Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas was nestled on a corner bench in front of the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course, thinking back to a time when he was nothing more than a young man trying to make a living in the horse racing game.
Chided by the judge for what he called a confusing and mostly pointless cross-examination, Roger Clemens' lawyer is finally turning after 19 hours to his central accusation: that Brian McNamee doctored physical evidence to frame the former star pitcher.
(Reuters) - The Indiana Pacers, showing the poise and determination Miami was supposed to have, routed the cold shooting Heat 94-75 on Thursday to take a surprising 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Tony Parker celebrated his 30th birthday by scoring 22 points to lead San Antonio over the Los Angeles Clippers 105-88, stretching the Spurs' win streak to 16 games.
On his 30th birthday, Tony Parker first kept the San Antonio Spurs on pace for what might be another lopsided playoff sweep. Then the All-Star who's always quick to needle Tim Duncan about his age finally acknowledged his own.
(Reuters) - Two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay finally got some run support from his Philadelphia team mates and won for the first time in more than a month on Thursday as the Phillies eked an 8-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
American Ryan Palmer fired a bogey-free six-under par 64 to seize a one-shot lead over German Alex Cejka and Australian Marc Leishman after round one of the Byron Nelson Championship.
(Reuters) - Suspended New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has filed a defamation lawsuit against National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell over statements regarding a "bounty" scheme reportedly used by the Saints.
(Reuters) - Twelve months after losing a playoff for the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, Ryan Palmer had redemption on his mind after taking control of the tournament in Thursday's opening round.
* Palmer sets sizzling pace with six-under-par 64 * Leishman soars into contention with two eagles (Updates at end of round) May 17 (Reuters) - Twelve months after losing a playoff forthe Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, Ryan Palmer hadredemption on his mind after taking control of the tournament inThursday's opening round. The 35-year-old American made the most of ideal scoringconditions at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, firing aflawless six-under-par 64 to grab a one-shot lead. ...
(Reuters) - The Philadelphia Eagles rewarded LeSean McCoy with a five-year contract extension after the running back enjoyed a breakout 2011 season, the National Football League (NFL) team said on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The key witness in Roger Clemens's perjury trial stuck to his testimony that the former baseball ace used performance-enhancing drugs even as the defense hammered him on Thursday for saying he had lied to investigators. Brian McNamee, Clemens's former trainer, faced unrelenting cross-examination about his role in the star pitcher's alleged use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. But while admitting he had delayed handing over evidence of an alleged injection and lied about how many times he had given Clemens shots, McNamee repeatedly told jurors in U.S. ...
Defending champion Suzann Pettersen was ousted by England's Jodi Ewart in the first round of the LPGA Match Play Championship Thursday, while World No. 1 Yani Tseng barely advanced.
(Reuters) - Electronic Arts Inc lost its bid to be dismissed from a lawsuit accusing the video game company of involvement in an NCAA conspiracy to prevent college athletes from being paid. Plaintiffs led by former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon had accused the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its marketing company of violating U.S. antitrust law by conspiring to force students to sign away their ability to profit commercially from playing college sports. ...
Suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a defamation lawsuit Thursday against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming the league's top executive made false statements that tarnished Vilma's reputation and hindered his ability to earn a living playing football.
Suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a defamation lawsuit Thursday against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming the league's top executive made false statements that tarnished Vilma's reputation and hindered his ability to earn a living playing football.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says it's up to Lew Wolff to decide whether to consider additional sites for a new ballpark for the Athletics, and the Oakland owner maintains he's focused on San Jose rather than a move outside the Bay Area.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says it's up to Lew Wolff to decide whether to consider additional sites for a new ballpark for the Athletics, and the Oakland owner maintains he's focused on San Jose rather than a move outside the Bay Area.
(Reuters) - Australian Marc Leishman soared into an early one-shot lead with a pair of eagles on the back nine in Thursday's opening round of the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas. The 28-year-old Leishman took advantage of relatively calm conditions at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, chipping in to eagle the par-four 11th and holing an eight-foot eagle putt at the par-five 16th on the way to a five-under-par 65. ...
May 17 (Reuters) - Australian Marc Leishman soared into anearly one-shot lead with a pair of eagles on the back nine inThursday's opening round of the Byron Nelson Championship inIrving, Texas. The 28-year-old Leishman took advantage of relatively calmconditions at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, chippingin to eagle the par-four 11th and holing an eight-foot eagleputt at the par-five 16th on the way to a five-under-par 65. ...
Visiting American Brandt Snedeker made the most of having to compete with just 10 clubs in handing Denmark's Thomas Bjorn a shock 5 and 4 defeat on day one of the World Match-Play Championship on Thursday.
May 17 (Infostrada Sports) - World Match Play Championshipgroup stage results on Thursday in Casares, Spain Rafael Cabrera (Spain) beat Martin Kaymer (Germany) 3&2 Justin Rose (Britain) beat Robert Rock (Britain) 7&6 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) v Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) all square Graeme McDowell (Britain) beat Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 1up Sergio Garcia (Spain) beat Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 2&1 Paul Lawrie (Britain) beat Peter Hanson (Sweden) 2&1 Brandt Snedeker (U.S.) beat Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 5&4 Ian Poulter (Britain) beat John Senden (Australia) 3&2
May 17 (Reuters) - Using fellow competitor John Senden'sback-up driver, American Brandt Snedeker pulled off a stunning5&4 victory over Dane Thomas Bjorn in the World Match PlayChampionship in Spain after his bag was delayed in transit. The world number 26, already a winner this year on the PGATour at Torrey Pines in January, shrugged off the disruption totake the first three holes with just 11 borrowed clubs. "I used John Senden's back-up driver and it worked reallywell, so I think it's mine now. ...
Arbitrator Shyam Das heard arguments Wednesday from NFL and players union lawyers on whether Commissioner Roger Goodell can discipline players for actions that occurred before the league's current labor agreement was signed last August.
(Reuters) - Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish continued his blistering start to life in Major League Baseball as the Japanese right-hander breezed through the Oakland Athletics lineup in a 4-1 win on Wednesday. Darvish, who leads Texas starters in wins, ERA and strikeouts, struck out seven more and allowed just one run in seven-and-two-third innings to improve his first-year record to 6-1. "He was very efficient tonight," Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters. "He loaded up the strike zone, and that's what he had to do. ...
NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant struck for 22 points, five coming in a game-ending 9-0 run, as Oklahoma City stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 77-75 in the NBA playoffs on Wednesday.
(Reuters) - The Oklahoma City Thunder scored nine unanswered points in the final two minutes to edge the Los Angeles Lakers 77-75 on Wednesday and seize a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. There was no late drama in the Eastern Conference, where the Boston Celtics trounced the Philadelphia 76ers 107-91 to move ahead 2-1 in their best-of-seven series. Although the 76ers lost by a bigger margin, it will be the Lakers who will probably be suffering more due to the manner of their loss. ...
Drew Brees said in a radio interview Wednesday night that he is frustrated by what he views as a lack of communication with the New Orleans Saints in his ongoing contract negotiations, adding the club should have shown more urgency to get a long-term deal done.
Kevin Garnett scored 27 points while Paul Pierce added 24 and Rajon Rondo had 23 as Boston cruised past Philadelphia 107-91 to grab the lead in their NBA playoff series.
Sports betting experts are going to have some lively discussions about this series after the New Jersey Devils won Game 2 to tie the New York Rangers at one game apiece.
After some interleague online betting play over the weekend, regular action resumes on Monday and Cincinnati hosts Atlanta in a National League matchup at the Great American Ballpark.
After bringing playoff baseball to their respective fan bases in recent years, the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers find themselves facing uphill climbs if they are going to reach the postseason this year following sub-.500 starts through the first seven weeks of the season.
Sports betting players are seeing Ireland at the European Championship for only the second time in their history, and the manager has the team playing inspired soccer.
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - A San Diego restaurant owned by Junior Seau closed its doors for good on Wednesday, two weeks after the former football star shot himself to death at his beachfront California home, trustees for his estate announced.
The state of Rhode Island is having trouble collecting some of the millions it lent former pitcher Curt Schilling, another reminder why chasing celebrity is almost always a bad thing.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Players and coaches with the New York Giants football team gathered at Tiffany & Co.'s flagship store in New York City on Wednesday evening to receive newly designed rings commemorating their Super Bowl victory earlier this year. The white-gold rings feature the Giants' logo in diamonds set in blue enamel and encircled by 37 blue sapphires, and is engraved with the years of the Giants' four Super Bowl victories, the first in 1986. "It's every boy's dream to come to Tiffany's and get a ring. ...
It may be less than two months in to the 2012 MLB season, but even at this point few would have expected the Cleveland Indians to be on top of the American League Central, not after the Detroit Tigers broke the bank to bring Prince Fielder aboard.
Online betting players familiar with Portugal’s national team know that they’re powered by their superstar captain who is one of the top three players in the world, and he’ll be counted on heavily at the European Championship.
The Miami Heat entered the 2011-12 season on a mission to avenge last season’s defeat in the NBA finals. Following the first round of this year’s playoffs, the Heat has already watched two of their biggest obstacles exit stage left.
The Philadelphia Phillies haven't fared well in the National League East, but thanks to an interleague series against the Boston Red Sox, they can move upward against the A.L. East.
Sports betting players are moving on to the second round of the NBA playoffs, and in the Western Conference it looks like the two best teams have to go through the Los Angeles duo to make to the finals.
Online betting sharps know how important homefield advantage is in soccer, and Poland may be able to ride that to a group win at the European Championship as they co-host the tournament with the Ukraine.
The 2012 NHL Playoffs are about to feel like the 1994 playoffs, because the teams that decided the Eastern Conference title 18 years ago will do the same thing over the next two weeks.
The sports betting odds for the second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, are favoring a horse that is incredibly fast in terms of speed, but he fell short at the Kentucky Derby, which isn’t as long as the Preakness and that could be the key as he maintains his status as the favorite in Baltimore.
Just when online betting sharps through the Lakers-Nuggets series was over, Los Angeles decided to open their mouths instead of playing and that sparked Denver to a couple of big wins to send the series to a seventh game.
Sports betting players have watched an incredibly close series in the Eastern Conference between New York and Washington in which all six games have been decided by two goals or less, and the last five have been decided by a goal.
With all of the talk about how talented the Detroit Tigers would be, baseball fans in the Motor City may have forgotten that before you get the chance to challenge for a World Series title you must first clinch a playoff spot during the regular season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been setting the pace this season in the National League West Division, forcing the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants to play catch-up in May.
Online betting sharps should be jumping on the bandwagon of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who may have the best player in the majors in Matt Kemp, and a solid pitching staff led by reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, who won’t be on the mound at all this weekend against Colorado.
Online betting sharps who like attacking football should love the Netherlands, who have disappointed in major tournaments in the past; for their great history, Holland should have more championships and that may scare some off when it comes to Euro 2012.
For the last couple of years, fans of the Toronto Blue Jays have voiced their complaints about playing in such a tough division, with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox using the advantage of not being burdened by salary restrictions in order to consistently field playoff contenders.
When Adam LaRoche hit a two-run home run to give the Washington Nationals the 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, it seemed as though they were destined to extend their lead on top of the National League East division.
While sports betting players wait for a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather to happen (and they shouldn’t hold their breath), Pacquiao will make his next title defense next month against Timothy Bradley, who is moving up in competition and weight for a massive payday and he’ll get more than he bargained for against the eight-division champion.
Not many online betting sharps had Greece winning the European Champion in 2004 in Portugal, where they had to beat the hosts not once, but twice, but the Ethniki stood their ground in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament.
When the Washington Capitals were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in last year’s playoffs, it seemed as though it was the beginning of the end for a core group that had spent the past five seasons together in the nation’s capital.
The 2012 NHL Playoffs have been the showcase for many surprising players, but nobody has captured the spotlight quite like Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby.
When the Memphis Grizzlies allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to record the biggest sports betting comeback in NBA playoff history, it was much worse than simply conceding home court advantage in the series.
A lot of online betting sharps woke up exhausted on Thursday morning thanks to Game 3’s triple-overtime game between New York and Washington, which was pulled out by the Rangers on the road.
In order for the Dallas Mavericks to reach the NBA finals a year ago, they had to first take care of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western conference finals, which they did on their way to an NBA title.
The Indiana Pacers were expected to roll over the Orlando Magic without much of any problems, but after an unexpected loss in Game 1, they'll have to dig deep and show they can take a punch.
France’s online betting chances at the European Championship will be predicated on their ability to score goals as their defense is in solid shape, but the two-time champions are on the ascent under their new manager.
After the Boston Red Sox were labeled preseason sports betting favorites to win the World Series a year ago, it was hard for their fans to watch them struggle out of the gate, and then after looking so strong at midseason, collapse down the stretch to miss the playoffs.
After reaching the NBA finals in their first season together in Miami, the big three of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh know what it will take for the Heat to get back to the big stage.
Online betting players will see that England finally hired a manager with the European Championship only a month away, and he’ll have his hands full managing not only the expectations of a nation, but putting all his pieces into a functional squad that can challenge for honors and he may not have enough time to do it for Euro 2012.
If only perfecting your golf swing was as simple as playing Angry Birds. Well, while the idea of developing a PGA-quality swing will never be that easy, a growing array of mobile apps, now enhanced by cloud technology, really could help take a stroke or two off your game.
The Chicago Bulls are still in a psychologically wounded state, but will their frame of mind be damaged enough to cost them in their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers?
Boston’s sports betting odds revolved around their point guard, who lost his head in Game 1 and was suspended for the second game in Atlanta, but he’ll return to the lineup and steal the show on Friday night as the Celtics come home and pick up a hard-earned win over the Hawks.
Some online betting sharps were surprised to see a youthful German team dominate at the World Cup, and now they’re one of the favorites heading into this summer’s European Championships.
The 2012 NHL Playoffs have been a showcase for young and talented goaltenders, with Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby serving as a prime representative of the trend.
In terms of sports betting, you won’t find many single-day events as big as the Kentucky Derby, and the 138th edition goes off this Saturday at venerable Churchill Downs.
The NBA playoffs are finally here, and while the first round isn’t always the most exciting time on the basketball calendar, the parity in the Western conference is much stronger than in the East, and that has provided sports betting fans with what is undoubtedly the most exciting matchup of the opening round on paper.