Kenseth rallies in the rain, soaks in first Daytona 500 win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After an offseason marred by news of crewmembers being laid off, sponsorships shrinking and teams folding, NASCAR tried kicking off its 2009 story line with a splash of celebrity mega-wattage. Tom Cruise. Gene Hackman. Keith Urban.

In a Daytona 500 preceded by movie star cameos and containing a few Hollywood-style plot twists, NASCAR's most unassuming champion stole the show on the sport's grandest stage Sunday.

Kenseth, a soft-spoken and stoic native of tiny Cambridge, Wis., who often shuns rather than seeks the spotlight, scored the biggest victory of his Sprint Cup career, passing Elliott Sadler shortly before the skies opened at Daytona International Speedway.

Alex Rodriguez jokes about his steroid situation???

Alex Rodriguez's campaign for forgiveness could have begun Friday night. He stood before the most forgiving audience he could get in CORAL GABLES, Fla. - one that greeted him with a standing ovation - but he made no apology to his fans for cheating them and the game by taking steroids.

For the most part, really, he just made jokes. He began his first public appearance since the mea culpa by pointing out the huge media horde and saying, "I want to welcome my friends in the back. We travel together. Just like a family - a dysfunctional family."

Then he began his remarks by saying, "As you all know it's been a very quiet week for me, so it's really nice to get out on a Friday night."

As could be expected, many who attended saw only the best in A-Rod, who grew up in Miami but did not attend the university, opting to sign with the Mariners out of high school.

"After all the stress he's been under, I thought he was nothing but a class act," said Gerry Gonzalez, who has a son on the UM team.

"I thought he wouldn't touch the topic, but it was nice that he made light of it after a week like this," said John Routh, who was the team mascot for 11 years. "I think he might have said more to a group like us if there weren't so many media here."

Serena Williams pulls out injured

57 minutes ago(Feb.14,2009)
PARIS — World number one Serena Williams has pulled out injured of the Paris Open before her semi-final against Russian Elena Dementieva on Saturday.

The match was due to start at 8:30 a.m. EST.

"I did not feel well during the warm-up this morning, my knee hurt," the Australian Open champion said in a court side interview.

"I am extremely disappointed. I love playing in Paris and I hope I will come back."

$15 million lawsuit has been filed against former MLB second baseman Roberto Alomar

A $15 million lawsuit has been filed against former MLB second baseman Roberto Alomar. The lawsuit alleges Alomar had unprotected sex with a former girlfriend while he was positive for AIDS.

Ilya Dall tested negative for the disease, but she is claiming punitive damages for emotional distress.

Alomar, 41 began dating Dall in 2002, and while she does not claim Alomar knew he was infected with the AIDS virus, she says he had good reason to think he was infected and just didn’t get tested.

Alomar retired from baseball in 2005. He is widely considered to be one of the best second basemen in MLB history.

Update:
the former All-Star second baseman's current girlfriend called it a "vile lie," the New York Daily News reports.

David Beckham Must Return!!!!

David Beckham is set to return to Los Angeles Galaxy next month after head coach Bruce Arena revealed AC Milan failed to produce an 'acceptable offer' for the England international before yesterday's deadline.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber had warned the Italian club, where
Beckham is on a short-term loan, they had to agree a deal by yesterday (Friday) if they wanted to sign the England midfielder permanently.

But Arena, coach and general manager of the Galaxy, issued a statement saying
no transfer materialised and Beckham, 33, will return when the loan expires.

'Today's deadline imposed by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber regarding a resolution of David Beckham's potential transfer to AC Milan has passed and we did not receive an acceptable offer for the player.

'As a result, David remains an LA Galaxy player and we look forward to having
him back with the club starting March 9.'

A-Rod Confession Brings Scum to Head

Shocking as it is to locate a shred of truth in baseball, from the commissioner's office on down to the scummiest steroids dealer, at least Alex Rodriguez found some religion Monday. By confessing to juice use instead of perpetuating a lie, he gave himself a chance -- a chance, I said -- that Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire never gave themselves on Denial Row. He still has nine years to stay clean, talk to kids and demonstrate his immense natural ability.

Still, A-Rod's colossal admission, to whatever extent of the truth he is telling, does nothing to make America feel better about his legacy or the enormity of baseball's disease the last 20 years.

By using steroids for three seasons in Texas, starting in 2001, Rodriguez cast a permanent cloud over what could have been the greatest of all careers, turning a first-ballot Hall of Fame resume into the latest and biggest scandal of his tragicomic tabloid life.

Congratulations-Tiger Woods

Congratulations to Tiger Woods and his wife Elin, who welcomed a baby boy into the world.

Little Charlie now joins sister Sam, who was born in 2007.

A statement released on Woods' website says that everyone is healthy and happy, and that the family will "introduce Charlie…at the appropriate time."

Woods himself is preparing a return to the greens after recovering from an injury.

Hockey News- Stars place left winger Avery on waivers

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars placed Sean Avery on waivers Saturday, moving the controversial left wing one step closer toward a possible return to the NHL.

A league person with firsthand knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Avery has completed a counseling program under the NHL/NHLPA behavioral health program and was placed on Dallas' active roster. The Stars then placed Avery on waivers.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not been announced.

Avery must clear waivers by Monday. Any team could claim him before then, but would have to pay him the remainder of the four-year, $15.5 million contract he signed this summer.

A-Rod reportedly tested positive for steroids

NEW YORK — As Barry Bonds prepares to defend his name, the slugger who may eventually surpass him as the all-time home run leader has become ensnared by the Steroids Era: Alex Rodriguez.

Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids during his MVP season with Texas in 2003, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site Saturday.

The New York Yankees star has long denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He declined to discuss the tests when approached by SI on Thursday at a gym in Miami.

"You'll have to talk to the union," he said.

Major League Baseball and the players' union issued statements Saturday, refusing to confirm or deny the report, citing player confidentiality.

An e-mail from The Associated Press to Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, was not immediately returned. The Yankees and Rangers declined comment.

The SI revelations come at a time when baseball's focus on drugs has concerned Bonds and the legal maneuvering leading to the start of his trial March 2. The government is trying to prove Bonds lied when he told a grand jury he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.

A three-time AL MVP, Rodriguez has hit 553 career homers. At age 33, the All-Star third baseman is the highest-paid player in baseball and regarded by many as the most likely to break Bonds' record of 762.

Balić vs. Karabatić