Scores and Sports Info for 05/31/2010

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP - The BOSTON CELTICS @ LA LAKERS - Celtics' subs could be key in NBA finals. Sweet revenge? Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have some unfinished business to take care of with the Celtics.

GAME 1 - BOSTON @ LAKERS 9 PM ET, GAME 2 - BOSTON @ LAKERS 8 PM ET, GAME 3 LAKERS @ BOSTON 9 pm ET, GAME 4 LAKERS @ BOSTON AT 6 PM ET.

IF NEEDED-GAME 5 LAKERS @ BOSTON 8 PM ET, GAME 6 BOSTON @ LAKERS 9 PM ET, GAME 7 BOSTON @ LAKERS AT 9 PM ET.



NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS - The Flyers not fretting about Game 1 loss. Players unhappy with ice in Chicago.

GAME 2 - The FLYERS @ The BLACKHAWKS, Blackhawks lead Series 1-0 at 8 PM ET TONIGHT.



MLB - Strikeout rates are up, but that doesn't fully explain three perfect games in less than a year and two in a month. Pujols hits 3 HRs as Cards rout Cubs 9-1. Scherzer Ks 14 in 5 2-3, Tigers beat A's. Angels celebrate calmly after walkoff
HR. Huff feels OK after getting hit in head. Span helps Twins finish sweep of Rangers. Bautista hits 16th homer, Jays sweep O's. Perfect Halladay goes back to work early. Marlins bounce back, beat Phillies 1-0.

NASCAR - Kurt Busch has been in his younger brother's shadow for a while. He stepped out of it in a big way by winning the Coke 600. Kyle Busch gets 2nd straight Nationwide win.
INDY 500 - Dario Franchitti proved you can go home again with his second Indy 500 victory. How special was it? Two years ago he wondered if his career was over.

GOLF - Zach Johnson made every key putt on the back nine to shoot a 64 on Sunday to prevail by three strokes at historic Colonial. Senior PGA Championship- Tom Lehman made a par on the first extra hole to beat Fred Couples and David Frost in Colorado. Madrid Masters-A late eagle helped propel Luke Donald to his first triumph in four years.

MMA & BOXING - Former welterweight champ Matt Hughes inducted into UFC Hall of Fame.
BOXING - Vitali Klitschko clinched a successful defense of his WBC title when he beat challenger Albert Sosnowski by TKO in the 10th round.

SOCCER - MLS - Getting paybackReal Salt Lake avenged its only home loss from last season, pounding the Wizards 4-1.
WORLD CUP - Shifting gears-Robbie Findley's insertion into the lineup against Turkey helped signal a change in U.S. strategy. There is only one true cure for World Cup fever, and that's to make the trip to South Africa.

TENNIS - Rafael Nadal seeks to avoid the fourth-round French Open fate that befell him in 2009, when he suffered a stunning loss. Men's actionNovak Djokovic booked his spot in the quarterfinals with a four-set win over American Robby Ginepri. Henin beats Sharapova with 3rd-set rally. No. 4 seed Murray loses in 4th round. Venus, Serena reach 4th round in doubles. Nadal defeats Hewitt to reach 4th round.

HORSE RACING - Sweet ride - Jockey Calvin Borel rode Ailalea to a close victory, holding off Tap Tap Tapping in the Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Southern Fireball wins at Hollywood Park. Just Jenda wins
Monmouth Park feature.

WNBA - Lauren Jackson (R) scored 19 of her season-high 27 points in the first half, as the West-leading Seattle routed San Antonio 84-56 on Sunday. McCoughtry leads Dream to rout of Sparks. Langhorne comes up big, Mystics beat Sun. Atlanta cruises past Los Angeles.

POKER - What's the problem? Andy Bloch sits second in the $50,000 Player's Championship after Day 2, but why are some focusing on the payouts in the $1,000 Event 3?

Scores and Sports Info for 05/30/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Lakers oust Suns, get Celtics rematch 111-103, and Lakers and Celtics set to renew rivalry! Celtics have
time to rest before finals.

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP - FIRST GAME - June 03, 2010, Thursday -THE BOSTON CELTICS @ The LA LAKERS at 9 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - 'Hawks top Flyers in wild Cup opener 6-5. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals? It was more like pond hockey, all
bumpy and flow-less and last-goal-wins. At least for the home side, they got that last goal.

NEXT STANLEY CUP FINAL - The FLYERS @ The BLACKHAWKS, Flyers lead Series 1-0 at Chicago at 8 PM ET.



MLB - The third perfect game in a year was turned in by the best pitcher of his generation: the Phillies' Roy Halladay. Morales breaks leg after walkoff slam. BlogHuff's injury mars Tribe's comeback win. Cubs' Silva Ks 11, improves to 7-0.
Tigers to designate LHP Willis on Sunday. Buchholz outduels Greinke, BoSox win 1-0. Twins plate 6 in 7th to beat Rangers 8-3. Bruce, Hernandez HRs power surging Reds. Freak injuriesThe Angels' Kendry Morales broke his leg celebrating a
walk-off HR.

NASCAR - The Coca-Cola 600 is a marathon, not a sprint, so does that favor the patient approach of a driver like Jeff Burton?
Kyle Busch wins another Nationwide race. Penske hoping for IndyCar-NASCAR double. Newman claims ninth pole at Charlotte.

INDY 500 - Helio Castroneves has good reason to feel upbeatheading into the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500.

GOLF - Brian Davis fired a 65 to tie Bryce Molder for the lead after three rounds at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Senior PGA Championship-Jay Don Blake grabbed a share of the third-round lead with Tom Lehman in Colorado. Madrid Masters- Rhys
Davies and Luke Donald share the lead going into the final round.

MMA & BOXING - UFC 114: Rampage-Evans-The Rashad-Rampage grudge match didn't live up to all of the hype. Rashad Evans was
all smiles after defeating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, but the fight didn't quite live up to all the hype.

BOXING - Vitali Klitschko clinched a successful defense of his WBC title when he beat challenger Albert Sosnowski by TKO in the 10th round. Sugar Ray Leonard could add star power if chosen as the new analyst for HBO's "Boxing After Dark."

SOCCER - MLS - No Landon Donovan? No Edson Buddle? No problem for the Galaxy, who won a battle of unbeatens 2-0 against the Crew. De Rosario's 2 goals lead Toronto. Colorado beats Seattle 1-0 behind Casey's. Salt Lake defeats KC for 5th straight win. Late sub Mwanga leads Union over Dynamo. Schilawski gives Revolution 3-2 win over Red. Talley's late penalty seals 3-2 DC win over…

WORLD CUP - Clint Dempsey scored the winning goal in the 75th minute to cap the United States' comeback in a 2-1 win over Turkey in Philadelphia. The friendly is the USA's last game before leaving for South Africa.

TENNIS - Stanislas Wawrinka and Roger Federer, Olympic doubles champs in 2008, vie on Sunday for a French Open quarterfinals berth. Women's third round- Justine Henin (above) moved on to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Maria Sharapova.

HORSE RACING - Jockey Calvin Borel rode Ailalea to a close victory, holding off Tap Tap Tapping in the Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Givinitaroyaleffort wins Heritage Place. Tuscan Evening wins Hollywood
Park's Gamely. Unwritten wins Monmouth Park featureHour Glass wins Belmont's Vagrancy Handicap. Borel on Ailalea wins $110,200 Dogwood.

WNBA - Sylvia Fowles scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 73-58 on
Saturday night.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/28/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Artest banked home the winning shot after grabbing the biggest offensive rebound of his career, nudging the Lakers past the Phoenix Suns 103-101 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 series lead.

TODAYS GAME - The MAGIC @ The CELTICS, Celtics lead Series 3-2 at 8:30 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - They're not stars, but the Stanley Cup Finals may be decided by the masked-men, Antti Niemi (left) and Michael Leighton.
STANLEY CUP FINALS - First game of Playoffs tomorrow night, Flyers at
Blackhawks at 8 PM ET.



MLB - Mets blank Phils for third straight game. Pujols homers, ends RBI drought in win. Reds roll to best record since 2006. Dice-K walks 8, Royals end Red Sox's run. Niemann moves to 5-0 as Rays beat ChiSox. Kubel's 2 HRs, 5 RBIs get Twins
by Yanks. Lilly pitches Cubs by Dodgers 1-0. Rockies hit 4 HRs, cap sweep of Arizona.

NASCAR - The Coca-Cola 600 is the exact same distance between Indianapolis and Charlotte. Who will survive the drive? Newman on pole for Coca-Cola 600. Ryan Newman got nervous when he discovered in practice the fastest way around Charlotte Motor Speedway was by hugging the outside wall, and barely beat out All-Star race winner Kurt Busch, who will start second on Sunday.

GOLF - Zurich Classic winner Jason Bohn (above) shot a 63 to tie Jeff Overton for the Round 1 lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Senior PGA Championship Bernhard Langer fired a 6-under 66 to capture a share of the first-round lead.

MMA & BOXING - Rashad Evans has played every card in his deck heading into his fight with Quinton Jackson, including the race card.
BOXING - Is Vitali Klitschko fighting a pushover on Saturday? Probably. But it's not the champion's fault the contenders are weak.

SOCCER - MLS - FC Dallas scored early, but Brian McBride and the Fire responded in the 40th minute and then held on for a draw at home on Thursday. United prevails in friendly-Chris Pontius scored one goal and set up another in United's win over AC Milan. Seattle beats Boca Juniors 3-0.
WORLD CUP - There's only one true cure for World Cup fever and that's to make the trip to South Africa, Ghanaian Cup hopes hurt. A knee injury will force star midfielder Michael Essien to miss the World Cup.

TENNIS - Andy Murray vs. Marcos Baghdatis promises to be the match to watch on Day 6 at Roland Garros, where 14 of the top 20 seeds will play. Serena, Nadal reach 3rd round in Paris. Henin advances to 3rd round. Isner advances on strength of 38 aces.

HORSE RACING - Horses like Derby runner-up Ice Box and First Dude, who placed No. 2 in the Preakness, could be rising stars at the buzzless Belmont Stakes. Dave in Dixie increases Belmont Stakes field to 11.

WNBA - The struggling Sky handed the previously unbeaten Storm their first loss of the season Thursday. Sylvia Fowles led Chicago with 19 points. Montgomery scores 23 in Sun win over Lynx.

POKER - The World Series of Poker is a young man's game. The usual faces are in Vegas, so why such a fuss over a little lady from Norway? Many are excited for Annette Obrestad's debut during the WSOP.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/27/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Magic get within 3-2, top Celtics 113-92 in Game 5. Now back to Boston for Game Six(6) Lakers work on 'D' after Suns tie series 2-2.

TODAYS GAMES - The SUNS @ The LAKERS, Series tied at 2-2 at 9 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - Getty ImagesMichael Leighton vs. Antti Niemi. The journeyman vs. the kid. Who has the edge in goal, the Flyers or Blackhawks? First Stanley Cup Game is Saturday Flyers at Blackhawks at 8 PM ET.



MLB - BoSox sweep Rays; 2 HRs for Beltre. Yanks post pair of 1-run wins over Twins. Mets hand Phils second straight shutout. Jimenez wins ninth, lowers ERA to 0.88. Nationals deal Lincecum first loss. Guillen ejected, rips ump but ChiSox win. Congress won't seek Sosa perjury probe. Billingsley, Loney lead Dodgers by Cubs. Blue Jays are having a (fence-clearing) blast - A couple days after the Toronto Blue Jays hit 10 home runs in a weekend series in Arizona, a couple hours before his Jays would hit three more in a game here, hitting coach Dwayne Murphy grinned at the notion he was creating an entire ineup in his image.

NASCAR - The Other Busch Brother - Kyle Busch may get the headlines with his supreme driving talent and volatile temper. But big brother Kurt gets our respect .by just being Kurt. The teams of Joe Gibbs and Rick Hendrick have separated themselves from the field. Are we in for a two-team race? The most-attended sporting events in the country? Races, baby!

GOLF - A gorgeous old course, Ben Hogan's legacy and a groovy plaid winner's jacket ensures a great field at the Crowne Plaza Invitational. Senior PGA ChampionshipTom Watson is among those prepared for heavy winds during the opening round.

MMA & BOXING - Michael Bisping, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Diego Sanchez all face UFC 114 matches with low upside and high downside.
BOXING - Manny Pacquiao has left a hospital in the Philippines, though reports on why he was admitted initially conflict.

SOCCER - MLS - Jeff Cunningham is Dallas' scoring leader, yet he's been pulled late his last two games for poor play. Will he shape up vs. Chicago? Seattle beats Boca Juniors 3-0 in friendly game. DC United beat leisurely AC Milan 3-2 in…
WORLD CUP - Oguchi Onyewu says his knee feels just fine, but his play in USA's friendly said otherwise. When goalkeeper Tim Howard barks out orders on defense, his U.S. teammates listen.

TENNIS - Getty ImagesFabio Fognini and Gael Monfils need to finish their tense French Open showdown suspended by darkness. Dressed for successVenus Williams' burlesque dress was on display again in her Round 2 victory.

HORSE RACING - The 2010 Breeders' Cup will finish under the lights at Churchill Downs – one of two firsts for this year's Race. Franny Freud wins Belmont's Stallion Stakes.

WNBA - The undefeated Storm are off to the best start in franchise history and look to move to 5-0 when they visit the struggling Sky on Thursday night. Lynx hope to turn skid around vs. Sun.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/26/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Phoenix's superstars took a backseat to the reserves, who carried the Suns back into Finals contention. Reserves dominate Lakers, Suns win 115-106. Celtics will try to close out Magic in Game 5.

TODAYS GAMES - The CELTICS @ The MAGIC, Celtics lead series 3-1 at 8:30 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - Flyers, 'Hawks seek to end Cup droughts. Stanley Cup questionCan Philadelphia handle Chicago's high-powered attack? After a magical playoff run that ended in the Eastern Conference finals, we bid adieu to the Canadiens.



MLB - R.A. Dickey baffled the Phils in the Mets' 8-0 win, their third in a row. But can New York compete with Philly all season? Lester, BoSox hold Rays to 1 hit. Bradley hits HR, RBI single to lift M's. Angels' Santana 4-hits Blue Jays, Ks
10. Phils baffled by another knuckleballer. Dempster, Lee lift Cubs over Dodgers. Guerrero hits 2 HRs, Rangers beat Royals. Garland, Padres beat Cardinals 1-0. Giants snap scoring drought, 5-game skid/

NFL - Outdoors Super Bowl coming to NJ in 2014. NFL won't change regular season OT rules.

NASCAR - Readers debate the All-Star race, teammate battles and whether a driver will win the Cup championship without winning a race. He's still awesomeBill Elliott, 59, will make his 61st start at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600.

GOLF - Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker vie for the title at the Crowne Plaza Invitational, the last stop of the Texas Swing. Byron Nelson winner Jason Day and 16-year-old Justin Spieth are part of a youth movement.

MMA & BOXING - John Hathaway racked up wins on the UFC's United Kingdom cards. Now he wants to show U.S. fans what he's all about.
BOXING - Test results for Shane Mosley (L) and Floyd Mayweather Jr., and their future ramifications, made waves with fight fans.

SOCCER - MLS - Sounders defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, a finalist for defender of the year last season, was put on the injured list with a torn ACL. Inter Milan will take its complete squad – including star striker Diego Milito – to L.A. for an exhibition in August. Bowen's goal leads Galaxy past Boca Juniors. Goal.com Player of the Week-Midfielder Eddie Gaven, a seven-year veteran who will turn just 24 in October, is stepping up big for the Crew.
WORLD CUP - United States slipS up at home. USA lost 4-2 to Czech Republic in front of 36,218 fans at Rentschler Field as Bob Bradley prepares to trim his squad.

TENNIS - Roger Federer took a two-set lead on Alejandro Falla before a rain delay stopped their French Open match yet again. Venus Williams moved on to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Arantxa Parra Santonja.

HORSE RACING - Saved from closure. Belmont Park is among the tracks that will stay open thanks to a $25 million loan New York's thoroughbred racing operator received from the state. Belmont Stakes news-Contenders test track for last leg of
Triple Crown. New Madrid drops out of race. Dublin does, too

WNBA - No stopping Taurasi - Even a double-team on Diana Taurasi couldn't prevent the Mercury star from scoring 35 points to lead her team to a 110-96 win over the Shock on Tuesday. Storm rally past Mystics to improve to 4-0.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/25/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Dwight Howard and the Magic pushed the East finals to a fifth game. It's a shame it took them this long to join the series. Magic win in OT to avoid sweep. Nash breaks nose, should play in Game 4. Lakers look to beat Suns' zone in Game 4.

TODAYS GAMES - The LAKERS @ The SUNS, Lakers lead Series 2-1 at 9 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - Philadelphia will face Chicago for the Stanley Cup after the Flyers beat the Canadiens 4-2 to win the East. Flyers reach first finals since 1997. 'Hawks D Keith loses 7 teeth in Game 4.

NO GAMES TODAY - Stanley Cup Finals starts Saturday, May 29 at 8 PM Flyers @ Blackhawks!



MLB - BoSox beat Rays for first time in 2010. Nationals put C Rodriguez on 15-day DL. Strasburg allows first runs in Triple -A. Rangers file for bankruptcy protection. Reds tie for 1st in Central, top Pirates. Cecil pitches Blue Jays past Angels 6-0. Pujols struggling through May. Teahen's 3 RBIs help ChiSox beat Indians.

NASCAR - Million-dollar manKurt Busch came out of nowhere to win NASCAR's All-Star race.

GOLF - Jason Day, 22, showed with his win at the Byron Nelson that a new crop of up-and-comers may be ready sooner than you think. Yoo defeats Stanford in Match Play final. BMW winner Khan fails to make US Open. Van Pelt qualifies for British Open.

MMA & BOXING - Georges St. Pierre's quest to become the complete mixed martial artist has led him to famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach.
BOXING - Manny Pacquiao is getting treatment in suburban Manila for a mild ulcer after his congressional election.

SOCCER - MLS - Sounders defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, a finalist for defender of the year last season, was put on the injured list with a torn ACL. The Galaxy beat top Argentina club Boca Juniors 1-0, though both teams were missing key
players. Renteria lifts Crew to 1-0 win over WizardsEspindola lifts Real Salt Lake to 2-1 victory. Dynamo defeats struggling DC United, 2-0. Cannon, Earthquakes beat Sounders 1-0. Barrett lifts Toronto FC past Revolution.
WORLD CUP - Final roster decisions for bubble players like Edson Buddle (above) should fall into place after Tuesday night's exhibition vs. the Czech Republic, the first of three warmups for the U.S. prior to its World Cup opener.

TENNIS - Andy Roddickis in a tight first-round French Open match against Jarkko Nieminen. Federer, Serena reach 2nd round in Paris. Djokovic advances to 2nd round of French. Murray survives 5-setter at French Open.

HORSE RACING - Look out boys, the ladies are looking sharp again. Both Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and fellow star mare Zenyatta had stellar workouts Monday. Bill to offer NYRA $25 million loan. Jockey Leparoux out at least 5 more weeks.

WNBA - Murphy's 16 points leads Fever past Sky 69-61. McCoughtry, DeSouza help Dream improve to 4-0. Plenette Pierson and Shavonte Zellous each scored 14 points to help Tulsa earn its first victory of the season with a 94-82 win over the
Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/21/2010

NBA - Collins agrees to coach 76ers. Cuban interested in acquiring James. Nets to hire CSKA Moscow president. Nets president Thorn to take over as GM. Celtics guarding against overconfidence. Lakers steamrolling defenseless Suns. Lewis' struggles key to Magic's 0-2 hole.

NBA PLAYOFFS - NEXT GAMES - Saturday, May 22-The MAGIC @ the CELTICS, Celtics lead Series 2-0 at 8:30 PM ET. Sunday,
May 23 - The LAKERS@ the SUNS, Lakers lead Series 2-0 at 8:30 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - There was another blowout in the East finals. This time, the Habs were the ones smiling after a Game 3 win 5-1 over the Flyers. Habs top Leighton, trail Flyers 2-1.

GAMES TODAY - The SHARKS @ The BLACKHAWKS, Blackhawks lead the Series 2-0 at 8 PM ET.



MLB - The Rays already are being compared to the Yankees' intimidating '98 team, but they know it's early and the ring is the thing. Rays sweep Yanks for sixth straight win. Rockies' Jimenez now 8-1, ERA at 0.99. Braves score 7 in 9th, defeat
Reds 10-9. Lester goes distance, Red Sox beat Twins. Cruz helps Rangers win fourth straight. M's win on Griffey's pinch single in 9th. Kershaw wins again as Dodgers top Padres. Ibanez's hit in 8th lifts Phils by Cubs.

NASCAR - NASCAR Hall of Fame home-The First Class- Dale Earnhardt Bill France Sr. Bill France Jr. Junior Johnson Richard Petty. Bowyer placed on probation for Hamlin incident. Hamlin's team wins NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge. All-Star
Race Tomorrow!

GOLF - Jason Day nearly withdrew from the Byron Nelson Championship with stomach issues – then shot a 66 for a share of the early lead. Vickers won't race for three months. Wie wins opener in Sybase Match Play.

MMA & BOXING - UFC 114 is more than a week away, but the heat between Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans is already out of control.
BOXING - Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez have already met three times, but there's no lack of motivation going into
heir fourth fight.

SOCCER - MLS - Mike Magee scored the lone goal and the Galaxy survived without stars Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle to beat FC Dallas. Columbus cruised past New York 3-1 on Thursday to take over first place in the Eastern conference.

TENNIS - Henin may face Sharapova, Venus in Paris. Healthy Nadal seeks fifth French title. Sharapova advances to Strasbourg semis. Wozniacki gets hurt, French in jeopardy. Querrey defeats Hajek in World Team Cup. Mayer, Verdasco into semifinals at Nice.

HORSE RACING - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas says Dublin will not enter the Belmont Stakes, eliminating the chance of any horse running in all three Triple Crown races this year. Conniption wins at Hollywood Park. Connie and Michael wins Churchill feature. Gangbuster wins Belmont feature.

POKER - With a week left until the start of the WSOP, ESPN's poker team attempted to predict the unpredictable at the 2010 WSOP.

WNBA - Sophia Young scored 23 points to lead four players into double-digit figures, and the Silver Stars out-rebounded the Shock for an easy 83-74 win on Thursday. Storm rallies to beat Lynx 79-76. Big 4th quarter pushes Seattle past LA, 81-67.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/20/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Lakers hold off Suns, take 2-game West finals lead. The Lakers roared away in the final minutes for a 124-112 victory Wednesday night. There's no sense in denying it: Kobe Bryant has the Lakers pointed toward an epic NBA
Finals reunion with the Celtics. Pierce, team defense carrying Celtics. Magic's dream season in peril.

TODAYS GAMES - NO NBA GAMES TODAY! Next Game: Saturday 5/22 Magic at Celtics 8:30 PM ET


NHL PLAYOFFS - NO NHL GAMES YESTERDAY! Habs looking for first goal vs. Flyers. Blackhawks come home leading Sharks 2-0.

GAMES TODAY - The FLYERS @ The CANADIENS, Flyers lead Series 2-0 at 7 PM ET.


MLB - Ramirez returns with 3 hits, Marlins win. Rays beat Yankees for fifth straight win. Bradley rejoins M's after 2 weeks away. Posada out 3 to 4 weeks with broken foot. Gonzalez has 6 RBIs, Padres cool Dodgers. Verlander 4-hits A's, Tigers win 5-1. Beckett placed on DL with back strain. Pagan has big game but Mets lose to Nats.

NASCAR - Hamlin's team wins NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge. We know who the first five inductees into NASCAR's Hall of Fame are. But who will the next five members be?

GOLF - The quality of the Byron Nelson Championship field has slipped since the tournament's namesake died in 2006. England's top trio eyes No. 1 ranking.

TENNIS - Del Potro expects to miss US Open. Sharapova rolls into Strasbourg quarters. Rochus beats top seed Soderling in Nice. Dementieva upset by qualifier in Warsaw.

HORSE RACING - Chip Woolley, who trained '09 Derby winner Mine That Bird, said he was "devastated" to learn that the gelding now would be trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Record purses on tap for Monmouth Park. Paterson: NYRA, Saratoga meet will be saved.

WNBA - Storm rallies to beat Lynx 79-76. Atlanta Dream releases All-Star forward. Big 4th quarter pushes Seattle past LA, 81-67. Whalen welcome ruined by Mystics, 87-76. DeSouza scores 14, Dream beat Fever 66-62.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/19/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Break out the brooms. Paul Pierce and the Celtics aren't just beating the Magic in the Eastern finals, they're taunting them. They won 95-92. Suns upbeat despite blowout loss to LA.

TODAYS GAMES - The SUNS @ The LAKERS, Lakers lead Series 1-0 at 9 PM ET.

NHL PLAYOFFS - 'Hawks extend road run, up 2-0 on S.J. The Blackhawks are in control of the West finals with a 2-0 lead over the Sharks. A big reason for that is rookie goalie Antti Niemi. Flyers blank Habs again 3-0, now lead 2-0. East finals:
Flyers take 2-0 leadMichael Leighton recorded his second straight shutout as the Flyers beat the Canadiens 3-0.

NO NHL GAMES TODAY


MLB - BoSox erase 5-run deficit, beat Yanks. Marlins' Ramirez rips manager, teammates. Ethier-less Dodgers win ninth straight. Giants finally beat Padres, 7-6 in 12. Doctor who treated A-Rod charged. Rays' Price first in AL to 6 wins.
Duke outduels Halladay as Bucs top Phils. Young's 3 RBIs help Rangers sweep Angels.

NASCAR - Brian Vickers is "progressing well," but is he well enough to compete in the All-Star race? Top dog-Maybe Joe Gibbs Racing has passed HMS as the top organization in NASCAR.

GOLF - An era ends- Vijay Singh fell out of the top 50 for the first time since August 1992. In terms of scoring, the past two years at the Byron Nelson have been markedly different. What might we get this week?

MMA & BOXING - istair Overeem's impressive win over Brett Rogers was just one of many topics on MMA fans' minds this week.
BOXING - Abner Mares thought his career was over in December 2008. Instead, he's finally getting a shot to fight for a title.

TENNIS - British comedian Matt Harvey will put into posterity all of Wimbledon's action by penning a poem a day as the tournament's first "Championships Poet." US, Spain split World Team Cup singles.

HORSE RACING - Thoroughbred breeder Ernie Paragallo (near left) was sentenced to up to two years in jail for abusing dozens of horses. Paragallo's lawyer says he will appeal. Record purses on tap for Monmouth ParkPaterson: NYRA, Saratoga meet will be saved. Weekend Fantasy wins Belmont feature.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/18/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Bryant's 40 carry Lakers 128-107 to Game 1 win. Kobe Bryant's 40-point performance in Game 1 of the West finals sent a message to the Suns and everyone else: Don't doubt him. Magic try to avoid 0-2 hole vs. Celtics.

TODAYS GAMES - The CELTICS @ The MAGIC, Celtics lead Series 1-0 at 8:30 PM ET.

NHL PLAYOFFS - No games yesterday! Up 1-0, Blackhawks look to stay focused.

GAMES TODAY - The CANADIENS @ The FLYERS, Flyers lead Series 1-0 at 7 PM ET and The BLACKHAWKS @ The SHARKS, Blackhawks lead the Series 1-0 at 10:00 PM ET.

MLB - Yanks homer twice off Papelbon, win. Howard's slam, 6 RBIs lift Phillies. Padres improve to 7-0 against Giants. Morneau homers twice, Twins beat Jays. 1st-place Reds rally by slumping Brewers. Pujols fuels Cards from cleanup spot,
Marlins SS Ramirez benched for loafing. Ely leads Dodgers to eighth straight win. Rays top Indians 4-3 in 11 innings.

NASCAR - Forget the talk about a "new" Kyle Busch. The old one was out in full force this weekend at Dover. All the preseason hype was about Jimmie Johnson's drive for a fifth straight Cup championship. But this title fight could come down to young guns Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Rick Hendrick says fellow Sprint Cup owner Joe Gibbs has done more than catch Hendrick Motorsports in performance this season. "Looks like he passed me," the owner of HMS said during Tuesday's grand opening of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "He didn't [catch] me. He lapped me."

GOLF - Texas was a suitable stand-in for Australia as Adam Scott thrived in the familiar surroundings to nab a long-awaited win. Scott gets first PGA Tour win in 2 years. Vijay Singh is on the outside of the top 50 rankings for the first time
since 1992.

MMA & BOXING - UFC.comQuinton "Rampage" Jackson and Rashad Evans have waited more than a year to settle their beef.
BOXING - Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez have a chance at the honor again when they meet Saturday.

SOCCER - MLS - The long and winding road for Joey Gjertsen has led to San Jose, where the midfielder now finds himself feeling quite at home. Alvaro Saborio scored two goals during Real Salt Lake's win to earn MLS player of the week honors.

TENNIS - Queen Elizabeth II will attend Wimbledon on June 24, making her first appearance at the Grand Slam event in 33 years. Andy Murray, are you ready?

HORSE RACING - Made for Magic wins Milady Handicap, Weekend Fantasy wins Belmont feature. The New York Racing Association is running out of money and may have to shut down in less than three weeks, the day after the Belmont Stakes. One leading horseman described the situation as “catastrophic” and said that even Saratoga—the jewel of New York racing—could be threatened by the turmoil.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/17/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Rasheed Wallace and the Celtics' big men made one thing clear in the East finals opener: Dwight Howard will feel them. Celtics hold off Magic, win Game 1 BY 92-88. Lakers, Suns rested for West finals.

TODAYS GAMES - The SUNS @ The LAKERS, Series at 0-0. at 9 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS -Just 48 hours after making history, the Flyers caught their breath, then flattened Jaroslav Halak and the Canadiens, writes Michael Farber, with a 6-0 romp to open up the East finals. Blackhawks beat Sharks 2-1 in Game 1.
Antti Niemi's 44 saves led Chicago past San Jose in Game 1 of the West final.

NO NHL PLAYOFF GAMES TODAY!

MLB - Kubel's slam off Rivera lifts Twins. Dodgers beat Padres 1-0, win streak at 7. Pineiro 4-hits A's, Angels finish sweep. Rays rally again, beat Lee, Mariners 2-1. Phillies complete sweep of Brewers. Brewers' Davis out with heart condition. Tigers extend home dominance, beat BoSox. Zito gets sixth win, Giants sweep Astros. Dusty Baker and Bronson Arroyo are riding high in Cincy. Look who is in first in the NL Central. With a solid lineup and young pitching, the Reds are surprising everyone.

NASCAR - Kyle Busch pressured Jimmie Johnson into hitting the panic button at Dover, then took the checkered flag. In a lengthy slump that stuck him outside the top 12 in the Chase for the championship standings, Stewart finished ninth
Sunday at Dover International Speedway. Stewart finished in the top 10 for the first time in seven races. Brian Vickers was released from the hospital, but his return remains uncertain.

GOLF - Australian Adam Scott broke through during Sunday's 36-hole marathon at the Texas Open to capture his first PGA victory in two years. Se Ri Pak won her first title since 2007 with a birdie on the third sudden-death playoff hole at the rain-shortened event. Regions Charity Classic-One day after a record round, Dan Forsman shot a 66 to win by three.

MMA & BOXING - Alistair Overeem, after a convincing win against Brett Rogers, ould be in line for a megabout next.
BOXING - Paulie Malignaggi's humility after being overwhelmed Saturday by Amir Khan was a gesture rarely seen in boxing.

SOCCER - MLS - The host Union salvaged a 1-1 tie against FC Dallas after scoring a goal in the 94th minute to snap a four-game losing skid. World Cup-bound Edson Buddle and the Galaxy stayed unbeaten but were held scoreless by Toronto FC.
Montero gives Sounders win at Red Bull Arena. Schelotto lifts Crew past Chivas USA. Rapids snap 11-year skid at RFK. Earthquakes, Revolution play to scoreless tie.

TENNIS - Rafael Nadal reasserted his dominance over Roger Federer on clay and laid down a marker for the French Open when he won the Madrid Open. Seppi upsets Berrer in Nice opener. Australia, US tied in World Team Cup.

HORSE RACING - Jockey Calvin Borel and Derby winner Super Saver's fade to eighth in the Preakness extended the sport's Triple Crown drought. Bob Baffert was still smiling and laughing the morning after winning his first Triple Crown race in eight years.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/14/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Celtics eliminate James, Cavs in 6, 94-85. LeBron James' triple-double (27 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists) may have come in his final game with the Cavs.

TODAYS GAMES - NO GAMES TODAY!

NHL PLAYOFFS - Canadiens stun Penguins 5-2 in Game 7 ON Wednesday night. The defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins had their season come to an early end with a loss to the Canadiens.

GAMES TODAY - The FLYERS @ The BRUINS, Series tied 3-3 at 7 PM ET.

MLB - Selig keeping All-Star game in Arizona. Royals fire Hillman, go with Yost. Latos 1-hits Giants, Padres win 1-0. Royals' Greinke gets first win of season. Verlander, Cabrera get Tigers by Yankees. Zimmerman powers Nats to 8-

NASCAR - Jeff Gordon was the unanimous pick to win at Darlington. This week, there is no consensus for Dover. Brian Vickers has been hospitalized. He will not race this weekend in Dover. From bootlegging in Appalachia to inaugural
inductee into NASCAR's Hall of Fame, Junior Johnson has lived a heck of a life.

GOLF - Matt Jones lead Texas Open by 1 strokeRice cards record 92 in Nationwide event.

MMA & BOXING - Boxer Ricardo Mayorga compares MMA to street fighting and expects an easy transition. He'll find out Saturday vs. vet Din Thomas.
BOXING - Floyd Mayweather's convincing win over Shane Mosley earned him the top spot and more talk of a megafight vs Manny Pacquiao.

SOCCER - MLS - Robbie Findley scored his first goal of 2010, leading Real Salt Lake past Houston 3-1 before joining the U.S. World Cup team. MLS is considering giving the New York metro area another team. Aren't the Red Bulls enough?

TENNIS - Federer, Nadal into Madrid quarterfinals.

HORSE RACING - Getty ImagesD. Wayne Lukas, who sports five Preakness victories, has two entrants in the 135th edition on Saturday: Dublin and Northern Giant.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/12/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Celtics rout Cavs, lead series 3-2,LeBron James scored 15 points on 3-of-14 shooting as the Cavs suffered their worst home playoff lossever. The Lakers will face the Suns in the Western Conference finals, and Kobe Bryant wants revenge.




TODAYS GAMES - NO GAMES TODAY. Next game is Thursday 5/13 Cleveland @ Boston at 8 PM ET.




NHL PLAYOFFS - The Blackhawks eliminated the Canucks 5-1 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference final against the Sharks. Canadiens' latest
Game 7 comes vs. Pens. Flyers believe they can finish comeback.



GAMES TODAY - The CANADIENS @ The PENGUINS, Series tied at 3-3 at 7 PM ET and The BRUINS @ The FLYERS, Bruins lead Series 3-2 at 8 PM ET.





MLB - Cueto 1-hits Pirates in Reds' 9-0 win. Kazmir loses to former Rays teammates. Lee earns first win with Mariners. Matsuzaka sparkles, Red Sox top
Jays 6-1. Zito walks 7 in first loss as Padres win. Mets score 6 in 8th, rally past Nats. Jenks bounces back, White Sox beat Twins.




NASCAR - After three years and at a cost of $195 million, the 150,000-square foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is open in Charlotte. Joe Gibbs is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for winning three Super Bowl titles as a coach. Maybe someday he’ll make it a double with the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.



GOLF - Strike oneEx-pitcher John Smoltz has failed to qualify for June's U.S. Open at Pebble. Mickelson commits to play in Memoria. They keep getting younger Alexis Thompson, 15, will make her pro debut next month in New Jersey.



MMA & BOXING - Josh Koscheck's attitude may leave something to be desired, but Paul Daley deserves his banishment from the UFC. What's next for Kimbo Slice after his release from the UFC?

BOXING - Manny Pacquiao's aide says the boxer will return to Dallas for a bout in November. But who's the opponent?



SOCCER - MLS - Former sensation Freddy Adu still has promise, but his latest setback is not making Team USA's World Cup provisional roster. Philadelphia to play Glasgow Celtic.



TENNIS - Defending champion Roger Federer shrugged off his recent dip in form to cruise into the third round of the Madrid Masters. Davis Cup playoffs: US to face Colombia. Querrey beats Isner to win Serbia Open. Montanes defends Estoril Open title. Youzhny edges Cilic for BMW Open title.



HORSE RACING - Trainer Bob Baffert is giving his Kentucky Derby flop Lookin at Lucky a shot at redemption at the Preakness. Said Baffert: "We just felt like we owed it to him." Tanda wins Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park. Flat Bold wins Belmont feature. Field of 13 expected for Saturday's 135th running of Preakness!



POKER - What's up, Daniel?He's struggled on HSP, failed to cash since February and had some tough times online, but Daniel Negreanu is still among the best and remains ranked in "The Nuts".

Scores and Sports Info for 05/11/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Why delay the inevitable? The Magic put the Hawks out of their misery in Game 4 with a 98-84 win for a series sweep. Vince Carter leads with 22 points as Orlando awaits either the Cavaliers or Celtics. The Lakers swept away Utah, setting up a Lakers-Suns West final.



TODAY GAMES - The CELTICS @ The CAVALIERS, Series tied 2-2 at 8 PM ET.



NHL PLAYOFFS - Thanks to a 4-3 win over the Penguins, the Canadiens forced a seventh game for a second time in two rounds. Flyers force Game 6-Backup goalie steps in as Flyers stay alive with 4-0 win over Bruins. Canucks aim to send
Blackhawks back home. Sharks resting up for Western finals.



GAMES TODAY - The BLACKHAWKS @ The CANUNCKS, Blackhawks lead Series 3-2 at 9:30 PM ET.




MLB - The Rays mean business, if you haven't noticed. With immense physical gifts and a laser-like focus, Tampa Bay is on a mission to make lastyear's disappointment a distant memory. Damon homers against Yanks as Tigers win. Beckett to have ailing back examined. Angels blow lead, beat Rays in 11. Rockies fall 9-5 to Phils. Jays' Morrow walks 5 in 2nd, Red Sox win. Prado's slam ends Braves' power drought. Braun hit by pitch in elbow, day to day.



NASCAR - Darlington brought this oddity: No Roush Fenway Fords in the top 10. Jeff Gordon found another way to lose, this time at Darlington, a place he's always been so good. When will the streak end? Maybe it won't?



GOLF - It keeps getting worse for Tiger Woods. Now comes the news that his longtime swing coach, Hank Haney, has resigned. The LPGA's Erica Blasberg,
25, was found dead in Nevada. It's not known yet whether foul play was involved.



MMA & BOXING - Kimbo Slice's UFC experiment is over, but he should have no trouble finding a new gig if he wants to continue his career.

BOXING - Talks for a Manny Pacquiao superfight with Floyd Mayweather could start again after Pacquiao's elections in the Philippines.



SOCCER - MLS - Landon Donovan, who had his first goal of the season and four assists for the Galaxy, earns Goal.com player of the week honors.Eddie Gaven and Columbus are 3-0-2 through five games and second in the East, but continue to struggle with slow starts.



TENNIS - Serena wins marathon match in Madrid. Federer hopes Madrid is turning point. Querrey beats Isner to win Serbia Open. Montanes defends
Estoril Open title. Youzhny upsets Cilic for BMW Open title



HORSE RACING - Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver breezed three easy furlongs at Churchill Downs on Monday in his first work since capturing the Run for the Roses. Lookin At Lucky headed to Preakness.Super Tanda wins Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park. Flat Bold wins Belmont feature.



POKER - Half of the 2010 SCOOP events are in the books and Shaun Deeb, James Mackey, Jose Barbero and Jennifer Leigh are among the notables taking home some new gold.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/10/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Rajon Rondo's triple-double performance for the ages in Game 4 sent a clear message that the Celtics are his team. Rondo has 29, 18 and 13 as Celtics win 97-87. Suns sweep Spurs 107-101, reach West finals. Lakers hope to complete sweep of Jazz. Hawks face another 2nd-round sweep.


TODAYS GAMES - The MAGIC @ The HAWKS, Magic lead Seried 3-0 at 8 PM ET and The LA LAKERS @ The JAZZ, LA Lakers lead Series 3-0 at 10:30 PM ET.




NHL PLAYOFFS - Chicago couldn't eliminate Vancouver in Game 5 as the Canucks got a blueline boost. Canucks beat 'Hawks 4-1 to force Game 6. Penguins look to put away upstart Habs. Bruins seek spark from Stuart in Game 5.


GAMES TODAY - The PENGUINS @ The CANADIENS, Penguins lead Series 3-2 at 7 PM ET and The FLYERS @ The BRUINS, Bruins lead Series 3- at 7 PM ET.




MLB - The A's Dallas Braden tossed a perfect game on Mother's Day with his grandmother and deceased mom on his mind. A's Braden has perfect game vs.
Rays. BoSox avoid sweep, end Yanks' 6-game run. Mauer starts, Twins beat Orioles 6-0. Giants end Mets' home win streak at 9. Rockies' Jimenez suffers first loss. Hamels shaky, but Phils hold off Braves. Mariners end skid at 8, beat Angels 8-1. Cardinals rout Pirates behind Wainwright.



NASCAR - The "Lady in Black" was up to her old tricks Saturday night, wreaking havoc left and right during nthe Showtime Southern 500. But Denny Hamlin was not afraid. Old Spice drops Stewart. Hamlin gets another N'wide win at
Darlington.



GOLF - With his victory at the Players Championship on Sunday, Tim Clark shed a title he'd been living with for a long time on the PGA Tour. Tim's -time – at last. After numerous second-place finishes, Tim Clark made his first tour victory a big one at the Players. Phil Mickelson did not capitalize on his chance to become the new No. 1. But he'll get a lot more opportunites. Woods withdraws from TPC with neck pain.



MMA & BOXING - It wasn't the most exciting affair, but Mariusz Pudzianowski picked up his second professional mixed-martial-arts victory and assured
a May 21 main-event fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia hasn't lost its luster.


BOXING - Antonio Margarito won a unanimous decision over Roberto Garcia on Saturday in his first fight in more than 15 months following a one-year
suspension.




SOCCER - MLS - The Seattle Sounders FC announced Sunday they will offer a refund to season ticket holders for their poor performance in losing 4-0 to
Los Angeles a day earlier. Ryan Johnson had a goal and two assists in the Earthquakes' 4-0 rout of the East-leading Red Bulls. Dynamo get first road
win, 2-0 over Chivas.



TENNIS - Maria Sharapova, playing in her first match since March, and Justine Henin both suffered first-round losses Sunday at the Madrid Open. Serbia: Querrey beats Isner in all-American final. Estoril: Montanes defeats Gil, defends crown. Youzhny upsets Cilic for BMW Open title.



HORSE RACING - Tanda wins Railbird Stakes at Hollywood Park. Flat Bold wins Belmont feature. Flex The Muscle wins Dexter Cup at Freehold.



POKER - David Williams survived a small but elite field to win the World Poker Tour Championship at Bellagio.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/09/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Magic blow out Hawks again, 105-75 lead 3-0. Lakers use late run for 3-0 on Jazz 111-110. Cavs' James outplaying Celtics' PierceRelaxed Suns look to sweep Spurs.

PLAYOFFS TODAY - The CAVALIERS @ The CELTICS, Cavs lead Series 2-1 at 3:30 PM ET and The SUNS @ The SPURS, Spurs lead the Series 3-0 at 8 PM ET.



NHL PLAYOFFS - The Sharks put the "choker" label in the past by eliminating the Red Wings and advancing to the West final. Fleury helps Pens take 3-2 lead. Blackhawks try to close out Canucks in 5. Bruins look to eliminate Flyers at home.

GAMES TODAY - The CANUCKS @ The BLACKHAWKS, Blackhawks lead Series 3-1 at 8 PM ET.



MLB - The Yankees beat up the Red Sox again, but their aging, banged-up roster could portend problems as the summer unfolds. Teixeira has 3 HRs, Yanks top BoSox. Mauer returns as Twins split DH with O's. A's hand Rays second road loss of season. White Sox snap Jays' 6-game win streak. Blanco's HR gives Mets 5-4 win in 11. Gerut hits for cycle as Brewers cruise. Matsui milestone RBI lifts Angels in 10. Chacin, 6-run 1st power Rockies in rout.

NASCAR - Joe Gibbs has one heck of a problem – he has two legit title contenders, including Darlington winner Denny Hamlin. Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch have the courage and nerve to stay in the title hunt. Crash knocks Johnson out at Darlington. NASCAR Hall of Fame set to open Tuesday.

GOLF - Westwood leads TPC by 1, Lefty 5 back. Big wins have eluded Lee Westwood on U.S. soil. Will he finally snag a coveted title at The Players? Phil Mickelson fired a 66 on Saturday at The Players Championship to put himself in a position to claim the No. 1 spot. Slocum gets to 15 under, then fades.

MMA & BOXING - Two years ago, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was all but written off. Now he is the UFC's new light heavyweight champion. Rua knocked out Machida to win light heavyweight title in their heavily hyped rematch Saturday in front of 17,647 boisterous fans at the Bell Centre, ending the controversy that began after their first fight in October. There was irony in Josh Koscheck’s UFC 113 win over Paul Daley on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, one that set up Koscheck for a title shot and cost Daley his job.

BOXING - Paul Williams earned a bizarre win Saturday when Kermit Cintron tumbled through the ropes and landed on a ringside table. The 154-pound bout ended with Cintron strapped to a stretcher and wearing a neck brace, although he wanted to keep fighting. Antonio Margarito won a unanimous decision over Roberto Garcia on Saturday in his first fight in more than 15 months following a one-year suspension.

SOCCER - MLS - Dynamo get first road win, 2-0 over Chivas. Johnson helps Earthquakes beat Red Bulls 4-0. Cunningham's score in 68th minute lifts FC. Rogers' late goal lifts Crew past Revolution. Donovan's 3 assists leads Galaxy past Seattle. Barrett scores twice as Toronto FC beats Fire. Real Salt Lake extends home unbeaten streak.

WORLD CUP - CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- South Africa's police commissioner said Friday his job will be made easier if the United States is knocked out of the World Cup in the first round, avoiding the massive security challenge of a visit by
President Barack Obama.

TENNIS - A week after losing in the Rome Masters, Roger Federer was upset in the Estoril Open semis by defending champ Albert Montanes. Martinez Sanchez stuns Jankovic in final. Dementieva wins, Oudin falls in Madrid. Italy's men advance to
Davis Cup World Group.

HORSE RACING - Rail Trip wins Mervyn Leroy Handicap at Hollywood Park. Rock N Roll Heaven wins $220,000 Berry's Creek at Meadowlands. Tax Ruling wins Iroquois Steeplechase. Fly Down wins Belmont's Dwyer Stakes. Flex The Muscle wins Dexter Cup at Freehold. Baffert: Conveyance out, Lookin At Lucky may run. Pletcher, Super Saver pointing toward Preakness.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/08/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - LeBron James put to rest any notion that the Cavaliers are vulnerable, throwing haymakers in a beatdown of the Celtics 124-95. Dragic leads Suns to 3-0 lead over Spurs 110-96. Jazz back home again down 0-2 to Lakers. Hawks need 'perfect game' to beat Magic.

TODAYS GAMES - The MAGIC @ The HAWKS, Magic lead Series 2-0 at 5 PM ET and The LAKERS @ The JAZZ, Lakers lead Series 2-0 at 8 PM ET.


NHL PLAYOFFS - Jonathan Toews had three goals and two assists as the Blackhawks beat the Canucks 7-4 for a 3-1 series lead. Gagne, Flyers avoid elimination in OT 5-4. Crosby, Malkin struggling vs. Canadiens. Sharks look to rebound vs. Red Wings.

HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany—Before a record hockey crowd of 77,803, the United States lost to Germany 2-1 Friday in the opening game of the world championships. The U.S. plays Denmark on Monday and Germany faces Finland.

GAMES TODAY - The CANADIENS @ PENGUINS, Series tied 2-2 at 7 PM ET and The RED WINGS @ The SHARKS, Sharks lead Series 3-1 at 10 PM ET.



MLB - Cubs' Castro has record 6 RBIs in debut. Phils' Moyer, 47, oldest to toss shutout. Yankees score 6 in 6th, top Red Sox 10-3. Strasburg allows 1 hit in Triple-A debut. Price dominant as Rays improve to 22-7. Weaver flirts with no-no, Angels rip M's. Barajas' walkoff HR gets Mets by Giants. Rangers keep Royals' Greinke winless.

NFL - The owner of the Tennessee Titans has joined with the NFL and the NFL Players Association in giving $400,000 to the American Red Cross and a Tennessee group to help the state recover from floods that killed at least 31 people in three
states.

NASCAR - The hot start Tony Stewart got off to last season is but a distant memory. Now he's in a slump he doesn't know how to shake. Denny Hamlin won his third straight Nationwide race Friday at Darlington. McMurray sets Darlington record in qualifying. Ford drivers enter Darlington winless. Junior wrecks 1 car, bangs up backup at Darlington.

GOLF - Big wins have eluded Lee Westwood on U.S. soil. Will he finally snag a coveted title at the Players? Westwood takes lead at Players after 65. Woods makes cut but well off lead. Golf fan Tasered, arrested at Players? Hed leads Italian Open, Manassero 4 back.

MMA & BOXING - Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua both think they won their first fight, so you can probably guess their takes on the rematch for TONIGHT.
BOXING - While the focus is on Pacquiao-Mayweather, Paul Williams' handlers believe the middleweight can factor into the equation.

SOCCER - MLS - The Galaxy and Sounders were trumpeted as MLS Cup contenders, but only Edson Buddle and the Galaxy have played like it. Room for one more-Joey Saputo's Montreal franchise will become the league's 19th and third based in Canada. MLS makes push for top international players.

TENNIS - Serena blows match point, Jankovic wins. Federer overcomes shaky start, advances. Petzschner upsets Berdych in Munich.

HORSE RACING - Calvin Borel makes his living on the rail – dubbed the Borel Trail – and he'll likely be right back there aboard Super Saver in the Preakness on May 15. Worth Repeating wins at Hollywood Park. Belo Sorte wins Churchill Downs feature. Eskendereya retired, sold. Trainer Baffert rules Conveyance out of pREAKNESS. Wind Caper wins Belmont feature. Aikenite joins Preakness field.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/07/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Dwight Howard and Orlando trailed the Hawks early, but pulled away in the fourth quarter to stay unbeaten in the playoffs. James, Howard unanimous All-NBA picks. Jazz F Kirilenko plans to play in Game 3. Down 2-0, Spurs face key game vs. Suns.



TODAYS GAMES - The CAVALIERS @ The CELTICS, Series tied 1-1 at 7 PM ET and The SUNS @ The SPURS at 9:30 PM ET.




NHL PLAYOFFS - The Red Wings absolutely dominated the Sharks in a blowout 7-1 victory, but still face a 3-1 series deficit. Canadiens rally to top Pens, tie series.



GAMES TODAY - The BRUINS @ The FLYERS, Bruins lead Series 3-0 at 7 PM ET and The BLACKHAWKS @ The cANUCKS, Blackhawks lead Series 2-1 at 9:30 PM ET.




MLB - Surging Rays sweep M's, now 12-1 on road. BoSox hand Angels seventh straight loss. Dodgers win on Ethier's walkoff slam. Halladay, Werth lift
Phillies over Cards. Rangers blow 8-run lead, beat KC 13-12.



NFL - Lawrence Taylor, a 10-time Pro Bowler, led the New York Giants to Super Bowl championships in 1987 and 1991. Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has
been charged with the third-degree rape of a 16-year-old girl. Offseason headaches could lead to troublesome 2010 seasons for Lovie Smith, Sean Payton
and Mike Tomlin.



NASCAR - Get off the brake pedal. Let the car roll. That's just some of the lessons Joey Logano says he's learned. Joey Logano may still live with hisparents, but there's no doubting now the 19-year-old belongs in the Sprint Cup Series. Southern 500Jeff Gordon has yet to win this season, so why is he the overwhelming favorite at Darlington?



GOLF - Tiger Woods bogeyed the final hole to finish 2-under at The Players Championship, four shots off the pace. Holmes, Allenby share lead at Players. Lawrie shares lead at rainy Italian Open.



MMA & BOXING - Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua both think they won their first fight, so you can probably guess their takes on the rematch.

BOXING - While the focus is on Pacquiao-Mayweather, Paul Williams' handlers believe the middleweight can factor into the equation.



SOCCER - MLS - Major League Soccer has called a Friday news conference to announce it is awarding an expansion team to Montreal. The team will be owned by the Saputo family, which currently runs the Montreal Impact of the U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Pro League. MLS currently has 16 teams. Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia, were announced in March 2009 as MLS expansion teams for 2011.



TENNIS - Perhaps looking past her foe to a match with her sister in the Italian Open semifinals, Venus Williams Lost big to two-time champ Jelena Jankovic in the quarters. Belgrade: Djokovic winsMunich: Cilic rallies. Estoril: Garcia-Lopez moves into third round.



HORSE RACING - Trainer Bob Baffert says he's leaning toward running beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness Stakes on May 15.
Cost of Freedom wins at Hollywood Park. Streaker wins Belmont feature. Kimmyv wins Churchill feature by 6 lengths.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/06/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Amar'e Stoudemire's double-double helped the Suns muscle their way past the Spurs for a 2-0 lead in the West semis. Kobe Bryant looks like he's back to his dominating ways. That can't be good news for the Jazz. The Cavaliers have three days to stew over their recent meltdown before they have to face the Celtics in Game 3.



TODAYS GAMES - The HAWKS @ The MAGIC, Magic lead Series 1-0 at 8 PM ET.




NHL PLAYOFFS - Bruins beat Flyers, take 3-0 lead. Byfuglien scores 3, 'Hawks go up 2-1. Blackhawks forward Dustin Byfuglien's size and presence has become a big problem for the Canucks. With three wins in three games, Boston takes complete control of its series vs. Philadelphia. The Bruins earn a 4-1 win, while the lackluster Flyers play without emotion in facing this deficit.



GAMES TODAY - The PENGUINS @ The CANADIENS. Penguins lead Series 2-1 at 7 PM ET and The SHARKS @ The RED WINGS, Sharks lead Series 3-0 at 7:30 PM ET.




MLB - Lackey, Red Sox extend Angels' skid to 6. Zito moves to 5-0 as Giants beat Marlins. Braves end long road skid, Heyward hurt. Rays' Garza is AL's first 5-game winner. Kendrick sharp, Phillies blank Cardinals. Lee walkoff HR ends Astros' 8-game slide. Pettitte hurt, Yankees sweep Orioles.



NFL - Saints, All-Pro guard Evan agrees to 7-year deal. Tebow's Broncos jersey leads NFL sales in April. FanHouse: The best free agents still on market Ex-NFL WR McDuffie wins $11.5M in toe lawsuit. Vikings' new $791M stadium bill suffers setbacks. Pro Bowler Willis inks $50M extension with 49ers Pacman Jones gets second workout with Bengals.



NCAA FOOTBALL - A real trooper-A&M coach Mike Sherman is visiting troops in Iraq – on his own dime. UNC boasted the nation's sixth-ranked defense in 2009, but a turnover-prone offense led to an 8-5 record. North Carolina will field an all-world defense in 2010. But will the Heels have enough offense to compete in the ACC? FedEx out; Orange Bowl will have new sponsor. Temple gives coach Golden new 5-year contract.



NASCAR - At the 10-race pole, both Juan Montoya and Tony Stewart are struggling. What's the problem and will they turn it around? That’s where he is
heading into Saturday night’s race at Darlington, where Stewart has no wins and only three top-fives in 17 career starts. Despite the statistics, he said he’ll still head to South Carolina convinced he can win.



GOLF - Phil Mickelson is underway at The Players Championship, where he will try to extend his string of strong play. Jim Furyk and Lee Westwood recognize the difficulty of the course, but stop short of calling TPC a major.



MMA & BOXING - By making use of social media like Twitter, Dana White keeps his finger on the fans' pulse better than any leader in sports.
BOXING - ‘Awesome’ Tyson captivates audience at interview.



SOCCER - MLS - Alan Gordon scores, Galaxy beat Rapids 1-0. Ugo Ihemelu lifts FC Dallas past Dynamo. Padilla scores twice in Chiva USA's win. Allsopp scores twice, United beats Wizards. Contract ratified- The league and its players agreed to a five-year labor deal that includes salary increases for senior members.



TENNIS - Ana Ivanovic, the former world No. 1, is showing flashes of past greatness as she continues her comeback trail at the Italian Open. Portugal: Federer earns first clay win of season. Serbia: Querrey advances. Germany: Cilic wins. Williams sisters move into Rome quarters.



HORSE RACING - Super Saver returned to the track for the first time since capturing the Kentucky Derby and "jogged like a winner" while preparing for
the Preakness. Miss Pleasant wins Hollywood Park feature. Motor City Mama wins Belmont feature.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/05/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Howard helps Magic rout Hawks. Dwight Howard and the Magic embarrassed the Hawks 114-71 in Game 1 on Tuesday night. ers grind out win,
lead Jazz 2-0. Kobe Bryant poured in 30 and the Lakers took a 2-0 series lead by beating the Jazz 111-103



TODAYS GAMES - The SPURS @ The SUNS, Suns lead Series 1-0 at 9 PM ET.



NHL PLAYOFFS - With San Jose defeating Detroit to take a 3-0 series lead, are the Sharks changing our perception of the team? Marleau's OT goal puts Sharks up 3-0. Pens blank Canadiens, take 2-1 lead. Marc-André Fleury and Evgeni Malkin deserve praise for their roles in the Pens' Game 3 victory at
Montreal.




GAMES TODAY - The BRUINS @ The FLYERS, the Bruins lead Series 2-0 at 7 PM ET and The BLACKHAWKS @ The CANUCKS, Series tied at 1-1 at 9:30 PM ET.




MLB - Tigers broadcaster Harwell dies at 92. BoSox send Angels to fifth straight loss. Shields Ks 10 as Rays improve to 19-7. Ruiz's walkoff HR in 10th lifts Phillies. Diamondbacks extend Astros' slide to 8. Pena, Cervelli lift short-handed Yankees.



NFL - Anheuser-Busch’s flagship brand Bud Light will be the official beer sponsor of the National Football League, edging out rival MillerCoors, which said Tuesday it wouldn’t renew its deal. Anheuser-Busch’s six-year deal, which begins in the 2011 season, is worth more than $1 billion, a person close to the league said Tuesday.



NCAA FOOTBALL - President Barack Obama has congratulated the 2009 U.S. Naval Academy football team for winning its seventh consecutive Commander in
Chief trophy. Obama welcomed the Midshipmen to the East Room of the White House on Monday for the trophy presentation. It is awarded annually to the
winner of the competition among the three major service academies—the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.



NASCAR - The green-white-checker rule makes for some fantastic finishes, but there are still some who debate if that's a good thing. Sophomore Slump? Tony Stewart's red-hot start as a team owner was the talk of the garage in 2009. Smoke's still the talk of the garage, but for all the wrong reasons.



GOLF - The scene this week is Sawgrass and the famous 17th as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson resume their battle for No. 1. A thumb injury has put Anthony Kim on the sidelines. He'll miss the Players – and maybe the U.S. Open.



MMA & BOXING - Fedor Emelianenko is set to return with a June 26 Showtime match. Will Lyoto Machida (R) change strategy against Mauricio Rua the
second time around? Fans address that and much more.
BOXING - Manny Pacquiao is running for elected office in his native Philippines. Maybe that explains his double talk on drug testing.



SOCCER - MLS - Houston's Brian Ching, a member of Team USA since '03, has a week to convince U.S. coach Bob Bradley that he's fit for the World Cup.
DC United coach Curt Onalfo and Chivas USA midfielder Michael Lahoud have been suspended two games each by the MLS.

TENNIS - Serena and Venus Williams returned from lengthy breaks on Tuesday and made fast work of their Italian Open foes. Defending champ Dinara Safina wasn't so lucky. Gasquet rolls by Rochus at Serbia Open. Baghdatis beats qualifier at BMW Open.



HORSE RACING - Kentucky Derby viewership posts 21-year high. Terranova wins both stakes at Belmont. Special Duty wins 1,000 Guineas after inquiry. Medaglia d'Amour wins at Hollywood Park.



POKER - A step forward in 2010-In just a few weeks the Rio will be packed with players hoping to win a gold bracelet. The WSOP team has been busy preparing and announced Tuesday what's new for 2010.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/04/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Rondo, Celtics rout Cavs 104-86, tie series. After a listless performance against the Celtics in Game 2, the Cavaliers need LeBron James to start acting like the MVP. Nash's 33 and 10 lift Suns by Spurs 111-102 . Steve Nash scored 33 points to help lead the Suns past the Spurs. Bulls fire Del Negro-Embattled Vinny Del Negro is out as Chicago's coach after two seasons.



TODAYS GAMES - The HAWKS @ The MAGIC, Series tied 0-0 at 8 PM ET and The JAZZ @ LA LAKERS, LA Lakers lead Series 1-0 at 10:30 PM ET.



NHL PLAYOFFS - Patrick Sharp ignited a third-period rally as the Blackhawks evened their series vs. the Canucks at a win each. Lucic's goal gives Bruins 2-0 lead.



GAMES TODAY - The PENGUINS @ The CANADIENS, Series tied at 1-1 at 7 PM ET and The SHARKS @ The RED WINGS, Sharks lead Series 2-0 at 7:30 PM ET.



MLB - It's been a season to forget in Boston so far, but for one glorious night everything fell into place. The Red Sox pounded 20 hits, including four homers, in a 17-8 rout of the Angels. Jimenez whiffs 13, becomes first 6-game winner. Blue Jays' Cecil flirts with perfect game vs. Tribe. Phils fan runs on field, Tasered by cop. Phils fall. Sabathia now 11-1 vs. O's. Ramos keys Twins. Reds top Mets in 11 on Nix HR lose Dickerson. Peavy dominates Royals. K.C.'s Gordon to OF. Rangers top A's.



NASCAR - Say this for Jeff Gordon: He's been consistent. The four-time Sprint Cup champ has consistently not been winning races he has dominated.



GOLF - Mickelson can become No. 1 with TPC win. Quiros wins Spanish Open in playoff.



MMA & BOXING - Saturday's bout between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history.

BOXING - Floyd Mayweather's next challenge won't be against that other fighter who's regarded as the pound-for-pound king.



SOCCER - MLS - FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman is frustrated his team squanders chances to score and gives the other teams "gift goals." Edson B
uddle stars for Galaxy, scored twice and added an assist to sew up the weekly honors.



TENNIS - Ernests Gulbis knocked out Roger Federer and took a set from Rafael Nadal at the Rome Masters. Struggling Kuznetsova loses in Rome. Berdych
opens BMW title defense with win. Karlovic, Andreev win openers in Serbia.



HORSE RACING - Less than 12 hours after Super Saver’s triumph, Pletcher was in the barn checking on his newest star and thinking about the Preakness.



POKER - A new home for Annette-Less than a month before the start of the 2010 WSOP, Annette Obrestad announced she had left Betfair for a new endorsement deal with Full Tilt Poker.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/03/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Hawks rout Bucks to clinch series 95-74. Kobe Bryant scored 12 points in the game's final 5½ minutes, finishing with 31, to power the Lakers
to their victory 104-99.


TODAYS GAMES - The CELTICS @ The CAVALIERS, Cavaliers lead series 1-0 at 8 PM ET and The SPURS @ The SUNS, Series tied 0-0 at 10:30 PM ET.



NHL PLAYOFFS - First, The Big Pavelski. Then, Jumbo Joe got in on the act. Pavelski (two goals, assist) and Thornton (goal, assist) led San Jose to a 4-3
win and 2-0 series lead over Detroit on Sunday. Cammalleri, Halak lead Canadiens past Pens 3-1.


GAMES TODAY - The FLYERS @ The BRUINS, Bruins lead Series 1-0 at 7 PM ET and The CANUCKS @ The BLACKHAWKS, Canucks lead Series 1-0 at 9 PM ET.



MLB - Phils batter Santana for 10 runs, 4 HRs. Orioles complete sweep of Red Sox. Verlander 3-hits Angels, Tigers sweep. Davis bests Greinke, Rays top Royals 1-0. Twins get 20 hits, Liriano Ks 9 in rout. Hughes goes 7, Yankees beat ChiSox 12-3.



NFL - Free agent Terrell Owens might not have a place to go for a 15th season if the price isn't right. Thomas Jones out, LaDainian Tomlinson in. Leon
Washington out, Joe McKnight in. The Jets are taking a huge, huge gamble by revamping their running game.



NCAA - FOOTBALL - Montana's son shines in UW spring game. SEC coaches field expansion questions. Penn player committed suicide, mom says. Bridgepoint to
sponsor Holiday Bowl.



NASCAR - Kyle Busch became the latest driver to deny Gordon a victory, passing him after the final restart Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway
for his first win of the season.



GOLF - Rory McIlroy, 20, fired a remarkable course-record 62 on Sunday at Quail Hollow to post his first tour victory. Teenage star Ryo Ishikawa shot the
lowest score (58) ever on a major tour for his seventh Japan Tour title. Miyazato wins as Ochoa plays final event.



MMA & BOXING - Georges St. Pierre overtook Anderson Silva for the No. 1 spot in the Top 10. BOXING - Will Mayweather and Pacquiao ever be made?



SOCCER - MLS - Luis Angel Landin had a goal and an assist in Houston's 3-0 victory over Kansas City before suffering an ankle injury. Chris Wondolowski
scored for the third time in three games, leading the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night in Major League soccer.



TENNIS - Justine Henin won her first tournament title since coming out of retirement in January, beating Samantha Stosur in the Porsche Grand Prix final
Sunday. Nadal wins fifth Rome Masters in 6 years. Serena, Venus returning at Italian Open. Kvitova upsets Zvonareva at Italian Open. Philippoussis beats
McEnroe in Champions. Bryan brothers close to doubles record.



HORSE RACING - Trainer Todd Pletcher spent a fun night with family after Super Saver's Kentucky Derby win. Now, his thoughts turn to the Preakness.Couches were just as packed as the stands with fans delivering the highest Derby TV ratings in 18 years.



POKER - Andrew "Luckychewy" Lichtenberger defeated a tough final table at the WSOP Circuit event in Las Vegas to win his first major live title.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/02/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - The Cavs urged LeBron James to stop fretting about his elbow and start playing. Unfortunately for the Celtics, he listened James has 35, Cavs rally past Celtics.

TODAYS GAMES - The BUCKS @ The HAWKS, Series tied at 3-3 at 1 PM ET and The JAZZ @ The LA LAKERS, Series at 0-0 at 3:30 PM ET

NHL PLAYOFFS - The visiting Canucks manhandled the Blackhawks in a surprisingly convincing Game 1 victory. Bruins strike first in second round vs. Flyers 5-4.

GAMES TODAY - The CANADIENS @ The PENGUINS, Penguins lead Series 1-0 at 2 PM ET and The RED WINGS @ The SHARKS, the Sharks lead the Series 1-0 at 8 PM ET.

MLB - After a feeble first month, Boston better have a momentum-building May or it could be done in the AL East by the end of spring. The Dodgers are slumping. GM Ned Colletti isn't pleased. Any changes? Halladay 3-hitter ends Mets' 8-game run.
Rangers chase ailing Hernandez, beat M's. Damon hits first homer for Tigers. Cain allows 1 hit over 8 as Giants roll. Hoffman gets back on track in San Diego. Royals outlast Rays 4-2 in 11 innings. The Rays and hoodie-lovin' manager Joe Maddon are baseball's best club.

NASCAR - Kyle Busch ends 21-race skid at Richmond. Harvick finishes 3rd, takes points lead. If Kyle Busch's head is the only thing standing in his way, then he proved at Richmond Jimmie Johnson should be worried.

GOLF - Quail Hollow Championship- Phil Mickelson heads to the final round in contention to back up his Masters win with another victory. Mayfair has 2-shot lead at Quail Hollow. With one round to go in Lorena Ochoa's farewell event, Michelle Wie trails Ai Miyazato by only two shots in Mexico.

MMA & BOXING - Georges St. Pierre overtook Anderson Silva for the No. 1 spot in the Top 10.
BOXING - Floyd Mayweather Jr. proved Saturday he can beat the elite with his offense. But now he must face Manny Pacquiao.

SOCCER - MLS - Luis Angel Landin had a goal and an assist in Houston's 3-0 victory over Kansas City before suffering an ankle injury. Chivas USA scored the equalizing goal in the 76th minute to gain a 1-1 tie with host Chicago. Crew, Sounders battle to 1-1 tie. Wondolowski scores in Earthquakes' 1-0 win. Real Salt Lake holds off Toronto FC. Landin leads Dynamo past Wizards. Harris scores in 66th, FC Dallas ties Revs.

TENNIS - Rafael Nadal dropped a set for the first time on clay this year, but outdueled Ernests Gulbis to reach the final of the Rome Masters, where he'll meet David Ferrer. Henin advances to final in Stuttgart. McEnroe defeats Borg in Champions semis. Benesova beats Halep for second title. Sweeting, McHale earn French Open berths. US beats Russia to reach Fed Cup final.

HORSE RACING - KENTUCKY DERBY - Super Saver took control on the final stretch and bolted to a decisive victory on a sloppy track in the 136th Kentucky Derby. Victory at last-Super Saver's win ended trainer Todd Pletcher's 0-for-24 Derby drought. Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky was plagued by bad luck once again, denying Bob Baffert a fourth win.

Scores and Sports Info for 05/01/2010

NBA PLAYOFFS - Pau Gasol tipped in Kobe Bryant's miss with .5 seconds left as the Lakers KO'd the Thunder in a stunning Game 6. Lakers oust Thunder on Gasol. Boozer helps Jazz eliminate Denver. Hawks stifle Bucks, force Game 7. Cavs' James wins second straight MVP.East semifinals: Celtics-CavsDon't underestimate the Celtics' ability to give LeBron James and the Cavs a tough series. West semis: Spurs-SunsCan the Suns finally take down the Spurs in the playoffs?

TODAYS GAMES - The CELTICS @ the CAVALIERS, Series at 0-0 at 8 PM ET.

NHL PLAYOFFS - The Penguins converted all four of their power plays and cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Canadiens in Game 1. Bruins, Flyers expect physical series. Sedins, Canucks ready to meet Blackhawks. US TV ratings for playoffs up 24 percent.

GAMES TODAY - The FLYERS @ The BRUINS, Series at 0-0 at 12:30 PM ET,Bruins, Flyers expect physical semifinal series, and The CANUCKS @ The BLACKHAWKS, Series at 0-0 at 8 PM ET. Canucks hope to turn it on against Blackhawks.

MLB - The Mets have won eight straight games after beating the Phillies 9-1. David Wright kick-started the offense with a two-run home run. Lee sharp in debut but Rangers win in 12. Mets win eighth straight, rout Phils 9-1. Heyward's HR helps
Braves end skid at 9. Zito moves to 4-0 as Giants beat Rockies. Morneau homers in return as Twins cruise. Surging Jeter leads Yankees past ChiSox. Reds win fifth straight, end Cards' run. Dodgers end 5-game skid, beat Pirates.

NASCAR - Crown Royal 400- Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman made the Chase in 2009, but are outside the top 12 now. Time to get going for five drivers, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kasey Kahne. All five qualified for last year’s Chase, and none of them are in the top 12 going into Saturday night’s Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Nationwide Series-For the second straight week, Brad Keselowski found his way to victory lane.

GOLF - Tiger Woods missed the Quail Hollow cut in most inglorious fashion, shooting a 79 Friday to finish 9-over. Billy Mayfair leads at Quail Hollow. Wie leads in Mexico, Ochoa 5 back. Healthier Mickelson climbs leaderboard. Tway, Thompson lead Champions Tour event. Edfors takes 2nd-round lead in Spain.

MMA & BOXING - BOXING - A strong win over Shane Mosley on Saturday should slow down the notion Floyd Mayweather Jr. won't face strong competition.

SOCCER - MLS - Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman will attempt to keep his squad fresh during a critical week that starts with a visit to the Revs. Chicago's young goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra looks to keep critics off his back vs. Chivas USA. Seattle sends King to DC for draft pick. Crew aim to keep Sounders at bay. Seattle completes signing of Colombian Montano.

TENNIS - Rafael Nadal overcame a slow start to beat Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarters of the Rome Masters, improving to 8-0 on clay this season. Henin advances to semis in Stuttgart. Teen Halep reaches first WTA Tour final. Sweeting, McHale earn French Open berths

HORSE RACING - TODAY'S KENTUCKY DERBY - An ominous weather forecast means the 136th Kentucky Derby could be as unpredictable as last year, when a 50-1 longshot won.
The starting field for Saturday’s 136th running of the
Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs is as follows;

NUMBER - HORSE NAME - TRAINER: 1 Lookin At Lucky-Bob Baffert, 2 Ice Box-Nicholas Zito, 3 Noble's Promise-Kenneth McPeek, 4 Super Saver-Todd Pletcher, 5 Line of David-John Sadler, 6 Stately Victor-Michael Maker, 7 American Lion-Eoin Harty, 8 Dean's Kitten-Michael Maker, 9 Make Music for Me-Alexis Barba, 10 Paddy O'Prado-Dale Romans, 11 Devil May Care-Todd Pletcher, 12 Conveyance-Bob Baffert, 13 Jackson Bend-Nicholas Zito, 14 Mission Impazible-Todd Pletcher, 15 Discreetly Mine-Todd Pletcher, 16 Awesome Act-Jeremy Noseda, 17 Dublin-D. Wayne Lukas, 18 Backtalk-Thomas Amoss, 19 Homeboykris-Richard Dutrow Jr., 20 Sidney's Candy-John Sadler.