BOSTON (AP) — Homers or hijinks, Red Sox fans never knew what they would get from Manny Ramirez. Now it’s their turn to surprise the enigmatic slugger. Will they think of his leisurely trots down the first base line and boo? Or will they recall his drives over the Green Monster and cheer? Ramirez’s former […]

IRENE, South Africa (AP) — Tim Howard thought about Andrej Komac’s prediction of victory for Slovenia and chuckled. “I think talk is cheap,” the American goalkeeper said Wednesday. “He’s got to stand toe to toe. And they’ve got to stand toe to toe with us for 90 minutes. And if he’s still standing, then I’ll […]

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Switzerland pulled off a shocking upset at the World Cup on Wednesday, beating European champion Spain 1-0 on Gelson Fernandes’ second-half goal. Fernandes clipped the ball into the net in the 52nd minute, ending Spain’s run of 12 straight wins and handing the Spanish team its second loss in 50 […]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Perkins’ season ended in Game 6 of the NBA finals when he was helped off the floor and into a waiting wheelchair. Rajon Rondo showed up for work Wednesday with a large bandage covering his chin, joking that his injury came in a locker room fight with Pau Gasol. Yep, […]

BOSTON (AP) — Cam Neely had a direct approach to playing hockey. Go for the goal and knock down any opponent blocking the way. His decision to return to the sport in a management role was more roundabout. The hockey Hall of Famer needed several years to accept the reality that his body no longer […]

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — One shot that stands out from the last U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was the 7-iron that Tiger Woods gouged out of the right rough on the par-5 sixth, a blind shot over the hill and onto the green to turn trouble into birdie. He might not get so lucky […]

IRENE, South Africa (AP) — As far as the staff at the Irene Country Lodge is concerned the real star of the U.S. soccer team, bunking there during World Cup, isn’t Landon, Clint or Tim. It’s Oguchi Onyewu. “Maybe because my name is not as normal as everybody else’s, or they can identify with my […]

BOSTON (AP) — Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis homered, and Jon Lester scattered four hits over seven innings to earn his eighth straight victory and lead the Boston Red Sox to a 6-2 victory over Arizona on Wednesday night. It was the Diamondbacks’ franchise-record 12th straight road loss. Lester (8-2) gave up Justin Upton’s two-run […]

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Dodge president and CEO Ralph Gilles records every NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup race in an effort to keep tabs on his company’s most visible car salesmen. If Gilles can avoid being told who won — longtime NASCAR owner Roger Penske often texts him results — he makes sure to carve […]