sports

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  Roddick roars after Federer magic show

  Roger Federer sprinkled his magic all over Center Court on Friday before Andy Roddick bludgeoned Andy Murray into the hallowed turf to leave Britain still seeking its first post-war men's singles finalist at Wimbledon.

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  Williams sisters united ahead of final battle

  The Williams double act put on a confident show on the eve of their Wimbledon final clash, making it clear the weight of facing each other as competitors has not put a strain on their relationship as team mates or sisters.

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  Tournament host Woods grabs Congressional lead

  Tiger Woods played the role of inhospitable host by soaring to the top of the leaderboard after the second round of the AT&T National on Friday.

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  Venus set on path to success by Serena

  A display of raw desire over a decade ago from sister Serena inspired Venus Williams to ascend the summit of the women's game but there will be no room for sentiment when the siblings meet for the fourth time in a Wimbledon final Saturday.

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  Dodgers and Ramirez ready for Fourth of July sizzle

  The Los Angeles Dodgers can expect Fourth of July style fireworks, a media frenzy and heckling by Padres fans when disgraced slugger Manny Ramirez returns to the team lineup on Friday in San Diego.

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  Swedish right wing Samuelsson joins Canucks

  The Vancouver Canucks beefed up their offense by signing Swedish right winger Mikael Samuelsson on a three-year deal on Friday.

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  Ramirez refuses to discuss steroids

  Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues and apologized to fans and his teammates. He refused to talk about steroids, though.

• Yankees bounce back, Burnett beats Jays

  After he was knocked out in the third inning at Fenway Park in early June, A.J. Burnett vowed to improve.

• Bases-loaded walk in 10th gives Cubs win

  Jake Fox drew a bases-loaded walk off Mike DiFelice to force in the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Friday.

• Dice-K to begin strength program in Fla.

  Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will head to Florida on Monday to begin a spring training-like strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season.

• Twins' Target Field set to open April 12

  Target Field has a target date.

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  Top Cuban pitcher vanishes at tournament

  A Cuban pitcher considered by many baseball scouts to be the No. 1 left-handed prospect in the world left his hotel and vanished before the first ball was thrown at a tournament in the Netherlands, leaving his whereabouts a mystery, a spokesman for the Dutch team said Friday.

• Reds get INF Encarnacion off 60-day DL

  The Reds activated third baseman Edwin Encarnacion from the 60-day disabled list Friday to replace infielder Danny Richar, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

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  New league UFL to consider signing Vick

  When the United Football League debuts in October, Michael Vick could be one of its players.

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  Jets LB Pace gets 4-game drug suspension

  The NFL suspended Jets linebacker Calvin Pace for four games without pay Thursday for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

• Leaf case in Washington state dismissed

  A lawyer for Ryan Leaf says a fugitive action filed against the former NFL quarterback in Washington state has been dismissed.

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  Judge won't release Stallworth video

  A judge refused Thursday to release surveillance video depicting the moment a car driven by Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth struck and killed a pedestrian in a drunk-driving crash.

• NFL coaches visit troops in Iraq

  The soldiers expressed their gratitude over and over to the NFL coaches who made the trip to Iraq.

• Jury awards DE Taylor, partners $1.5M

  A jury in the U.S. Virgin Islands has awarded Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor and two partners the return of a $1.5 million deposit from the botched sale of a private island.

• Saints lose money in tax credit deal

  At least 16 people associated with the New Orleans Saints, including coach Sean Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and Hall of Famer Archie Manning, are among investors who lost $1.9 million.

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  Jackson to return as Lakers coach

  Phil Jackson will return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season, getting a clean bill of health following a record championship season.

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  Report: Turkoglu agrees to join Blazers

  Hedo Turkoglu reportedly agreed to join the Portland Trail Blazers after helping Orlando reach the NBA finals this season.

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  Report: Celts offer Rasheed Wallace deal

  The Boston Celtics have offered forward Rasheed Wallace a contract as part of a major push to land the coveted forward.

• Lakers' Gasol to play for Spain at Euros

  Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will play for Spain in September in the European Basketball Championship.

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  Artest agrees to deal with Lakers

  Ron Artest is joining Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

• Yao still consulting with doctors

  Houston Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming will have to wait up to a week before he knows whether he will need surgery on his broken left foot.

• Rockets, Ariza agree on multiyear deal

  The Houston Rockets have reached a multiyear deal with free agent Trevor Ariza, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday night.

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  Samuelsson leaves Wings to join Canucks

  Free agent forward Mikael Samuelsson signed a $7.5 million, three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

• Fedotenko OKs pay cut to stay with Pens

  Turns out more than one player is willing to take a hometown discount to stay with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

• Ducks' Selanne done after next season

  Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne says his next NHL season will be his last.

• Likely 1 last season for Bruins' Recchi

  Mark Recchi wants one last chance to be a Stanley Cup champ again.

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  Blackhawks sign former Devils C Madden

  The Chicago Blackhawks signed John Madden on Thursday, adding a veteran center who has spent his entire 10-year career with the New Jersey Devils.

• Thrashers get Antropov for $16M, 4 years

  The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent forward Nik Antropov to a four-year, $16 million contract on Thursday, setting up a reunion with Ilya Kovalchuk.

• Ex-Penguins D Scuderi signs with Kings

  Rob Scuderi signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, leaving the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins without their top defensive pairing.

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• Murray disappoints boisterous crowd

  With an often boisterous crowd fully behind him, it was the man in front of Andy Murray that kept the third-ranked Scot from becoming the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final in 71 years.

• Murray disappoints boisterous crowd

  With an often boisterous crowd fully behind him, it was the man in front of Andy Murray that kept the third-ranked Scot from becoming the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final in 71 years.

• Murray disappoints boisterous crowd

  With an often boisterous crowd fully behind him, it was the man in front of Andy Murray that kept the third-ranked Scot from becoming the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final in 71 years.

• Murray disappoints boisterous crowd

  With an often boisterous crowd fully behind him, it was the man in front of Andy Murray that kept the third-ranked Scot from becoming the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final in 71 years.

• Murray disappoints boisterous crowd

  With an often boisterous crowd fully behind him, it was the man in front of Andy Murray that kept the third-ranked Scot from becoming the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final in 71 years.

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  Federer, Roddick reach Wimbledon final

  Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash.

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  Federer, Roddick reach Wimbledon final

  Rising, rising, rising, high above the most famous patch of grass in tennis, Roger Federer channeled Pete Sampras on match point in the Wimbledon semifinals Friday, tucking both feet back beneath his body and uncorking an overhead smash.

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