a 5-4 lead on Brian Schneider's three-run homer in the sixth.
"After we gave up the homer to Schneider and put them back on top, our guys really responded well," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "And B.J.'s home run was magnificent."
Maddon said he thought another big moment was Willy Aybar's pinch-hit single in the fifth, when the Rays trailed 2-0.
"That turned the tide right around," Maddon said of the hit, which loaded the bases. "That gave us a strong sense of believing right there and it put them in a totally different mindset."
Upton followed with his two-run double to tie the score.
Carl Crawford added three hits for the Rays, while David Wright collected three of New York's 10 hits.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)

Source: Reuters

Washington finally to get 2003 world 400m gold medal

2009-06-22T05:34:00.000+04:00

By Gene Cherry
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - American Tyree Washington is finally going to get the 2003 world 400 meters gold medal draped around his neck, the retired sprinter told Reuters on Sunday.
USA Track & Field (USATF) will present Washington with the newly cast medal at this week's U.S. championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Athletics officials confirmed he would be recognized and an announcement will be made on Monday, USATF spokeswoman Jill Geer said.
Washington, now 32, said he had mixed emotions about the presentation, which is scheduled for Saturday after the men's 400 meters final.
"Getting the medal will be part of my peace, but it is not going to be all of my peace," said the Californian who began pursuing the gold after 2003 winner Jerome Young admitted in 2008 to using prohibited substances and agreed to return the medal.
"I have been treated poorly," said Washington, the 2003 runner-up. "The IAAF gave Jerome Young a lifetime ban (for a doping positive in 2004) ... so they knew I was going to be the world champion yet they held on to that (the gold)."
Young received a lifetime ban after a 2004 positive test for the banned blood booster Erythropoietn (EPO), his second doping offense, but he was not stripped of all results subsequent to 1999 until 2008.
Washington, though, has been recognized in International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) publications as the 2003 outdoor champion since 2005.
"I was their role model," said Washington, the 2003 world indoor champion. "But when I wanted to get help (in procuring the medal) from my federation, USATF, and the IAAF, they turned their backs."
RECORD HOLDER
Many thought the headband-wearing Washington would be world record holder Michael Johnson's successor before injuries slowed his career. He retired in 2008.
Washington said he was upset the presentation would be in the U.S. and not at the IAAF world championships in Berlin in August.
"That is not where I won the world championship," he said. "If they are going to give me my medal ....why isn't the IAAF sending me to Berlin?"
Washington also said he was owed the $30,000 first-prize money from the 2003 championships, adding he had proof Young was not paid.
IAAF spokesman Nick Davies disagreed. Continued...
Source: Reuters

Venus primed to conquer Wimbledon for many years to come

2009-06-21T21:36:00.000+04:00

By Pritha Sarkar
LONDON (Reuters) - The competitive fire is still burning in Venus Williams and, unlike some of her contemporaries who extinguished their careers early, the five-times Wimbledon champion plans to stick around until at least the 2012 Olympics.
Having watched rivals like Justine Henin take early retirement at the top of their games, the 29-year-old Williams is still hungry for success after contesting seven of the nine finals at the All England Club since the turn of the millennium.
"I want to play the (2012) Olympics here," the American told reporters on Sunday, referring to the Games tennis event which will be held at Wimbledon.
"It's really not that far off. It's just, what, three years. So I definitely would love to be playing the Olympics here and representing, going for more golds."
Since making her debut in southwest London as a giggly teenager in 1997 with a head full of braids and beads, Williams has seen top players like Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati fall victim to burnout.
But Venus and her younger sister Serena still have the drive to win.
"Serena and I, we often talk about that. Wonder what happened to them (the players who retired early)," said Venus.
"We're still here and we're not leaving, so ... I don't see anything changing for a while."
While on other courts Venus can often get lost in the crowd, she adopts a regal air the moment she steps on to Wimbledon's lush green lawns and strikes fear into her opponents with the sheer force of her game.
She can equal Billie Jean King's tally of six Wimbledon singles titles over the next fortnight and the third seed was relishing the prospect of retaining the title that she won 12 months ago without dropping a set in the entire tournament.
"It's fantastic to look up and see a good number by your name, and it equals the Wimbledons. It's great to be a part of history. I already am," she said.
"If I can step it up a notch, it will be even more of an honor."
(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Source: Reuters

"Lucky FIFA" able to cope with world economic crisis

2009-06-21T21:34:00.000+04:00

By Mike Collett
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The global recession will have only a minimal effect on next year's soccer World Cup although sponsors will have to curtail some of their activities, FIFA's marketing director Thierry Weil said on Sunday.
"It would be wrong to say we will not be affected by the crisis because, at the end of the day, our partners will have to reduce their activities a little bit," Weil told a news conference.
"But we can say 'Lucky FIFA' because we have some very strong economic partners, some of which have been with us for more than 30 years.
"It will not affect us directly, but when it comes to activities and especially to activities like youth programs, it will.
"A lot of our global partners bring a lot of kids into the country from overseas, but most probably they will only bring about half the number and involve more local youngsters -- that is actually a nice thing that local kids will get the right to be part of those programs, but that's the only effect we have."
FIFA, world soccer's governing body, has a healthy bank balance through the sale of rights for this and future World Cups and made an operating profit of around 200 million Swiss francs ($185 million) in 2008 despite the global slowdown.
Apart from running costs, all of that money is directed back into mothballing activities.
FIFA has six major sponsor partners for both the Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup in South Africa, as well as a number of local sponsors and partners.
The Confederations Cup, the test event for the 2010 World Cup, has shown a number of areas which need to be improved, especially transportation links.
Another concern is accommodation, with FIFA and the local organizing committee estimating that around 500,000 overseas tourists will come to South Africa next summer.
Although the country has had five years to prepare for the World Cup so far, reports are emerging that there are not enough hotel rooms to cope with the estimated number of visitors.
"We are looking at all forms of accommodation, hotel and non-hotel accommodation," Jermaine Craig, a spokesman for the World Cup organizing committee said on Sunday.
"We are certainly looking for a comprehensive solution on the accommodation front for next year."
(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Source: Reuters

Molsons agree to buy Canadiens

2009-06-21T09:32:00.000+04:00

By Jeffrey Hodgson and Steve Keating
TORONTO (Reuters) - Geoff Molson and his brothers, Andrew and Justin, tentatively agreed to buy control of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, returning the sport's most storied club to the Canadian brewing dynasty.
George Gillett, whose holdings include a part of English Premier League club Liverpool, would sell an 80.1 percent stake in the NHL franchise, Montreal's Bell Center and concert promoter Gillett Entertainment Group in the deal.
The agreement in principle to sell the Canadiens was confirmed by a statement on the team website, which did not disclose its value. A source with knowledge of the transaction, who declined to be identified because the deal has not closed, said it was valued at almost $575 million.
Other bidders pursuing the Canadiens, who have won a record 24 Stanley Cups, included media and telecom group Quebecor Inc.
"Our family has been very proud to be associated with the Montreal Canadiens over the past eight years," U.S. businessman Gillett said in the statement.
"I am fully confident that the Molson brothers, who have been a great part of the heritage of the club, will ensure the preservation and development of this great sports institution."
HOME TO LEGENDS
The Molson family has a long history with the Canadiens, having owned the team in its glory years from 1957 to 1971, when it won many championships. Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur are among the legends who wore the club's jersey.
Gillett bought his stake in the team and all of its arena in 2001. The remainder of the franchise is held by Molson Coors Brewing Co.
The agreement must be finalized by the parties and approved by the NHL's board of governors before it can be closed, which is expected to occur in late August, the statement said.
"This is a very exciting time for our family and we are grateful to the many people and organizations who came forward to offer their collaboration in the development of our proposal," Geoff Molson said, adding that he hoped the league's board would look favorably on the transaction.
The deal for the Canadiens comes after a U.S. bankruptcy judge this month rejected the proposed sale of bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes hockey team to Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion.
The Canadian billionaire offered to buy the money-losing hockey team for $212.5 million in May when it filed for bankruptcy protection, on condition it relocate to Hamilton, Ontario, about an hour's drive southwest of Toronto.
(With additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Chicago; editing by Paul Simao)

Source: Reuters

Klitschko hands Chagaev first defeat

2009-06-21T03:34:00.003+04:00

By Karolos Grohmann
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Ukraine's Vladimir Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles by handing Uzbek fighter Ruslan Chagaev his first defeat thanks to a technical knockout after the ninth round on Saturday.
Klitschko, 33, held on to his IBF, IBO and WBO belts when the referee stopped the fight before the start of the 10th round in front of 61,000 fans with the WBA champion-in-recess bleeding from a large cut above his left eye.
"Tonight we, my team and I, beat a reigning world champion and you were here to witness it," Klitschko told the cheering crowd in the sold-out Schalke 04 soccer stadium.
"You cannot underestimate Chagaev. He's a terrific fighter. Today he did everything to beat me but I was better," he added.
Standing 1.99 meters tall, Klitschko initially held the challenger, who is 14 centimeters shorter, at bay with his longer reach before knocking his opponent down with a powerful left-right combination midway through the second round.
Unable to get close to the champion, Chagaev, who had a 25-0-1 record going into the fight, took a series of punishing jabs that slowly chipped away at his defenses.
LARGE CUT
He suffered a three centimeter cut above his left eye in the sixth round but battled on gamely.
Chagaev, 30, who did not face WBA champion Nikolai Valuev after the Russian pulled out of their fight late last month because the Uzbek had the hepatitis B virus, managed to come back and landed a couple of body blows.
But Klitschko dominated in the eighth and ninth rounds, repeatedly forcing Chagaev to the ropes and landing dozens of punches as his shaken opponent's eye bled profusely.
Referee Eddie Cotton inspected the wound after the ninth round and decided to stop the fight in favor of the Ukrainian whose impressive performance takes him to 53-3-0.
Klitschko, whose brother Vitaly holds the WBC crown, was initially scheduled to fight David Haye before the Briton pulled out with an injury earlier this month.
Chagaev admitted he struggled against a better opponent.
"I searched for the keys to unlock a win but I just could not find any," he said.
"Today was just not my day. Today it was Vladimir's day."
(Editing Ken Ferris)

Source: Reuters

Reclaiming Wimbledon crown is Federer's top priority

2009-06-21T03:34:00.002+04:00

By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Never mind edging ahead of Pete Sampras as the greatest collector of tennis's big prizes, all Roger Federer really wants is his Wimbledon crown back after it was wrestled from his grasp 12 months ago.
The 27-year-old world number two tied Sampras's 14 grand slams with his maiden triumph at the French Open this month and after defending champion Rafael Nadal's withdrawal on Friday from the year's third major he will start as favorite to re-write the record books.
"The focus is on the first round and the first point, trying to regain my Wimbledon crown," Federer, who will be aiming for a sixth title in seven years at the grasscourt slam, told reporters after hitting at the All England Club on Saturday.
"That stands over trying to beat Pete's record right now. Once I come down to the semi-finals or final, hopefully, in 10 or 12 days, then that's also going to start creeping into my mind.
"But right now, I'm just trying to regain my Wimbledon crown. I don't feel any pressure having to beat Pete's record right now, but I know that things are looking good for me."
The year began in floods of tears for Federer in Australia where world number one Nadal inflicted another defeat on the Swiss -- a crushing blow that had many fearing his days as a major force could be numbered.
Things could not be more different now, however, after marrying his long-term girlfriend Mirka and then holding his nerve to win at Roland Garros after claycourt king Nadal's early exit had opened the door to one prize absent from his CV.
"I feel good, you know," said Federer, who skipped his normal grasscourt tune-up event in Halle to gather his thoughts. "I feel like I'm playing very well at the moment. On the grass it didn't take me much time to get used to the conditions, I mean it never really does.
"But it was good to take a week off, get away from it all and enjoy the time at home and recover. I'm ready to go here."
He clearly looks like a man with a huge weight lifted from his shoulders, even if his triumph in Paris left him feeling mentally drained.
"I know when to take a break and when not to," he said. I felt like I had to play like four finals at the end of Paris because of the pressure."
Federer will open his 11th Wimbledon campaign on Center Court on Monday against Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan, whatever the weather, after the completion of the show court's sliding roof.
"I went to see Center Court the other day," he said. "You know, it didn't lose anything of the whole history part. It still remains the best court in the world. I'm excited to be going out there on Monday."
(Editing by Alison Wildey)

Source: Reuters