Bartoli ousted at Stanford, Stosur battles on

STANFORD, California (Reuters) - Victoria Azarenka overcame a slow start to upset defending champion Marion Bartoli 3-6 6-3 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Stanford Classic on Friday.

Holder Querrey and Murray reach last four in LA

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Second seed and champion Sam Querrey overcame an erratic serving display to reach the LA Open semi-finals with a nail-biting 6-2 3-6 7-6 victory over German veteran Rainer Schuettler on Friday.

Oswalt roughed up in Phillies debut

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Roy Oswalt's debut with Philadelphia was a dud as the Washington Nationals pounded the Phillies and their newly acquired pitcher 8-1 on Friday.

Rays tighten gap with 3-2 win over Yankees

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - The surging Tampa Bay Rays moved to within one game of New York in the American League East with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Yankees on Friday.

Trade deadline means sleepless night for players

TORONTO (Reuters) - With the trade deadline ticking down it will be a sleepless night for more than a few major leaguers Friday who will go to bed wondering if they will be with the same team in the morning.

Knee keeps Haynesworth from fitness test (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:16:54 -0400

Albert Haynesworth came to work Saturday morning with a slightly swollen knee, forcing him to scrap his latest chance to pass the Washington Redskins conditioning test and keeping him exiled from practice for yet another day. The two-time All-Pro defensive tackle arrived early at Redskins Park and told the team he had some irritation in one of his knees.

Cowboys WR Bryant to miss 4-6 weeks (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:39:32 -0400

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones describes rookie receiver Dez Bryant as being disappointed and bothered that he could miss the entire preseason. Jones says Bryant has a "typical" high right ankle sprain that should heal completely without surgery, and he could be back on the short side of the anticipated recovery period of four to six weeks.

Browns RB Hardesty out 'a couple weeks' (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:37:42 -0400

Cleveland Browns second-round draft pick Montario Hardesty will miss "a couple weeks" after twisting a knee during a pre-camp drill. Hardesty, expected to vie with Jerome Harrison to be the starting running back, was injured Thursday but surgery was not required, coach Eric Mangini said Saturday after the Browns' first practice of training camp.

Bucs agree with No. 3 overall pick McCoy (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:15:36 -0400

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a five-year contract with first-round draft pick Gerald McCoy and also reached a six-year deal with restricted free agent left tackle Donald Penn. General manager Mark Dominik announced the developments Saturday as the club opened training camp. Penn joined the first workout about 15 minutes later, and there's a chance McCoy could be on the field for a...

Seahawks special-teams ace Morey retires (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:09:30 -0400

Special-teams ace Sean Morey has retired from the Seattle Seahawks. A team spokesman announced the move Saturday morning, minutes before the Seahawks started training camp. Morey was a Pro Bowl selection in 2008 with Arizona, and he signed a free-agent contract with Seattle this offseason. The 34-year-old has been a leader in raising awareness of head injuries.

Still a Jay, Bautista's slam backs Marcum

Lind to see more time at first base

Snider's return gives Gaston options

'Pen surrounded in uncertainty at Deadline

Snider returns after Double-A walk-off

Cards, Tribe, Friars nearing three-way deal

White Sox rebuffed in bid to land Manny

Pirates set to acquire Snyder from D-backs

Rays complete trade for D-backs' Qualls

Pending approval, Snyder set for Pittsburgh

Hughton looking to build

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:05:00 -0400

Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton wants to add strength in depth to his squad.

Richardson signs Black Cats deal

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:41:00 -0400

Kieran Richardson has signed a three-year contract which commits him to Sunderland until the summer of 2013.

Friendly round-up - Sat 31st July

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:13:00 -0400

A review of Saturday's pre-season friendly action involving Barclays Premier League sides.

Wenger: Fabregas crucial

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:00:00 -0400

Arsene Wenger believes captain Cesc Fabregas is essential to Arsenal's hopes of success.

O'Neill happy to keep Milner

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:30:00 -0400

Martin O'Neill says James Milner still has a future at Aston Villa if his move to Manchester City fails to materialise.

Myhill joins Baggies

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:16:00 -0400

West Bromwich Albion have signed goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from Hull City for an undisclosed fee.

Hit The Links With Leafspace...

Monika with a K is bringing you the latest episode of Leafspace directly from the Rick Vaive Celebrity Classic golf tournament. Watch now as Vaive, Wendel Clark and other former Leafs give Monika and Steve Dangle some tips as they square off!

Maple Leafs Sign Joey MacDonald

Brian Burke announced Monday that the Maple Leafs have signed free agent goaltender Joey MacDonald to a one-year contract. MacDonald, 29, posted a a 14-26-6 record in 49 games with the New York Islanders last season.

Maple Leafs Trade Pogge To Ducks

Brian Burke announced Monday that the Leafs have acquired a conditional draft pick in 2011 from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Justin Pogge. In seven games with the Leafs last season, the 23-year-old earned a record of 1-4-1.

Read Mike Ulmer's Chat Recap...

Mapleleafs.com's Mike Ulmer is getting ready for a summer break, but first he tackled some nagging questions that he discussed with Leafs Nation in a LIVE CHAT on Thursday. Read the blog and the chat recap now!

Fans First Contest: Are You A Winner?

The first phase of the Coca-Cola Zero (R) Fans First Game is now over. If you registered for the Contest between July 17th and 31st, check your email from August 4th to find out if you’re a winner. For more information, click here for

Blackhawks ink D Leddy for 3 years (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:38:31 -0400

Former University of Minnesota defenseman Nick Leddy signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. Taken with the 16th pick in the 2009 draft by the Minnesota Wild, Leddy was traded to the Blackhawks with defensemen Kim Johnsson for defenseman Cam Barker on Feb. 12. Leddy had three goals and eight assists as a freshman for the Gophers last season.

Canadiens sign C Leblanc to 3-year deal (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:14:45 -0400

The Montreal Canadiens signed former Harvard center Louis Leblanc to a three-year contract Friday. Montreal selected Leblanc 18th overall in the 2009 Draft. Leblanc led Harvard in goals (11), assists (12), points (23) and game-winning goals (three) last season in 31 games. Leblanc, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, has been invited to the Canadian world junior camp next week in St.

Quenneville looking ahead to next season (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:47:42 -0400

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville keeps repeating that he's "excited" about the Stanley Cup championship team's upside potential, even after shedding seven players to remain under the NHL's salary cap. Quenneville believes goalie Antti Niemi is among those players with a bright future, even if Niemi becomes the eighth Blackhawk trimmed from the team's roster due...

Isles acquire D Wisniewski from Ducks (AP)

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:11:32 -0400

The New York Islanders acquired James Wisniewski from the Anaheim Ducks on Friday for a conditional third-round pick in 2011. The 26-year-old Wisniewski had three goals and 27 assists in 69 regular-season games last season for a career-high 30 points. He led Anaheim in blocked shots with 102, had 129 hits and averaged 24:20 of ice time.

Lightning sign C Moore to 2-year deal (AP)

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:14:28 -0400

Free-agent center Dominic Moore has signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Moore appeared in 69 games last season with the Florida Panthers and Montreal Canadiens. He also has played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Toronto and Buffalo during a career that spans 374 NHL games.

Senators re-sign D Campoli for 1 year (AP)

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:47:51 -0400

Ottawa Senators defenseman Chris Campoli re-signed Friday, agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. The 25-year-old Campoli had four goals and 14 assists in 67 games last season, and added two assists in six playoff games. He has 29 goals and 85 assists in 320 career regular-season games with New York Islanders and Senators.

Bruins' Wheeler signs 1-year, $2.2M deal (AP)

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:47:31 -0400

The Boston Bruins signed forward Blake Wheeler to a one-year contract on Friday. His agent Matt Keator said the deal is worth $2.2 million, the amount of an arbitrator's award given after a hearing on Tuesday. "The decision came in the range we expected," Keator said. "There were no winners or losers in this case." Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said in a statement...

Flames avoid arbitration with D White (AP)

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:44:25 -0400

The Calgary Flames avoided arbitration with Ian White by signing the defenseman to a one-year contract Friday. The 26-year-old White had 38 points (13 goals, 25 assists) in 83 games last season with the Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs. White was acquired in a multiplayer deal with Toronto in January. He has 32 goals and 85 assists in 323 NHL regular-season games.

Arbitrator to rule on Blackhawks G Niemi (AP)

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:23:33 -0400

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman expects to learn on Saturday whether his salary cap-squeezed team will be able to keep restricted free agent goaltender Antti Niemi of Finland. After Bowman and Niemi's agent, Bill Zito, were unable to reach contract terms for the 26-year-old, the case advanced to an arbitration hearing Thursday in Toronto.

Thrashers sign F Ladd for 1 year, $2.35M (AP)

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:50:24 -0400

The Atlanta Thrashers have avoided arbitration with restricted free-agent Andrew Ladd by signing him to a one-year, $2.35 million deal. The 24-year-old forward had 17 goals and 21 assists with the Chicago Blackhawks last season before he was traded to Atlanta on July 1 for defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a second-round pick in 2011.

Roush missing from Pocono, but still in action

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:11:30 -0400

This weekend at Pocono Raceway isn't the first time team owner Jack Roush has been absent from a Cup Series venue as an event opened, but he's not disconnected from what's going on with his Roush Fenway Racing.

Drivers acknowledge impact of their comments

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:47:02 -0400

After Ryan Newman acknowledged Friday he was one of two drivers NASCAR fined for making critical comments about the Cup Series, Denny Hamlin admitted he was the second driver recently penalized.

Stewart back on the pole for third time at Pocono

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:04:27 -0400

Tony Stewart, seeking his first victory of 2010, is used to starting up front at Pocono Raceway -- but this time he earned it during time trials.