[World Cup] ‘Nothing will be the same again,’ admits Scolari

 Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted on Friday that a traumatic last six weeks both on and off the field will mark him for the rest of his life."Lots of things have changed and have impacted on my life for better or for worse. In the coming days I will try to get on with my life, that I have left behind a little bit in recent days," said Scolari ahead of Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off against the Netherlands in Brasilia."I will talk a bit with my family about everything that hap

SoccerJuly 12, 2014

Three-way tie for lead in John Deere Classic

Zach Johnson tees off on the second hole during the first round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, Thursday. (AFP-Yonhap)SILVIS, Illinois (AP) ― Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini and Brian Harman shot 8-under-par 63s Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the John Deere Classic.Johnson and Sabbatini played bogey-free golf, while Harman had nine birdies and one bogey on the par-71 TPC Deere Run. They led 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton, Australian Ste

GolfJuly 11, 2014

[World Cup] Brazil’s Neymar thankful he is not in wheelchair now

BRASILIA (AP) ― Neymar became emotional when talking Thursday about the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, saying that if the knee to his back had been slightly more to one side he “could be in a wheelchair” right now.The Brazil striker cried as he recalled the injury, saying “God blessed” him and prevented a more serious injury. Neymar had to stop talking for several seconds, lowering his head and putting a hand in front of his eyes.“It’s difficult to talk about a move that (happened)

SoccerJuly 11, 2014

Streak over, Kershaw pitches Dodgers past Padres 2-1

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw’s scoreless streak ended at 41 innings when he gave up a home run to Chase Headley, but the Los Angeles ace pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts to lead the Dodgers over the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Thursday night.Kershaw won his eighth straight start and came within 18 innings of the major league record set by Dodgers right-hander Orel Hershiser, who threw 59 consecutive shutout innings in 1988.The switch-hitting Headley homered off Kershaw (11-2) in the s

BaseballJuly 11, 2014

[World Cup] Germany, Argentina prepare for final

RIO DE JANEIRO ― As Brazil and the Netherlands lick their wounds, Germany and Argentina are busy with preparations for Sunday’s World Cup final ― the third time the two sides have met in soccer’s most important fixture.Spectators widely see the two deserving of their places in the final, but the way they earned their tickets to the final this week could not have contrasted more. Germany on Tuesday handed Brazil the biggest semifinal defeat in World Cup history, a result that undoubtedly left a l

SoccerJuly 11, 2014

Disgraced Hong resigns as national team coach

Hong Myung-bo, the embattled head coach of the South Korean men’s national football team, announced his resignation Thursday in the wake of the country’s winless World Cup, just a week after receiving a vote of confidence from the sport’s national governing body.At a press conference at the Korea Football Association headquarters in Seoul, Hong said he took the blame for South Korea’s disappointing campaign in Brazil, where the country had one draw and two losses to finish last in Group H.“A lot

SoccerJuly 10, 2014

Argentina faces Germany in final

SAO PAULO (AP) ― The World Cup’s second semifinal was supposed to put the silky skills of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben in the spotlight. Instead, a goalkeeper and two rock-solid defenses stole the show.Argentina goalie Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after tough defending and a lack of creative spark from either team consigned the match to a 0-0 stalemate.In a twist of fate, Romero credited Nethe

SoccerJuly 10, 2014

[World Cup] Coach Loew, Germany take ‘tiki-taka’ to another level

PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) ― Germany has taken the “tiki-taka” passing game so intrinsically used by Spain to another level at the World Cup in Brazil, by adding ruthless efficiency to the possession philosophy.Germany is one win from capturing its fourth World Cup title following the astonishing 7-1 demolition of host Brazil in the semifinals.Spain beat Germany at two major tournaments and coach Joachim Loew was so impressed by the Spanish game that he has taken over many aspects and, of course,

SoccerJuly 10, 2014

[World Cup] Fans delight in WC final berth

SAO PAULO (AP) ― It was Argentina’s joy, and another sting for Brazil.The Argentine soccer team beat the Netherlands on Wednesday to win a berth in the World Cup championship match ― doing it on archrival Brazil’s soil, and just a day after Brazil was humiliated in a 7-1 loss to Germany.Thousands of Argentina fans who traveled to Brazil for the tournament wept, kissed and raised their hands to the sky when their team won 4-2 on penalty kicks, sending it to the final for the first time in more th

SoccerJuly 10, 2014

[World Cup] Merkel to attend final

This 2010 file photo shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrating after a goal at the World Cup in South Africa. (AP-Yonhap)BERLIN (AP) ― Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to the World Cup final in Brazil, giving Germany’s most prominent fan perhaps her best chance yet to watch the team lift a trophy after eight years of very public support.Merkel has become a frequent sight at Germany matches since the country hosted the World Cup in 2006, a few months after she took office ― and a regu

SoccerJuly 10, 2014

Wie goes for encore at Royal Birkdale

SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ― As much as Michelle Wie prefers to look forward, this is one week when it’s tempting to get caught up in the past.That could include her recent tour of New York as the U.S. Women’s Open champion or a decade ago when the teen prodigy from Hawaii got her first taste of links golf along the Lancashire coast of England.Both are relevant memories this week at the Ricoh Women’s British Open.Wie is among the favorites when the LPGA Tour’s third major of the year gets underway

GolfJuly 10, 2014

Scherzer outduels Greinke as Tigers roll

DETROIT (AP) ― When Max Scherzer is on the mound, the Detroit Tigers have a chance to win pretty much any game ― even without their top two sluggers.Scherzer pitched seven impressive innings, outdueling Zack Greinke and helping the short-handed Tigers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday.Detroit was without Miguel Cabrera, who was given a day off, and Victor Martinez, who is dealing with a lingering back issue.“Baseball’s that type of game,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “Even withou

BaseballJuly 10, 2014

[World Cup] Hong Myung-bo resigns as nat'l football coach after winless World Cup

(Yonhap)Hong Myung-bo, the embattled head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, announced his resignation from the post on Thursday in the wake of the country's winless World Cup, a stunning development only a week after receiving a vote of confidence from the sport's national governing body. At a press conference held at the Korea Football Association (KFA) headquarters in Seoul, Hong said he takes the blame for South Korea's disappointing campaign in Brazil, where the country

SoccerJuly 10, 2014