Sports Page

Don’t blame LeBron James for this one. Rather, Richard “Rip” Hamilton should take the blame for James’ missed shot with time running out of Thursday night’s NBA Eastern Conference Final in Detroit. Hamilton closed down James one-on-one with constrictor-like defense, roping Cleveland’s young superstar on his final attempt that banked hard off the rim to preserve a 79-76 victory for Detroit, and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

On Cleveland’s final possession, the Cavaliers missed on three straight shot attempts that could have given them a lead with time running out. Though the only foul called was a technical on Cleveland coach Mike Brown for protesting non-calls on the Cavs’ final possession, Hamilton may have gotten away with some contact on James. For his part, James would only admit that he had some words with the referee after the play. After the game, James refused to blame the officiating for his team’s loss.

“I believe there was contact. There has been a lot of contact in the series,“ James said. “Me and the ref had a good conversation and we just move on as a player,” he said.

“If they don’t see anything, they don’t see anything,” Brown said of the officials. “We’re a no excuse team. We’ve got to get ready for game three.”

Detroit’s offense has been functional, but not much more than that thus far in this series, though the Pistons have made the offensive plays when they needed to. Thursday night Rasheed Wallace had a highlight baseline jumper with 24 seconds remaining to give Detroit a one-point lead at 77-76. Wallace scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

“He never ceases to amaze me,“ said the Piston’s Chauncey Billups, who finished the night with 13 points. “When he’s focused like that, there’s nobody who can stop him.”

This was the second close, hard-fought game for Cleveland, with the same result: James and the Cavs haven’t been able to get over the hump in Auburn Hills. So far James is averaging just 5.0 points in the second half. Detroit is forcing him into low percentage shots, and Cleveland will have to figure out how to get some room to breathe out of the Pistons’ suffocating defense if they hope to contend in the series.

Only two teams in NBA history have recovered from 2-0 series deficits to win a conference title. The series resumes Sunday night in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ best chance to make a meaningful challenge against Detroit in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals rests on the shoulders of one very young superstar, LeBron James. That’s why the questions following the Cavs’ game one loss Monday night in Detroit focused on James’ inability pull the trigger on the final shot. Rather, the Cavs sent James to drive the lane and pass off to a wide-open Donyell Marshall, whose 3-point jumper banked hard off the rim with 5.9 seconds remaining to give Detroit a 79-76 victory in game one of the 7-game series.

James is fighting a history of criticism regarding his reluctance to take the last shot, an issue that surfaced last season. Critics have argued that James needs to change his mind-set to become a more aggressive offensive player, and to develop more “killer instinct.“ James finished Monday night’s game with nine assists, but only 10 points, a playoff-career low (James’ regular season scoring average is 27.3 points per game). James also failed to get to the free-throw line, a further symptom of his lack of offensive aggression.

“You’ve got to take what’s there,” James said. “It’s not about taking about a high volume of shots, it’s about winning the basketball game.

“We had an opportunity to win with me taking 3 shots in the fourth quarter. I will continue to say that, and that’s the only answer I can give you.“ he said.

Cleveland outshot and outrebounded Detroit, but the Cavs couldn’t overcome the Pistons’ stifling defense. Cleveland shot only 10 percent from 3-point range.

Chauncey Billups scored 10 of his 13 points for Detroit in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with 1:52 left to put the Pistons up 78-76.

“I think the sign of a really good team is you’ve got to win ugly games,” Billups said. “We did just that. It could have went the other way, but we’re up 1-0.”  

Rip Hamilton led all scorers with 24 points for Detroit. Game 2 is Thursday night in Auburn Hills.

CLEVELAND — In nature, there are predators, and there is prey. Like a gazelle in full stride, the Cleveland Cavaliers raced blissfully into the NBA Finals, celebrating the team’s first such appearance in franchise history. Once there, they found themselves standing in dead-aim of the proverbial Big Bad Wolf, or more fitting, the Texas Wolf — aka San Antonio Spurs, who snuck out of “The Q” in Cleveland Tuesday night with a 75-72 victory that was controversial for what didn‘t happen.

     The victory gives the Spurs a 3-0 series lead and puts them in a position to win their third NBA title in 5 years — and their fourth title in 9 years — Thursday night in Cleveland. San Antonio has lost 3 times in sweep situations, most recently in the 2005 Western Conference Finals against Phoenix. 

     What didn’t happen in Tuesday night’s game is a foul call on the final play: Bruce Bowen swiped LeBron James’ arm as he made his move for a 3-point shot that would have sent the game into overtime, and would have given Cleveland a better chance in OT.

     But James was more inclined to blame Cleveland’s decision making on the previous possession; if the Cavs’ had converted on the prior play, with James double-teamed and forced to pass off to Anderson Varejao, who missed a layup, the Cavs could have tied the game before James’ desperation 3 became necessary: Woulda, shoulda, coulda….

     “Incidental contact,” said James of Bowen on the final shot. “It didn’t affect my shot, I had a good look at it and missed.”

     The contact didn’t look incidental.

     “He did take a stab at him and we talked about it,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’ll keep what we said to ourselves, it might happen again. We’ve seen every crazy thing happen, positively and negatively, so our experience in that regard does help. That was the best defense we’ve played all season, without a doubt.”

     Tony Parker is a game away from being deservedly named Finals MVP. With Cleveland down only 2, Parker hit a critical 3-point shot with 1:00 remaining to put the Spurs up by 5.

     “He’s not really a 3-point shooter,“ said the Spurs’ Tim Duncan of Parker’s long-range shot in the clutch. “On the release, I was questioning the shot, but I was happy with the result. He’s just playing so confident right now.“

     “I just go out there and try to be a difference and just play my game,” Parker said of his MVP possibilities. “If it happens I be the first one to be very happy, and if it goes to Timmy, I be happy to win a third championship,” said the soft-spoken French all-star.

     The “Big 3” for San Antonio had their lowest scoring night of the playoffs. Parker led the Spurs with 17 points, Duncan added 14 points and 9 rebounds, and Manu Ginobili, who put up 25 in Game 2, scored only 3 points, but they were the only 3 points he needed: All free throws in the game’s final 10 seconds, to account for the Spurs’ final margin of victory.

     It was Bowen who was the workhorse Tuesday night for San Antonio: On the floor for 43 minutes, Bowen snagged 9 rebounds, blocked a shot, scored 13 points and added an assist.

     “Bruce did everything for us, he was unbelievable,” Duncan said. “He made some big shots, rebounded, played great defense…I can’t say enough about him. What he does defines our team.”

     LeBron James did all he could, leading Cleveland with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. The Cavs’ young superstar, however, missed on three straight attempts at one point with under 4:00 remaining, that would have pulled the Cavs even.

     “We dug ourselves a big hole, but we put ourselves in a position to win tonight. We can’t live on history (facing a possible sweep) so we just have to go out and win 4 games straight,” James said.

     The Spurs went on a 10-0 run to end the first half to take a 40-38 lead into the locker room. Both James and Duncan got into first-half foul trouble, getting 3 calls each by the second period.

     If the Spurs go on to win this series, they will become only the fourth NBA franchise to have won four or more titles: Boston, Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers are already in the record books. San Antonio has a 21-7 record in closeout games. The Spurs are unbeaten in closeout games in the 2007 playoffs.

CLEVELAND — The San Antonio Spurs are the 2007 NBA champions, earning their 4^th title in 9 years Thursday night in an 83-82 decision over Cleveland and a 4-0 series sweep.     

     The Spurs may be the best team in America, but they are not America’s team.

     Nothing could have symbolized that better than MVP Tony Parker, who wrapped himself in his national flag of France to accept his trophy from NBA Commissioner David Stern, whose globalization of the league in marketing and player acquisitions have made the Spurs an international franchise model.     

     Parker becomes the first European player to ever win Finals MVP.

     “My teammates joke that I always have the French mafia with me,” Parker said. “My family has been here with me since spring, I like to share those moments with my family and my friends. It’s not every day that you get to win a championship.”

     For whatever reasons, however, this Spurs team has failed to generate the warm glow — the adoration — of any of the other teams who have won four or more NBA titles: The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. Where is the love for this Spurs team?

     It sure couldn’t be found at “The Q” in Cleveland, where Cavs fans who had waited 37 years for a title bid spilled out booing and hissing, most likely at a Finals series that was completely lacking in drama, was at times very poorly played — and less likely at a young Cavs team led by LeBron James, whose 6 turnovers, two at critical points late in Thursday’s game, often looked painfully 22 years of age against the gnarly veteran Spurs team, whose experience is unrivaled by any other team.

     “I didn’t want to turn around and look at it,” said James of the Spurs’ celebration and trophy presentation at center court in his home arena.

     Neither could most Americans, who were happy to click an end to the 2007 NBA Finals, which set record lows for prime-time TV ratings and a 19 percent drop from last year.

     Even the Spurs were matter-of-fact winners in a pleasant, though not quite ecstatic, post-game celebration. So what is it about this team that has fans backing off?

     Some possible reasons:

     The Spurs are too dominating. Only one of their playoff series, when Denver forward Nene went up against Duncan, did the Spurs even have a physical matchup. Phoenix won two games against the Spurs, but it was a run-and-shoot style of play. Because San Antonio has such a low-scoring offense and smothering defense, they aren’t that exciting to watch, even though most fans can appreciate Parker’s work at guard and marvel at the consistency of 3-time Finals MVP and future Hall of Fame center Tim Duncan inside. Still, the Spurs’ “Wow” factor is painfully low.

     Bruce Bowen, whom Duncan has described as the nexus of the team, has a reputation as a “dirty” player. At the very least, he’s a crafty defensive master and over the years he has earned the respect of officials who often have a quiet whistle around him. But Bowen is a salty veteran and a player fans love to hate.

     “It was all team defense: Bruce (Bowen) was sitting down on him (James) for 47 minutes every night, that was it,” said Duncan of the key to San Antonio’s success in the series.

     Robert Horry has now won 7 — that’s right, 7 — NBA rings. He won titles with Houston and the Lakers previously. Will he ever retire so that someone else can try to get a ring? Probably not: At age 37, he’s in superhuman shape and revels in his role-player position on the team.

     Manu Ginobili has gained a reputation as a “flopper,” and there has even been talk of adopting a “Manu” rule in the NBA in which flops would be counted as personal fouls. For several seasons Ginobili practically owned the foul-drawing charge, until officials drew pressure to wise up to him. Like him or not, the Argentine guard seems to have gracefully accepted his new role as 6^th man off the bench, and he’s exactly the kind of tough, gritty player that characterizes this team.

     Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a tough, though underrated, leader who is very secretive about the Spurs’ inner sanctum, often refusing comment, only to say, “It’s in the family.” Popovich doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that you would want to get on your bad side. Perhaps that’s why this group of veteran players has responded so well to his coaching: They fear him!

     “To see how tough it is to get here, to see it on those guys faces, that’s what makes it all worth it,” Duncan said. “Those guys — our perseverance — is what defines this team.”

Washington, D.C. — The National Football League and World Wrestling Entertainment are multi-billion dollar entertainment enterprises that make grand lives and great fortunes for men who posses mega-muscle and power. Their fame lasts as long as their bodies allow.

     This week, the sad and desperate side of professional sports has been revealed, the dark side that few of us hear about, when the lights dim and the players who sacrificed their bodies for sport hobble off into the setting sun.

     The murder-suicide involving pro wrestler Chris Benoit, who killed his wife and young son and then used a weight machine cord to hang himself, has exposed a gruesome history of premature death and drug abuse in the world of the WWE. The wrestling may be fake, but the tragedy of many of the WWE wrestlers’ lives is all too real.

     Since 1997, 27 pro wrestlers under the age of 45 have died. The predominant cause of death was heart attack, a known side effect of steroid abuse. The WWE obituaries also include suicides and drug overdose, typically occurring in the self-dosing professional athlete who is trying to control chronic pain resulting from athletic injuries.

     Though there are far fewer fatalities, the NFL’s dark side is also emerging this week before a House judiciary subcommittee in Washington. A hearing is being conducted regarding the league’s management of retired players’ pension and disability claims. For years, former players have complained that the league has mishandled disability claims, leaving them broken not only physically, but financially and emotionally as well.

     Brian DeMarco is among several disabled NFL veterans in Washington this week to tell his personal story, on behalf of other retired players who share his plight. As a young pro athlete, DeMarco could run sprints, and rely on his strength and agility to battle opposing NFL lineman. Today, DeMarco walks with the stiff, painful movements of an 85-year-old man. At age 35, DeMarco says “My quality of life is gone.“ His 5-year NFL career left him with permanently disabling injuries and crippling chronic pain. An assortment of surgical pins and rods hold him in one piece. That’s not the end of his misery. DeMarco claims that his physical ailments have prevented him from sustaining regular employment, creating financial hardships that forced him and his family to become homeless.

     “There are so many more like me out there,” he said. “I never should have been homeless. Somebody has to step up. The tragedy that the NFLPA is doing in not taking care of all of us when it’s over is affecting entire families. A guy like me, who’s broke trying to get through the system that the NFLPA has set up, is excruciatingly painful.”

     It seems the WWE and the NFL remain in denial. Following the Benoit tragedy, the WWE was quick to issue a statement denying steroid abuse as the cause of Benoit’s unthinkable actions, saying that “The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage.” Though “roid rage” is a condition marked by uncontrollable aggressive rage, it is not the only potential psychiatric symptom of steroid abuse. Paranoid delusions, depression and manic mood swings can be symptoms of steroid abuse as well. The WWE claims that Benoit passed an independent steroid test in April. The WWE has a substance abuse and performance enhancing drug policy. The test procedures are conducted in accordance with the WWE’s “baseline” data. According to its policy, wrestlers face no disciplinary actions for failing baseline tests, and would only face suspension or termination after multiple failures.

     Police reported finding what appeared to be legally prescribed anabolic steroids at the Benoit crime scene. We must await toxicology reports for the official determination of Benoit’s death.

     NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw denies that players have been turned away, or denied rightful disability claims. He says that the league paid for DeMarco’s rent three times in the past year, and that DeMarco himself failed to complete bureaucratic requirements that would pay him further disability benefits. Upshaw has always defended the league’s treatment of its retired players.

     It’s time for the WWE and the NFL to be held accountable for the lives — and quality of life — of its current and former athletes.

LOS ANGELES — ESPN used to rely on a panel of sports writers to determine winners for its annual ESPY Awards. Now it’s up to the fans. Fans can vote online for their favorite sports teams, players and fondest memories of the past sports year. The ESPYs also give fans a chance to see their favorite sports stars in designer threads, looking dry, chic and stylish — provided Deion Sanders isn’t allowed anywhere near the wardrobe room!

     Jimmy Kimmel and LeBron James will host this year’s ESPY Awards telecast July 15 in Los Angeles. This ESPY guide previews some of the top awards categories.

Best Male Athlete
Nominees: LeBron James, Peyton Manning, Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, LaDanian Tomlinson.
This is a tough choice between perennial dominant forces Woods and Manning. Woods remains the No. 1 ranked pro golfer in the world, and at 32 has already rewritten golf history. Manning broke through to lead the Colts to a Super Bowl championship, showing character and determination after the Colts’ devastating playoff losses the previous three seasons.
Deserving Winner: Peyton Manning

Best Team
Nominees: Florida Gators football and men’s basketball (NCAA), Indianapolis Colts (NFL), St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), San Antonio Spurs (NBA), Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball (NCAA).
After the Florida men’s basketball team won its first NCAA title in 2006, several key players could have bolted for the NBA draft. Instead, they remained in Gainesville and that proved to be a great decision: The Gators became the first men’s college basketball team to win back-to-back titles since the 1991-92 Duke Blue Devils. The Gators players put team ahead of their individual pro contracts, and for that they deserve to win the “Best Team” award.
Deserving Winner: Florida Gators men’s basketball

Best Championship Performance
Nominees: LeBron James, Jimmie Johnson, Peyton Manning, Serena Williams.
James’ most unforgettable performance came in the NBA Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, and not in the NBA championship series, in which James’ Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a series sweep, 4-0, by the San Antonio Spurs. Manning’s Super Bowl performance wasn’t even one of his greatest individual games. Williams, though unseeded in the Australian Open, went into her finals match against Maria Sharpova and was in rare form, completely blowing Sharpova away. It was a stunning and emotional victory for Serena, and a humbling experience for Sharpova.
Deserving Winner: Serena Williams

Best Record-Breaking Performance
Nominees: Bob Knight, coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball (NCAA), Michael Phelps, U.S. swimmer, Kelly Slater, Pro Surfer, LaDanian Tomlinson, NFL Running Back.
Few athletes were as electrifying as Tomlinson was on the gridiron and Phelps was in the pool this past year. Phelps was fire in the water in 2007, winning 7 gold medals and setting 5 world records at the World Championships.
Deserving Winner: Michael Phelps

Best Breakthrough Athlete
Nominees: Kevin Durant, Guard, Texas Longhorns men’s basketball (NCAA), Devin Hester, kick return specialist, Chicago Bears (NFL), Ryan Howard, first baseman, Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Morgan Pressel, Women’s pro golfer.
Durant was a sensational college star who scored the second most NCAA Division I points in history for a freshman (903). His outstanding season at Texas earned him AP Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to win the award. Having monster games left and right, Durant became a hot commodity and was selected second overall in last week’s NBA draft.
Deserving Winner: Kevin Durant

Best Game
Nominees: Oklahoma St. over Texas, men’s college basketball triple-OT; Fiesta Bowl, Boise State Broncos 43-42 OT victory over Oklahoma; AFC Championship Game, Colts over Patriots.
This is a game that no play-by-play account could ever do justice: Only seeing was believing. The Boise State Broncos believed that the BCS should have given them a shot at No. 1 and the NCAA Championship, against Ohio State or eventual champ Florida. The orange-clad Broncos put on quite a show against the powerful Sooners, including a lateral 50 yards for a touchdown to force overtime. Soon after, in one of the most unforgettable moments in college football history, the Broncos ran the Statue of Liberty play for a two-point conversion to seal the victory. There was high drama, electrifying plays and even a marriage proposal (a Boise State player proposed to his college sweetheart) on the sidelines after the game.
Deserving Winner: Fiesta Bowl

Best Coach
Nominees: Billy Donovan, Florida Gators men’s basketball; Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts; Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers; Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs; Pat Summitt, Tennessee Volunteers women’s basketball.
Popovich made a yet another championship team out of veterans and diverse group of players. Dungy, for several reasons, is the sentimental favorite in this category. This time the award should go to Summitt, who quietly has become the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history. Many questioned if her abilities were still championship material, but Summitt proved once again why she’s the best in the business by winning her seventh national title.
Deserving Winner: Pat Summit

Best NFL Player
Nominees: Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints; Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs; Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts; Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins; LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers; Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears.
Brees had a tremendous season, leading the Saints to their first playoff season since 2000, and first NFC Championship game ever! Manning had a Manning-type season: Dominating, making the spectacular appear effortless. Yet the league’s brightest star in 2007 had to be Tomlinson, who scored 31 touchdowns (28 rushing) and rushed for 1,875 yards. Though the Chargers were a playoff disappointment once again, Tomlinson was a breakaway threat every time he touched the ball, earning league MVP honors.
Deserving Winner: LaDanian Tomlinson

Best NBA Player
Nominees: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets; Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs; LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers; Steve Nash, Phoenix; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks.
Certainly a diverse category but one factor places two of these players far ahead of their contemporaries. Unstoppable scorers Anthony and Bryant had short playoff runs as the Nuggets and Lakers were stopped in the first round. Elite point guard Nash’s Suns were ousted in the second round. Even league MVP Nowitzki couldn’t avoid major disappointment, suffering the biggest upset in NBA history to the Golden State Warriors. It was James And Duncan that led their teams to the big stage of the NBA Finals. The Spurs did away with the Cavs in a 4-0 sweep, solidifying Duncan as the greatest power forward of all-time.
Deserving Winner: Tim Duncan

Best MLB Player
Nominees: Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies; Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees; Justin Morneau, 1B, Minnesota Twins; Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals; Johan Santana, P, Minnesota Twins.
While there were battles between Jeter and Morneau for AL MVP honors and Pujols and Howard for NL MVP honors, there was nobody to battle Santana for 2006 AL Cy Young. En route to the second unanimous choice AL Cy Young of his career, Santana became only the fifth pitcher in history to lead Major League Baseball in wins (19, tied with New York Yankee Chien-Ming Wang), ERA (2.77), and strikeouts (245). He also led the majors in innings pitched with 233 1/3.
Deserving Winner: Johan Santana

Best NHL Player
Nominees: Martin Brodeur, G, New Jersey Devils; Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins; Vincent Lecavalier, C, Tampa Bay Lightning; Scott Neidermayer, D, Anaheim Ducks.
Three of the four nominees have lifted the Stanley Cup with their current teams. The Stanley Cup hopes in Pittsburgh are invested in a kid not even 20 years of age. Crosby had a breakout year with 36 goals and 84 assists totaling 120 points. But becoming the youngest player ever to lead the NHL in scoring may not have even been his most impressive accomplishment. Crosby led the Penguins all the way from dead last in the Eastern Conference last year to fifth place this year.
Deserving Winner: Sidney Crosby

     To place your vote go to espys.tv, and tune in July 15 on ESPN to watch the awards presentation.

WIMBLEDON, England – Top-ranked Roger Federer won his 5^th straight Wimbledon title on Sunday in five sets against Spain’s Rafael Nadal, the No. 2 seed. Federer took another step in his climb to legendary status, tying greats Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver as 11-time Grand Slam winners, and becoming only the second man since Borg to win five straight at Wimbledon.

     It was fitting that Borg was in attendance to witness Federer‘s accomplishment, and to offer his personal congratulations afterwards. It has been 27 years since Borg won his last Wimbledon title (1980). The legendary Swedish superstar Borg met the Swiss star Federer, who has been unrivaled — until Sunday — in his domination of men’s tennis for the past 5 years.

     “It was huge pressure,” Federer said. “Bjorn Borg was sitting there, Jimmy Connors was sitting there, John McEnroe was there, Boris Becker was sitting there. To lift the trophy, it was special memories I will have for all my life,” he said.

     Though there are no moral victories, Nadal has served notice that Federer’s days of domination may be numbered. Nadal has knocked on the door at Wimbledon is successive years now, losing decisively to Federer in 2006, but pushing Federer to the very limit on Sunday. Federer survived 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-2. 

     Following Sunday’s classic match, Federer versus Nadal could be shaping up to be one of the great rivalries in sport today. Though Nadal failed to break through for the victory this time, he served notice to the tennis world that he is indeed a force to be reckoned with. Federer has a 271-12 victory against all opponents, though he has a losing record against Nadal (who leads head-to-head 8-5). In Nadal, Federer may have met his match. Still, when pushed to the brink, Federer did regain his composure in the fifth and decisive set, after Nadal simply overpowered him, rolling out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth set. Nadal won the set and forced Federer into a fifth set for the first time in five years. Federer had won 34 straight matches at Wimbledon.

     The first two games in the fifth set were even, until Nadal missed a back-hand shot in and Federer held serve in the third.

     Nadal injured his knee in the 4th, and got it wrapped. It seemed to bother him at times but he played through it effectively.

     Nadal pressed physically, and he seemed to be beating Federer with his aggressive, physical style, up until the fifth set, when Federer seemed to gain momentum. It was Federer who seemed to move into another gear in that fifth set, effortless though it seemed. It wasn’t anything big, but rather, little mistakes that proved to be Nadal’s undoing.

     Federer and Nadal have now met in in four of the past six major finals. Their growing rivalry can only be great for men’s tennis. At 21, Nadal not only has the long-hair, rock-star style of an up-and-coming superstar, but his ability to challenge the world’s top player was fully evident on Sunday. Still, he was graceful and soft-spoken in accepting his second-place trophy at the All England Club.

     “It is like building to be one of the great rivalries,” said Federer.

      Federer, 25, moved up on all-time leader Pete Sampras in most career Grand Slam titles with 11 (Sampras won 14).

      Nadal has ruled the clay court with 81 straight matches; Federer has the longest-running streak on hard court and grass, with 56 and 54 straight match wins, respectively.

     The U.S. Open is the next Grand Slam event beginning Aug. 28. Federer has won three straight U.S. Open titles, defeating Andy Roddick in 2006. Maria Sharapova will return to Flushing, N.Y. to defend her 2006 women’s singles title.

Las Vegas, NV — He is arguably the best player in the world, easily the best player in the NBA. Kobe Bryant will report to practice in Las Vegas this weekend, for a 3-day mini-camp to prepare for USA Basketball summer play. And our USA national team, after bronze medal finishes in the Olympic games and FIBA World Championships in 2006, is going to need all hands on deck as the men’s team tries to reclaim its position of dominance in international competition.

     Following Team USA’s controversial and disappointing bronze medal finish at the 2004 Olympic games, USA Basketball organizers have weighed a number of strategies designed to get the American team back on the gold medal podium. Many star NBA players made a 4-year commitment to USA Basketball in an effort to help America win gold in 2008. Summer competition will give the players an opportunity to form a cohesive team, which is thought to be one of the keys to success for the European teams that dominate international competition today.

     Despite this commitment, some basketball observers think USA Basketball would be better served by organizing a team of American players whose sole purpose is Olympic competition. This USA national team would be comprised of college players who are NBA-eligible, but whose USA Basketball service would be their primary and full-time focus.

     In the meantime, NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James will begin their third consecutive summer of international competition. Anthony was named USA Basketball’s Most Valuable Player in the FIBA 2006 World Championships last summer. The mini-camp, on the UNLV campus, will be used to select finalists for next month’s Olympic-qualifying tournament.

     Many of the South American teams that are now international contenders will be on hand at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for Men, beginning Aug. 22. Argentina, defeated by Team USA in last year’s bronze medal game, is among them. (Spain won the Gold Medal in a 70-47 romp over Greece at last summer‘s FIBA World Championships.)

     Among the 17 NBA veterans and newcomers who have been added to this year’s squad are Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler, Kirk Hinrich, Tayshaun Prince and Amare Stoudemire. DeWyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Shawn Marion and Lamar Odom are among the players on the original roster who will be unable to participate.

     At stake in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 are Team USA roster spots and two Olympic team qualifying spots. The roster must be cut to 12 players by Aug. 12. There will be 10 teams competing in the August tournament, which is one of five Olympic qualifying zone tournaments. Two men’s teams from the Americas zone will earn a qualifying spot for the 2008 Olympic Games.

USA Basketball 2007 Men’s Team Roster
Carmelo Anthony, F, 6-8, Denver Nuggets
Shane Battier, F, 6-8, Houston Rockets
Chauncey Billups, F, 6-3, Detroit Pistons
Chris Bosh, F, 6-10, Toronto Raptors
Kobe Bryant, G, 6-6, Los Angeles Lakers
Tyson Chandler, F-C, 7-1, New Orleans Hornets
Kevin Durant, F, 6-9, Seattle Supersonics
Kirk Hinrich, G, 6-3, Chicago Bulls
Dwight Howard, F-C, 6-11, Orlando Magic
LeBron James, F, 6-8, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jason Kidd, G, 6-4, New Jersey Nets
Mike Miller, G, 6-8, Memphis Grizzlies
Tayshaun Prince, F, 6-9, Detroit Pistons
Michael Redd, G, 6-6, Milwaukee Bucks
J.J. Redick, G, 6-4, Orlando Magic
Amare Stoudemire, C, 6-10, Phoenix Suns
Deron Williams, G. 6-3, Utah Jazz