AFP - Roberto Mancini was sacked as coach of Serie A champions Inter Milan on Thursday opening the way for Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho to replace him.

AP - Jay Bruce was bound to make an out sooner or later. The Cincinnati Reds will lose again at home, too. Eventually.

Reuters - Chicago Bulls basketball player Joakim Noah, son of former French Open tennis champion Yannick Noah, has agreed to serve six months probation and pay a $200 fine after being charged with marijuana possession in Florida, the State Attorney's office said on Thursday.

AP - Michelle Wie shot a 4-under 68 at the Ladies German Open with about half the field in the clubhouse, trailing leader Nina Reis of Sweden by four strokes.

AP - Track coach Trevor Graham was found guilty Thursday of one count of lying to federal investigators about his relationship to a steroids dealer.

AP - The Detroit Pistons don't know if Richard Hamilton will be healthy enough to play against the Boston Celtics on Friday.

AP - The youthful Los Angeles Lakers maintain they're not close to being a finished product. And yet, they're one win away from earning their first NBA finals berth in four years, with as many as three shots at it if necessary.

AP - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal showed what they can do when challenged.

AP - Lorena Ochoa withdrew from the Ginn Tribute, putting the top-ranked player's duel with tournament host Annika Sorenstam on hold.

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 - Sidney Crosby is the Pittsburgh Penguins' leader. Their best player. The franchise figurehead. A player who brings out the best in those who surround him, even if the 20-year-old is half the age of some.

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.