SPORTS - Canucks, Sharks set for Western finals (AP)

SPORTS - Canucks, Sharks set for Western finals (AP)

AFP – Andre Ward of the US celebrates after defeating Arthur Abraham of Germany during their WBA Super middleweight …

– 26 mins ago

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Andre Ward's speed and power proved too much for Arthur Abraham as Ward earned a unanimous 12-round decision over the German to retain his World Boxing Association super middleweight title.

Ward on Saturday also secured his place in the final of the Super Six tournament designed to unify the division's belts. He now awaits the winner of the other semi-final between Carl Froch and Glen Johnson on June 4 in Atlantic City.

"We're going to the finals, baby," Ward said.

Ward, a 2004 Olympic gold medallist, improved to 24-0 with 13 knockouts. He displayed his trademark tactical style, methodically wearing down Abraham.

"I wish the ref had let me fight on the inside because that's what I had planned for," Ward said. "But we made adjustments and got the win... I'm going to stay humble. I'm going to keep working hard. I want to be a champion for a long time and take the least amount of punishment possible."

Abraham had started aggressively, rattling Ward with a right hand in the third round.

But Abraham had no response when Ward stepped up the pressure in the fourth.

"Arthur is strong and he's a hard hitter, (but) we showed that we can win in a way other than our original game plan," said Ward.

Judge Stanley Christodoulou gave Ward every round, scoring it 120-108.

German judge Ingo Barrabas saw it 118-110 for Ward and American judge James Jen Kin made it 118-111 for Ward.

"I fought hard, I gave it my all," said Abraham, who said he thought the fight was closer than it was scored. "He didn't hit me cleanly."

Armenian-born Abraham, a former International Boxing Federation middleweight champion who had an unblemished record until the Super Six tournament, has now lost three in a row, falling to 32-3.

Fighting in an outdoor ring set up at the Home Depot Center -- a multi-sport complex that is the home of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy -- Ward took charge with an array of precision jabs and quick combinations.

Abraham's punches dwindled, as he sought and failed to come up with a knock-out blow.

"I started well, and I thought I did good the first three rounds," Abraham said. "He didn't hit me, and I was blocking a lot of his shots. But then I tried to go for the knock-out, and I couldn't get it," he said.

A vocal contingent of fans from the Los Angeles area's Armenian community turned out to support Abraham, who was fighting in the United States for the third time.

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SPORTS - Controversy swirls as Posada vacates Yankees lineup (Reuters)

SPORTS - Controversy swirls as Posada vacates Yankees lineup (Reuters)

AFP – Italy's Oscar Gatto of the Farnese-Neri crosses the finish line in Tropea to win the eighth stage …

– Sat May 14, 3:50 pm ET

TROPEA, Italy (AFP) – Oscar Gatto won Saturday's Tour of Italy eighth stage here, the Italian rider beating Spain's controversial three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador.

Gatto got first run on his rivals in the final dash for the finish, sprinting clear with less than a mile to go to come in ahead of Contador with a five-second gap back to the peloton led by Italian Alessandro Petacchi.

This was the 26-year-old Farnese Vini rider's first ever stage win in the Giro.

He said: "To beat Contador to win this stage is obviously quite something, when I looked back at the finish I saw a Saxobank jersey but I never thought it was him.

"The next time I checked he was even closer, I couldn't believe my eyes."

On the eve of Sunday's stage up Mount Etna, the giant volcano which erupted briefly this week, the overall lead was retained by Rabobank's Dutch rider Pieter Weening.

"Etna's going to be tough but it won't be the first time I've undergone a tough examination. Anyway, whatever happens it's been a great adventure wearing the leader's pink jersey and I'll give my maximum to hold on to it," said Weening.

Contador, who climbed from ninth to fifth, 13sec behind Weening, commented: "I was feeling good, and when I saw there was a chance to get in front I went for it and I only missed out by a little bit in getting up to the leader (Gatto)."

The Spaniard, who won the Giro in 2008, is still awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which could overturn a Spanish cycling federation decision to clear him of any wrongdoing following a positive test for clenbuterol at last year's Tour de France.

Contador claimed his positive test was down to contaminated meat, an excuse the Spanish authorities accepted and which the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found hard to digest.

Saturday's 217 kilometre run from Sapri was marked by an early breakaway by Mirko Selvaggi and Leonardo Girodani, the Italian duo forging over ten minutes clear of the chasing pack at one point.

They were eventually reeled in 7.5km from the finish.

The 2011 Giro lost one of its number with the defection of Colombia's 2008 junior world champion Fabio Duarte during the day with a knee problem.

Sunday's ninth stage is a 169km run from Messina up Etna, which spewed out lava and ash overnight Wednesday forcing the temporary closure of nearby Catania airport.

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SPORTS - Bronx Zoo: Posada and Yankees in messy spat (AP)

SPORTS - Bronx Zoo: Posada and Yankees in messy spat (AP)

AP – ADDS LAST SENTENCE -New York Yankees' Jorge Posada looks on during the fifth inning of a baseball game …

By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Sports Writer Mike Fitzpatrick, Ap Sports Writer – 1 hr 40 mins ago

NEW YORK – Jorge Posada says his back got stiff and he needed a night off to clear his head.

What is most certainly unclear, however, is where he stands with the New York Yankees right now.

Posada asked to be taken out of the lineup Saturday against rival Boston after the slumping designated hitter was dropped to No. 9 in the batting order.

Hitting .165 this season, Posada was in the original lineup posted by manager Joe Girardi and said he understood why he was bumped to the bottom of the order for the first time in 12 years.

But at 6 p.m., Posada went into Girardi's office and requested that he be removed. Without the five-time All-Star, the Yankees were beaten 6-0 by Josh Beckett and the Red Sox for their fourth straight loss.

And afterward, the 39-year-old Posada said he feels "a little bit" disrespected by the team.

"I told him I couldn't play today, and that I needed time to clear my head, and that was it. My back stiffened up a bit. I was taking a lot of groundballs at first base and working out, and it stiffened up," Posada said. "I wasn't 100 percent to play the game. I mean, nothing serious."

That's where it gets messy, though.

Posada never mentioned to Girardi or general manager Brian Cashman that his back was bothering him. And the Yankees weren't pleased that he wasn't playing.

A person familiar with the discussion between Posada and the team told The Associated Press that he "refused" to play. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the situation was still not settled.

The person said the Yankees have been in contact with the commissioner's office about possible recourse. The Yankees could fine Posada one day's pay — that would be $71,978 on his $13.1 million salary. If a player declines to play two days in a row, he could be put on the restricted list.

"If he feels good tomorrow, and Joe Girardi has him in the lineup and he's batting ninth, he's playing," said one of Posada's agents, Sam Levinson. "Where he hits in the lineup is irrelevant. This is about his back, not about where he's hitting."

Girardi wouldn't comment on whether Posada might play in the series finale Sunday night.

"His struggles have been tough on him," said Girardi, ejected by plate umpire Mike Winters for arguing balls and strikes following Adrian Gonzalez's three-run homer off CC Sabathia in the seventh inning. "I hope for his sake we get through this and we can move forward."

About 40 minutes before gametime, the Yankees announced that Posada had been scratched from the lineup and replaced by Andruw Jones at DH, but the team initially provided no explanation.

With speculation swirling, Cashman met with reporters in a workroom behind the press box during the third inning to give an update. In an unusual scene, the GM said Posada is not injured, but wouldn't comment on whether he had been insubordinate.

That irritated Posada.

"I don't know why he made a statement during the game. I don't understand that. That's the way he works now, I guess," Posada said. "I think we should have waited for the game to be over to talk to whoever. ... You don't do that. You're not supposed to do that."

On a bizarre night in the Bronx, Posada's wife even chimed in during the game, tweeting that her husband had back stiffness and "loves being a Yankee" more than anything.

"He's trying his best to help his team win. Today, due to back stiffness he wasn't able to do that," she wrote.

Before batting practice, Posada insisted he was OK with hitting ninth. He said he put himself in this position and he understood Girardi's decision.

Posada was on the Yankees bench during the game, wearing a cap and sweat shirt.

Slumping all season in his new role as DH, Posada has six homers and 15 RBIs. His batting average is the lowest for any player currently in the majors with at least 100 at-bats, and he hasn't homered since April 23.

With the Yankees struggling to get big hits lately, Girardi said it was time to make a lineup switch. He moved scuffling Nick Swisher down to eighth in the order and put Posada in the No. 9 hole.

"It's all right. Just move some people around, get a W or two and get rolling again," Posada said, adding that Girardi informed him of the lineup decision earlier in the day.

It was Posada who gradually supplanted Girardi as New York's primary catcher in the late 1990s. The last time Posada hit ninth was exactly 12 years ago, on May 14, 1999, against the Chicago White Sox.

"The only way I'm coming out of hitting ninth is just producing, and that's the bottom line," Posada said before BP. "I put myself in this spot. It's not like I want to hit ninth and it's not like I want to hit a hundred and whatever I'm hitting. Just a matter of really coming out of it.

"We're going through a little funk right now and it's a matter of really producing."

A proud and respected veteran who has helped New York win five World Series titles, Posada does have four hits in his last 12 at-bats.

Posada has caught at least one game for New York in each of the past 16 seasons and is one of only six major league catchers to hit 20 homers eight times, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

He lost his job behind the plate, however, relegated to DH duty this season. The switch-hitter is 0 for 24 against left-handed pitchers, and Girardi wouldn't commit to staying with Posada against southpaws.

___

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum and AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker contributed to this report.

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SPORTS - Edwards wins Nationwide race at Dover (AP)

SPORTS - Edwards wins Nationwide race at Dover (AP)

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SPORTS - Ex-NBA star sues Las Vegas resort over `beat down' (AP)

SPORTS - Ex-NBA star sues Las Vegas resort over `beat down' (AP)

AP – Vancouver Canucks' goalie Roberto Luongo looks on during hockey practice in Vancouver, British Columbia, …

– Sat May 14, 7:20 pm ET

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Fairly or not, Vancouver and San Jose face off in the Western Conference finals as perennial playoff underachievers. Fairly or not, it's a label only one team — and several star players — will shed with a long awaited chance to play for the Stanley Cup.

With trophy cases full of awards as the NHL's top team, scorers and players in the regular season, the Sharks and Canucks are mirror images of each other.

"We both had good regular seasons for a few years now. We've both been building towards something, the core group has stayed relatively the same, and we both have similar labels as teams that have good regular seasons, but haven't been able to make it in the playoffs," Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa said.

The Sharks have come closer of late, getting to the Western Conference finals a second straight season, but are still looking for their first trip to the Cup finals. Vancouver has played for the Stanley Cup twice in 40 years, but Game 1 on Sunday will be its first trip to the NHL's final four since 1994.

Both teams flirted with ghosts of playoffs past by almost blowing 3-0 series leads — Vancouver to nemesis Chicago in the first round, and San Jose to Detroit in the last round — before recovering to win pressure-packed Game 7s. But both sides also know that isn't enough to shed a reputation for tight collars in the postseason; that only one trophy — the Stanley Cup — will end that talk.

They even reference each other when discussing it.

"(San Jose defenseman Dan) Boyle said it best: Until you actually win you are always going to have that label as a team and as an organization," Bieksa said.

And as players.

Much of the focus for past playoff failure has fallen on the top players for both teams. In San Jose, captain Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau have both been called out for failing to raise their games in the playoffs after continued success in the regular season.

"We have this anchor that everybody throws at us either fairly or unfairly," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "We don't worry about that.

The Sharks' top duo answered some of the critics in Game 7 against Detroit on Thursday night. Thornton, who won the league scoring title and MVP awards in 2006, dominated the first period, and Marleau scored the winning goal — his first point of the series — with 7:47 left to play.

Still, the first questions as they prepared to board a flight for Vancouver after practice Saturday focused on San Jose's past playoff letdowns.

"The only way you get rid of that is to move on," Marleau said. "It would be nice, you put in a lot of sweat and everything, to get a little bit of recognition."

Which must sound familiar to Vancouver's top-line twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

The Sedins won the last two NHL scoring titles, a first for brothers, Henrik was selected the league MVP last year, and Daniel is a finalist this season. But both are under the microscope after struggling late in the first round against Chicago, and against Nashville throughout. Rather than the series-clinching goal they combined on to finish the Predators, the focus is on a combined minus-16 playoff rating.

"They've gone through the same things as we have," Daniel said. "They've been getting a lot of criticism but they've been to the conference final two years in a row, which I think is pretty good."

So did brother Henrik, who argued that was the difference between the teams.

"They've had a top team for a number of years," he said. "We've never felt this good about our team for a long time so for us this is maybe the first year where we thought we were a contender."

If that was an attempt to play down the Canucks status, San Jose coach Todd McLellan wasn't buying it. He pointed out Vancouver won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team, and led the league in goals, goals-against, power play and faceoffs, and was second in penalty killing.

"We've got to play to the underdog role, McLellan said. "I think it will allow us to play free.

Free from the burden of expectations, perhaps. But only a win will erase the labels.

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SPORTS - Pete Rose says he still wants to manage (AP)

SPORTS - Pete Rose says he still wants to manage (AP)

AP – Former Major League Baseball great Pete Rose speaks at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center's inaugural gala …

– 2 hrs 33 mins ago

CINCINNATI – Pete Rose questioned why he hasn't gotten a second chance from Major League Baseball to get back into the game on Saturday, saying he'd still like to manage.

The 70-year-old hits king told an audience that he deserves another chance after acknowledging that he bet on baseball, something he denied for years.

"I've taken responsibility for my life," Rose said. "Baseball isn't good for second chances — not for gamblers. They are for people who take drugs. They are for people who beat up their wives. They are for people who drink a lot of alcohol. I screwed up. I wish I could change it."

The former Cincinnati Reds player and manager was banned for life in 1989 for betting on baseball games, including Reds games. He has petitioned MLB and commissioner Bud Selig has given no indication he's leaning toward reinstating Rose, who holds baseball's record with 4,256 hits.

Rose hoped he would be reinstated after he acknowledged in his second autobiography in 2004 that he bet on baseball, something he had vehemently denied until then. Instead, there was a backlash over the book.

Rose reiterated that he's no longer focused on getting inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame.

"I want to be a manager, that's the only role," said Rose, who turned 70 on April 14. "But I'm running out of time. I want to teach young players."

Rose was the keynote speaker at a gala of the Ohio Justice & Policy Center. He said he has redeemed himself and is waiting for baseball to act.

"It's a like a singer getting caught running a red light and not being able to sing again," Rose said. "That's not America. I'm a baseball player. I can go on every talk show and say I'm sorry and some people don't want to hear you. That's not fair."

One of the approximately 300 guests in the audience was the federal judge who sentenced him to five months in jail in 1990 for failing to report income from gambling on his taxes.

"I don't go to many banquets where I sit with the judge that sent me to prison," Rose said, drawing laughter. "I'm not bitter at anybody. I made the mistake."

The Ohio Justice & Policy Center is a nonprofit organization working for reform in Ohio's criminal justice system. The theme of the gala was making Cincinnati a city of redemption.

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SPORTS - Cal names Zach Maynard starting QB (AP)

SPORTS - Cal names Zach Maynard starting QB (AP)

AFP – Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Andy Murray of Britain during their ATP Rome Open tennis tournament …

by Barnaby Chesterman Barnaby Chesterman – Sat May 14, 8:59 pm ET

ROME (AFP) – Novak Djokovic maintained his unbeaten start to 2011 with an epic three-hour 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) victory over fourth seed Andy Murray in the Rome Masters semi-finals.

The world number two on Saturday took his run to 36 straight wins this year and will face world number one Rafael Nadal, who beat Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-1, in Sunday's final in a repeat of last week's Madrid Masters title match which Djokovic won.

Djokovic, struggling with a leg problem, demonstrated just why he has proved so hard to beat with a never-say-die attitude even when Murray was just two points from victory, serving at 5-4 in the decider.

But the Serb admitted he faces a race against time to be fit to play Nadal.

"I'll do what I can, I have a team of people who will do their utmost to get me ready, there's not much time but we'll see how I play," he said.

"The important thing will be whether I'm fit or not, that will play an important role so we'll see how fit I am (on Sunday)."

Murray, who turns 24 on Sunday, said: "I played my best tennis against the best player in the world at the moment."

"It's always very physical against Novak because he moves well. I had chances to win and probably should have done."

Just as he had done in the quarter-final against Florian Mayer, Murray started slowly and the only game he won was when he broke Djokovic in a marathon third game.

However a change of shirt, from white to blue, brought with it a change of fortunes.

In the first set Djokovic had been finding the corners and running Murray ragged around the back court before dropping slices just over the net and out of his reach.

But in the second Murray found a way to stay in points for longer, to make Djokovic play more shots and errors started to creep into the Serb's game.

The sixth game was crucial where both players showed signs of nerves but it was Djokovic who cracked, hitting a forehand long on break point.

In the decider Djokovic drew first blood, breaking in the fourth game but that proved only the prelude to five breaks in six games that saw Murray turn the match on its head and lead 5-4 with his serve to come.

Three times Murray was two points from victory but he couldn't take the extra step and a double fault made it 5-5 and a sixth break in seven.

Finally both held serve and it went to a tie-break where a Murray error handed Djokovic a mini-break and then when the Serb passed the Scot at the net, he took a 5-1 lead.

There was no way back for Murray and Djokovic sealed victory when his opponent failed to return a drop shot.

Nadal took an 8-0 record against Gasquet into their match and the world number one survived some nervous moments in the first set before completing a comprehensive win with a lop-sided second.

It took the Spanish 24-year-old's record at this tournament to 31 wins and just one loss -- in 2008 against Juan-Carlos Ferrero -- as he aims for a sixth title in seven years.

Having suffered from a fever earlier in the week, Nadal showed no ill effects against Gadquet.

But having lost three times to Djokovic in Masters finals this year, including last week on the clay in Madrid, he insists he won't be favourite on Sunday.

"There will probably be less pressure on me than before because I'll lose the favourite status and be able to play without 100 percent pressure," he said.

"I'll try my best and fight. If someone is better than you then you try to find solutions to find that level."

Despite how the match finished, Gasquet was far from disappointed with his efforts.

"I played extremely well in the first set but I didn't get the break. I was on court for one hour in the first set and it's difficult.

"I was really at a very high level but he hits hard, he served well and I've got nothing to reproach myself about.

"I played very well."

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SPORTS - Sabbatini, O'Hair clear the air on dispute (AP)

SPORTS - Sabbatini, O'Hair clear the air on dispute (AP)

• Play Video Olympics Video:Phelps finishes sixth in 200 free at Charlotte WCNC Charlotte
• Play Video Olympics Video:Kerrigan Trial WBZ Boston
• Play Video Olympics Video:Running Of Pittsburgh Marathon Set For Sunday KDKA Pittsburgh

– Sat May 14, 2:10 pm ET

BOGOTA, Colombia – Police say Colombian sports official Sergio Rodriguez Jaramillo has been shot to death in Medellin.

Rodriguez Jaramillo was shot by attackers while in a car with a guide Friday. Police say he was taken to Medellin General Hospital but was dead when he arrived.

Rodriguez Jaramillo helped organize the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana and represented his country's Olympic committee for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He oversaw the athletes village during the 2010 South American Games held in Medellin and was president of the Pan American Squash Federation.

Police are searching for the assailants and exploring a motive for the attack.

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SPORTS - Nadal, Djokovic to meet in Italian Open final (AP)

SPORTS - Nadal, Djokovic to meet in Italian Open final (AP)

AP – Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Britain's Andy Murray, during their semifinal match at the …

By ANDREW DAMPF, AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf, Ap Sports Writer – Sat May 14, 8:16 pm ET

ROME – No. 1 Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Novak Djokovic will resume their rivalry in the Italian Open final Sunday.

Nadal, who has won this tournament five of the last six years, overcame a tough first set against Richard Gasquet on Saturday before rolling to a 7-5, 6-1 semifinal victory. Djokovic was pushed to the limit in extending his unbeaten streak to 38 matches, defeating fourth-ranked Andy Murray 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (2).

"I think anyone who saw the match knew that the winner was not decided until the last point," Djokovic said. "It was a fantastic match to be a part of."

"Obviously it's a great run," said Murray, who served for the match at 5-4 in the third set. "I'm just disappointed with myself that I should have ended it tonight."

In the women's final, Maria Sharapova will meet Sam Stosur, last year's French Open runner-up. Sharapova outslugged top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3, and Stosur downed fourth-seeded Li Na of China 7-6 (6), 6-0.

Djokovic beat Nadal in title matches in Indian Wells and Miami this year, then also won in Madrid last weekend, his first victory over the Spaniard on clay.

This tournament is another key clay warmup for the French Open, which starts next weekend.

"Every aspect of the game will be important," Nadal said. "I know Djokovic is playing at an exceptional level right now, but I just have to fight to the end like I always do. If I don't beat him tomorrow, then the next match."

Nadal has a 31-1 record at the Foro Italico. Djokovic has won all 36 of his matches this year, trailing only John McEnroe's 42-0 start in 1984.

"I'll probably play with less pressure than before because I (am no longer) the favorite," Nadal said.

Djokovic finished his post-match news conference near 1 a.m. local time Sunday and was due to face Nadal at 4 p.m.

"This is not new to me," Djokovic said. "I will do my best to recover."

Murray was unable to hold serve in the opening set, which Djokovic dominated with the help of a spinning drop shot.

In the second set, Murray began to win the longer points, taking a key break to go up 5-3 when Djokovic netted a backhand to conclude a tense rally.

Murray served for the third set at 5-4 but double-faulted to let Djokovic back into the match even though the Serb was in apparent physical trouble — stretching his legs between points.

Murray then fell apart in the tiebreaker, and was upset for failing to close out the match.

"It's the first time it's ever happened and I'm going to make sure it's the last," he said.

Still, Murray will head to Roland Garros encouraged.

"I can win the French if I play my best and I get myself prepared mentally and physically," he said.

In his match, Nadal faced break points in three different games during the opening set but won all of them to improve his career record against Gasquet to 9-0.

"It was a complicated situation on my serve in the (first set) but I managed to pull through," Nadal said. "I'm happy to make the final after a difficult week."

Nadal said he no longer has a fever or any pain from a virus that slowed him earlier this week.

"Every day I'm playing better after that disastrous first day," Nadal said, referring to his three-set win over Italian qualifier Paolo Lorenzi in his opener. "I'm happy with my clay-court season. How I'm playing in the last couple of matches is the way forward, more aggressively."

Despite the loss, the 16th-seeded Gasquet should take some confidence into the French Open. The Frenchman eliminated Roger Federer in the third round and beat seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals.

"It was a fantastic tournament for him," Nadal said. "I'm happy to see him back at his best. He's a good friend."

The seventh-seeded Sharapova will be playing her second final of the year, having fallen to Victoria Azarenka in Miami in March. In addition to her father, Yuri, Sharapova began working with a new coach — former Swedish pro Thomas Hogstedt — at the start of the year.

"Every year I feel better and better (on clay)," Sharapova said, adding that she also recovers quicker now between tough matches on the surface.

Early in the second set, Sharapova fell stomach-first to the clay chasing down a shot. That point gave Wozniacki a 2-0 lead, but Sharapova won the final five games. She raised her arms and gave a big smile after landing a forehand return winner on her first match point.

Stosur hadn't reached a final since losing to Francesca Schiavone at Roland Garros last year.

"I had to look at the positive side because I had a very good tournament as well," Stosur said. "But, at that time, it is not always easy to see those things."

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SPORTS - Ward dominates Abraham to reach WBA Super 6 final (AFP)

SPORTS - Ward dominates Abraham to reach WBA Super 6 final (AFP)

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SPORTS - Ochocinco rides bull for 1.5 seconds, gets $10,000 (AP)

SPORTS - Ochocinco rides bull for 1.5 seconds, gets $10,000 (AP)

AP – Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco attempts to ride a bull named Deja Blu during an intermission …

By GEORGE HENRY, Associated Press George Henry, Associated Press – 2 hrs 35 mins ago

DULUTH, Ga. – NFL receiver Chad Ochocinco backed up his promise to ride a 1,500-pound bull on the Professional Bull Riders circuit Saturday night, earning $10,000 for making it out of the chute atop Deja Blu.

The ride lasted 1.5 seconds before Ochocinco was bucked off with no apparent injury.

Ochocinco, who wore a helmet and a standard protective vest, fell 6.5 seconds short of the time needed to win a new Ford truck and to earn the right to rename the bull after Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

But the challenge that began with a tweet earlier this month ended with Ochocinco proving PBR president Sean Gleason that he was serious. The six-time Pro Bowl receiver said, however, that he would never ride a bull again.

"One and done," he said.

The publicity stunt was the latest for Ochocinco, whose Twitter account has nearly 2 million followers.

Ochocinco said he did not speak with Cincinnati coaches when the NFL lockout was briefly lifted in late April. He is under contract with the Bengals but is likely either to be released or told to take a hefty pay cut now that Cincinnati has drafted A.J. Green.

Ochocinco acknowledged that the Bengals probably weren't pleased that he was risking a career-threatening injury.

"I'm sure my coach was probably (upset)," Ochocinco said. "I mean, I would be, too. I'm sure the NFL is (upset), but I don't follow their rules anyway."

Ty Murray, a former world champion rider and a PBR director, coached Ochocinco the last two days at the Gwinnett Arena in hopes of preparing him for the powerful force of a bucking bull.

Murray compared the experience to a first-time skier attempting to navigate a run from the top of the French Alps.

"We practiced several crash scenarios today," Murray said. "He's a phenomenal athlete, he's very easy to teach because he's so athletic and aware of his body. But what he did was monumental and to try and ride a bull for 8 seconds with his lack of experience is impossible."

Ochocinco and Deja Blu were the feature event at intermission of the Lucas Oil Invitational. According to Gleason, Ochocinco helped to generate much-needed publicity for the PBR.

"I think our viewership for this show will be our highest of the year, but I think the effects will be long-ranging," Gleason said. "A guy like Chad can come in here and think that this is going to be an easy thing to do and then stand there and say, 'I had no idea. This is unbelievable.'

"That's going to help our sport more than anything."

Ochocinco, who tried out in March with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer, has no plans to try another dangerous sport during the lockout.

Playing in the NFL is hard enough, but he disagreed that bull riding presented a major risk to his longevity.

"No, every down is a risk to my career," he said. "Every time I wake up in the morning there's a risk to life in general. You never know what's going to happen. One of the things about me is I'm extremely interesting, I'm unpredictable and I am willing to do anything."

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SPORTS - Colombian sports official shot to death (AP)

SPORTS - Colombian sports official shot to death (AP)

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SPORTS - UFC a knockout as Couture gets rousing send off (Reuters)

SPORTS - UFC a knockout as Couture gets rousing send off (Reuters)

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SPORTS - Djokovic sets up Nadal final after Murray epic in Rome (AFP)

SPORTS - Djokovic sets up Nadal final after Murray epic in Rome (AFP)

AP – Driver Carl Edwards celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide series 5-hour ENERGY …

By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston, Ap Sports Writer – 2 hrs 11 mins ago

DOVER, Del – Carl Edwards was sure he tapped Joey Logano.

Edwards missed him — and all the mayhem behind him.

Logano lost control on his own and tagged the wall, triggering a wreck-filled final lap that knocked out several contenders and let Edwards win the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Dover International Speedway.

"Man, that's why they call it the Monster Mile," Edwards said.

It was a monster of a wreck that ended a thrilling stretch run between Edwards and Logano.

Edwards battle with Logano off the final restart of the race turned dangerous in a hurry. Logano got loose and slid up as he tried to scoot around Edwards and hit the wall, sparking a pile up that eliminated Clint Bowyer from contention.

Bowyer's car slid sideways down the concrete track. Debris hit one of Bowyer's crew. Several other cars were collected.

Edwards instantly thought he hit Logano and caused the accident. But Edwards, who recently announced the birth of his son, never made serious contact and won on the second attempt of a green-white finish.

He refrained from performing his traditional winning backflip off his No. 60 Ford.

"I saw him wiggle and I wasn't sure if I touched him or not," Edwards said. "Not the way we wanted to finish the race."

Maybe not. But he'll take the result.

Bowyer, who led 37 laps, was lucky the accident wasn't worse. His car could have sailed over the wall at the track appropriately dubbed the Monster Mile.

"It was certainly pretty wild," he said. "It was just unfortunate."

The accident shook up the final results. Kyle Busch was second and Reed Sorenson third. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and David Reutimann round out the top five.

Logano finished 13th and Bowyer 14th. Elliott Sadler took a 10-point lead over Sorenson in the standings.

Busch failed in his bid to tie Mark Martin for first place in career Nationwide victories. He stands on 48.

The front of Busch's No. 18 Toyota was mashed in, but he ducked around the wreckage and finished the race.

"I didn't want that kind of view," he said.

The race was delayed and, later interrupted, by rain.

Josh Wise gambled and stayed out when the leaders pitted as rain started hitting the track past the halfway point. When the delay was called, Wise was in first place. He sat in his car on pit road and hoped the skies would open more.

"Hopefully we can keep this rain coming and get Josh a win," crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said during the break.

With 56 laps left, the race restarted and Wise was quickly a non-factor. He finished 17th.

Edwards and Logano took over from there and battled for the lead. Edwards, who led a race-high 87 laps, nipped Logano for the lead with 13 laps left in the scheduled 200-lap race. It would go nine extra laps.

"I thought the rain was going to finish us," Edwards said.

Before the final accident, Edwards was so concerned he was running out of fuel he drove on the apron under caution. He had enough to win his third Nationwide race of the season and move into fourth place on the Nationwide wins list with 32.

Logano, who flipped eight times in the Cup race two years ago at Dover, walked away from another scary accident. Edwards and Logano briefly chatted after the race. Logano refused to blame Edwards and chalked it up to hard racing.

"It's just the way these cars are when you get someone underneath you like that, it pushes you around," Logano said.

Edwards was surprised Logano got free because he had the outside spot on the final restart.

But when he did, look out, cars went crashing all over the concrete.

"It's a product of what we do," Edwards said. "This race track, we were driving so hard. Joey was racing as hard as he possibly could."

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SPORTS - Gatto edges Contador to win 8th Giro stage (AFP)

SPORTS - Gatto edges Contador to win 8th Giro stage (AFP)

AP – Rory Sabbatini of South Africa, pumps his fists after making birdie on the eighth hole during the first …

– Sat May 14, 8:34 am ET

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Sean O'Hair says he and Rory Sabbatini talked by telephone the week after their profanity-filled argument on the golf course in New Orleans and they are ready to move on.

The next move is how the PGA Tour chooses to respond. It does not make public any discipline.

O'Hair said after his second round Friday at The Players Championship that Sabbatini sent him a text last week asking O'Hair to call so they could talk it over.

"He apologized and I apologized," O'Hair said. "Life goes on."

According to multiple players and officials, the New Orleans incident was the second time this year that Sabbatini has run into trouble because of his behavior on the golf course. At the Northern Trust Open in February, he is said to have spoken harshly to a teenager volunteer who was trying to help him find a lost ball.

O'Hair has not said publicly what triggered their argument in New Orleans, only that it was not about slow play.

"I wish I would have handled it better," he said. "I could have waited until after the round."

Sabbatini said he "resolved" the issue with O'Hair and the last thing any player wants to face on the golf course is tension with other players. Sabbatini shot a 71 on Friday and was tied for 11th, four shots out of the lead. O'Hair made the cut for the first time in six tournaments after rounds of 71-71 and was eight shots behind.

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SPORTS - Lightning score 3 goals in 1:25, beat Bruins 5-2 (AP)

SPORTS - Lightning score 3 goals in 1:25, beat Bruins 5-2 (AP)

AP – Tampa Bay Lightning's Brett Clark, center, is congratulated by teammates Vincent Lecavalier (4) and Teddy …

By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman, Ap Sports Writer – 4 mins ago

BOSTON – The swift-skating Tampa Bay Lightning wasted little time taking control of the Eastern Conference finals.

Surprising playoff scorer Sean Bergenheim began a stretch of three Tampa Bay goals in 85 seconds in the first period and the Lightning beat the Boston Bruins 5-2 on Saturday night for their eighth straight win.

"We're not a team that's waiting to win games," Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher said after the Lightning grabbed home-ice advantage. "We like to push to win games."

Bergenheim, who scored just 14 goals in the regular season, got his NHL-high eighth of the playoffs at 11:15. Brett Clark connected at 11:34 and Teddy Purcell wrapped up the onslaught, both with unassisted goals as the Lightning capitalized on Bruins mistakes.

The two goals in 19 seconds and three in 1:25 are club records.

"That's what we do," Bergenheim said. "We went in on the forecheck and we went in front of the net and we score that way."

Tyler Seguin, the No. 2 overall draft pick last year, scored for Boston with 4:01 left in the first period in his playoff debut.

Tampa Bay scored twice in the last 7 minutes — Marc-Andre Bergeron on a power play and Simon Gagne into an empty net — before Johnny Boychuk made it 5-2.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Boston.

Both teams were coming off long layoffs after sweeping their previous series. It was the first game in 10 days for the Lightning and first in eight for the Bruins.

"Rust was even on both sides as far as the time off so you don't want to use rust as an excuse," Bruins coach Claude Julien said, "but I think the effort was something that we're going to need more of."

In the final minute, the Bruins frustration showed when Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton were given game misconducts. Lucic was penalized after punching Victor Hedman.

"That is part of the game," Hedman said. "I wasn't expecting it."

The speedy Lightning, the 2004 Stanley Cup champions, came out aggressively in an arena where they were just 4-25-6 before beginning their first playoff series ever against the Bruins. They won 61 percent of the faceoffs with the Bruins top faceoff man, Patrice Bergeron, sidelined by a mild concussion.

"It's so important to start with the puck," Julien said. "When you don't win as many draws as you're used to, you're backpedaling a little bit."

The Bruins, in the conference finals for the first time since 1992, lost for the second time in 10 games. But they lost the first two games against Montreal in the opening round then won it in seven.

"It's only one game," Boucher said. "We haven't done anything yet."

The Lightning did take advantage of some miscues by the Bruins.

"I thought we gave them some easy goals and that was more of our doing than it was theirs," Julien said.

Bergenheim scored after Tim Thomas made a save and Dennis Seidenberg tried to clear the rebound with his right skate after losing his stick. But the puck went right to Bergenheim and he beat Thomas from just in front of the crease.

"It was just a big battle in front of the net," Seidenberg said. "I lost my stick and I obviously didn't know what to do without a stick and the puck at my feet. I kicked it to whoever scored the goal."

It quickly became 2-0 when Clark skated all the way up the right side, passing at least two Bruins who let him go by, and scored his first playoff goal when he shoveled a backhander from the right side off Thomas' right arm.

"It takes a lot of energy from you" to allow two goals so close to each other, Boston's David Krejci said. "Somehow you've got to find a way to find the energy and go out there the next shift and try to ... maybe get a goal."

But it was the Lightning who got that goal, the result of a giveaway from Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle. He had the puck behind his own net then skated to the left and lost control. An aggressive Purcell was there to take it away. Thomas stopped the first shot, but Purcell got his second goal when he put the rebound behind the NHL's regular-season leader in goals-against average and save percentage.

"We capitalized on some opportunities," Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson said. "We got a couple lucky ones."

Seguin replaced Bergeron, one of the Bruins' best players in the postseason.

The rookie, an outstanding offensive player who had been benched for the first 11 playoff games in part because of his defensive shortcomings, then did what he does best. He cut quickly between defensemen Mike Lundin and Marc-Andre Bergeron, sending an off-balance Lundin sprawling to the ice, and beat Roloson with a forehand shot to the goalie's left.

NOTES: A pregame moment of silence was observed for Derek Boogaard, the New York Rangers' enforcer found dead in his Minneapolis apartment on Friday. ... Tampa Bay's previous playoff records were 55 seconds for fastest two goals (April 23, 2006 at Ottawa) and 3:07 for fastest three goals (May 27, 2004 vs. Calgary). ... Gagne played after missing three games because of a concussion. ... Boston was scoreless on four power plays and is 2 for 41 in its 12 playoff games.

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SPORTS - Cause of Boogaard's death may be unclear for weeks (AP)

SPORTS - Cause of Boogaard's death may be unclear for weeks (AP)

AP – FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2010, file photo, Philadelphia Flyers' Jody Shelley, left, and New York Rangers' …

By AMY FORLITI, Associated Press Amy Forliti, Associated Press – 2 hrs 58 mins ago

MINNEAPOLIS – It may be weeks before authorities know exactly how and why New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died, although foul play was not immediately suspected.

The 28-year-old player was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment. Few details were available, but the news rippled across the NHL, where the 6-foot-7 Boogaard was a fan favorite and one of the game's most feared fighters. He missed most of last season because of a concussion and shoulder injury from a fight.

"I don't think we have any answers as to what happened or why it happened," Ron Salcer, Boogaard's agent, said Saturday.

Authorities received a report of a man not breathing shortly before 6:15 p.m. Friday, Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer said. Minneapolis fire officials were the first to arrive and determined he was dead.

Palmer said authorities do not suspect foul play at this point, but the police department's homicide unit and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating. Palmer said the medical examiner will decide the cause of death.

An autopsy was being conducted Saturday, but county spokeswoman Carol Allis said results probably will not be released for at least two weeks.

She said in cases with no obvious signs of physical trauma or an obvious immediate cause of death, it takes time to receive results of laboratory tests. Allis said the medical examiner's office doesn't anticipate releasing preliminary autopsy findings until all results are in.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on its website Saturday night that Boogaard's family has agreed to donate his brain to Boston University researchers who are studying brain disease in athletes.

Findings released earlier this year by Boston University revealed that former enforcer Bob Probert suffered from the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Probert died of a heart attack last July at age 45. Reggie Fleming, a 1960s enforcer who played before helmets became mandatory, also had CTE.

A moment of silence was observed for Boogaard in Boston before the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Bruins 5-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

"The news that we have lost someone so young and so strong leaves everyone in the National Hockey League stunned and saddened," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "The NHL family sends its deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Derek Boogaard, to those who played and worked with him and to everyone who enjoyed watching him compete."

Marian Gaborik was Boogaard's teammate on both the Rangers and the Minnesota Wild, and benefited greatly by the protection the hulking forward provided for him as he fueled the offense.

"It was devastating news," Gaborik said from Slovakia. "I played with Boogey for a long time in Minny and then in New York. He was a great guy. We got along together great. We helped each other out on the ice and off the ice. We were very close. I tried to help him along in New York, and we had a very good relationship. It's just very sad."

"He was one of the very best at what he did. Every team would have loved to have him, whether on the ice or off the ice as a great teammate."

Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that Boogaard was "always joking and having fun."

"Anytime anything happened or if you needed anything, Boogey was always there," he said. "He was always a pleasure to be around."

Added Rangers forward Brandon Prust on Twitter: "At a loss for words. I'll miss my roomy Derek Boogaard. You will be missed by everyone. Great friend and teammate."

Prust was still dealing with the shock on Saturday.

"It keeps hitting me off and on all day as I'm driving," Prust said. "Though he was a fighter on the ice, he was definitely a gentle giant off the ice. He was just a real good guy, a team guy all the way. I've been looking at some of the silly pictures I have from when we were roommates and it just hits me what a good guy he was. I still can't believe I am referring to him in the past tense."

Fans, meanwhile, flocked online to express their sadness. For years, fans have been going to YouTube to watch "The Boogeyman" do battle.

His final game was Dec. 9 at Ottawa when he fought Matt Carkner and sustained a concussion and shoulder injury. That was the 70th fight of his NHL career, and by midday Saturday more than 80,000 people had watched replays of that fight on YouTube.

Boogaard signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal with the Rangers in July and appeared in 22 games last season. He had a goal and an assist to go with 45 penalty minutes.

Boogaard was out for the last 52 games of the regular season because of his injuries and did not play in the playoffs. He didn't skate again until about three months after the concussion. He was sent home to Minnesota late in the season to work on conditioning.

Gaborik said he recently spoke to Boogaard, who had his sights set on making a full recovery and having a much better second season with the Rangers.

"We had a lot of good times together," Gaborik said. "He was a really easygoing guy, really caring. We talked pretty much about everything. He's just the type guy who would be there for you whenever you needed him.

"We were in touch a lot. He was focusing on coming back, training every day. He was really looking forward to coming back in great shape and prove that he's the best at what he does. He was really looking forward to that. He was always so positive and optimistic."

In several player polls, Boogaard was voted as the league's most intimidating player. When the Rangers signed him last summer, general manager Glen Sather said the decision was made because Boogaard was "the biggest and toughest."

He had seven fights with the Rangers. His lone goal of the season came at home against Washington on Nov. 9. That ended a drought of 234 games without a goal, dating to Jan. 7, 2006. It was the longest such streak in the league.

Boogaard began his NHL career with Minnesota and appeared in 255 games with the Wild from 2005-10. He missed four games with the Wild because of a concussion. With Minnesota and the Rangers over six seasons, he had three goals and 13 assists and 589 penalty minutes.

"I received a phone call last night at 1:00 a.m. from my son, Connor, who is a freshman in college," Wild owner Craig Leipold said in a statement. "Connor interned for the Wild last year, and his favorite person (not just player) was Derek. You could hear in his voice just how affected he was, since he had just learned of Derek's passing.

"He had a lot of questions, and I had no answers."

That feeling was shared by many, including Minnesota center Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who played with Boogaard for five years.

"Every player on our team felt a little bit more safe with him on the ice with us," Bouchard said in a phone interview. "He was really tough on the ice, but outside the ice he was a great guy."

Wild media relations coordinator Ryan Stanzel first met Boogaard when he was working the ECHL and Boogaard was assigned to Lafayette, La., in 2002.

"I remember the first day he was on the ice, he was larger than life," Stanzel said. "He was so much bigger than everybody in that league. He certainly wasn't the best skater in the world, but he worked 45 minutes to an hour every day after practice with the coaches on his footwork."

San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan coached Boogaard for two years in the minors in Houston.

"He was a lovable guy that everybody liked," McLellan said. "Obviously mean and nasty on the ice. He'll be sorely missed."

Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Boogaard was drafted by Minnesota in 2001 in the seventh round, the 202nd choice. He drew notice in 2007 when he and brother Aaron ran a hockey-fighting class in Saskatchewan. Some voiced concern about such a camp. Boogaard insisted he wasn't teaching kids how to hurt each other, but rather how to protect themselves so they don't get hurt on the ice.

This is the second death of a player in the Rangers organization in the past three years. Alexei Cherepanov, drafted in 2007 but never signed by New York, died at 19 in Chekhov, Russia, in 2008, after collapsing on the bench during a game.

Roman Lyashenko, who briefly played with the Rangers several years ago, was found dead in a hotel in Turkey in 2003. His death was believed to be a suicide.

___

AP Hockey Writer Ira Podell in New York and AP Sports Writers Josh Dubow in San Jose, Calif., and Colin Fly in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

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SPORTS - No big move on a rain-shortened day at Sawgrass (AP)

SPORTS - No big move on a rain-shortened day at Sawgrass (AP)

AP – Nick Watney watches his ball bounce onto the second green during the third round of The Players Championship …

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson, Ap Golf Writer – Sat May 14, 10:39 pm ET

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Players spent more time in the clubhouse than the golf course Saturday at The Players Championship, a rain-shortened day that left enough time for some high entertainment.

Martin Kaymer made four straight birdie putts that traveled a combined 71 inches.

The tournament staff had to move the cup on the 16th hole a few feet after the 4 1/2-hour storm delay because of damage around the hole that it couldn't repair.

Ian Poulter was so desperate to finish his third round before darkness that he sprinted to the island-green 17th to finish the hole, then ran to the 18th tee and hit his drive to keep himself from having to wake up Sunday before dawn.

As for the top of the leaderboard?

There wasn't nearly enough time to sort that out, not with so many top players in the hunt having played so few holes. And not with a TPC Sawgrass course that was softened enough by the rain that a marathon Sunday is up for grabs.

U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and Doral winner Nick Watney were at 11-under par. David Toms and Steve Stricker were another shot behind, followed by Wells Fargo winner Lucas Glover and K.J. Choi. Kaymer and Luke Donald, both of whom can go to No. 1 in the world, were only three shots behind.

Of that group, only Kaymer (12 holes) and Choi (10 holes) made it past the turn.

"As far as winning it, I'm not too concerned about that yet," Watney said. "We're still in the third round, so I just have to take care of what I can and give myself a chance on the back nine."

The biggest change was the golf course. It drained beautifully, but the greens were so soft after nearly an inch of rain fell that it looked like The Players resumed on the TPC Cupcake.

"I could see someone going and shooting 62, 63 tomorrow," McDowell said. "I think there's a low score on this golf course, depending on what the wind does tomorrow. But it really has opened the field up a little bit. It's going to be exciting."

Toms, the 36-hole leader who had to wait until dinner time to tee off, only made it through five holes. He made all pars, and probably was happy to stop. Toms had birdie putts inside 12 feet on every hole — two of them inside 7 feet — and missed them all to stay at 10 under.

Only 40 players managed to finish the third round.

That included Poulter, who had reason to be exhausted for other reasons. Realizing that play was going to be stopped, and not wanting to return at 7:45 a.m. Sunday to finish one hole, he sprinted to the 17th green and quickly two-putted for par, then ran off toward the 18th tee and hit his tee shot as the group in front was just leaving the tee.

It's a common move in tournament golf — Rory Sabbatini did the same at Doral this year. Once any player in a group tees off, the entire group is allowed to finish the hole. Poulter finished with a bogey for a 74, but at least he gets to sleep in.

"A little 300-yard sprint is well worth four hours in bed," Poulter said.

The third round is to resume Sunday morning, and threesomes then will be sent out in the afternoon. With some 30 holes remaining and so many top players in the hunt, rarely has a final day been this wide open.

Sean O'Hair, who had missed his last five cuts, birdied his last two holes for a 67 to post the best 54-hole score Saturday at 7-under 209, but only because the leaders didn't even reach the turn.

Peter Hanson bogeyed the last hole for a 66. Phil Mickelson barely finished, just not the way he would have liked. He made eagle on the 16th, followed with a birdie on the 17th and then ended with a bogey for a 69. He was at 5-under 211.

"I had a good finish until that bogey on 18," Mickelson said. "That eagle on 16 and birdie on 17 got me into position where I thought you never know what might happen on Sunday. So I've got to go low."

Kaymer might have had the most wild 12 holes of his season. He opened with four straight birdies by a combined 6 feet of length — the longest was 3 1/2 feet, two of them inside a foot. He tied for the lead by making a 10-foot birdie on the seventh, then ran off three straight bogeys to drop back. Kaymer made only three pars.

McDowell, Watney and everyone else were firing at flags and watching their shots stay around the hole. Robert Allenby, who had a 68, said he hit a 5-wood about 6 feet short of the flag on the 16th and it only moved a few feet.

McDowell started with a birdie, then wasted a good chance on the par-5 second when he used a hybrid to bump his ball up the slope from behind the green and knocked it 20 feet by the hole. But he chipped in on the third for birdie and hit another good iron to about 7 feet on the fifth to join Watney in the lead.

Watney, the winner of a World Golf Championship at Doral two months ago, could have started even better. He knocked in a 15-foot birdie putt on the first, hit a bunker shot across the second green to tap-in range, then faced the par-3 third hole into the setting sun.

He hit the shot, looked up and was blinded.

"Where did it go?" he asked.

"Right at it," Toms replied.

The ball settled 4 feet away, and Toms followed with a shot he couldn't see to just outside 5 feet. Both missed their putts.

Stricker birdied the first and last holes he completed, and had a 65-foot birdie putt on the sixth when play was stopped. Like everyone else, he's bracing for a long Sunday.

"You've got to take it easy tomorrow," he said. "Come out with some intensity, but knowing that you have a long day."

Hanson might have had the toughest time when play resumed. He was 7 under for his round through 16 holes and on his way to the fearsome island-green 17th when play was suspended. Then he waited four hours before going out to the range, and the last shot he worked on was an easy pitching wedge. It's just hard to imagine an island on the driving range.

To the front pin at 17, his wedge nearly spun back off the green and he two-putted from the edge for par. His drive on the 18th went into the trees, and Hanson wound up missing an 8-foot par putt.

"Seventeen and 18 is a tough finish," Hanson said. "But it's an even harder start."

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SPORTS - Barca eye Euro glory as Ronaldo targets goal award (AFP)

SPORTS - Barca eye Euro glory as Ronaldo targets goal award (AFP)

AFP/File – Barcelona's Carles Puyol (L) and Xavi Hernandez hold the flag of Barcelona as they celebrate at Camp …

• Play Video Presidential Transition Video:Obama-Friendly Court for Virginia's 'Obamacare' Challenge? FOX News

by Phil Seery Phil Seery – 2 hrs 42 mins ago

MADRID (AFP) – High-flying Barcelona, with a third La Liga title already wrapped up, will rest key stars ahead of the Champions League final when they welcome Deportivo La Coruna to Camp Nou on Sunday.

Barcelona became the first team since 1993 to win three successive Spanish titles when they drew 1-1 at Levante on Wednesday.

They now have the luxury of two 'dead' league games to prepare for the European showpiece against Manchester United at Wembley on May 28.

"Now is the time to party and that's what winning a title deserves and we have time to get ready for the final in London," said Guardiola.

"These players are unique and an enormously strong bunch and you have to remember the schedule they have had to put up with over the last two and half years. I hope people have enjoyed watching us play - that would really be the best reward."

Depor will provide the traditional guard of honour at Camp Nou on Sunday, but will hope to upset the celebrating home fans with a win to aid their survival bid.

La Coruna, Champions League semi-finalists in 2004, are three points above the relegation zone and fighting to extend their 20-year stay in the top flight.

Real Madrid tried to forget about Barcelona's latest title win by parading their Kings Cup trophy and have nothing to play for but pride when they travel to Villarreal.

Real have had second place wrapped up for months but Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo insists the team want to finish the campaign with two more victories.

"The coach has asked us to finish the league by winning our games and we will try to do that," said Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has scored an incredible seven goals in his last two league outings to take his season's tally to 36 and is on course to win the Pichichi crown for the league's top-scorer.

Ronaldo lies five goals ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and could break the all-time record of 38 set by Athletico Bilbao's Telmo Zarra in 1951 and matched by Real's iconic Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez in 1990.

Villarreal have fourth place secure and trail third-placed Valencia by five points with six points to play for.

Valencia can secure third place with a draw at home to derby rivals Levante due to their superior head to head record over Villarreal.

The battle for Europa League places is set to go down to the wire with four teams fighting for two places.

At present Athletic Bilbao are in pole position in fifth place but have Sevilla and Atletico Madrid just two points behind.

Bilbao have home advantage against Malaga but Manuel Pellegrini's outfit have won five consecutive league games.

Europa League holders Atletico desperately need European football to try and hold on to star Argentine striker Sergio "Kun" Aguero and host already-relegated Hercules.

Sevilla were stunned by a 3-2 defeat to Osasuna on Wednesday, having led 2-0, and look to respond at home to Real Sociedad as they cling onto sixth.

Espanyol are the outsiders lying three points back from Sevilla and travel to a Real Zaragoza side fighting for their lives.

Zaragoza languish third from bottom but just one point from safety in a tight relegation battle.

With Almeria and Hercules already relegated, there is just one drop spot left and eight teams are fighting not to be in it.

Getafe, a best ever sixth last season, are one point above the bottom three and host fellow strugglers Osasuna, five points clear of the relegation zone, at the Coliseum.

Sporting Gijon, who famously ended Madrid boss Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten home league record, are four points above the bottom three and host Racing Santander knowing a win would put them safe.

Sunday (all 1900 GMT)

Almeria v Real Mallorca, Villarreal v Real Madrid, Getafe v Osasuna, Sevilla v Real Sociedad, Real Zaragoza v Espanyol, Valencia v Levante, Barcelona v Deportivo La Coruna, Athletic Bilbao v Malaga, Sporting Gijon v Racing Santander, Atletico Madrid v Hercules

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