AP - Aiming to build some momentum heading into NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, Jimmie Johnson got off to a good start Friday, winning the pole at Auto Club Speedway.

AP - Alfonso Soriano hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Friday for their seventh straight win,

AP - Josh Beckett was put on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a strained right elbow after the Boston ace was examined by Dr. James Andrews.

AP - Roger Federer flicked a final winner, trotted to the net and started to shake hands. Then, there was one last challenge.

AFP - A number of women's seeds are poised to try and knock world number one Ana Ivanovic off her lofty perch after the Serbian star's shocking early round exit from the US Open on Thursday.

AFP - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes clubs who risk financial meltdown in the pursuit of success should be kicked out of Europe competitions.

AP - The NBA officially handed over the Seattle franchise to Oklahoma City about two months ago, and three trucks arrived downtown at headquarters on Friday.

AP - Three-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt will run the 400-meter relay along with the 100 at Friday's Weltklasse meet, his first races since the Beijing Games.

AP - Phil Mickelson's star presence at the Deutsche Bank Championship was evident Thursday by the company he kept at the TPC Boston.

AFP - World No. 1 Rafael Nadal wasted no time booking his place in the third round, steamrolling Ryler DeHeart while women's top seed Ana Ivanovic became the biggest casualty of the US Open.