News sports 2008-06-13 Andanh.com

Lawsuit bound to have a long-term effect on NASCAR
Mauricia Grant will never see $225 million from NASCAR

Celtics in control after rally for ages
LOS ANGELES — In their comeback season, the Celtics saved the biggest one of all for the NBA Finals.

Stellar threesome mired in middle of Open pack
SAN DIEGO — Coming off arthroscopic surgery and a nine-week layoff, Tiger Woods figured he needed to get into the flow of the U.S. Open early, with a quick, strong start in the first round.

Budinger leans toward leaving
PHOENIX — After four NBA pre-draft workouts, Chase Budinger said he's received "good enough" information to justify leaving the Arizona Wildcats irrevocably.

Opinion by Greg Hansen : Tucsonan relaxed, solid on first day
LA JOLLA, Calif.

Around the AL
● Royals 6, Rangers 5: In Kansas City, Alex Gordon and Mike Aviles each hit two-run home runs and the Royals edged the Rangers to avoid a three-game sweep. The Rangers led 5-4 before Kansas City pushed across two runs in the eighth. Ron Mahay (2-0) recorded two outs to earn the win and Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 16 opportunities.

AL inside pitch
• Tigers catcher Vance Wilson's career might be over after a major setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The procedure, which included a grafted ulnar collateral ligament, was performed on June 13 of last year. The Tigers announced Thursday that Wilson tore the new ligament while trying to rehab the injury. If Wilson chooses to go through the procedure again, he would be sidelined for at least another 12 months, but the eight-year veteran is going to consider his options before making a final decision.

Around the NL
● Cubs 3, Braves 2: In Chicago, Jeff Ridgway hit pinch-hitter Reed Johnson with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and Chicago beat reeling Atlanta. Chicago's Jim Edmonds tied it at 2 with a one-out solo homer in the ninth, setting the stage for the comeback victory.

NL inside pitch
• Mitch Harris, a newly commissioned ensign and Naval Academy graduate who was drafted last week by the Cardinals, was denied a bid to play ball Thursday and ordered to report for duty. The 22-year-old must serve a five-year active duty commitment, Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter ruled. Harris, a native of Ocala, Fla., who played high school ball in North Carolina, was selected in the 13th round with the 395th pick overall.

Cabrera takes Leyland's homer advice
DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera listened intently to Jim Leyland and did exactly what the Detroit Tigers manager told him to do.

Wagner snakebitten
NEW YORK — Billy Wagner's big slump has come at a terrible time for the New York Mets.

What you missed
• Atlanta just cannot seem to win away from Turner Field, especially the close ones. With a 3-2 loss to the Cubs in Chicago on Thursday afternoon, the Braves fell to 7-24 on the road in 2008 and have lost their last 21 one-run games on the road since August of last year. That matches the longest such streak in major-league history. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kansas City lost 21 straight one-run games on the road from 2000-01.

D'Antona credits luck for hot start at plate for Sidewinders
Jamie D'Antona doesn't consider himself superstitious. He abides by no certain rituals as he maintains a batting average of around .400 for the Tucson Sidewinders.

Ovechkin takes home MVP; Boudreau top coach
TORONTO — You can call Alex Ovechkin MVP in the NHL. What the Capitals young star really wants is to be known as a Stanley Cup champion.

Sibling rivalry extends to racetrack
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Kurt Busch remembers when kid brother Kyle would try running with a much older group of kids as they were growing up in Las Vegas.

Aztecs hire Pieroway, formerly of Ironwood Ridge, as new basketball coach
Pima College has hired former Ironwood Ridge High School coach Karl Pieroway as its new men's basketball coach. Pieroway has been a math teacher at Wilson Junior High School in the Amphitheater school district. He coached the Nighthawks from 2001-07.

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