LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — There were questions about the judgment of team owner Joe Gibbs when he decided to replace departing two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart with a 19-year-old rookie this season. Even a rookie considered a phenom. The former NFL coach, head of Joe Gibbs Racing, admitted Sunday he tried not to put too […]

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. had one of the most satisfying 13th-place finishes in his NASCAR career Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Gas strategies and a rain-shortened race probably cost the crowd favorite a better finish, but Earnhardt ran well throughout the day, spending most of the 273 laps in the top […]

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Bob Bradley was as frustrated as his players that his United States team let a two-goal lead slide to a 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederation Cup final. Yet he said the experience of the 14-day competition was another sign of the remarkable progress his team is making since the disappointment […]

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Dwight Phillips found himself at a spot many athletes reach when they hit 30, after an injury hits and their legs don’t take them places they once did. “I had to reevaluate and decide if maybe my time was gone,” he said. Good thing he thought twice about that. What had […]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Minutes after walking into the St. Louis Cardinals’ clubhouse, Mark DeRosa was already getting tips from Albert Pujols. Manager Tony La Russa had him batting cleanup behind Pujols and DeRosa was happy to be with an NL Central contender after a half-season in the American League. “I just want to be […]

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Clint Dempsey sobbed as the Americans walked up to get their second-place medals, unable to hide the pain and the disappointment any longer. The euphoria of knocking off Spain last week dissolved Sunday in the Confederations Cup final when Brazil unleashed its “Beautiful Game.” After dominating the five-time World Cup champions in […]

PARIS (AP) — When Lance Armstrong and France’s anti-doping agency were at odds last spring over a surprise doping test, the seven-time Tour de France champion’s return to the Tour appeared to fade. Since then, tensions have eased. Armstrong is set for the start of the three-week race Saturday in Monaco, and Pierre Bordry, the […]

Yankees roll past Mets 5-0 NEW YORK – The Yankees are turning this Subway Series into a monumental mismatch. A.J. Burnett combined with two relievers on a one-hitter, Nick Swisher and Jorge Posada made Citi Field seem small with opposite-field homers, and the Yankees rolled past the Mets again, 5-0 Saturday night. Alex Cora got […]

Supposedly, pro football has reached its downtime. Considering how the NFL has ignored for nearly five months that this is the offseason, a break sure would be nice right about now. Head coaches are on vacation — Philadelphia’s Andy Reid and Minnesota’s Brad Childress went fishing together in Alaska, where they presumably are not discussing […]

Flames acquire potential free agent Bouwmeester MONTREAL (AP) — The Calgary Flames have added Jay Bouwmeester to their already impressive defense corps, at least for the next four days. Bouwmeester, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, was acquired by Calgary in a trade with the Florida Panthers as the NHL […]