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.

Formula 1: Hamilton took Singapore Grand Prix

After 61 punishing laps of the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday, the podium featured not one team or driver in the running for the 2009 championship. Instead it was McLaren, Toyota, and Renault celebrating.However, Jenson Button and Brawn left Singapore quietly satisfied, the former having extended his championship lead to 15 points, the latter having all but wrapped up the constructors’ crown with three rounds remaining…Reproduced with kind permission of the FIA

Soccer: Beckham clashes anew with another fan

David Beckham has clashed with another fan just one week after an ugly confrontation with spectators during his first home match for the Los Angeles Galaxy after returning from Italy.The latest incident saw the 34-year-old exchange words with a male in the crowd, who was wearing an England shirt, during the Galaxy's 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.

NBA: Gooden to sign 1-year deal with Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have struck a deal with unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden to make use of some of the money they got back when Orlando matched their offer sheet earlier this month to restricted free agent Marcin Gortat.

Formula 1: Massa to miss Hungarian Grand Prix after undergoing surgery

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa will not race in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix following his high-speed qualifying crash at the Hungaroring, the team have confirmed. Massa was airlifted to AEK Hospital in Budapest, where he is in a stable condition.

Cycling: Lance Armstrong a favorite for 2010 Tour de France

Christophe Ena / Associated Press
Lance Armstrong, who finished third in the Tour de France on Sunday, is a favorite to win the race in 2010 with his new team.

NBA: Lamar Odom and Lakers resume talks

Is the table being set again? A week after the Lakers pulled a pair of contract offers to Lamar Odom off the table, the sides resumed talks Wednesday.The discussions were labeled productive, but there was nothing to report "at the moment," according to a source familiar with negotiations who was not authorized to comment publicly.

Formula 1: Massa’s condition improving says official

Injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa’s condition is said to be improving, according to a Hungarian government official. Massa remains stable in a Budapest hospital following his high-speed crash at the Hungaroring on Saturday, in which his helmet was struck by a loose spring from the car of fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.