• US softball team loses 3-1 to Japan, denied gold 8/21/2008, 3:51 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (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.

• Bad day for US at softball, track — and much more 8/21/2008, 3:31 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — Crystl Bustos rocked slowly from side to side, kicked away some dirt, then started rocking again. As she and her U.S. softball teammates waited to receive their silver medals — yes, silver — the slugger clearly wanted to get this over with.

• Lee wins 18th as Indians down Royals, 10-3 8/21/2008, 3:31 p.m. EDT
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cliff Lee won his AL-best 18th victory and seventh straight decision, backed by Grady Sizemore's career-high seven RBIs, as Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Thursday.

• Pavano to start for Yankees on Saturday 8/21/2008, 3:16 p.m. EDT
TORONTO (AP) — Carl Pavano, written off by New York Yankees' fans, will return and start for the team on Saturday at Baltimore.

• Indians 10, Royals 3 8/21/2008, 3:14 p.m. EDT
(AP) —

• NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63 8/21/2008, 3:09 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (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 8/21/2008, 3:04 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — They came to the Beijing Olympics as a team trying to find its way, still adjusting to a new coach and each other, still smarting from a loss that brought humiliation on and off the field.

• NBC trying to keep the Phelps glow 8/21/2008, 2:53 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Trying to keep the Michael Phelps glow, NBC has agreed to televise next year's World Swimming Championships from Rome, along with the 2009, 2010 and 2011 national championships.

• Relay flubs cap 0-for-6 US showing in sprint races 8/21/2008, 2:20 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — Tyson Gay stuck his left hand behind him, waiting to feel the red baton's cool metal make contact.

• Butterfingers drop US men, women out of 400 relays 8/21/2008, 2:16 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — Tyson Gay reached back to grab the baton "and there was nothing."

• Williams sisters could meet in US Open quarters 8/21/2008, 2:11 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The Williams sisters would meet in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, a bit earlier than their matchup in the final of the last Grand Slam, Wimbledon.

• Big Brown to run in Monmouth Stakes 8/21/2008, 1:35 p.m. EDT
OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) — Big Brown is heading back to the grass in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

• Rams' RB Steven Jackson appears for practice 8/21/2008, 1:31 p.m. EDT
ST. LOUIS (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.

• US women's basketball advances to gold medal game 8/21/2008, 1:30 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. women's basketball team passed its first test of the Olympics, beating Russia in its closest contest in Beijing. Now it's on to a fourth straight gold medal game.

• ESPN signs digital rights deal with baseball 8/21/2008, 12:26 p.m. EDT
BRISTOL, Conn. (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.

• Canadian Eric Lamaze wins Olympic jumping gold 8/21/2008, 12:16 p.m. EDT
HONG KONG (AP) — Eric Lamaze of Canada has ridden Hickstead to the gold medal in Olympic equestrian individual jumping.

• Aussies in gold-medal game for 3rd Olympics in row 8/21/2008, 12:09 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — Even with one of its best players watching from the bench, Australia had more than enough to get back to another women's basketball Olympic final.

• Thursday highlights at the Beijing Games 8/21/2008, 12:05 p.m. EDT
(AP) —

• BEIJING BEAT: South America, Africa lag in medals 8/21/2008, 12:04 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — A quick glance at the Olympic medal charts shows winners from every corner of the world. A closer look reveals two entire continents, South America and Africa, lagging far behind the others, to the consternation of their sports officials and the dismay of their fans.

• US men, women both flub baton handoffs in relay 8/21/2008, 12:03 p.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. men and women both dropped the baton in the Olympic 400-meter relays Thursday night and failed to advance out of the first round.

• Debbie Phelps back at work near Baltimore 8/21/2008, 12:03 p.m. EDT
WINDSOR MILL, Md. (AP) — Michael Phelps' mom is back in the Baltimore area after her unforgettable week at the Olympics.

• APNewsAlert 8/21/2008, 11:49 a.m. EDT
HONG KONG (AP) — Eric Lamaze of Canada on Hickstead wins the gold medal in individual jumping.

• 8 Ga. Southern players suspended for Georgia game 8/21/2008, 11:30 a.m. EDT
STATESBORO, Ga. (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.

• Head of men's tennis to step down in December 8/21/2008, 11:12 a.m. EDT
LONDON (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.

• Evora wins triple jump for Portugal 8/21/2008, 10:22 a.m. EDT
BEIJING (AP) — World champion Nelson Evora of Portugal has won the triple jump gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.