AFP - Football's world governing body FIFA on Thursday "provisionally and conditionally" lifted its 12-month ban on Iraq taking part in international competition.

AP - Alfonso Soriano singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th Wednesday night and the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 to complete a three-game sweep.

AP - Ray Allen raised his arms to fire up the Boston crowd with 4.5 seconds left. The struggling Celtics sharpshooter already had excited the fans by finding his shooting touch Wednesday night and helping Boston move one win away from its first NBA finals in 21 years.

AP - The NBA acknowledged Wednesday that a foul should have been called on the final possession of Game 4 in the Western Conference finals, which would have given the San Antonio Spurs a chance to even the series.

AP - NBA coach of the year Byron Scott and the New Orleans Hornets agreed in principle to a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.

AP - With the light fading on center court and Serena Williams facing the possibility of heading into a third set at the French Open, the eight-time Grand Slam champion started to get a little peeved.

AP - Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins found their offense right where they left it — home in the Igloo. Crosby scored Pittsburgh's first two goals of the Stanley Cup finals, beating previously perfect goalie Chris Osgood, and the Penguins made this a series with a 3-2 victory Wednesday night.

AP - Ray Allen found his shooting touch just in time to put the Boston Celtics within one win of the NBA finals for the first time since the original Big Three.

AFP - Maria Sharapova almost became the first women's top seed in French Open history to lose in the opening round on Wednesday as Rafael Nadal showed her the way to master a Roland Garros sandstorm.

AP - The Pittsburgh Penguins did a lot more complaining after Game 2 against the Red Wings than scoring in the first two chapters of the Stanley Cup finals. Now they're headed home in a big hole, with more questions than scoring chances. Producing timely offense and perfectionist defense, Detroit is not only beating the Penguins, they are shutting them out.

AFP - Germany head coach Joachim Loew has dropped striker Patrick Helmes plus midfielders Jermaine Jones and teenager Marko Marin from his Euro 2008 squad, it was announced on Wednesday.

AP - This was precisely the type of performance the New York Mets hoped for when they acquired Johan Santana.

AP - This is supposed to be the NHL's dream matchup for the Stanley Cup finals. The talented Pittsburgh Penguins against the tradition-rich Detroit Red Wings with more than enough star power to persuade even the most casual fan to switch off the NBA playoffs and turn on hockey.