NEBRASKA CITY – The Waverly tennis team is beginning to pick up the pace.

Crosby homers as Penguins take batting practice (AP)

AP - If the Pittsburgh Pirates need an answer to their power-hitting problems, maybe they can find it across town in Penguins star Sidney Crosby.

No. 9 Iowa understandably wary of Iowa St (AP)

AP - In it's own strange way, the rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State has become predictable.

Jets ready to roar with Super Bowl in mind (Reuters)

Reuters - The New York Jets have been in the spotlight throughout the NFL off-season but on Monday, Rex Ryan's team face a stern test of their confidently proclaimed Super Bowl ambitions when they take on the Baltimore Ravens.

Not even Cog Hill can spare Tiger a bad start (AP)

AP - At this point in a strange season, slow starts should be nothing new to Tiger Woods.

Verdasco loses, then picks a winner: It's Roger (AP)

AP - Most signs point toward Rafa vs. Roger in the U.S. Open final. If that does come to pass, Fernando Verdasco knows who he'd pick.

Brady's day starts with crash, ends with contract (AP)

AP - A loud crash. A crumpled front end. A brief stay in an ambulance.

Giants leave Padres praying to maintain lead (Reuters)

Reuters - The San Francisco Giants defeated San Diego 7-3 to move within one game of the Padres in the battle for the National League West division title on Thursday.

SOCCER: HCCC freshman named Player of the Week

Herkimer County Community College men’s soccer player Joel Purkiss was named this week’s NJCAA National Player of the Week. A 6-foot-1 freshman from Sheffield, England, Purkiss recorded four goals and two assists in two matches.

Basketball Tryouts Set

Tryouts for the upcoming winter NJB basketball season will be held Monday evening, Sept. 20, in the Thurston Middle School gym. read more

Nadal advances to meet Youzhny in US Open semi-final (AFP)

AFP - World number one Rafael Nadal, seeking his first US Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, advanced to the last four by defeating eighth-seeded Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

FOOTBALL: Darin powers Pioneers past Lutheran Westland

The 2010 football season is young, but it hard to find player who has had a greater all-around impact on his team than Gabriel Richard’s Gino Darin.

Baseball notebook: Phillies third baseman Polanco has been playing with a broken elbow

SOCCER: Huron rebounds from league loss

The Huron soccer team rebounded from a loss to Grosse Ile by hammering host Flat Rock 8-1 last a week ago.

Brees, Saints survive tough opener vs. Vikes 14-9 (AP)

AP - For football fans in the Big Easy, "Lombardi Gras" just keeps on rolling.

FOOTBALL

BASEBALL

GOLF

Basketball booster pleads guilty to stealing from club

CHINO - The former president of a high school basketball team s booster club pleaded guilty this week to stealing from the club.

Golf course renovations postponed

Planned renovations for Chase Oaks Golf Club have been held off until next year, city officials say.

Tennessee basketball reportedly facing investigation

Tennessee's men's basketball program could become the subject of an NCAA investigation, according to ESPN.com.

Huff, Posey lead Giants' homer barrage vs Pads (AP)

AP - Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey each hit a two-run homer and Pat Burrell and Juan Uribe also went yard as the San Francisco Giants beat San Diego 7-3 Thursday night to pull within one game of the NL West-leading Padres.

Football Superstars - The Pioneer In Football Games

Football Superstars, the pioneer in football games , has made another mark.

Football: Drakes overpowered by Springfield

Most area football teams have to wait until at least the fourth week of the season to play a league team.

Tennis team falls to Wharton

Christian Tuazon competes against Wharton during the Calhoun tennis team’s first scrimmage of the season on Aug. 25. Tuazon went on to win in boys number one singles, 6-1 and 6-4.

Basketball: Local man launches city youth league

LEWISTON - Local resident Jon Fortin has started local basketball league for residents of River Valley Village, formerly known as Tall Pines. Fortin, 24, has donated 10 hours a week to hold practices and games for the players involved in the league.

Newton dominates, No. 21 Auburn beats MSU 17-14 (AP)

AP - Cameron Newton put on another impressive show Thursday night, this time against a Southeastern Conference defense in No. 21 Auburn's 17-14 victory over Mississippi State.

Tennis prepares for success

The BYU men’s tennis team is back to work this weekend at the Utah Fall Tennis Classic, where it has dominated in recent years. The Classic, which began Thursday, will be played on the Outdoor Tennis Courts and is free to the public. A BYU player has won the tournament each of the last three years, including past year in singles. Because the Fall Classic is sanctioned by the United States ...

Football woes reflect society's fouls

Football is very popular in Indonesia. The game is played all over the country, even in urban slums where a shortage of suitable open spaces forces participants to modify the rules. Local clubs have l .....

GOLF: Coston wins PNWPGA Senior Championship

Semiahmoo golf instructor Jeff Coston came from 5 strokes back after the first day to capture his fi

Vegas police seeking Mayweather in battery case (AP)

AP - Police sought boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. for questioning Thursday about a domestic battery report filed by a former girlfriend who recanted a similar claim in 2005, police and his lawyer said.

Tennis opens fall season without coach

By: Staff The West Virginia tennis team opens fall play today in the Martha Thorn Invitational. The tournament will continue through Sunday. ...

Soccer: Omro shut out by Lomira

The Omro boys soccer team was shut out in a 3-0 loss to Wisconsin Flyway opponent Lomira on Thursday.

Prep football rankings

Football Rankings

Soccer duo excelling in Bulldogs’ kicking game

A pair of soccer standouts are proving their worth on the gridiron this season.

Basketball: US into last four

NBA star Kevin Durant has helped guide the US national basketball team into the semifinals of the FIBA World Championships in Turkey.Durant scored 33 points to help his side beat Russia 89-79 in their quarterfinal.The US will...

"No. 1 Golf Date" Hilary Rhoda hits the range

For GOLF Magazine's No. 1 Issue, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Hilary Rhoda explains why a trip to the driving range would be a great first date.

Soccer Coach, Child Hit by Lightning

A 9-year-old girl and a soccer coach were struck by lightning at a soccer game in Montgomery County

Beckham lined-up for possible Galaxy return (AFP)

AFP - A six-month injury absence has David Beckham champing at the bit to get back on the pitch and provide a boost for his Los Angeles Galaxy teammates - and perhaps eventually again for England.

Tennis players take on capital

The first course of junior representative tennis for the season will be served up this weekend when nine Marlborough juniors join forces with their Nelson counterparts and travel across Cook Strait to tackle Welllington-Hutt Valley.

Soccer star faces axe over sex pics

SOCCER star Lisa De Vanna could be stripped of her Matildas contract after a teenage fan saw pictures of her simulating sexual acts on her Facebook page.

Miami baseball player faces marijuana, HGH charges

A Miami baseball player was arrested and charged with trying to sell marijuana to undercover officers on university grounds, and police later found 19 vials of human growth hormone at his apartment. Frank Ratcliff, 19, of Key West, Fla. was charged Thursday with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, police said.

BASEBALL: Titans take second at King of the Dirt

The South County Titans 12U travel baseball team out of Gilroy took second place out of 10 teams over the weekend at the King of the Dirt Labor Day tournament at Twin Creeks. The Titans came out Saturday firing on all cylinders with a 13-4 romp of the Golden Gate Sliders. However, the excitement was short-lived as the Titans fell short in 5-1 in Game 2 to the Sacramento Blue Devils. The script ...

Wie eyes 2nd straight win at NW Arkansas event (AP)

AP - With a pair of wins in the last 11 months, Michelle Wie is finally turning potential into success.

Football Coach In Prostitution Sting Returns

The high school football coach accused of trying to pick up a prostitute took the field Thursday night for the first time since his arrest.

Barnes' fiance says domestic accusation false (AP)

AP - The fiance of Los Angeles Lakers player Matt Barnes says a domestic violence accusation against him is false, and he has never physically abused her or her family.

Basketball: Lithuania, USA set-up semi-final basketball clash

ISTANBUL : Tournament favourites USA edged Russia 89-79 to reach the world basketball semi-finals on Thursday where they will meet Lithuania who stunned world number one Argentina 104-85.

Football Pitfall: Stadium Kitchens

Football season starts today. How can you get in the spirit and stay healthy? Aside from recent concerns over a link between nitrates and bladder cancer, occasional indulgence in stadium junk food can't be too damaging. But for a reality check on food safety, have a look at ESPN's comprehensive list of health code violations [...]

Tennis UPDATE: Williamsburg natives Ford, Spooner among players in W&M event Friday

In women’s tennis, the annual William and Mary Invitational begins at 9 a.m. Friday around Williamsburg, with 13 schools, five singles brackets and three doubles draws.

Basketball Wives Respond To Matt Barnes’ Arrest

Basketball Wives stars Jennifer Williams and Evelyn Lozada have turned to (where else?) their Twitter accounts to respond to the earlier news of Matt Barnes‘ domestic violence arrest (see below). While their language is loaded with qualification, it’s at least somewhat surprising that they’ve stepped up to defend their on-screen rival, Gloria Govan. I guess when a conflict comes down between ...