Lakers star wants to be traded

Lakers star Kobe Bryant seeks trade (AP)

AP - Kobe Bryant asked to be traded from the Lakers on Wednesday, a day after calling the team's front office "a mess," and said nothing will change his mind.

Gloomy day in Utah.

Spurs top Jazz to make NBA finals (AP)

AP - Tim Duncan and Tony Parker powered an early 14-0 spurt that featured perhaps the most dominant stretch the Spurs have played all postseason and the Utah Jazz never recovered, letting San Antonio cruise to a 109-84 victory Wednesday night and into the championship round for the third time in five years.

***Waaaah!  Next year.  We guarantee that.

Cavs even series 2-2

Rookie, LeBron help Cavs even series 2-2 (AP)

AP - LeBron James scored 25 points — 13 in the fourth quarter — and rookie Daniel Gibson added a season-high 21 as the Cavaliers evened the Eastern Conference finals with a 91-87 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 4 Tuesday night.

Spurs take commanding 3-1 lead on Jazz

Spurs take commanding 3-1 lead on Jazz (AP)

With each drive to the basket and each fall to the floor -- flop or not -- Manu Ginobili made the Utah Jazz and their fans angrier and angrier. Players and coaches complained to the refs. Fans booed, threw things and popped balloons. All Ginobili did was keep hitting his free throws, pushing the San Antonio Spurs to a 91-79 victory Monday night and a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

LeBron redeems himself

LeBron leads Cavaliers past Pistons in NBA playoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James scored 32 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Detroit 88-82 here Sunday, trimming the Pistons' lead in the National Basketball Association semi-final series in half.

Jazz murders Spurs at home

Jazz regain confidence, rip Spurs 109-83 (AP)

Tenacious from the start, Utah's Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer gave the home fans exactly what they expected in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. Once their teammates got into the act, the Jazz gave the crowd what it really wanted, a 109-83 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night that drastically changes the outlook of the series.

Detroit wins again

James, Cavs come up short as Pistons win (AP)

AP - Shooting or passing, LeBron James is having a hard time beating the Detroit Pistons. James missed a shot with 7.9 seconds left, allowing Detroit to escape again with a 79-76 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

Spurs makes it 2-0

Duncan, Spurs grab 2-0 series lead (AP)

Only two games into the Western Conference finals, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs already are toying with Utah. Their big tease Tuesday night: Build a big lead, see it shrink a little, then bury the Jazz with 3-pointers. Parker made it all possible, using his speed to the basket to draw in the defense then finding his shooters time and time again to help the Spurs beat the Jazz 105-96 for a 2-0 lead.

33 years after...

Foreman claims his water was drugged in loss to Ali

NEW YORK -- Former world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman claims his water was drugged before he lost to Muhammad Ali in their 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" at Zaire in his new book.

LeBron decided to be unselfish. He gave the ball away. And the game.

LeBron passes up last shot, Pistons win (AP)

LeBron James dribbled at the top of the key, drove toward the basket and everybody watching in person and on TV probably thought he was going to shoot. He dished and the decision backfired. James passed to Donyell Marshall, who missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 5.9 seconds left that allowed the Detroit Pistons to escape with a 79-76 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night in Game 1 of...

Spurs take Game 1

Spurs knock off Jazz 108-100 in Game 1 (AP)

With three NBA championship flags high above the court, and many of the key players from those title teams in the lineup, the San Antonio Spurs opened the Western Conference finals like a team ready to add to their collection. Well, for most of Game 1. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker were terrific for three quarters, then good enough at the end to carry San Antonio to a 108-100 victory...

RP 5 surprises heavy-favorite Lebanon

RP 5 stuns Lebanon, gains semis

TEHRAN, Iran—The Philippine quintet finally created a stir Friday, surprising heavy favorite and Group A topnotcher Blue Star of Lebanon, 94-83, to barge into the semifinals of the 18th Fiba Asia Champions Cup at the Azadi Stadium here.

Harvick celebrates

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Kevin Harvick, right foreground, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge auto race in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Complete Story...

Taylor retains championship in a hard-fought match

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WBC and WBO World Middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, center, of Little Rock, Ark., celebrates his split decision over Cory Spinks, of St. Louis, in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, May 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Complete Story..

***Can you see where Don King is?  There you go.  Can't miss 'em.

Pavlik TKOs Miranda

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Kelly Pavlik, left, lands a left on Edison Miranda during the WBC eliminator middleweights boxing match Saturday, May 19, 2007, in Memphis, Tenn.  Pavlik won by TKO in the seventh round. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Espiritu defends yellow jersey

Espiritu proves offense is best defense

ALAMINOS CITY, Philippines -- Victor Espiritu said that he'll defend the yellow jersey the best way he can.

San Antonio puts out Sun's light, will face the music of Jazz

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AP - The San Antonio Spurs proved Friday night they can beat a complete Phoenix Suns team. Their reward is a berth in the Western Conference finals. The Spurs held on to beat the Suns 114-106 and avoided a return to the desert for a Game 7.

That silence, like a church

Pistons reach 5th straight Eastern final (AP)

AP - Chauncey Billups mentioned how quiet the United Center was after the game. If there's one benefit to closing out a series on the road, that's it. "In a strange sort of way it always feels better to close it out on the road," Billups said. "That silence, like church."

San Antonio wins, pushes Phoenix to the wall

Short-handed Suns lose Game 5 to Spurs (AP)

AP - Facing elimination after a heartbreaking loss, the Phoenix Suns are conceding nothing. They believe they can win Game 6 on Friday night and bring the tense, taut series back to the desert for Game 7. Phoenix nearly won Game 5 despite playing without All-Star center Amare Stoudemire and key reserve Boris Diaw, leading most of the way before losing 88-85 Wednesday night.

Bulls force game 6

Bulls top Pistons 108-92 to force Game 6 (AP)

The Chicago Bulls are going home -- to play another game. The Bulls made shots, stops and got to almost every loose ball against the Detroit Pistons. Suddenly, it's a series. Ben Gordon scored 28 points and the hot-shooting Bulls beat Detroit 108-92 Tuesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, pulling to 3-2 in the series.

Jazz ousts Warriors

Jazz win to advance to West finals - Yahoo! News

AP - The Utah Jazz clinched their first trip to the Western Conference finals since 1998 by beating Golden State 100-87 Tuesday night, winning the series 4-1 by finally slowing down the galloping pace that had gotten the Warriors this far.

Cavs edge Nets

Cavs edge Nets to take 3-1 series lead (AP)

LeBron James' shot was back, and New Jersey's Big Three was missing. That combination has the Cleveland Cavaliers on the verge of their first Eastern Conference finals in 15 years. James had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and the Cavaliers beat the New Jersey Nets 87-85 in Game 4 on Monday night.

Suns stop Spurs in Game 4

Suns' late run helps top Spurs in Game 4 (AP)

AP - Fouled hard by Robert Horry with 18 seconds to play, Steve Nash jumped to his feet and decided he had to stand up for himself.

Jazz time

Jazz overcome Warriors' home-court edge (AP)

The Utah Jazz sure knew how to close a great show. When the Golden State Warriors wanted to run their pell-mell offense Sunday night, the Jazz patiently slowed the tempo. When Baron Davis attempted his usual magic tricks, Utah pulled back the curtain with dogged defense. And when a tight game came down to the final minutes, Derek Fisher upstaged the Warriors with a shooting show of his own that put... (contd in Yahoo! News - Sports)

***Woooh!  Yeah!!!!  3-1! 

Chicago escapes sweep

Bulls avert sweep, beat Pistons 102-87 (AP)

The Chicago Bulls built another big lead, and the Detroit Pistons were rallying. Sound familiar? This time, there was no collapse. Luol Deng scored 25 points, Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon added 19 apiece, and the Bulls hung on to beat Detroit 102-87 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday afternoon and avoid a sweep.

Henin in semis

Henin reaches German Open semifinals (AP)

AP - Top-seeded Justine Henin rallied from 4-0 down in the final set against Jelena Jankovic to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday and reach the German Open semifinals.

So is Junior Chess champ

So bags '07 junior chess championship crown

Grandmaster-candidate Wesley So made chess history by becoming the youngest-ever champion in the men's side and Aices Salvador of La Salle bagged the women's title in the 2007 National Junior Chess Championship at the Marketplace Shopping Center in Mandaluyong City.

Golden State scores big win in Oakland

Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis dunks over Utah Jazz's Andrei ...

(AP) - Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis dunks over Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, during the second half of an NBA Western Conference second-round basketball playoff game Friday, May 11, 2007, in Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 125-105. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Landis: They wanted to get Armstrong

Landis: USADA wanted to get to Armstrong (AP)

AP - Floyd Landis claims the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency's lead attorney approached his lawyer offering "the shortest suspension they'd ever given an athlete" if Landis provided information that implicated Lance Armstrong for doping.

Stoudemire calls Spurs a dirty team

Stoudemire calls Spurs 'dirty team' (AP)

Phoenix All-Star Amare Stoudemire says the San Antonio Spurs are a "dirty team" and that Bruce Bowen tried to hurt him, nasty accusations sure to intensify the playoff series between two of the best teams in the NBA. "He kicked me purposely in the back of my Achilles'. I almost came down wrong and he almost caused an injury," Stoudemire said after Thursday's practice.

Pistons steal win from Bulls in Chicago

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CHICAGO - The lead was 19. The fans were in a frenzy. The Chicago Bulls were injecting some drama into this series. Then the Detroit Pistons took it away. Now, they're on the verge of their second straight sweep and another appearance in the conference finals.

Jazz scores big in OT, rips Warriors for 2-0 lead

Newsvine - Fisher Fine-Tunes Jazz in Overtime Win

Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko, right, of Russia, shoots over Golden State Warriors' Al Harrington, left, and Baron Davis during the first quarter of an NBA second-round playoff basketball game Wednesday, May 9, 2007, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

SALT LAKE CITY — All Derek Fisher needed to do to inspire his teammates was make it to the game. He did so much more, capping a dramatic night by scoring all five of his points in overtime in Utah's 127-117 victory over Golden State on Wednesday night — a game Fisher nearly missed while returning from New York, where his baby daughter underwent cancer surgery.

"I don't know how I got through this tonight. I really don't," said Fisher, who hit his only shot, a 3-pointer.

Mayweather-De La Hoya fight grossed 120 Million Dollars

Mayweather-De la Hoya fight richest in boxing history

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Floyd Mayweather's split decision over Oscar de la Hoya on Saturday grossed 120 million dollars making it the richest fight in history, an American cable television network announced Wednesday.

Sharapova withdraws

Sharapova withdraws from Italian Open

ROME -- Russian world number two Maria Sharapova has pulled out of next week's Italian Open after failing to recover from her right shoulder injury, tournament organizers announced on Wednesday.  (Inquirer.net)

Car of Tomorrow

Newsvine - Gordon, Car of Tomorrow Set for Darlington

Gordon, Car of Tomorrow Set for Darlington

Driver Jeff Gordon talks with a team member during NASCAR Nextel Cup testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Tuesday, May 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jeff Gordon expects the Car of Tomorrow will get its most stringent test yet at the Dodge Avenger 500 this weekend.

NASCAR's future car has been run on shorter layouts such as Bristol, Martinsville, Phoenix and Richmond this year. Now, it makes its debut on a high-banked layout at the 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway.

Cleveland 2, NJ 0

Cavaliers jump out to 2-0 lead over New Jersey

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James scored 36 points and handed out a playoff career-high 12 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a 102-92 win over the New Jersey Nets in Game Two of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday.

Suns square series

Nose job: Suns square series with Spurs (AP)

AP - Yes, those usually frenetic Phoenix Suns can play defense. They proved it Tuesday night with a blowout of the San Antonio Spurs.

Corrales dies in crash

Boxer Diego Corrales dies in Vegas crash - Yahoo! News

LAS VEGAS - Diego "Chico" Corrales, who won titles in two weight classes and was involved in one of the most memorable fights in recent times, died Monday in a motorcycle accident, his promoter said. He was 29.

Gary Shaw said Corrales was driving his motorcycle at a high rate of speed when he ran into the back of a car about 10 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on Monday night.

Basso admits drug charges

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Cycling star Basso admits to involvement in doping scandal Mon May 7, 4:56 PM ET

ROME (AFP) - Italian cycling star Ivan Basso on Monday confessed to the anti-doping prosecutor of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) that he was involved in the Operation Puerto blood doping scandal.

Detroit now 2-0 over Chicago

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Pistons seize 2-0 series lead with win over Bulls Tue May 8, 2:12 AM ET

DETROIT, United States (AFP) - The Detroit Pistons jumped out to an early lead and never looked back Monday, defeating the Chicago Bulls 108-87 to stretch their lead in their National Basketball Association playoff series.

Jazz wins Game 1

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Boozer's basket lifts Jazz in Game 1 2 hours, 15 minutes ago

SALT LAKE CITY - It was only appropriate that the Utah Jazz won on a rebound.  (AP/Yahoo!)

San Antonio wins over Phoenix in a bloody match

U.S. National - AFP on Yahoo! News

Spurs shock Suns to seize basketball series lead Sun May 6, 10:38 PM ET

PHOENIX, United States (AFP) - The San Antonio Spurs left the Phoenix Suns bloodied and beaten Sunday as they seized the lead in their National Basketball Association Western Conference semi-final series.

Cavaliers win over Nets

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Cavaliers make most of second-chances in win over Nets Sun May 6, 6:07 PM ET

CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) - The Cleveland Cavaliers overcame lackluster shooting to defeat the New Jersey Nets 81-77 Sunday in the opener of their National Basketball Association Eastern Conference second-round playoff series.

Tiger at the top again

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Tiger Woods wins Wachovia Championship 29 minutes ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tiger Woods couldn't believe his luck when his tee shot somehow stopped 18 inches from going into the water, turning a probable bogey into an unlikely eagle for his first lead Sunday in the Wachovia Championship. Equally stunning was his blunder on the 13th hole, a three-putt double bogey to blow a three-shot lead on the back nine.

Yankees lure Rocket with huge contract

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Yankees lure Rocket with huge contract Mon May 7, 12:33 AM ET

NEW YORK - The seventh-inning stretch was ending when the low, familiar voice of public-address announcer Bob Sheppard told fans at Yankee Stadium to direct their attention to the owner's box behind home plate.

Chief takes May Day officers off the street

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Chief takes May Day officers off street 

LOS ANGELES - Police Chief William Bratton said Sunday that up to 60 members of an elite squad that swarmed into a park and fired rubber bullets during a May Day immigration rally are no longer on the street.

Bautista wins!

AFP/PDI: Bautista wins battle of unbeatens

Agence France-Presse, Inquirer
Last updated 05:09pm (Mla time) 05/06/2007

LAS VEGAS, Nevada--Reynaldo "Boom Boom" Bautista of the Philippines won a 12-round unanimous decision over Argentina's Sergio Manuel Medina here Saturday in a showdown of unbeaten super bantamweights. 

***A shot at WBO title! 

Jazz wins!

Jazz shoot down Rockets in NBA playoffs - Yahoo! News

HOUSTON, United States (AFP) - Carlos Boozer scored 35 points and the Utah Jazz regrouped in the final six minutes to oust the Houston Rockets from the National Basketball Association playoffs on Saturday.

***Hooray!  Go Utah!  Utah has been my favorite for the past - wow - 15 years or so.  I cheered for them when they went against Jordan and the Bulls.  Against my brother - that rascal.  Well, I lost two years in a row.  Malone and Stockton retired.  And the most coveted title is still not there.  I hope they do it now. 

Mayweather wins in split decision

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Mayweather wins decision over De La Hoya

LAS VEGAS - Floyd Mayweather Jr. couldn't win over the crowd, or even his own father. All he could win was the only thing that really counted Saturday night, his fight against Oscar De La Hoya.  (AP / Yahoo! News)

***Dela Hoya looked like Mayweather's father, and yet he did not hurt him.  He won but only by split decision.  If this is Mayweather now, Pacquiao can knock him out any time of the day.

One more game

PDI: Jazz force game 7 with win over Rockets

OAKLAND, California -- The Utah Jazz made sure they will play at least one more game in the National Basketball Association playoffs on Thursday, a feat the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks were hoping to match.

Golden State upsets top seeded Dallas

PDI: Warriors oust Mavericks with game-six rout

OAKLAND, California -- The Golden State Warriors completed a stunning first-round National Basketball Association playoff upset of Western Conference top seeds Dallas Thursday with a 111-86 game six triumph.

Suns oust Lakers

Suns sink Lakers to win series in 5 (AP)

AP - The Phoenix Suns didn't exactly run the Los Angeles Lakers out of the playoffs. Nudged them out is more like it.

***Read full story on Yahoo! News

Spurs down Nuggets

Finley, Spurs shoot down Nuggets in 5

SAN ANTONIO - Michael Finley set a San Antonio playoff record with eight 3-pointers Wednesday night and the Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a 93-78 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

***I pick De La Hoya to lose by KO in the seventh round.

Greatest fighter of this generation?

De La Hoya is the best of our generation

He's flashy. He's sassy. He's classy. When Oscar De La Hoya comes out of his corner at the MGM Grand for his 43rd professional fight, he will have solidified his case as the greatest fighter of our generation.

Raptors survive

Raptors survive, but who'll play Game 6? (AP)

AP - After staving off elimination by holding on for a win in Game 5, the Toronto Raptors hope they have enough healthy players for Game 6. Jose Calderon scored a career-high 25 points before spraining his ankle in the final minute and Andrea Bargnani added 18 points as the Raptors rebounded from two double-digit losses to beat the New Jersey Nets 98-96 on Tuesday night.

Racial Bias in Calling of Fouls?

Study of N.B.A. Sees Racial Bias in Calling Fouls

A study suggests that a racial bias found in other parts of American society also exists on the basketball court.

Cavaliers sweep Wizards, advances

Cavaliers sweep Wizards in NBA playoffs (AP)

AP - The NBA's Central Division has swept its way into the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 97-90 last night to become the third Central Division team to complete a four-game sweep in the opening-round.

Tension mounts as hundreds are detained

Turk police detain hundreds, political tension high (Reuters)

Reuters - Turkish police beat and detained hundreds of May Day protesters in Istanbul on Tuesday, adding to tension in a country already rocked by a court challenge to the presidential election, army threats and a million-strong march.

Case over

Philippine Police Close Case in American’s Killing

Juan Duntugan, a woodcarver, admitted on television and in a written statement to the police that he killed Julia Campbell, 40, from Fairfax, Va., in a fit of rage while both were walking along a trail.

Funeral attack kills 23

Funeral attack kills 23 as Iraq violence costs more than 40 lives (AFP)

AFP - At least 23 people were killed when a suicide bomber struck a Shiite family wake in the restive province of Diyala on Monday, raising the day's death toll in violence-plagued Iraq to more than 40.

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Canadian buying eggs online

Infertile Canadians illegally buying eggs online -- report

OTTAWA -- In their quest to start a family, Canadian couples are illegally buying human eggs online, according to an investigation by public broadcaster CBC.