With Brett Favre's retirement up in the air, it goes without saying that the Green Bay Packers might have to put off retiring the three-time MVP's jersey.

Canadian national team coach Leo Rautins said Wednesday that the details of Samuel Dalembert's dismissal from his team were less relevant than the fact it was a "team decision and everybody was unified in it."

LAS VEGAS - Kobe Bryant has won games and NBA titles and fans along the way.

Stephanie Brown Trafton will deliberately leave for Beijing earlier than many of her U. S. Olympian counterparts. But don't expect the former Cal Poly and Arroyo Grande High track and field star to waste her free week before the opening ceremonies sightseeing.

The United States will win the men's basketball gold medal in the Olympics. Guaranteed.

Barry Bonds in pinstripes? If nothing else, the New York Yankees talked about it.

Joakim Backstrom opened with a seven-under 65 Thursday to grab a share of the lead after one round of the Russian Open Golf Championship at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club.

Lorena Ochoa returned to action and to the top of the leaderboard.

Kelly Grunewald, Bill Lunde, Bryce Molder and Dave Schultz each shot rounds of four-under 67 on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational.

Peyton Manning's voice resonated through the Colts training camp Thursday - from 90 miles away.

The Detroit Lions and cornerback Leigh Bodden have agreed on a $27 million, four-year contract extension, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday night.

The Cubs placed closer Kerry Wood on the disabled list Thursday for the 12th time in his 10-year career because of a blister on his pitching hand.

The New England Patriots signed first-round draft pick Jerod Mayo on Thursday, bringing their last unsigned selection into the fold as the defending AFC champions opened training camp and began their quest to put last season's imperfect season behind them.

There were plenty of No. 4 jerseys in the stands and a smattering of jeers for general manager Ted Thompson at Thursday morning's annual meeting of Green Bay Packers shareholders at Lambeau Field.

Matt Cain pitched a four-hitter, Dave Roberts singled home a run in the eighth inning and the San Francisco Giants earned their first three-game home sweep of the season Thursday with a 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

Redskins rookie receiver Devin Thomas probably will miss the team's first exhibition game after pulling his right hamstring in practice Thursday.

Third-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and fourth-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues won their respective second-round matches on Wednesday at the $145,000 Banka Koper Slovenia Open.

Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards has aggravated a lingering back injury and will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Top-ranked Roger Federer suffered a shocking loss in the second round Wednesday at the $2,615,000 Rogers Masters in Toronto.

Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia topped Vania King of the Unites States, while another American, Bethanie Mattek, stunned 11th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic in the second round of the East West Bank Classic Wednesday.

The San Francisco 49ers have signed defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer, getting their first-round draft pick into training camp a few hours before the team's first meeting.

Kelenna Azubuike will return to the Golden State Warriors after the club matched the Los Angeles Clippers' three-year, $9 million contract offer for the shooting guard on Thursday.

Super Bowl hero David Tyree was placed on the physically unable to perform list by the New York Giants on Thursday because of lingering problems recovering from surgery on his right knee.

Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Ryan Tucker said playing in an exhibition game is a reachable goal after undergoing surgery to repair a broken hip.