Mark Hughes Sacked As Man City Manager

Manchester City have sacked Mark Hughes after less than 18 months in charge and have named former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini as his successor.

News of Hughes' departure came via a statement, issued just two hours after the 4-3 home win over Sunderland.

The Welshman had been appointed in June 2008, replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But despite spending heavily on the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott and Carlos Tevez, results have not satisfied City's ambitious owners.

Read more here.

Windies write Benn protest letter

West Indies will send a letter of protest to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the suspension handed down to Sulieman Benn, but they won't appeal against the decision.

Watson charged after celebration

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson became the fourth player to be charged for poor behaviour during an ill-tempered third Test following his unsightly celebration of the wicket of West Indies captain Chris Gayle on day four.

36ers score upset win

Adelaide 36ers have pulled off a major upset with a a 12-point away win over second placed Perth Wildcats in their NBL clash at Challenge Stadium.

Unbeaten Colts coach unsure over resting starters

The Indianapolis Colts, unbeaten at 14-0, have yet to decide whether to play a full strength team for the final two games of the regular season or rest their top performers before the playoffs, coach Jim Caldwell said.

Jets' Sanchez gets the nod for Atlanta game

Mark Sanchez will start at quarterback when the New York Jets host the Atlanta Falcons at the Meadowlands on Sunday, head coach Rex Ryan said on Friday.

Woods voted PGA Tour Player of the Year by peers

Tiger Woods, who has taken an indefinite break from golf after being embroiled in a sex scandal, picked up another golfing honor on Friday when he was named PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Tiger Woods withdraws from tournament, not talking

Tiger Woods pulled out of a golf tournament this week, the latest fall-out from a minor car accident that has left a swirl of mystery and a hint of scandal around the world's top golfer and pushed him into full damage control.

Terry's late basket lifts Mavs over 76ers

Jason Terry sank a 17-foot jump shot with a second remaining to lift the Dallas Mavericks to a 104-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

Saints, Brees perfect in win over Patriots

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees delivered a perfect performance to lead the Saints to a dominant 38-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Monday and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Late goal keeps Kookas unbeaten

Striker Des Abbott helped Australia put one foot in the Champions Trophy final with a late match-winning goal for a 2-1 victory over England in Melbourne.

Lockyer open to fullback speculation

A relaxed Darren Lockyer was open to speculation he could return to the position where he first launched his playing career with Brisbane Broncos.

Scott takes lead in China

Australian Craig Scott fired a six-under 65 to take the lead after Thursday's opening round of the China Classic.

Wildcats Rogers to retire

Perth Wildcats centre Paul Rogers is expected to announce his retirement from the NBL on Friday morning after scans revealed he needs surgery for a torn triceps.

India sack bowling, fielding coaches

India's cricket chiefs on Thursday sacked the national team's bowling and fielding coaches after the side's first-round exit from the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Colts sign Stover after Vinatieri undergoes knee surgery

Indianapolis Colts place kicker Adam Vinatieri is expected to be sidelined for four to eight weeks following a knee operation.

U.S. shows spirit by late fightback, says Bradley

The United States showed its true colors when it fought back from a two-goal deficit to draw with Costa Rica 2-2 in the final round of World Cup qualifying Wednesday, coach Bob Bradley said.

Power versus speed marks Yankees-Angels clash

The home run power of the New York Yankees will be pitted against the speed and guile of the Los Angeles Angels when the two teams clash in Friday's opener of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

Pompey Plan In Place

Portsmouth owner Sulaiman Al Fahim has pledged to stabilise the club on and off the field.

Flintoff, England Still A Priority

Andrew Flintoff insists playing cricket for England remains his top priority.

Australia-India washed out

Pakistan qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-finals after the India-Australia match was abandoned due to rain.

Yankees claim AL East title with 100th win

The playoff-bound New York Yankees wrapped up the American League East title with their 100th victory of the season, a 4-2 triumph over arch-rivals Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Safina shocked by qualifier Chang, Venus out

World number one Dinara Safina collapsed to a stunning 7-6 4-6 7-5 defeat by Taiwanese qualifier Chang Kai-chen at the Pan Pacific Open on Monday.

Burress jailed for two years on gun charge

Former New York Giants wide receiver and Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress was taken to jail on Tuesday to begin serving a two-year sentence for gun possession, after accidentally shooting himself at a nightclub last year.

Federer and Nadal in line for Davis Cup clash

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer could go head to head in the first round of next year's Davis Cup after Spain were drawn to face Switzerland in the first round of the World Group on Wednesday.

Yankees book post-season spot after Angels win

The New York Yankees clinched a post-season berth with a tense 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

Red Sox sting Rays in rain-shortened game

The Boston Red Sox scored eight runs in a wild third inning to crush the slumping Tampa Bay Rays 9-1 in a rain-shortened American League game on Saturday.

Bolt ends superb year with 200m victory

Jamaican Usain Bolt capped a remarkable year by storming to victory in the 200 meters at the World Athletics Final on Sunday.

Brawn 1-2 At Monza

Rubens Barrichello won the Italian Grand Prix leading home a Brawn GP one-two.

Easy Win For Del Potro

Juan Martin Del Potro beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets to reach the US Open final.

Terry Urges Restraint

England captain John Terry has stressed the need to manage expectation levels.

Miniver Rose Wins

28-1 shot Miniver Rose beat Starfala to win the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday.

Age Of Aquarius Out Of St Leger

Ante-post favourite Age Of Aquarius is out of Saturday's St Leger at Doncaster.

Wildcards Parrott and Gulickson win mixed doubles

American wildcards of Carly Gullickson and Travis Parrott stunned defending champions Cara Black and Leander Paes 6-2 6-4 to win the U.S. Open's mixed doubles championship on Thursday.

Free agent Iverson signs one-year deal with the Grizzlies

Ten-times NBA All-Star guard Allen Iverson completed his expected move to the Memphis Grizzlies by signing a one-year contract with the team on Thursday.

Mooney on rocks with Reds

Phil Mooney's future as Queensland Reds coach is under a dark cloud following an unconfirmed report he'd been axed by the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU).

Warner down on ODI dumping

David Warner is determined to pile on the runs to get himself back into Australia's one-day team, but he's not holding his breath waiting for useful feedback from selectors.

White states case for regular gig

When Cameron White joined Australia's touring party in England he had no idea captain Ricky Ponting would take a break, opening up the No.3 batting spot.

Brutal Bradshaw beats the Blues

Brisbane Lions star forwards Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw have led the Lions to an incredible 16.15 (111) to 15.14 (104) comeback victory to keep the club's AFL finals campaign alive and end Carlton's season.

Manly send timely reminder

Manly relaunched their premiership defence with an emphatic 38-4 win over the Gold Coast Titans that left the Queensland side with a nightmare injury toll heading into the club's NRL finals debut.

Socceroos humbled in Korea

The Socceroos have paid the price for some early lapses in defence, going down 3-1 to Korea Republic at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Parade Sprints To Glory

Regal Parade registered a surprise 14-1 success in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Pot Of Gold At End Of Rainbow

Rainbow View returned to winning ways with an impressive victory in the Matron Stakes.

Sea The Stars Wins Again

Sea The Stars was a brilliant winner of the Irish Champion Stakes.

Nadal enjoys Kiefer's late-night challenge in New York

What started out as a rout turned into a war of attrition for Rafael Nadal on Friday, the stiff test leaving the third-seeded Spaniard feeling better prepared for an assault on a first U.S. Open title.

Rodriguez shines in Houston win over Phillies

Wandy Rodriguez shined both on the mound and at the plate as the Houston Astros shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 7-0 on Friday.

Venus and Clijsters to renew rivalry

Former U.S. Open champions Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters have set the stage for a New York revival worthy of a Broadway script.

Fourth seed Dementieva upended by American teenager Oudin

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva suffered a stunning defeat at the U.S. Open on Thursday as she was upended 5-7 6-4 6-3 by American teenager Melanie Oudin in the second round.

Eight NFL teams' values decline from last year: Forbes

The recession has affected even the National Football League as the value of eight teams in the U.S. sports league declined from last year, according to an annual report released by Forbes on Wednesday.

Safina survives error-filled affair to advance

Volatile top seed Dinara Safina flirted with an early exit for a second successive match but held on to defeat Germany's Kristina Barrois 6-7 6-2 6-3 and reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.

Tigers overtake Rays on Polanco's three-run homer

The Detroit Tigers roared from behind on Placido Polanco's three-run, eighth-inning homer to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 and give Justin Verlander his 15th win of the season on Sunday.

Slocum wins Barclays Classic by a stroke

Unheralded American Heath Slocum won the Barclays Classic by one stroke on Sunday after rolling in a 21-foot putt to save par at the last and finish ahead of four heavyweights, including Tiger Woods.

Clijsters makes impressive return to grand-slam action

Former world number one Kim Clijsters made a winning return to grand-slam tennis on Monday with a 6-1 6-1 win over Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Marino and Goydos share lead at Jersey City

A birdie hat-trick propelled Steve Marino into a tie for the lead with fellow American Paul Goydos after the Barclays Classic third round on Saturday.

Pedrosa takes pole at Indianapolis

Spain's Dani Pedrosa took pole position for Sunday's Indianapolis Moto GP after producing the quickest lap in qualifying.

Boston's Papelbon halts Blue Jays' rally

Closer Jonathan Papelbon halted a two-run ninth-inning rally by the Toronto Blue Jays to help the Boston Red Sox hold on for a 3-2 victory on Saturday.

Europa Cup Draw

The draw has been made for the group stages of the Europa Cup:

Group A:
Ajax (NED)
Anderlecht (BEL)
Dynamo Zagreb (CRO)
Timisoara (ROM)

Group B:
Valencia (ESP)
Lille (FRA)
Slavia Prague (CZE)
Genoa (ITA)

Group C:
Hamburg SV (GER)
Celtic (SCO)
Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR)
Rapid Vienna (AUT)

Group D:
Sporting Lisbon (POR)
Heerenveen (NED)
Hertha Berlin (GER)
Ventspils (LAT)

Group E:
AS Roma (ITA)
FC Basel (SUI)
Fulham (ENG)
CSKA Sofia (BUL)

Group F:
Panathinaikos (GRE)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Dynamo Bucharest (ROM)
Sturm Graz (AUT)

Group G:
Villarreal (ESP)
Lazio (ITA)
Levski Sofia (BUL)
Salzburg (AUT)

Group H:
Steaua Bucharest (ROM)
Fenerbahce (TUR)
Twente (NED)
Sheriff Tiraspol (MOL)

Group I:
Benfica (POR)
Everton (ENG)
AEK Athens (GRE)
BATE Borisov (BLR)

Group J:
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Bruges (BEL)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
Toulouse (FRA)

Group K:
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
FC Copenhagen (DEN)
Sparta Prague (CZE)
CFR Cluj (ROM)

Group L:
Werder Bremen (GER)
Austria Vienna (AUT)
Athletic Bilbao (ESP)
Nacional Madeira (POR)

Bolt says he may take up long jump

World 100 and 200 meters champion Usain Bolt is also fixing his sights on the long jump.

Federer and Serena start out against wildcards

World number one Roger Federer will begin his bid to win a record sixth consecutive U.S. Open against American wildcard Devin Britton after the draw was made on Thursday.

Goydos and Marino share early lead, Woods five back

Paul Goydos and fellow-American Steve Marino shared the early first-round lead with 65s in the Barclays Classic at Liberty National on Thursday with Tiger Woods five shots off the early pace.

Twins unlikely to disturb Federer's slam dreams

The birth of twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose was supposed to mark the moment when their dad Roger Federer lost his appetite to win titles -- at least that is what the all-conquering Swiss's rivals were hoping for.

Jets name rookie Sanchez as starting quarterback

Rookie Mark Sanchez was named as starting quarterback for the New York Jets by coach Rex Ryan on Wednesday.

Woods aims for $10 million prize to ease majors sting

Tiger Woods aims to ease the sting of a rare season without a major title when he launches his bid on Thursday for the FedExCup series title and the $10 million bonus it awards the winner.

AFL Preview: R22

After 168 games, the AFL season reaches its final weekend. But Gerard Healy believes the best may have been saved for last.

Amaral back for guest stint

Former Brazil midfielder Amaral has completed his registration as a guest player for Perth Glory, and is eligible to play against Melbourne Victory at Members Equity Stadium.

Sunderland cruise past Norwich

Premier League side Sunderland crushed League One rivals Norwich 4-1 in the League Cup second round at Carrow Road.

Aussies must quickly change focus

Before the final Ashes Test, Australian captain Ricky Ponting jokingly asked whether an open-top train would carry his team to Scotland if they won.

Impressive Villa stun Liverpool

An own goal by Brazilian Lucas, Curtis Davies' header and Ashley Young's penalty helped Aston Villa to a surprise 3-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield.

Yang to take on Tiger again at HSBC Champions in Shanghai

PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun will renew his rivalry with Tiger Woods on Asian soil in November after confirming his participation at the $7 million HSBC Champions Monday.

Court says Delaware sports betting plan illegal

A U.S. appeals court ruled on Monday that a plan by Delaware to allow sports betting violates federal law, siding with major sports leagues who argued it would promote game fixing.

Bruntlett turns game-ending unassisted triple play

Eric Bruntlett completed just the second game-ending unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball on Sunday, which helped the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-7 victory over the New York Mets.

Imperious Federer eases to Cincinnati title

World number one Roger Federer warmed up for the defense of his U.S. Open title in perfect fashion as he beat fourth seed Novak Djokovic 6-1 7-5 to win the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday.

Dementieva too strong for Sharapova in Toronto final

Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva picked up her third title of the year and denied compatriot Maria Sharapova a comeback win with a 6-4 6-3 victory in the final of the Toronto Cup on Sunday.

Americans cruise to victory in 4x400m relays

The US made amends for their unhappy 4x100m appearances by retaining both men's and women's world titles in the 4x400 meter relays on the final day of the world championships on Sunday.

The Ashes Return To England

England have beaten Australia by 197 runs with a day to spare in the fifth Test at The Oval to regain the Ashes. The breakthrough came when Andrew Flintoff ran out Rick Ponting just as he was forming a useful partnership with Mike Hussey that could have caused England problems. Steve Harmison proved his worth by getting three wickets and Graeme Swann's 4 wickets to add to his 4 from the first innings, showed that Australia's decision to leave out a spinner cost them the Ashes.

Andrew Strauss said, "It's hard to know what to say right now - it's an emotional moment, these things never come easily. At times we thought we'd never get there, but we've done it"

Ever Of The Everton?

Everton have managed to secure a work permit for Argentina midfielder Ever Banega.

Wenger Still Interested In Vieira

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has not ruled out making a move for Patrick Vieira.

England Survive Tense Few Hours

England's lead passes 320 on day three of the final Ashes Test at The Brit Oval.

Bell Tolls For England's Batsmen

Ian Bell admitted England's batsmen had blown a big chance on day one of the fifth Test.

Serena cruises into Toronto quarters

World number two Serena Williams raced into the quarter-finals of the Toronto Cup on Thursday with a 6-1 6-4 demolition of Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

Martin grand slam sparks Dodgers to victory

Russell Martin's grand slam in the sixth inning sparked the stagnant Los Angeles Dodgers to a much needed 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Joy for Yang but Asia struggles to keep the cream

Yang Yong-eun's trailblazing major championship triumph -- the first for an Asian man -- has been universally welcomed by golf bodies around the region as a boost to the growth of the game and a spur to other players.

NBC and NFL agree on two year television extension

The National Football League extended its six-year television deal with NBC by another two years on Wednesday, following similar deals last spring with broadcast networks CBS and Fox.

Bolt needs short burst to make 200 final

Triple Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt breezed into the world championship 200 meters final on Wednesday, needing only an opening 30-meter burst to establish his dominance in the semi-final.

Injured Gay pulls out of 200 meters

Tyson Gay has withdrawn from the world championship 200 meters because of a persistent groin injury.

Tigers acquire Huff from Orioles

The Detroit Tigers have acquired infielder Aubrey Huff from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitching prospect Brett Jacobson, the teams said on Monday.

Fraser secures Jamaican double in 100 meters

Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica exploded from the blocks to win the world 100 meters title on Monday in 10.73 seconds, the joint third fastest women's run of all time.

Mind-blowing Bolt lights up worlds

Usain Bolt delivered one of the most astonishing performances ever seen in athletics when he scorched to world championship 100 meters gold in a mind-blowing 9.58 seconds on Sunday.

Korean Yang upstages Woods with Hazeltine win

South Korean Yang Yong-eun became Asia's first male major winner after overhauling Tiger Woods in stunning fashion to clinch the U.S. PGA Championship by three shots on Sunday.

Mets' Wright suffers concussion from beaning

New York Mets third baseman David Wright suffered concussion after being hit in the head by a pitch from San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain on Saturday.

Wenger Ready for Celtic Match

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will head to Celtic with no fear on Tuesday night.

Mowbray relishing Arsenal clash

Tony Mowbray is relishing Celtic's Champions League qualifier against Arsenal.

No Rest For Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff and Joe Denly were both named in all three England ODI squads.

More Chelsea Signings Due

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has not yet ruled out making another signing this summer.

Benitez moans about fixtures again

The first moan about fixture scheduling of the new season has come from Rafael Benitez.

Benitez said: "It would be interesting to see how the fixtures are done because every year we seem to have a difficult away game.

"It will be tough against a good team and a manager (Harry Redknapp) with experience. But we will try to get all three points."

Rafa: We Don't Need Big Names

Rafa Benitez insists his Liverpool squad does not need any more big-money acquisitions.

Federer and Nadal crash out of Montreal Masters

Roger Federer suffered a stunning collapse and Rafael Nadal's creaky knees weren't strong enough to carry him into the semi-finals as the world's top two players crashed out of the Montreal Masters on Friday.

Woods opens commanding lead at gusty Hazeltine

Tiger Woods answered every challenge with a brilliant display of power shot-making on a hot, windy day at Hazeltine to seize a commanding four-stroke lead after 36 holes of the U.S. PGA Championship.

Woods still leads as he begins second round

Late starter Tiger Woods was still in the lead when he began his U.S. PGA Championship second round as strong gusts blew across the monster, 7,674-yard Hazeltine National.

Sprint showdown the highlight of world champs

When it comes to showdowns, athletics has seen nothing like it since the days of Ben Johnson v Carl Lewis more than 20 years ago.

Vick ready for return to football

Disgraced NFL star Michael Vick made his first public appearance for the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday and expressed remorse for bankrolling a dogfighting ring, an offense that sent him to prison.

Sabathia dominant as Yankees crush Mariners 11-1

CC Sabathia enjoyed another superb outing on the mound to help the New York Yankees kick off their 10-game road trip with a crushing 11-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Disgraced Vick gets "second chance"

Quarterback Michael Vick, released from jail in May after serving 23 months for bankrolling a dogfighting ring, has been given a "second chance" by the Philadelphia Eagles and signed a two-year deal with the team.

Sizzling Tiger takes command at Hazeltine

The ominous figure of four-times winner Tiger Woods seized control of the U.S. PGA Championship on Thursday, firing a flawless five-under-par 67 to charge one stroke clear in the opening round.

Torres, no excuse for reds

Fernando Torres believes Liverpool have the talent and experience to win the title.

Why Wenger Turned Down Real

Arsene Wenger says he would have betrayed his beliefs had he left Arsenal for Real Madrid.

Rio tips top four to be challengers

Rio Ferdinand expects the same old rivals to be challenging Manchester United.

Hunt Completes Hull Switch

Republic of Ireland winger Stephen Hunt has completed his move from Reading to Hull.

Anelka Set For Contract Talks

Nicolas Anelka's agent says the striker is to hold talks with Chelsea over a new deal.

Drop Bopara & Bell

Allan Lamb has called on England's selectors to make major changes for the final Ashes Test.

Francisco blasts Phillies to victory over Cubs

Ben Francisco's 12th inning homer provided the winning run for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, the blast ensuring the World Series champions avoided a fourth straight loss.

New dad Federer wins on return in Montreal

Roger Federer pointed to a little ring rust rather than the joys of becoming a new dad after beating Frederic Niemeyer 7-6 6-4 on Tuesday to reach the third round of the Montreal Masters.

Wizards sign ex-San Antonio forward Oberto

The Washington Wizards added some depth to their inside game by signing free agent forward Fabricio Oberto, the team said Tuesday.

Nadal's knees survive first test in Montreal

Rafael Nadal's tender knees passed their first test when the Spaniard returned to action on Monday in a doubles win at the Montreal Masters.

Ivanovic discovers cure for serving yips

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic said she may have found a cure for her serving problems after reaching the second round of the Cincinnati Open on Monday.

Celtics re-sign "Big Baby" Davis

The Boston Celtics have re-signed forward Glen 'Big Baby&'; Davis, the NBA team said on Monday.

Yankees blank Red Sox for sixth successive win

The New York Yankees streaked to their sixth consecutive win, shutting out the slumping Boston Red Sox 5-0 behind CC Sabathia's strong pitching on Saturday.

Hayes among five enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame

The late Bob Hayes, whose lightning speed won him fame on Olympic tracks and in NFL stadiums, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Blackhawks star Kane arrested for robbing cabbie

Patrick Kane, the star winger for the Chicago Blackhawks, was arrested on Sunday and charged with robbing a cab driver in Buffalo, New York, according to Buffalo police.

Aussies level Ashes

Australia beat England by an innings and 80 runs to level the Ashes Series at Headingley.

Strauss not hitting the panic button

Reaction from the England camp after the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley.

Ponti Is One In A Million

Stotsford finished third as Gio Ponti lifted the Arlington Million on Saturday.

Harrington Ready For Tiger Tussle

Padraig Harrington is preparing to go into battle against Tiger Woods on Sunday.

England's Failings Exposed

Justin Langer produced a damning dossier written highlighting England's weaknesses.

Knights freefall as Eels power on

Newcastle&'s 2009 freefall reached terminal velocity on Sunday as the Knights crashed out of the NRL top eight with a 40-8 loss to a Parramatta side whose bubble refuses to burst.

Jets get season off the ground

Newcastle Jets super-subs Jason Naidovski and Sean Rooney came to the rescue as the Jets stole a 3-2 A-League win over Wellington Phoenix at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Magic day for slick Swans

Adam Goodes turned on a football clinic as Sydney Swans celebrated Michael O'Loughlin's 300th AFL game with a 55-point win against Richmond at the MCG.

Perfect Saints stun Hawks

St Kilda maintained their unbeaten record despite missing eight of their best players, upsetting Hawthorn by 25 points in Launceston on Saturday.

Stosur confident ahead of semi

Australia's Samantha Stosur has moved one step closer to a maiden singles title after beating Zheng Jie in their quarter-final clash at the WTA Los Angeles Championships.

Eagles have Dogs for dinner

West Coast stunned Western Bulldogs in an AFL thriller at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, hanging on for dear life after coughing up a 47-point lead to win by five points.

Red Sox designate Smoltz for assignment

The Boston Red Sox have designated the pitcher John Smoltz for assignment, one day after the right-hander was blitzed by the New York Yankees.

Struggling Giambi released by the A's

Jason Giambi's second stint with the Oakland Athletics ended abruptly when the struggling five-times All-Star was unconditionally released on Friday.

Yankees beat Red Sox on A-Rod homer

Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run, walk-off home run in the 15th inning to give the New York Yankees a 2-0 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Patriots take defensive end Burgess from Oakland

The New England Patriots have acquired defensive end Derrick Burgess in a trade with the Oakland Raiders, the Patriots announced on Thursday.

Titans to wear tribute to murdered McNair

The Tennessee Titans will honor murdered former quarterback Steve McNair by wearing number nine symbols on their helmets this season, the NFL team said on Thursday.

Yankees club Smoltz for first win of season

The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox for the first time this season, slamming four home runs to crush their arch rivals 13-6 on Thursday.

Deans goes on the attack

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans launched a withering retaliatory strike against Springboks counterpart Peter de Villiers as tensions simmered on the eve of the Tri Nations showdown at Newlands.

Flintoff out of Headingley Test

England's Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley but Matt Prior has passed a late medical after suffering a back spasm while playing football during the warm-up on the outfield.

4th Test

Buoyed by their fightback, of sorts, in the dying stages of the Edgbaston Test, Australia are confident of tieing up the Ashes at Headingley and setting up a thrilling series finale at the Oval.

Liverpool agree deal for Aquilani

Liverpool are set to sign Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani from Roma after agreeing a transfer fee with the Serie A club.

Wallabies hope silence deafening

Winger Drew Mitchell says the Wallabies are intent on silencing the ravenous Newlands crowd in Saturday's Tri Nations clash with the Springboks.

Sunderland sign England striker Bent

Sunderland finally completed their club record £10 million swoop for Tottenham striker Darren Bent.

Bolt and Gay to race in Brussels after worlds

Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt will race chief rival Tyson Gay at Brussels on September 4, Gay's manager told Reuters on Wednesday.

Race to Dubai money cut no surprise for Westwood

Speculation that the European Tour's 2009 Race to Dubai will have its lucrative prize fund cut by as much as 25 percent has come as no surprise to Britain's Lee Westwood.

Former Yankee "toad" Irabu goes to the dogs

Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu is set to return to Japanese baseball with a team called the Kochi Fighting Dogs on the island of Shikoku.

Regan Warns Headingley Crowd

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan has urged fans to behave at the fourth Ashes Test.

Onions Respect For Ponting

Graham Onions says respect will be a watchword for England in the fourth Ashes Test.

Watson Unsure Of Lee Return

Shane Watson feels Brett Lee is still one game away from being fit enough to play in the Ashes.

Senderos Agrees Everton Move

The Swiss Football Federation claim Arsenal's Philippe Senderos has agreed to join Everton.

Sunderland Close To Signing Bent

Sunderland hope to complete the signing of striker Darren Bent from Tottenham today.

Storrie Reveals Pompey Predicament

Portsmouth must 'sell to keep going' with Sulaiman Al Fahim&'s takeover yet to go through.

Fellaini hit by virus

Everton's Marouane Fellaini has been suffering from a virus that has caused him to lose significant weight. David Moyes has admitted the 21-year-old is still "not right" and may not be fit to face Arsenal in the season opener.

Alonso: Reds & Real hold meeting

Xabi Alonso is 'reassured' Liverpool and Real Madrid have held a meeting about him.

Bent having medical

Darren Bent is undergoing a medical at Sunderland ahead of his move from Spurs.

Goldikova wins again

Goldikova won back-to-back renewals of the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Sunday.

Redknapp denies Bassong bid

Harry Redknapp has rubbished reports Spurs have submitted a bid for Sebastien Bassong.

England Chance To Go 2 Up

England's positive approach has given them the chance of victory in the third Ashes Test.

KP not setting recovery timeline

Kevin Pietersen has not set himself a comeback date following an Achilles operation.

Harmison hoping for late call-up

England's Steve Harmison is desperate to make a belated entry into this year's Ashes.

Noon start at Edgebaston

Latest news from day four of the third Ashes Test between England and Australia.

Woods shifts into high gear at Buick Open

Tiger Woods will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Buick Open as the world number one shifted into top gear on Saturday firing a seven-under 65.

Venus to meet Bartoli in Stanford final

Venus Williams crushed Russian Elena Dementieva 6-0 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Stanford Classic on Saturday.

Phelps reels in Cavic to stay butterfly king

Michael Phelps used his powerful shoulders to perfection to overhaul big rival Milorad Cavic and steal back his 100 meters butterfly world record in an enthralling final at the world championships on Saturday.

American women fail to reach medley relay final

An understrength US failed to qualify for the final of the women's 4x100 meters medley relay at the world swimming championships on Saturday.

Phelps storms back for record and 100 butterfly gold

Michael Phelps produced a stunning comeback to break the world record and retain his 100 meters butterfly world title on Saturday.

Red Sox add Indians slugger Martinez

The Boston Red Sox moved to energize their lineup by acquiring hard-hitting Victor Martinez from the Cleveland Indians during a flurry of final-hour deals at Major League Baseball's trade deadline Friday.

U.S. snip record to grab golden double

The US completed a relay double at the world championships on Friday when they retained their men's 4x200 meters freestyle title with a world record time.

Aker sinks struggling Dockers

The Western Bulldogs said thanks to a favourite son and farewelled a much-loved father with a 31-point win over Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.

Ioane re-signs with Reds

Queensland Reds have been boosted by the re-signing of Wallabies outside back Digby Ioane for a further two seasons.

Davison closing in on Whincup

On the track where his famous grandfather lost his life, Holden's Will Davison sent out a clear warning he is targeting victory in this year's V8 Supercar championship.

Anderson lauds team ethic

James Anderson says a team effort is needed if England want to regain the Ashes.

U.S. seals men's 4x200 relay title in record time

The US held on for victory in the men's 4x200 meters freestyle final at the world championships on Friday, setting a world record of six minutes 58.55 secs

Fired up Woods rockets into contention at Buick Open

A fired up Tiger Woods roared into contention with a second round nine-under 63 at the Buick Open Friday, burying any thoughts he might miss consecutive cuts for the first time in his professional career.

Phelps safely through to 100 butterfly semi-finals

Olympic champion Michael Phelps won his heat to qualify easily for the 100 butterfly semis as he began the defense of his world title on Friday.

Bobby Robson Dies at 76

Former England manager Bobby Robson has passed away following a long battle against lung cancer.

"He died very peacefully this morning (Friday) at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.

"Sir Bobby's funeral will be private and for family members only.

"A thanksgiving service in celebration of Sir Bobby's life will be held at a later date for his many friends and colleagues.

"Lady Robson and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy could be respected at this difficult time."

Raptors get Belinelli in trade with Warriors

The Toronto Raptors acquired Italian guard Marco Belinelli from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for forward Devean George, the NBA team said on Thursday.

Redskins not interested in signing Vick, says Zorn

The Washington Redskins are not interested in signing embattled quarterback Michael Vick, coach Jim Zorn said Wednesday.

Ramirez, Ortiz tested positive for doping in 2003: report

Baseball sluggers Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, who helped the Boston Red Sox end an 86-year World Series title drought in 2004, tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

3rd Test

Next inspection at 14:00, not looking good though.

Sharapova, Dementieva reach quarters at Stanford

Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva breezed into the quarter finals of the Stanford Classic Wednesday, crushing their second-round opponents with equal efficiency.

Cardinals outlast Dodgers, win 3-2 in 15th

Albert Pujols drove home the winning run in the 15th inning as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in a marathon game lasting almost five hours Wednesday.

Redskins not interested in signing Vick, says Zorn

The Washington Redskins are not interested in signing embattled quarterback Michael Vick, coach Jim Zorn said Wednesday.

Wallabies keen to get back on track

Motivated by their painful loss to the All Blacks, the Wallabies head for Cape Town on Friday desperate to avoid further Tri Nations heartache at the hands of the world champion Springboks.

England v Australia 3rd Test

Trailing 1-0, Australia will be looking to strike early against England in the opening session of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Australia lack 'aura' says Strauss

England captain Andrew Strauss insisted the present Australia side lacked the 'aura' of the one that thrashed his country 5-0 in the 2006-2007 Ashes.

Schumacher makes return to F1

Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher is making a sensational return to Formula One, Ferrari have announced.

Phelps golden again after record

Michael Phelps has regained his golden touch with a record-setting triumph in the men's 200m butterfly at the swimming world championships.

$80 Million Oz Powerball Jackpot This Week!

Thursday's Powerball will have a jackpot of at least $80 million after no winners claimed the $50 million first prize in the draw last week's draw.

The multi-million dollar jackpot, the second highest in Australian history, comes just weeks after an Adelaide man and a Queensland couple shared a record $106 million prize from Oz Lotto.

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The Oz Powerball Checker is quick and simple way of checking your powerball numbers and may just give you the edge in this weeks $80 million draw!

Man Utd Away Kit Revealed

Manchester United have unveiled their new away kit for the coming season. The black shirt has a blue chevron across the chest like the home kit released a few weeks ago.

Prosecuting lawyer gives his verdict on the Steven Gerrard case

David Turner QC the proscecuting lawyer in the Steven Gerrard case said:

“I was very happy actually. It should be remembered that as a prosecutor, I’m not trying to get a conviction at all costs.

“It will be said Gerrard – like Ken Dodd – should never have been tried in Liverpool. But I do not believe and nor did the trial judge this was a sympathy verdict against the evidence.

“In reality, once it was shown someone else had started the fight and his [Gerrard’s] reaction was almost instantaneous, and although forceful was not brutal, he had a strong case in self-defence.

“[The Recorder of Liverpool, Judge] Henry Globe, in his comments, was really saying that it is not right to think the jury was swayed by local sentiment.

“They listened carefully, they made notes, were obviously highly concerned and made a decision no one can criticise.”

Rip wins Sussex Stakes

Rip Van Winkle beat off Paco Boy & Ghanaati to land the Sussex Stakes by 2½ lengths at Glorious Goodwood.

Johnson to get Edgbaston nod

Australia are poised to make one of the biggest selection gambles in Ashes history by playing the mentally-suspect Mitchell Johnson in front of the most hostile cricketing crowd in England.

Hunt could revolutionise AFL defence

The AFL's first rugby league signing Karmichael Hunt laughed at suggestions his next sporting contract would be to play in the NBA.

Ponting nearing magic milestone

Normally when a batsman plays down the significance of a major individual milestone, he is lying through his teeth.

Early exit for Becker, Safin wins opener in LA

Big-serving American John Isner produced the first upset at the LA Open with a 7-6 7-6 victory over seventh-seeded German Benjamin Becker in the opening round Tuesday.

Twins halt Buehrle's bid for 2nd perfect game

Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle chased a second consecutive perfect game for five-plus innings Tuesday before losing 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis.

Rays hit Sabathia hard, down surging Yankees

The Tampa Bay Rays slowed down the surging New York Yankees with a 6-2 victory on Tuesday as they chased visiting pitcher CC Sabathia after five-plus innings.

O'Brien Bouyed By Rip Progress

Sussex Stakes hopeful Rip Van Winkle seems 'much better' this morning after yesterday's setback.

Manchester United appeals to Mourinho

Jose Mourinho would jump at the chance of managing Manchester United in the future.

Terry hopes duo follow his lead

John Terry hopes Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba will both pledge their futures to Chelsea.

Hart: Pompey had to sell Crouch

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart says selling Peter Crouch to Tottenham was a case of 'needs must'.

Bruce losing patience on Bent bid

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is beginning to run out of patience in his bid for Darren Bent.

Terry not chasing new deal

John Terry claims he hasn't used Manchester City's interest to get a new deal at Chelsea.

Liverpool refinance concluded

Liverpool's owners have concluded a deal refinance the bank loan they took out to buy the club.

Massa Doctors Reassured By Scan

Felipe Massa's doctors are reassured by the results of a CT scan on the Brazilian.

Terry 'Totally Committed' To Chelsea

Chelsea captain John Terry has confirmed that he is "Totally committed" to the Blues after Man City's attempts to sign him.

Lewis Hamilton wins in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton has won his first F1 race of the season in Hungary. He was joined on the podium by Kimi Raikkonen & Mark Webber

3rd Test Squad announced

Andrew Flintoff and Ian Bell are in England's 13-man squad for the third Ashes Test. Bell comes in to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen.

Massa in stable condition

Felipe Massa remains in a stable condition after fracturing his skull in two places.

Spurs bid for Crouch accepted

Paul Hart has confirmed Portsmouth have accepted a bid from Tottenham for Peter Crouch.

Chelsea Beat AC Milan

Goals from Didier Drogba and Yuri Zhirkov gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over AC Milan in Baltimore.

Bolton Sign Two Defenders

Bolton have completed the signings of Zat Knight and Sam Ricketts.

Fergie Wants 15 Goals From Owen

Sir Alex Ferguson has set Michael Owen a 15-goal target this season.

Hamilton fastest in last practice

Lewis Hamilton's Maclaren was fatest in the last practice at the Hungaroring.

Steven Gerrard Found Not Guilty

Steven Gerrard has been found not guilty of affray after a bar brawl at the Lounge Inn in Southport. The 5 other people involved all pleaded guilty.

Gerrard said: "Can I just say how pleased I am with today’s verdict. I’m glad to put this case behind me and I am really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on my football now. I would just like to say a big thank you to my legal team and to my friends and family and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for supporting me."

Tom Watson: Open Championship putt was ugliest stroke in the world - Scottish Daily Record

TOM WATSON has vowed he will never watch a replay of the putt he missed that denied him The Open. The veteran American only needed a par at the 72nd hole to pull off a stunning victory at Turnberry last weekend.

Adebayor blames fans for departure

New Manchester City recruit Emmanuel Adebayor has blamed his decision to leave Arsenal on his poor relationship with the club's fans. The Togo international was booed by sections of the Gunners faithful last term after a summer which saw him strongly linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium, before he confirmed their suspicions by leaving for Manchester City for £25million this summer.

Moore Expecting Bold Stoute Show

Latest news ahead of the Betfair-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Ade - Gunners needed the money

Emmanuel Adebayor claims Arsenal sold him because they needed the money.

Ancellotti repeats Terry stance

Carlo Ancelotti continues to insist captain John Terry will not be leaving Chelsea.

Crouch Too Expensive

Harry Redknapp has intimated Spurs are unlikely to sign Peter Crouch as he is "expensive".

Eto'o On Brink Of Inter Move

Samuel Eto'o is set to put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Inter Milan.

Gerrard Sorry For Bar Brawl

Steven Gerrard apologised in court for lashing out three times at a man in a bar brawl.

ETO'O AGREES INTER TERMS - AGENT

Samuel Eto's agent has announced the player has reached an agreement with Inter Milan.

REAL STILL IN HUNT FOR REDS DUO

Real Madrid say they are still hoping to sign both Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa from Liverpool.

RAFA - NO DEAL DONE FOR ALONSO

Rafa Benitez has moved to play down talk of Xabi Alonso leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid.

Glazers - Fergie can spend

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has upwards of £60million to spend on new players this summer

David Haye To Fight Nikolai Valuev

Former world cruiserweight champion David Haye has confirmed he will fight current WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev. The fight against Russian Valuev, who is 9 inches taller than the Brit, takes place on Novmeber 7th.

No NRL raids for Tahs

New South Wales Waratahs are confident of securing quality reinforcements following the shock loss of backline aces Lote Tuqiri and Timana Tahu in the space of two short weeks.

Hall of Fame should admit drug users, author says

Baseball's National Hall of Fame should embrace the standout steroid cheats of the modern day since they would be at home among the rogues and heroes already honored in Cooperstown.

Phelps has unfinished business at worlds

With 14 Olympic and 17 world championship gold medals already in his possession, it is hard to imagine what Michael Phelps might have left to accomplish in a pool.

Slumping Red Sox lose top spot in AL East

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Texas Rangers handed the slumping Boston Red Sox their fourth loss in a row with a 4-2 victory Tuesday, opening the door for the New York Yankees to take top spot in the American League East.

Contador spoils the Schleck party

LE GRAND BORNAND, France - Frank and Andy Schleck tried with all their might to shake the Tour de France peloton in the 17th stage but they could not topple leader Alberto Contador on Wednesday.

Spurs sign Sheffield Utd duo

Tottenham Hotspur have announced that they have signed Sheffield Utd defenders Kyle Naughton & Kyle Walker.

Ashes blow for England

Kevin Pietersen is to have surgery on his achilles which will rule him out of the remainder of the Ashes series.

Astarloza tames mountains to win stage

BOURG ST MAURICE, France - Spain's Mikel Astarloza used his climbing and downhill skills to win the mountainous 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday as the leading contenders unsuccessfully tested each other out.

Slumping Red Sox lose top spot in AL East

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Texas Rangers handed the slumping Boston Red Sox their fourth loss in a row with a 4-2 victory Tuesday, opening the door for the New York Yankees to take top spot in the American League East

Swine flu concern for Aussies

The Australian cricket team has had a swine flu scare with one of the travelling journalists believed to be struck down by the illness.

Eriksson accepts Notts County job

Former England and Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has joined English Division Two club Notts County as director of football, the club confirmed.

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