Manny Pacquiao pummels Margarito for 8th Championship title

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Manny Pacquiao more than made up with speed what he lacked in size.
Giving away both pounds and inches, boxing's little superstar turned Antonio Margarito into a bloody and nearly blind fighter with a dizzying array of punches Saturday night in a lopsided decision victory that wasn't close from the opening rounds on.
In a spectacular performance before a delighted crowd of 41,734 at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao cemented his claim to being the best fighter in the world by dominating the bigger but slower Margarito almost from the opening bell. Pacquiao won round after round, opening a cut on Margarito's cheek, closing his right eye, and turning his face into a bloody mess.

Formula 1: Sebastian Vettel claims pole poistion in Abu Dhabi

Sebastian Vettel will start the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix just where he wants, on pole position after lapping his Red Bull in 1m 39.394s. But the most important qualifying session of the year was a major disappointment for team mate Mark Webber who managed only fifth place in 1m 39.925s and will be separated from Vettel by McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Jenson Button.

Earlier, Hamilton had been fortunate to avoid contact with Felipe Massa when, after a big slide on his first lap in Q2, he’d had to back off the pace and resumed just as the Ferrari was alongside. The former champion walloped a camera pole, but his McLaren did not sustain any damage and he recovered his momentum brilliantly to lap second quickest before his time eventually left him fifth in that session.

Pacquiao vs. Margarito and F1 Finale: Two Sporting Events Hard to Miss this Weekend

Two important sporting events are happening this weekend.

The ever popular and the Hon. Manny Pacquiao, our Congressman in Sarangani Province will once again go up to the ring to fight the not so popular Antonio Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight division. Where else would this event be held? There's no other place to hold  a fight as huge as this than in the gambling capital of the US, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Racing fanatics on the other hand, will have to fasten their seat belts to watch the finale of the Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi featuring four title contenders for the most coveted 2010 Formula 1 Champion.

Manny Pacquiao's fight against Margarito has already been labeled as lopsided and very predictable. Manny's coach Freddie Roach predicted "the fight will be short and sweet". Many people consider that if Manny is serious with pounding hard Margarito, the fight will be over in just one round. What can make this fight exciting and interesting for us Filipinos? Well, after Manny has boxed out Margarito, he will  claim  his 8th championship title never been done before by any professional boxer since its inception (really???). That's how great Manny is! He should be regarded then as the best pound for pound king following this fight, after Mayweather Jr. reclaimed this title earlier this year.

Petacchi wins first stage of Tour de France; Armstrong remains fourth

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Lance Armstrong saw it coming: tight turns, narrow roads, big crowds and nervous riders would make crashes likely in Sunday's first stage at the Tour de France.

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Brazil to hire new coach by end of month

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Dunga is out as coach of Brazil's national soccer team.
The coach and his staff were fired Sunday, two days after Brazil was beaten by the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Pacquiao in Forbes’ most ‘powerful’ list

 By NICK GIONGCO. Manny Pacquiao made it to the 100 World’s Most Powerful Celebrities for the second straight year on a list made by Forbes magazine.

Nadal outplays Berdych for 2nd Wimbledon title

WIMBLEDON, England —Rafael Nadal swept Tomas Berdych in straight sets Sunday to win his second Wimbledon title and eighth Grand Slam championship.

Sayonara Sta. Lucia in the PBA?

Source: GMA News TV. They stuck with their team colors for so long, determined to make it cooler than teal, hotter than red, I was actually beginning to like Pantone 3435. On second thought, even on what might be their uniforms’ last appearance in a PBA game, I give Sta. Lucia 1000 bonus points for staying true to team colors I thought only Army Rangers would prefer.

Knicks wait on LeBron, Wade, Bosh

Source: ESPN.com. New York Knicks president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh is a patient man.
The Knicks completed their presentation to free agent LeBron James on Thursday and followed it up with presentations to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on Friday.

Nowitzki signed $80 million for 4 years with Dallas

Source: ESPN.com. DALLAS -- Dirk Nowitzki has essentially invested some of his own money into the Dallas Mavericks.
With no guarantee the capped-out Mavericks can land the elite sidekick he seeks to keep Dallas relevant in the Western Conference, Nowitzki agreed Saturday night to give a hometown discount to the only team he's ever known, reaching terms with owner Mark Cuban on what sources close to the talks say is a four-year deal worth $80 million.

Pierce agrees on 4 years, $61M

Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics have agreed to a four-year, $61 million deal, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Saturday.
A source told ESPN the fourth year of Pierce's contract -- the main point of contention in the negotiations -- is fully guaranteed.

Agent: Johnson to stay in Atlanta

Source: ESPN.com. Free agent Joe Johnson is staying with the Atlanta Hawks, his agent said in a blog published on the Huffington Post website on Sunday.

Llamados keep No. 2 in sight

Source: Inquirer.Net. MANILA, Philippines—Clif Brown had 24 points and 16 rebounds while James Yap added 21 points as B-Meg Derby Ace kept the fight for an outright semifinal berth alive with a 101-83 thumping of Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

Biado tops Pacman 10-ball, bags P1M

MANILA, Philippines—Carlo Biado overwhelmed Johann Chua, 15-5, in the finals to rule the Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao 10-ball tournament in General Santos City late Tuesday.

Spain edge past resolute Paraguay

Spain set up a potentially thrilling semi-final meeting with Germany but the European champions had to do it the hard way, requiring a lone second-half strike from David Villa to claim a 1-0 win over a resilient Paraguay 1-0 at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. The goal saw Villa take an outright lead in the race for the adidas Golden Boot with five goals but the match was as much a tale of two failed spot-kicks, one for each side.

Mixed RP result as WPC unfolds

Source: Inquirer.net. MANILA, Philippines—Dennis Orcollo and unheralded compatriot Israel Rota pulled off stunning reversals Wednesday, even as compatriots Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Lee Van Corteza coasted to opening-round victories in the 2010 WPA World Pool Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Serena claims 13th Grand Slam triumph

WIMBLEDON, England -- Getting set to accept her latest Wimbledon trophy, Serena Williams lifted both arms and held aloft 10 fingers. Then, raising only her right hand, she wiggled three more fingers, bringing the total count to 13.

Smart Gilas-Pilipinas braces for tough Jones Cup stint

By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines — With a new import and a lineup free of injuries, Smart Gilas-Pilipinas now has the ingredients to come up with a terrific show in the William Jones Cup.

Jackson to return as Lakers coach next season

Source: Inquirer.net. LOS ANGELES – Phil Jackson will return as Lakers coach next season, putting off retirement for at least one more year to pursue a 12th NBA title.
"Count me in," Jackson said in a news release on Thursday.

Blake heads from Blazers to Lakers

By Chris Sheridan. LOS ANGELES -- The NBA champions have a new point guard: Steve Blake.
Blake told Portland radio station 95.5 FM that he agreed to a four-year deal on Friday. An NBA source said the deal is for $16 million. Blake turned down overtures from five other teams for a chance to play alongside Kobe Bryant and under coach Phil Jackson as Los Angeles goes for a three-peat next season.

San Miguel, Ginebra get job done

INQuirer.net
GAMES TOMORROW (Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m.—Coca-Cola vs Sta. Lucia
6:30 p.m.—Air21 vs Rain or Shine
MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer won an old-fashioned shootout against Derby Ace and James Yap in the stretch last night and pulled out an 88-83 victory that sent the Beermen outright into the semifinal round of the PBA Fiesta Conference at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Heat, Clippers make pitches to LeBron

CLEVELAND -- The Miami Heat used every precious second of their promised time with LeBron James -- and then some.
Team president Pat Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra, billionaire owner Micky Arison and former center Alonzo Mourning spent nearly three hours making their presentation to try to lure James, the NBA's most coveted free agent, to sunny South Florida.

Source: Wade requests 2nd Bulls talk

By Chad Ford. CHICAGO -- Dwyane Wade is leaning toward committing to the Chicago Bulls, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Chad Ford on Friday.
According to the source, Wade requested a second meeting with the Bulls shortly after the 2006 NBA Finals MVP spent more than two hours getting wooed by the New York Knicks at a downtown Chicago hotel Friday morning. The source stressed that Wade needed the meeting to clarify issues around signing with the Bulls.

Ghana pay the penalty

Source: FIFA.com. Ghana became the final African team to say goodbye to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, losing in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to Uruguay after a 1-1 quarter-final draw at Johannesburg's Soccer City. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved efforts from Stephen Appiah and Dominic Adiyiah, before Sebastian Abreu converted the decisive spot-kick for the South Americans, who reach the last four for the first time since 1970.

Pierce-Celtics talks still progressing

BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics and captain Paul Pierce are continuing talks on a new contract and are closing in on an agreement, sources close to the situation have told ESPN.com.

Dutch fightback buries Brazil

The Netherlands came from behind to break Brazilian hearts and take a huge step towards a third FIFA World Cup™ final appearance. Trailing at half-time to Robinho's early goal in Port Elizabeth, Bert van Marwijk's men drew level through Felipe Melo's own goal before Wesley Sneijder headed the winner with 22 minutes remaining. Brazil ended the game a man short after Felipe Melo's dismissal as, like in Germany four years ago, the South Americans, unbeaten since last October, saw their dream of a sixth world crown dismantled at the quarter-final stage.

Nets, Knicks meet with LeBron

Source: ESPN.com: CLEVELAND -- As they made their exit, the New Jersey Nets passed the New York Knicks in the driveway of the parking garage.

Everyone came to see LeBron James.Nets billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, rap mogul Jay-Z, coach Avery Johnson and other team officials spent more than 90 minutes making a presentation on Thursday to James, the two-time MVP and budding global icon who became the most celebrated free agent in history at 12:01 a.m.

Quarterfinals: Netherlands-Brazil preview

Brazil and the Netherlands, both deploying a deadly brand of counter-attacking football, are set to go head-to-head in Friday's quarter-finals.