AT THE OLYMPICS:
SWIMMING
Phelps and Franklin find more gold in the pool
LONDON (AP) – Michael Phelps has added a record 17th gold medal and record-extending 21st medal overall to his Olympic collection. The American star won the men’s 100-meter butterfly in London in what is expected to be the final individual race of his swimming career. Phelps will end his career with the 4×100 medley relay Saturday.
American teenagers Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky (leh-DEHK’-ee) also picked up gold on Friday.
The 17-year-old Franklin won the women’s 200-meter backstroke in world-record time for her third gold and fourth medal overall at the London Olympics.
And, 15-year-old Ledecky, the youngest member of the U.S. squad, took first place in the women’s 800-meter freestyle.
Cullen Jones of the U.S. won silver in the men’s 50-yard free.
ATHLETICS
Jeter already in high gear
LONDON (AP) – Expectations that the London Olympics track meet would be filled with good times were quickly confirmed on Day 1, with seven sprinters running women’s 100-meter heats in 11 seconds or better Friday night. They were led by the 10.83 turned in by world champion Carmelita Jeter of the U.S.
She’ll be joined in Saturday’s semifinals by fellow Americans Allyson Felix and Tianna Madison.
TENNIS
Firsts for Roger and Serena
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – Wimbledon champions Roger Federer and Serena Williams assured themselves of their first Olympic medal in singles. Now the only thing in doubt is what color it will be — silver or gold?
Federer outlasted Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro (wahn mar-TEEN’ dehl POHT’-roh) 3-6, 7-6, 19-17 in the men’s semifinals at the All England Club. They spent almost 4 1/2 hours on Centre Court.
Federer will play in the final against No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain, who beat No. 2 Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) of Serbia 7-5, 7-5.
Williams toppled No. 1-seeded Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN’-kuh)6-1, 6-2 and will face first-time Olympian Maria Sharapova on Saturday. The Russian beat countrywoman Maria Kirilenko (kih-reh-LEHN’-koh) 6-2, 6-3.
Americans Mike and Bob Bryan are assured of at least a silver medal in men’s doubles after defeating Julien Benneteau (ZHOO’-lee-ehn BEHN’-eh-toh) and Richard Gasquet (ree-SHARD’ gas-KAY’) of France, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.
The Bryans will play the winner of the semifinal match between David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez of Spain and Michael Llodra (loh-DRAH’) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (SAHNG’-guh) of France.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
U.S. beats New Zealand
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) – The U.S. women’s soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the Olympic tournament with a 2-0 win over New Zealand. Abby Wambach (WAHM’-bahk) scored in the 27th minute at St. James’ Park, giving her a goal in all four games and increasing her career total to 142.
The top-ranked Americans are seeking their third straight Olympic gold medal.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
2008 winners eliminated
LONDON (AP) – Defending beach volleyball gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser of the U.S. have been knocked out of the Olympics in the Round of 16 by Italy.
The Americans were among the favorites to win another gold medal.
Earlier in the day, Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross beat a duo from Switzerland to earn a quarterfinals berth.
WATER POLO
U.S. women win again
LONDON (AP) – Maggie Steffens scored three goals and the U.S. women’s water polo beat China 7-6 in their final preliminary-stage game to remain undefeated at the London Olympics.
The U.S. finished the preliminary round even with Spain at the top Group A with five points. But Spain earned the top spot because of the tiebreaker, making the Americans the group’s second-seeded team for the knockout stage.
The U.S. will play 2012 European champion Italy in Sunday’s quarterfinals.
JUDO
Saudi female competes
LONDON (AP) – Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhaniwas (WYE’-dan ah-LEE’ seh-RAHJ’ ahb-doohl-rah-HEEM’ shar-KAH’-nee) of Saudi Arabia has written her name in the Olympic record books. She was one of just two women competing for the Gulf kingdom, the first time the country had ever sent female athletes at all.
The 18-year-old was able to compete in judo only after a compromise between Olympic organizers, the international judo federation and Saudi officials cleared the way for her to wear a modified hijab.
She lost her match in just 82 seconds.
DOPING
Athletes sent home
LONDON (AP) – Three-time world champion hammer thrower Ivan Tsikhan of Belarus was kicked out of the London Olympics because an IOC retest found his doping samples from the 2004 Athens Games to be positive. Tsikhan won the silver medal in Athens.
And Russian track cyclist Victoria Baranova has been expelled after failing a pre-Olympics doping test.
AUSTRALIAN ROWER
Aussie rower in hot water
LONDON (AP) – Australian rower Josh Booth has been sent home from the Olympics after damaging two stores outside London, leaving him with a bill of $2,175 to repair the broken windows.
The 21-year-old Booth apologized to the two shop owners, according to the Australian Olympic Committee.
Team chief Nick Green says alcohol was involved.
IN OTHER SPORTS:
NFL-NEWS
Haslem committed to Cleveland
BEREA, Ohio (AP) – The new owner of the Cleveland Browns says his mission is to bring “winning back to Cleveland.” Truck-stop magnate Jimmy Haslam III also proclaims there’s “zero chance” he’ll move the club out of town.
A day after agreeing to purchase the Browns for a reported $1 billion, Haslem held a news conference at the Browns’ training camp facility.
The Browns are looking for their first NFL championship in nearly a half century. The expansion Browns entered the NFL in 1999 and have made the playoffs just once. They’ve had two winning records in 13 seasons and are 68-140 since they returned.
Elsewhere around the NFL:
– Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he’s “relieved” that medical tests on Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis’ right knee are negative. That’s encouraging news for Davis, who’s trying to become the first known NFL player to return from three torn ACLs to the same knee.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-PENN STATE TRANSFER
Another departure from State College
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – An official at the University of Illinois tells The Associated Press that Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Nowicki will transfer to Illinois.
The 6-foot-5, 280-pound redshirt freshman will be the eighth player to leave the Nittany Lions’ program following NCAA sanctions imposed last month after the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal. Nittany Lion players are allowed to transfer and play elsewhere right away.
Nowicki has four seasons of eligibility left.
MLB-NEWS
Indians getting rid of Damon
UNDATED(AP) – Johnny Damon has been designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians, who have 10 days to release or trade him.
The 38-year-old Damon signed with Cleveland on April 17 but hit only .222 with four home runs in 64 games.
Damon has 2,769 hits but may be running out of time if he wants to make a run at the 3,000 milestone.
In other MLB news:
– The Nationals have acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for a minor league catcher. The 28-year-old Suzuki was batting .218 with a home run and 18 RBIs for the A’s.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Key NL Central contest in Cincy
UNDATED (AP)- The Pirates and Reds open up a big NL Central series tonight in the Queen City. The Reds lead the Pirates by 3 1/2 games at the top of the division standings. Cincinnati is a major league-best 64-41.
Washington’s Gio Gonzalez is going for his 14th win of the season tonight as the Nationals entertain Miami in the second-half of a day-night doubleheader.
Elsewhere around the senior circuit, Philadelphia hosts an Arizona team that has won two straight and is just two games out of first place in the NL West. The first place Giants are at Colorado and looking to avoid a third straight loss.
Also, Atlanta entertains Houston, Milwaukee is at St. Louis, San Diego hosts New York and Chicago is at Los Angeles.
The two teams tied for second behind the AL East-leading Yankees are squaring off in St. Petersburg, Fla. this weekend. The Tampa Bay Rays and visiting Baltimore Orioles are 6 1/2 games back of New York. The Yanks host Seattle.
The Texas Rangers are tied with New York for the best mark in the AL at 61-and-43. The West-leading Rangers are at Kansas City, while Oakland, which is 4 1/2 games back in second place, hosts Toronto.
Also in the AL, Cleveland is at Detroit, Minnesota is at Boston and Chicago hosts Los Angeles.
WGC-BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
Furyk still on top
ARKON, Ohio (AP) – First round leader Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) backed up his 7-under-par 63 with a 4-under 66 and has a two-stroke clubhouse lead as second-round play continues at the Bridgestone Invitational.
Tiger Woods struggled to a 72 and is plus-2 for the tournament.
PGA-RENO-TAHOE OPEN
Co-leaders in the clubhouse
RENO, Nev. (AP) – John Mallinger and J.J. Henry share the second-round clubhouse lead at the PGA Tour’s Reno-Tahoe Open. They both have 22 points under the modified Stableford scoring system that rewards birdies and better and punishes bogeys or worse.
Matt Bettencourt is alone in third place, two points back.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Opening round on Champions Tour
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) – Steve Pate and Chien Soon Lu opened with 7-under-par 65s and share the clubhouse lead as round one of the 3M Championship continues.
RIPKEN-KIDNAPPING
Hall of Famer talks about his mother’s abduction
BALTIMORE (AP) – Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. says his family and the police are still searching for answers about the kidnapping of his mother last week, a crime he called “bizarre” and unsettling.
At a news conference in Baltimore, Ripken appealed for the public’s help in locating the man responsible for kidnapping his 74-year-old mother at gunpoint. Vi Ripken was found unharmed in her car, but Ripken says she remains shaken up and is too traumatized to return home.
