AP - Maybe the NBA finals should book an appointment with one of Southern California's finest plastic surgeons.

AP - The "June Gloom" so typical of summer in San Diego gave way to sunshine on the eve of the U.S. Open, filling the blue sky with fighter jets from Miramar that until Wednesday could only be heard in the fog. But that isn't the biggest buzz at Torrey Pines.

AP - A costly win for the Chicago Cubs.

AFP - Rafael Nadal won his first singles match since destroying Roger Federer in the French Open final as the Spaniard advanced to the third round at Queen's Club on Wednesday.

AP - Mike Babcock helped bring the Stanley Cup back to Detroit.

AFP - Portugal's play-maker Cristiano Ronaldo hit a second-half goal to all but book his side's place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals in a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic here on Wednesday.

Reuters - Decorating the playing fields at Major League Baseball (MLB) parks has become high art with groundskeepers using mowers and hoses to painstakingly fashion elaborate logos and patterns in the grass.

AP - No team in NBA playoff history has overcome an 0-3 deficit. Los Angeles superstar Kobe Bryant made sure the Lakers won't have to overcome that hurdle. Bryant poured in a game-high 36 points in leading the Lakers past Boston 87-81 in game three of the NBA Finals. That cuts Boston's lead to 2-to-1 with the home team winning every game so far.

AP - One of NASCAR's most storied race teams gave up majority control Wednesday when a private equity firm took over Petty Enterprises.

AP - NBA commissioner David Stern dismissed allegations from a former referee at the center of a gambling scandal that the 2002 playoff series was rigged by league referees and officials, calling the claims baseless.