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Dynasty! Spurs win 4th title in 9 years
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_bk_ga_su/bkn_nba_finals"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20070615/i/r154280119.jpg?x=130&y=94&sig=xZiw7K7WSiT6gD2ZoxDLLg--" align="left" height="94" width="130" alt="San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan (L) holds up the Larry O'Brien Trophy while teammate Tony Parker (C) holds up his MVP trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA Finals basketball series in Cleveland, Ohio, June 14, 2007. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES)" border="0" /></a>AP - Once again, the San Antonio Spurs walked the hallways in champagne-soaked T-shirts. Bruce Bowen carried the Larry O'Brien trophy, one he had cradled before.</p><br clear="all"/>
Surging Yankees extend win streak to 9
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbo_diamondbacks_yankees"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070614/capt.3e2705958142441e87164a8dc8e3a8b3.diamondbacks_yankees_baseball_nyy116.jpg?x=120&y=130&sig=5aRslTcr3_Kh07D3rxjjNQ--" align="left" height="130" width="120" alt="New York Yankees' Andy Pettitte delivers a pitch in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 7-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in their interleague baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Thursday, June 14, 2007. It was the Yankees ninth-consecutive win. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)" border="0" /></a>AP - Joe Torre found his new lucky spot in the dugout, then watched Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte and the rest of the team go to work. Yep, things are falling into place nicely for the New York Yankees.</p><br clear="all"/>
Rockies send Beckett to 1st loss of 2007
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbo_rockies_red_sox"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070615/capt.e6ca438e0ff1492ab0c96251a5e65412.rockies_red_sox_baseball_masr107.jpg?x=90&y=130&sig=clF38yRLcEIGGjre1gf6ZA--" align="left" height="130" width="90" alt="Boston Red Sox' Josh Beckett looks down as Colorado Rockies' Garrett Atkins, behind, rounds third and heads for home after hitting a grand slam off a pitch by Beckett in the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 14, 2007, at Boston's Fenway Park. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)" border="0" /></a>AP - With a line-drive grand slam over Fenway Park's Green Monster, Garrett Atkins might have put his slump behind him. "I know I'm a good hitter," the Rockies third baseman said Thursday night after going 3-for-5 to help Colorado beat the Boston Red Sox 7-1. "I've had two bad months of swings, but we've got four months left."</p><br clear="all"/>
Nick Dougherty grabs lead at U.S. Open
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_go_su/glf_us_open"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070614/capt.a30f3c7b0bc14854b25863a210c83cd1.us_open_golf_uso220.jpg?x=107&y=130&sig=JTrGvJy0pU.hfMXQIwU3ZA--" align="left" height="130" width="107" alt="Nick Dougherty of England tees off on the seventh hole during the first round of the 107th U.S. Open Golf Championship at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa., Thursday, June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)" border="0" /></a>AP - This was not the Oakmont anyone expected to see at the U.S. Open. Firm and fast became soft and slightly slower. Sunshine that hardened the course yielded to morning cloud cover that made it feel friendly. Thursday might have been the one day the course reputed to be the toughest in America was a pushover.</p><br clear="all"/>
BALCO leaker's plea deal rejected
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/balco_attorney"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070614/capt.24e5adca9cb74dc6a09d2850f53bb432.balco_attorney_cajc101.jpg?x=130&y=93&sig=T55_0uV_AW8RbMKoa63Ikg--" align="left" height="93" width="130" alt="Troy Ellerman, right, walks with an unidentified woman out of the federal courthouse in San Francisco, Thursday, June 14, 2007. A federal judge took the unusual step Thursday of rejecting a plea deal for Ellerman, an attorney who admitted leaking the grand jury testimony of elite athletes to two newspaper reporters. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)" border="0" /></a>AP - A federal judge took the unusual step Thursday of rejecting a plea deal for an attorney who admitted leaking the grand jury testimony of elite athletes to two newspaper reporters.</p><br clear="all"/>
Pacman Jones' lawyer demands evidence
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_pacman_vegas"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070612/capt.89db0c8f9a2b40bebc977949308ca38a.pacman_suspension_football_ny163.jpg?x=88&y=130&sig=dMg75kE26iSsMQL5amX1Lg--" align="left" height="130" width="88" alt="Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones watches from the sidelines during an NFL pre-season football game against the Atlanta Falcons, in Nashville, Tenn., in this Aug. 26, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/John Russell)" border="0" /></a>AP - Adam "Pacman" Jones' lawyer urged authorities Thursday to file criminal charges or stop trying to link the Tennessee Titans cornerback to a strip club melee and triple shooting.</p><br clear="all"/>
France's Parker named Europe's first NBA Finals MVP
(AFP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070615/sp_afp/basketnbamvpfraparker"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20070615/capt.sge.nmn51.150607062431.photo00.photo.default-512x434.jpg?x=130&y=110&sig=rbAhqyDYMIisBEZJnqB_kQ--" align="left" height="110" width="130" alt="Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs hugs his fiance actress Eva Longoria after leading the Spurs to their fourth NBA title beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the NBA Finals 14 June. Parker became the first European player to be named Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association Finals but the French guard expects even more NBA glory from Europe's finest(AFP/Timothy A. Clary)" border="0" /></a>AFP - Tony Parker became the first European player to be named Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball Association Finals but the French guard expects even more NBA glory from Europe's finest.</p><br clear="all"/>
Royals earn rare series win over Cards
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbo_cardinals_royals"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070615/capt.f4643d5a963f44beb8047bd3cfea2062.cardinals_royals_baseball__moez104.jpg?x=123&y=130&sig=3_Qw2YIDsU8r8MxvYazFrQ--" align="left" height="130" width="123" alt="Kansas City Royals' Mark Teahen drives the ball to center for an RBI single in the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, June 14, 2007, in Kansas City, Mo. David DeJesus scored on the hit. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" border="0" /></a>AP - The table was set for Kansas City's feast-or-famine offense and the Royals pigged out. Two triples and five RBIs for Mark Teahen. Four hits for Tony Pena Jr. Three RBIs each for Emil Brown and David DeJesus, and a mammoth home run for Alex Gordon for the second night in a row.</p><br clear="all"/>
Oduro lifts F.C. Dallas over Salt Lake
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_so_ga_su/soc_mls_fc_dallas_real_salt_lake"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070615/capt.9cca074bbec940d7a115837fe00f6b70.mls_fc_dallas_real_salt_lake_soccer_rsl102.jpg?x=124&y=130&sig=LcL89B_bMLE2g5ZF8iua_Q--" align="left" height="130" width="124" alt="Real Salt Lake defender Jean-Martial Kipre undercuts FC Dallas forward Dominic Oduro (25), of Ghana, to steal the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer game Thursday, June 14, 2007, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)" border="0" /></a>AP - Dominic Oduro scored in the 93rd and final minute to give F.C. Dallas a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Thursday night in Major League Soccer. Oduro took the ball upfield himself, and put a low shot in the back corner past goalkeeper Nick Rimando.</p><br clear="all"/>
Crosby is youngest NHL MVP since Gretzky
(AP)
<p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070615/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hkn_nhl_awards"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070615/capt.0819ec5e39c3420e8a402f0df357e08d.nhl_awards_hockey_fng106.jpg?x=130&y=103&sig=Px693vI78fVjtf4DVe8ydA--" align="left" height="103" width="130" alt="Pittsburg Penguins' Sidney Crosby poses with, from left to right, the Hart for the NHL's most valuable player; Lester B. Pearson for the most outstanding player as selected by the NHLPA; and Art Ross, for the top point scorer in the NHL, trophies after winning them at the 2007 NHL awards in Toronto, Canada, on Thursday June 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn,CP)" border="0" /></a>AP - Sidney Crosby skated away with the Hart Trophy on Thursday night, becoming the NHL's youngest MVP since Wayne Gretzky.</p><br clear="all"/>
Favre shut down with sore shoulder (AP)
Brett Favre was held out of the Green Bay Packers' practices Wednesday and Thursday because of a sore right shoulder. "I probably could practice, but it really don't make a lot of sense to go out and make it any worse," Favre said. "I think it's probably just tendinitis or something like that." Coach Mike McCarthy said the medical staff doesn't consider the injury serious.
Culpepper bruises left hand in car crash (AP)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper slightly bruised his nonthrowing hand in a two-car accident. "I am fine," Culpepper said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Thursday. Culpepper said the vintage Chevrolet car he was driving was rear-ended by another motorist late Wednesday night on a South Florida highway.
McNabb thinks he's set for training camp (AP)
Now that Donovan McNabb has taken some snaps and thrown a few passes, he believes he's ready for training camp. The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback completed his first week of practice since tearing a knee ligament in his right knee on Nov. 19 and expects to be on the field when the Philadelphia Eagles reconvene next month at Lehigh University.
Lawyer for 'Pacman' demands evidence (AP)
Adam "Pacman" Jones' lawyer urged authorities Thursday to file criminal charges or stop trying to link the Tennessee Titans cornerback to a strip club melee and triple shooting. Attorney Robert Langford said no evidence tied Jones to the shooting, and DNA comparisons failed to show the NFL star was responsible for a bite injury reported during the February mayhem.
Jaguars release veteran S Darius (AP)
The Jaguars released safety Donovin Darius on Thursday, a move that signaled the team's desire to go with younger and faster defenders. Darius, who turns 32 in August, has been a mainstay in the secondary since he was the club's first-round pick in the 1998 draft. "It was a shock the way it happened," Darius said at a news conference.
Kendall asks Jets to release, trade him (AP)
Pete Kendall was down on one knee on the sideline away from the rest of his teammates, his left hand cupping his chin as he stared out at the field. The New York Jets' first-team offense ran through drills Thursday while the veteran offensive lineman barely appeared to be a part of the team. If Kendall gets his wish, he won't be for much longer.
Vilma: Dogfight comments misunderstood (AP)
Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma said Thursday his recent comments comparing dogfighting to horse racing were misunderstood. Asked on a local radio show his thoughts on the investigation of Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's possible involvement in dogfighting, Vilma said: "Dogfighting is much more extreme, but you can equate it to horse racing.
Spurs sweep Cavs to win fourth title (AP)
 True roundball royalty, the San Antonio Spurs are once again wearing the crown. LeBron James, Cleveland's preordained king, isn't quite ready for his. MVP Tony Parker scored 24 points, Manu Ginobili had 27 -- 13 in the fourth quarter -- and the Spurs moved in among the NBA's greatest franchises with an 83-82 victory Thursday night for a sweep of the Cavaliers -- court jesters through much of their...
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James must wait to become NBA royalty (AP)
 The King will have to wait to become real NBA royalty. LeBron James stumbled, not soared, through his first NBA finals, which ended in a sweep with Cleveland's 83-82 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night in Game 4. James had 24 points and 10 assists, but shot just 10-of-30 from the field and had some costly miscues in the fourth quarter.
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Duncan emotional after winning title (AP)
 Tim Duncan, the stoic and selfless foundation of the San Antonio Spurs, finally let the emotions flow Thursday night after he won his fourth NBA title. Duncan, on the court to the final second, jumped up and down, caught teammate Bruce Bowen for a bear hug, and held his arms above his head as a champion once again.
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Wolves acquire Juwan Howard from Rockets (AP)
 As far as Juwan Howard is concerned, his move to Minnesota should have happened four years ago. Back then he was a free agent coming off a big year in Denver, and the Timberwolves were high on his list of suitors. He chose Orlando instead, spending one year there before being traded to Houston. "Even though I did not sign with Minnesota, it always was in the back of my mind when I was in Orlando...
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James' girlfriend gives birth to boy (AP)
Maximus was the first name LeBron James wanted for his second son, a nod to the lead character in "Gladiator," his favorite movie. But like Caesar, Mommy gave it a thumbs down. "She didn't like it," James said Thursday night, shortly before Game 4 of the NBA finals. "So she settled for the middle." James became a father for the second time early Thursday when his girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, gave...
Cavs' Newble hosts Sudanese refugees (AP)
 Cleveland Cavaliers reserve swingman Ira Newble hugged and shook hands with 15 refugees from southern Sudan, his special guests for Game 4 of the NBA finals Thursday night. Newble has become an activist for Darfur, a region of Sudan where four years of warfare have left more than 200,000 dead and 2.5 million people displaced.
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NBA finals ratings decline continues (AP)
The NBA finals continue to draw far fewer viewers than last year. The San Antonio Spurs' 75-72 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night received a 6.4 national rating and an 11 share on ABC, down 20 percent from the 8.0/14 for last year's Game 3 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.
Crosby youngest NHL MVP since Gretzky (AP)
 Sidney Crosby skated away with the Hart Trophy on Thursday night, becoming the NHL's youngest MVP since Wayne Gretzky. The vote wasn't even close. The 19-year-old Pittsburgh captain -- who received his trophy from six-time winner Gordie Howe -- got 91 first-place votes and 1,225 points in a poll of Professional Hockey Writers' Association members.
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Flames hire Mike Keenan as coach (AP)
 Mike Keenan is making another stop in the NHL. He was hired to his eighth league head coaching job Thursday by the Calgary Flames. Keenan agreed to a three-year deal to replace Jim Playfair, who will remain as an assistant after leading the Flames to the playoffs. "You never know how the game is going to call you back, do you?" Keenan said.
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Sabres' next step: Re-sign Drury, Briere (AP)
The Sabres' managing partner went out of his way to compliment the loyalty of coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier after both re-signed with Buffalo for below market rate on Thursday. Larry Quinn's comments could also have been interpreted as a message to co-captains Chris Drury and Daniel Briere -- both of whom are eligible to become the NHL's most coveted free agents July 1.
Blue Jackets name Oilers' Howson GM (AP)
The Columbus Blue Jackets, the only NHL team never in the playoffs, hired Scott Howson as their general manager on Thursday. The former assistant GM for Edmonton will take over for Doug MacLean, who was fired in April after the Jackets struggled through another lackluster season at 33-42-7. He had been with the team since its start in 2000.
Sabres mum on potential Predators move (AP)
The Buffalo Sabres have expressed no concern about the Nashville Predators' potentially relocating to nearby Hamilton, Ontario. Not yet, anyway. "It's a fool's game for me to speculate on things like that," Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn said Thursday. "If and when somebody decides to put a franchise in Hamilton, they're going to have to go through a procedure.
Red Wings GM says Hasek will be back (AP)
Dominik Hasek wants to play another season for the Red Wings. "We haven't talked contract yet because the whole issue was whether Dom wanted to play or not," general manager Ken Holland told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "His agent told me Friday that he wanted to come back, but we agreed to let him take his vacation over the next few days to make sure that's what he really wanted to do.
Flyers sign G Niittymaki to 2-year deal (AP)
The Flyers signed restricted free agent goaltender Antero Niittymaki to a two-year contract on Thursday. The Finn struggled last season, going 9-29-9 with a 3.38 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 52 games with Philadelphia. Niittymaki, who turns 27 on Monday, is coming off surgery on his left hip in April and was expected to need about 10 weeks to recover.
Kubica replaced at US Grand Prix after horror crash (AFP)
New team, plenty of questions await Earnhardt (AP)
In the biggest free-agent signing in NASCAR history, Dale Earnhardt Jr. agreed to a five-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports.
F1 doesn't need US GP, says Ecclestone (AFP)
Hamilton plays down title talk (AFP)
Formula One world championship leader Lewis Hamilton has claimed it is too early to talk of lifting the title, but worryingly for his rivals the 22-year-old sensation is expecting to maintain his rapid progress as the season goes on.
Hendrick vows to leave Earnhardt image alone (AP)
Fame and fortune have yet to change Dale Earnhardt Jr., and he doesn't believe new boss Rick Hendrick will try to do it, either.
Earnhardt to join Hendrick Motorsports next season (AP)
Hendrick Motorsports has been practically unbeatable this season, with its star-studded lineup racking up 10 wins through the first 14 races.
Notes: Dodge committed to NASCAR despite company's sale (AP)
Dodge's director of brand marketing and communication says Chrysler's sale to a private equity firm, Cerberus...
McCumbee impresses in Cup debut for Petty (AP)
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