AFP - Slaven Bilic has raised the stakes ahead of Croatia's World Cup qualifier with England by claiming his squad are a match or better than Fabio Capello's collection of big names in every area of the pitch.

AP - The Boston Red Sox can take over first place in the American League East and the Los Angeles Angels can clinch the AL West division title tonight.

AP - Opponents expecting the New England Patriots to fall apart as a result of Tom Brady's season-ending knee injury would be wise to remember the last time the team had to turn to its backup quarterback.

AP - If Lance Armstrong is ready to return to cycling then Astana team boss Johann Bruyneel doesn't want the seven-time Tour de France champion to ride for anybody else.

AP - Back at his best, back at the top, Roger Federer beat Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 Monday to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open championship and 13th Grand Slam title overall.

AP - Vince Young is awaiting an MRI exam on his sprained left knee Tuesday, hours after the Tennessee Titans sought police help in finding the quarterback the team described as "emotionally down."

AFP - Roger Federer won his 13th Grand Slam crown and fifth consecutive US Open title on Monday, defeating Andy Murray 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to move one Slam title shy of the all-time record.

AP - Like the coach of a team losing at halftime, college football fans banged around by high gas prices are changing their game plans.

AFP - Joe Cole has warned his England team-mates not to underestimate Croatia for the second tournament in a row as they prepare for a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb on Wednesday.

AP - Another full house. A first-place opponent. An outstanding pitchers' duel.

AP - Jay Cutler's strength and rocket arm are back like never before now that his diabetes is under control.

AP - Jon Lester pitched into the eighth inning, Jason Bay homered in a three-run first and the surging Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Monday night to move within a half-game of the struggling AL East leaders.

AP - Lance Armstrong's reported comeback won't take place with the Astana cycling team. "He is no part of our team," Astana team press officer Philippe Maertens told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "Team Astana has no plans with him."

AP - Aaron Rodgers passed his first test as the Green Bay Packers' new quarterback, throwing for 178 yards and a touchdown and scoring on a game-clinching sneak in a 24-19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

AP - The handwritten letters and the e-mails, the care packages and — get this — the instructional DVDs began reaching Roger Federer early in the season, after a bout of mononucleosis precipitated the end of his streak of 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals.