AFP - Liverpool, without injured captain Steven Gerrard, beat Lazio 1-0 at Anfield on Friday in a friendly warm-up for next week's Champions League match with Xabi Alonso in fine form.

AP - Michael Bush made the most of his first game of any kind in nearly two years.

AP - Henry Blanco singled home the winning run with the bases loaded in the 11th inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Friday to keep up their domination this season at Wrigley Field.

AP - CC Sabathia pitched a five-hitter to remain unbeaten with the Brewers and Milwaukee beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Friday night.

AP - Chad Pennington, cut by the New York Jets after they signed Brett Favre, signed with the Miami Dolphins on Friday.

AP - J.B. Holmes and his monster length turned out to be a good fit for Oakland Hills. With a black glove on his hand and a scowl on his face, Holmes hammered one tee shot after another Friday and kept most of them in the short grass, leading to a 2-under 68 for a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the PGA Championship.

AP - China didn't just walk onto the world stage. It soared over it. At last playing its long-sought role as Olympic host, China opened the Summer Games in spectacular fashion Friday with an extravaganza of fireworks and pageantry dramatizing its ascendance as a global power.

AFP - John McEnroe says Pete Sampras is surely breathing a sigh of relief with Roger Federer's impending drop from the world number one spot after four and a half years of domination.

AFP - Lionel Messi was on Friday tipped to be the driving force behind Argentina's bid for back-to-back Olympic gold after the superstar striker shrugged off a damaging club-or-country controversy.

AP - J.B. Holmes hung on to shoot a 2-under 68 and take a one-stroke lead into the clubhouse midway through the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday.