Sports Directory

Harris Leads Champions Tour Event (AP)
AP - John Harris finished a 6-under-par 65 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Hale Irwin after the opening round of the rain-delayed Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am on the Champions Tour.

Sharapova Beats Molik to Win Qatar Title (AP)
AP - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova won her second WTA Tour title this month, rallying past Alicia Molik of Australia 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Saturday in the Qatar Open final.

Oklahoma Shoots 66 Percent to Rout Baylor (AP)
AP - Taj Gray scored 16 points, Jaison Williams had 15 points and 10 assists and Oklahoma shot a school-record 66 percent in a 103-60 win Saturday against Baylor.

Four Hockey Players Disciplined for Melee (AP)
AP - A United Hockey League player was kicked out of the league permanently on Friday and three others were suspended after a fight-filled game in which one player grabbed a coach on the opposing bench.

Rooney Leads Man United Past Portsmouth (AP)
AP - Wayne Rooney scored twice Saturday in Manchester United's 2-1 victory over Portsmouth, pulling his team within six points of Premier League leader Chelsea.

Isringhausen, Cards Agree to Extension (AP)
AP - St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen, who tied for the NL lead with 47 saves last year, on Saturday agreed to a three-year contract extension.

Sore Knee Keeps Shaq Out Vs. Magic (AP)
AP - Shaquille O'Neal was held out of Miami's game against Orlando on Saturday because of continued pain in his sprained left knee. Michael Doleac started in place of the star center. O'Neal's status for Sunday, when the Heat visit Orlando to complete a weekend home-and-home series, remains uncertain.

WR Muhammad Agrees to Deal With Bears (AP)
AP - All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad agreed to a contract with the Chicago Bears one day after being released by the Carolina Panthers.

Toms Beats Scott to Make Match Play Semis (AP)
AP - David Toms was flawless from tee-to-green and made crucial putts Saturday morning to take down another big hitter, beating Adam Scott to advance to the semifinals of the Match Play Championship for the second time in three years.

Steinbrenner Criticizes Giambi's Agent (AP)
AP - Yankees owner George Steinbrenner blames Jason Giambi's agent for not allowing the slugger to address questions about his testimony to a grand jury that he used steroids.

Heat Beat Magic 101-98, Without Shaq (AP)
AP - Dwyane Wade scored 14 of his 25 points in the final quarter, and the Miami Heat overcame the absence of Shaquille O'Neal on Saturday to beat the Orlando Magic 101-98. The Heat avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season.

No. 3 Boston College Tops Seton Hall 70-58 (AP)
AP - Jared Dudley had 19 points and seven rebounds to help No. 3 Boston College close in on the Big East regular-season title with a 70-58 victory over Seton Hall on Saturday.

Rooney Double Keeps United in Hunt, Arsenal Held
LONDON (Reuters) - England's Wayne Rooney struck twice to give Manchester United a 2-1 win over Portsmouth on Saturday, cutting the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to six points.

Raich Wins Giant to Close in on Miller
KRANJSKA GORA, Slovenia (Reuters) - Benjamin Raich closed in on American Bode Miller in the World Cup overall standings Saturday after winning a giant slalom.

Paerson Powers on with First Downhill Win
SAN SICARIO, Italy (Reuters) - World Cup leader Anja Paerson of Sweden won her first downhill race on Saturday extending her advantage at the top of the overall standings over Croatia's Janica Kostelic.

NBA Wrap: Jackson Powers Pacers to Fifth Straight Win
TORONTO (Reuters) - Stephen Jackson scored 28 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to their season-high fifth straight victory, a 106-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Indianapolis Friday.

Cardinals' Isringhausen Agrees to Contract Extension
JUPITER, Fla. (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Cardinals Saturday reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension with closer Jason Isringhausen.

Sharapova Rallies to Lift Qatar Title
DOHA (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova staged a superb rally on Saturday to smother the challenge of Alicia Molik 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and win the $600,000 Qatar Open.

Bears Sign All-Pro WR Muhammad
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bears announced Saturday that they have agreed in principle on a multi-year contract with All-Pro wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Tennis: Federer Flattens Agassi to Reach Final
DUBAI (Reuters) - Roger Federer claimed a 6-3, 6-1 victory over a shell-shocked Andre Agassi on Saturday to reach the final of the Dubai Open.

Goosen Restores Order to Match Play Championship
CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - South Africa's Refief Goosen dismissed Australia's Robert Allenby 4&3 to reach the semi-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Saturday, restoring order to an event rocked by upsets.

College Basketball: No. 3 Boston College Wins
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (Sports Network) - Jared Dudley scored 19 points and Craig Smith added 16, leading No. 3 Boston College to a 70-58 victory over Seton Hall at Conte Forum.

Amateurs to Tee It Up With Seniors (AP)
AP - Vince Gill, Emmitt Smith and Kevin Costner will tee up alongside Champions Tour players in the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, the 50-and-over tour event patterned after the PGA Tour's stop at Pebble Beach.

Federer, Henman, Youzhny Advance in Dubai (AP)
AP - Top-ranked Roger Federer saved two match points and beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Open.

Canadiens Lay Off Employees (AP)
AP - The Montreal Canadiens laid off an unspecified number of employees on Thursday, more than a week after the NHL season was canceled because of the lockout.

Salt Lake Likely to Host World Cup Quals (AP)
AP - The United States' World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on June 4 is likely to be played in Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Devil Rays' Marty Cordova Retires (AP)
AP - Former American League Rookie of the Year Marty Cordova retired Thursday, a day after he was scheduled to report to spring training with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Antoine Walker Returning to Celtics (AP)
AP - Antoine Walker is coming back to Boston.

49ers: Wrong Year for First Pick? (AP)
AP - San Francisco coach Mike Nolan is convinced the 49ers will get the best player if they keep the No. 1 pick in April's draft.

Kings Seek New Identity Without Webber (AP)
AP - No matter whether he was smiling or pouting, posting triple-doubles or rehabbing from injuries, Chris Webber was the focus of the Sacramento Kings the last 6 1/2 seasons. Now he's gone and the Kings are about to find a new identity — whatever that might be.

Briton Clarke First Casualty at Match Play Champs
CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Britain's Graeme McDowell birdied the final hole to claim a surprise 1 up win over compatriot Darren Clarke at the much-delayed, rain-hit WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Thursday.

Saunders Settles in With Orioles (AP)
AP - Nearly five years after a broken arm forced him into retirement, Tony Saunders has been throwing without pain this week at the Baltimore Orioles' spring training camp.

Golden State Gets Baron Davis From Hornets (AP)
AP - The Golden State Warriors acquired guard Baron Davis from the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday for guard Speedy Claxton and forward Dale Davis.

Reinfeldt Key in Turning Around Seahawks (AP)
AP - A few weeks back, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck bumped into dealmaker Mike Reinfeldt while filling up at a local gas station. A few weeks later, Reinfeldt had re-signed Hasselbeck — one of a handful of deals likely to prove critical to the teams future.

Sharapova, Mauresmo Breeze Into Qatar Semis
DOHA (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova set up a semi-final showdown against Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova in the $600,000 Qatar Open on Thursday.

Federer Fights Off Two Match Points to Advance
DUBAI (Reuters) - Top seed Roger Federer had to fight off two match points before squeezing past Juan Carlos Ferrero 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open on Thursday.

Match Play Set to Start on Swampy Course (AP)
AP - Despite ponds where there was fairway and water spilling over creeks, the Accenture Match Play Championship was set to start Thursday morning.

Barry to Step Down As Colorado's Coach (AP)
AP - Colorado women's basketball coach Ceal Barry announced Thursday she is stepping down at the end of the season, the worst in her 22 years at the school.

Schilling Returns to Mound After Surgery (AP)
AP - Curt Schilling threw 47 pitches on Thursday in his first workout off a mound since the offseason ankle surgery that followed Boston's World Series victory.

76ers Keep Dealing, Unload Robinson on Hornets (Reuters)
Reuters - The 76ers continued to shuffle their roster before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, acquiring forwards Rodney Rogers and Jamal Mashburn from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for forward Glenn Robinson.

Rolle Waives Court Appearance on Charges (AP)
AP - Former Titans cornerback Samari Rolle waived his right to an initial court hearing for allegedly hitting his wife, court officials said Thursday.

Cavs Acquire Welsch From Celtics (AP)
AP - The Cleveland Cavaliers addressed their need for a dependable outside shooter Thursday by acquiring guard Jiri Welsch from the Boston Celtics for a 2007 first-round draft pick.

Oregon State Reinstates Four Football Players
CORVALLIS, Ore. (Sports Network) - Oregon State head football coach Mike Riley reinstated defensive end Joseph Rudulph, along with wide receiver Anthony Wheat-Brown, offensive lineman Whitfield Usher and defensive lineman Ryan Rainwater.

Injured Shaq Could Be Out for Several Games
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - Miami Heat all-star center Shaquille O'Neal could miss several more games because of a strained left knee.

Rockets, Bucks Trade Guards
HOUSTON (Sports Network) - The Houston Rockets acquired guard Mike James from the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday for fellow guard Reece Gaines.

Vikings Trade Controversial Receiver Moss to Oakland
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - The Minnesota Vikings have traded controversial receiver Randy Moss to the Oakland Raiders, his agent says.

76ers Keep Dealing, Unload Robinson on Hornets
PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - The 76ers continued to shuffle their roster before Thursday's NBA trade deadline, acquiring forwards Rodney Rogers and Jamal Mashburn from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for forward Glenn Robinson.

Thongchai, Cort Share Myanmar Open Lead (AP)
AP - Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee shot a 5-under 67 Thursday to share the lead with England's Matthew Cort after the first round of the Myanmar Open.

Defending Champ Moya Out of Mexican Open (AP)
AP - Defending champion Carlos Moya was upset by 28th-seeded Argentine Mariano Puerta on Wednesday at the Mexican Open.

No. 23 Villanova Upsets No. 3 B.C. 76-70 (AP)
AP - Wins over ranked teams are becoming routine for Villanova. Randy Foye scored 23 points and the 23rd-ranked Wildcats survived a 9-minute stretch without a field goal to beat No. 3 Boston College 76-70 on Wednesday night.

NHL Players Association to Meet Agents (AP)
AP - Agents for NHL players will meet next week with union representatives for an update on labor talks, one day after the players' association gets together with its rank and file.

Costa Rica Defeats Panama in UNCAF Soccer (AP)
AP - Costa Rica got a goal from Roy Miller in the 82nd minute and held on for a 1-0 victory Wednesday night over Panama in the UNCAF Cup tournament.

Giants Have One of Oldest Outfields (AP)
AP - A day after his bizarre news conference, Barry Bonds took a break from knee treatment to hand out a few hitting tips to Moises Alou and Marquis Grissom. These three will make up one old outfield this season.

Spurs Win Big, Kings Make Big Trade (AP)
AP - On a night the San Antonio Spurs maintained their lead in the Western Conference, Sacramento sent Chris Webber to Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade that helped save the Kings money — but might hinder their playoff push.

Cowboys Reunite Parcells With Bledsoe (AP)
AP - Bill Parcells turned to another of his former quarterbacks in hopes of getting the Dallas Cowboys back into the playoffs.

Miyazato Opens With 63 at Royal Pines (AP)
AP - Japanese teenager Ai Miyazato tied a course record with a 9-under 63 to take a three-shot lead in the first round of the ANZ Ladies Masters on Thursday.

Agent: Moss Headed to the Raiders (AP)
AP - Randy Moss' electrifying talent was no longer enough for the Minnesota Vikings to put up with his distracting antics. Dante DiTrapano, Moss' agent, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the Vikings and the Oakland Raiders had "come to an agreement on Randy playing for Oakland next year."

Shaq-Less Heat Lose 2nd Straight OT Game (AP)
AP - Two games, two overtimes, two losses. The Miami Heat sure hope injured Shaquille O'Neal returns soon. "We think we can hold down the fort, but it's been tough losing the way we did," said Miami's Dwyane Wade, who scored 38 points in a 93-91 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Villanova Beats 4th Ranked Team of Year (AP)
AP - Villanova should start scheduling more ranked teams. The 23rd-ranked Wildcats added a fourth Top 25 victim to their list of victories Wednesday night with a 76-70 win over No. 3 Boston College.

Soccer: Barcelona, Milan and Lyon Win But Porto Held
LONDON (Reuters) - Barcelona capitalized on a sending off to beat Chelsea while AC Milan took advantage of a goalkeeping error to win at Manchester United on a disappointing night for English clubs in the Champions League.

New York Champion Ramaala to Run London Marathon
LONDON (Reuters) - New York marathon champion Hendrik Ramaala will compete in the London event on April 17.

Knee Injury Ends Austrian Koubek's Davis Cup Hopes
VIENNA (Reuters) - Stefan Koubek's hopes of playing for Austria in next week's Davis Cup first round tie in Australia have been ended by a knee injury.

Puerta Lands Surprise Double Over Top Seed Moya
LONDON (Reuters) - Argentina's Mariano Puerta knocked out top seed Carlos Moya for the second successive tournament, beating the Spaniard 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the $643,000 Abierto Mexicano tournament in Acapulco on Wednesday.

Eagles Offer Westbrook Deal
PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Eagles tendered restricted free agent running back Brian Westbrook a qualifying offer of a one-year contract worth $1.430 million on Wednesday.

Singh, Woods May Be Ready But Waterlogged Course May Not
CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods are ready to go at the rain-delayed WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, although there are doubts about the ability of the waterlogged La Costa Resort and Spa to host the $7.5 million event.

Report: Vikings Set to Trade Moss to Raiders
ST. PAUL, Minn., (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly cut ties with flamboyant wide receiver Randy Moss by trading him to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for linebacker Napoleon Harris and draft picks.

NBA Wrap: O'Neal Leads Pacers to Win Over Heat
TORONTO (Reuters) - Jermaine O'Neal scored all three of his team's overtime baskets, including the winning jumper with 11 seconds to go, to lift the Indiana Pacers to a 93-91 victory over the Miami Heat Wednesday.

College Basketball: Illinois, Kentucky Win
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Sports Network) - Dee Brown scored 20 points and Roger Powell added 18, as top-ranked Illinois kept its dream of an unbeaten season alive with an easy 84-48 victory over Northwestern at Assembly Hall.

Webber Off to Philadelphia in Six-Player Deal
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired five-times All-Star forward Chris Webber from the Sacramento Kings in a six-player deal.

Start of Match Play Championship Delayed (AP)
AP - Hours after the announcement that the Match Play Championship would not begin until Thursday because of the saturated course at La Costa, one match already was in the books.

Spadea Advances in Tennis Channel Open (AP)
AP - Vince Spadea waited 11 years for his only ATP singles championship, so it shouldn't have been surprising that his first title defense was difficult.

Marquette Star Diener's Season Ends (AP)
AP - Travis Diener's college career is over thanks to a broken hand, leaving him 83 points shy of surpassing George Thompson as Marquette's all-time leading scorer.

Predators, Gaylord Settle Lawsuit (AP)
AP - The Nashville Predators don't know when they will play again, but the team settled a legal fight Tuesday with an original investor over shares and naming rights for their arena.

Johnson, Mathis, Pope Picked for Camp (AP)
AP - Forward Ed Johnson, midfielder Clint Mathis and defender Eddie Pope were among 22 players from Major League Soccer selected by U.S. coach Bruce Arena for a training camp ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Guatemala.

Tigers Pitcher Urbina Discusses Kidnapping (AP)
AP - Detroit Tigers reliever Ugueth Urbina said Wednesday that his mother's five months in captivity was something he hopes "nobody goes through."

Bobcats Place Smith on Injured List (AP)
AP - The Charlotte Bobcats placed guard Steve Smith on the injured list Wednesday with knee tendinitis and signed developmental league player Matt Carroll.

Combine Becomes More Game Than Preparation (AP)
AP - Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian will spend hours questioning draft prospects starting Thursday at the NFL combine.

Shaq Out Until After Heat Return to Miami (AP)
AP - Shaquille O'Neal won't play before his injured knee is examined by doctors in Miami.

Cowboys Reunite Bledsoe and Parcells (AP)
AP - Drew Bledsoe set passing records and reached the Super Bowl as a young quarterback playing for Bill Parcells in New England. Nearly a decade later, the duo will try doing it again with the Dallas Cowboys.

Accused Kournikova Stalker Ordered Away (AP)
AP - A homeless man accused of stalking tennis star Anna Kournikova was ordered Wednesday to permanently stay at least 1,000 feet away from her if he gets out of jail.

NYC Assures IOC It Can Handle Olympics (AP)
AP - Public officials met with International Olympic Committee representatives evaluating the city's bid for the 2012 Games on Wednesday to answer questions about security, financing and other issues.

Federer Struggles Past Qualifier in Dubai
DUBAI (Reuters) - World No. 1 Roger Federer struggled past Czech qualifier Ivo Minar, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, when he began the defense of his Dubai Open title Wednesday.

Seahawks Name Alexander Franchise Player
KIRKLAND, Wash., (Sports Network) - Seattle Seahawks All-Pro running back Shaun Alexander was named the team's franchise player on Tuesday.

Torrential Rain Delays Start of Match Play Championship
TORONTO (Reuters) - The start of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship was pushed back 24 hours on Tuesday due to the near-record rainfall pounding southern California.

St. Andrews Beefed Up for British Open
LONDON (Reuters) - Five new tees have been installed on the Old Course at St. Andrews to toughen the venue for this year's British Open, organizers have said.

College Basketball: N. Carolina Defeats N.C. State
RALEIGH, N.C. (Sports Network) - Raymond Felton scored a game-high 21 points to lead five Tar Heels in double figures, as No. 2 North Carolina rolled to an 81-71 victory over North Carolina State at the RBC Center.

NBA Wrap: Rose Eclipses Carter as Raptors Beat Nets
TORONTO (Reuters) - Jalen Rose scored 30 points and played solid defense against former Toronto favorite Vince Carter to guide the Raptors to a 100-82 victory over the New Jersey Nets Tuesday.

Martinez Upsets Myskina, Mauresmo Battles to Win
DOHA (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez shattered French Open champion Anastasia Myskina's dreams of winning a hat-trick of Qatar Open titles, beating the world number five 6-4, 7-5, in Wednesday's second round.

Defiant Bonds Refuses to Discuss BALCO Scandal
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A defiant Barry Bonds would not discuss on Tuesday his role in a steroid scandal that has gripped baseball but the San Francisco Giants slugger said he doubted such drugs could help players hit better.

Heat's O'Neal to Have Tests on Injured Knee
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - Miami Heat's All Star center Shaquille O'Neal was scheduled to have tests on Wednesday to assess the knee injury he suffered in Chicago the previous day.

Quarterback Bledsoe Agrees to Deal with Cowboys
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe has agreed terms with the Dallas Cowboys, The Dallas Morning News said Wednesday.

Alabama's Moody to Retire After Season (AP)
AP - Alabama women's basketball coach Rick Moody said Tuesday he will retire after the season.

Hockey Coach Suspended for Offering Bounty (AP)
AP - Motor City Mechanics coach Steve Shannon was suspended by the United Hockey League for the rest of the season for offering his players $200 to take out Flint Generals forward Kevin Kerr.

Urbina Reports to Tigers Spring Training (AP)
AP - Detroit Tigers reliever Ugueth Urbina reported to spring training Tuesday, less than a week after his kidnapped mother was rescued in Venezuela after five months in captivity.

Retired NFL Punter Roby Dies at Age 43 (AP)
AP - Former punter Reggie Roby, a 16-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection, died Tuesday after being found unconscious at home by his wife. He was 43.

Triumphant Scott Ready for Major Stepping Stone
LONDON (Reuters) - Through no fault of his own, it was hardly the most satisfying of wins and it will not count as an official PGA Tour title.

Titans Release Top Receiver, Five Others to Meet Cap
RALEIGH, N.C. (Reuters) - The Tennessee Titans are to release six players, including top receiver Derrick Mason and three other starters, to meet salary cap limits.

Former All-Pro Punter Reggie Roby Dies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sports Network) - Former All-Pro punter Reggie Roby died Tuesday at the age of 43.

Report: Seahawks, Hasselbeck Agree to Long-Term Deal
KIRKLAND, Wash. (Sports Network) - The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly reached an agreement with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on a multi-year contract and are expected to announce the signing in a Tuesday press conference.

Field Set for Match Play Championship (AP)
AP - The field was set Monday afternoon for the Match Play Championship. All that remained in doubt was when it would start.

Philippoussis Left Off Team for Davis Cup (AP)
AP - Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open finalist Mark Philippoussis was left off Australia's team for next month's Davis Cup match against Austria in favor of journeyman tennis player and golfer Scott Draper on Tuesday.

N.M. Ends No. 13 Utah 18-Game Win Streak (AP)
AP - Mark Walters scored a season-high 22 points and New Mexico beat No. 13 Utah 65-54 Monday night, snapping the Utes' 18-game winning streak.

Sportsview: Gretzky, Lemieux Worsened Mess (AP)
AP - With Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux inside the NHL labor mess, a terrible situation became a Great debacle instead of a Super save.

Barcelona and Chelsea Top Match (AP)
AP - The world's best soccer clubs face off this week in the second round of the Champions League.

More Mauer Questions for Twins (AP)
AP - Besieged by questions about Joe Mauer's readiness for the majors last spring, the Minnesota Twins and their young catcher are enduring another round of queries a year later.

Favorites have way in NBA (USATODAY.com)
USATODAY.com - The NBA resumes play tonight after the All-Star break with two from each conference establishing themselves as the teams to beat - San Antonio and Phoenix in the West and Miami and Detroit in the East. The Spurs have the NBA's best record at 41-12, while the Heat enjoy a 40-14 mark.

Carter, Rolle, Mason Among Six Titans Cut (AP)
AP - Receiver Derrick Mason and cornerback Samari Rolle were among six players released Monday by the Tennessee Titans in an effort to cut up to $27 million to get under the NFL salary cap.

Scott Wins Rain-Shortened Nissan Open (AP)
AP - Adam Scott has his name on the Nissan Open trophy. He earned $864,000, which counts just the same if he had played 72 holes, instead of only two rounds followed by a sudden-death playoff Monday morning in the rain against Chad Campbell.

Damon, Ortiz Lighten Up on A-Rod Criticism (AP)
AP - Johnny Damon and David Ortiz reported to the Boston Red Sox's training camp and took a more lighthearted approach to bashing Alex Rodriguez.

Yankees Fans Give Giambi Rousing Welcome (AP)
AP - Jason Giambi started the day by embracing his teammates, then he went out on the field and began making amends with the fans.

Spain Ref Interrupts League Match to Warn Racists
MADRID (Reuters) - Referee Alfonso Perez Burrull became the first match official in Spain to halt a game because of racist abuse when he asked spectators to refrain from monkey chanting at a league match in Malaga.

Forget Calls Up Monfils in French Davis Cup Team
PARIS (Reuters) - French number one Sebastien Grosjean will spearhead France's Davis Cup first-round challenge against Sweden, while rising prospect Gael Monfils will get his first taste of the team competition in Strabourg next weekend.

Record Prize Money on Offer at European Open
LONDON (Reuters) - Prize money for this year's European Open has been increased to a record 2.3 million pounds ($4.39 million), the European Tour said Tuesday.

Motor Racing: McLaren Looking for Formula Fun
LONDON (Reuters) - Instead of being bitter rivals, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya could be laughing all the way to the checkered flag this season.

Agassi Makes Winning Start in Dubai
DUBAI (Reuters) - Andre Agassi beat Radek Stepanek 6-4, 7-5 in the first round of the Dubai Open on Monday, the 34-year-old American's first match in the Middle East.

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