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Sports News


U.S. softball team denied 4th-straight gold, loses to Japan (AP)

AP - Losing for the first time since 2000, the U.S. softball team was denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal Thursday, beaten 3-1 by Japan in the sport's last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years — and maybe for good.

NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63 (AP)

AP - Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63.

US beats Brazil 1-0 for gold medal (AP)

AP - Outplayed and overwhelmed for most of the night, the Americans got the only shot they needed.

Butterfingers drop US men, women out of 400 relays (AP)

AP - Tyson Gay reached back to grab the baton "and there was nothing." He's not the only American track favorite who will leave Beijing empty-handed. The American men's and women's 400-meter relay teams both misconnected on the final handoffs in their preliminaries Thursday, a pair of stunning setbacks that made it that much easier for the Jamaicans to say the Bird's Nest is really their house.

Head of men's tennis to step down in December (AP)
AP - ATP president Etienne de Villiers, who introduced video replay and increased prize money on the men's tour, will step down when his contract expires in December.

Rams' RB Steven Jackson appears for practice (AP)
AP - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson signed a six-year contract Thursday and was on the field for practice after completing a physical.

Settlement reached over Sonics' Oklahoma City move (AP)

AP - Clay Bennett's ownership group has reached a final settlement with the city of Seattle, allowing the former SuperSonics franchise to move to Oklahoma City.

ESPN signs digital rights deal with baseball (AP)
AP - Major League Baseball and ESPN signed a new digital rights agreement that will allow the sports network to put baseball content on multiple platforms, including video game consoles and portable players such as iPods.

Capello upbeat despite England's lacklustre display (AFP)

AFP - Fabio Capello insists England are ready for next month's World Cup qualifiers despite his side's lacklustre display in a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic.

Gordon on board with Islanders, leads youth charge (AP)

AP - Scott Gordon faced a probing question in the time between accepting the job as head coach of the New York Islanders and his introductory news conference.

8 Ga. Southern players suspended for Georgia game (AP)
AP - Eight Georgia Southern players, included two projected starters, were suspended for the season opener against No. 1 Georgia for undisclosed violations of school rules.

Hantuchova reaches quarter-finals at New Haven tennis (AFP)

AFP - Second seed Daniela Hantuchova earned a dramatic victory here on Wednesday to slip into the quarter-finals of the WTA and ATP tournament.

Fire destroys Gary Nicklaus' home (AP)
AP - A home being built for the son of Jack Nicklaus in Jupiter, Florida, has been destroyed by fire.