Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:39:53 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sports :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/sports istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us BEN WALKER http://www.nysun.com/sports/santana-delivers-mets-cling-to-playoff-hopes/86724/ Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:47:50 EST Any chance Johan Santana can pitch on no days' rest? Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Mets brought back their ace early and he delivered, pitching a three-hitter that led them over the Florida Marlins 2-0 on a rainy Saturday. "I just went out there and tried to finish it. I didn't do anything crazy," Santana said. "I knew the situation we were in." With the crowd standing and chanting his name, Santana (16-7) assured the Mets will play at least one more meaningful game at... MIKE FITZPATRICK http://www.nysun.com/sports/mets-fall-behind-in-playoff-race-with-2-games-left/86718/ Sat, 27 Sep 2008 01:01:33 EST It's all slipping away for the New York Mets again. With a listless loss to the Florida Marlins on Friday night, New York relinquished control of its playoff fate. Now, the desperate Mets will start ace Johan Santana on three days' rest Saturday, but they need help to reach the postseason. Mike Pelfrey lost to Florida for the fourth time this year and New York's offense fizzled in a 6-1 defeat that put the fading Mets on the brink of elimination with two games remaining. New York fell two games... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-could-suffer-due-to-arizonas-leisurely-week/86681/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Brett Favre and Kurt Warner are older players playing a young man's game. On Sunday, they'll try to get back on track — against each other as starting quarterbacks — coming off disappointing performances in Week 3. "When you've been in this league for a long time, it's kind of like a badge of courage to say, 'I'm still playing, I'm still being able to accomplish things, even at this stage,'" Warner said this week. Favre's ankle, which he sprained against the Chargers on Monday in a... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/what-the-wall-st-crisis-means-for-sports/86596/ Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST While lawmakers refine the Wall Street bailout plan, the American and global sports industries are watching closely. The fallout of Treasury Secretary Paulson's $700 billion bailout plan could determine whether or not baseball teams have the financial wherewithal to be able to pay huge money this winter to free agents such as CC Sabathia and others. One of the more interesting aspects of the federal government's $85 billion loan to save insurance giant AIG is that American taxpayers are now... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/jets-smell-the-blood-in-water-against-patriots/85733/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The Brett Favre era in New York began in earnest last week. So did the Matt Cassel era in New England. With one hit from Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard, Brady's season was over as he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Favre, however, opened the possibility of a new AFC East champion with a strong debut in the win over the Miami Dolphins. Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, however, says hang on. "I think the New England Patriots have... TIM MARCHMAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/despite-alleged-collapse-mets-are-very-much-alive/86139/ Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Before beating Washington last night, they were losing mostly by small margins, mostly to bad teams, and mostly because their best hitters stopped hitting just as the wretched state of their bullpen was fully exposed. It's no wonder so many scented the stink of death on the Mets. They were losing ugly. Curiously, though, given the apocalyptic feel of the situation, they weren't losing that much. On September 4, the Mets held a three-game lead over Philadelphia in the National League East. A... RUSSELL LEVINE http://www.nysun.com/sports/sec-pecking-order-to-be-determined-this-weekend/86218/ Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST College football remains a sport that relies on beauty pageant-style judging to rank its teams and decide which ones get to contest its championship. Though the Bowl Championship Series has injected a measure of objectivity into the process through the use of computer polls, it is the human votes that still carry the most weight. It can be hard to take the polls seriously when they continue to churn out results such as Ohio State (who struggled with Ohio and were destroyed by USC) ahead of Penn... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/giants-jets-end-talks-with-company-with-nazi-past/85769/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:50:51 EST NEWARK, N.J. — The New York Giants and New York Jets have canceled negotiations with a German insurance company that once had ties to the Nazis. Allianz had been looking to buy naming rights to the new stadium being built in northern New Jersey. The move was criticized by Jewish groups and Holocaust survivors. The company says it has atoned for its past history and should not be judged by its World War II record. A statement from The New Meadowlands Stadium company said they are no longer in... STEVEN GOLDMAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/delgado-surge-has-put-other-contributions/85729/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST When I was a teenager, my high school class was dominated by Yankees partisans. The Mets fans were small and harried, small mammals scurrying between the dinosaurs' toes. Then came a day, about this time in 1986, that the roles were suddenly reversed. With the Mets rampaging through the NL East, the hitherto shamed Mets fans were suddenly standing tall, joined by a huge number of supposedly devoted Yankees fans, newly outfitted in Darryl Strawberry jerseys and Dwight Gooden T-shirts. The... ERIC EDHOLM http://www.nysun.com/sports/all-signs-point-to-a-giant-romp-in-st-louis/85734/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST In weighing strengths against weaknesses, there's no better place to start in this week's Giants-Rams game than in the trenches. The Giants boast one of the five best offensive lines in the NFL — and though it might not feature a star within it, it's one of the more consistent, cohesive groups you'll find. Right guard Chris Snee often is mentioned as the most talented member, but right tackle Kareem McKenzie was dominant in the season opener. The Rams have the name value — Adam Carriker and... DOUG FARRAR http://www.nysun.com/sports/week-2-around-the-nfl/85732/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season featured an unbelievable string of injuries. From Tom Brady's torn ACL and MCL to Shawne Merriman's torn PCL and LCL, the league's injury report was all-encompassing. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost both starting guards, and at one point this week, the Seattle Seahawks had a total of two receivers left on their roster. It could be argued that the losses of Brady and Merriman deny the NFL its single most dynamic offensive and defensive players, but teams all over are... TIM MARCHMAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/much-of-k-rods-value-is-derived-from-context/85730/ Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST As soon as this coming week, 26-year-old Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels, wunderkind of the 2002 playoffs and the American League's career leader in strikeouts per inning, will become the first pitcher ever to save 60 games. Going into last night's game against Seattle, he had 56 saves, one shy of the record Bobby Thigpen set with the Chicago White Sox in 1990. Thigpen set his record in the 159th game his team played that year; last night's game was the Angels' 146th. If things go... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/nfl-players-association-finds-itself-at/85175/ Thu, 4 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST The NFL season begins tonight, and there is no talk of labor strife or negotiations between the owners and players — even though the owners want a new collective bargaining agreement. There are three years still to go before the owners could lock out the players, or the players can strike. But this much is known: The players are in no rush to fill their association's post of executive director, which was left open after the death of Gene Upshaw. The players are now in season, and there will not... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/saints-to-kick-off-at-new-orleans-superdome/85030/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 15:18:49 EST NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints are returning to the Superdome for their NFL season-opener Sunday. Forced to flee to Indianapolis ahead of Hurricane Gustav, the Saints will be able to open their season as scheduled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a person with direct knowledge of the situation said today. The person declined to be identified because an official announcement had not been made. The Louisiana Superdome was not used as a refuge during Gustav as it was during Katrina three... JONAH KERI http://www.nysun.com/sports/twins-versus-white-sox-the-tale-of-the-tape/85625/ Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Last week, we looked at the NL East race pitting the Mets against the Phillies, a rematch of the 2007 division chase. We're back with another tale of the tape, this time comparing the two combatants in the tight AL Central race: the White Sox and Twins. RELATED: Phillies Versus Mets: The Tale of the Tape STARS White Sox: Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Bobby Jenks, John Danks Twins: Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano When Carlos Quentin slammed his hand against his bat after... TIM MARCHMAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/thanks-to-manuel-minaya-likely-will-keep-his-job/85626/ Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST Whether or not the Mets make the playoffs, in one important sense this year has already been a raging success: It's fun to root for the team again. This may not be a hard criterion like wins or revenue, but in a way it's just as important. The heavy despair that settled in over the franchise last fall wasn't caused just by the team's collapse and failure, after all, but also by the joyless nature of it. To lose is one thing; to lose with a Hall of Fame pitcher tossing balls into short left... HOWARD FENDRICH http://www.nysun.com/sports/federer-fights-off-andreevs-fierce-challenge/85061/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 20:32:01 EST His strokes awry, his emotions laid bare for all to see, Roger Federer figured out a way to stay in the U.S. Open. Federer found himself locked in a five-set struggle against the sort of player the world is accustomed to seeing him dismiss with ease, and it was only down the stretch that the four-time defending champion at Flushing Meadows looked the part. Avoiding as big an upset as tennis has seen in a while, Federer came back to beat 23rd-seeded Igor Andreev of Russia 6–7 (5), 7–6 (5), 6–3... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-redeem-team-wins-basketball-gold/84474/ Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:37:34 EST They came, they saw ... they survived. Though the "Redeem Team" didn't close with the grand flourish some had hoped, the American men's basketball team completed its return to the top of the mountain with a 118–107 triumph over Spain today to win the Olympic gold medal. This game felt like a coronation after the Americans had pulverized all comers to date, but the Spanish team didn't seem to get the script and nearly pulled a shocking upset of a team it had lost to by 37 points in Pool play... RONALD BLUM http://www.nysun.com/sports/major-league-baseball-to-allow-instant-replay/84654/ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:03:15 EST Major League Baseball reversed its long-standing opposition to instant replay and will allow umpires to check video on home run calls in series that start Thursday, a person familiar with the announcement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was authorized before commissioner Bud Selig made the announcement at 5 p.m. today. Three series are scheduled to start Thursday, with Philadelphia at the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota at Oakland and Texas... MIKE FITZPATRICK http://www.nysun.com/sports/giambi-comes-off-bench-saves-yanks-against-boston/84924/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:28:02 EST Two big swings by Jason Giambi invigorated the New York Yankees. Now, can they muster one more run at the playoffs? Giambi saved the Yankees yesterday, coming off the bench to hit a tying homer in the seventh inning and a game-winning single in the ninth for a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Desperate to get back in the pennant race, New York salvaged the finale of a three-game series and won Boston's final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium. "We have a pulse," Giambi said. "Hopefully... BOB BAUM http://www.nysun.com/sports/wansiru-first-kenyan-to-win-olympic-mens-marathon/84472/ Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:21:54 EST BEIJING — Samuel Wansiru pulled away over the final few miles Sunday to become the first Kenyan in the storied running history of that nation to win an Olympic marathon. The 21-year-old negotiated the 26.2-mile (42.15-kilometer) course through the Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds. It was just the third marathon for Wansiru, also known as Wanjiru, who twice broke the world half-marathon record last year. Two-time world champion... DOUG FEINBERG http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-womens-basketball-wins-fourth-straight/84473/ Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:43:12 EST BEIJING (AP) — Lisa Leslie and the American women's basketball team were once again too good for Australia at the Olympics. Leslie capped off her illustrious Olympic career with a fourth straight gold medal scoring 14 points in a 92-65 victory against Australia on Saturday night. She joined former teammate Teresa Edwards as the only basketball players ever to win four gold medals. "It's a blessing for me to be out on this floor, now participating in my fourth Olympics and walking away with a... ERIC SILVERSTADT http://www.nysun.com/sports/after-series-of-debacles-us-looks-for-redemption/84422/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Any American track and field fan, or even the casual viewer of NBC's truncated coverage of the Beijing Olympics, can realize our athletes have offered dismal performances in their individual events. It couldn't get any worse, right? This column should be about sports, but for a moment, it will digress into an obituary notice for the American track and field team. Yesterday, the Americans did finally set a record of epic proportions, an American record never achieved since the modern Olympic... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/third-gold-for-bolt-as-jamaica-wins-relay/84460/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:21:54 EST BEIJING — In yet another mind-boggling display of speed, Usain Bolt set another world record and won another Olympic gold medal, and this time got to share the glory with his Jamaican teammates. Bolt and Asafa Powell blew away the field over the last two legs of the 400-meter relay today, leading Jamaica around the track in 37.10 seconds to break the 16-year-old world record by 0.3 second. Bolt is now 3-for-3 in these Olympic sprints — as in three gold medals and three world records. The bonus... JIMMY GOLEN http://www.nysun.com/sports/americans-rogers-dalhausser-win-volleyball-gold/84456/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:38:16 EST BEIJING — Phil Dalhausser blocked out the score, the sun, and the Brazilian beat that shook the Olympic beach volleyball gold medal game. Then he blocked just about everything else. Dalhausser rejected three straight shots in the decisive set to turn a tight match into a blowout, then did it again on the championship point today to give the Americans the sport's first Olympic gold medal sweep. "I got in a zone, I guess," Dalhausser said. "I blocked it all out. It's just one of those things... MARC NORMANDIN http://www.nysun.com/sports/brewers-cardinals-race-may-come-down-to-wire/84419/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST What once looked like a division that the Chicago Cubs could take easily has instead turned into the most competitive division in baseball, as the National League Central boasts three of the top teams in the league fighting for just two playoff spots. The Milwaukee Brewers were patching up their early-season issues even before acquiring ace C.C. Sabathia from the Indians, and the St. Louis Cardinals have surprised many analysts by hanging on this far, powered by the best lineup in the NL. Now... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/womens-draw-is-sorely-unbalanced/84421/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST As United States Tennis Association officials huddled yesterday to correct a minor mistake made during the random selection of the men's draw, Katrina Adams, a Tennis Channel commentator who co-hosted the selection ceremony with former world no. 1 Jim Courier, asked, "Could we redo the seeds for the women, too?" No doubt that USTA officials, CBS television executives, and most fans would like to grant Adams her wish. Of the five women who have the best chance to win this tournament — Venus and... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/project-119-didnt-work-despite-chinas-gold-lead/84420/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST China is about to accomplish its goal of winning the most gold medals of any nation at the Beijing Olympics. But China's athletes haven't done it the way their state-run athletic program thought they would. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, 119 gold medals were awarded in track and field, swimming, and outdoor water sports. China won only one of those, in perhaps the most obscure track and field event, the women's 20-kilometer race walk. So the Chinese sports program went on a mission to get... NANCY ARMOUR http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-womens-soccer-team-grabs-gold/84368/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:03:08 EST BEIJING — Outplayed and overwhelmed for most of the night, the Americans got the only shot they needed. Olympic champions, once again. Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time tonight, Hope Solo bailed out her teammates time and again, and America beat Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal in women's soccer for a third time in four Olympics. As the final whistle sounded, the Americans charged across the field, hugging anyone in sight. Someone handed out flags, and several players took... TOM PERROTTA http://www.nysun.com/sports/even-in-their-10th-us-open-the-sisters-are-ones/84424/ Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST We had it all wrong. The Williams sisters, everyone thought, weren't much interested in tennis. The game was too easy, they were too far ahead of everyone else, they had better things to do. They would retire young, pack up their rackets, and spend the rest of their days designing dresses and making movies as they lived off their many millions in endorsements. "They gave a lot to the game," we all expected to say, "but they could have given it more." What sadder story is there in sports than... JIMMY GOLEN http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-women-win-gold-in-beach-volleyball/84357/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:48:40 EST BEIJING — The Chinese and the wretched Beijing weather were no match for Misty May-Treanor and "Six Feet of Sunshine." May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their second consecutive gold medal in beach volleyball today, playing through a steady and sometimes driving rain to beat China in straight sets and extend their winning streak to 108 matches in a row. The Americans defeated Wang Jie and Tian Jia 21-18, 21-18 to repeat their Athens victory and confirm their dominance of the sport. They did not... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-relay-teams-flub-baton-handoffs/84366/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:33:17 EST BEIJING —The American men and women both dropped the baton in the Olympic 400-meter relays today and failed to advance out of the first round. First, men's anchor Tyson Gay, part of the American team that won the relay at last year's world championships, did not get the red metal stick from third-leg runner Darvis Patton. Then, about 25 minutes later, women's anchor Lauryn Williams flubbed her exchange with Torri Edwards, their baton dropping to the ground, too. At the 2004 Olympics, Williams... TOM WITHERS http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-softball-team-denied-gold-loses-3-1/84363/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:34:43 EST BEIJING — Losing for the first time since 2000, the American softball team was denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal today, beaten 3-1 by Japan in the sport's last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years — and maybe for good. Japan's remarkably resilient right-hander, Yukiko Ueno, shut down the Americans and handed them their first loss since September 21, 2000 at the Sydney Games. America had won 22 straight since then, most of them with outrageously lopsided scores... EDDIE PELLS http://www.nysun.com/sports/more-jamaican-dominance-in-womens-200/84362/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:04:57 EST BEIJING — It was Jamaica Night again at the Bird's Nest, and this time Veronica Campbell-Brown did the honors. The defending Olympic champion capped a Jamaican sweep of the four men's and women's Olympic sprint races today, routing Allyson Felix of America to the finish line in 21.74 seconds to win by 0.19 second. Reggae music filled the stadium — is the CD worn out yet? — as Campbell-Brown celebrated with her country's flag, much the way Usain Bolt did with his world record-setting wins in the... STEVEN GOLDMAN http://www.nysun.com/sports/these-yankees-need-to-be-dismantled-immediately/84323/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST "Break up the Yankees" was the cry after the Joe DiMaggio-led Bombers won straight championships between 1936 and 1939. In an effort to stop the Yankees from improving or replenishing their dominant team, the American League even briefly adopted a rule saying that no team could trade with the previous season's pennant winner. The rule was misguided, since the Yankees largely built from within in those days; it took until World War II to accomplish what the rule was intended to, and then only... ERIC SILVERSTADT http://www.nysun.com/sports/track-and-fields-new-savior-bolts-past/84309/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST It wasn't a shock. A victory was predicted. But it was a staggering achievement indeed, best described as "the bolt heard round the world," as Jamaican Usain Bolt delivered yesterday what was expected of him: an astonishing 19.30 to win Olympic gold in the 200-meter sprint in Beijing. Bolt's time breaks the 12-year-old world and Olympic record of 19.32, set in Atlanta by the legendary Michael Johnson. Let it be known that this young man — Bolt turns 22 today — begins the process of vanquishing... JONAH KERI http://www.nysun.com/sports/tatis-the-unlikely-catalyst-of-the-resurgent-mets/84324/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Few teams have suffered more setbacks this year than the Mets. Already coming off one of the biggest late-season collapses in recent memory, the Mets have given their fans more heartburn this year, thanks to a cavalcade of high-profile injuries — Pedro Martinez, Billy Wagner, Moises Alou, Ryan Church, John Maine, Luis Castillo, and Orlando Hernandez, not to mention plenty of more minor ailments. The team's woes seemed to peak in early August. The Mets lost Maine and Wagner to the disabled list... JOHN HOLLINGER http://www.nysun.com/sports/argentina-is-redeem-teams-last-remaining-test/84311/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST Bang. Swish. Swish. Swish. Free throw. Layup. Layup. Swish. Ballgame. In the blink of an eye, America turned a competitive game against Australia into a laugher, going on a 19-0 run bridging halftime to turn a tight, feisty game into a 116-85 rout and advance to the semifinals of the men's Olympic basketball tournament. It was part of a day that couldn't have gone better for the U.S. — not only did they win easily, but their two main rivals for the gold medal, Spain and Argentina, both suffered... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/bolt-breaks-200-record-sweeps-sprint-double/84270/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:33:35 EST BEIJING — Usain Bolt of Jamaica broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds today, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics. Bolt is the first man ever to break the world marks in both sprints at an Olympics. Not even Lewis or Jesse Owens managed that. Showing what he can do when he runs at full speed all the way through the finish — something he hadn't done yet in the Beijing Games — Bolt eclipsed the old record... MICHAEL DAVID SMITH http://www.nysun.com/sports/chinas-wang-looks-to-make-up-for-failure-at-athens/84310/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST When American sports fans think of athletes who choke under pressure, they might remember a missed field goal by Scott Norwood or botched ground ball by Bill Buckner. Chinese sports fans think of Wang Hao. Wang is the no. 1 ranked player in the world in table tennis, which is one of the most popular sports in China and a sport the Chinese have traditionally dominated, winning 18 of the 22 gold medals awarded since it became an Olympic sport. But Wang's loss to South Korea's Ryu Seung Min in the... EVAN WEINER http://www.nysun.com/sports/europe-provides-players-with-lucrative-second/84308/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST It has been 33 years since high school, college, and the NBA had a legitimate choice when it came to where they wanted to play professional basketball. In 1975, a high school player could go to college or into the American Basketball Association. A college player could leave school early and have either the NBA or the ABA offer him a huge — by 1975 standards — pro contract. And NBA players could jump over to the ABA, and vice versa. Since the NBA's absorption of four ABA teams in 1976, players... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-mens-volleyball-team-heads-to-semifinals/84278/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:47:59 EST BEIJING — The U.S. men's volleyball team came from behind to defeat Serbia in five sets and remain undefeated in Beijing. The 20-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 15-12 victory today propels the America into the semifinal round against Russia. The American team overcame tragedy to win all five of its matches in preliminary pool play. Serbia went 2-3 to advance to the quarterfinals... BRIAN MAHONEY http://www.nysun.com/sports/kobe-leads-american-team-to-semis/84275/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:37:16 EST BEIJING — Don't doubt this American men's basketball team — and sure don't challenge them, either. Especially if it's going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form. Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men's American Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 today. America will play defending champion Argentina or Greece on Friday night for a spot in Sunday's gold medal game. Locked in what looked like another tough game in Australia, the... HOWARD FENDRICH http://www.nysun.com/sports/champion-chinese-hurdler-drops-out-of-110-meter/84092/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:08:22 EST BEIJING — In any other city, at any other stadium, under any other circumstances, Liu Xiang might not have shown up at all. His right hamstring's been bothering him for months. A tendon in his right foot flared up a couple of days ago. This, however, was far from any old setting. This was the Bird's Nest, the 91,000-seat centerpiece of the Olympics. The Beijing Olympics. And this was a moment, shortly before lunchtime Monday, that Liu's country of 1.3 billion had anticipated for years: China's... TOM WITHERS http://www.nysun.com/sports/for-american-softball-team-1-more-game-for-gold/84269/ Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:29:30 EST BEIJING — For the American softball team, there's one more game for gold, and then one last goodbye. The Americans are marching toward their fourth straight gold medal in the sport's swan song at the Olympics for at least eight years. Throughout these games, the Americans had been routing one nation after another — hardly breaking a sweat — until today. Japan pushed them to extra innings before America scored four runs in the ninth to win 4-1, earning the spot in the gold medal game. Their... MIKE FITZPATRICK http://www.nysun.com/sports/mets-closer-wagner-out-indefinitely/84229/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:02:42 EST Billy Wagner has more pain and swelling in his pitching elbow, and the New York Mets' All-Star closer is out indefinitely. Wagner had an MRI exam today that revealed additional inflammation in his left elbow — an alarming sign after he spent most of the past two weeks resting his ailing arm. Now, the NL East leaders don't know when he might be able to return to the mound, if at all, this season. "I'm very frustrated, but there's not much for me to do," Wagner said. "I want to play. I want to... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/american-dawn-harper-wins-gold-in-hurdles/84186/ Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:31:25 EST BEIJING — Dawn Harper of America has won the women's 100-meter hurdles at the Beijing Olympics. Harper won in a personal best 12.54 seconds today after American teammate Lolo Jones, who had a clear lead, was knocked off balance when she hit the next-to-last hurdle. 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... Associated Press http://www.nysun.com/sports/derby-winning-filly-genuine-risk-dies/84100/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:54:26 EST UPPERVILLE, Va. — Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, died today at Newstead Farm. The 1980 Derby winner died peacefully about 7:30 a.m. at the advanced age of 31 after eating a hearty breakfast and being turned out in her paddock, an office administrator at the farm, Cindy Perry, said. Ms. Perry said the filly had not been ill. Genuine Risk was the oldest living Derby winner, and the only filly to finish in the top three in each of the Triple Crown races. She was... PAUL NEWBERRY http://www.nysun.com/sports/phelps-wins-8th-gold-medal-breaks-tie-with-spitz/84012/ Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:37:17 EST BEIJING — 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... NANCY ARMOUR http://www.nysun.com/sports/liukin-edges-johnson-for-gymnastics-gold/83994/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:15:55 EST BEIJING (AP) — 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 American championships and Olympic trials only a few weeks ago. Yang Yilin of China won the bronze...