AP - With help from British star power, China concluded its debut as Olympic host Sunday after 16 days of near-flawless logistics and superlative athletic achievement — coexisting awkwardly with the government's wariness of dissent and free speech.

AP - Order is restored in international basketball. The United States is back on top, but not by that much anymore. Culminating a three-year mission to end years of embarrassment, the U.S. Olympic team survived a huge challenge from Spain, winning 118-107 Sunday in the gold-medal game.

AP - Helen Alfredsson shot a 67 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Safeway Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

AFP - Young teenage standout Marin Cilic of Croatia clinched his first ever ATP title on Saturday after a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Mardy Fish of the United States in New Haven.

AFP - Rafa Benitez believes Steven Gerrard's ferocious will to win can fire Liverpool's Premier League title challenge after the England midfielder clinched a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

AP - Dana Eveland made a smooth return to the majors, pitching shutout ball into the seventh inning and helping the Oakland Athletics defeat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 Saturday night.

AFP - The United States team of National Basketball Association stars won the Olympic men's basketball gold medal on Sunday, defeating Spain 118-107 in the championship game.

AP - JaMarcus Russell's starting job is assured even after an inconsistent preseason performance. That might not be the case with Matt Leinart.

AP - Samuel Wanjiru already had made a name for himself in the heady world of Kenyan distance running. Now he stands alone.

AP - Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora injured his left knee in the second quarter of the New York Giants' preseason game against the New York Jets, but coach Tom Coughlin said that early indications are that he did not suffer ligament damage.

AP - Carl Edwards isn't conceding anything to Kyle Busch. Edwards saw Busch lead 415 consecutive laps Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, then used his bumper to nudge Busch in the first turn on lap 470. That move caused Busch's car to wiggle just enough so that Edwards could drive by for his second consecutive victory on the NASCAR Spring Cup Series.