AFP - Lionel Messi rewarded Argentina for fighting for his right to play in the Olympics when he orchestrated a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on the opening day of the Beijing men's football Thursday.

AP - Carlos Pena called it a sign that Tampa Bay is destined for big things this season. Joe Maddon said it was the most exciting win since he's been with the Rays.

AP - President Bush's Olympic odyssey started with a game of political one-upmanship Thursday, as his blunt critique of the host country prompted China to warn the U.S. president to stop meddling in its business.

AP - The wall of gray haze around the National Stadium and across the city cut visibility down to a mile. On the eve of opening ceremonies, Beijing's polluted air took center stage Thursday as the most visibly pressing problem for Olympic organizers who had promised to clean up the Chinese capital.

AP - Morgan Hamm's eyes were red, his voice shaky.

AP - Brett Favre's journey from retirement and back has ended in New York. The Green Bay Packers traded their three-time MVP and Super Bowl-winning quarterback to the Jets on Wednesday, ending an emotionally grinding month of indecision over Favre's future.

AFP - Two Spanish seeds had their Los Angeles Classic tournament debuts cut short as they were sent crashing out of the ATP event in the second round on Wednesday.

AFP - IOC president Jacques Rogge united with FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter on Thursday and called on football clubs to let their players compete in the Olympic Games.

Reuters - Major League Baseball will not suspend its season to allow the game's leading players to compete at the Summer Olympics, hitting hopes the sport might return to the Olympic program in 2016.

AFP - President George W. Bush's attendance at the US's opening Olympic match against hosts China on Sunday is expected to drive a shot of patriotism into the team of highly paid NBA superstars.

Reuters - Green Bay have agreed to trade veteran quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets, the Packers confirmed on their website on Wednesday.

AP - Jeff Karstens has given the Pittsburgh Pirates a perfect start. Almost a perfect game, too. The recently acquired right-hander set down his first 23 batters before Chris Young's two-out double in the eighth inning and finished with a two-hitter Wednesday in a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

AP - Carlos Pena's three-run homer capped a six-run rally in the ninth inning that carried the Tampa Bay Rays past the Cleveland Indians 10-7 on Wednesday for one of their most thrilling victories in a wondrous season.