Tiny Mount Olive, Miss., remembers local hero ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair as funeral nears

MOUNT OLIVE, Miss. — Steve McNair left this tiny south Mississippi town to become an NFL star, though his presence remained.

WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: White House staffers, Malia and Sasha, meet Pope Benedict XVI, too

VATICAN CITY — If one career highlight was getting Barack Obama elected president, another might be meeting the pope.

Family, friends remember Sahel Kazemi, who killed Steve McNair before taking her own life

ORANGE PARK, Fla. — The woman who killed Steve McNair before turning the gun on herself was buried Friday in Florida in a private ceremony with about 30 friends and family members.

Ancelotti claims Terry is happy to stay on at Chelsea

LONDON - Coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that skipper John Terry is happy to stay on at Chelsea.

Family says McNair’s girlfriend was happy, police say she was distraught over love, money

Becks named third son Cruz after Tom Cruise

WASHINGTON - David Beckham has revealed that he and his wife Victoria have named their third son after Hollywood actor friend Tom Cruise

Mark Teixeira finally homers, Yankees extend dominance of Twins with 6-4 victory for sweep

MINNEAPOLIS — Mark Teixeira ended a 23-game homerless drought and the New York Yankees completed a season sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 6-4 victory Thursday. Teixeira connected on the first pitch of the fifth inning. It was his 21st homer of the season and first in 96 at-bats, dating to June 12 against the Mets.

Teixeira finally homers, Yankees continue dominance of Twins with 6-4 victory

MINNEAPOLIS — Mark Teixeira’s career-long homer drought is finally over.

Toronto Raptors confirm acquisition of free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors got their top offseason target — thanks to some help from Chris Bosh — finalizing the acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu on Thursday.

Cruise had advised Becks to join LA Galaxy

NEW YORK - It was Hollywood actor Tom Cruise who had advised ace footballer David Beckham to take up a job at LA Galaxy, according to a new book.

Police: McNair asleep when killed in murder-suicide; family, friends prepare for memorial

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fans of ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair planned to focus on his incredible career and life with a memorial service on Thursday, not his sudden and tragic death.

Police: McNair shot dead in his sleep by girlfriend who believed he was seeing someone else

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former NFL star Steve McNair was shot dead in his sleep last week by a 20-year-old girlfriend distraught about mounting financial problems and her belief that he was seeing someone else, police said Wednesday.

Police confirm ex-NFL star Steve McNair’s girlfriend killed him before shooting herself

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Police confirmed Wednesday that ex-NFL star Steve McNair’s 20-year-old girlfriend killed him before turning the gun on herself.

Finally Some Clear Evidence on McNair’s Murder

Tests: McNair’s girlfriend had gunpowder on hands

Associate: McNair’s wife didn’t know about 20-year-old girlfriend found with ex-NFL QB

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An associate said Wednesday that the wife of ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair didn’t know about Sahel Kazemi before the 20-year-old woman was found dead alongside her husband on the Fourth of July.

South African construction workers go on strike at 2010 World Cup stadiums

JOHANNESBURG — South African construction workers went on an indefinite strike Wednesday at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup — a move that could derail Africa’s historic first World Cup tournament.

Mitchell Johnson’s mum declares war on his ‘bitchy’ WAG!

MELBOURNE - Aussie cricketer Mitchell Johnson’s mum Vikki Harber has lashed out at Cricket Australia for turning its back on parents in favour of flying over “bitchy” girlfriends to the games.

Mitchell Johnson’s mum’s rant on cricketers favouring ‘bitchy’ girlfriends

MELBOURNE - Aussie cricketer Mitchell Johnson’s mum Vikki Harber has lashed out at Cricket Australia for turning its back on parents in favour of flying over “bitchy” girlfriends to the games.

Ex-Oz PM Howard in Cardiff to support Australia in first Ashes Test

CARDIFF - Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has arrived in Cardiff to support Australia as the Ashes commences today.

Leave Flintoff alone, says ex-Lancashire mate Stuart Law

LONDON - Former Lancashire captain Stuart Law believes that England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff should not be a topic of discussion and that the ECB should value the cricketing giant who is in their midst.

Spectator sport: Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez booed, gets 2 hits and ejected, too

NEW YORK — Booed most of the night, Manny Ramirez let plate umpire John Hirschbeck have the final say.

Sounders edge Wizards 1-0 in US Open Cup quarterfinals

SEATTLE — Sebastien Le Toux drilled in a penalty kick in the 89th minute Tuesday night, giving the Seattle Sounders a 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Wizards in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal.

Spectator sport: Ramirez booed, gets 2 hits and ejected, too

NEW YORK — For someone just back, Manny Ramirez made quite an exit.

Spectator sport: Ramirez booed, comes back with bases-loaded hit

NEW YORK — Manny Ramirez walked into the clubhouse, spotted the waiting flock and broke into a familiar grin.

Stallworth tape details events, drinking in hours before DUI crash that killed Miami man

MIAMI — Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth told police he drank up to four shots of premium tequila while partying with friends at a Miami Beach club but did not feel drunk in the hours before he struck and killed a pedestrian with his car.

First international success for Indian racer Lohit Urs

TAMPIN - Indias Lohit V. Urs claimed his maiden international title when he won the second round of the AAM Malaysian Rally Championship here over the weekend driving an Isuzu D-Max.

Did the KKR Experience Prompted ECB to Recruit Buchanan?

LONDON - Even after the worthless performance in Kolkata Knight RIder in IPL, Buchanan is still trusted by the ECB to appoint him for a responsible post.

Police await ballistics test on gun bought by slain NFL star Steve McNair’s girlfriend

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Investigators were waiting for ballistics tests on a gun recently bought by the girlfriend of slain former NFL star Steve McNair to determine whether the firearm found at the scene killed the two.

Ecclestone says his comments on Hitler have been misunderstood

LONDON - Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that there has been a “big misunderstanding” over his comments about Nazi dictator Hitler that appeared in the press over the weekend.

Dockett says he won’t allow contract issue to disrupt Cardinals camp

PHOENIX — Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett says he will report to training camp and not allow his contract issues to affect his performance this season.

Giants’ Randy Johnson goes on disabled list with a strained left shoulder

SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Johnson is expected to miss at least two starts as the 300-game winner recovers from a strained shoulder.

Person close to negotiations: Tribune Co., Ricketts family reach written Cubs sale agreement

CHICAGO — The Tribune Co. has reached a written agreement to sell the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field and other assets to the family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts for about $900 million, a person close to the negotiations said Monday.

Gun that Shot McNair was Bought by His Girlfriend Two Days Back : Police Reports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Police say the gun found at the scene where former NFL star Steve McNair died was bought by his girlfriend less than two days before the two were shot to death.

McNair swept up girlfriend with gifts and trips, relative says, before affair’s deadly end

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The star quarterback and the waitress met six months ago, at a restaurant where she worked and his family often ate. He was married and 16 years older, but she seemed happy and eager to build a life with him.

Relative told by police that woman found dead with McNair had recently bought a handgun

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Steve McNair’s 20-year-old girlfriend bought a gun a couple of days before she was found dead alongside the slain former NFL quarterback, her relative said Monday.