George Gorecki
TVSPORTSDAILY.COM

MLS Wrap-Up
Matches played on August 14-17, 2008

CD Chivas USA 2 : 2 Los Angeles Galaxy
The latest installment of the Superclasico matchup between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA lived up to its billing last Thursday at the Home Depot Center. The Galaxy scored early and late to salvage a 2:2 draw.

LA got on the board after just eight minutes. Chris Klein’s pass on the right flank sent Landon Donovan in all alone. Streaking past a defender, Donovan deposited a shot past the sprawled Zach Thornton.

Chivas, which was still trying to cover for missing and injured players, leveled the score just after halftime. Paulo Nagamura sent in a cross from the right wing that whizzed through the middle of the penalty area. Atiba Harris was in the right spot and drilled a shot just underneath the bar.

Chivas went 2:1 up in the 63rd minute, with Harris being the provider for Nagamura this time. After collecting a long pass, Harris made a slick move to get his defender off balance and slipped the ball to the sprinting Nagamura, who drove a shot past keeper Steve Cronin.

The Galaxy saved their best effort for last. With Chivas forced to play with 10 men after Jesse Marsch left the game injured in the 80th minute, LA ramped up the pressure and was rewarded in the second minute of stoppage time. Ante Jazic floated a high cross into the mixer, where Alan Gordon got to the ball first and headed home his fourth goal of the year.

Although the Galaxy was probably relieved to get something out of the game, it was a result that hardly helped either side to climb out of the morass that the Western Conference has become.

Columbus Crew 2 : 1 FC Dallas
The Columbus Crew took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference following a solid 2:1 win over FC Dallas last Saturday at Crew Stadium. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, as usual, was in the middle of things for the Crew offense.

The visitors, however, got on the board first in the 35th minute. Adrian Serioux made a strong dribbling run up the right side from midfield. When he reached the penalty area, he squared the ball for new striker Jeff Cunningham, who slotted past Will Hesmer. It was the 100th goal in Cunningham's MLS career, making him the fourth player to reach the century mark.

Columbus equalized in the 62nd minute. Alejandro Moreno looped a cross from the left side to the right side of the box for Schelotto, who headed the ball down for the onrushing Brian Carroll. The midfielder fired a shot past the diving Dario Sala for his first goal of the season.

Three minutes later, the Crew was at it again. Schelotto curled a tantalizing free kick from the left corner and Brad Evans nudged a header past the rooted Sala. Evans nearly bagged a second goal in the 78th minute, but was denied by the goalpost.

Sigi Schmid's work has paid off for the Crew, who has 34 points from 20 matches. In 2007, they had a total of 37 for the whole season. The question in Columbus is not whether they will make the playoffs, but how far they will go.

Chicago Fire 0 : 1 DC United
Brian McBride made his long-anticipated debut for the Chicago Fire when he came on at halftime in Chicago’s match versus DC United last Saturday at Toyota Park. McBride’s trademark hustle and work rate were on full display, but it was not enough to bring the Fire offense out of its torpor, and DC squeezed out a 1:0 win.

DC did a fine job of righting the ship following their disastrous 4:1 defeat at New York last week. Midfielder Fred showed his great opportunistic character when he slammed home a corner kick from Jaime Moreno in the 27th minute. The Fire defense was flat-footed, as the unmarked Fred had an easy time picking his spot to beat Jon Busch.

United showed plenty of discipline and resolve as they stifled a Fire attack that could muster just 13 shots, two of which required saves from new DC goalkeeper Louis Crayton. They played a smart game once they grabbed the lead and the Fire had few occasions to make the DC defense nervous.

DC moved into fourth place in the East, level on points with New York and trailing the third-place Fire by four. For their part, the Fire blew a chance to take over first place and top spot overall in MLS, as they continue to struggle on their home turf.

Houston Dynamo 4 : 3 Real Salt Lake
The Houston Dynamo vaulted into first place in the West after surviving a 4:3 top-of-the-table clash versus Real Salt Lake last Saturday at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo took control of the contest with three goals late in the first half to erase a 2:1 RSL lead.

Yura Movsisyan got RSL on the board after only three minutes, dribbling through the stationary Houston defenders and driving a shot past Pat Onstad.

Houston drew level 13 minutes later. Brad Davis played a pass through for Brain Mullan, who had gotten behind the Real defense. The flag stayed down and Mullan picked his spot to score his second goal of the year.

The visitors regained the lead in the 25th minute. After Onstad made a great save on Movsisyan in the box, the Dynamo got sloppy in their attempt to clear the ball. Javier Morales pounced and drilled a shot into the lower corner for his fourth goal.

Then the bottom fell out for RSL. In the 29th minute, Craig Waibel passed the ball into space on the right flank for Mullan, who dropped a pass for Brian Ching. The big striker made no mistake to knot the score at 2:2.

Ricardo Clark made it 3:2 ten minutes before the interval with a booming blast from 30 yards away that gave goalie Nick Rimando no chance. In the 42nd minute, Ching and Davis sliced up the RSL defense and a crafty pass by Ching freed Nate Jaqua, who slotted from short range to give Houston a 4:2 lead.

RSL made it a game in the 80th minute when Morales floated a pass towards the box for Robbie Findley, who headed the ball into the path of Kenny Deuchar, making a run on the right side. Deuchar found the far post for his third tally of the season.

Olympics Coverage

All times are Eastern Daylight Time and are subject to change.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Men's Volleyball Quarterfinal (LIVE); Women's Diving - Platform Competition

8 p.m.-Midnight — Track & Field - Gold Medal Finals: Men's 200-meter, Women's 400-meter Hurdles; Gymnastics Gala Exhibition; Women's Beach Volleyball Gold Medal Match (LIVE); Women's Diving - Platform Semifinal (LIVE); Cycling - BMX Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

12:35-2 a.m. — Women's Volleyball - Semifinal (LIVE); Women's Track & Field - Hammer Throw Gold Medal Final; Women's Beach Volleyball Bronze Medal Match

CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-2 a.m. — Softball Semifinal

5-8 p.m. — Boxing - 51kg, 75kg Quarterfinals

USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Men's Basketball Quarterfinal (LIVE); Canoeing Semifinals (LIVE); Women's Swimming - Marathon Gold Medal Final; Men's Water Polo

MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Softball Bronze Medal (LIVE); Men's Volleyball; Baseball - USA vs. Japan; Freestyle Wrestling 66kg, 74kg Gold Medal Finals; Table Tennis; Men's Handball Quarterfinal

OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. — Synchronized Swimming - Duet Gold Medal Final

TELEMUNDO, 2-6 a.m. — Men's Basketball Quarterfinal; Track & Field Gold Medal Finals; Men's Diving - Springboard Competition

8-10 a.m. — Men's Beach Volleyball Semifinal; Gymnastics - Individual Event Gold Medal Finals

Midnight-1 a.m. — TBA

UNIVERSAL HD — 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL, 2:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Men's Games

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Best of Women's & Men's Semifinals

Dawn Harper of the United States won the women's 100-meter hurdles at the Beijing Olympics. Harper won in a personal-best 12.54 seconds Tuesday after U.S. teammate Lolo Jones, who had a clear lead, was knocked off-balance when she hit the next-to-last hurdle. Jones had taken the lead and seemed to be pulling away when she hooked her right foot on the ninth hurdle and broke her stride, falling from first to seventh. The late blunder opened the door for Harper to win the U.S. track team's third gold medal of the Games. Australia's Sally McLennan got the silver medal in a photo finish; both she and Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep crossed in 12.64, but when the time was extended to thousandths of a second, it showed McLennan was faster. Jones, the world indoor champion who had the season-leading time going into the final, finished seventh in 12.72.

There was no controversy this time, no second-guessing. There wasn't even any first-guessing. Everybody in the National Indoor Stadium, from the coaches to casual observers, could see that Shawn Johnson was getting her gold. golden girl Nastia Liukin gave Johnson a hug and said: "Finally." Finally. Johnson finally has her Olympic gold medal. She is 16 years old. This is absurd, but who could argue? Johnson was not supposed to wait until her final event, the beam, to win gold. But there she was Tuesday, with one last chance to be the hero. Johnson had won two silver medals and was a disappointment to some people. But not to herself. Never to herself. "Those silvers mean more to me than anything ever could, and I wouldn't trade them in for a gold at any time," Johnson said after winning the beam. (Liukin won silver.)

Before he starts any gymnastics routine in competition, Jonathan Horton says a little prayer. Tuesday night's was a simple one. "Please don't let me die," Horton said. He was going onto the high bar and trying a "crazy" routine (his description) that he had performed, well, never. Not in practice or in competition. The reward? Horton won a silver medal, second to China's Zou Kai. "If I did the routine I did in team" competition, Horton said, "and I did it perfectly, I would have no chance to medal. ... But if I could do this, I could win a medal. I figured it was go big or go home." Over two days, Horton and coach Mark Williams added a couple of maneuvers to increase his all-important start value by 0.5 points. The main attraction was a release move called the Cassina, in honor of Italy's Igor Cassina.

One more for gold. One more before goodbye. Pushed to extra innings, the U.S. Olympic softball team scored four runs in the ninth inning and beat Japan 4-1 on Wednesday to move within one win of its fourth straight gold medal -- in the sport's farewell for now. Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer -- almost out of Fengtai Field -- in the ninth inning as the Americans extended their Olympic winning streak to 22.

Christine Ohuruogu of Britain has won the gold medal in the women's 400 meters at the Beijing Olympics. The reigning world champion was fourth coming into the last stretch Tuesday and hit the front near the finish line to win in 49.62 seconds. Shericka Williams of Jamaica took silver in 49.69 and Sanya Richards of the United States, the early pacesetter, faded to finish with bronze in 49.93. Richards was ahead, looking to write a successful closing chapter to a year of illness and setbacks, but was beaten badly over the last 80 meters by Ohuruogu and Williams.

Usain Bolt said yesterday he did not feel American Michael Johnson's 200 metres World and Olympic record would be under threat in today's final. The 21-year-old admitted he was beginning to feel the effects of his rigorous schedule and said he was not seriously thinking about attempting to break the record, though anything was possible. Bolt stands poised to become the first runner in 20 years to capture the Olympic sprint double. He won the 100 metres in world record time on Saturday and enters the 200 metres as the heavy favourite to win again. Yesterday, he cruised into the final by winning his semi-final in a time of 20.09 seconds, ahead of American Shawn Crawford (20.12) and Wallace Spearmon (20.14).

Matthias Steiner of Germany has won a battle of giants to claim Olympic gold in weightlifting's heaviest division. Steiner heaved a total of 461 kilograms (1016.3 pounds) in the men's super heavyweight category Tuesday, clinching the win with a clean and jerk of 258 kg (568.8 pounds). Russia's Evgeni Chigishev was second and world champion Viktors Scerbatihs of Latvia took the bronze.

Andrey Silnov of Russia has won the men's high jump at the Beijing Olympics. Silnov cleared 2.36 meters (7 feet, 8¾ inches) without a miss Tuesday to secure the gold, then failed three times at 2.42 (7-11¼). Britain's Germaine Mason picked up silver at 2.34 meters (7-8). Mason competed for Jamaica until 2006 and still holds the national record in the Caribbean nation. Former world indoors champion Yaroslav Rybakov got bronze for Russia at the same height. He lost to Mason on a countback.

The United States battled its way into the final of the Olympic women's water polo on Tuesday with a 9-8 victory over arch-rival Australia.

New Zealand windsurfer Tom Ashley won the gold medal in the men's RS:X class, while France's Julien Bontemps took the silver and Israel's Shahar Zubari the bronze.

Rashid Ramzi has won the 1,500 meters to give Bahrain its first-ever Olympic track and field gold medal.

A light heavyweight boxer from Tajikistan was disqualified for biting his opponent on the shoulder during their Olympic quarterfinal bout Tuesday night.

Reigning world champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia has won the gold medal in the men's discus throw at the Beijing Olympics.

Light-flyweight Zou Shiming and light-heavyweight Zhang Xiaoping won semifinal places on a wild night Tuesday to give China a tally of three Olympic boxing medals since they picked up their first in 2004.

The Mets got big hits with the bases loaded and their bullpen was outstanding, for a change. If they keep that up, they'll have a much better chance of hanging on in the NL East. Carlos Delgado hit a go-ahead double off the left-center fence to end New York's long stretch of bases-loaded futility, and the Mets broke loose in the eighth inning to rally past Atlanta 7-3 Tuesday night.

Ian Stewart enjoyed quite a homecoming Tuesday night. Stewart, who set season records in nearby Orange County for home runs (16) and RBIs (61) as a senior at La Quinta High five years ago, homered and drove in a career-high five runs, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 for their fourth straight victory. The loss was the second in eight games for the Dodgers, who dropped one game behind NL West-leading Arizona. Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday also homered for the Rockies, who are eight games back.

Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown, was resting comfortably Tuesday night after having triple bypass heart surgery. Yastrzemski, who turns 69 on Friday, had the operation at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent tests after experiencing chest pains in the morning, said his spokesman, Dick Gordon. "He just got out of surgery, had his triple bypass and is resting comfortably," Gordon said at about 8:30 p.m. "The operation was a success."

One night the Tampa Bay Rays play long ball. The next they rarely get the ball out of the infield and still beat the Los Angeles Angels. The surging Rays won for the ninth time in 11 games Tuesday night, using Willy Aybar's two-run single to break an eighth-inning tie in a 4-2 win over the Angels that gave Tampa Bay the best record in the American League. The AL East leader overcame a strong pitching performance by Los Angeles' Ervin Santana, who took a no-hit bid into the sixth and left with a 2-1 lead after allowing one run and four hits in seven innings.

Receiver Chris Henry is back with the Cincinnati Bengals because their owner has a soft spot for troubled players. Henry signed a two-year deal Tuesday with the team that let him go after he was arrested for the fifth time, a decision that seemed to mark a change in philosophy for owner Mike Brown. Instead, it was an aberration. The Bengals took him back at Brown's behest. Coach Marvin Lewis, who had no interest in bringing back the troubled receiver, said Brown wanted to give Henry yet another chance. "I obviously know that at the end of the day, that the owner has the final say-so on whether or not he wants to give a guy an opportunity or not," Lewis said, following an evening practice. "Mike has wanted to give Chris this opportunity, and asks that we do the best job that we can to try to prepare him and get him ready to play football."

In a court document filed with a Canadian court last month, former Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford asserted that Todd Bertuzzi acted in "direct disobedience" of Crawford's instructions prior to Bertuzzi's on-ice attack of Steve Moore in March 2004.

Joe Horn got his wish Tuesday when the Atlanta Falcons granted the receiver his release, his agent, Ralph Vitolo, said.

One year ago today: http://tvsportsdaily.com/article.php?story=20070820073830429

All times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19

Little League Baseball: Pool play, in South Williamsport, Pa., Venezuela vs. Tokyo (ESPN2, noon). Mill Creek, Wash., vs. Jeffersonville, Ind. (ESPN, 2 p.m.). Canada vs. Saudi Arabia (ESPN, 4 p.m.). Curacao vs. Guam (ESPN2, 6 p.m.). Lake Charles, La., vs. Hagerstown, Md. (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)

Olympics Coverage

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Women's Volleyball (LIVE); Track & Field; Women's Water Polo Semifinal

8 p.m.-Midnight — Track & Field Gold Medal Finals: Women's 400-meter, Women's 100-meter Hurdles; Men's 1500-meter, Men's High Jump, Men's Discus Throw; Gymnastics - Individual Event Gold Medal Finals: Men's Parallel Bars, Men's High Bar; Women's Balance Beam; Men's Beach Volleyball Semifinal (LIVE); Men's Diving - Springboard Gold Medal Final

12:35-2 a.m. — Men's Gymnastics - Trampoline Gold Medal Final; Men's Cycling - BMX Competition (LIVE)

CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-2 a.m. — Freestyle Wrestling 55kg, 60kg Competition; (LIVE) Table Tennis - Singles, First Round Competition (LIVE)

5-8 p.m. — Boxing 48kg, 60kg, 81kg Quarterfinals

USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Women's Basketball Quarterfinals (LIVE); Canoeing (LIVE); Women's Handball Quarterfinals; Men's Beach Volleyball Semifinal; Table Tennis Singles, First Round Competition; Women's Water Polo Semifinal; Cycling - Track Gold Medal Finals

MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men's Soccer Semifinals (LIVE); Freestyle Wrestling 55kg, 60kg Gold Medal Finals; Weightlifting - Super Heavyweight Gold Medal Final (LIVE); Baseball - USA vs. Taiwan; Women's Volleyball Quarterfinals

OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. — Synchronized Swimming Duet Competition; Equestrian - Individual Dressage Gold Medal Final

TELEMUNDO, 2-8 a.m. — Men's Soccer Semifinals (LIVE); Gymnastics - Individual Events Gold Medal Finals; Track & Field Gold Medal Finals; Men's Diving Springboard Semifinal; Women's Beach Volleyball Semifinal

8:30-11 a.m. — Men's Soccer - Semifinal (LIVE)

Midnight-1 a.m. — TBA

UNIVERSAL HD — 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL, 2:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Women's games

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Men's Semifinals

Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh knocked off Brazil in the semifinals on Tuesday to move within a step of becoming the first team to defend an Olympic beach volleyball title. May-Treanor and Walsh have not lost a match for a year and have never dropped a set at the Olympics. They are favorites to beat China's Tian Jia and Wang Jie in the final on Thursday. "They are perfect. Nobody is going to beat them," said Brazil's Renata Ribeiro, who lost to the U.S. duo 21-12, 21-14 with her partner Talita Antunes. May-Treanor and Walsh were on supercharged form in the semifinals, diving for digs, blocking strongly at the net and mixing up the pace and direction of their attacks. "We've accomplished one goal -- to get to the gold-medal match -- but we're not done yet. We want to get out there and kick butt against the Chinese on their home soil," said Walsh.

If the U.S. women's soccer team could encapsulate its entire Olympic tournament in one word, it'd be "comeback." After stumbling in the 16th minute and allowing Japan to score first, the U.S. embraced its short-term memory and quickly shook off the goal, charging ahead to a 4-2 victory in front of a crowd 50,137. The U.S. patiently probed the Japanese defense until forward Angela Hucles and defender Lori Chalupny connected on back-to-back goals in the 41st and 44th minutes. In the second half, the U.S. settled for gyroball-like "shot-crosses," as Heather O'Reilly's floater in the 70th minute and Hucles' second goal from Japan's end line left the Japanese defense undone. "There is a good leadership in the team," Chalupny said in a FIFA.com statement. "This kept us focused, we never became nervous and we believed that we were going to have a chance to come back. We use pressure as a motivation. We look forward to those pressure situations."

It was a long wait for Allyson Felix. It felt every bit as long for Muna Lee. Felix, Lee and American teammate Marshevet Hooker easily made it through the first round of 200-meter Olympic qualifying Tuesday morning by winning their heats. All three Jamaican sprinters -- Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart -- qualified as well, keeping alive the prospect of another America-Jamaica sprint showdown. The U.S. women hope the 200 will go much better than the 100 did Sunday, when Lee and two other Americans watched Jamaica go 1-2-3. The 200 quarterfinals were set for Tuesday night.

The United States battled its way into the Olympic women's water polo final on Tuesday with a 9-8 victory over arch-rival Australia. Brenda Villa scored a stunning goal in the last minute to set up a clash against the Netherlands, who defeated Hungary 8-7 in the other semifinal. "I wanted to start crying. It was a huge goal," said teammate Brittany Hayes. The U.S. team, which lost out to the Australians in the battle for gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, put their victory this time down to stamina.

Henry Cejudo, the 21-year-old wrestling prodigy who had wrestled in only one world-level senior tournament before Beijing, has won the Olympic gold medal in men's freestyle 55-kilogram wrestling. Cejudo, crying the moment the match ended and wrapping himself in an American flag, defeated Tomohiro Matsunaga of Japan 2-2 on tiebreaker and 3-0 in the best-of-three match. Cejudo was 31st in last year's world championships, his only prior tournament at this level. Cejudo, the son of undocumented Mexican aliens who bypassed a college career to try to become an Olympian, assures the United States of winning a freestyle wrestling gold for the ninth consecutive Olympics at which it has competed. "He's testament to the fighting spirit of America," his coach Mike Duroe said. "This means so much to him. Gold medals are the American dream."

Americans Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser are in the beach volleyball final four after beating Germany 21-13, 25-23. The reigning world champions and gold medal favorites beat Eric Koreng and David Klemperer on Monday. The Americans will play Georgia, the No. 15 seed, a shocking straight-sets winner over the Netherlands. After winning 21-19, 21-19, Jorge Terceiro leapt over the fence surrounding the court, and bounded through the stands to the top of the stadium, where he stood under the Georgian flag with his arms raised above his head. His teammate is Renato Gomes. Both Georgians are native Brazilians who obtained new passports so they could compete in the Olympics.

Ko Young-min hit a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth to put his team ahead for good and also scored an insurance run on Lee Yong-kyu's RBI single in the sixth to lead South Korea past defending champion Cuba 7-4 on Tuesday.

Sarah Hammer crashed out of the Olympic women's cycling points race Monday, falling after two racers clipped wheels in front of her and caused a pileup.

After finishing second in the all-around, team and floor events, Shawn Johnson finally stood atop the podium Tuesday as she won gold in balance beam.

Li Xiaopeng has dominated the parallel bars -- and the competition -- winning the sixth gold medal in gymnastics for the Chinese men in the Beijing Olympics.

The Dodgers addressed their offense for the stretch run by acquiring Manny Ramirez. Now it looks like they've done something about the pitching staff. The team had agreed to the terms of a deal with the Padres for veteran right-hander Greg Maddux, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday night because no announcement had been made. It's unclear what the Padres will receive in return for the 42-year-old Maddux. MLB.com reported on Monday night that the Padres would receive two players to be named later. The trade, which was first reported by the Los Angeles Times, was expected to be announced Tuesday.

CC Sabathia often talks about how much he likes to hit. He just hadn't done much at the plate with the Milwaukee Brewers until Monday night. Sabathia improved his perfect record with the Brewers, pitching another complete game in a 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros. He also hit a two-run single in a five-run fourth inning. "I like to hit, but I think since I've been here the more I hit, the worse I've been getting," said Sabathia, who was batting .160 (4-for-25) with the Brewers before Monday.

Kyle Orton was selected to be the Chicago Bears starting quarterback by coach Lovie Smith on Monday. Orton won the competition with Rex Grossman for the starting job. Orton, the fourth-year player from Purdue, will start Thursday's third preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers and the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

B.J. Upton slipped away from Tropicana Field without speaking to reporters, leaving others to answer questions about another baserunning gaffe that overshadowed a big Tampa Bay victory. The first-place Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-4 Monday night, but the postgame buzz was more about Upton getting caught jogging on the bases again instead of the AL East leaders improving to 5-2 against the team with the top record in the majors.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, who dislocated his left kneecap and was carted off the practice field earlier this month, is feeling much better and hopes to be ready when the No. 3 Trojans open the season at Virginia on Aug. 30. "I'm optimistic about it, we're ahead of schedule," Sanchez said after taking some drops, throwing some passes and doing a bit of light jogging Monday. "Everything today felt good. That's a good sign. If it were up to me, I'm playing. [But] I want to be ready for the whole season. It's a marathon, not a sprint." Sanchez, the projected starter for Southern California, was injured Aug. 8 after making a throw and landing awkwardly. He was taken for X-rays and an MRI, and team doctors said there is no ligament, cartilage or bone damage.

Steve Pearce hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Pirates beat the Mets 5-2, ending New York's six-game winning streak.

The NHL refuses to entertain compensation offers from a newly formed Russian hockey league for the signing of forward Alex Radulov while the player was under contract with the Nashville Predators.

One year ago today: http://tvsportsdaily.com/article.php?story=20070819074756262

All times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18

Little League Baseball: Pool play, in South Williamsport, Pa.: Mill Creek, Wash., vs. Hagerstown, Md. (ESPN2, noon); Guam vs. Mexico (ESPN, 1 p.m.); Rapid City, S.D., vs. Waipahu, Hawaii (ESPN2, 3 p.m.); Curacao vs. Italy (ESPN, 4 p.m.); Tampa vs. Shelton, Conn. (ESPN2, 6 p.m.)

Major League Baseball: Houston at Milwaukee (ESPN2, 8 p.m.)

NFL: Preseason, Cleveland at New York Giants (ESPN, 8 p.m.)

Olympics Coverage

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Men's Volleyball - USA vs. Japan (LIVE); Track & Field; Men's Diving - Springboard Competition; Men's Beach Volleyball

8 p.m.-Midnight — Gymnastics - Individual Event Gold Medal Finals: Men's Rings, Men's Vault and Women's Uneven Bars; Track & Field Gold Medal Finals: Men's Steeplechase, Men's 400-meter Hurdles, Men's Long Jump; Women's 800, Women's Discus Throw, Women's Pole Vault; Women's Beach Volleyball Semifinal (LIVE); Women's Gymnastics - Trampoline Gold Medal Final

12:35-2 a.m. — Men's Diving Springboard Semifinal; Men's Triathlon

CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-2 a.m. — Softball - USA vs. China (LIVE)

5-8 p.m. — Boxing 54kg, 57kg, 91kg-plus Competition

USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Men's Basketball - USA Game (LIVE); Men's Water Polo - USA vs. Germany (LIVE); Canoeing (LIVE); Women's Field Hockey - USA vs. Britain (LIVE); Men's Table Tennis - Team Gold Medal Final & Bronze Medal Final; Women's Table Tennis Singles Competition

MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men's Basketball - Argentina vs. Russia (LIVE); Women's Soccer Semifinals (LIVE); Baseball - USA vs. China; Cycling - Track Gold Medal Finals; Men's Handball - Germany vs. Denmark; Men's Weightlifting 105kg Competition; Men's Beach Volleyball

OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. — Equestrian - Team Jumping Final

TELEMUNDO, 2-6 a.m. — Gymnastics - Individual Event Gold Medal Finals; Women's Diving - Springboard Gold Medal Final; Track & Field Gold Medal Finals

8 a.m.-Noon — Women's Soccer Semifinal (LIVE); Men's Beach Volleyball; Boxing

Midnight-1 a.m. — TBA

UNIVERSAL HD — 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL, 2:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Men's games

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women's Semifinals

A confident crew of sprinters from Jamaica became the first nation in Olympic history to sweep the gold, silver and bronze in the event when Shelly-Ann Fraser finished in 10.78 seconds, followed by teammates Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, both at 10.98. “When I crossed the line and saw Sherone and Kerron there, that was the moment,” Fraser said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.” Among the Americans, Lauryn Williams came across fourth in 11.03, Muna Lee fifth in 11.07 and Torri Edwards eighth and last in 11.20. It was an odd race. Edwards, in lane six, moved slightly before the gun fired, and she and teammate Lee in lane five expected to hear the recall gun fired. It wasn’t. The race was allowed to go, and by the 80-meter mark it was apparent Jamaica would finish 1-2-3. U.S. officials filed a protest after the race, claiming a false start should have been called when Edwards moved. There is no recourse for rerunning an Olympic final, however. More to the point, the movement by Edwards did not seem to bother the Jamaicans, although Stewart said she thought the race should have been recalled.

The U.S. Olympic team put away Dirk Nowitzki and Germany in a hurry. Next up: the only team so far these Americans couldn't blow out. After destroying Germany 106-57 on Monday, the Americans (5-0) move on to a quarterfinal matchup Wednesday against Australia, the team that's provided them with their toughest test in China. The U.S. led by only seven points midway through the fourth quarter of an 87-76 exhibition victory in Shanghai two weeks ago over an Australian team that didn't have starting center Andrew Bogut of the Milwaukee Bucks. He was resting a sore right ankle. It's hard to imagine a repeat of that semi-Shanghai surprise with the way the U.S. has played in Beijing. "Nobody is going to beat them. No way, it's just not going to happen," Germany's Chris Kaman said.

Angela Hucles scored a goal in each half Monday to lead the United States to a 4-2 win over Japan and another Olympic final against Brazil. It will be the fourth straight Olympic final for the U.S., which beat Brazil 2-1 in extra time four years ago in Athens. The Americans have played in the Olympic gold medal match every time since women's football debuted at the 1996 Atlanta Games, missing the title only in 2000 in Sydney after a loss to Norway.

The American track team was in bad need of a comeback, and Angelo Taylor was the perfect person to provide it. Taylor, a once-troubled 29-year-old who was laying electrical wire 14 months ago, became the first 400-meter hurdler since Edwin Moses to win gold medals eight years apart Monday. He led the first sweep of the event since the U.S. did it in 1960 and lifted sagging American fortunes after a disappointing start to their Beijing Olympics. "We wanted to uplift the track team," Taylor said, "and bring home the sweep." Shoved to the fringes of the sport after pleading guilty in 2005 to charges of contributing to the delinquency of two underage girls, Taylor won the race in a personal-best time of 47.25 seconds to defeat teammates Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson.

Stephanie Brown Trafton of the United States has won the Olympic gold medal in the women's discus throw. "I came to the Bird's Nest to lay a golden egg, and that's what I did," Brown Trafton said. "I am surprised we haven't won more gold. But you know what? I hope this sets a trend." The 28-year-old Brown Trafton, from Galt, Calif., won the Olympic title Monday with a best mark of 64.74 meters (212 feet, 5 inches). Brown was third at the U.S. trials, but had the best throw by an American this season.

China's He Kexin won a tiebreaker over all-around champion Nastia Liukin of the United States for the uneven bars gold medal Monday at the Beijing Olympics. Both scored 16.725, but He got the nod because her execution marks were closer to a perfect 10 than Liukin's. Liukin would not criticize the scoring system that does not award dual gold medals. "It's nothing I can control, and honestly, I can say it has been very fair to me, and I got the biggest gold medal of them all," said Liukin, winner of the women's all-around gymnastics gold. He, at the center of an age-eligibility controversy throughout the games, was fast and furious on the bars. Her twists and flips went by in the blink of an eye, and she won by about that short a margin.

The U.S. won the gold medal Monday in Olympic equestrian team jumping, knocking out Canada, which took silver. Norway won the bronze. The U.S. got clear rounds from their first three riders in the jump-off. One Canadian rider knocked down a fence, and since Canada only had three riders to the Americans' four, that clinched the U.S. gold. The U.S. also won team jumping in 2004 in Athens and has two returning combinations on the 2008 team, McLain Ward on Sapphire and Beezie Madden on Authentic. Ian Millar, riding in his ninth Olympics, forced the jump-off with a clear round on In Style. The team silver is Millar's first Olympic medal.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told a Boston radio station Monday that the foot injury that kept him out of Sunday's preseason game against the Buccaneers is a different injury than the one that he played with during last season's playoffs and Super Bowl. "Same side of the body, and same leg, but not the same injury," Brady told The Dennis and Callahan Morning Show on WEEI Radio in Boston. The defending AFC champions sputtered with backup Matt Cassel running the show in a 27-10 loss on Sunday night in Tampa Bay. Asked if Brady would have played had it been a regular-season game, coach Bill Belichick said: "Well, it's not a regular-season game."

Virginia Tech suspended receiver Zach Luckett indefinitely Monday after being arrested for the second time Sunday for drunken driving. Coach Frank Beamer had no further comment beyond announcing the suspension of the 6-foot-3, 212-pound redshirt sophomore. Luckett, 20, was arrested Sunday and charged with driving under the influence and operating with a revoked license. It is his second time he has been charged with drunken driving.

For the first time since 2004, someone other than Roger Federer is the No. 1-ranked player in men's tennis. Rafael Nadal, winner of two Grand Slams and the Olympic gold medal this year, officially dethroned Federer as the top player on the ATP Tour on Monday. "Nowhere in my best dreams I can imagine something like what I did this year," Nadal said after winning the gold medal in Beijing. "I am playing an unbelievable season, no doubt. I have to be very happy for everything ... The feeling for sure is very happy for being No. 1, but the feeling doesn't change too much because the last years I did very well too. It is a satisfaction ... I want to enjoy these two days probably, but later I have to be focused on New York. [for the U.S. Open]."

Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby and 1980's champion 3-year-old filly, has died in Virginia at age 31. Genuine Risk died Monday morning at owner Bert and Diana Firestone's Newstead Farm in Upperville, Va., according to a release the Firestones issued Monday. "Genuine Risk passed away peacefully early this morning shortly after being turned out in her paddock," the release said. "Genuine Risk was an amazing horse with tremendous heart that lived a life befitting a champion," Bert and Diana Firestone said in a statement. "We are truly blessed that she was a part of our life, and we are deeply saddened by her passing."

Carl Edwards completed a weekend sweep at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, beating NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Kyle Busch off pit road on their last stops.

An MRI revealed that Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson suffered a sprained medial collateral knee ligament during Minnesota's 23-15 victory over the Ravens on Saturday night, according to a source.

Former NBA player Shawn Kemp has agreed to play for an Italian team next season.

One year ago today: http://tvsportsdaily.com/article.php?story=20070818045857674

All times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17

Bull riding: PBR World Cup (Versus, 9 p.m., same-day tape).

Golf: PGA European Tour, SAS Masters, third round, final round (The Golf Channel, 8 a.m., same-day tape). Nationwide Tour, Xerox Classic, final round (ESPN, 2 p.m.). PGA Tour, Wyndham Championship, final round (CBS, 3 p.m.). Champions Tour, Jeld-Wen Tradition, final round (The Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.). LPGA, Canadian Women's Open, final round (The Golf Channel, 9 p.m., same-day tape).

Little League World Series: Pool play (ESPN Classic, noon; ESPN2, 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; ABC, 3:30 p.m.).

Major League Baseball: Chicago Cubs at Florida (WGN, 1 p.m.). Milwaukee at Los Angeles Dodgers (TBS, 4 p.m.). Philadelphia at San Diego (ESPN, 8 p.m.).

Motor sports: NASCAR Sprint Cup, 3M Performance 400 (ESPN, 2 p.m.). MotoGP World Championship, Grand Prix of the Czech Republic, at Brno (CBS, 2 p.m., same-day tape). MotoGP 250, Grand Prix of the Czech Republic, at Brno (Speed Channel, 2 p.m., same-day tape). AMA Supersport/Superbike, at Danville, Va., (Speed Channel, 5 p.m., same-day tape).

Tennis: ATP Tour, Legg Mason Classic, championship match (ESPN2, 3 p.m.).

Olympics Coverage

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women's Basketball - USA vs. New Zealand (LIVE); Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal; Women's Volleyball - USA vs. Poland; Cycling - Track Gold Medal Finals; Women's Table Tennis - Team Gold Medal Final; Equestrian - Team Jumping Competition; Rowing - Gold Medal Finals

7 p.m.-Midnight — Gymnastics - Individual Event Gold Medal Finals: Men's Floor, Men's Pommel Horse, Women's Floor, Women's Vault; Track & Field Gold Medal Finals: Women's 100 and Steeplechase; Women's Diving - Springboard Gold Medal Final; Rowing - Eights Gold Medal Finals

12:35-2 a.m. — Track & Field Gold Medal Finals: Men's 10K and Women's Triple Jump; Men's Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal; Women's Triathlon

CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-2 a.m. — Women's Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal; Women's Weightlifting - Super Heavyweight Competition

3-7 p.m. — Boxing 64kg, 69kg, 91kg Quarterfinals

USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. — Women's Beach Volleyball; Men's Tennis - Singles Gold Medal Final (LIVE); Women's Tennis - Doubles Gold Medal Final (LIVE); Cycling - Track Gold Medal Finals; Women's Handball - Russia vs. Germany; Men's Table Tennis - Team Bronze Playoff

MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Softball - USA vs. Netherlands (LIVE); Women's Wrestling 63kg, 72kg Gold Medal Finals; Women's Table Tennis - Team Bronze; Badminton - Mixed Doubles Gold Medal Final; Men's Fencing - Team Sabre Gold Medal Final; Men's Badminton - Singles Gold Medal Final; Men's Weightlifting 94kg Competition; Women's Basketball - Australia vs. Russia; Women's Volleyball - Italy vs. Brazil; Women's Water Polo Quarterfinal

TELEMUNDO, 4 a.m.-2 p.m. — Swimming - Gold Medal Finals; Women's Volleyball; Women's Diving - Springboard Semifinal; Track & Field Gold Medal Finals; Women's Beach Volleyball; Baseball; Boxing; Gymnastics - Trampoline Competition

6-7:30 p.m. — Women's Beach Volleyball

Midnight-1 a.m. — TBA

UNIVERSAL HD — 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL, 2:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Women's games

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Best of Men's & Women's games

Cheering from the pool deck, Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games on Sunday to become the grandest of Olympic champions. Jason Lezak held on to the lead Phelps gave him, anchoring the United States to a world record in the 400-meter medley relay against an Australian team that did its best to spoil history. But Phelps, with a big hand from three teammates, would not be denied. He eclipsed Mark Spitz's seven-gold performance at the 1972 Munich Games, an iconic performance that was surpassed by a swimmer fitting of this generation: a 23-year-old from Baltimore who loves hip-hop music, texting with his buddies and wearing his cap backward. "I don't even know what to feel right now," Phelps said. "There's so much emotion going through my head and so much excitement. I kind of just want to see my mom."

Imagine if he had really tried. Pounding his chest, turning up the palms of his outstretched arms, mugging for the cameras before he even crossed the finish line, Usain Bolt rewrote the record books again and captured his first Olympic medal Saturday, running the 100-meter dash in a stunning 9.69 seconds. His left shoe was untied when he crossed the finish line. Not that it mattered much. He could've walked across. It was a blowout, a rout, no contest, as the 21-year-old Jamaican took a huge lead halfway through the race and finished upright, looking to his right to find not a challenger but instead of bunch of photographers recording history. "It wasn't planned," the newly crowned "World's Fastest Man" said of his running celebration. "My aim was to come out and win. When I saw the time, I'm celebrating. I'm happy." He broke his own record, set in May in New York, by .03 second and became the first sprinter to set the world record in the Olympics since Donovan Bailey ran 9.84 at the 1996 Atlanta Games. "No one will get near it," fellow Jamaican Michael Frater, the sixth-place finisher, said of Bolt's record.

Athens gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor are in the beach volleyball semifinals, beating Brazilians Ana Paula and Larissa 21-18, 21-15 on Sunday for their 106th consecutive victory. A victory by Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs later Sunday would give the United States half of the final four. Larissa and Ana Paula were forced together when Larrisa's regular teammate, Julianna, injured her anterior cruciate ligament and pulled out on the eve of the Olympics. The two had never even practiced together until the morning of their first match.

Venus and Serena Williams teamed up to win the Olympic doubles final Sunday, beating Spanish duo Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-0. The American sisters shrieked in unison when Ruano Pascual sent the championship point long. Then they jumped for joy and hugged. "I'm so excited, I can't even speak," said Venus, who has already won seven doubles Grand Slams and a gold medal in Sydney alongside her sister. But, winning as a family never grows old. "To share this kind of moment with your sister," she said, gives her "chill bumps." The win improved the sisters' Olympic record to 10-0. They didn't enter the doubles competition in Athens four years ago because Serena was hurt.

Double-faults have long been a problem for Elena Dementieva. In the Olympic final, they were her friend. Taking advantage of 17 double-faults by fellow Russian Dinara Safina, Dementieva won the singles gold medal in women's tennis Sunday at the Olympics, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

American veteran Dara Torres, who capped her improbable comeback with two more silver medals, missing gold by one hundredth of a second in the 50 freestyle. The 41-year-old Torres, a five-time Olympian and the oldest American swimmer ever, also anchored the American women to a runner-up finish in the 400 medley relay. She got silver in all three of her races in Beijing, giving her 12 medals in a remarkable career that began at the 1984 Los Angeles Games -- a year before Michael Phelps was even born. Surely this is the end. Then again, never count Torres out -- she'll only be 45 for the London Games.

Four down, four to go. The U.S. men's Olympic team is halfway back to the top of the basketball world. And not even the world champions -- on paper anyway -- could give the Americans a game. Unleashing a lethal 3-point barrage for the first time in Beijing, the Americans turned the marquee matchup of the preliminary round into another romp, beating Spain 119-82 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in their group. LeBron James scored 18 points for the United States (4-0), which hit seven of its first 10 attempts from behind the arc after making only 29 percent in its first three games. They finished at 48 percent (12-of-25), an almost unfair total for a team with unmatched athleticism. "We shot 45 percent from the 3 and we shot close to 80 from the free throw line, so that's a plus if we can do that," James said. "We know we're going to defend, we know we're going to get fast break points, but when we can shoot the ball from the outside like that and shoot free throws well it's going to be tough to beat us." Every U.S. player scored -- even Jason Kidd for the first time in Beijing -- as the Americans turned the matchup of unbeatens into their easiest victory yet. Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony each finished with 16 points.

Rafael Nadal won a gold medal in Olympic tennis by beating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the final of men's singles. Nadal overcame two set points in the second set, held every service game and won 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 Sunday. The gold medal was the first ever for Spain in Olympic tennis. Nadal was already assured of taking over the No. 1 ranking Monday for the first time, ending Roger Federer's reign after 4½ years. Nadal has won 38 of his past 39 matches, including victories over Federer in the finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.

Super heavyweight Jang Mi-ran has broken three world records to claim South Korea's second weightlifting gold in Beijing and the unofficial title of the world's strongest woman.

Florida Marlins closer Kevin Gregg got a quick shot at redemption. One night after surrendering a game-winning home run, Gregg pitched a scoreless ninth to help the Marlins snap the Chicago Cubs' nine-game road winning streak with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.

By the time Georgia was done demolishing Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, it was apparent the Bulldogs were well on their way to being No. 1 -- to start the 2008 college football season. Seeking its first national championship in 28 years, Georgia is on top of The Associated Press preseason Top 25 for the first time. The Bulldogs received 22 first-place votes and 1,528 points from a panel of 65 media members in the poll released Saturday. "To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said in a telephone interview with the AP.

The Los Angeles Angels are relentless, especially when handed extra opportunities. John Lackey earned his fourth straight win, Francisco Rodriguez tied his team record of 47 saves and the Angels took advantage of four Cleveland errors to defeat the Indians 4-3 Saturday. Lackey (10-2) pitched six innings to remain unbeaten in his last six starts. The Angels added to baseball's best record and avoided their first three-game losing streak since June.

Braves pitcher Tom Glavine is out for the season, and his illustrious career could be over if he needs major surgery on his injured left elbow. The 42-year-old Glavine still hopes to return next year -- unless he needs elbow ligament replacement surgery. A 300-game winner, Glavine said Saturday he will be examined by Dr. James Andrews next week in Alabama. Glavine, placed on the disabled list Friday with a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, plans to have surgery to repair the tendon.

Two Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series cars -- the Nos. 18 and 20 -- could have sanctions handed down against them, NASCAR officials told the Charlotte Observer late Saturday. The JGR teams -- which have dominated the series for much of the season -- had attempted to alter the outcome of a chassis dyno test. The No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas have combined for 13 wins in 25 races. NASCAR did tests after Saturday's Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway on the chassis dynamometer, which measures rear-wheel horsepower, of several cars. Officials have administered this test several times during the season. NASCAR officials found magnets on the accelerator pedals of the two Gibbs Toyotas, the Observer reported. Several sources said the magnets might keep the pedals from being fully depressed, which would limit the engines' output and distort data.

The Portland Trail Blazers got some good news Thursday when they found out guard Brandon Roy likely will be out for only one to two months after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Tarvaris Jackson left with a knee injury in the first quarter of Saturday night's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, ruining an otherwise productive night for the Vikings quarterback in Minnesota's 23-15 victory.

Elena Delle Donne, who was the top-rated women's basketball player in the 2008 recruiting class, has decided not to attend Connecticut, the school announced Saturday.

One year ago today: http://tvsportsdaily.com/article.php?story=20070817064711413

All times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

Bull riding: PBR World Cup, at Chihuahua, Mexico (Versus, 9 p.m.).

Golf: PGA European Tour, SAS Masters, third round (The Golf Channel, 8 a.m., same-day tape)., third round (The Golf Channel, 1 p.m.). PGA Tour, Wyndham Championship, third round (CBS, 3 p.m.). Champions Tour, Jeld-Wen Tradition, third round (The Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.). LPGA, Canadian Women's Open, third round, at Ottawa (The Golf Channel, 9 p.m., same-day tape).

Little League World Series: Pool play (ESPN, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; ABC, 3:30 p.m.).

Major League Baseball: Regional coverage, Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland, Chicago White Sox at Oakland, or Seattle at Minnesota (Fox, 3:30 p.m.). Chicago Cubs at Florida (WGN, 7 p.m.).

Motor sports: NASCAR Nationwide Series, Carfax 250 (pole qualifying, Speed Channel, 10:30 a.m.; race, ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.). NASCAR Sprint Cup, 3M Performance 400, practice (Speed Channel, 12:30 p.m.). Championship Off Road Racing, at Pomona, Calif. (Speed Channel, 5 p.m.). NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series, Toyo Tires Nationals, qualifying, at Reading, Pa. (ESPN2, 6 p.m., same-day tape).

Tennis: ATP Tour, Legg Mason Classic, semifinals (ESPN2, 1 p.m.).

Olypics Coverage

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. — Men's Basketball - USA vs. Spain (LIVE); Track & Field; Men's & Women's Gymnastics - Trampoline Competition; Beach Volleyball; Women's Diving - Springboard Semifinals; Men's Water Polo - USA vs. Croatia; Rowing - Gold Medal Finals; Cycling - Track Gold Medal Final; Women's Badminton - Singles Gold Medal Finals

7:30 p.m.-Midnight — Swimming (LIVE): Gold Medal Finals: Men's 4x100-meter Medley Relay, Men's 1500-meter Freestyle, Women's 50m Freestyle, Women's 4x100-meter Medley Relay; Track & Field - Women's Marathon (LIVE), Women's 100-meter Competition, Men's 100-meter, Women's Heptathlon and Women's Shot Put Final

12:30-2 a.m. — Women's Beach Volleyball - USA Match; Women's Track & Field - 800-meter Semifinals

CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-4:30 a.m. — Softball - USA vs. Taiwan (LIVE); Boxing 51kg, 75kg Competition (LIVE)

5-8 p.m. — Boxing 48kg, 75kg Competition

USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. — Women's Tennis - Singles Gold Medal Final (LIVE) and Singles Bronze Medal Match; Track & Field - Men's 20k Walk; Men's Tennis - Doubles Gold Medal Final and Men's Singles Bronze Medal Match; Women's Field Hockey - USA vs. New Zealand; Cycling - Track Gold Medal Finals; Men's Table Tennis Team Semifinals

MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men's Soccer Quarterfinals (LIVE); Baseball - USA vs. Canada; Women's Wrestling - 48kg, 55kg Gold Medal Finals (LIVE); Beach Volleyball; Men's Badminton - Doubles Gold Medal Final; Equestrian - Individual Dressage

TELEMUNDO, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. — Men's Soccer Quarterfinals (LIVE); Track & Field - Gold Medal Finals; Swimming - Gold Medal Finals; Men's Basketball; Women's Diving - Springboard Competition; Beach Volleyball; Baseball; Boxing

6-7:30 p.m. — Men's Volleyball

Midnight-1 a.m. — TBA

UNIVERSAL HD — 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL, 2:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Men's games

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Men's games

His Olympics looking lost, Michael Phelps decided to flap those gangly arms one more time. Milorad Cavic, inches from spoiling it all, glided along just under the surface, convinced he had won gold. But it didn't matter who was fastest. Just first. Phelps swam into history with a magnificent finish Saturday, tying Mark Spitz with his seventh gold medal by the narrowest of margins in the 100-meter butterfly. One-hundredth of a second, the time it takes lightning to strike the ground.

Dara Torres, the 41-year-old mom swimming in her American-record fifth Olympics, will have the top starting position for the finals of the 50-meter freestyle after posting the fastest time in Saturday's semifinal heats. Torres' time of 24.27 was the sixth-fastest this year, and 0.15 better than anyone else. World record-holder Lisbeth Trickett of Australia also advanced to the finals, as did American Kara Lynn Joyce. "I looked and I saw that I was first," said Torres, who won bronze in the 50 in Sydney eight years ago. "That's a little more pressure, and I'm old enough to be able to handle it."

U.S. men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon, who has been away from the team since the stabbing death of his father-in-law, Todd Bachman, a week ago, returned Saturday and guided the team to a victory over China.

The United States' most significant men's water polo victory in two decades might not mean anything. Tony Azevedo scored three goals and the Americans used stifling defense to upset world No. 1 Croatia 7-5 in Olympic preliminary play Saturday. The victory, the most surprising of the week at Yingdong Natatorium, could be meaningless if the U.S. doesn't beat Germany on Monday. But if the Americans win, they would earn a quarterfinal spot and would have an outside shot at advancing directly to the semifinals.

A Swedish wrestler was disqualified and stripped of his bronze medal Saturday for dropping his medal in protest after a disputed loss at the Beijing Olympics. Ara Abrahamian was punished by the International Olympic Committee for violating the spirit of fair play during the medal ceremony, becoming the fourth athlete kicked out of the games and bringing the number of medals removed to three. Abrahamian became incensed when a disputed penalty call decided his semifinal match against Italian Andrea Minguzzi, who went on to win the gold medal in the Greco-Roman 84-kilogram division Thursday. During the medal ceremony, Abrahamian -- who also lost a 2004 Olympic semifinal match on a disputed call -- took the bronze from around his neck and, angrily, dropped it on the mat as he walked away. He did not take part in the rest of the medal ceremony.

This is where Lauryn Williams excels. Forget about run-of-the-mill, one-day track meets: Give Williams a global stage and rounds to race, and watch out. The U.S. sprinter began her bid for an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters by coasting to victory in her first-round heat Saturday morning, when many of the 91,000 seats were empty at Bird's Nest stadium.

James Blake could shrug off the three match points he failed to convert, and even the misfire on an easy forehand that would have given him a berth in the Olympic final. What stuck in his craw was the notion his opponent didn't play fair. Blake came up one shot short Friday, losing in the semifinal to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 4-6, 7-5, 11-9. Afterward he accused Gonzalez of failing to fess up on a disputed point two games before the finish. "I've spoken all week about how much I've enjoyed the Olympic experience, how much I love the spirit of it," Blake said. "That's a disappointing way to exit the tournament, when you not only lose the match, but you lose a little faith in your fellow competitor." Actually, the No. 8-seeded Blake remains in the tournament. A first-time Olympian at 28, he'll play for a bronze Saturday as the last hope for a U.S. medal in men's or women's singles.

Roger Federer bounced back from his dismal singles defeat to sweep into the finals of the Olympic doubles on Friday with a stunning victory over the top-seeded Bryan brothers from the United States.

Far ahead halfway through his 100-meter Olympic quarterfinal, Usain Bolt casually swiveled his head to his right, to his left, then back to his right. Never hurts to check. He crossed in 9.92 seconds, the fastest dash ever run in China and a time that would have earned a medal at all but two previous Summer Games. "I just ran the first 50 meters, then I looked around to make sure I was safe, and I shut it off," Bolt said last night. "I'm ready for my best." Bolt, his Jamaican teammate Asafa Powell, and US record-holder Tyson Gay - the reigning world champion who hadn't raced in 1 1/2 months because of a left leg injury - all advanced without a hitch through two 100 heats yesterday.

Jessica Mendoza hit her third homer in two days and Jennie Finch pitched five shutout innings as the U.S. women's softball team kept rolling with a 7-0 win over Taiwan to run its Olympic winning streak to 19. The Americans (5-0) recorded their fourth shutout in five games and needed just five innings Saturday to beat Taiwan (1-4), which hasn't defeated the U.S. in a major competition since 1982. Mendoza's homer leading off the third ignited a five-run outburst for the U.S. team, which has outscored its opponents 36-1 so far and allowed just four hits in 29 innings.

Daryle Ward probably wasn't the most likely guy to pick up a bat as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning with Chicago trailing by two runs. Even more unlikely was breaking out of his 0-for-13 slump with a game-winning homer. Ward connected on an 0-1 pitch off Marlins closer Kevin Gregg, driving it over the right-field wall for a three-run shot and helping the Cubs rally to beat the Florida Marlins 6-5 on Friday night for their ninth straight road victory.

Although Jamie Moyer and Greg Maddux have combined to appear in 1,366 major league games, they have faced each other just twice. That second meeting was one for the aged. Moyer outpitched fellow 40-something Maddux for seven innings Friday night, Pat Burrell homered and the Philadelphia Phillies broke a four-game skid with a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres.

The slow, drawn-out negotiations between Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls took a turn toward closure Friday night when the free-agent guard said he doesn't think he'll be a Bull next season. "I guess it's safe to say I've played my last game in a Bulls uniform," Gordon said. Gordon, who has led the Bulls in scoring the past three seasons, said his agent, Raymond Brothers, has been speaking with other teams about sign-and-trade possibilities. "I'm pretty optimistic it'll happen," said Gordon, who averaged 18.6 points last season. "It's very likely."

Matt Garza slammed the rosin bag to the ground and kicked the dirt on the mound. The Tampa Bay right-hander was angry at himself -- not the scorekeeper -- after Garza's bid for the first no-hitter in Rays history ended on a debatable call after his two-strike pitch with two outs in the sixth inning of a 7-0 victory over the slumping Texas Rangers.

Nobody could touch Brian Vickers on Friday in NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Michigan International Speedway. "It was there from the first lap, the first turn," Vickers said after his lap of 188.536 mph put the Red Bull Racing driver on the pole for Sunday's 3M Performance 400. "We tried some things during practice that didn't work at all," he added. "So we went back to where we were and I think that's one of the best qualifying cars I've ever had. It was a heck of a lap.

Baltimore Ravens franchise linebacker-defensive end Terrell Suggs plans to end his holdout over the weekend and will report to the team Sunday, a source confirmed Friday. Suggs will sign an $8.5 million franchise tender Sunday, and he's already talked to the team about getting ready to play for the Ravens' third preseason game, against the St. Louis Rams next week. Suggs has agreed to play this season at the $8.5 million tender and won't ask for any condition in the deal that will prevent the Ravens from franchising him next season. He is scheduled to be a free agent after the season.

The Green Bay Packers' proposed $20 million marketing deal for Brett Favre included a merchandise line, autographs, personal appearances and even a blog, according to a report in The Sporting News' online newsletter Friday.

The New York Yankees have fired two scouts under investigation in a probe of possible kickbacks from contracts with Latin American players, The Associated Press has learned.

After drawing interest from a few top contenders, including the NBA's new champions in Boston, Michael Finley has elected to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs.

A year ago today: http://tvsportsdaily.com/article.php?story=20070816062604494

George Gorecki
TVSPORTSDAILY.COM

MLS is currently in the middle of its summer transfer window, a time when clubs fine-tune their rosters for the stretch run. Teams with playoff aspirations make the moves that they think will put them over the top. Over the last couple of weeks, US National Team players Josh Wolff, Brian McBride, Pat Noonan, Eddie Lewis and Corey Gibbs are back in the league and the path they have taken to land at their current clubs is straightforward in some cases and very complicated in others. MLS’s procedures that MLS lack common sense and make player transfers needlessly complex.

Everywhere else in the soccer world, player acquisitions occur in an uncomplicated manner. When a player switches clubs, a deal is struck between the clubs to determine compensation for the transfer, usually in the form of cash. The process becomes even simpler when a player is out of contract. The player can seek a new club and his old club receives no compensation.

Player transfers in MLS don’t work this way and the league’s single-entity system is the fundamental reason why. Because of single-entity, all player salaries are paid by the league through a central fund, rather than by the individual clubs. Technically speaking, all MLS players are employees of the league and once under contract with MLS, the league assigns them to one of its clubs. In the case of Americans who return to MLS after playing abroad, their re-entry is governed by allocation rules and this is where things get sticky.

When a player leaves MLS and goes to play in a foreign league, his former MLS club retains his rights in the event that he returns within a two-year period. This is a perfectly sensible rule when a player who is still under contract transfers to a foreign club. Because MLS receives most of the transfer fee, the club is left hanging to find a worthy replacement. Should that player return fairly soon, he simply goes back to the club that he left. The rule doesn’t make much sense, however, if the player left MLS after his contract expired. If MLS could not or chose not to keep him in the league, the player should be able to negotiate a deal that allows him to join whichever club has the necessary salary cap space to accommodate him.

Players who have been out of MLS for more than two years are subject to the allocation process upon their return. MLS determines the allocation order by reversing the standings from a certain date onwards. This allows the weakest teams to have first crack at obtaining a returning player. The system’s biggest flaw is that the allocation order may not reflect which teams are truly the weakest at the time that a player becomes available. The San Jose Earthquakes were at the top of the allocation list to start the 2008 season because of their status as an expansion club. They were followed by Toronto FC, who had the worst record in MLS in 2007. But the team is in the mix for a playoff spot for 2008, so their placement so high on the allocation list is questionable.

This system ensures parity throughout the league and prevents any club from loading up on the best players. On the surface, this sounds reasonable. But the reality is that MLS already has an annual draft and a salary cap, both of which are effective methods in keeping teams on equal footing.

Many cynical fans believe that MLS makes up the rules as it goes along when it comes to placing players with certain clubs. FC Dallas was at the top of the allocation list in 2005 when Landon Donovan made an abrupt return to MLS after a failed second attempt at establishing himself in the German Bundesliga. Donovan, however, preferred to play for Los Angeles, and a deal was hastily arranged between the clubs. The Galaxy sent striker Carlos Ruiz to Dallas for the rights to Donovan. It was never disclosed whether Dallas might have preferred Donovan on their team instead of Ruiz, leading to conspiracy theories that MLS forced Dallas to accept Ruiz in order to allow Donovan to wind up in Los Angeles.

Taking a closer look at the cases of the US National Team players returning to MLS this season reveals the shortcomings of the allocation system.

Josh Wolff: The striker transferred to 1860 Munich of the 2nd Division of the German Bundesliga in 2006. After spending most of his time playing in a lees-than-preferred position on the wing, Wolff decided that it was a good time to return to MLS. The Kansas City Wizards retained Wolff’s MLS rights and because he was amenable to a return to the Wizards, his transfer was completed without any difficulty.

Brian McBride: One of the most prolific strikers in US soccer history, McBride enjoyed three separate stints in England after beginning his MLS career with the Columbus Crew. In between the time spent at Preston North End and Everton, McBride returned to the Crew. But he left for good in 2004 when Fulham signed him. McBride quickly became a fan favorite at Craven Cottage, ascending to the position of captain. He made a heroic comeback last spring from a serious injury in the fall of 2007 to help Fulham win their battle to stave off relegation. In June, McBride declared his intention to finish out his career in MLS and was especially keen on playing in Chicago. The Chicago area is home to McBride and his family.

Because he had been away from MLS for more than two years, his return to MLS would be governed by the allocation system. Toronto FC was at the top of the allocation list when McBride became available, which meant that Chicago and Toronto would have to work out a deal in order for McBride to suit up for the Fire. The negotiations hit a logjam after weeks of proposals and counterproposals. Toronto reportedly was asking the Fire to give up young starters like Chris Rolfe and Justin Mapp and the Fire was unwilling to part with any core players. MLS Commissioner Don Garber gave the clubs a thinly veiled ultimatum to get the deal completed or his office would get involved. “The league doesn’t want to get involved. I hope we won’t get involved. I hope common sense prevails," Garber said at a press conference in New York in July. "Hopefully [Toronto] and Chicago realize it’s in their mutual best interest and the best interest of our fans to have Brian in the league." This type of rhetoric only feeds the fire of the conspiracy theorists who believe that MLS headquarters makes up the rules as they go along. The Fire eventually sent Chad Barrett to Toronto, along with a draft pick and future considerations.

All times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15

Boxing: Tony Thompson vs. Ishmail Arvin, at Washington, (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).

Golf: PGA European Tour, SAS Masters, second round, at Rosersberg, Sweden (The Golf Channel, 9:30 a.m.). Nationwide Tour, Xerox Classic, second round, at Rochester, N.Y. (The Golf Channel, 1 p.m.). PGA Tour, Wyndham Championship, second round, at Greensboro, N.C. (The Golf Channel, 3 p.m.). Champions Tour, Jeld-Wen Tradition, second round, at Sunriver, Ore. (The Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.).

Little League World Series: Pool play, at Williamsport, Pa. (ESPN, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; ESPN2, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Major League Baseball: Chicago White Sox at Oakland (WGN, 10 p.m.).

Motor sports: NASCAR Sprint Cup, 3M Performance 400, at Brooklyn, Mich. (Speed Channel, practice, noon; pole qualifying, 3:30 p.m.). NASCAR Nationwide Series, Carfax 250, practice, at Brooklyn, Mich. (Speed Channel, 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

NFL preseason: Oakland at Tennessee (Fox, 8 p.m.).

Tennis: ATP Tour, Legg Mason Classic, quarterfinals, at Washington, (ESPN2, 2 p.m.).

Olympics Coverage

NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. — Swimming; Track & Field; Beach Volleyball; Women's Water Polo - USA vs. Russia

8 p.m.-Midnight — Swimming (LIVE): Gold Medal Finals: Men's 100-meter Butterfly, Men's 50-meter Freestyle, Women's 200-meter Backstroke, Women's 800-meter Freestyle and Women's 50-meter Freestyle semifinal; Track and Field - Men's 100-meter competition, Men's Shot Put Gold Medal Final; Beach Volleyball (LIVE); Men's Volleyball - USA vs. China

12:35-2 a.m. — Women's Track & Field - 10,000-meter Gold Medal Final; Women's Diving - Springboard Competition

CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-4:30 a.m. — Softball - USA vs. Japan (LIVE); Boxing 57kg, 60kg Competition (LIVE)

5-8 p.m. — Boxing 57kg, 60kg Competition

USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Women's Soccer Quarterfinal (LIVE); Women's Basketball - USA vs. Spain (LIVE); Baseball - USA vs. Cuba; Tennis Semifinals; Beach Volleyball; Men's Archery - Individual Gold Medal Final; Cycling Track Events Competition

MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women's Volleyball - USA vs. China (LIVE); Women's Soccer Quarterfinals; Beach Volleyball; Women's Badminton - Doubles Gold Medal Final; Women's Handball - France vs. Norway; Men's Weightlifting 85kg Gold Medal Final; Women's Table Tennis - Team Semifinal; Women's Water Polo - Netherlands vs. Australia and Hungary vs. Greece

OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. — Equestrian - Jumping Competition; Tennis Semifinal

TELEMUNDO, 2-6 a.m. — Swimming Gold Medal Finals; Women's Volleyball; Women's Gymnastics - Individual All-Around Competition

8 a.m.-Noon — Women's Soccer (LIVE); Beach Volleyball; Boxing

Midnight-1 a.m. — TBA

UNIVERSAL HD — 24-hour MSNBC, & CNBC HD Simulcasts and Coverage

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL, 2:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. — Women's games

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women's games

No runner-up finish to her friend and rival this time. Nastia Liukin won the biggest prize of all. Liukin edged teammate Shawn Johnson for the all-around gold in women's gymnastics Friday in an intense matchup that lived up to its billing at the Beijing Games. Liukin finished with 63.325 points, a mere six-tenths ahead of Johnson, the reigning world champion who beat Liukin at the U.S. championships and Olympic trials only a few weeks ago. Yang Yilin of China won the bronze. Liukin paced back and forth as Johnson competed on floor, the final competitor of the day, clapping as her teammate floated high in the air. In the end, it was Liukin who soared. When Johnson's score was posted and Liukin saw she was the winner tears filled her eyes. Her father and coach Valeri grabbed her in a bearhug, squeezing her tight for several minutes. Valeri Liukin was a double gold medalist for the Soviet Union 20 years ago, but came up achingly short in a rivalry with his own teammate in the all-around.

Michael Phelps collected the sixth gold medal and stuffed it in his warmup jacket. No time to even savor that one as he rushed off to swim again. It was just No. 6, after all, equaling his haul from Athens in 2004. The most important ones are still to come. Phelps made it 6-for-6 at the Beijing Games with another world-record triumph Friday, his bid to take down Mark Spitz and the grandest of Olympic records looking less suspenseful by the day.

Rebecca Soni gave the U.S. women's swim team a much-needed boost, setting a world record in the 200 breaststroke with an upset of Australia's Leisel Jones. Soni had already claimed a surprising silver behind Jones in the 100 breast, a race she wasn't even supposed to be in. She took over when Jessica Hardy failed a doping test at the U.S. trials and was dropped from the team. Jones was out front over the first 100, but Soni came on strong at the end, finishing a full body length ahead of the Aussie in 2:20.22. She beat Jones' mark of 2:20.54, set 2½ years ago in Melbourne.

Ryan Lochte got in quite a warm-up for his showdown with Michael Phelps: a world record and the first individual gold medal of his career. The laid-back Floridian edged fellow American Aaron Peirsol in the 200-meter backstroke, winning with a time of 1 minute, 53.94 seconds. "I touched the wall and was like, 'Thank you, finally,"' Lochte said. "It felt good the whole way." Lochte was known as "Mr. Runner-up" for his frequent second-place finishes to Phelps and Peirsol. Then he stunned Peirsol at last year's world championships in 1:54.32, before Peirsol matched the time in beating Lochte at the U.S. Olympic trials last month.

This looked more like a workout than a true test. Either way, Tyson Gay easily made it through the first round of the Olympic 100-meter dash Friday. Racing for the first time since crumpling to the track with a hamstring injury six weeks ago, America's fastest sprinter enjoyed an uneventful debut at the Beijing Games, coasting to the finish to win his preliminary heat in 10.22 seconds. World record-holder Usain Bolt and fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell also advanced comfortably, winning their heats. The quarterfinals were set for later Friday.

The United States baseball team is in a big hole in these Olympics, and down a key player, too. Jayson Nix fouled a ball off his left eye to start the bottom of the 11th inning of the Americans' 5-4, 11-inning loss to defending champion Cuba, left the game for the hospital and is likely done for the rest of the Beijing Games. "He's in bad shape," said U.S. manager Davey Johnson, who accused the Cubans and burly pitcher Pedro Lazo of purposely going at Nix's head. Nix was bleeding badly after the injury and had a lot of swelling, Johnson said. Lazo, who hustled to home plate to check on Nix right away, denied going after the batter on purpose. Michel Enriquez lined a go-ahead two-run single in the 11th. Lazo pitched six innings of relief for the win. Cuba is 3-0 and in strong position for a medal. At 1-2, the U.S. can ill afford many more slipups if it wants to reach the medal stand.

Jessica Mendoza hit a pair of two-run homers, Natasha Watley homered leading off the game and the U.S. Olympic softball team ran its winning streak to 17 with a 7-0 win over Japan -- the first of two games for the Americans. Given a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Monica Abbott allowed a leadoff single in the first but nothing else. She dominated Japan over the next four, retiring 15 in a row before Friday's game was called by the international-run rule in the fifth. There was no time to celebrate for the Americans, who had to quickly resume their suspended game with Canada afterward. The U.S. disposed of Canada 8-1 in the completion of the game started Thursday. That contest was suspended because of rain.

Athens gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor overcame five set points in the first set to beat Belgium 24-22, 21-10 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament. The win Friday was the 105th consecutive victory for the Americans. Liesbeth Mouha and Liesbet van Breedam led 18-12 and 20-17 in the first set of the best-of-three. Beach volleyball matches are up to 21, but the team must win by two, so it wasn't until May-Treanor and Walsh scored three straight points after trailing 22-21 that they secured the set.

Jake Peavy wants to be clear -- he's not ducking anyone. Peavy outpitched Ben Sheets with seven strong innings Thursday and the San Diego Padres snapped the Milwaukee Brewers' eight-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory. Peavy (9-8) allowed one run and four hits in a matchup of the past two starters for the NL in the All-Star game. Peavy, the reigning Cy Young Award winner, struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 2.61 to take over the NL lead from San Francisco's Tim Lincecum (2.67).

One day after visiting New England, former Denver Broncos safety John Lynch has reached a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Patriots, according to a source. Lynch, 36, was released by the Broncos, who wanted to re-adjust his role this season. After talking to coach Mike Shanahan, the Broncos gave him a chance to land elsewhere. The Patriots were the perfect fit. Belichick became interested in Lynch after losing safety Tank Williams for the season because of a knee injury suffered on Aug. 7 in a 16-15 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Williams was expected to be used 10-to-25 plays a game in certain defensive packages that needed a hard-hitting safety.

Jim Thome's long three-run homer started it. Shortly after he returned to the dugout, the parade really got going. Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning to tie a major league record and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 9-2 Thursday, completing a three-game sweep.

Just when it appeared the Los Angeles Dodgers might have made a grievous error by signing Hiroki Kuroda to a three-year, $35.3 million contract last winter, the 33-year-old Japanese right-hander turned things around. Now, he's back to being a key member of their rotation. Kuroda allowed only two baserunners in seven brilliant innings, Matt Kemp homered and the Dodgers beat Philadelphia 3-1 Thursday night to complete their first four-game sweep of the Phillies in 46 years.

Tampa Bay ended Oakland reliever Brad Ziegler's record scoreless streak. Then the Rays ended the Athletics' hopes of winning their first series in more than a month. Ziegler's shutout streak was stopped by B.J. Upton in the ninth inning, and Carlos Pena homered leading off the 12th to give Tampa Bay a 7-6 win over Oakland on Thursday.

A magazine has declared Nick Saban the most powerful coach in sports. Forbes Magazine's upcoming issue features Saban on the cover. The article said no other coach boasts Saban's "combination of money, control and influence." He will be the first college football coach to make the Forbes cover since the magazine was started in 1917.

Major league ballparks are being wired for instant replay, and commissioner Bud Selig says his "confidence is growing" that the technology to assist umpires will be ready soon.

Kentucky horse racing officials are set to approve what they call the nation's toughest steroid ban, which among other things would outlaw the drug Big Brown had in his system before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Defending champion Lorena Ochoa shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Annika Sorenstam in the Canadian Women's Open, leaving Michelle Wie nine strokes back in her final LPGA Tour event of the year.

Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, a starter for the New Orleans Saints for much of the past two seasons, has a right triceps injury that will sideline him about two months.

The Flyers signed coach John Stevens to a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2010-11 season.

Pro football Hall-of-Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. was hired Thursday as the athletic director at Central State University.

One year ago today: http://tvsportsdaily.com/article.php?story=20070815010945130