Baseball

Left hander Dontrelle Willis to start opening day for Florida Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) _ New Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez knew long ago Dontrelle Willis would likely be his first opening day starter. And throughout spr

Roger Clemens no closer to decision about future

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) _ Roger Clemens was greeted by a group of autograph-seeking fans as he walked off the 18th green during a pro-am event at Redstone Golf Club

Bonds' pursuit of Aaron, implications for baseball top thing to watch in 2007

Don't expect too many cheers this season as Barry Bonds pursues Hank Aaron's home run mark of 755, perhaps baseball's most important record. But expect controve

Los Angeles Dodgers will all wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day News by

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Every player on the Dodgers will be No. 42 for a day. Los Angeles will honour the late Jackie Robinson by having all of its players wear his

Carlos Delgado returns to New York Mets following birth of first son

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) _ Carlos Delgado returned to the New York Mets on Thursday, five days after the birth of his son, Carlos Antonio. Delgado, who had gon

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NBA

Lakers lay a licking on Spurs

Lakers lay a licking on Spurs

LOS ANGELESThere would be no blown lead in Game 2 of the Western Conference final. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers saw to that. Bryant scored 22 points,

Sparks defeat Mercury behind Candace Parker

Sparks defeat Mercury behind Candace Parker

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Paul Pierce helps Celtics prevail in another Game 7

Paul Pierce helps Celtics prevail in another Game 7

Twenty years earlier there was another thrilling shootout in another seventh game of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Boston -- Larry Bird vs. Dominique Wil

Clippers get seventh pick in the draft lottery

Clippers get seventh pick in the draft lottery

The Clippers, who were slotted sixth heading into the lottery, fell to the seventh overall selection after they were bumped by Chicago. From that position, they

Victory feels like series-clincher for Lakers

Victory feels like series-clincher for Lakers

We love it! the too-cool Staples Center fans giddily chanted with their victory song. We love it! We love it! We love it! Oh, will the Lakers forever love this

Another world title for Tiger Woods News

MIAMI (AP) _ Tiger Woods felt stiffness in his neck from a bad night of sleep on his boat.

For the first time in 3{ years, he couldn't break par when he had entered Sunday with the lead. And he played so cautiously on the final hole of the CA Championship that the outcome was in doubt for as long as it took a 50-foot par putt to settle a few feet from the cup.

In his eyes, it was an ideal way to prepare for the Masters.

``You can't have any better way _ getting a `W' right before you go,'' Woods said after a two-shot victory over Brett Wetterich.

Forget the details and consider the big picture.

He was so dominant at Doral that he didn't have to break par. He built such a commanding lead on a warm, blustery afternoon that the smartest play was to hit three-iron off the tee, eight-iron to lay up and wedge some 50 feet beyond the cup on the demanding 18th hole.

``It looked easy to him out there today,'' Wetterich said.

Woods said it was a struggle, but he got the momentum he wanted heading into the first major of the year. He won his 31st straight PGA Tour event when leading going into the last round, never letting anyone closer than four shots until the final three holes.

He closed with a 1-over 73, only the sixth time in his career he has won by shooting over par in the last round.

``I figured if I shot under par, it would be over,'' he said. ``Didn't quite get it done, but ended up winning, anyways.''

And everyone knew it.

``If he's not already, he's getting pretty close to being the best golfer of all time,'' U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy said. ``It's fun watching. He's just a better player.''

Calgary's Stephen Ames (73) finished tied for 28th at 3-over 291. Mike Weir (74) of Bright's Grove, Ont., tied for 50th at 7-over 295.

They can move this World Golf Championship around country and continents, change its name and stick it in a different spot on the calendar. It doesn't matter. Woods still seems to wind up with the trophy.

Woods won this event for the sixth time, more than any other tournament. And while the others are held on courses he owns, Woods is believed to be the first player to win a tournament six times on six courses _ in Spain, Ireland, Atlanta, San Francisco, London and Miami, the latter on a Blue Monster course where he has won the last three years.

``I love this golf course,'' he said. ``And when it was decided that we were going to come here, I just through that this was a wonderful opportunity for me to win the championship.''

He finished at 10-under 278 and earned US


Cricket

Former Indian Test cricketer Maninder Singh arrested with cocaine

Former Indian Test cricketer Maninder Singh arrested with cocaine

NEW DELHI (AP) _ Former Indian Test cricketer Maninder Singh will face a New Delhi court Wednesday after he was arrested in his home for allegedly possessing 1. ...

World Cup: Pointless match gets interest boost from retirements

World Cup: Pointless match gets interest boost from retirements

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) _ The world gets its last chance to see Brian Lara play international cricket on Saturday when the West Indies plays England in a Worl ...

Ricky Ponting says Australia will improve with more challenging contests

Ricky Ponting says Australia will improve with more challenging contests

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) _ Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels the defending World Cup champion team will improve further by playing challenging games like Su ...

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