Maria Sharapova moved a step closer to the number one ranking, but only after a less than convincing victory over Dominika Cibulkova at the Italian Open.

Mike D’Antoni has accepted the New York Knicks’ lucrative job offer, ending a week-long battle with the Chicago Bulls, who also pursued the Phoenix Suns’ coach, a league source told SI.com.

Diaz on again off again status finally cleared up.

Along the lines of the emperor having no clothes, the King currently has no clue.

LeBron James retains the potential to convince us of otherwise, but what the Celtics [team stats] are doing to the top scorer in the NBA at the moment is nothing short of a beat down. James is missing layups and airmailing jumpers, and most every shot he takes seems to hit the rim with the weight of a tenpin bowling ball.

ROME (AP) -Andy Roddick and James Blake advanced Thursday to the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters, marking the first time in six years two Americans reached the final eight.

Roddick silenced a partisan crowd with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Simone Bolelli of Italy, and Blake rallied past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

Another near miss for Gavin Floyd. Toying with a no-hitter for the second time in a month, the White Sox righthander watched his latest effort sail away with one out in the ninth.

The Atlanta Braves have acquired infielder Greg Norton from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

They always say you can’t truly judge a team’s NFL draft until three years after the draft occurs and you see which players stand where based on performance and utility to the franchise that drafted them. Well, with the 2008 draft over, ESPN takes a look back at the 2005 NFL draft and some noticeable grade changes from back then compared to now, as well as the players who were the big achievers and the big “busts” from that year’s class.

Michael Strahan had something more important to do than go with the Giants to the White House on Wednesday – a trip to the Kentucky Derby. After attending the Playboy party Friday night, Strahan was interviewed on NBC’s pre-Derby show Saturday. The defensive end reiterated what he recently told the Daily News’ Gary Myers: He’s undecided on retirement.

It’s hardly a stretch to suggest that Kimbo Slice is the Mike Tyson of the 21st century. Tyson became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s with his intimidating visage, powerful punches and almost weekly appearances on ESPN.

Not once but twice, jockey Kent Desormeaux sneaked a peek to see if anyone was gaining on Big Brown.

Tim Montgomery has fallen so far since he set the world record in the 100 meters. Sad how this has happened.

Tim Donaghy was an NBA ref with an affinity for betting on NBA games…that he was an official for.

Article about the prime buy low candidate of 2008, Justin Verlander.

Jayson Werth could not remember ever being this productive in a game — that’s including Little League.

The Boston Celtics are going home for another Game 7.

They handled the Atlanta Hawks.

Andy Sonnanstine’s strong pitching was no surprise. After carrying a shutout into the eighth inning, the right-hander has won his last five decisions for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kyle Busch continued his dominance with a flawless qualifying effort Friday night to capture the pole for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

false alarm? click on the link above to find out!

Wall Street is about to launch a new way to trade professional athletes the way you trade stocks. A piece of Tiger, anyone? When financial historians look back and ask why it took Wall Street so long to create the first public stock market that trades in professional athletes, they will see ours as an age of creative ferment.

Cardinals QB Kurt Warner injured his shoulder while attempting to recover a fumble in the first quarter vs. Panthers.

San Diego has acquired wide receiver Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins for what it believed a second-round draft choice, FOXSports.com has learned.

Jason Richardson scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Gerald Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds boards, and the Charlotte Bobcats stunned the Boston Celtics 95-83 for just their fourth loss of the season on Wednesday night.

This Saturday’s unification bout between UFC light heavyweight champion Jackson and Pride middleweight and light heavyweight champion Henderson could mark the latest in what has been a drawn-out death knell for the Japanese organization.

Adrian Peterson weaves his way through the Bears defense for a 67-yd touchdown.

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Why Red Sox and Yankee fans are happy they won’t be rooting for the best pitcher in baseball.

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The Dallas Mavericks parted company with coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, a day following the team’s first-round exit from the NBA playoffs, ESPN.com has learned.

Joe Johnson beasted with 20 in the fourth, Josh Smith added a franchise record 7 blocks in a playoff game. Series tied at 2-2.

Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers reached a preliminary agreement Saturday on an eight-year, $153.3 million contract extension, a source close to Cabrera told ESPNdeportes.com on condition of anonymity.

Overall, it would become the fourth-richest pact ever in baseball history. Cabrera would trail Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez ($275 million), Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ($189 million) and Boston outfielder Manny Ramirez ($160 million) in the total salary package listing.

Former USC basketball player O.J. Mayo, a projected lottery pick in this year’s NBA draft, received thousands of dollars in cash, clothes and other benefits in apparent violation of NCAA rules while he was still in high school and during his one year in college, a former Mayo associate told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines.”

The Oakland Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, two days after using their top draft pick to take big-play back Darren McFadden.

The All-American freshman announced Thursday that he’ll skip his final three college seasons and enter the NBA draft.

Rose, Beasley, Mayo, Lopez, Bayless are the top 5 picks. DJ Augustin falls to 23. Wanna see where your favorite player falls? or who your team drafts? NBAdraft.net is a highly respect draft source, so check out their latest mock.