KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The stars of Major League Baseball are set to work out at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City for the start of the All-Star break that begins today.
Tony LaRussa has come out of retirement to guide the National League, after leading the Cardinals to the World Series title last year. He’ll be trying to engineer a third straight win for the NL which holds a 42-38 edge in the mid-summer classic over the American League. The Rangers’ Ron Washington skippers the AL All-Stars. The game is set for tomorrow night.
Tonight, swinging for the fences will be the theme with the staging of power packed Home Run Derby.
The American League sluggers taking part are defending champ Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH’), Jose Bautista, who is the current major league co-leader with 27 homers, Prince Fielder and Mark Trumbo.
National Leaguers who will try to clear the fences are Matt Kemp, Carlos Gonzalez, Carlos Beltran and Andrew McCutchen.
CYCLING-ARMSTRONG-DOPING
Armstrong files suit to block USADA action
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Lance Armstrong has filed a federal lawsuit aimed at preventing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency from moving ahead with charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his record-setting career.
The lawsuit says USADA (yoo-SAH’-dah) rules violate athletes’ constitutional right to a fair trial, and that the agency doesn’t have jurisdiction in his case. It also accuses USADA’s chief executive, Travis Tygart, of waging a personal vendetta against the cancer survivor who won the Tour de France every year from 1999 to 2005.
Armstrong wants a judge to bar USADA from pursuing its case or issuing any sanctions against him.
The seven-time Tour de France winner asked the court to issue an injunction by Saturday, the deadline he faces to formally challenge the case in USADA’s arbitration process or accept sanctions. He could receive a lifetime ban from cycling and be stripped of his Tour de France victories if found guilty.
Armstrong insists he is innocent.
TENNIS-FEDERER
Federer back to No. 1
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – Roger Federer is back atop the men’s tennis world after winning his record-tying seventh Wimbledon title Sunday. That moved the 17-time Grand Slam tournament winner to the No. 1 spot in the men’s rankings that were released today. He moved up from No.3, passing Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) and Rafael Nadal (rah-fay-EHL’ nah-DAHL’).
By retaking the top spot, Federer ties Pete Sampras’ mark of 286 weeks at No.1 in the ATP rankings.
There’s also a new leader in the WTA rankings: Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN’-kuh) rises one spot from No. 2, while Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah) drops from No. 1 to No. 3.
TENNIS-FEDERER-SWISS FLAG
Federer may pass on Olympic honor
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) – Roger Federer has not decided whether to accept an offer to carry Switzerland’s flag during the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics.
Federer says he might give the honor to someone else.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion was the Swiss flag-bearer at two other Summer Games.
Federer says an announcement on the flag choice could come “in the next 10 days or so.”
NASCAR-ALLMENDINGER SUSPENDED
Hornish replaces suspended Allmendinger
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Penske Racing says Sam Hornish Jr. will replace suspended driver AJ Allmendinger this weekend at New Hampshire.
Allmendinger was suspended shortly before Saturday night’s race at Daytona for failing a random drug test. NASCAR and Penske officials have not said what Allmendinger tested positive for, and Allmendinger has made no statement since his suspension.
Allmendinger has until Tuesday to ask for his “B” sample to be tested.
Penske Racing says in a statement that it will continue to work with NASCAR on this matter, but the team will use Hornish in the No. 22 Dodge this weekend.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Time trial underway
BESANCON, France (AP) – World champion Tony Martin posted the best provisional time in the first long time trial of this year’s Tour de France.
Riders start in the reverse order of the general classification on the mostly flat 25.8-mile ninth stage between Arc-et-Senans and Besancon in the eastern Doubs region.
Overall leader Bradley Wiggins of Britain will be the last of the 178 riders still in the race to set off, three minutes after defending Tour champion Cadel (kuh-DEHL’) Evans.
