Sweden's Lundberg wins second Tour title in Moscow

Sweden's Lundberg wins second Tour title in Moscow

NAKHABINO, Russia (Reuters) - Sweden's Mikael Lundberg birdied two of his last three holes to clinch the Russian Open on Sunday for his second European Tour title.

The 34-year-old, who won his maiden tour title at the Moscow Country Club three years ago in a sudden-death playoff on the fourth extra hole, shot a four-under-par 68 in the final round to finish on 21-under 267, beating Spain's Jose Manuel Lara by two strokes.

"This victory means so much to me. We are halfway through the season now and I felt like the most important thing for me was to keep my card for next season," Lundberg, who spent last year on the Challenge Tour, told a news conference.

"The first one was great because it was my first victory but this one means even more because the money is a lot more and I get a two year exemption instead of one. It feels amazing," he said after collecting 210,237 euros ($330,000) compared to the 67,599 euros ($106,100) he won in 2005.

Lundberg, who was tied with Lara on 19-under with three holes to play, made a 27-feet birdie putt on the par-three 16th to charge ahead, then birdied the par-five 17th to move two up on the Spaniard.

Britain's Benn Barham finished third, another stroke back after carding a 68 on Sunday.



ON FIRE

Lara, who trailed Lundberg by six strokes after three rounds, was on fire on Sunday, making eight birdies on his first 14 holes to catch up with the Swede.

But a bogey on the par-five 15th threw the Spaniard off and not even another birdie on 17 could make a difference.

Lundberd, who described the course in Nakhabino, about 15 km north-west of Moscow, as "just for me", said he was lucky to make a par on the 15th after hitting his tee shot into the trees.

"I was in real trouble on the 15th when I hit a very bad drive to the left," he said.

"I couldn't even get the ball out of the trees with the first shot and on the second try I had to take a big risk to hit it out. Luckily it was a good week for me and I made a par, I just don't know how," he added.

Norway's Jan-Are Larsen was fourth on 271, a stroke ahead of 2006 runner-up David Drysdale of Scotland, who along with Lara had the best score for the final round, a 64.

Britain's Jamie Moul, who started the final round in second place, one stroke behind Lundberg, could not sustain his momentum on Sunday. The 23-year-old former amateur world number one made three bogeys on the back nine to finish tied for sixth, six strokes back.

Tevez move to United to set British transfer record

Tevez move to United to set British transfer record

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United will sign Argentine Carlos Tevez for a British transfer record fee of 32 million pounds ($63.52 million), according to newspaper reports on Saturday.

The 24-year-old forward, who joined United on an initial two-year loan deal from West Ham United a year ago, is expected to sign a permanent deal shortly.

According to reports, United will pay the fee to Media Sports Investment (MSI), the company that owns the Argentina international's registration.

United's chief executive David Gill, speaking in South Africa where the team are on tour, was quoted by newspapers as saying: "We have spoken to Carlos and see him as part of our long-term squad.

"We have been pleased with his first season. He is a good age, a great player and well liked within the team. We know what we have to do and what we have to pay."

Tevez scored 19 goals in 39 appearances for United as they won the Premier League and Champions League last season.

The estimated 32-million pound fee for his signature would eclipse the 30.8 million pounds Chelsea spent to buy Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan in July 2006.

Tevez arrived at Old Trafford last year in a move from West Ham complicated by the fact that Iranian businessman Kai Joorabchian's MSI owned his registration.

Sri Lanka wins the first cricket test against India by an innings and 239 runs

Sri Lanka wins the first cricket test against India by an innings and 239 runs
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ India slumped to its heaviest innings defeat in 34 years Saturday as Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan and his new spin partner Ajantha Mendis shared 19 wickets to claim a crushing win in the first test. In response to Sri Lanka's 600-6 declared, India was bowled out for 223 and 138 to lose by an innings and 239 runs.

It was the biggest innings margin against India since it lost by an innings and 285 runs against England in 1974 and its third worst ever. The win was also Sri Lanka's third biggest ever innings win, with the other two coming against minnow Zimbabwe.

"There is a very good feeling with everybody and there were a contributions from a lot of people," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said after the match. India began Saturday at 158-6 in its first innings, facing a difficult task merely to avoid the follow-on, and its famed batting line-up could find no answer to Sri Lanka's spin pair, losing 14 wickets in just over two sessions.

"When you see that batting lineup you would expect them to give a fight. That's (India collapse) was a surprising factor," Jayawardene said.

Muralitharan (5-84 and 6-26) recorded the 21st 10-wicket haul of his career, and Sri Lanka appears to have unearthed a short-term spin partner and longer-term potential replacement in Mendis (4-72 and 4-60) who impressed on debut. "I only expected to do well on my debut but didn't expect to have so many wickets," Mendis told about his memorable entry into tests.

Sri Lanka's giant total included a national record-equaling four centuries in an innings, as Jayawardene (136), Malinda Warnapura (115), Thilan Samaraweera (127) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (125 not out) all prospered on a benign pitch. By contrast, the shortcomings of India's high-profile batsmen were stark.

"We had a good opportunity in the beginning.

nothing went right for us in the match," India captain Anil Kumble said.

"We just capitulated. "It's just a matter of coming together and coming back.

We have come back in the past." V.V.S Laxman (56) and No.

11 Ishant Sharma held out for 108 balls for the last wicket of the first innings, but that effort came in marked contrast to their teammates, and Sri Lanka duly enforced the follow on. Virender Sehwag (13) was first to go in the second innings after misreading and leaving a Muralitharan delivery that went straight on to hit his back leg.

Field umpire Mark Benson ruled him not out, but host captain Mahela Jayawardene successfully challenged the decision under trial laws used for the first time in this test, and he was given out by the third umpire after a video review. Laxman (21) was trapped lbw after lunch, soon followed by Sachin Tendulkar (12), who made little headway in his quest to overtake Brian Lara as test cricket's highest run scorer.

He top-edged a sweep and was caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan running from leg slip. Initially given not out, he was another batsman to suffer the consequences of the trial laws, as he was given out after a challenge.

The remaining seven wickets tumbled for a mere 56 runs.

Muralitharan, Mendis bowl Sri Lanka to record home win

Muralitharan, Mendis bowl Sri Lanka to record home win

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis bowled Sri Lanka to an innings and 239-run victory in the first test against India on Saturday.

It was India's worst defeat against Sri Lanka, who registered their biggest test win on home soil.

Muralitharan and Mendis destroyed the tourists on a dry spinning pitch, bowling them out for 223 in the morning and then 138 in just 45 overs in the second innings after Sri Lanka forced the follow-on with India trailing by 377 runs.

Muralitharan snared five for 84 from 29 overs in the first innings and then claimed a further six for 26 from 13 overs in the second innings.

Mendis, an unorthodox finger spinner, claimed four for 72 from 27.5 overs in the first innings and another four for 60 in the second innings to finish with eight for 132 on his test debut.

In the morning, the only resistance to Sri Lanka's spinners came from VVS Laxman, who batted patiently for his 56 off 118 deliveries and was the only Indian to pass 50 in the game.

With the tourists on 159-6 overnight, Mendis struck early in the morning when Anil Kumble was trapped lbw for one.

Muralitharan claimed his fifth wicket of the innings as Harbhajan Singh (9) edged on to his pad and was caught at short leg. Zaheer Khan (5) was pinned lbw with a quick delivery from Mendis.



FINAL WICKET

Last man Ishant Sharma (13 not out) helped Laxman add 35 for the final wicket but Mendis quickly wrapped up the innings after being reintroduced into the attack.

In the second innings, Muralitharan needed just four balls to strike as Virender Sehwag (13) padded away a delivery from around the wicket.

The initial appeal was turned down but Sri Lanka successfully challenged the decision, with third umpire Rudi Koertzen adjudging the ball had pitched in line with the stumps.

Laxman was promoted up the order after his first innings fifty, but was trapped lbw for 21 soon after lunch.

Sri Lanka won their second umpire review when Sachin Tendulkar (12) was given out caught at leg slip as he gloved an attempted sweep.

India's problems quickly increased when Gautam Gambhir, who had battled hard for his 43, was brilliantly stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene.

Saurav Ganguly (four) lasted just minutes before edging Muralitharan to a second slip.

Then, in the final over before tea, Rahul Dravid (10) was given out caught at bat-pad off Mendis after a third successful umpire referral by Sri Lanka, television replays clearly indicating an inside edge.

India's demise continued after the break as Dinesh Karthik (0) edged Muralitharan to slip and Anil Kumble (12) was bowled.

Mendis finished the match with two wickets in an over, bowling Khan (3) and Singh (15).

The second test at Galle starts on Thursday.

Padraig Harrington wins 2nd straight British Open

Padraig Harrington wins 2nd straight British Open

SOUTHPORT, England - Padraig Harrington enjoys few moments more than the walk down 18th fairway of a century-old links course, especially with a four-shot lead in the British Open and the engraver putting the final touches on the oldest trophy in golf. He stopped Sunday to share the moment with Greg Norman, who knows this path all too well.

Celebration for one, sympathy for the other.

"I did say to him coming down 18 that I was sorry it wasn't his story that was going to be told," Harrington said. "I did feel that, but I wanted to win myself. In this game, you have to take your chances when you get them."

Harrington seized his opportunity by smashing a pair of fairway metals into the par 5s that carried him to a 32 on the back nine of blustery Royal Birkdale and made him Europe's first player in more than a century to win the British Open two years in a row.

"Obviously, winning a major puts you in a special club," Harrington said after closing with a 1-under 69 to win by four shots over Ian Poulter. "Winning two of them puts you in a new club altogether."

Norman got a chance no one saw coming.

Still on his honeymoon with tennis great Chris Evert, at 53 only a part-time golfer with no expectations, the Shark found himself with a two-shot lead going into the final round and still one shot ahead with nine holes to play.

It ended like so many other majors for Norman — a quick succession of bogeys, the clutch shots belonging to someone else. He made eight bogeys in gusts that reached 40 mph, closed with a 77 and tied for third.

"Where does it rank in those? Probably not as high as some of the other ones," Norman said of the six other times he lost a 54-hole lead in a major. "Quite honestly, I'm sure I surprised a lot of people."

So did Harrington.

The 36-year-old Irishman injured his right wrist eight days ago, and it was so sore that he could only practice for nine holes on Tuesday and for three swings on the eve of his title defense.

He gave himself a 75 percent chance of starting, 50 percent of finishing.

Turns out that wrist was strong enough to hit all the right shots. Better yet, it was strong enough to lift the claret jug.

"It was a great distraction for me," Harrington said. "It took a lot of pressure off me. It took a lot of stress off me. The fact that I didn't play three practice rounds like normal for a major was a big bonus. I was very fresh going into the weekend, and this 36 holes was a real battle."

Harrington first had to take the lead from Norman, which he did on the par-3 12th when Norman missed a 10-foot par putt. Then came a late charge from Poulter, who made a 15-foot birdie on the 16th and saved par with a 15-footer on the final hole for a 69 that looked like it might be good enough to win.

But the Irishman responded with clutch shots of his own. He hit a 3-wood into the wind to 40 feet on the par-5 15th and got down in two putts for birdie, giving him a two-shot lead. Standing in the 17th fairway, still aware that Norman could make eagle and stay in the game, Harrington hit a 5-wood that bounded onto the green and up the ridge, stopping 4 feet away for eagle.

That gave him a four-shot lead, and he knew it was over when his tee shot found the 18th fairway.

What a change from last year, when Harrington made double bogey on the 18th hole, got into a playoff only when Sergio Garcia couldn't save par, and couldn't celebrate at Carnoustie until a testy 3-footer for par on the last hole of overtime.

"I enjoyed the claret jug so much I didn't want to give it back," Harrington said.

He finished at 3-over 283, becoming the first European since James Braid in 1905-06 to win the Open in successive years.

It was his first victory since the British Open last year, and it could not have come at a better time. Harrington moved to the top of Europe's Ryder Cup standings, and the victory moved him to No. 3 in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

"I'm quite enjoying this," Harrington said, cradling the claret jug. "I don't think I'll get down off the stage."

Norman played a familiar role as the tragic figure.

He lost his two-shot lead after the third hole and wound up in a tie for third with Henrik Stenson, who shot 71. The 77 was one shot better than the last time Norman led a major, closing with a 78 in the 1996 Masters.

"I walk away from here disappointed, but with my head held high, because I hung in there," Norman said.

Poulter thought he could bring England its first British Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, playing bogey-free over his final 15 holes. He went to the practice range in case of a playoff, but put his clubs away when he saw that Harrington made eagle on the 17th hole.

"I can only do what I can do," Poulter said. "And I done my best."

Norman tried to keep alive his hopes with a 35-foot par putt on the 14th, and a shot from a pot bunker that made him spin backward, turning to see the ball land 4 feet away at the 15th for his only birdie of the day. Harrington, however, didn't back down.

"Padraig played brilliantly today, even though he tried to let it get away in the middle of the round," Norman said. "He came back and performed brilliantly, and he finished like a true champion."

The leaderboard featured a familiar name, missing an "s."

Chris Wood, a 20-year-old amateur from England, closed in on the lead until three straight bogeys on the back nine. He finished with a 72 and tied for fifth at 10-over 290 with Jim Furyk (71).

"It's been the best week of my life," Wood said.

Norman felt much the same, except for the final day.

What an amazing week for the Shark — spending his honeymoon in Skibo Castle, showing up at Royal Birkdale to tune up for the Senior British Open and Senior U.S. Open, then feeling those old competitive juices.

Fans perched themselves atop every sand dune to see if Norman could pull off a victory that would have ranked among the most stunning in golf, from Jack Nicklaus winning the Masters at age 46 to Ben Hogan returning from a life-threatening car crash to win the U.S. Open.

But instead of a fairy-tale ending, he delivered a rerun of opportunities lost in the majors.

Norman hit into a pot bunker on the first hole and made bogey. He missed the green left on the second hole and made bogey. His tee shot buried in the right rough on the third hole for another bogey. And he had to make an 8-foot putt to save bogey on the sixth.

Just like that, a two-shot lead over Harrington turned into a two-shot deficit.

Harrington gave him one last chance with three straight bogeys to close out the front nine. That was the last bogey he made.

"This year is more satisfying," Harrington said.

Harrington closes in on another claret jug

Harrington closes in on another claret jug

SOUTHPORT, England - Padraig Harrington closed in on his second straight British Open championship Sunday. Not bad for a guy who wasn't sure he'd be able to play. Greg Norman's hopes of becoming golf's oldest major champion were fading, done in by a rash of bogeys that broke out right at the start. The 53-year-old Aussie bogeyed the first three holes to quickly surrender the two-shot lead he had going to the final round.

English favorite Ian Poulter, nattily dressed as always in peach-colored pants, was the leader in the clubhouse after shooting a 1-under 69. A roar went up across Royal Birkdale when he sank a 15-footer for birdie at the 16th, pulling into a tie for the lead with Harrington.

But Poulter's hopes took a blow when he three-putted for par at the par-5 17th, though he did give himself hope with a gutty par putt at the last hole for a 7-over 287.

Harrington, who only got in nine holes of practice this week because of a sore wrist, overcame a stretch of three straight bogeys just before the turn on another blustery day at Royal Birkdale and was 5 under with three holes to play.

Norman actually had the lead going to the back side, despite his erratic play, but Harrington quickly reclaimed it when the Shark bogeyed the 10th and 12th holes.

With Norman fading, Harrington made his first birdie of the day, rolling in a 12-foot putt at No. 13. He added a two-putt birdie at the par-5 15th, giving him a two-shot lead on Poulter and three on Norman, who picked up his first birdie of the round at the same hole with a dazzling up-and-down from the pot bunker, the sand blowing in his face.

Harrington was trying to become the first European in more than a century to defend his Open title. He won last year in a playoff with Sergio Garcia after nearly throwing it away on the 72nd hole at Carnoustie, where he hit two balls into the Barry Burn and had to scramble for a double-bogey.

This year, he wasn't sure he could play after injuring his right wrist last weekend swinging into an "impact bag," sort of a punching bag for golfers.

He had to cut short a practice round Tuesday and gave up after just three swings on Wednesday. That day, he put his chances of teeing off at 75 percent and his hopes of finishing at 50 percent. Nobody even asked him for his odds of winning.

As if to show these were his kind of conditions, Harrington shed his wind jacket heading to the second hole and played in a short-sleeved shirt while most of the other players bundled up on the sunny but windy day.

K.J. Choi, the 36-hole leader and tied with Harrington at two strokes back after the third round, had a miserable day on the greens. The South Korean missed one short putt after another for a 6-over 40 on the front side, knocking him out of contention.

American phenom Anthony Kim, already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year at age 23, was trying to become the youngest major winner since Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters. But he finished with three straight bogeys for a 75, leaving him with a 292 total.

Henrik Stenson of Sweden was at 289 after a 71, while English amateur Chris Wood put up the most surprising round. The 20-year-old shot 72 and was assured of a top-10 finish at 290. Jim Furyk also was at 10 over with a 71.

Now a part-time player, Norman was at 2-over 212 through three days and seeking to win one for the ages. Julius Boros was the oldest major champion, winning the 1968 PGA Championship when he was 48.

The Shark had not taken a lead into the last round of a major since the 1996 Masters, where his epic collapse cleared the way for Nick Faldo to claim the green jacket. Harrington and Choi started at 214.

Wearing a black cap and sweater, Norman landed in a pot bunker with his approach at No. 1 and barely reached the green with his blast-out, sand blowing in his face. He missed about a 25-footer to save par, the ball skidding over the right edge of the cup.

Norman took another bogey at the second after driving into the beaten-down rough left of the fairway, then pulling a 6-iron left of the green between two bunkers. The chip rolled 6 feet past the cup, and Norman missed the downhill putt to lose another stroke.

At No. 3, more of the same. Norman drove into the rough again and wound up missing an 8-foot putt, after Harrington had calmly rolled in a 12-footer that pushed him into the lead all by himself.

No one broke par in the third round, but that changed for the early starters Sunday. David Howell fired a 3-under 67, equaling the second-best score of the week. Thomas Aiken shot 68, while Ernie Els and Robert Karlsson both posted 69s. Even David Duval bounced back, making 71 after an ugly 83 sent him tumbling out of contention the previous day.

The wind picked up, however, with gusts of 45 mph in the forecast as the final groups were in the middle of their rounds. The scores reflected the tougher conditions, with no one breaking par in the afternoon until Poulter's round.

Windy, misting rain: Normal day at British Open

Windy, misting rain: Normal day at British Open

SOUTHPORT, England - The flags around Royal Birkdale flapped in the stiff breeze Friday morning. A light, misting rain fell from the gray clouds, which obscured any hint of the sunBy British Open standards, a normal morning.

Compared to 24 hours earlier, a huge improvement.

The focus was again on the weather for day two of golf's oldest major, with the early starters racing to get in as many holes as possible before another expected round of storms rolled in off the Irish Sea. The forecast called for potentially heavy showers throughout the day on top of that ever-present wind, the sort of conditions that made life miserable for the early starters on Thursday.

No one took advantage of the relative calm more than Jean Van de Velde, still remembered for his memorable 72nd-hole collapse at Carnoustie nine years ago.

The dashing Frenchman, going out in the first group of the day at 6:30 a.m., shot a 2-under 32 on the front side — the sort of score that would have been impossible a day earlier in the cold, soaking rain and howling wind that kicked off the tournament. He was at 1 over overall, two strokes behind Greg Norman and Rocco Mediate.

Norman, who shot a par 70 on Thursday, birdied the first hole and briefly found himself with the lead all to himself when the co-leaders from the opening round got off to tougher starts.

Mediate, a playoff loser at the U.S. Open, shot 69 Thursday and started the second round with five straight pars before a bogey at No. 6 knocked him a shot off the pace. He bounced right back at the par-3 seventh with a birdie, pulling even with Norman.

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, coming off a 69, was a stroke behind after a bogey at the second. Robert Allenby of Australia, the third of the 18-hole leaders, was really struggling with two straight bogeys to start his round, leaving him two shots off the pace.

Van de Velde was playing the Open for the first time since 2005, and just the second time in the past seven years. But he's still haunted by the ghost of Carnoustie, where he went to the final hole of regulation with a three-stroke lead, only to recklessly throw it away by trying to finish off his first major title with a flourish.

He knocked his ball off a grandstand and into the Barry Burn, even taking off his socks to wade into the cold water with the hopes of hitting an impossible shot. He eventually thought better of that idea, but still wound up with a triple-bogey and went on to lose to Paul Lawrie in the playoff.

Van de Velde has never shied away from his legacy — one of the greatest collapses in sports history — and he's never given up hope of writing a new chapter to the story.

Then there's Mediate, the 45-year-old everyman who has suddenly revitalized his career. He was on the cusp of his first major championship at Torrey Pines last month until Tiger Woods sank a birdie putt at the final hole on Sunday. They moved on to a playoff the next day, and Woods captured his 14th major title on the 19th hole.

Still, Mediate's inspiring play and "what the heck am I doing here" demeanor turned him into the darling of the gallery, and he showed through his first day at Royal Birkdale it was no fluke.

"I have no explanation for that whatsoever. No idea why that happened," Mediate said after walking off the course Thursday with the share of another major lead. "It was just one of those rounds. It was just up and down, up and down, and a couple of birdies, and here we are."

Mediate was one of the lucky ones Thursday. Most of the players who went off in the morning struggled mightily in horrible conditions, including Ernie Els — who was rated as one of the favorites but left with an 80 on his scorecard, the highest score of his sterling Open career.

Vijay Singh also shot 80 — and didn't even feel he played that poorly — while Phil Mickelson was barely hanging on after losing his ball in the prickly rough at No. 6 and going on to a 79, Lefty's worst start at a tournament that always seems to give him problems.

By the afternoon, the rain stopped, the wind tapered off a bit and the scores dropped dramatically. All but two players in the top 14 had an afternoon tee time.

"Obviously," McDowell said, "we got pretty lucky."

AP Source: Packers allege tampering by Vikings

AP Source: Packers allege tampering by Vikings

MILWAUKEE - The Green Bay Packers have filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings alleging the team made inappropriate contact with Brett Favre, a person familiar with the Packers' complaint told The Associated Press Wednesday night. The person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said Packers officials have expressed their belief that interest from the Vikings was driving Favre's sudden change of heart about playing football in 2008.

"They feel like Favre had something (in place), and that's why he was so anxious to get his release all of a sudden," the person said.

The tampering charges were first reported by Foxsports.com earlier Wednesday.

The person said the league already has reviewed evidence provided by the Packers, and team officials believe a league examination of telephone records would indicate more than "normal contact" between Favre and Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a former Green Bay assistant. According to the person, Packers officials also believe the contact began before Favre and his agent, Bus Cook, formally asked the Packers to release him.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league had no comment on the report. Cook did not return a telephone message left by The Associated Press earlier Wednesday.

The tampering charges added a new twist to the Favre saga, which seemed to be over when Favre retired in early March but now has been sizzling for several weeks.

Now, with Favre potentially headed back to an even chillier reception than the below-zero conditions in his last game at Lambeau Field when he makes a scheduled appearance at the Packers' Hall of Fame banquet this weekend, the next step in the iconic quarterback's plan to maneuver his way out of Green Bay is unclear.

Cook told ESPN on Wednesday that he and Favre have "no definite plans to ask for reinstatement" and it was up to the Packers to decide what to do next.

"It's their move," Cook said.

Favre currently is on the Packers' reserve/retired list. To be reinstated, Favre must write a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Once that request is approved — a step considered a formality — the Packers would have to release Favre or place him on their active roster.

Favre was in Los Angeles for Wednesday night's taping of the ESPY Awards. Host Justin Timberlake zeroed in on Favre sitting in the audience with his wife, Deanna.

"What have you been up to lately? I haven't seen you anywhere," Timberlake said. "Just chillin'? Yeah, me too."

Later, Timberlake went into the seats to hug Favre's would-be successor Aaron Rodgers, the Packers' 2005 first-round draft choice. Favre sheepishly looked down with a slight smile on his face as the crowd laughed.

That's just the first of several awkward moments potentially on tap for Favre this week.

Favre is scheduled to present former teammate Frank Winters at the Packers' Hall of Fame induction Saturday. Winters, former Packers defensive tackle Gilbert Brown and video director Al Treml will be enshrined in the Packers' Hall of Fame.

Should Favre keep his commitment, his return to Lambeau will come a little more than a week after formally requesting to be released — and only days after expressing his distrust of Packers management, insisting in an interview with Fox News on Monday that the team pressured him into making his retirement decision.

Favre could see some of the same folks he criticized in his trip back to Lambeau. He also might run into Packers offensive line coach James Campen, a former teammate who was dragged into the middle of the controversy this week.

In an unaired portion of Favre's interview with "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren," Favre apparently said Campen recently made an unexpected visit to his home in Mississippi and said he had "an answer" for Favre regarding his desire to unretire.

"He says, 'You know, I know they told you they're moving on and playing there's not an option,'" Favre said, according to a full transcript of the interview obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Playing here in Green Bay is not an option, which that's what they want. They want to move on. But I'm telling you, if you reinstate or you force their hand, back them in a corner, they feel like they have no other option, they're going to accept you back.'"

"And he said, 'Just telling you.' And I said, 'OK.'"

In an interview with The Associated Press on Saturday, two days before Favre made his comments about Campen, Packers coach Mike McCarthy chastised the Favre camp for putting Campen in a "tough spot."

McCarthy said the Packers told Campen to visit Favre as a friend, not on behalf of the team, once they heard Favre was having second thoughts about retirement earlier in the offseason. McCarthy said it was Favre and his representatives, not the team, who turned Campen into an "intermediary" between Favre and the front office.

"I think he's totally, wrongly been illustrated in this," McCarthy said. "Ted (Thompson, Packers general manager) would not even talk to Campen about this. He said, 'Hey, your personal relationship with Brett Favre is bigger than this, so don't ever put yourself in that position.' ... James was put in a tough spot. He was put in a situation that was purely personal."

Meanwhile, members of the Packers' management team could face a few awkward moments of their own next week when the Packers hold their annual shareholders meeting at Lambeau Field on July 24.

A movement to rally fan support for Favre has fizzled so far. A rally in Green Bay drew fewer than 200 fans Sunday, and Monday's rally in the Milwaukee suburbs drew only 30 despite widespread local media attention. But shareholders supporting Favre could call attention to the issue.

Shareholders aren't expected to have the chance to ask questions during the meeting, but Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy and Thompson will be present to mingle with them and answer their questions afterward, along with other members of the Packers' staff.

___

AP Football Writer Dave Goldberg in New York and AP Sports Writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

American League wins All-Star game 4-3 in 15 innings

American League wins All-Star game 4-3 in 15 innings

NEW YORK - Baseball's All-Stars came to say goodbye to Yankee Stadium — and what a long, long goodbye it was. In a game that started Tuesday night and faded well into Wednesday, Justin Morneau slid home just in time on Michael Young's sacrifice fly in the 15th inning, giving the American League a 4-3 victory that extended its unbeaten streak to 12.Young ended a 4-hour, 50-minute marathon at 1:37 a.m. on the 453rd pitch, with the grand old ballpark half-empty. It was a good thing, too — neither team had any pitchers left in the bullpen, but this one was not going to end in another tie.

"It was just crazy how it seemed like it lasted forever," Texas' Ian Kinsler said. "It was the last year for Yankee Stadium, the last All-Star game, and it's kind of fitting that it seemed like it lasted forever."

The NL was given a pregame pep talk by Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, whose motto is: "Let's play two!" And they nearly did, matching the NL's 2-1 win at Anaheim in 1967 for the longest All-Star game ever.

"Yankee Stadium is tough, I'm telling you," Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said. "Didn't want it to end."

Morneau started the winning rally with a leadoff single against loser Brad Lidge. After Dioner Navarro singled with one out, J.D. Drew walked to load the bases.

Young lofted a fly to right, and Corey Hart's throw home took two bounces and was slightly to the first-base side of the plate. Catcher Brian McCann gloved the ball and tried a sweep tag, but Morneau sneaked his right foot in, barely ahead of the tag.

Plate umpire Derryl Cousins made the safe call, and the AL players left in the dugout rushed out to celebrate.

"It was a little deep for me," Hart said. "I was just trying to get it as close as I could."

The AL improved to 6-0 since the All-Star game began determining homefield advantage in the World Series and 11-0-1 since its 1996 loss in Philadelphia. And it even ended an old hex — it had been 0-9-1 in extra innings against its older rival.

Still, the NL leads 40-37-2 overall.

"In the last two hours, it wasn't a whole lot of fun," AL manager Terry Francona said.

Young, who got a ninth-inning, go-ahead hit off Trevor Hoffman in 2006 at Pittsburgh, helped avoid a repeat of 2002. That year, the game at Milwaukee ended in a 7-7, 12-inning tie and caused the commissioner's office to expand the rosters.

The winner was Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, the record 12th AL pitcher.

"I've been in a lot off one-inning situations this year, so I'm not sure how long I could have gone," said Lidge, the 11th NL hurler. "I know nobody would have wanted to start marching position players out there to decide who has home-field advantage in the World Series."

Drew was picked as the MVP, with his two-run homer in the seventh making it 2-all. Being from Boston, he was booed when presented with his trophy. The only other AL player with an All-Star ending RBI was Red Sox great Ted Williams, who hit a three-run, ninth-inning homer in 1941.

"One of those undescribable events," said Drew, who was prepared to be an emergency pitcher.

This one had nearly everything a fan could ask for — a Yankees fan, that is.

The pinstriped crowd got to boo Boston's Jonathan Papelbon and the Mets' Billy Wagner. The fans showed their love for Rivera and Derek Jeter.

Matt Holliday and Drew hit home runs. Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada made a great, falling throw on a slow grounder to deny the AL a win in the 10th after a pair of uggly errors by Dan Uggla, who made a record three botches in all.

The AL left the potential winning run at third base in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings. Uggla twice stranded what would have been the go-ahead run on third.

Colorado's Aaron Cook wiggled out of bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 10th. Grady Sizemore and Evan Longoria grounded into forceouts at the plate, and Tejada made a charging, flying throw to get Morneau on a slow grounder.

In the 11th, Pittsburgh center fielder Nate McLouth made a perfect throw to nail Navarro at the plate on Young's single, with Dodgers catcher Russell Martin applying the tag.

The NL loaded the bases with one out in the 12th before Kansas City's Joakim Soria struck out Uggla, and Baltimore's George Sherrill fanned Adrian Gonzalez.

For much of the past few days, the question that hung over the game was whether Francona would use Papelbon, his guy, to close or Rivera. Papelbon, while praising his rival, said Monday that he wanted the ball.

That caused an angry responses, and Red Sox players were greeted with profanities Tuesday during a red-carpet parade up Manhattan's Avenue of the Americas.

"I had my kids with me, so there was probably a few choice words that we wouldn't like a 6- and an 8-year-old to hear for an hour," Red Sox captain Jason Varitek said. "But it's part of what goes on in the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox."

Papelbon, mocked with chants of "Mariano!" and "Overrated!" gave up Gonzalez's sacrifice fly in the eighth but Wagner allowed Longoria's tying double in the bottom half.

A sellout crowd of 55,632 came to honor the 85-year-old ballpark, home to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and the most glittering lineup of greats any team can boast.

Prior to the game, 49 Hall of Famers led by Yogi Berra and Gary Carter walked in from the bullpens in left-center to their former positions, waved to the sellout crowd and stood as the All-Stars assumed flanking positions alongside them during a half-hour ceremony. George Steinbrenner, who has owned the Yankees since 1973, delivered the balls for the ceremonial first pitches from a golf cart.

Hours later, Francona was done with festivities. He was hoping Kazmir wouldn't reach his limit.

"We were going to go on hours," Francona said, "not pitches."

Notes:@ The previous longest game by time was 1967, which took 3:41. ... There were a record six steals by the AL and a record seven overall. ... The NL was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, the AL 3-for-22. ... The Hall of Fame collected two souvenirs — Rivera's jersey and dirt from the pitcher's mound. ... The teams set record for strikeouts (34), runners left on base (28) and players used (63). Ill Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum was the only player who did not get in.

(This version CORRECTS AL 4, NL 3, 15 innings. Optional wrapup. SUBS 11th graf to correct to 11-0-1 sted 10-0-1)

Hamilton hits record 28 HRs in Derby's first round

Hamilton hits record 28 HRs in Derby's first round

NEW YORK - Fans at Yankee Stadium were chanting Josh Hamilton's name and the theme music from "Rocky" was blaring over the loudspeakersAlas, the Texas Rangers' comeback kid had nothing left.

Hamilton hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby before running out of gas and getting beaten by Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the finals Monday night.

The 2006 AL MVP topped a tired Hamilton 5-3 in the last round, giving him the derby crown. But the night belonged to Hamilton, a first-time All-Star who put on a dazzling power display worthy of The House That Ruth Built.

"It'll be like 2:30 before I go to sleep," he said. "I hardly ever watch myself on TV, but I may look at some of it."

Back from eight trips to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his career, Hamilton broke Bobby Abreu's mark for one round. Abreu hit 24 home runs in the first round in 2005 at Detroit's Comerica Park.

Hamilton's incredible tale of redemption has made national news this season, and he retold a story Monday afternoon about a vivid dream he had two years ago — he was being interviewed at Yankee Stadium after participating in the Home Run Derby.

"I can say it was a coincidence, but I don't believe in those," he said.

Mind you, his dream came while Hamilton was still banned from Major League Baseball, and before this year's All-Star game was awarded to the venerable ballpark in its final season.

"Obviously, the dream, I didn't know how many I would hit," Hamilton said in a TV interview after his huge first-round performance. "I just feel blessed to have played here."

With the crowd of 53,716 firmly behind him, undoubtedly warmed by his improbable journey to stardom, Hamilton connected on 13 consecutive cuts before falling short of the fences on his final two in the first round.

"I got chills," he said.

Hamilton was drafted No. 1 overall by Tampa Bay out of high school in 1999, with some veteran scouts calling him the best prospect they'd ever seen. He finally reached the majors last year with Cincinnati, then was traded in the offseason for All-Star Edinson Volquez and another pitcher in a deal that has paid off immensely for both teams.

With his smooth left-handed swing and jaw-dropping power, Hamilton seemed a natural choice to take advantage of Yankee Stadium's short right-field porch. But he cleared the deepest fences with ease, hitting three shots farther than 500 feet — including his longest estimated at 518.

"Really? Holy cow," said Hamilton, who has 21 homers this season and leads the majors with 95 RBIs.

That was the third-longest drive in the 19-year history of the derby, behind Sammy Sosa's 524-foot homer in 2002 at Miller Park in Milwaukee and Frank Thomas' 519-footer in 1994 at old Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

"We were over there in awe of what he was doing," Morneau said.

Hamilton's first-round homers totaled 12,458 feet, an average of 445 each. He nearly had another one, but it was waved off because a fan reached over the fence to catch it.

"They should have juiced the ball up. I'd have hit the subway," Hamilton said.

His 28 homers in the first round were the second-highest total for an entire derby, behind Abreu's 41 for Philadelphia in 2005.

Signing autographs for players' young kids between swings, Hamilton stepped out of the batter's box for a few deep breaths and received high fives from his Texas teammates on the AL All-Star squad. Milton Bradley even strolled to the plate to wipe off Hamilton's forehead with a towel.

"We were sitting there saying to each other, `How do you follow that?'" Morneau said. "I'm glad I didn't hit right after him, that's for sure."

After his first round ended, Hamilton was engulfed with hugs and congratulations from All-Stars on both sides.

His batting practice pitcher also was quite a story. Hamilton chose a 71-year-old volunteer coach who often threw BP to him when he was a teenager in North Carolina.

Hamilton totaled 35 homers (on 59 swings) to Morneau's 22 (on 52 cuts). The Texas outfielder stopped after making only four outs in the second round because he was already assured a spot in the finals. Contestants get 10 outs in each round.

"I couldn't ask for anything else," Hamilton said. "You don't feel tired, but obviously you're a little tired."

When it was over, Morneau was left practically apologizing for beating Hamilton.

"He was the one that put on the show," he said. "I'm just glad I was a part of the whole thing.

"It does seem kind of unfair that he didn't get to win the whole thing," Morneau added. "Anyone who was here won't forget that performance."

Nobody has ever hit a fair ball out of Yankee Stadium, but some of baseball's elite boppers took aim at Monument Park and the ballpark's vast upper deck Monday night.

One of Hamilton's 500-foot drives hit a wall behind the right-field bleachers, drawing a roar from the delirious crowd.

Beckham eyes Madrid youth role

David Beckham says he wants the chance to return to Real Madrid sometime in the future to work with the club's youngsters.

Beckham proved a hugely popular figure during his four years at the Primera Liga giants before moving to America last summer, and the England midfielder has always spoken highly of his time both at Madrid and in Spain.

"I would like to return to Spain some day and to Real Madrid. To work with the kids or something similar at Madrid would be an honour for me," said Beckham, who helped Madrid win the Primera Liga title in his final year at the club - his only major trophy during his time at the Bernabeu.

"Everybody knows that I love to work with kids and that I adore Spain. I still have my house in Madrid and if I return some day I already have somewhere to live.

"When the moment comes we will have to see, but to be part of Madrid would be great. I have many friends there and many people who I respect a lot, such as (former president) Florentino Perez, who is one of the best friends I have in Madrid."

Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Beckham also repeated his desire not to enter into football management when he retires from the game.

The former Manchester United and Madrid midfielder has played under some great managers during his career, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Fabio Capello, but he has again admitted he has no interest in following in their footsteps.

"I have my academy of football here in Los Angeles, but I will never be a coach. I don't have this passion, I prefer to be with my academy and work with the children, with UNICEF...and things like this where you can help people," he said.

"I love football and I will always continue being involved in it, but I don't want to be working on the sidelines or anything like that."

England wicketless at tea

Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie frustrated England in the first Test with battling half-centuries at Lord's.

Resuming 333 runs adrift on 13 without loss after following on 346 behind, the tourists, South Africa discovered their fighting spirit with their openers battling to 128 without loss at tea on the fourth day.

Captain Smith needed his fair share of luck during the opening session and twice enjoyed reprieves before reaching his half-century.

He resumed overnight on eight and had progressed to 22 when he attempted to pull Lancashire seamer James Anderson but appeared to miss the ball, which was taken by wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

Paul Collingwood, standing at slip, made a half-hearted appeal but without any conviction and play continued only for television replays to suggest Smith had given a thin edge behind.

Smith was also fortunate on 26 when he got an inside edge behind to Ambrose as he attempted to drive left-arm spinner Monty Panesar off the front foot but Ambrose, standing up to the stumps, was unable to take a difficult catch.

While Smith enjoyed good fortune, opening partner McKenzie stuttered to a virtual standstill and went 32 deliveries without scoring before lofting Panesar past mid-on for four three overs before lunch.

Frustrated at their inability to make a breakthrough, England's performance became increasingly ragged with Ryan Sidebottom misfielding to earn McKenzie a four off Anderson shortly after lunch.

England's frustration increased further with McKenzie edging Sidebottom through the gap between second and third slip shortly before tea and reached the interval unbeaten on 50 while Smith had progressed to 71.