Basketball: Lithuania stun Argentina, 104-85, to reach final

ISTANBUL—World number one Argentina were crushed 104-85 by Lithuania in the quarter-finals of the world basketball championships on Thursday as the Baltic state set-up a last four clash with the USA.

Tennis-Qureshi aims to serve up peace at U.S. Open

Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi only took up tennis to avoid doing homework, but now the doubles specialist is a household name back home with his exploits at the U.S. Open and his bid to broker peace.

Golf is rewarding sport for Lonoke’s Robinson

Ryan Robinson received his first golf set when he was 1 year old, and nine years later he has amassed 50 awards, trophies and medals.

Basketball: Lithuania, USA set-up semi-final basketball clash

ISTANBUL : Tournament favourites USA edged Russia 89-79 to reach the world basketball semi-finals on Thursday where they will meet Lithuania who stunned world number one Argentina 104-85.

Driver cited in Mass. wreck with Patriots QB Brady (AP)

AP - Boston police have cited the driver of a van involved in an accident with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Phillies sitting in a familiar spot first place (AP)

AP - Charlie Manuel scoffed every time someone mentioned the Philadelphia Phillies and wild card in the same breath.

Tennis UPDATE: Williamsburg natives Ford, Spooner among players in W&M event Friday

In women’s tennis, the annual William and Mary Invitational begins at 9 a.m. Friday around Williamsburg, with 13 schools, five singles brackets and three doubles draws.

Soccer: Lady Tigers stay perfect, Tiger boys fall at North Valleys

The Douglas girls' soccer team improved to 7-0 on the year while rattling off its sixth-straight shutout in a 4-0 win over North Valleys Tuesday night.

Vegas police seeking Mayweather in battery case (AP)

AP - Police sought boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. for questioning Thursday about a domestic battery complaint lodged by an ex-girlfriend who recanted a similar claim in 2005, police and his lawyer said.

Questions and answers on NFL labor (AP)

AP - A year from now, NFL fans could be seeing a lockout instead of a sellout.

Basketball Wives Respond To Matt Barnes’ Arrest

Basketball Wives stars Jennifer Williams and Evelyn Lozada have turned to (where else?) their Twitter accounts to respond to the earlier news of Matt Barnes‘ domestic violence arrest (see below). While their language is loaded with qualification, it’s at least somewhat surprising that they’ve stepped up to defend their on-screen rival, Gloria Govan. I guess when a conflict comes down between ...

Basketball player hurt by swastika on mural

An Israeli professional basketball player says he feels hurt that someone would paint a swastika on a mural featuring his likeness. Omri Casspi told the Sacramento Bee on Thursday that it's hurtful to think there are still people who do such a thing in 2010. The Bee reached Casspi, who plays for the Sacramento Kings, at his family home in Yavne, Israel.

Toronto police turn over Clemens documents (AP)

AP - Police searched the offices of the Toronto Blue Jays and turned over documents in connection with the perjury case against seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens.

A tale of 2 quarterbacks for Penn State-Alabama (AP)

AP - Greg McElroy doesn't think he could have succeeded right out of high school.

Lithuania tops Argentina 104-85 to gain 1st semis (AP)

AP - Lithuania advanced to the semifinals of the basketball world championship for the first time, hitting nine of its first 11 3-pointers Thursday to beat Argentina 104-85 and set up a meeting with the United States.

Soccer team may fold

The Port Alberni women’s competitive soccer team is in danger of folding if more members don’t step up and join the roster.

US beats Russia, 89-79, moves into semis at worlds (AP)

AP - Chauncey Billups made the promise. Kevin Durant made sure it was kept.

International Football Is Ruining Football: Why Madrid Is Worse Because of Spain

I love football: some of my earliest memories are of Real Madrid, of celebrating on the Castellana and at the Cibeles when we won the League in 1996 and the Champions League in 1997. I’ll never forget watching the most recent World Cup either: Spain winning ranks among the greatest sports moments (heck, moments in general) of my life. So as a life-long fan—and by fan, I mean fanático , because I ...

Queiroz sacked as Portugal coach (AFP)

AFP - Carlos Queiroz was sacked as Portugal coach on Thursday after a disciplinary feud sparked by a six-month ban for insulting officials from the country's anti-doping body.

Golf course transition to private management complete

The Mt. Graham Golf Course is under new management, but not much has changed. Burt Watkins is still the golf pro; prices have remained the same; and the holes are where they were.

LA Galaxy activates Beckham from disabled list (AP)

AP - The Los Angeles Galaxy activated David Beckham from their disabled list Thursday, clearing the English superstar for his return to MLS competition.

Kuchar atop the leaderboard again with 64 (AP)

AP - Matt Kuchar is playing so well that there's really nothing left for him to say.

Modano skates for 1st time with Red Wings (AP)

AP - Mike Modano grew up dreaming of skating at Joe Louis Arena as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He actually did it Thursday morning.

Soccer: Holy Family falls to scrappy Spartans

Unfortunately for Holy Family soccer, its home-opener Wednesday was nothing to write home about. The Tigers suffered a devastating 5-0 loss to Berthoud at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium, with the Spartans sparking the rout with a strong finish to the first half.

Football: Stronger test awaits Ponies at Mounds View

Two football teams coming off big opening-week victories square off on Friday as Stillwater travels to Mounds View for a Suburban East Conference game at Mustang Stadium. The Ponies blanked Park-Cottage Grove 35-0 while the Mustangs ran up a 55-19 victory over Roseville. Stillwater and Mounds View met twice a year ago, with the Ponies claiming the first 19-7 and Mounds View ending Stillwater's ...

Baseball. Baseball Kicks Off Fall Ball Friday

Coming off an historical 2010 campaign, the TCU baseball team will get preparations for the 2011 season underway Friday, Sept. 10. The fall practice schedule will see the Frogs through Oct. 23.

Football: Spartans dominate Jenkintown

Most area football teams have to wait until at least the fourth week of the season to play a league team.

Tennis team moving on without heavy hitters

The Monticello girls' tennis team has eight matches in, and school doesn't even start for another five days. But there have been some early highs and lows for coach Jeff Bordwell's team, which is facing its first season without the Magic's "first lady" of tennis - state qualifier Katie Kotschevar.

AP source: USOC, IOC reach $18 million deal (AP)

AP - The U.S. Olympic Committee will contribute $18 million to resolve a financial dispute that has strained relations with the IOC, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The decision ends an impasse over administrative costs of staging the games.

Soccer league gives back to the community

Tenafly - The Tenafly Soccer League donated funds earned at its all-star game to Jenna's Rainbow.

Cavendish claims stage wins in all three Tours (AFP)

AFP - British sprint king Mark Cavendish powered to victory in the 12th stage of the Tour of Spain on Thursday -- enabling him to claim individual stage wins in all three of cycling's major Tours.

Football's transfer windows are a bore

PARIS (AP) - Rejoice, European football's summer transfer window has closed. What a relief. Until someone invents a better system or wins a major legal challenge against the current one, both of which may never happen, the ugly process of football clubs trading players like cattle during a few designated months ...

Golf Course Review - TPC Jasna Polana

Golf Tidbits: Too little, too late for PGA Tour?

Tennis Family Festival is scheduled for Sept. 11

The Park and Recreation Department is hosting a Tennis Family Festival presented by tennis pros Glen Englander and Fred Spindler on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 4 to 6 for a at the Redding Elementary School courts.

Golf Tidbits: Kaymer, Watson overshadowed by Johnson

TENNIS: Carmel drops San Benito, 5-2

CARMEL The San Benito girls tennis team continued with its difficult non-conference slate on Wednesday at Carmel, where the host Padres defeated the Haybalers by a 5-2 margin. San Benito is now 1-3 overall. The Balers' two wins came at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles. Singles player Audrey Marshall topped Carmel's Julia Modorsky 7-5, 6-4, while San Benito's top doubles team in Erin Glasspool and ...

Golf's Reward? A Healthy Round Of Humility

While on a recent vacation at a Maine inn, I stopped by the golf course and watched as a man sliced his drive into the woods and finished his follow through by muttering the f-word. That led me to seek out an expert on the subject of why duffers play golf. My informant was a bartender-philosopher who prefers to remain anonymous. His opinion — which I share — is that golf and Calvinism have much ...

Rains cancel LPGA Pro-Am in NW Arkansas (AP)

AP - Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine has forced the cancellation of the pro-am at the LPGA's P&G Northwest Arkansas Championship.

Clijsters wary of hungry Venus in US Open showdown (AFP)

AFP - Venus Williams has shaken off a sore left knee that had benched her since Wimbledon and breezed into a US Open semi-final Friday against reigning champion Kim Clijsters without dropping a set.

Canes baseball player arrested for selling pot

A Miami baseball player has been arrested and accused of selling marijuana to undercover police officers on university grounds. Frank Ratcliff is also facing a charge of possessing 19 vials of human growth hormone.

Tennis, Tenacity and Talent

The Lady Fighting Scots tennis team was going through their plyometric exercises last Thursday. Many of the girls showed their quickness and agility as they practiced their footwork. The girls were divided into two teams and competed against each other to see which team would finish first.

Baseball-as-metaphor abuse continues on ESPN

Does America suffer from too many baseball metaphors? Over the decades, writers including George Will and David Halberstam have carpet-bombed the literary scene with tomes using baseball as a symbol for some Lost American Eden. Cornball movies like "The...

Tennis Trick Shaves The Truth

Earlier this week I posted a video of tennis great Roger Federer knocking a soda can off a guy's head with a tennis ball. I thought he could have knocked out the guy's eye with that serve, but he didn't, and the video, filmed at a shoot for a Gillette commercial, went viral, getting more than 1 million hits in 48 hours, according to a Reuters report . Now, it seems that Roger's stunt was just ...

Football. Kansas Football To Take Part In Recognizing The Military Saturday

This Saturday, college football coaches and sideline personnel at the University of Kansas and other schools, will honor the men and women that help keep America safe by wearing the Stars and Stripes Collection by adidas.

The Glen dropped from 2011 IndyCar schedule (AP)

AP - The IndyCar Series is not returning to Watkins Glen International next season.

Football: Ponies host Park in season opener

Two football teams on opposite ends of the league standings start the season in the same position when Stillwater hosts Park-Cottage Grove in Friday's season opener at Pony Stadium. The games also serves as Parents Night for the Ponies.

Golf tourney benefits youth sports

The 15th Annual Ernest Biles Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting youth sports programs in Butts County, will be held at Hickory Hill Golf Course on Sept. 15. Tee time will be 1 p.m.

Miami baseball player faces marijuana, HGH charges

A Miami baseball player was arrested and charged with trying to sell marijuana to undercover officers on university grounds, and police later found 19 vials of human growth hormone at his apartment. Frank Ratcliff, 19, of Key West, Fla. was charged Thursday with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Baseball. Baseball Alumni Weekend Set For Sept. 17-19

The UW baseball team will center its annual Alumni Weekend around the Husky football game vs. Nebraska next Saturday, Sept. 18. The weekend includes a golf tournament on Friday, a tailgate before the football game on Saturday and the Alumni Game on Sunday.