International Football Is Ruining Football: Why Madrid Is Worse Because of Spain

I love football: some of my earliest memories are of Real Madrid, of celebrating on the Castellana and at the Cibeles when we won the League in 1996 and the Champions League in 1997. I’ll never forget watching the most recent World Cup either: Spain winning ranks among the greatest sports moments (heck, moments in general) of my life. So as a life-long fan—and by fan, I mean fanático , because I ...

Tressel, Pryor urge fans to welcome James (AP)

AP - With many fans still angry over LeBron James' decision to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is calling for calm.

Golf course transition to private management complete

The Mt. Graham Golf Course is under new management, but not much has changed. Burt Watkins is still the golf pro; prices have remained the same; and the holes are where they were.

LA Galaxy activates Beckham from disabled list (AP)

AP - The Los Angeles Galaxy activated David Beckham from their disabled list Thursday, clearing the English superstar for his return to MLS competition.

Damon helps Tigers beat White Sox 6-3 (AP)

AP - Johnny Damon had a season-high four hits and scored two runs, helping the Detroit Tigers beat Chicago 6-3 Thursday and hand the White Sox their third straight loss.

Kuchar atop the leaderboard again with 64 (AP)

AP - Matt Kuchar is playing so well that there's really nothing left for him to say.

Modano skates for 1st time with Red Wings (AP)

AP - Mike Modano grew up dreaming of skating at Joe Louis Arena as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He actually did it Thursday morning.

Queiroz sacked as Portugal coach (AFP)

AFP - Carlos Queiroz was sacked as Portugal coach on Thursday after a disciplinary feud sparked by a six-month ban for insulting officials from the country's anti-doping body.

Vegas police seeking Mayweather in battery case (AP)

AP - Las Vegas police say they're seeking boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. for questioning about a domestic battery complaint by his ex-girlfriend.

Soccer: Holy Family falls to scrappy Spartans

Unfortunately for Holy Family soccer, its home-opener Wednesday was nothing to write home about. The Tigers suffered a devastating 5-0 loss to Berthoud at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium, with the Spartans sparking the rout with a strong finish to the first half.

US beats Russia, 89-79, moves into semis at worlds (AP)

AP - Chauncey Billups made the promise. Kevin Durant made sure it was kept.

Ipswich Youth basketball clinics run by I.H.S. varsity coaches

Ipswich High School varsity basketball coaches Alan Laroche and Mandy Zegarowski are conducting a youth basketball clinic for 10-to 14-year-old players.

1st 4 games of March Madness to be in Dayton, OH (AP)

AP - The University of Dayton will host all four first-round games of the newly expanded men's basketball tournament next March, the NCAA said Thursday.

Patriots QB Brady unhurt in wreck near Boston home (AP)

AP - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in a two-car accident near his home Thursday morning, but was unhurt and hours later practiced as usual with his team just days before the season opener.

Football: Stronger test awaits Ponies at Mounds View

Two football teams coming off big opening-week victories square off on Friday as Stillwater travels to Mounds View for a Suburban East Conference game at Mustang Stadium. The Ponies blanked Park-Cottage Grove 35-0 while the Mustangs ran up a 55-19 victory over Roseville. Stillwater and Mounds View met twice a year ago, with the Ponies claiming the first 19-7 and Mounds View ending Stillwater's ...

Ray Lewis: Jets have 'no excuses' with Revis (AP)

AP - Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis says the New York Jets have "no excuses" when they play the Ravens on Monday night with the return of cornerback Darrelle Revis after a 36-day holdout.

Baseball. Baseball Kicks Off Fall Ball Friday

Coming off an historical 2010 campaign, the TCU baseball team will get preparations for the 2011 season underway Friday, Sept. 10. The fall practice schedule will see the Frogs through Oct. 23.

Football: Spartans dominate Jenkintown

Most area football teams have to wait until at least the fourth week of the season to play a league team.

WVU basketball player medically disqualified

West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins announced today through the school that freshman Darrious Curry has been medically disqualified."Darrious has had extensive medical evaluations by numerous physicians, and they concluded it was in his be...

Tennis team moving on without heavy hitters

The Monticello girls' tennis team has eight matches in, and school doesn't even start for another five days. But there have been some early highs and lows for coach Jeff Bordwell's team, which is facing its first season without the Magic's "first lady" of tennis - state qualifier Katie Kotschevar.

Toronto police turn over Clemens documents (AP)

AP - Police searched the offices of the Toronto Blue Jays and turned over documents in connection with the perjury case against seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens.

AP source: USOC, IOC reach $18 million deal (AP)

AP - The U.S. Olympic Committee will contribute $18 million to resolve a financial dispute that has strained relations with the IOC, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The decision ends an impasse over administrative costs of staging the games.

Soccer league gives back to the community

Tenafly - The Tenafly Soccer League donated funds earned at its all-star game to Jenna's Rainbow.

On Soccer: A witness to the growth of the game

When I started writing about soccer in 1991, the game had a minor footprint on U.S. soil. The days of the North American Soccer League, when Pele played for the Cosmos and Johan Cruyff starred for the Diplomats at RFK Stadium, were a distant memory. It was a bleak ...

Cavendish claims stage wins in all three Tours (AFP)

AFP - British sprint king Mark Cavendish powered to victory in the 12th stage of the Tour of Spain on Thursday -- enabling him to claim individual stage wins in all three of cycling's major Tours.

Football's transfer windows are a bore

PARIS (AP) - Rejoice, European football's summer transfer window has closed. What a relief. Until someone invents a better system or wins a major legal challenge against the current one, both of which may never happen, the ugly process of football clubs trading players like cattle during a few designated months ...

Golf Course Review - TPC Jasna Polana

Golf Tidbits: Too little, too late for PGA Tour?

Tennis Family Festival is scheduled for Sept. 11

The Park and Recreation Department is hosting a Tennis Family Festival presented by tennis pros Glen Englander and Fred Spindler on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 4 to 6 for a at the Redding Elementary School courts.

Golf Tidbits: Kaymer, Watson overshadowed by Johnson

TENNIS: Carmel drops San Benito, 5-2

CARMEL The San Benito girls tennis team continued with its difficult non-conference slate on Wednesday at Carmel, where the host Padres defeated the Haybalers by a 5-2 margin. San Benito is now 1-3 overall. The Balers' two wins came at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles. Singles player Audrey Marshall topped Carmel's Julia Modorsky 7-5, 6-4, while San Benito's top doubles team in Erin Glasspool and ...

College basketball: Sarikopoulos might leave OSU

Reports on international basketball websites yesterday said that 7-foot center Zisis Sarikopoulos has signed or will sign a professional contract in his native Greece and forgo his final two seasons with Ohio State.

W. Soccer. Soccer Team Hosts UTSA Friday At 7 PM

The Rice soccer team, 2-3-0 on the young season, is back in action with a split home-and-away schedule this weekend (Sept. 10-12). The Owls host state foe UTSA on Friday at 7 pm at the Rice Soccer Stadium.

Golf's Reward? A Healthy Round Of Humility

While on a recent vacation at a Maine inn, I stopped by the golf course and watched as a man sliced his drive into the woods and finished his follow through by muttering the f-word. That led me to seek out an expert on the subject of why duffers play golf. My informant was a bartender-philosopher who prefers to remain anonymous. His opinion — which I share — is that golf and Calvinism have much ...

Rains cancel LPGA Pro-Am in NW Arkansas (AP)

AP - Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine has forced the cancellation of the pro-am at the LPGA's P&G Northwest Arkansas Championship.

Clijsters wary of hungry Venus in US Open showdown (AFP)

AFP - Venus Williams has shaken off a sore left knee that had benched her since Wimbledon and breezed into a US Open semi-final Friday against reigning champion Kim Clijsters without dropping a set.

Canes baseball player arrested for selling pot

A Miami baseball player has been arrested and accused of selling marijuana to undercover police officers on university grounds. Frank Ratcliff is also facing a charge of possessing 19 vials of human growth hormone.

Tennis, Tenacity and Talent

The Lady Fighting Scots tennis team was going through their plyometric exercises last Thursday. Many of the girls showed their quickness and agility as they practiced their footwork. The girls were divided into two teams and competed against each other to see which team would finish first.

Baseball-as-metaphor abuse continues on ESPN

Does America suffer from too many baseball metaphors? Over the decades, writers including George Will and David Halberstam have carpet-bombed the literary scene with tomes using baseball as a symbol for some Lost American Eden. Cornball movies like "The...

Tennis Trick Shaves The Truth

Earlier this week I posted a video of tennis great Roger Federer knocking a soda can off a guy's head with a tennis ball. I thought he could have knocked out the guy's eye with that serve, but he didn't, and the video, filmed at a shoot for a Gillette commercial, went viral, getting more than 1 million hits in 48 hours, according to a Reuters report . Now, it seems that Roger's stunt was just ...

Football. Kansas Football To Take Part In Recognizing The Military Saturday

This Saturday, college football coaches and sideline personnel at the University of Kansas and other schools, will honor the men and women that help keep America safe by wearing the Stars and Stripes Collection by adidas.

The Glen dropped from 2011 IndyCar schedule (AP)

AP - The IndyCar Series is not returning to Watkins Glen International next season.

Football: Ponies host Park in season opener

Two football teams on opposite ends of the league standings start the season in the same position when Stillwater hosts Park-Cottage Grove in Friday's season opener at Pony Stadium. The games also serves as Parents Night for the Ponies.

Golf tourney benefits youth sports

The 15th Annual Ernest Biles Memorial Golf Tournament, benefiting youth sports programs in Butts County, will be held at Hickory Hill Golf Course on Sept. 15. Tee time will be 1 p.m.

Golf kicks off season with Rutgers Invitational

The men's golf team will square off in the Rutgers Invitational at Rutgers University on Friday.

Miami baseball player faces marijuana, HGH charges

A Miami baseball player was arrested and charged with trying to sell marijuana to undercover officers on university grounds, and police later found 19 vials of human growth hormone at his apartment. Frank Ratcliff, 19, of Key West, Fla. was charged Thursday with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Baseball. Baseball Alumni Weekend Set For Sept. 17-19

The UW baseball team will center its annual Alumni Weekend around the Husky football game vs. Nebraska next Saturday, Sept. 18. The weekend includes a golf tournament on Friday, a tailgate before the football game on Saturday and the Alumni Game on Sunday.

SOCCER: Huron rebounds from league loss

The Huron soccer team rebounded from a loss to Grosse Ile by hammering host Flat Rock 8-1 last a week ago.

Tennis Wildcats, Warriors stay perfect

West Genesees girls tennis team moved to 2-0 on the season last Tuesday afternoon by putting together a 7-0 shutout of the Corcoran Cougars. In four doubles matches, the

Soccer hopes for first win against Weber State

Women's soccer is seeking to capture what is proving to be an elusive first victory and second goal of the season as it battles Weber State (0-4-0) Thursday at 3 p.m. Utah is 0-6-0 and looking to gain its first win on the road. ...