Vera Zvonareva advance to finals at the Pan Pacific Open!

TOKYO -- Vera Zvonareva staged a remarkable turnaround to beat Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 7-6 (2), 6-0 on Friday and advance to the final at the Pan Pacific Open. The fourth-seeded Russian took advantage of a collapse by Kvitova, who held a comfortable 5-1 lead in the first set before Zvonareva stormed back to make it 5-5, breaking her opponent three times. Both players then held serve to force the tiebreaker. The second set was all Zvonareva, who broke the fifth-seeded Czech three times to close out the match in 1 hour, 30 minutes.



"If I knew what happened I would tell you," Kvitova said. "I don't know what happened. At 5-1, I just didn't play my game and she came back and played much better than me. The first...

Kenny Dalglish nostalgia for his first return to Everton in 20 years

LONDON (AP)—Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will push aside nostalgia for his first return to Everton in 20 years as the...

Kobe Bryant agree to play in Italy

ROME - Italian club Virtus Bologna said it has reached a verbal agreement with Kobe Bryant for the Los Angeles Lakers star to play in Italy during the NBA lockout.

The sides have settled on a $3 million contract for...

Jhonattan Vegas, William McGirt leaderboard in Las Vegas!

LAS VEGAS -- Jhonattan Vegas and William McGirt shot career-best 8-under 63s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Vegas, the Venezuelan rookie who won the Bob Hope Classic in January for his first PGA Tour title, had 10 birdies and two bogeys at TPC Summerlin in the...

Oguchi Onyewu back on U.S. roster for next matches!

MIAMI -- Defender Oguchi Onyewu will rejoin the U.S. men's national soccer team for upcoming matches against Honduras and Ecuador. Onyewu is one of only three players on the...

Epstein say Francona not to blame!

BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said he won't make a scapegoat of skipper Terry Francona after the team's unprecedented September collapse. Epstein said at Fenway Park that everyone will be evaluated this offseason, including the manager and GM. But he said "nobody blames" the team's 7-20 in the final month on Francona. The Red Sox led the AL wild-card race by nine games on the morning of Sept. 4. But they failed to...

Horner hopes, Sebastian Vettel to stay in the Red Bull's

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has played down talk of Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel switching to rivals Ferrari.Vettel, 24, is one point away from...

Dirk Kuyt say there will be increased to Luiz Suarez

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has warned the Barclays Premier League that Luis Suarez will only get better. The Uruguayan striker has been a big hit at Anfield since swapping life in Holland for that on Merseyside back in January. Having enjoyed a prolific spell with Ajax in the Eredivisie, Suarez sealed a big-money move to the Barclays Premier League in January.Suarez has wasted little time settling into English football and is already a firm favourite with the Kop.

“He has done brilliantly from the very beginning, and he has become a very important player for Liverpool."
Kuyt also believes Suarez will continue to...

Brewers, first round at home

The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up the best regular season in franchise history and secured home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The NL Central-champion Brewers finished 96-66 to set a club record while edging the Diamondbacks for the No. 2 seed in the National League. Carlos Gomez hit a three-run homer while Corey Hart and Jonathan Lucroy added solo blasts for the Brewers, who will start Yovani Gallardo in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against NL West champion Arizona. "Coming into today, our main goal was to win so we can play here. It means a lot to have the second best record in the National League," Gallardo said. "I'm very excited. I can't wait for Saturday."

Greinke also became the first NL pitcher since Orel Hershiser (12-0) in 1985 to finish perfect at home with an 11-0 record or better. Milwaukee won all 15 of Grienke's games in Miller Park. But...

Vera Zvonareva cruised to semifinals in the Pan Pacific Open!

TOKYO -- Second-seeded Maria Sharapova was eliminated from the Pan Pacific Open on Thursday when she was forced to retire because of an injury in the first set of her quarterfinal match against Petra Kvitova. With her Czech opponent leading 4-3 in the first set, Sharapova twisted her left ankle when serving in the eighth game. She limped to her chair and pulled out after speaking with her trainer. "I hit a serve and then landed awkwardly on my left ankle," said Sharapova, who went to a hospital for an MRI. "I felt a sharp pain and next thing I knew I was on the floor. It swelled up immediately and I knew there was no way I could continue."

Kvitova will now face fourth-ranked Vera Zvonareva of Russia, who defeated Maria Kirilenko6-3, 6-3, in Friday's semifinals. "Maria is a great player and a great fighter, and...

Kobe Bryant say play in Italy it's "very possible"

MILAN - Kobe Bryant said it's "very possible" he will play in Italy during the NBA lockout, adding the country is like home because he spent part of his childhood there. Virtus Bologna has made numerous contract offers to the Los Angeles Lakers star. Bryant discussed the offer with the Gazzetta dello Sport during a sponsor's appearance in Milan on Wednesday. "It's very possible. It would be a dream for me," Bryant said, according to the Gazzetta. "There's an opportunity that we've been discussing over the last few days. It's very possible and that's good news for me." Bryant later spoke to the crowd - in Italian - at the event in Milan. "I don't know what's going to happen over the next three or four weeks, but Italy has always been in my heart," Bryant said.

The NBA season usually begins in late October, but owners and players have failed to agree on a new labor deal. The two sides are at odds over how to...

Chicago fire wins and Marco Pappa make hattrick!

A hat trick from Marco Pappa helped the Chicago Fire earn a surprising 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday to keep their playoff hopes alive. Pappa scored twice in the opening half and added a third 15 minutes from time, as the Fire claimed only their second road win of the year. With the win, Chicago (36 points) sits just three points shy of the final wild card playoff spot, currently held by Red Bull New York (39 points).

It is just the third home loss of the season for Real Salt Lake, which has already clinched a playoff berth. It has lost two straight league matches after falling to D.C. United 4-1 on Saturday. Chicago continues to...

Michael Vick said there's a "100 percent" chance he starts!

PHILADELPHIA -- A badly bruised hand isn't going to keep Michael Vick off the field. Vick practiced Wednesday and said there's a "100 percent" chance he starts when the Philadelphia Eagles (1-2) host San Francisco (2-1) on Sunday. The star quarterback was initially diagnosed with a broken, non-throwing hand after getting hurt in a 29-16 loss to the New York Giants three days ago. But tests on Monday revealed he had a contusion on his right hand.

Vick again apologized for criticizing the officials and saying he takes too many late hits without getting the benefit of a roughing-the-passer penalty."My kids were killing me about that. That was a good one," Vick said. "I guess when you sit on the...

Wayne Simmonds isn't penalized by the NHL!

The NHL chose not to discipline Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds for his alleged homophobic slur because it could not "substantiate" that Simmonds hurled the epithet toward New York Rangers winger Sean Avery. After a hearing with Simmonds on Tuesday, NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell released a statement calling commentary about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation "absolutely unacceptable," but said there was not enough evidence to punish Simmonds. "We have looked into the allegations relating to...

Bayern Munich Win With Mancester City 2-0

MUNICH (AP) Mario Gomez scored twice in the first half as Bayern Munich weathered some early pressure before going on to beat Manchester City 2-0 in their Champions League match on Tuesday. Gomez struck in the 38th and 45th minutes, both times knocking in rebounds after saves from City goalkeeper Joe Hart. The victory left Bayern fully in control of Group A with two wins from two matches and six points. Napoli beat Villarreal 2-0 and has four points. City's expensively assembled side has one and Villarreal is without points.

The Blues were in trouble though and it was no surprise Bayern scored on their next attack. No surprise either Ribery was the...

Michael Vick Will Probably Start This Week!

It looks like we’ll get to play another exciting game of “How will Michael Vick get hurt this week?” this Sunday when the Eagles play the 49ers. That’s because according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Vick -- dealing with a badly-bruised non-throwing hand -- is likely to suit up this weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that...

'no big deal' Mark Sanchez calls broken nose!

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark Sanchez has no concerns about his broken nose - even if it means a few less magazine covers for now. The Jets quarterback and recent GQ cover boy suffered what the team called a "minor break" in his nose Sunday, but he has already been cleared to practice this week without limitations and play in New York's next game at Baltimore. "It feels a lot better now, and we'll just worry about it after the season," Sanchez said Tuesday during his weekly radio appearance on 1050 ESPN Radio. "It's no big deal." It was the first time Sanchez broke his nose and said it "felt weird for...

Rugby World Cup Canada 23 Vs Japan 23 Draw!

Coach John Kirwan spoke of his pride in Japan's performance after they came within a whisker of winning only their second match in Rugby World Cup history. The Brave Blossoms led Canada from the 24th minute until the 79th but the match at McLean Park on Tuesday ended 23-23 - only the third draw in RWC history. "I think the boys played their hearts out, I'm very proud of them," said Kirwan. "They did a good job today and a win would have been great but I think that we just have to keep working hard.

No sooner had Monro struck the ball, than he turned and headed for...

WWE Hell in Cell Alberto Del Rio!

This week's main event saw CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio going head-to-head as WWE Champion John Cena looked on from the announce desk. The Voice of the...

Bill Haas wound up winning a combined $11.44 million

ATLANTA -- Just call him Dollar Bill, even though he had no clue he was pulling off one of the biggest 11th-hour heists in sports history. After he had maneuvered his way through an excruciating series of improbable, head-spinning scenarios with other contenders, Bill Haas had no idea that, as he stood on the tee box opposite Hunter Mahan preparing for a playoff at the Tour Championship, there was a staggering $11.44 million up for grabs. "I don't want to sound ignorant, oblivious to the situation," he laughed. "But I wasn't really sure." Hey, for most of the day, neither were we. After a final round in which five different players at East Lake Golf Club were tabbed as the projected winner of the biggest bonus in golf, Haas was the last man on the property to grasp what was really on the table. But he was the one holding the chrome and bags of cash at the end.

It was hard to disregard the miracle that took place a few feet below Finchem's spot in the grandstand. With statistical pandemonium breaking loose, Haas saved...

Dzeko, Victory Against Bayern More Important than Money!

City’s second game in their debut Champions League campaign has taken them to the Allianz Arena, where they will face a Bayern Munich side that has won the European Cup on four occasions and reached the final only two seasons ago. It is a tie between a team playing its 151st game in the competition and one playing in its second, and the one which immediately caught the eye when the group stage draw was made last month and confirms City’s new-found status amongst Europe’s elite. And this, more than...

Valencia Vs Chelsea (UCL)

In the second round of UEFA Champions League group stage Valencia will host Chelsea which is one of the strongest European teams present. In the last four matches when these two teams clashed, Chelsea won two times (both times away) and two games ended as a draw. Both teams are playing good or solid in their national leagues with Valencia struggling a little bit more. Chelsea will look to put away Valencia in this battle and keep its momentum rolling. In this game goals could be flying all over the place, and there are many players that can take main role in this match as scorers.

Chelsea have never failed...

Said father Anthony, Lewis Hamilton management must do more!

Lewis Hamilton needs more support from his management team, according to the McLaren star's father Anthony. The 2008 world champion clashed with Ferrari's Felipe Massa during a frustrating weekend in Singapore in the latest of a number of high-profile incidents this season. Hamilton had been managed by his father since childhood before taking on Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment this year. Hamilton's father was instrumental in guiding Hamilton into Formula 1 but the two split in March after a rocky period. The two are now on good terms but Hamilton announced in March that he would join Fuller's stable of clients.

Hamilton clashed with...

Michael Vick Injury, Broken Hand!

PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick has a broken right hand, and it's uncertain when the Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback will return. Vick left Sunday's 29-16 loss to the New York Giants after getting hurt late in the third quarter. He started despite suffering a concussion in last Sunday's loss at Atlanta. "I don't know anything right now except my hand is broken," Vick said when asked if he could play against San Francisco next week. Coach Andy Reid said Vick would have a CT scan Monday.

Vick said in his postgame news conference "I was trying to protect myself". "Still didn't get a flag and that's pretty much been the story for...

Braun, Brewers wrap up 1st division title!

This season was built for him as chants of “We want Prince” continued. Now, he gets a chance to take Milwaukee to a point much farther than his first postseason appearance in 2008. Fielder homered to start the scoring and Ryan Braun hit a three-run, go-ahead shot in the eighth to lift the Brewers over the Florida Marlins 4-1 on Friday night to win the NL Central. Braun homered to end a 1-for-16 skid amid chants of “M-V-P.” He then pointed his bat in the air toward owner Mark Attanasio and the fans before rounding the bases.

The returns included 2009 AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum. Melvin said the Brewers were all-in, just liked they...