AP - Alfonso Soriano's bat had come around for the Chicago Cubs. He was running the bases and in the outfield with ease. He was no longer tentative after an early season calf injury.

AP - The players in the glamour group were ranked 1, 2 and 3. The guys at the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard were ranked 608 and 722. The biggest winner of all after Thursday's opening round might have been Torrey Pines, a course that muddled the field and blurred the distinction between great, good and mediocre — the way U.S. Open venues so often do.

AP - In their comeback season, the Celtics saved the biggest one of all for the NBA finals. Boston rallied from a 24-point deficit and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-91 on Thursday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in this history-rich series and move within one victory of a 17th championship that seemed impossible a year ago.

AP - Beware: Puttering around on golf carts can be hazardous to your health.

AFP - World number one Roger Federer again needed just over an hour to see off his opponent in straight sets at the Halle ATP tournament on Thursday as he reached the quarter-finals here.

AFP - The F factor can help motivate France against Holland here Friday in a match that has taken on even greater significance since the opening Euro 2008 draw with Romania.

AP - Milton Bradley stormed out of the Texas Rangers clubhouse after an 11-5 victory Wednesday night over Kansas City and bounded up four flights of stairs looking for Royals television announcer Ryan Lefebvre.

AP - Lamar Odom was surrounded. Dozens of microphones and notepads closed in, cutting off every escape route for the Lakers' forward. There was nowhere to go, so he stood firm and answered questions about his troubles in the NBA finals.

AP - What looked like a possible meltdown turned out to be only a hiccup for Tiger Woods. The world's best player made an ugly double bogey on the opening hole of the U.S. Open on Thursday, but came back with three birdies over the next eight holes to turn at 1 under par and within shouting distance of the leader, Robert Karlsson.

AP - This is one U.S. Open where Phil Mickelson should feel right at home. He grew up in San Diego and played high school matches at Torrey Pines. His photo hangs from the concourse in the San Diego airport, along with the city's other famous athletes.

AP - Walter Dix cruised into the finals Wednesday night in his bid for a third and final NCAA 100-meter title.

AP - Mike Babcock's new contract allows the oldest of his three children to graduate from the same high school she's attending. And if all goes well with the Detroit Red Wings over the next three years, Babcock's younger two kids likely will get the same opportunity.