AFP - Germany marched into the last four of Euro 2008 after Portugal pressed the self-destruct button in a five-goal thriller of a quarter-final here on Thursday.

AP - Joba Chamberlain struck out a career-high nine, Alex Rodriguez delivered another key hit and the New York Yankees beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 Thursday for their seventh straight victory.

AP - Through a haze of his own cigar smoke, Paul Pierce peered through sleepless eyes at the sea of green-clad fans and thrust his golden MVP trophy skyward.

AP - Doctors who treat the kinds of knee and leg injuries that ended Tiger Woods' victorious season have one word for his U.S. Open victory — remarkable.

AP - Carl Crawford's second career grand slam was the big blow in a seven-run, seventh-inning rally that carried the Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs and a three-game sweep of the team with baseball's best record Thursday night.

AP - A Bronx woman who was involved in a Las Vegas brawl that police say NFL star Adam "Pacman" Jones' incited has been found dead.

AP - John McLaren was fired Thursday as manager of the Seattle Mariners, who began the season with playoff aspirations and now have the worst record in the major leagues. Bench coach Jim Riggleman will run the Mariners for the rest of their lost season, beginning Friday night in Atlanta.

AP - Tiger Woods' career has been defined as much by spectacular shots as mind-boggling numbers.

AFP - Australian Samantha Stosur stretched her comeback from illness with a charge into the semi-finals of the Eastbourne Championships 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 over Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday.

AFP - For anyone offering an opinion on how an international football tournament might pan out, 'never write off the Germans' has long been one of the most reliable cliches.

AP - J.D. Drew tied a career-high with four hits and fell a triple short of the cycle, Justin Masterson pitched five effective innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Wednesday.

AFP - Hoisting their championship trophy before a crowd city officials estimated approached one million people, the Boston Celtics celebrated their NBA crown with a grand parade Thursday.