Sports News

ST. LOUIS - Cardinals manager Tony La Russa wasn't exactly overjoyed to see his former star center fielder back in town wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform.

NEW YORK - Kevin Youkilis created the drama. Mike Lowell gave Boston the win.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Edwin Jackson took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and Carlos Pena homered and drove in five runs Friday night, helping the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 11-2 for their fifth straight victory.

SAN DIEGO - Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley has agreed to settle his lawsuit against a police officer who shot him off-duty two years ago and ended his pro football career.

CINCINNATI - A judge has declared a mistrial in the assault case of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Brett Favre dismissed an ESPN report that he's considering coming out of retirement as "all rumor."

Chris Duhon verbally agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks on Friday, the point guard and his agent told The Sporting News.

NEW ORLEANS - Chris Paul and the Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons.

WASHINGTON - Gilbert Arenas has agreed to re-sign with the Washington Wizards for $111 million over six years, essentially taking millions less so that his team could have more financial flexibility, two newspapers reported Thursday.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Manchester United said Friday the latest reports claiming star winger Cristiano Ronaldo was about to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid were "utter nonsense" and insisted the Portugal international was not for sale.

MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona warned Friday that it would not sell its Brazilian striker Ronaldinho, who has been deemed surplus by the Spanish side's new coach Pep Guardiola, at a discount.

LYON, France (AFP) - June Spain's Atletico Madrid on Friday signed French international goalkeeper Gregory Coupet from champions Lyon for 1.5 million euros, Lyon announced.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Although Dan Boyle felt betrayed when the Tampa Bay Lightning decided to trade him, the standout defenseman is feeling much better about it after landing with the San Jose Sharks.

MOSCOW - Jaromir Jagr signed with a Russian team a day after his split with the New York Rangers, leaving the NHL after nearly two decades and returning to the club he joined during the 2004-05 lockout.

PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday signed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a seven-year, $35 million contract, the third long-term deal inked with one of their younger players in two days.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Kentucky Basketball Museum has shut its doors due to falling attendance and financial problems.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee signed football coach Phillip Fulmer and basketball coach Bruce Pearl to new deals Wednesday that will keep them with the Volunteers through 2014.

OXFORD, Ohio - John Pont, who guided Indiana to its only Rose Bowl appearance 40 years ago and also coached at Northwestern, Yale and Miami of Ohio, died Tuesday. He was 80.

LONDON (AFP) - John McEnroe, who won the last of his three Wimbledon titles two years before Rafael Nadal was born, admitted he was stunned by the power of the Spaniard when they practiced together on Friday.

LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will renew their epic rivalry on Sunday when the world's two greatest players meet in a third successive Wimbledon final.

LONDON (AFP) - Serena and Venus Williams warmed up for their Wimbledon singles final by teaming up to reach the doubles title match as well on Friday.

BETHESDA, Md. - Jeff Overton doesn't feel like a different player than the guy who could couldn't make it to the weekend on the PGA Tour over the last two months. Funny how seeing the ball go in the hole changes everything.

ROGERS, Ark. - Stacy Lewis picked up where she left off 10 months ago.

ENDICOTT, N.Y. - Joe Ozaki was so pumped after the first round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open, he didn't mind doing most of the talking in his halting English. Then again, there was no alternative.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Although Dale Earnhardt Inc. might not be a championship contender, it showed Friday it still can be a force at Daytona International Speedway.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Running a partial schedule the past two years, Mark Martin was able to rekindle his passion for racing and ponder the championship that has eluded him his entire career.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - Some IndyCar drivers have never been happier to see a few right-hand turns.

OMAHA, Neb. - Cullen Jones rocketed to an American record in the 50-meter freestyle preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials on the Fourth of July.

OMAHA, Neb. - Rebecca Soni has won the 200-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, and Amanda Beard's also heading to Beijing.

WASHINGTON - President Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Beijing, the White House said Thursday. The announcement quashed any talk of a presidential boycott over China's violent crackdown after anti-government riots and protests in Tibet.

NEW YORK - Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and his wife have split less than three months after the birth of the couple's second daughter, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

WIMBLEDON, England - A spot in her seventh Wimbledon final already secured, Venus Williams headed back to Centre Court to catch the end of the next match.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Brett Favre dismissed an ESPN report that he's considering coming out of retirement as "all rumor."