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Today's News Highlights 06.16.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
White House defends Libya action
The administration’s stance puts it at odds with GOP leaders and some anti-war Democrats.
(By Scott Wilson)

Greek default fears sharpen
Growing political turmoil intensifies concerns that Greece may be spiraling toward default, potentially igniting a new phase in Europe’s debt crisis.
(By Anthony Faiola and Howard Schneider)

A new low for U.S., Pakistan
Officials say the security relationship between the two nations is the rockiest it’s been since 2001.
(By Karen DeYoung and and Griff Witte)

Arizona Rep. Giffords released from Houston hospital, 5 months after being shot
HOUSTON — Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was released from a Houston hospital on Wednesday, five months after being shot in the head during a Tucson political event.
(By Associated Press)

Bruins hoist the Stanley Cup
Boston captures the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years with a 4-0 victory over the Canucks in Game 7 in Vancouver.
(By Associated Press)

POLITICS
AP source: House Democratic leaders plan to meet Thursday to consider next step in Weiner case
WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders are planning to meet Thursday to consider the next step in handling the scandal embroiling Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has resisted calls to resign in the midst of a sexting scandal that has been a major distraction for his party for nearly three weeks.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Study finds dads are spending much more time with kids than they did a few generations ago
WASHINGTON — The percentage of American fathers who live apart from their children has doubled over the last half-century. But, to their credit, many of today’s dads are spending more than twice as much time with their kids as they did back then.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

White House report on Libya does little to soothe anger among lawmakers on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON — The White House is vigorously defending President Barack Obama’s right to keep the U.S. military engaged in Libya without seeking congressional approval, a move that appears to have done little to soothe anger among Republican lawmakers and anti-war Democrats over the president’s consultations with Congress during the nearly three month-long campaign.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

White House report on Libya does little to soothe anger among lawmakers on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON — The White House is vigorously defending President Barack Obama’s right to keep the U.S. military engaged in Libya without seeking congressional approval.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Hackers who breached Senate computer system say they hit CIA website
WASHINGTON — A group of hackers who breached the Senate computer system earlier this week claimed responsibility for problems with the CIA’s website Wednesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
Carolyn Hax: Money matters
How to handle a situation in which you loan an old friend money.
(, The Washington Post)

Ask Amy: Teacher needs to go to spending school
Retiree scrimped and saved so much during her working years that she’s at a loss now on how to enjoy her hard-earned money.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Miss Manners: Who wins in ‘culture’ clash?
Dear Miss Manners: When cultural differences result in different expectations of the hostess and guest obligations, to whose culture should we defer; the hostess’s or the guest’s?
(, United Media)

Is it a musical? Or a textbook? ‘Canto’ can’t decide
GALA Hispanic Theatre’s final offering of the 2010-11 season trips over its wordiness.
(, The Washington Post)

‘Green Lantern’ is plausible and none too illuminating
‘Green Lantern’ is neither amusing nor exciting enough to ensure a long-running franchise.
( by Mark Jenkins Special to The Washington Post , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Wednesday's Sports In Brief
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Tim Thomas drew a virtual line in his crease throughout the crazy, contentious Stanley Cup finals, and Boston’s brilliant goalie just wouldn’t allow the Vancouver Canucks to cross it whenever it really mattered.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Vancouver fans set cars on fire, fling bottles after Stanley Cup loss to Bruins
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Parked cars were set on fire, others were tipped over and people threw beer bottles at giant television screens following the Vancouver Canucks’ 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Luongo insists Canucks will compete for Stanley Cup again after falling to Bruins in Game 7
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Roberto Luongo insists the Canucks will be back.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Boston Bruins end 39 years of futility beat Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 for Stanley Cup
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Zdeno Chara thrust the Stanley Cup high above his 6-foot-9 frame, knocking off his own championship hat and nearly falling down. The Boston Bruins’ captain passed it to 43-year-old Mark Recchi, who raised the shiny silver trophy for a third and final time.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Malaysian soccer coach is third suspect charged with match-fixing in youth tournament
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian authorities have charged a second soccer coach in a widening scandal over match-fixing at a domestic youth tournament.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Countries back treaty recognizing labor rights for millions of domestic workers
GENEVA — Countries have voted to to back a new convention that will recognize labor rights for millions of maids, nannies and cooks around the world
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

ConocoPhillips, Bangladesh sign contract to explore for gas in deep waters of Bay of Bengal
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh has signed a production-sharing contract with American energy giant ConocoPhillips to explore for gas in the virtually unexplored deep waters of the Bay of Bengal.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

French health authorities recall hamburgers after 5 children sickened from E. coli
PARIS — French health authorities have ordered a recall of hamburger patties after five children were contaminated with E. coli.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Second governing Socialist party deputy resigns his parliamentary seat in Athens
ATHENS, Greece — Second governing Socialist party deputy resigns his parliamentary seat in Athens.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Syrian authorities detain hundreds of young men in the northwest, activists say
GUVECCI, Turkey — Syrian security forces made sweeping arrests Thursday, randomly detaining males above the age of 16 in a northwestern province that has been under military siege for a week, a Syrian human rights activist said.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Campus Overload Live with Jenna Johnson
Jenna Johnson answers your questions about college life, on and off campus.
(, vForum)

The Weather Gang Lab with Jason Samenow (Video)
Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow digs into this week's big weather story. Join the chat to find out what will happen -- and why.
(, vForum)

D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (Video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

Elementary graduations, D.C. best for families, Catholic U ditches co-ed dorms: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (Video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

The Web Hostess: Online manners, memes and must-see video
A weekly chat about the best ways to kill time online. Our Web Hostess, Monica Hesse, sifts the Internet so you don't have to, searching for meaning, manners and the next great meme.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Citigroup says hackers stole data on 360,000
HONG KONG — Hackers stole account information of more than 360,000 of Citigroup Inc.’s U.S. credit card customers in a recent data breach, the bank said Wednesday, almost double the number initially thought.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Hell Yes, Mayor Bloomberg. I’m With You.

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Citigroup says hackers stole account information of 360,000 customers in recent data breach
HONG KONG — Citigroup Inc. says hackers stole the account information in a recent data breach of more than 360,000 U.S. credit card customers, much higher than initially thought.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Yahoo Tries Its Hand At Mobile App Search

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Attn Sports Fans, Journalists, And Parents Of Young Athletes, GameChanger Is On Line Two

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
Korean Air takes first A380 to the skies with unique configuration for business travelers
INCHEON, South Korea — Korean Air showed off its first Airbus A380, outfitted with a unique full business class upper deck, in a pair of special flights Thursday, a day before the launch of regular international service.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Asian markets tumble on unrest over Greek debt crisis, China ecomomy fears
HONG KONG — World stocks tumbled on Thursday, hammered by continuing fears that Europe’s debt crisis could spiral out of control and worries over China’s economy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Greek PM may resign amid austerity riots
Greece’s beleaguered government was in power-sharing talks with the opposition conservatives and negotiating the resignation of Prime Minister George Papandreou, an effort to ensure approval of new austerity measures required to avoid bankruptcy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

UK retail sales fall 1.4 pct in May after royal wedding spending spree in April
LONDON — Officials figures show that retail sales in Britain fell by a worse than expected 1.4 percent in May as consumers turned their attention from a royal wedding to their own economic worries.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Citigroup says hackers stole data on 360,000
HONG KONG — Hackers stole account information of more than 360,000 of Citigroup Inc.’s U.S. credit card customers in a recent data breach, the bank said Wednesday, almost double the number initially thought.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Morning News 05.27.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
CIA to search bin Laden compound
The arrangement would allow the CIA for the first time to enter a complex that it had previously scrutinized only from a distance.
(By Greg Miller and Karen DeYoung)

Serbia arrests Ratko Mladic on war crimes charges
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general charged with orchestrating the largest mass killing of civilians in Europe since World War II, was arrested Thursday in Serbia, ending a nearly 16-year manhunt.
(By Colum Lynch)

Chinese Communist Party focuses on its history
A new official history of the Chinese Communist Party ventures into treacherous territory from a tumultuous past.
(By Andrew Higgins)

Online letters claim innocence in Md. slaying
An interest in yoga brought a businessman-poet and AU professor together. Now he’s accused in her death. In online letters, the man — believed to be in Mexico — says he’s not guilty.
(By Dan Morse)

Mitt Romney launching campaign on June 2
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will formally announce his presidential campaign next Thursday, June 2, in New Hampshire.
(By Chris Cillizza and Rachel Weiner)

POLITICS
Obama signs Patriot Act extension; will continue anti-terror surveillance powers
WASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress passes four-year extension of roving wiretaps, other government anti-terrorism powers
WASHINGTON — Congress passes four-year extension of roving wiretaps, other government anti-terrorism powers
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress approves extension of Patriot Act provisions
Racing against the clock, Congress passed an extension to key provisions of the USA Patriot Act that allow investigators to keep using aggressive surveillance tactics.
( by Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)

Gingrich casts self as ‘comeback kid’
The roughly 600 people who came to see Newt Gingrich during his two-day campaign swing through New Hampshire were largely uninterested in his purchases at Tiffany & Co.
( by Nia-Malika Henderson and Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)

Romney to announce presidential bid next Thursday in New Hampshire
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney said Thursday he planned to formally join the GOP race for president during an appearance next week in New Hampshire, a state that is central to his White House strategy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
29 million tune into ‘Idol’ finale
About 29 million people watched Fox’s “American Idol” finale Wednesday, when Scotty McCreery was crowned the winner.
(, The Washington Post)

Spaceport America taking shape, officials renew commitment to commercial space industry
SPACEPORT AMERICA, N.M. — The wind is still whistling through the massive unfinished steel hangar doors at Spaceport America. The exterior is waiting to be clad with custom metal panels, and the hangar floor, where a pair of sleek spacecraft will one day sit, is still dirt.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Wildwoods are top NJ beaches again; Cape May County takes 5 of top 10 spots
WILDWOOD, N.J. — Need more proof that New Jerseyans hate having to pay for beach badges?
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings and campgrounds reopening for holiday weekend
SILVER CITY, N.M. — The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Gila National Forest campgrounds are reopening for the Memorial Day weekend.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Paul and the Other Paul
The most memorable moment of Paul Simon’s concert comes with the star attraction happily observing.
( by David Malitz , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Tillman’s tactics help Terps
The Final Four-bound Maryland men’s lacrosse team has responded to first-year Coach John Tillman’s team-building techniques.
( by Christian Swezey , The Washington Post)

Luke Donald opens with 64, leads Lee Westwood by 8 shots in battle for No. 1 at Wentworth
VIRGINIA WATER, England — Luke Donald shot a 7-under 64 on Thursday to take the lead in the suspended first round of the BMW PGA Championship, leaving him eight stroke ahead of No. 1 Lee Westwood in their battle for the top spot in the world ranking.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Pay to play? Hunter-Reay's deal to drive No. 41 for Foyt shows role sponsors play in IndyCar
INDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti watched the number of Indianapolis 500 qualifying spots dwindle in the final minutes of Bump Day last weekend, and the Andretti Autosport teammates knew one of them could end up knocking the other out of the race.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

AL Capsules
DETROIT — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer in a five-run second inning, and the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox went on to rout the Detroit Tigers 14-1 in an eight-inning, rain-shortened game Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Danica has been Indy's saving grace, but time for the open-wheelers to stand on their own
INDIANAPOLIS — Danica Patrick was holding court at the Brickyard and, as always, no one had more reporters crowded around them.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Rights group says extrajudicial killings by Venezuela's police officers escalating
CARACAS, Venezuela — Unjustified killings by police officers are escalating and occurring across Venezuela, a human rights group charged Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Libya calls for cease-fire
Prime minister’s offer stops short of saying all military personnel would be returned to barracks
( by Michael Birnbaum , The Washington Post)

British government puts Apache helicopters at NATO's disposal
LONDON — The British government has given clearance for the use of its attack helicopters in Libya, putting the final decision on deployment in NATO’s hands.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Scientists claim they've found farthest-ever explosion more than 13 billion light years away
LONDON — A group of researchers claim they’ve found the most distant explosion ever detected, a pulse of high energy radiation sent by a disintegrating star near the very edge of the observable universe.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Under intense international pressure, Libyan premier says he's ready to talk with rebels
TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s government pushed a cease-fire proposal Thursday and said for the first time it was prepared to speak with its rebel adversaries, signaling that months of fighting and NATO bombardment may be closer to forcing some concessions.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Goodbye Oprah, hello Scotty, and congrats Hines Ward: Lisa de Moraes' TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes will be chatting about Oprah Winfrey's final three episodes of her popular TV show.
(, vForum)

Sports talk with David Sheinin
Usually Tracee Hamilton goes weekly with her chat about sports, life and everything else. This week David Sheinin will be subbing in for her.
(, vForum)

Campus Overload Live with Jenna Johnson
Jenna Johnson answers your questions about college life, on and off campus.
(, vForum)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes!
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, June 3)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Facebook hires 2 former Bush aides as lobbyists, stepping up efforts to friend Washington
NEW YORK — Facebook said Thursday that it hired two aides of former President George W. Bush as lobbyists. The world’s largest online social network is stepping up efforts to friend Washington as it grows.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

EcoMotors Chief Don Runkle: “Electric Vehicles Are Not Zero Emissions”

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Facebook hires 2 former Bush aides as lobbyists, stepping up efforts to friend Washington
NEW YORK — Facebook is hiring two aides of former President George W. Bush as lobbyists. The world’s largest online social network is stepping up efforts to friend Washington as it grows.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Gmail’s ‘People Widget’ Takes On Rapportive, No Browser Plugin Required

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Now You Can See Twitter The Way I See Twitter

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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EDITORIAL
Ed Schultz suspended from MSNBC after calling Laura Ingraham a ‘right wing slut’
MSNBC suspended host Ed Schultz after he called rival pundit Laura Ingraham “a right-wing slut” during a radio broadcast Tuesday.
(, The Washington Post)

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BUSINESS
8 manufacturers recall pool, in-ground spa drain covers due to incorrect ratings
WASHINGTON — Eight manufacturers have voluntarily recalled about one million pool and in-ground spa drain covers because of incorrect water flow ratings.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Supreme Court upholds Ariz. law punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sustained Arizona’s law that penalizes businesses for hiring workers who are in the United States illegally, rejecting arguments that states have no role in immigration matters.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Competing plans on job growth
President Obama and Congressional Republicans unveil competing plans to reduce the cost of doing business for U.S. companies.
( by Zachary A. Goldfarb , The Washington Post)

War-weary lawmakers send Obama a message by narrowly rejecting accelerated Afghan withdrawal
WASHINGTON — War-weary Republicans and Democrats on Thursday sent the strongest message yet to President Barack Obama to end the war in Afghanistan as the commander in chief decides how many U.S. troops to withdraw this summer.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ex-Nasdaq exec pleads guilty to fraud
Former executive traded on confidential information about companies listed on the Nasdaq, reaping more than $755,000 from 2006 to 2009.
( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)

Get Ready for Hopkins vs. Pascal

Warriors hang on to give Lee win in MSG return

David Lee scored a season-high 28 points in his return to New York, Dorell Wright made two huge baskets in the final two minutes, and the Golden State Warriors improved their best start in 16 years to 6-2 by beating the Knicks 122-117 on Wednesday night.

Stephen Curry added 25 points and Monta Ellis had 22 for the Warriors, who blew a 19-point lead in the second half but were bailed out by Wright, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:58 remaining and added an insurance basket a minute later.

Lee grabbed his 10th rebound after Wilson Chandler missed a tying 3-point attempt and sank two clinching free throws with 1.5 seconds left, and the longtime fan favorite later jogged off to cheers after completing some postgame interviews on the court.

Amare Stoudemire, who essentially replaced Lee over the summer, had a season-high 33 points for the Knicks, who lost their third straight. Chandler added 27 and Raymond Felton scored 20.

Lee's three-point play ignited a big Golden State run in the third quarter, and another basket started a second key spurt when the Knicks cut it to three early in the fourth. Things looked settled at that point, but New York took a 113-111 lead on Felton's free throws with 2:11 remaining.

Wright then drilled his 3-pointer, and recovered a loose ball after Chandler's block and put it back in for a 116-113 edge with 59 seconds left. A free throw by Lee gave the Warriors' a two-score advantage, but the Knicks were back within one when Stoudemire nailed a 3 with 14 seconds to play before the Warriors closed it out from the line.

It's Golden State's best start since opening 7-2 in 1994-95.

Lee was a late first-round pick in 2005 who got better every year, becoming an All-Star last season when he averaged 20.9 points and 11.7 rebounds. But the Knicks were looking for something more last summer, hoping they could land two superstars from the free agency class.

Re-signing Lee would have jeopardized that, so Lee said he realized by the end of the season that he would probably be moving on. The Knicks at least helped him get richer, arranging a sign-and-trade with the Warriors that allowed him to earn a more lucrative contract that will pay him $80 million over six years. CONTINUE READING...

The wait is over: Giants win first championship in S.F.

(11-01) 19:49 PST ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Giants serenaded their thirsty fans with the perfect anthem before the first pitch of the 2010 World Series. The song they piped through AT&T Park was U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

The search lasted more than half a century and seemed so futile at times. Finally, the team and its long-pained fans have found what they were looking for. For the first time since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, they are the champions of baseball.

The Giants won the 2010 World Series against the Texas Rangers four games to one, ending it with a 3-1 victory on a slightly chilly Monday evening at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The unlikely hero for a Series winner that few predicted was Edgar Renteria, an injury-plagued shortstop from Colombia who declared he expected to retire after the season and whose two-year $18.5 million contract was ridiculed because the Giants gave it to a player thought to be washed up.

Renteria joined the pantheon of World Series greats when he hit a three-run homer against Cliff Lee with two outs in the seventh inning to break a 0-0 tie.

Actually, Renteria already had a seat in the temple. In 1997, then 21 years old and a big-leaguer for less than two seasons, he won a World Series for Florida with an 11th-inning single in Game 7 against Cleveland.

Tim Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner whose photo adorned the cover of the Giants' 2010 media guide, allowed three hits and struck out 10 in eight innings in the most important win of his 26-year-old life.

The Series ended with closer Brian Wilson on the mound, as usual, retiring the final hitter. He struck out Nelson Cruz swinging to set off a celebration sure to rock the Bay Area for long time. After all, everyone had generations to plan it.

With the first toast, revelers could bid good riddance to the ghosts of failures past.

Willie McCovey's line drive to Bobby Richardson in 1962, the earthquake sweep in 1989 and the Game 6 collapse in 2002 - their power to spook the faithful is gone, defused by an accomplishment that few in baseball thought the Giants could achieve in a season in which they did not even secure a division title until the 162nd game of the regular season.

The Giants leaped atop one another in celebration of the final out was a sight that many Northern Californians feared they would not see before they themselves became ghosts.

The championship is the sixth in franchise history and first since 1954, when Willie Mays roamed center field of the Polo Grounds in New York and led the team to a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians.

Lincecum and Lee gave viewers the great pitching duel they were expected to provide in Game 1, when Lincecum was shaky and Lee was worse. The Giants stung him for seven runs in an 11-7 win.

Game 5 was a bare-knuckle pitching brawl with neither man giving any quarter until Cody Ross and Juan Uribe opened the seventh inning with singles.

In a perfect symbol of the team concept that defined these champions, Aubrey Huff, the Giants' biggest power hitter all season, advanced the runners with his first career sacrifice bunt.

Pat Burrell struck out for the 10th time in 12 at-bats in the Series for the second out before Renteria built the count against Lee to 2-0 and drove a cut fastball into the bleachers in left-center field for his second homer of the Series and the biggest of his life.

Cruz cut into the lead in the bottom half with a solo homer to left, which ended a string of 18 scoreless innings by Giants pitchers. Lincecum then walked Ian Kinsler, but he struck out David Murphy and former Giant Bengie Molina to preserve the two-run lead.

Both pitchers shot out of the chute better than they did in Game 1. Lincecum was particularly sharp, inducing weaker outs.

He did not have a strikeout until the third inning then struck out the side. He did not allow a hit until Michael Young's leadoff single in the fourth, a groundball through the middle, and struck out two of the next three Rangers to keep him at first base.

Against Lee, the Giants stuck with their same schematic from the first game, when they attacked him early in the count. In Game 1, the left-hander left a lot of pitches over the plate and was roughed up. He did a better job locating in Game 5, though the Giants hit some bolts for outs.

With Andres Torres at first base and two outs, Lee raised his glove to spear a Freddy Sanchez line drive to steal a hit and end the top of the third.

Buster Posey worked Lee for 10 pitches in the fourth inning before grounding out on the 11th.

Next time Posey batted, with Freddy Sanchez on base and two outs in the sixth, it looked for a moment as though the rookie had given the Giants a 2-0 lead with a high drive to right. But Cruz tracked it down at the wall to preserve the scoreless tie.

 

K'naan Brings Hip-Hop to The 2010 World Cup

Somalia-born singer/MC K’naan is playing a major role in bringing the world’s eyes and ears to Hip-Hop.

With his ode to patriotism “Wavin’ Flag” chosen as the theme song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, K’naan performed the song in the games’ opening ceremony last Friday (June 12) in Johannesburg. This year’s World Cup Games is expected to be the most watched event in television history, with each game is expected to draw in more then 125 million viewers.

“I wanted [‘Wavin Flag’] to be a reflection of what the World Cup really means to people around the globe. When I finished performing, you could still hear the whole stadium singing my song,” K’naan tells VIBE during a brief intermission from the World Cup tour.

As a child, K’naan remembers soccer as a huge part of his adolescence. Growing up in a country where futbol is the number one sport and form of recreation, the opportunity to be a part of its most prestigious tournament is more than K’naan could have ever imagined.

“It was the first World Cup game that ever took place in South Africa and my ticket said 1A.,” Knaan says.  “I’ll never ever forget that—it was my one and only baller moment [laughs]."

With the spirit of Bob Marley living through the song's uplifting melody, “Wavin' Flag” has been embraced as a call for unity among the World Cup’s international audience. K’naan recalls receiving support from artists all across the board, including the Canadian phenom Drake.

“[Drake] was telling that me he appreciates me bringing Hip-Hop into the homes of people who otherwise wouldn’t have listened. He just recognized what I was doing,” K’naan says of the encouraging words that Drake passed along to him during a joint televised interview.

As the whirlwind of performances and media obligations grows more demanding with every game that's played, just keeping up with the World Cup’s grueling schedule has been a challenge all in its own for the leading musical performer. K’naan offered a few tips for those in who plan on attending the 2010 World Cup, “You need ear plugs, plenty of water and be prepared to stay up for days because after the games over—people go out all night and then do it all over again. It doesn't stop!”

The final match talkes place on July 11, and it's projected that over 715 millions viewers will tune in, surpassing the record set in the 2006 World Cup Championship. —Mikey Fresh

LA Lakers win NBA championship over Boston Celtics, 83-79

 Pau Gasol, struggling from the line all night, made two free throws to push the Lakers' lead to 70-64 with 4 1/2 minutes to play and the chants of "Defense, Defense" could result in hearing loss.
Paul Pierce answered that with a fadeaway to make it a four-point game.Kobe Bryant, usually automatic in these situations, then missed the first of two free throws before making the second. Kevin Garnett, on a pass from Rasheed Wallace, put down one of the few dunks in this game on the next possession.

The Lakers continue to push the ball inside and draw fouls, and Gasol returned to the line with 2:47 to play. He made both to get the lead back to five.

After swarming defense led to a miss by Wallace, the Celtics fouled again and sent Gasol back to the line. He made one of two, 74-68.

Boston's turn at the line, Pierce this time.   Two free throws later, the lead was down to four.

Gasol then backed down Wallace and dropped in a bucket to give the Lakers a 76-70 lead and produce a Boston timeout. The Lakers are feeling a second straight NBA title.

Fourth quarter, 5:21 remaining: Lakers 68, Celtics 64

It didn't take much time for Boston to call a timeout. Kobe Bryant made two free throws, then sank an 18-foot jumper -- the one thing the Celtics didn't want to see -- to give the Lakers a 68-64 lead.

Bryant is only six for 22 from the field, but has 20 points. Boston clearly didn't want to allow the Lakers to get the crowd any more into the game than it already is.

Fourth quarter, 5:56 remaining: Celtics 64, Lakers 64

Kobe Bryant went to the line for three free throws after being fouled by Ray Allen. At that point, the Lakers were only nine for 17 from the line, but Bryant made all three to cut Boston's lead to one, 59-58.

Allen then came right back and sank a baseline jumper. The Lakers' offensive juggernaut, Ron Artest, then drove across the lane for a bucket and a foul with 7:29 to play and he tied the score. The Lakers' crowed sounded like it had been transplanted from Oklahoma City.

Allen briefly quieted things by drawing a foul, but enlivened things when he missed the first of two free throws. He made the second and Boston was back on top by one.

Both teams are playing with a lot of emotion, diving for loose balls and playing tight defense inside.

The Lakers' free-throw problems continued when Gasol missed two free throws for the second time tonight, failing to give the Lakers a lead when he had the chance. He is two for seven from the line.

Allen had no such problem, making two with 6:29 to play to push the tentative lead to 64-61.

But Derek Fisher, who had just returned to the game, canned a three-pointer shortly thereafter and the score was suddenly tied.

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Mayweather pounds out virtuoso win over Mosley

 LAS VEGAS(AP) —Floyd Mayweather Jr. put on a virtuoso display of boxing skill in an unanimous decision over Sugar Shane Mosley on Saturday night, keeping his perfect record intact.Mayweather gave a masterful effort in his most dangerous fight in several years against the 38-year-old Mosley, who put Mayweather on his heels with several rocking punches in the second round. Mayweather regained his composure and thoroughly outboxed the veteran champion.Mosley didn’t have the power or precision to follow up his dynamic second round, losing in his first fight since stopping Antonio Margarito in January 2009.Mayweather accepted this fight when negotiations with Manny Pacquiao broke down over Mayweather’s drug-testing demands. He could fight Pacquiao later this year.

Floyd Mayweather Says He Changes The Game With Every Move, Mosley Says Floyd Better Be Ready

Hate it or love it, Floyd Mayweather has been one of boxing's main draws for years now. But according to the still undefeated boxer, he's brought a few more things than just blockbuster events.

In the final press conference leading up to his showdown against Shane Mosley on Saturday (May 1) in Las Vegas, he boasted about a few things -- making lowers weight classes the hot ticket was one of them.

"Whatever weight class I'm at is the hot weight class," Mayweather said. "What's so crazy is that when I started fighting at welterweight, I made the world pay attention to the small man."

Additionally, during Mayweather and Mosley's training camps, both fighters endured Olympic-style USADA drug testing. He says if this was a requirement, it will better the sport of boxing.

"I brought USADA in to keep the sport on an even playing field. Everyone knows this is done for the betterment of the sport," he says. "After I get blood taken, I'll go in and box 12 or 13 rounds, no problem whatsoever."

As far as the fight itself, he simply says Mosley is not on his level.

"I'm pretty sure Shane is in good shape. I don't think he is in better shape than me," Mayweather boasted. "As far as drawing power and superstardom, me and Shane are not on the same level."

Mosley, on the other hand, was undeterred by Floyd's comments. He says Mayweather better be ready, because he's predicting a knockout.

"I hope Mayweather is ready for this," Sugar Shane said. This will be one of the great fights of this decade or maybe even history. It's going to be a great fight.

"I always predict a knock out. We are going to make a magnificent fight."

Mayweather vs. Mosley: Who R U Picking? is taking place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 1st, and will also be available on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Visit WhoRUPicking.com for more info.

First black Olympic figure skating pair electrify crowd

James and Bonheur, who met on an Internet site for competitive pairs skaters seeking partners, finished 14th on the evening. But with a series of high-flying jumps and high-risk lifts and throws, they were an audience favorite. Bonheur, 27, took the moment in his stride, saying he did not set out to find a black partner."We hope that in the future we can win many medals and have a black coach and officials in pairs skating," Bonheur told reporters after the performance."I didn't search for a black girl in the first place, just a girl who wanted to try and work for it."James, 22, has skated with Bonheur for three years. Born in Canada, she had competed for Britain as a single. She was granted French citizenship last year.She said their performance at the Winter Games showed the door had finally been opened for black pairs skaters.They were not the first black skaters in the Olympics, however -- Debi Thomas, for example, won a bronze medal at the Calgary games in 1988. Surya Bonaly of France competed in three Olympics in the 1990s."I hope we do see more black skaters and we see more couples," James said.

New Orleans Saints in the 31-28 overtime defeat

NEW ORLEANS — For once, Brett Favre looked his age after the Minnesota Vikings’ loss Sunday in the National Football Conference championship game. After being battered by the New Orleans Saints in the 31-28 overtime defeat, the 40-year-old Favre struggled to dress in the locker room. He winced as he put a tennis shoe on his left ankle, which was injured in the third quarter when he was high hit by Saints defensive tackle Remi Ayodele and low by defensive end Bobby McCray. But Favre had a question for nearby reporters about the hit: “Did it look bad?” Told by one reporter that it looked terrible, Favre acknowledged that he thought he had broken his ankle. “I can’t even move,” Favre said, adding that he felt 49 years old. But in typical Favre fashion, he stayed in the game, only to throw a costly interception near the end of regulation with his team close to field-goal range. Before the third-and-15 play from the New Orleans 38, Minnesota was flagged for a 5-yard penalty for having 12 players in the huddle. The penalty moved the Vikings out of field-goal range. The play was supposed to go to Minnesota wide receiver Bernard Berrian in the flat, but the Saints changed their coverage. So instead Favre made a late throw to Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice that was intercepted by New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter at the New Orleans 22-yard line with about 19 seconds left. Instead of throwing the ball, Favre said he should have run. He did not get a chance to redeem himself because Minnesota did not get the ball in overtime. CONTINUE READING...

Colts book return trip to Miami

With the largest home crowd in Indianapolis Colts history on its feet, counting it down, 3 . . . 2 . . . 1, and the glitter guns along the sidelines about to fill the air with blue and white sparkles, coach Jim Caldwell stood in front of the Colts bench, shoulder to shoulder with quarterback Peyton Manning.If you had the run of the house Sunday evening at Lucas Oil Stadium, where else would you want to be?

"He performs best in the most difficult situations," Caldwell said of Manning after the glitter had settled on the Colts' 30-17 AFC Championship Game victory against the New York Jets. "We faced as fine a defense as we've faced all year and he takes his game to different level."

Wow. Manning completed 26-of-39 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions against the NFL's No. 1 defense. He brought the Colts (16-2) back from an 11-point deficit. The league's only four-time Most Valuable Player strutted his stuff.

His next opportunity will come Feb. 7 in Super Bowl XLIV. The Colts are going back to Miami, back to Sun Life Stadium, where they won Super Bowl XLI following the 2006 season, this time to meet the New Orleans Saints, who beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in overtime Sunday night in the NFC Championship Game.

Sunday, when three mistakes put the Colts down 17-6 with two minutes to play in the first half, Manning flashed back to that 2006 season.

"It really reminded me of our championship game against New England," he said.

The Colts trailed 21-3 late in the first half that day. They came back to win 38-34.

This time, through the guts of the game, with the crowd of 67,650 roaring and the Jets reeling, the Colts had five possessions and scored on four. Manning was 17-of-23 for 236 yards and three touchdowns on those four series. CONTINUE READING...

Pacquiao, Clottey to rumble at Cowboys Stadium

ARLINGTON, Texas - Guys wearing jeans and cowboy hats ran through dry ice and past the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, sparklers firing from the tips of the flagpoles they carried. Michael Buffer gave his signature introduction, the music blared, the highlights rolled and, finally — walking through the same tunnel the Cowboys use to enter and exit their home turf — out came boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. No, this wasn't a test run for Pacquiao's March 13 welterweight fight against Joshua Clottey in the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium. CONTINUE READING...

San Diego shocker: Jets take down Rivers, Chargers 17-14

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Maybe Rex Ryan already knows the score of the AFC championship game, too.

The rookie coach who, at one point, didn't know his Jets were still in playoff contention, then declared them Super Bowl favorites, will need some more bold predictions.

His Jets are still playing.

PHOTOS: Divisional playoffs highlights

ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL: Results, schedule

Rookies Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene led New York to a stunning 17-14 upset of San Diego in the divisional playoffs Sunday, each providing a touchdown in the fourth quarter that marked another Chargers postseason pratfall.

BOX SCORE: Jets 17, Chargers 14

"It's a big win for our franchise," Sanchez said, "and we're not done."

Sanchez threw a go-ahead, 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dustin Keller three plays into the fourth quarter, then Greene gave the Jets some breathing room with a 53-yard scoring run on their next possession.

The upstart Jets (11-7), who have won seven of their last eight, advanced to the AFC championship game for the first time since 1999. They'll play at top-seeded Indianapolis next Sunday.

"A matchup that probably nobody wanted, but too bad," Ryan said. "Here we come!"

Of course, it was the Colts who pulled Peyton Manning and other starters in the second half of their Week 16 game against the Jets, who rallied for a victory that put them in control of their playoff destiny.

Before that game, Ryan said his holiday wish was for the Colts to rest Manning & Co.

"I don't know if Santa Claus will be that good to me again," Ryan said. "But I will say that I'd like to see Peyton Manning play this week."

After the Jets finally did clinch a playoff spot by routing Cincinnati the following week, Ryan, their rookie head coach, created a postseason itinerary for his players that included the Super Bowl in Miami followed by a parade two days later. CONTINUE READING...

Rice, Rice, baby: WR Rice ties playoff mark with 3 TD catches for Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS — Sidney Rice has always shared a last name and a position with one of the best to ever play the game.

Now he shares a record with Jerry Rice, too.

He had six receptions for 141 yards and tied a playoff record with three touchdown catches to help the Minnesota Vikings to a 34-3 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC divisional playoffs Sunday.

He had scoring catches of 47, 16 and 45 yards from Brett Favre to help the Vikings (12-4) earn their first trip to the NFC title game since 2001.

It was the 15th time in NFL history that a player has hauled in three touchdown receptions in a game. Jerry still has the edge on Sidney, though. He did it three times in his brilliant career.

"It feels good," Sidney Rice said of the record. "But at the same time, I'm just happy for this team. We came out and fought hard, all three phases. It was a great team victory for us."

The monster performance was the culmination of a banner third season for the former second-round pick out of South Carolina. After a quiet first two years, Rice emerged as one of the rising young stars in the league. He led the Vikings with 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns to earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Of course, a certain 40-year-old quarterback has had something to do with that.

Rice worked harder in the off-season than he ever had before, participating in a demanding program with Cardinals All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald, former Vikings great Cris Carter and several of the other top receivers in the league. Then Favre arrived in August, and the two quickly became a playmaking tandem.

"With the addition of No. 4, it's been huge for me," Rice said, referring to Favre. "It's been great for me, and I'm thankful for that."

As good as Favre has been for Rice, the reverse also applies. In Rice, Favre has a six-foot-four leaper who towers over most defensive backs and makes even some of the toughest catches look routine.

And now that he has learned the art of body positioning and getting off of press coverage, Rice has solidified himself as a true No. 1 receiver.

"I've said that from Day 1, Sidney is that type of player," Favre said. "I hate to compare him or put him in categories, because I think he is in a category by himself."

He did a little bit of everything Sunday.

Rice set the tone early when he got behind Dallas safety Gerald Sensabaugh on a go route and reeled in a perfect throw from Favre for a 47-yard score to put the Vikings on top in the first quarter. CONTINUE READING..

AFC PLAYOFFS: COLTS 20, RAVENS 3 The end: Ravens trampled by Colts

Joe Flacco (right) and the Ravens were once again outdone by Peyton Manning (left), the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, who threw two touchdowns in the top-seeded Colts' 20-3 win Saturday night in an AFC divisional playoff game. The sixth-seeded Ravens (10-8) failed to score a touchdown against Indianapolis for a third straight game and turned the ball over four times. "Obviously, we're not where we want to be right now," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We want to [get to] the point where we can win the divisional playoff game, we can win the AFC championship game and we can win the Super Bowl."INDIANAPOLIS - - Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is causing more heartache for Baltimore fans these days than Bob Irsay. Allowing the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player to throw two touchdown passes in the final two minutes of the first half, the Ravens were once again undone by Manning in a 20-3 loss to the top-seeded Colts in an AFC divisional playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The sixth-seeded Ravens (10-8) could never seize the momentum from him, failing to score a touchdown against Indianapolis for a third straight game and turning the ball over four times (two interceptions and lost fumbles by Ray Rice and Ed Reed).

The Colts (15-2) stopped their run of abrupt exits in the playoffs as a high seed - they had been 0-3 after first-round byes - and advanced to play the winner of today's San Diego Chargers- New York Jets game in next Sunday's AFC championship. By the end of the night, it was another painful reunion with the Colts, who were moved from Baltimore on March 28, 1984, (9,425 days ago) by Irsay. "We didn't play well enough to win this game on this day against this team," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. The loss hit Reed so hard that it could be his last. Standing at his locker after the game, Reed, 31, said it's "50-50" whether he retires. The Pro Bowl safety has been dealing with a nerve impingement in his neck for two years. He nearly turned the game around twice in the third quarter. But his first interception ended with him fumbling, and his second one was negated by Corey Ivy's pass-interference penalty. Manning has beaten the Ravens eight straight times, including twice in the playoffs. He stopped their Super Bowl run in January 2007 despite not having a stellar game. And he did it again Saturday in more Manning-like fashion.

To Delight of Fans, Brees and Saints Rout Cardinals

NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Superdome has hosted plenty of Super Bowls, but its home team has never been to one, here or anywhere else. But the Saints are one victory away from playing for the championship after beating the Arizona Cardinals, 45-14, Saturday afternoon in a National Football Conference divisional playoff game. The Saints will play host next Sunday to the Minnesota Vikings or the Dallas Cowboys in the N.F.C. championship game, with the winner going to the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Saints have played only nine playoff games, and Saturday’s victory raised their record to 3-6. They reached the N.F.C. championship game three seasons ago but lost to the Chicago Bears, 39-14, on Jan. 21, 2007, at Soldier Field. Drew Brees, the Saints’ veteran quarterback, led a balanced attack by completing 23 of 32 passes for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns.

And Saints running back Reggie Bush played the most dazzling game of his somewhat disappointing professional career by scoring two touchdowns, one of them on an 83-yard punt return that gave the Saints a 45-14 lead late in the third quarter. Bush also scored on a 46-yard run from scrimmage in the first quarter and accumulated 217 total yards: 84 on running plays, 24 on pass receptions and 109 on returns. The Cardinals’ veteran quarterback, Kurt Warner, left briefly late in the second quarter with what was described as a chest injury as the Saints built a 35-14 halftime lead. Warner returned to direct the offense on the Cardinals’ first possession of the second half but was not much of a force Saturday after leading his team to the Super Bowl last season and sending it to a 51-45 victory over Green Bay last weekend in the wild-card game. Late in the third quarter, trailing by 31 points, the Cardinals tried to come back and drove to the Saints’ 9. CONTINUE READING...

Cardinals 51, Packers 45

The two teams combined for 1,024 yards (Green Bay 493, Arizona 521).They combined for 62 first downs. Each punted only once.*Warner finished his day 29 of 33 for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns. This may have been the finest playoff performance of his already stunning postseason career.*After all that, it was a defensive touchdown that proved the difference. Who could have seen that coming?’ll leave you tonight with this question. Without considering the time your team won the Super Bowl or scored a stunning playoff upset, where does this game rank among the great playoff games you’ve ever seen? What if we limit it to merely the last decade of postseason play?:01 p.m. | And there’s the game. Under pressure, Rodgers has the ball knocked loose by Arizona cornerback Michael Adams; the ball pops right into the hands of Karlos Dansby, who runs untouched into the end zone from 17 yards out. Touchdown, Arizona. You know what they say: defense wins championships. The final is Arizona 51, Green Bay 45. What a game. A bitter end for a very young Packers team, one that will certainly be in position to return to the postseason in 2010. Arizona will move on to New Orleans, where the two teams may combine for 100 points.