Other Sports

Armstrong chases Tour lead into mountains

BARCELONA, Spain — A split second off the lead with the mighty Pyrenees looming, Lance Armstrong now gets to see what his rivals can throw at him.

NCAA investigates Oklahoma State baseball

OKLAHOMA CITY — Officials at Oklahoma State said Thursday that a former baseball player accepted a used car as a gift while he was in a summer league in what the NCAA contends was a major rules violation that could cost the program.

Phelps takes down world mark in 100 butterfly

INDIANAPOLIS — Four months after deciding to keep swimming, Michael Phelps took ownership of a world record that had eluded him for years.

Hometown Sports calendar

Updated July 9

Honor Roll

Real Madrid fans open arms to Ronaldo

MADRID — Cristiano Ronaldo received a rapturous welcome from 80,000 Real Madrid fans Monday, an outpouring so exuberant the soccer star had to be hustled away when spectators leaped barriers and took the field.

Federer moving forward after history-making win

WIMBLEDON, England — So many milestones and never-been-done-befores arise seemingly every time Roger Federer steps on court. The 2009 Wimbledon final against Andy Roddick was no different, and not merely because they played a 16-14 fifth set and 77 games total, records for any Grand Slam championship match.

Armstrong moves into third

LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France — If age is Lance Armstrong's enemy, then experience is his friend.

Federer outlasts Roddick for Grand Slam history

WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer hoisted the trophy and celebrated making Grand Slam history, a year removed from an epic five-set final when he left Wimbledon a broken man, his title ripped away and his aura of invincibility shattered.

Serena fends off Venus in final

WIMBLEDON, England — Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title.

Armstrong opens tour in 10th

MONACO — Lance Armstrong put in a solid performance in his comeback at the Tour de France on Saturday, finishing the first stage ahead of 170 riders many years younger and a respectable 10th behind winner Fabian Cancellara.

Federer back on top at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — A year ago, plenty of people were feeling sorry for Roger Federer.

Filly could take top honor

FORT WORTH, Texas — She probably won't have Washington and Idaho on her non-conference schedule, probably won't confine herself to picking the cherries from the low branches. No pie or cake for her, nothing easy.

UFL faces major challenges

The draft was a real killer this year. A 60-year-old coach sits in a secluded room, surrounded only by the intense and focused faces of his two closest advisers. The draft board is a few yards away, tempting the old coach with both opportunity and blunder.

U.S. soccer heads into Gold Cup play

SEATTLE — Leave it to the most experienced international veteran on the U.S. Gold Cup roster to give this tournament perspective.

Armstrong awaits Tour de France start

MONACO — The Tour de France is ready for another edition with Lance Armstrong, and today's opening stage may show whether he's ready to challenge for another title.

Kwan will retun with show in Seoul

Michelle Kwan will skate before an audience for the first time in three years when she joins world champion Kim Yu-Na in Ice All-Stars 2009 in Seoul, South Korea, in August.

Roddick standing in way of history

WIMBLEDON, England — Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash.

All-Williams finals becoming commonplace at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — Venus Williams is just about the perfect older sibling: She supports Serena endlessly, protects her fiercely and even lets her pick which bedroom she wants when they're on the road.