Sports

Scott, Kaymer ready to pounce in absence of McIlroy in Shanghai

(Reuters) – World number two Adam Scott is ready to take advantage of the absence of Rory McIlroy at the $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions tournament starting here on Thursday. Australian Scott is part of a stellar field that includes 40 of the top 50 players in the world at the only World Golf Championships event played outside the United States. The 2013 Masters champion has only played once since the American season ended in mid-September, […]

Luck leads Colts to big win over falling Giants

(Reuters) – Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck threw four touchdown passes to guide the Colts to a 40-24 road win over the New York Giants on Monday and solidify their lead in the AFC South. The defeat leaves the Giants (3-5) facing the prospect of a third season without playoff action as they fell further behind Philadelphia (6-2) and Dallas (6-3) in the NFC East. The Colts (6-3) go into their bye week two games clear of Houston […]

South African prosecutors appeal Pistorius verdict and sentence

(Reuters) – The South African prosecution authority confirmed on Tuesday it would file an appeal against the culpable homicide verdict and five-year jail sentence handed down to paralympian Oscar Pistorius last month. Pistorius was absolved of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the end of a seven-month trial after the state failed to convince judge Thokozile Masipa of Pistorius’ intent to kill when he fired through a locked toilet door at his luxury […]

Bumgarner rides to the rescue for World Series win

(Reuters) – The San Francisco Giants rode workhorse left-hander Madison Bumgarner all the way to their third World Series crown in five years with a Game Seven victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Ace starter Bumgarner worked his magic as a reliever this time, coming out of the bullpen to throw five shutout innings and earn the save in a 3-2 win that clinched the best-of-seven Fall Classic. It was the eighth World […]

World Series decider captivates host city

(Reuters) – Buses roll through the downtown streets alternating their destination with the message “Go Royals” — the same rousing chant that took over Pizza Bar near closing time in the Power & Light district. Nearly three decades of frustration for baseball fans in Kansas City has faded with the Cinderella story of the Royals, who have taken the San Francisco Giants to a deciding Game Seven of the World Series. A victory parade is […]

Sharapova grinds out first win but exits Finals

(Reuters) – Maria Sharapova recovered from a second-set meltdown to record her first victory at this year’s WTA Finals with a 7-5 6-7(4) 6-2 triumph over Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanksa on Friday but the Russian still bowed out of the elite eight-woman tournament. After losing her opening two White Group round robin matches, Sharapova needed to win in straight sets to stand any chance of advancing to the semi-finals as well as maintaining her pursuit of […]

Williams guaranteed year-end number one ranking

(Reuters) – Serena Williams clinched the year-end world number one ranking for the fourth time without hitting a ball on Friday after Maria Sharapova, the only woman with any chance of overtaking her, was eliminated from the WTA Finals. Needing to win in straight sets to stand any chance of advancing to the semi-finals, Sharapova lost the second set of her match against Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium, ending her slim hopes of […]

Manning adds to touchdown record as Broncos beat Chargers

(Reuters) – Denver quarterback Peyton Manning added three more touchdowns to his career record as the Broncos beat the San Diego Padres 35-21 in a National Football League game on Thursday. Manning took his career touchdown total to 513, four days after overtaking Brett Favre as the leader on the all-time list. The Broncos won their fourth successive game and improved to 6-1, the best record in the AFC and tied for the best record […]

Lakers’ Nash out for season with back injury

(Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers’ point guard Steve Nash will miss the entire 2014-15 season, the National Basketball Association team said on Thursday. Nash, 40, has battled a bad back and other injuries for years and the latest setback suggests the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player may have played his final game, though he has not announced his retirement. “Being on the court this season has been my top priority and it is disappointing to […]

Nadal withdraws from Paris Masters

(Reuters) – Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from the Paris Masters ahead of the tournament’s start on Monday for “personal reasons”, the French Tennis Federation announced on Friday. The 14-times grand slam champion warned last week that he could miss the end of the season because of appendicitis, and he will be replaced in the Paris draw by fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar. World number eight Marin Cilic and Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis have also withdrawn from the […]

NFL’s Ray Rice appeal hearing tentatively set for Nov. 5-6

(Reuters) – The hearing on Ray Rice’s appeal of his indefinite suspension by the National Football League for domestic violence has tentatively been set for Nov. 5 and 6, sources close to the situation told Reuters on Tuesday. Rice was originally suspended for two games for knocking out his then-fiancee at a New Jersey casino in February. When video later emerged of the altercation, he was cut by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. […]