Van Persie deal hangs on Arsenal ambitions

Van Persie deal hangs on Arsenal ambitions
Dutch striker Robin van Persie is ready to pledge his future to Premier League Arsenal if they can match his own trophy-winning ambitions.

Nadal and Murray in Florida 4th round

Nadal and Murray in Florida 4th round
Spain's world number one Rafael Nadal, above, and Briton Andy Murray reach the fourth round of the ATP hardcourt tournament at Key Biscayne in Florida in straight sets.
News & Notes
Blake Griffin and Tyler Hansborough were honored as the top two vote-getters for the Associated Press all-American team.

Dyson set to suit up for UConn men at Final Four
STORRS -- In the fifth overtime of his UConn basketball team's unforgettable loss to Syracuse in the Big East tournament three weeks ago, just after his third player fouled out of the game, coach Jim Calhoun took a long look at junior guard Jerome Dyson.

Nationals Notebook: Cabrera Scratched With Neck Muscle Spasms

FIFA inquiry after Ivory Coast tragedy
Nearly two dozen people died Sunday at a World Cup qualifying match in the Ivory Coast, news reports said.
Nationals Notebook: Cabrera Scratched With Neck Muscle Spasms
Right-hander Daniel Cabrera misses a start because of muscle spasms in his neck, but the Washington Nationals' No. 3 starter hopes to make his last spring training start on Friday.

Button warns F1 rivals will close the gap

Button warns F1 rivals will close the gap
Jenson Button says he and teammate Rubens Barrichello will not be underestimating their F1 rivals after a triumphant 1-2 in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Federer and Williams sisters breeze through

Federer and Williams sisters breeze through
Roger Feder and the Williams sister Serena and Venus cruised into the fourth round of their respective draws in the joint ATP and WTA tournament at Key Biscayne in Florida.
Freshman Hayes steps up as UConn women rally to beat California
TRENTON, N.J. -- Freshman Tiffany Hayes has been content all season to do whatever it is the UConn women's basketball team has needed from her on a game to game basis. Whether it has been to come off the bench and provide a spark as the sixth-man, assume a starting role or simply be a stalwart defensively, she has complied.

Spain march on with fifth straight win

Spain march on with fifth straight win
Euro 2008 champions Spain took another giant step towards World Cup qualification with a 1-0 home win over Turkey in Madrid.

Button wins Australian Grand Prix for Brawn

Button wins Australian Grand Prix for Brawn
Britain's Jenson Button won the opening race of the 2009 Formula One season after dominating the Australian Grand Prix for the newly-formed Brawn GP team.
Williams, Jazz Rally Past Suns in Overtime
SALT LAKE CITY -- Deron Williams scored seven of his 21 points in overtime, and the Utah Jazz rallied for a 104-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, blowing a 21-point, third-quarter lead before tying it with a frenzied comeback at the end of regulation.
No complacency for UConn women on road to national title
TRENTON, N.J. -- There have been times in the past when UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma might have been concerned about complacency seeping into the minds of his players as they advanced deeper into NCAA tournament progress. Certain players on certain teams might have bought into the talk that the Huskies were unbeatable or that they were already considered one of the greatest teams of all time.

India forced to follow-on in second Test

India forced to follow-on in second Test
New Zealand are in a strong position to level their series with India after forcing the tourists to follow-on in the second Test in Napier on Saturday.

Gebremariam wins world cross for Ethiopia

Gebremariam wins world cross for Ethiopia
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam kept the men's individual title at the world cross country championships in Ethiopia after winning a sprint finish to Saturday's championship in Jordan.

Button claims pole for F1 new boys Brawn GP

Button claims pole for F1 new boys Brawn GP
Britain's Jenson Button claims pole position for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne -- leading a sweep of the front row for Formula One new boys Brawn GP. World champion Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the grid after a gearbox failure in his McLaren.
Nationals Second Baseman Anderson Hernandez Says His Hamstring Injury Will Recover in Time for Him to Play on Opening Day
Second baseman Anderson Hernandez, dealing with a left hamstring strain, says he believes he can recover by Opening Day.

Missouri hopes to to run away from UConn
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Apparently the book on UConn center Hasheem Thabeet instructs opponents to test his endurance. There's a chance, however, the 7-foot-3 junior could swat that book back in those same opponents' faces."We have to get that big beast to run," Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll said on the even of today's West Regional final.

EPL chief hits out at 'xenophobic' quotas

EPL chief hits out at 'xenophobic' quotas
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has slammed plans by FIFA president Slepp Blatter to impose limits on foreign players as "xenophobic rhetoric."

Monty in victory hunt in 500th Tour event

Monty in victory hunt in 500th Tour event
Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie goes into Friday's second round of the Andalucian Open in Spain in contention for his 32nd European Tour title.

Dutch coach Rutten sacked by Schalke 04

Dutch coach Rutten sacked by Schalke 04
Bundesliga Schalke 04 have sacked Dutch coach Fred Rutten after their indifferent results this season.

UConn men topple Purdue

Ryder double ton puts Kiwis in command
A Jesse Ryder double ton and centuries from Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum put New Zealand in a commanding position at the close of day two in the second Test against India here Friday.
Syracuse's Arinze Onuaku Gets Ready to Face Oklahoma's Blake Griffin in NCAA Men's Tournament
Arinze Onuaku has uncommon coordination for his size, and the Episcopal High product will need it against Oklahoma.

UConn men topple Purdue
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Craig Austrie's smile is back. So is his jump shot.Both are welcome signs for a UConn men's basketball team bent on continuing to roll through the NCAA Tournament.Austrie, the Huskies' senior from Stamford, scored a team-high 17 points as top-seeded UConn held off No.

Togo risk Arsenal wrath by playing Adebayor

Togo risk Arsenal wrath by playing Adebayor
Togo look set to risk the wrath of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger by playing striker Emmanuel Adebayor in their World Cup qualifier against Cameroon this weekend.

Clijsters Returns to WTA After 2-Year Retirement

FIA throw out protest against three F1 teams
Toyota, Williams and Brawn GP have all been cleared to race in this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne after the FIA threw out a protest made by three of their Formula One rivals.
Clijsters Returns to WTA After 2-Year Retirement
BREE, Belgium -- Kim Clijsters will return to professional tennis after two years in retirement, saying she has regained the competitive hunger that led to the No. 1 ranking.

Taylor and Ryder give New Zealand advantage

Taylor and Ryder give New Zealand advantage
Superb centuries by Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder were the highlights of day one of the second Test against India as New Zealand reached 351 for four at stumps in Napier.

Armstrong has successful collarbone surgery

Armstrong has successful collarbone surgery
Lance Armstrong has undergone successful surgery on the broken collarbone he suffered in a racing accident on Monday.

Nationals Notebook: Second Baseman Hernández Leaves With Leg Injury

Pele denies saying Robinho took drugs
Pele has denied saying that Manchester City striker Robinho had taken drugs.
Nationals Notebook: Second Baseman Hernández Leaves With Leg Injury
The Nationals' Anderson Hernández strains his left hamstring while running out a grounder in the sixth inning of a 6-3 exhibition victory over the Braves, jeopardizing his chances of winning Washington's second base job.

Big Three hand pressure for Huskies
STORRS -- The constant pressure of having to play at an elite level each time they step on the court would be enough to make ordinary players crumble, especially at this time of the season, when a poor performance can derail a bid for a national championship.

Dutch defender Ooijer confirms PSV transfer

Dutch defender Ooijer confirms PSV transfer
Blackburn Rovers defender Andre Ooijer has confirmed he will return to PSV Eindhoven next season.

Armstrong will be OK for Tour says Bruyneel

Armstrong will be OK for Tour says Bruyneel
Lance Armstrong's Tour de France hopes have not been affected by the fractured collarbone he sustained in the Vuelta Castilla y Leon on Monday, according to Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel.

I am staying with Milan confirms Ancelotti

I am staying with Milan confirms Ancelotti
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti reiterates his desire to remain at the Italian club next season despite persistent rumors linking him with a move to Premier League Chelsea this summer.

Kirk Hinrich Leads Bulls Past Pistons

Armstrong to have surgery to repair collarbone
Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong will have surgery Wednesday to repair a broken collarbone he suffered in a fall during a comeback race in Spain this week, he said via Twitter.
Kirk Hinrich Leads Bulls Past Pistons
CHICAGO -- Kirk Hinrich scored 24 points filling in for the injured Derrick Rose, and the Chicago Bulls beat Detroit 99-91 Tuesday night to pull within a game of the seventh-place Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

EPHL names award winners
The Eastern Professional Hockey League announced the winners of the league's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards on Tuesday. Goaltender Nick Niedert of the Jersey Rockhoppers has been chosen the EPHL Most Valuable Player and Brooklyn Aces forward C.

South Africa will host IPL Twenty20 cricket

South Africa will host IPL Twenty20 cricket
South Africa will stage the 2009 Indian Premier League after IPL chairman Lalit Modi, above, met officials in Johannesburg following the decision to move the tournament to a neutral venue because of security fears.

Pele warned over Robinho drug slur

Pele warned over Robinho drug slur
Brazil legend Pele has been threatened with court action unless he retracts a reported allegation that compatriot Robinho, the Manchester City striker, has taken drugs.

Former Nat Shawn Hill Agrees to Minor League Deal With Padres

England and South Africa race to host IPL
England and South Africa have emerged as possible hosts for cricket's Indian Premier League which is being shifted out of India because of security concerns. The world's cricketing stars, including Andrew Flintoff, pictured, are due to play in the tournament, which is scheduled to start next month.
Former Nat Shawn Hill Agrees to Minor League Deal With Padres
Former Nats pitcher Shawn Hill did not remain unemployed for long, agreeing to a minor league deal with the Padres.

Montgomery to make history
STORRS -- UConn senior point guard Renee Montgomery has made her mark on the program in so many ways throughout her All-American career.Tonight, she will do it again.Montgomery will set a team record with her 136th straight start. She will play in her 146th straight game.

Armstrong in hospital after race crash

Armstrong in hospital after race crash
American cyclist Lance Armstrong, the only man to win the Tour de France seven times, crashes on the first stage of a five-day race in Spain on Monday and is taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Armstrong Falls During Castilla and Leon Race
BALTANAS, Spain -- Lance Armstrong was taken to a hospital Monday after crashing during the first stage of a five-day race in Spain.

Goosen takes title after fitness regime

Goosen takes title after fitness regime
Slim-line Retief Goosen celebrated his seventh U.S. Tour career triumph in Tampa Bay on Sunday when he won the Transitions Championship by one shot from Charles Howell and Brett Quigley

England and South Africa race to host IPL

England and South Africa race to host IPL
England and South Africa are racing against time to win the rights to host the world's richest cricket league, which is being shifted out of India because of security concerns. The world's cricketing stars including Andrew Flintoff, pictured, are due to start the tournament on April 10.

Nadal routs Murray for Paribas victory

Nadal routs Murray for Paribas victory
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal easily dismissed Andy Murray in straight sets on Sunday to capture the BNP Paribas Open and claim the first ATP World Tour Masters tournament of the year.
News & Notes: Nadal Steamrolls Murray, 6-1, 6-2, for BNP Paribas Open Title
TENNIS

Dominant Charles on display
 STORRS -- Tina Charles began the NCAA tournament last season fastened to the bench. Due to her continued inconsistent play, UConn coach Geno Auriemma stripped her of her starting role.Auriemma took the opportunity to remind her of the past prior to Sunday's first round game against 16th-seeded Vermont.

Veteran Lehman takes lead into final day

Veteran Lehman takes lead into final day
Veteran Tom Lehman takes a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Transitions Championship in Florida on Sunday.

Murray sweeps past Federer in California

Murray sweeps past Federer in California
Andy Murray maintained his recent dominance over Roger Federer with a 6-3 4-6 6-1 victory in the semifinals of the Masters tournament at Indian Wells. The 21-year-old Scot will play top-ranked Rafael Nadal in Sunday's final following the Spaniard's win over Andy Roddick.

Mad Hatters win, but miss out on playoff berth

O'Gara lifts Irish to historic victory
Ronan O'Gara's late drop goal gave Ireland their first grand slam in 61 years as they were crowned Six Nations champions with a dramatic 17-15 victory over Wales in Cardiff.
South Korea Routs Venezuela, 10-2, Reaches World Baseball Classic Finals
LOS ANGELES -- Venezuela has a roster full of big leaguers, South Korea just one.

Mad Hatters win, but miss out on playoff berth
DANBURY -- The final horn had sounded on the Danbury Mad Hatters' final home game of the season Saturday night before 1,104 at Danbury Arena and BTO's "Taking Care of Business" was blaring over the loudspeakers.That was a fitting choice on several levels.

Roddick ends Djokovic's Masters defense

Roddick ends Djokovic's Masters defense
Andy Roddick continues his winning run to end world No. 3 Novak Djokovic's title defense at the Masters Series event at Indian Wells and set up a semifinal with world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.

Mad Hatters stay alive

F1 delays controversial new rule changes
Controversial new rules changes to F1 which would have seen the world title decided by race wins have been shelved until 2010. Motorsport's world governing body FIA back down late on Friday in the face of opposition from defending champion Lewis Hamilton (above) and teams.
Michigan State Overpowers Robert Morris
MINNEOLIS -- Finally healthy and plenty hungry, the Michigan State Spartans look poised to show the country what they can really do.

Mad Hatters stay alive
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The Danbury Mad Hatters remained in playoff contention with a 4-3 overtime win against the Brooklyn Aces Friday night in an EPHL game at the Aviator Arena. Chad Jones scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Dan Hickman a little less than a minute into the overtime period.

Hamburg draw Man City in UEFA Cup

Hamburg draw Man City in UEFA Cup
Bundesliga title chasers SV Hamburg have been paired with Premier League Manchester City in the draw for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup made on Friday.

Hamilton slams new Formula One rules

Hamilton slams new Formula One rules
World champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the growing number of critics of the new rules to be introduced to Formula One this season.

Ivanovic benefits from Bammer's pull out

Ivanovic benefits from Bammer's pull out
Defending champion Ana Ivanovic enjoyed the easiest of passages into the semifinals of the WTA tournament at Indian Wells.

United face Porto in Champions League

United face Porto in Champions League
European champions Manchester United will play Porto in the quarterfinals of this season's Champions League, while Liverpool and Chelsea were drawn to face each other in the knockout stages for the fourth time in five seasons.

Cup holders Zenit sent crashing by Udinese

Cup holders Zenit sent crashing by Udinese
Coach Dick Advocaat sees UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg crash out of the competition at the last 16 stage, despite defeating Serie A side Udinese 1-0. Hamburg, Manchester City and Paris SG join them in the quarterfinal draw.
Seattle Sounders Opens Debut Season With 3-0 Win Over New York Red Bulls
Young Colombian Fredy Montero had a two goals and an assist, as the expansion Seattle Sounders FC opens with a convincing 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Thursday.

Mad Hatters hold onto slim playoff hopes
DANBURY -- The final weekend of the regular season is here and nothing's changed as far as playoff positioning in the Eastern Professional Hockey League.One other team will join the first-place Brooklyn Aces (34-9-2-2) in the best-of-three EPHL championship series, which starts March 26 in Brooklyn.

Nadal wins after saving five match points

Nadal wins after saving five match points
Top seed Rafael Nadal has to save five match points before defeating David Nalbandian of Argentina 3-6 7-6 6-0 to reach the last eight of the Masters Series tournament at Indian Wells in a late night thriller.

Tendulkar leads way as India take command

Tendulkar leads way as India take command
Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 70 as India closed the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Hamilton in a strong position.

Nadal wins after saving five match points

Nadal wins after saving five match points
Top seed Rafael Nadal has to save five match points before beating Argentina's David Nalbandian 3-6 7-6 6-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the Masters Series tournament at Indian Wells in a late night thriller.

UConn women realy heavily on starters

Safina blows chance to claim top spot
Victoria Azarenka stunned top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3 Wednesday to book a semi-final berth at the Indian Wells hardcourt tennis tournament.
Trail Blazers' Oden Makes His Return Against Pacers
Trail Blazers C Greg Oden returned to the team's lineup last night in a 95-85 victory over the Pacers after sitting out for more than a month with a bone chip in his left knee.

UConn women realy heavily on starters
STORRS -- There have been times throughout the championship history of the UConn women's basketball program when it has had the luxury of subduing opponents with an ideal mix of starters and reserves.This season, balance is not a strength for the top-ranked Huskies.

United at Galaxy

Four come in as France look for improvement
France have made four changes in personnel to their team for Saturday's final Six Nations rugby clash against Italy in Rome.
United at Galaxy
What: Season opener. When: Sunday, 3 p.m. Where: Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.

England unchanged for Six Nations finale

England unchanged for Six Nations finale
England coach Martin Johnson has named an unchanged side to play Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations rugby finale at Twickenham despite injury concerns over fly-half Toby Flood and flanker Joe Worsley.

Nadal and Djokovic through in Indian Wells

Nadal and Djokovic through in Indian Wells
World number one Rafael Nadal (above) has no problems in defeating Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-3 6-3 to reach the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters in California. Defending champion Novak Djokovic joins him in the last 16.

Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Cole Hamels Returning to Camp After No Damage Found in Sore Elbow

Arsenal fight back to reach FA Cup semis
Two goals in the last 17 minutes see Arsenal fight back from going a goal behind to beat Hull City 2-1 and secure a Wembley showdown with Chelsea in the semifinals of the FA Cup.
Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Cole Hamels Returning to Camp After No Damage Found in Sore Elbow
Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels will return to camp after a team physician found no damage in his sore left elbow.
Abbott Tech boys fall in Class M tournament
SOUTHBURY -- The Abbott Tech boys basketball team didn't come away with a victory Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Class M state tournament at Pomperaug High. But it did come away with something almost as good."I know they (Sacred Heart) didn't have respect for us coming in," said Abbott Tech's Joe Groski.

Murray, Federer reach Indian Wells last 16

Murray, Federer reach Indian Wells last 16
Andy Murray continues his comeback by easing into the last 16 of the Indian Wells Masters with a straight sets win over Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Briton remains on course for a semifinal with Roger Federer, who also won in straight sets.

Murray, Federer make last 16 in Indian Wells

Murray, Federer make last 16 in Indian Wells
Andy Murray continues his comeback from illness by easing into the last 16 of the Indian Wells Masters with a straight sets win over Paul-Henri Mathieu of France. The win keeps the 21-year-old on course for a potential semifinal with world No. 2 Roger Federer.

Bottom club West Brom secure vital point

Bottom club West Brom secure vital point
Premier League bottom club West Bromwich Albion claimed a vital point in their battle to avoid relegation, earning a 0-0 draw at West Ham on Monday.
Thunder Spoil Popovich's 1,000th With Win
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Thabo Sefolosha added 12 and the Oklahoma City Thunder spoiled Gregg Popovich's 1,000th game as San Antonio's coach by beating the Spurs 78-76 on Monday night.

Undefeated UConn women earn top seed in NCAA tournament
STORRS -- The talk about the gap between the UConn women's basketball team and the rest of the teams in the country began in late November.That talk did nothing but gain momentum as the season progressed.The top-ranked Huskies have provided plenty of fuel to such conversations by rolling to the fifth undefeated regular season in team history.

Liverpool in Hillsborough anniversary plea

Liverpool in Hillsborough anniversary plea
Liverpool want to avoid playing on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and UEFA president Michel Platini says he will "do his utmost" to make it a reality.

Vidic gets two-game ban after sending off
Manchester United central defender Nemanja Vidic will be suspended for their next two Premier League matches after his sending off against Liverpool on Saturday.
Top-seeded UConn men set sights on Final Four
STORRS -- Unlike some of the programs whose ultimate fantasies may have been realized by Sunday's selection, the UConn men's basketball team has been here before.But even for the Huskies and veteran coach Jim Calhoun, being rewarded with a No. 1 seed is still something to cherish.

Australia join race to host World Cup

Australia join race to host World Cup
Australia have joined the increasingly crowded race to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

CIAC state tournaments

Nadal and title holder Djokovic go through
World number one Rafael Nadal needed a little over an hour to thrash Michael Berrer of Germany 6-2 6-1 in his opener at the Masters Series tournament at Indian Wells.
Detroit Red Wings Beat Columbus Blue Jackets to Top 100 Points -- Again
Chris Osgood makes 23 saves, helping the Detroit Red Wings beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-0, on Sunday to become the first team in NHL history to top 100 points in nine straight seasons.

CIAC state tournaments
Swimming and divingMarch 17LLYale (Warm-up 6 p.m. / Finals 7 p.m.)LYale (Warm-up 2 p.m. / Finals 3 p.m.)MWesleyan (Warm-up 6 p.m. / Finals 7 p.m.)SWesleyan (Warm-up 2 p.m. / Finals 3 p.m.)Boys hockeyDIVISION ISEMIFINALSNo. 1 Hamden (17-4-1) vs.

Jankovic and Dementieva crash in California

Jankovic and Dementieva crash in California
The women's draw at the Indian Wells Masters event has been thrown wide open after second seed Jelena Jankovic and third-seeded Elena Dementieva were both beaten on Saturday.

Loeb continues domination with landmark win

Loeb continues domination with landmark win
Citroen's Sebastien Loeb cruised to victory in Cyprus to record his 50th World Rally Championship win -- his third from three rounds this season.

Madrid hit five in fiery victory at Bilbao

Madrid hit five in fiery victory at Bilbao
Real Madrid bounced back from their Champions League humiliation by Liverpool to beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 5-2 in a thrilling and fiery encounter at San Mames.

Mad Hatters lose shootout to Jersey

Ireland remain on course for Grand Slam
Ireland recovered from trailing at half-time to defeat Scotland 22-15 at Murrayfield and remain on course for their first Grand Slam since 1948 -- a feat that will be achieved if they avoid defeat in their final match against Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff next weekend.
Watney and Mickelson Tied for Lead at Doral
Nick Watney overcomes a two-shot deficit with three straight birdies to pull into a tie with Phil Mickelson through three rounds at Doral.

Mad Hatters lose shootout to Jersey
DANBURY -- For days, Danbury Mad Hatters players and coaches pointed to Saturday night's game against Jersey as what would be a decisive moment in their season.The Mad Hatters didn't win, but one of the few scenarios played out where a loss didn't entirely knock them out of playoff contention, either.

Title race revived as Liverpool crush United

Title race revived as Liverpool crush United
The Premier League title race is thrown wide open on Saturday as Liverpool thrash 10-man Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford to move to within four points of the defending champions.

Grafite hat-trick puts Wolfsburg second

Grafite hat-trick puts Wolfsburg second
Wolfsburg have moved up to second place in the Bundesliga table, a point behind Hertha Berlin, as a hat-trick from Brazilian striker Grafite helped them to a thrilling 4-3 home victory over Schalke on Friday.

Mickelson opens up two-stroke Doral lead

Mickelson opens up two-stroke Doral lead
World number three Phil Mickelson upstages Tiger Woods to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the WGC-CA Championship at Doral's Blue Monster course in Florida on Friday.

Kauto Star makes Cheltenham Gold Cup history

Kauto Star makes Cheltenham Gold Cup history
Kauto Star became the first horse in history to regain the Gold Cup at Cheltenham with an emphatic victory under Ruby Walsh on Friday.
Detroit Pistons owner Davidson dies at age 86
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson, who was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame last year, has died. He was 86.
Abbott Tech boys rally to win in Class M quarterfinals
HARTFORD -- There's nothing like picking up for a teammate when he's having an off game.That's how Abbott Tech sophomore Anthony Henry felt after scoring 26 points to rally the Wolverines to come-from-behind 52-48 win over Cheney Tech in a Class M boys basketball quarterfinal Friday night at the Sports Science Academy in Hartford.

Contador stamps his authority on Paris-Nice

Contador stamps his authority on Paris-Nice
Alberto Contador wrested the overall lead in the Paris-Nice cycle race on Friday with a commanding victory on the testing sixth stage.

Sharapova returns with doubles defeat

Sharapova returns with doubles defeat
Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova returned to action after a seven month injury layoff in a doubles match at Indian Wells in California.

Raich in pole position to claim overall title

Raich in pole position to claim overall title
Austria's Benjamin Raich wins the giant slalom at the World Cup finals in Are on Friday to close on the overall title ahead of the final race of the season. He trails Aksel Lund Svindal by two points with only a slalom remaining.

Mad Hatters batter Bears

Holders Zenit derailed with Udinese defeat
Zenit St.Petersburg slipped up in their defense of their defense of the UEFA Cup as the Russian side went down 2-0 to Udinese on Thursday night.
Cabrera Singles in Only At-Bat, Feels 'Sharper' on Mound for Nats
Nationals pitcher Daniel Cabrera singles in his only at-bat and says he feels "sharper" in his 3 2/3 innings of work against the Atlanta Braves.
Mad Hatters batter Bears
DANBURY -- Temporarily without starting goalie Derek MacIntyre, Danbury Mad Hatter backup Jeff Hill proved to be a more than adequate replacement. Not that Danbury has ever had any trouble with the Hudson Valley Bears no matter who's in net. The Mad Hatters defeated the Bears 6-2 Thursday night, scoring two goals in each period and putting 63 shots on goal while Hill finished with 25 saves.

Dominant Vonn claims super-G crown

Dominant Vonn claims super-G crown
Lindsey Vonn of the United States continued her dream finish to the season with victory in the super-G at the World Cup finals in Are on Thursday -- clinching the overall title in the discipline.

Defense key to UConn women's success
HARTFORD -- It is a part of the game that often goes overlooked when it comes to the UConn women, for a lot of reasons.This is a basketball team that boasts the No. 1 player in the country in sophomore Maya Moore, arguably the top point guard in Renee Montgomery and one of the elite centers in the country in Tina Charles.

Arsenal join Utd in Champs last 8 after pens

Arsenal join Utd in Champs last 8 after pens
Manchester United reach the last eight of the Champions League with a 2-0 second leg win over Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan while Arsenal make it four Premier League clubs through after beating Roma 7-6 in a penalty shoot-out.
Portland State Wins Big Sky
Julius Thomas gets free for a tie-breaking dunk with 3.5 seconds left as Portland State holds on for a 79-77 win over Montana State.

Tennis & Swim club to host free clinics
"Tennis Across America" will be celebrated May 9-10 with free instructional tennis clinics and other events at the New Milford Tennis & Swim Club on Aspetuck Ridge Road in New Milford.Club owner and tennis professional Dinesh Rajagopalan will host events sponsored by the United States Tennis Aassociation (USTA).

Vandevelde wins as Contador shows form

Vandevelde wins as Contador shows form
Christian Vandevelde of the United States claimed Wednesday's fourth stage of the Paris-Nice while Astana's Alberto Contador showed just why he is the race favorite in the early season classic.

Svindal takes downhill to lead overall race

Svindal takes downhill to lead overall race
Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway claimed the final downhill of the season at the World Cup finals in Are to edge ahead in a close battle for the men's overall title.

Sehwag blazes ton as India sink Kiwis

Sehwag blazes ton as India sink Kiwis
Virender Sehwag pulverized the New Zealand attack with a 60-ball century as India clinched their one-day international series with victory in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Western Kentucky Outlasts S. Alabama for NCAA Bid

Garcia can overtake Woods as world No.1
Sergio Garcia can usurp Tiger Woods as world number one with victory in the WGC-CA Championship at Doral this week, but the Spaniard would rather win one of golf's four major titles.
Western Kentucky Outlasts S. Alabama for NCAA Bid
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- A.J. Slaughter scored 18 points, and Western Kentucky beat South Alabama 64-56 Tuesday night to win the Sun Belt tournament.

New Fairfield High boys and girls hoop teams still alive in state tourneys
NEW FAIRFIELD -- Girls basketball coach Joe Russo is facing an unfamiliar problem at New Fairfield High.He's got to find a way to share the gym.Both the New Fairfield girls and Rebels boys basketball teams are still alive in their respective Class M state tournaments.

Peel setback for Welsh Six Nations hopes

Peel setback for Welsh Six Nations hopes
Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel has been ruled out the remainder of the Six Nations Championship with a torn hamstring.

Coach adds to critics of security in Lahore

Coach adds to critics of security in Lahore
Sri Lanka's Australian-born coach Trevor Bayliss has backed up criticism of security in Lahore after being caught up in the terror attacks which left eight dead last week.

Ridgefield boys stun Holy Cross

Button upbeat after Brawn GP test debut
Jenson Button has given the thumbs up to the new Brawn GP car which impressed in its first test session at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya ahead of the Formula One season.
Gonzaga Routs Saint Mary's for WCC Tourney Title
Josh Heytvelt scores 17 points, Micah Downs added 12 points and 12 rebounds, and No. 12 Gonzaga romped into its 11th consecutive NCAA tournament with an 83-58 victory over Saint Mary's in the West Coast Conference final.

Ridgefield boys stun Holy Cross
WATERBURY -- The scoreboard said it all Monday night: Ridgefield 70, Holy Cross 63.The 26th seeded Tigers (10-11) pulled off the stunning upset of the seventh-seeded Crusaders (17-4) in the first round of the Class LL state tournament, advancing to play No.

Beckham plans to become U.S. club owner

Beckham plans to become U.S. club owner
David Beckham has cemented his commitment to football in the United States by confirming that he plans to buy a franchise in Major League Soccer when he quits playing.

Parker's 30 Points Lead Spurs Past Slumping Suns
SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Spurs sent the sliding Phoenix Suns home winless on their four-game road swing with a 103-98 victory Sunday.

Excited Sharapova ready for fitness test

Excited Sharapova ready for fitness test
Russian former world number one Maria Sharapova will return to competitive action after a six-month injury absence in this week's tournament at Indian Wells.

Beckham plans to become U.S. club owner

Beckham plans to become U.S. club owner
David Beckham has cemented his commitment to football in the United States by confirming that he plans to buy a franchise in Major League Soccer when he quits playing.

Israel shut door on Sweden's Davis Cup bid

Israel shut door on Sweden's Davis Cup bid
Israel reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1987 after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sweden staged behind closed doors and against a background of violent demonstrations in Malmo.

Korean Yang clinches first U.S. triumph

Korean Yang clinches first U.S. triumph
South Korean YE Yang rocketed more than 300 places in the world rankings after capturing his first PGA Tour triumph at the Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday.

Washington Nationals Catcher Javier Valentin Develops a Comfort Level

England fail to capitalise on Gayle anguish
Skipper Chris Gayle hit a century and then retired hurt with hamstring trouble as the West Indies frustrated England's bid to level the Test series in Trinidad.
Washington Nationals Catcher Javier Valentin Develops a Comfort Level
After years of shuttling between first and third base as a Reds backup, Javier Valentin is back behind the plate, hoping for a spot as a backup catcher with the Nationals.

It's the fans' turn to shine
DANBURY -- Fans: it's your turn to take a bow.If you were one of those who attended Saturday night's South-West Conference Division II/III boys ice hockey championship, consider this a standing ovation for a tremendous performance. You managed to do the impossible.

Yang steps up bid for first PGA victory

Yang steps up bid for first PGA victory
South Korean outsider YE Yang maintained a one-stroke lead at the Honda Classic after a solid third round of 70 in Florida left him clear of U.S. duo Jeff Klauk and Jeff Overton.

Forlan thwarts Real as Barca extend lead

Forlan thwarts Real as Barca extend lead
Diego Forlan dents Real Madrid's title challenge on Saturday when he earns city rivals Atletico a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu -- allowing Barcelona to extend their Primera Liga lead to six points.

Temple Beats George Washington, 63-53

Inter defeat Genoa to extend Serie A lead
Inter Milan moved 10 points clear of Juventus in Serie A, ahead of their rivals' derby clash against Torino, with an impressive 2-0 victory at Genoa on Saturday.
Temple Beats George Washington, 63-53
The curtain closes on George Washington's less than spectacular season, as the Colonials fall to Temple, 63-53, failing to qualify for the A-10 tournament for second straight year.

Immaculate falls in SWC Division I final
For the first two periods of Saturday's ice hockey match, the underdogs looked like they might prevail.But by the end of the South-West Conference Division I championship, top dog Notre Dame-Fairfield (16-4-1) had rallied back to defeat Immaculate High School (5-16) 4-2.

Nadal steers Spanish to brink of victory

Nadal steers Spanish to brink of victory
World number one Rafael Nadal brought defending champions Spain to the brink of victory in their Davis Cup last 16 match at home to Serbia, crushing Janko Tipsarevic in straight sets in Benidorm to take a commanding 2-0 advantage.

Chelsea ease through to FA Cup semifinals

Chelsea ease through to FA Cup semifinals
Goals from Didier Drogba (above, left) and Alex prove enough to earn Chelsea a 2-0 FA Cup quarterfinal win at Championship side Coventry, putting them through to the last four for the third time in four seasons.

Woods will continue comeback in Florida

Woods will continue comeback in Florida
Tiger Woods will play at next week's WGC-CA Championship in Florida, the PGA Tour have announced.

Patriot League Women's Tournament

Jones lifts Schalke into title contention
Schalke have thrown their hat into the ring in the most open Bundesliga title race in many years, as a first-half goal from Jermaine Jones proved enough to beat Cologne 1-0 on Friday and lift the Blues up to sixth position in the table.
Patriot League Women's Tournament

Mad Hatters blank Aces
DANBURY -- It was a celebration on multiple levels Friday night at the Danbury Arena. On a night when A.J. Galante, former president of the Danbury Trashers, and a few former Trashers players helped commemorate the team's 2005-2006 UHL East Division Championship with the unveiling of a banner, the Danbury Mad Hatters defeated the Brooklyn Aces 3-0 in one of their most decisive and impressive victories this season in EPHL action.

Hughes and Katich hit tons in Durban Test

Hughes and Katich hit tons in Durban Test
Australia batted themselves into a strong position on the opening day of the second Test in Durban with openers Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich both hitting centuries on Friday.

Zettel on high as Vonn extends overall lead

Zettel on high as Vonn extends overall lead
Austria's Kathrin Zettel closed on the World Cup giant slalom title with an exciting victory in her favored discipline in Ofterschwang on Friday.

Creamer and Park lead the way in Singapore

Creamer and Park lead the way in Singapore
Paula Creamer and Jane Park of the United States both carded one-under par 71s to lead at the halfway stage of the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore on Friday.

Allenby takes narrow lead in Honda Classic

Allenby takes narrow lead in Honda Classic
Robert Allenby continued the fine form of Australian players on the PGA Tour this season by taking a one-shot lead after the first round of the Honda Classic in Florida.
USOC Chief Executive Jim Scherr Resigns After Successful 6-Year Stretch
U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Jim Scherr announced his resignation yesterday, ending a six-year term during which he helped guide the organization out of management chaos and financial disarray to one of the most prosperous and stable periods in its history.

Danbury wrestlers hitting stride for New Englands
DANBURY -- The story of the 2008-2009 Danbury High wrestling team has taken many different twists. It was rebuilding, to reloading, and for the five that remain in March it is about New England championship dreams."This team has done a lot in a little time," said Danbury head coach Ricky Shook.

Creamer beats bug to share Champions lead

Creamer beats bug to share Champions lead
Paula Creamer had to wait nearly an hour to sink her four-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a five-under-par 67 and share the HSBC Women's Champions first round lead in Singapore.

Superstar Messi will resist mega offers

Superstar Messi will resist mega offers
Lionel Messi is ready to follow the example of fellow superstar Kaka and resist any mega-money attempt to prise him away from Spanish giants Barcelona.

Pakistan cricket tour to Bangladesh ditched

Pakistan cricket tour to Bangladesh ditched
Bangladesh cricket chiefs have postponed Pakistan's seven-match tour of the country scheduled to start next week, following government advice.
ACC Women's Basketball Tournament

Angry MacIsaac, Mad Hatters earn big win
DANBURY -- After salvaging a must-win game against the Jersey Rockhoppers, Danbury Mad Hatters coach Dave MacIsaac underscored the victory with a profanity-laced conviction of the EPHL.A goal by Danbury's Stephen Schofield with 3:46 left in the game gave the Mad Hatters an eventual 3-2 victory over Jersey Wednesday night, but afterward MacIsaac was far angrier with the league than he was eager to discuss his team's resilient performance in the race for the final playoff spot.

Ex-ICC chief: Future bleak for Pakistan cricket

Ex-ICC chief: Future bleak for Pakistan cricket
As Sri Lanka arrive home after the terror attacks in Lahore, former head of world cricket Ehsan Mani tells CNN that it will be many years before Pakistan will play host to international matches, including the 2011 World Cup.

Senna left on sidelines in Honda fall-out

Senna left on sidelines in Honda fall-out
Bruno Senna -- nephew of the legendary three-time world champion Ayrton Senna -- looks set to miss out on a drive in Formula One this season.

Magic win big-man battle, top Suns 111-99

Ex-ICC chief: Future bleak for Pakistan cricket
As Sri Lanka's team arrive home following the terrorist attacks in Lahore, the former head of world cricket Ehsan Mani tells CNN that it will be many years before Pakistan will play host to international matches including the 2011 World Cup.
Magic win big-man battle, top Suns 111-99
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dwight Howard had 21 points and eight rebounds in a bruising battle with Shaquille O'Neal, and the Orlando Magic beat the Phoenix Suns 111-99 on Tuesday night.

Bobcats advance in Class M playoffs
BROOKFIELD -- The Brookfield High girls basketball team swiftly defeated the Bullard Haven Tigers 51-41 in the first round of the Class M tournament Tuesday at Brookfield High.By making fleet-footed plays on transition and maintaining strict control over the ball, the Bobcats were able to keep the Tigers in their cage.

Father: Coast Guard Losing Hope of Finding Players

Father: Coast Guard Losing Hope of Finding Players
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The father of an NFL player among three men lost at sea says the Coast Guard's hopes are waning of finding survivors off the Florida Gulf Coast.

Notre Dame women give UConn a battle
HARTFORD -- Notre Dame gave it its best shot. No team had played the top-ranked UConn women's basketball team tighter all season than the 24th-ranked Irish.The Huskies trailed for longer stretches than it had in the first 26 games. It even trailed in the second half for the first time this season.

Lahore attack puts World Cup in doubt

Lahore attack puts World Cup in doubt
The future of international cricket in Pakistan, including that country's intention to host the 2011 World Cup, comes under scrutiny after the Lahore attack on the Sri Lanka team that left six security personnel dead and eight players wounded.

UConn women wrap up undefeated regular season

Gunmen attack Sri Lankan cricket team
At least six security guards have been killed and eight members of the Sri Lankan cricket team hurt in a coordinated attack in Lahore, Pakistan. Police say at least 12 people opened fire on the team bus.
Iverson to Visit D.C. to Have Back Examined
Allen Iverson is headed back to Georgetown for a back exam, tests that the Pistons hope will reveal how much more time he'll have to miss.

UConn women wrap up undefeated regular season
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The expectations that come with playing for the UConn women's basketball team can often be unfair. The Huskies are expected to win every game they play no matter the circumstances. It doesn't matter who is ill, who is suffering an off-day or who is injured.

James, Cleveland Edge Hawks in Final Seconds
ATLANTA -- LeBron James scored 26 points, including the winning free throw with 1.6 seconds left, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won for the seventh time in eight games, 88-87 over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

Aussies win first Test in South Africa

Aussies win first Test in South Africa
Man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson, above, doubles his match haul to eight wickets as Australia beat South Africa by 162 runs in the first Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Sarwan's 291 puts West Indies on top

Sarwan's 291 puts West Indies on top
Ramnaresh Sarwan scored his best ever Test score of 291 to end England's hopes of victory in the fourth test in Bridgetown, Barbados, as the West Indies ran up 749 for 9 in their first innings.

Sarwan's 291 puts Windies on top

Sarwan's 291 puts Windies on top
Ramnaresh Sarwan scored his best ever Test score of 291 to end England's hopes of victory in the fourth test in Bridgetown, Barbados, as the West Indies ran up 749 for 9 in their first innings.
Kyle Busch Rallies for NASCAR Win in Las Vegas
Kyle Busch cashes in big at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a back-of-the-field rally to win at his hometown track on Sunday.

Scholastic scoreboard
Boys basketballCSC playoffsSemifinalsMondayNew Haven Athletic CenterNo. 6 Platt Tech vs. No. 2 Capital Prep, 5 p.m.No. 4 Ellis Tech vs. No. 1 ABBOTT TECH, 7 p.m. Final WednesdayNew Haven Athletic Center6:30 p.m.FCIAC playoffsSemifinals TuesdayFairfield WardeNo.

South Africa battle back in opening Test

South Africa battle back in opening Test
South Africa fought back in the first Test against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium to give themselves an outside chance of victory on the final day.

Vonn continues domination with super-G win

Vonn continues domination with super-G win
Lindsey Vonn of the United States wins Sunday's super-G race in Bansko to continue her domination of the World Cup season with her seventh victory. Julien Lizeroux claims the men's slalom event in Kranjska Gora.

Danbury wrestlers claim ninth straight State Open title

Sarwan notches third century of Test series
Ramnaresh Sarwan proved a thorn in England's side again as the West Indian batsman racked up his third century of the series to boost his side's hopes of saving the fourth Test in Barbados.
Wily Mo Peña Has a Strained Shoulder
After spending the last week battling some discomfort in his right shoulder, outfielder Wily Mo Pena had a shoulder strain diagnosed, forcing him to sit out at least two days of action.

Danbury wrestlers claim ninth straight State Open title
NEW HAVEN -- It wasn't the easiest of seasons for the Danbury High wrestling team, but if it was a rebuilding year it can now be considered another successful title defense."It was definitely a rebuilding or reloading year for us," said Danbury head coach Ricky Shook.