Contador leads; Armstrong aims to defend 3rd place at Tour with Mont Ventoux shakeout looming

MONTELIMAR, France — Tour de France riders are off on the last crucial stage, heading for a finish on the dreaded Mont Ventoux as winds swept wildly across its peak.

Lance Armstrong eyes third-place Tour finish as daunting Mont Ventoux looms

AUBENAS, France — Lance Armstrong almost certainly won’t be beating Alberto Contador for the yellow jersey.

Armstrong clings to 3rd, Contador a near lock for Tour de France victory as Mont Ventoux looms

AUBENAS, France — After three weeks and thousands of miles of riding, it all comes down to this: a soaring bald mountain in Provence where the Tour de France can be won or lost.

Armstrong clings to 3rd, Contador a near lock for Tour victory as Mont Ventoux looms

AUBENAS, France — After three weeks and thousands of miles of riding, it all comes down to this: a soaring bald mountain in Provence where the Tour de France can be won or lost.

Lance Armstrong moves back into 3rd after time trial; Alberto Contador has dominant lead

ANNECY — Lance Armstrong had never experienced such an ordeal in a time trial during his seven-year dominant spell on the Tour de France.

2 WNBA players Alana Beard and Swin Cash to update Twitter accounts during All-Star game

NEW YORK — Two WNBA players will update their Twitter accounts during Saturday’s All-Star game.

Heavy atmosphere within Astana team as 2nd Tour de France victory looms for Alberto Contador

LE GRAND-BORNAND, France — Alberto Contador used the third and final Alpine stage of the Tour de France to take a further step toward a second victory in cycling’s showcase event.

Armstrong drops to fourth as Contador keeps Tour lead; Astana podium sweep in trouble

LE GRAND-BORNAND, France — Lance Armstrong couldn’t stay in the front during the final Alpine stage in the Tour de France, so he played faithful teammate for Alberto Contador instead.

50 Cink: Stewart Cink returns to Atlanta hometown with British Open trophy, new nickname

ATLANTA — Stewart Cink came home to show off his latest trophy and new nickname.

Florida Highway Patrol: Shaquille O’Neal’s wife recovering from minor fender bender in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — The wife of basketball star Shaquille O’Neal is recovering from a minor fender bender.

Armstrong to announce new US sponsor for Astana; will ride Tour next year

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, France — Lance Armstrong says he’s found a new American sponsor to back Astana next year. He won’t say if he will stay with the team or start his own squad.

AP Interview: Armstrong feels better at Tour, would pursue lead only if Contador has ‘bad day’

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, France — Lance Armstrong mustered one of his strongest showings yet at this Tour de France on Tuesday, a dazzling burst of acceleration from yesteryear that allowed him to keep second place.

Lance Armstrong set to announce new American sponsor for his team

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, France — Lance Armstrong says he’s found a new American sponsor to back his team next year.

Agent confirms Nash agrees to 2-year, $22 million extension with Suns

PHOENIX — Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns have agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract extension, his agent said.

Person familiar with negotiations tells AP Nash agrees to 2-year extension with Suns

PHOENIX — Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns have agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract extension, a person close to the negotiations said.

Contador turns his concern to other teams now that the rivalry with Armstrong is all but gone

SION, Switzerland — The tension with Lance Armstrong is all but gone in the crisp mountain air and the line of authority is clear. Now, Alberto Contador wants to concentrate on those teams intent on seizing his Tour de France lead.

A Twitter regular, Cink posts a claret tweet

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Stewart Cink became the first British Open champion to show off his prize on Twitter.

Put away the rockin’ chairs: Even in defeat, Watson shows that aging athletes can still thrive

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Maybe when the disappointment wears off — for both Tom Watson and the millions of fans cheering him on — everyone will take a larger message from his amazing performance along the Scottish coast.

Contador wins Tour’s 15th stage, takes yellow jersey in Alps, Armstrong lags

VERBIER, Switzerland — As a seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong recognizes greatness — teammate and rival Alberto Contador.

Watson tees off in final round of British Open as Fisher pulls even with birdie on No. 1

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Tom Watson has teed off at the British Open, hoping to become the oldest major champion in golf history.

Early players put up some low numbers at British Open; Watson prepares for historic round

TURNBERRY, Scotland — While Tom Watson waited to take his shot at history, several players put up low numbers early in the final round of the British Open.

Armstrong faces tough test in first Alpine stage of the Tour

PONTARLIER, France — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is facing a tough test as the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France has gotten under way between Pontarlier and the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.

Hincapie bumps Armstrong to 4th at Tour as Texan laments Garmin tactics

BESANCON, France — Lance Armstrong was unfazed about slipping to fourth place at the Tour de France. Instead, he was riled that his former lieutenant, George Hincapie, was deprived of the yellow jersey — allegedly by a rival U.S. team.

NBA scoring champion Dwyane Wade leaving Converse, going to Nike’s Jordan Brand

NBA scoring champion Dwyane Wade is changing shoes, making the switch from Converse to Nike’s Jordan Brand.

Lance Armstrong teammate Levi Leipheimer withdraws from Tour de France after breaking wrist

VITTEL, France — Lance Armstrong’s teammate Levi Leipheimer withdrew from the Tour de France before Friday’s 13th stage after breaking his wrist in a crash, his Astana team said.

Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador on their guard as Tour de France heads back into mountains

VITTEL, France — After three stressful flat stages marred by crashes, the Tour de France is heading back into the mountains.

Lance Armstrong looks forward to getting back to climbing at Tour de France

VITTEL, France — Lance Armstrong is ready to climb again, ready to leave the pack at the Tour de France after days of flat riding that belonged to sprinters.

Houston Dynamo star Brian Ching fined $500 for criticizing refs on Twitter

HOUSTON — Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching has been fined $500 by Major League Soccer for criticizing the officiating in a recent game through his Twitter account.

Armstrong stays 3rd at Tour despite tire puncture; Nocentini keeps lead; Sorensen wins stage

VITTEL, France — Lance Armstrong remained in third place at the Tour de France on Thursday, scrambling back to the main pack following a punctured tire with about 37 miles left.

Nocentini, Contador, Armstrong stay 1-2-3 at Tour; Denmark’s Nicki Sorensen wins 12th stage

VITTEL, France — Lance Armstrong remained in third place at the Tour de France on Thursday, scrambling back to the main pack following a punctured tire with about 37 miles left.

On day for going low, Woods struggles to 1-over 71 on first day of British Open

TURNBERRY, Scotland — On a day for going low, Tiger Woods struggled to a 1-over 71 in the opening round of the British Open.

Old-timers day, Part II: 59-year-old Tom Watson leads British Open after shooting opening 65

TURNBERRY, Scotland — On the eve of the British Open, Tom Watson got a modern-day text message from Jack Nicklaus’ wife.

Plenty of red numbers on a day for going low at the British Open; Senden leads with a 66

TURNBERRY, Scotland — John Senden wasn’t even supposed to be playing this week.

Nocentini defends yellow jersey as 12th stage of Tour de France begins; Armstrong sits in 3rd

TONNERRE, France — Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy wore the yellow jersey as riders started the 12th stage of the Tour de France, with British sprinter Mark Cavendish going for a third straight stage win.

Mark Calcavecchia turns back clock at British Open, sits among early leaders after opening 67

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Mark Calcavecchia always plays at a brisk pace.