MONACO (AP) — Lance Armstrong put in a solid performance in his comeback at the Tour de France on Saturday, finishing the first stage ahead of 170 riders many years younger and a respectable 10th behind winner Fabian Cancellara. Armstrong’s Astana team was dominant in the time trial through the hills and hairpin turns of […]

BOSTON (AP) — Seattle closer David Aardsma is a lot like the rest of the Mariners. He wasn’t expected to do a lot this season. Chris Woodward’s bases-loaded pop up in the ninth inning dropped behind a partially draw-in infield to score the go-ahead run, lifting Seattle to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red […]

NEW YORK (AP) – Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hot dogs, capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat. Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., hoisted the American flag and then stood proudly […]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was shot multiple times, including once in the head, and a pistol was discovered near the body of the 20-year-old woman found dead with him Saturday in a downtown condominium. Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron identified the woman as Sahel Kazemi, whom he called a “friend” […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang left Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a strained right shoulder. Wang surrendered a two-run homer to Adam Lind with one out in the sixth and threw a pitch to Scott Rolen before manager Joe Girardi and assistant trainer Steve Donohue came out of the […]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t know when he’ll end his winless streak, or how long it will take to turn around his horrendous season. The only thing NASCAR’s most popular driver — winless in 38 races – is certain of is that he’s not strong enough to withstand another year like […]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair has been shot and killed. Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron confirmed that police were called to a residence and found McNair and a woman shot to death inside. Aaron said authorities don’t yet know the circumstances of the shooting. “I don’t have any answers for you […]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Clint Bowyer’s first victory of the season gave Richard Childress Racing a much-needed boost. Bowyer won the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night, holding off Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards in a green-white-checkered finish. “These guys never give up, the guys at RCR and the ladies,” […]

Red Sox pitcher Dice-K’s going to Florida BOSTON (AP) – Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will head to Florida on Monday to begin a spring training-like strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season. Matsuzaka was 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA and an opponents’ batting average […]

Tour ready for start with Armstrong back MONACO (AP) — The Tour de France is ready for another edition with Lance Armstrong, and Saturday’s opening stage may show whether he’s ready to challenge for another title. Armstrong’s 37-year-old legs will be tested immediately when the three-week race begins with a 9.6-mile time trial. The stage […]