AP - If the FedEx Cup is supposed to be the Super Bowl of golf, then the PGA Tour should take heart. The first two Super Bowls were just as dull.

AP - If the FedEx Cup is supposed to be the Super Bowl of golf, then the PGA Tour should take heart.

AFP - Top seed David Ferrer was dumped out of the China Open by world number 92 Dudi Sela Thursday as home favourite Zheng Jie cruised through to the quarter-finals.

AP - Former Nebraska running back Thunder Collins was arrested Wednesday, nearly 24 hours after a shooting left one person dead and another seriously wounded, police have confirmed. Collins is in police custody and faces murder charges, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said.

AFP - Rafael van der Vaart endeared himself to the Real Madrid fans with a hat-trick as the champions crushed Sporting Gijon 7-1 on Wednesday to go second in the table.

AP - The Tampa Bay Rays will have to wait at least another day to celebrate their first AL East title and pop open the 200 bottles of champagne waiting for them in the clubhouse Wednesday night.

AP - It's still training camp, not boot camp. But the NBA's referees are reporting to a general and he seems the perfect fit for the officials seeking a strong leader to guide them through the toughest times their profession has ever endured.

AP - A yearlong ankle injury could not keep Plaxico Burress out of the New York Giants' lineup last season. The lack of a telephone call this week apparently is going to cost him a game and more than $235,000.

AP - Matt Millen was used to success in his life.

AP - Nick Blackburn fought through five innings and the maligned Minnesota bullpen didn't flinch, pitching the Twins past Mark Buehrle and the White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night to pull within a half-game of Chicago in the AL Central.

AP - Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra homered, and the surging Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 12-4 Wednesday night to clinch a tie for their first NL West championship in four years.

AP - CC Sabathia sizzled on short rest, and the Milwaukee Brewers pulled even with the New York Mets in the NL wild-card race. Sabathia gave up four hits over seven innings while striking out a season-high 11 and the Brewers rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Wednesday night.