Thome's walk-off homer lifts White Sox past Angels

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago White Sox outlasted the Anaheim Angels 7-6 over 15 innings on Saturday powered by Jim Thome's walk-off home run.

Federer awaits opponent for delayed final

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer stormed into his fifth successive U.S. Open final on Saturday but his challenger will not be known for another 24 hours after heavy rain washed away the rest of the day's play at Flushing Meadows.

Serena focused on grand slam title, not top billing

NEW YORK (Reuters) - While the top ranking will be on the line when Serena Williams meets Serb Jelena Jankovic in the U.S. Open women's final, the American has her sights squarely set on clinching a ninth grand slam crown.

Dempsey earns U.S. gritty 1-0 win in Cuba

HAVANA (Reuters) - Clint Dempsey scored a first-half goal to earn the United States a gritty 1-0 win over Cuba on Saturday in a World Cup qualifier that marked the American team's first trip to the Caribbean island in 61 years.

Tropical storm cancels U.S. Open play for the day

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The arrival of the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna at Flushing Meadows forced U.S. Open organizers to postpone the conclusion of the semi-final between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray and the women's final to Sunday.

China opens Games, pledges disabled rights

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing opened the Paralympic Games in spectacular fashion on Saturday, an event China's leaders hope will show them in a compassionate light.

Furyk turns marathon into sprint up leaderboard

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (Reuters) - American Jim Furyk turned a marathon day into a sprint up the BMW leaderboard on Saturday, carding two sizzling rounds to grab a share of top spot with Colombian Camilo Villegas.

Murray leads Nadal before rain delay

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Andy Murray, in the last four for the first time at a grand slam, led world number one Rafael Nadal 6-2 7-6 2-3 when rain halted their U.S. Open semi-final on Saturday.

Olajuwon and Ewing inducted into Hall of Fame

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing were among seven new members inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

Dodgers blank Diamondbacks to close gap

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled to within one-half game of the National League West lead on Friday with a 7-0 victory over the division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks.

England off to stuttering start

ENGLAND made horribly hard work of breaking down their part-time opponents and had to wait until the second half to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start, courtesy of two goals from Joe Cole, who replaced Stewart Downing at half-time and repeated the rescue he effected at Wembley last month, when he supplied a stoppage-time equaliser against the Czech Republic.

West Ham United plan Slaven Bilic talks before the World Cup qualifier with England

West Ham United hope to speak with Slaven Bilic, the Croatia manager, before the World Cup qualifier with England on Wednesday as they move closer to appointing a new head coach.

Storm rains on Andy Murray’s parade

Far from the basking sun of Majorca, the tropical storm remnants of Hurricane Hanna that lashed New York last night seemed to be Rafael Nadal’s salvation as Andy Murray produced some of the most positive and accomplished tennis of his young career to put him in sight of a place in the US Open final.

Rory McIlroy hands Jean-Francois Lucquin maiden victory

Rory McIlroy blew his chance to become the third-youngest winner in European Tour history, as he lost the Omega European Masters in Switzerland after a play-off.

Newcastle: there was no getting through to Kevin Keegan

NEWCASTLE UNITED hit back hard last night at claims that they had forced Kevin Keegan to resign, criticised his approach in the transfer market and said he had refused to abide by the terms on which he took the job.

Manchester United would be forced to consider Manchester City's Cristiano Ronaldo offer

David Gill, the Manchester United chief executive, says the club would be forced to consider Manchester City's proposed £135 million offer for Cristiano Ronaldo, but said he had taken the reports "with a pinch of salt".

Steven Gerrard: Paying the price for his versatility

Steven Gerrard ought to be the Bryan Robson de nos jours. Instead he is in danger of becoming a new Paul Madeley who, with Don Revie’s Leeds and England, was so proficient in a number of positions that he never settled in the one he wanted. The Liverpool captain regards himself as a central midfielder, full stop, and has come to regret the versatility that has seen him shunted into different roles, for club and country. He offers a startling statistic: in 68 appearances for England he has patrolled his preferred beat just five times. He could not recall Robson or Paul Ince playing wide on the left.

Sam Vokes winner seals Wales victory

A LATE, inglorious victory for Wales, who missed a penalty against a team reduced to 10 men after the expulsion on 68 minutes of Fabio Luis Ramim. The solitary, scrappy goal was scored for Wales by their 18-year-old substitute, Sam Vokes, the Wolves reserve, who has now played three times for his country. To give him full credit, his goal came from a corner that he had forced with an excellent header to a cross by the ever-enterprising left-back, Gareth Bale.

Mike Ashley, wally with the lolly

What a magnificent week for the Premier League. Even Lewis Carroll would have found his ability to comprehend the surreal stretched beyond breaking point. A neverending version of Alice in Wonderland featuring 25 Mad Hatters and no Alice; nobody to say: “But you’re all just a pack of cards.”

Manchester City optimism is excessive

Robson de Souza, better known as Robinho, seems to have sleep-walked into Manchester City, his mind adrift in dreams of avarice. Indications that only financial information had penetrated his trance came when he started telling interviewers at Brazil’s training camp near Rio about how an offer of excellent terms persuaded him to sign for Chelsea. It would appear that in deciding on an English address his sole interest in location concerned proximity to the country’s most open-handed billionaire employer.

Gators snap 6-game losing streak to Miami, 26-3 (AP)

AP - Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow was good early and even better late, enough to help No. 5 Florida snap a six-game losing streak against rival Miami. Tebow threw two touchdown passes, speedster Percy Harvin ran for a score and the Gators used a swarming defensive effort to beat the Hurricanes 26-3 Saturday night at The Swamp.

Another upset: East Carolina stuns No. 8 WVU 24-3 (AP)

AP - Skip Holtz followed his biggest coaching victory at East Carolina with an even more impressive one. Jonathan Williams had two short touchdown runs, quarterback Patrick Pinkney was nearly perfect and the Pirates routed No. 8 West Virginia 24-3 on Saturday for their third straight win over a ranked team.

Federer a win away from 5th straight US Open title (AP)

AP - Ominous clouds overhead, the sort of hard court that troubled him this season underfoot, Roger Federer sensed something Saturday he hadn't in quite a while. He was playing exactly like that guy named Roger Federer.

No. 3 Buckeyes survive scare from unheralded Ohio (AP)

AP - Beanie Wells didn't play. The Ohio Bobcats sure did. Lightly regarded even in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio put a scare into No. 3 Ohio State before the Buckeyes righted things in the fourth quarter and went on to win 26-14 Saturday.

Villegas takes the lead in St. Louis (AP)

AP - Camilo Villegas gave himself his best chance of winning on the PGA Tour with a 12-foot birdie Sunday morning to complete a 4-under 66 and take a one-shot lead going into the final round of the BMW Championship.

Bills Pro Bowl LT Peters ends holdout, joins team (AP)

AP - Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters has ended his holdout and reported to the team.

Olajuwon and Ewing inducted into Hall of Fame (Reuters)

Reuters - Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing were among seven new members inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

Thome homer lifts White Sox past Angels (Reuters)

Reuters - The Chicago White Sox outlasted the Anaheim Angels 7-6 over 15 innings on Saturday, powered by Jim Thome's walk-off home run.

England football coach puts pressure on Croatia (AFP)

AFP - Fabio Capello has warned Croatia that England have no intention of playing for a draw in Wednesday's crucial World Cup qualifier.

Russian league accuses NHL of breaking deal (AP)

AP - A newly formed Russian hockey league accused the NHL of poaching two of its players when the Los Angeles Kings agreed to terms with two draft prospects last week.

BYU holds back Washington on last-second PAT block (AP)

AP - Jan Jorgensen busted through the line and blocked Ryan Perkins' 35-yard extra-point attempt with 2 seconds left in regulation, and No. 15 BYU held on to a 28-27 win over Washington on Saturday.

Federer set for Monday US Open final as Murray, Nadal wait (AFP)

AFP - Roger Federer moved within one victory of his fifth consecutive US Open title Saturday, firing 20 aces to overpower Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

LPGA backs down on English requirement (AP)

AP - The LPGA Tour's "mea culpa" didn't need much translation.

As season arrives, is 'upset' even the right word anymore?

If 2007 was the Season of the Upset, it might have been the last. Dennis Dodd says it's not because 'underdogs' will no longer beat 'favorites.' It's because figuring out which is which is becoming harder all the time.

Murphy, Delgado get to Phils' bullpen as Mets take back first

Daniel Murphy hit a tiebreaking double after Carlos Delgado's second solo homer had tied the game in the eighth and the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 6-3 on Wednesday night to reclaim first place in the NL East.

AFC South: Manning separates Colts in daunting division

The Colts have it all, right? But this loaded team is still dependent on Peyton Manning. Pete Prisco says the Titans, Jaguars and Texans are still chasing as long as Peyton's in the pocket.

Merriman: I will play with torn knee ligaments

The surgeon's knife can wait. Shawne Merriman is going to play football, two torn knee ligaments and all.

Judge

Shawne Merriman should have joined Philip Rivers on the operating table in February to fix his damaged knee. But Merriman didn't, and now he's risking his career by saying he plans to play. If the San Diego front office wasn't mad, it should be now, Clark Judge says.

S.D. sweeps 1st-place Arizona

Jody Gerut singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the San Diego Padres denied Randy Johnson his 295th career win with a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

L.A. falls again

Tim Redding outpitched Greg Maddux to send the Los Angeles Dodgers to a season-high sixth consecutive loss -- 5-4 on Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals.

Jags' Harvey final first-round pick to sign

Defensive end Derrick Harvey ended a 33-day holdout Wednesday by signing a five-year, $23.8 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Top Yanks again

Jason Bay drove in four runs, Dustin Pedroia hit a grand slam and the Boston Red Sox routed the listless Yankees 11-3 on Wednesday night, putting an emphatic dent in New York's dwindling playoff chances.

Red Sox get Kotsay in trade with Braves

The Boston Red Sox have outfield depth after completing a trade with the Atlanta Braves for center fielder Mark Kotsay.

Mainstay Sakic signs for 20th season with Avs

Joe Sakic has decided to play in 2008-09, signing a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche after spending months pondering retirement.