Americans head to Olympics after show of strength
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – `Watch out London – the Americans are coming’ was the message after the U.S. team recorded its best showing at the world indoor championships with 10 gold medals in Istanbul. Men’s team coach John Moon was in buoyant mood as the athletes, fresh from their record success, now turn their attention to the year’s main event, the Olympics.
Kobe’s late jumper helps Lakers beat Celtics
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Kobe Bryant displayed his customary late-game heroics and newfound trust in his team mates to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the visiting Boston Celtics 97-94 on Sunday. In a fourth quarter slugfest that featured 11 lead changes, Bryant made a pull-up that put the home team ahead 95-94 with 42 seconds, then allowed Andrew Bynum to deliver the final basket as the Lakers scored the last eight points to triumph against their long-time NBA rivals.
Nadal, Federer ease through at Indian Wells
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – Twice champion Rafa Nadal and triple winner Roger Federer barely raised a sweat as they each cruised into the third round of the Indian Wells ATP tournament with imperious victories on Sunday. Spaniard Nadal ruthlessly dealt with Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-1 6-3 before Swiss maestro Federer eased past American wild card Denis Kudla 6-4 6-1 in the evening session at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Azarenka advances, Kvitova bundled out
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) – Top seed Victoria Azarenka charged ominously into the fourth round of the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Sunday while third-seeded Petra Kvitova made an unexpected early exit. Belarusian world number one Azarenka crushed Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1 6-2, improving her record to 19-0 this year, but Kvitova was ousted 2-6 6-2 6-3 by American teenager Christina McHale.
Isinbayeva and U.S. shine as indoors end
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – There were twists, turns and a back flip at the world indoor championships on Sunday but no world records, despite pole vault winner Yelena Isinbayeva’s best efforts. Four-times champion Meseret Defar lost her 3,000 metres title to Kenyan Hellen Obiri and American hurdler Aries Merritt pulled off a surprise victory over China’s Liu Xiang as the U.S. dominated proceedings to finish top of the medal table with 10 golds for their best showing at the three-day championships.
Smith fined $25,000 for “inappropriate” Tweet
NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith was fined $25,000 by the National Basketball Association for posting “inappropriate pictures” on his Twitter account, the league announced on Saturday. Smith, 26, posted a picture of a partly naked woman on his account on Thursday.
Rose sets sights on a major after WGC triumph
(Reuters) – England’s Justin Rose clinched the biggest win of his career in Sunday’s WGC-Cadillac Championship then promptly set his sights on landing his first major.
Rose shot a two-under-par 70 to beat American Bubba Watson by a stroke and hold off a late surge from world number one Rory McIlroy to claim his first victory in the elite WGC series.
