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]]> NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head Saturday afternoon in a downtown condominium. Police said a woman was also shot dead. Sat, 4 Jul 2009 18:06:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049970 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049997
]]> In the fourth all-Williams final at Wimbledon, Serena came out on top for the third time by out-serving her big sister, lifting her game in the tiebreaker and dictating play throughout the second set. Sat, 4 Jul 2009 08:14:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049997 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049995
]]> MONACO - Lance Armstrong put in a solid performance in his comeback at the Tour de France on Saturday, finishing the first stage ahead of 170 riders many years younger and a respectable 10th behind winner Fabian Cancellara. Sat, 4 Jul 2009 08:21:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049995 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049978
]]> Tim Lincecum extended his scoreless innings streak to 23, and the Giants' six-run sixth inning against the Houston Astros broke open the game as SF won, 9-0, their second consecutive shutout victory. Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:22:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049978 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049976
]]> Baseball writer Rich Rupprecht ranks the 30 major-league teams each week. Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:47:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090704/sports/907049976 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039929
]]> Cal’s Amanda Sims, a legendary swimmer at Montgomery High, will compete at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, beginning Monday. Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:22:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039929 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039931
]]> MONACO - Belgian cyclist Tom Boonen was cleared Friday to compete in the Tour de France after winning his appeal of a ban for testing positive for cocaine. The French Olympic committee’s arbitration panel handed down the decision a day before the Tour is set to start in Monaco. Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:44:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039931 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039917
]]> Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer to boost his bid for an All-Star spot and stake rookie Ryan Sadowski to an early lead, and the San Francisco Giants routed the Houston Astros 13-0 on Friday night. Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:11:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039917 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039927
]]> Cleveland's Shin-Soo Choo gave his high school baseball coach a fitting tribute. Choo learned before batting practice that his coach had died of cancer. Then he homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs. Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:52:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039927 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039973
]]> WIMBLEDON, England - Five-time champion Roger Federer reached his seventh straight Wimbledon final Friday and will face Andy Roddick for a chance at a record 15th Grand Slam title. Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:04:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090703/sports/907039973 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029936
]]> The 96th Tour de France begins Saturday in Monte Carlo, Monaco, with a wickedly designed course and tweaked rules. And among a dozen other cycling hors d’oeuvre sub-plots, a seven-time champion will return after a four-year absence. His name is Lance Armstrong. Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:33:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029936 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029878
]]> ST. LOUIS - Todd Wellemeyer rebounded from his shortest start of the season with 7« solid innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-2, on Thursday night. Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:31:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029878 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029883
]]> Let’s see, in the past seven weeks Maya DiRado has shattered a North Coast Section record held by an Olympic legend, moved onto a list that includes some of the biggest names in swimming history and been wooed by the top college programs in the nation. Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:01:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029883 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029899
]]> Maria Carrillo High graduate and Dominican University women’s soccer coach Jon Delano will also coach the Penguins men’s soccer team this fall after the dismissal of coach John Brooks. Brooks, in his 15th year, was the Cal Pac Conference Coach of the Year after leading Dominican to a 11-4-3 record last year. Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:57:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029899 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029950
]]> WIMBLEDON, England - The purple “W” logo at Wimbledon might as well stand for the siblings who have made the women’s championship their own playground. Yes, the Williams sisters are back in the Wimbledon final. Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:35:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090702/sports/907029950 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019913
]]> OAKLAND - Jason Giambi and Jack Cust know that if they both start hitting more consistently, it could do a lot for Oakland’s chances heading into the second half. Giambi and Cust broke out of funks with two-run homers, Dallas Braden ended a four-start winless stretch and the Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Wednesday. Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:08:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019913 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019918
]]> WIMBLEDON, England - Roger Federer neutralized Ivo Karlovic’s huge serves Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon semifinals and move a step closer to a record 15th Grand Slam championship. Two-time finalist Andy Roddick, Andy Murray and Tommy Haas completed the final four. Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:09:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019918 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019850
]]> Matt Cain held St. Louis to one run in seven innings but got a no-decision. In the 10th inning, Pablo Sandoval dropped Colby Rasmus' foul pop; later in the at-bat Rasmus hit a game-ending homer off Bobby Howry. Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:50:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019850 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019852
]]> PARIS - For Lance Armstrong to win an eighth Tour de France, he will not only have to beat the best rider in the world - his teammate and rival Alberto Contador - he will also need to master an innovative course with a grueling last week that includes four mountain stages. Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:26:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090701/sports/907019852 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309874
]]> Fred Austin was in his truck Tuesday afternoon, staring out at Fred Austin Field, staring at the memories, and his eyes began to water. It wasn’t something in the air. It was something in his heart. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309874 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309866
]]> Randy Johnson won his third straight decision and 303rd of his career despite surrendering two home runs to Albert Pujols in the San Francisco Giants’ 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:57:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309866 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309862
]]> Oakland scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it close, but still fell short Tuesday night. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:38:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309862 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309955
]]> WIMBLEDON, England - Venus and Serena Williams are one round away from meeting in another Wimbledon final. Five-time champion Venus overpowered Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday, and two-time winner Serena followed her into the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:48:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090630/sports/906309955 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299939
]]> Tim Lincecum threw a two-hit shutout, walking none and striking out eight, and Travis Ishikawa hit a three-run homer Monday night in the Giants' 10-0 win over the Cardinals. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:47:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299939 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299909
]]> Mark Ellis hit a two-run homer in his second game back from a two-month injury absence, and Ryan Sweeney homered and drove in two runs in the Oakland Athletics’ 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:32:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299909 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299891
]]> A's rookie left-hander Josh Outman will have surgery on his pitching elbow Tuesday. The A's didn’t immediately announce the severity of the surgery or a timetable for Outman’s return. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:35:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299891 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299954
]]> They played into the night on Centre Court, later than anyone ever had in Wimbledon’s long history, and they played indoors, the first match contested entirely under the new roof. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:20:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299954 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299899
]]> After her surprising run to the fourth round of Wimbledon, Melanie Oudin is hoping to establish herself as a regular contender on the women’s tour. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:02:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299899 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299897
]]> The Tour Dr France will be the most rigorously tested sports event in history. There will be about 520 doping tests, and several of the 180 riders are already in the cross-hairs even before the three-week showcase begins in Monaco. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:12:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299897 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299937
]]> The North Bay League first-team first basemen were omitted from Sunday’s listing of all-league baseball teams. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:49:00 -0400 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090629/sports/906299937