SPORTS ALTernate

Olympic Hopefuls Look to the Start of the Games

2009-11-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

U.S. Olympic hopefuls Gretchen Bleiler and Lowell Bailey took part Wednesday in a New York celebration of the 100 day countdown to the start of the Vancouver Olympics.

NYC Marathon Has Grown From Humble Beginnings

2009-10-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

The New York City Marathon has seen tremendous growth from the first race in 1970, when only 127 runners took part. Approximately forty-thousand runners are expected to race the 40th edition of the marathon Sunday.

In Book, Agassi Admits Using Crystal Meth

2009-10-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

Andre Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997, the year he dropped out of the top 100 in the rankings and started playing in tennis' equivalent of the minor leagues.

Torch Lit for 2010 Vancouver Games

2009-10-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Olympic torch was lit for the 2010 Vancouver games, in a ceremony in Greece Thursday. A relay will take the torch 45,000 kilometers (28,000 miles) around Canada before the start of the Winter Games on 12 February.

Brazil Violence Ignites Olympic Security Fears

2009-10-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro says a weekend of violence shows his city faces a tough battle as it tries to address security problems ahead of the 2016 Olympics.

Sorenstam Tells the AP She's Happily Retired

2009-10-14T14:10:00.001-07:00

Former top-ranked golfer Annika Sorenstam talks with the AP about her new child, the state of the LPGA and golf's recent inclusion in the Olympics.

Golf to Be Teed Up in the Olympics

2009-10-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

The International Olympic Committee has added golf into the Olympics, starting with the 2016 Games. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Friday that the game will see great growth because of the decision.

Olympic Decision Stuns Chicagoans

2009-10-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Thousands of people stood in bewildered silence in downtown Chicago on Friday after the International Olympic Committee surprised everyone by dumping the city from the race for 2016 Summer Olympics in the first round of voting.

Rio De Janeiro Wins Right to Host 2016 Olympics

2009-10-02T16:46:00.001-07:00

The 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro, putting the games in South America for the first time. Rio beat surprise finalist Madrid in the last round of voting.

Chicago Is the First to Go in 2016 Voting

2009-10-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists.

Obama: Chicago Will Do Olympics Proud

2009-10-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

In a hometown pitch for the world's biggest sporting event, President Barack Obama lobbied Olympic leaders to give the 2016 Summer Games to Chicago, saying the U.S. "is ready and eager to assume that sacred trust."

Chicago Promises a 'Spectacular' Olympics

2009-09-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

The mayor of Chicago says he's proud of his city's efforts to land the 2016 Olympics and promises everyone will come through to deliver a monumental effort.

Obama to Make In-Person Pitch for 2016 Games

2009-09-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama will travel to Denmark to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, projecting the highest-ever White House profile in lobbying for the international event.

Phil Mickelson Wins Tour Championship

2009-09-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

Phil Mickelson rallied from a four-shot deficit Sunday to win the Tour Championship for his third victory of the season. Tiger Woods finished second, but won the FedEx Cup and its' 10-million dollar prize.

U.S. Men Seeking World Cup Berth

2009-09-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

The U.S. men's soccer team can qualify for its' sixth straight World Cup with a victory at Honduras in early October. U.S. star Landon Donovan was in New York Wednesday and said the U.S. could also qualify with a tie against Costa Rica.

Henin Ending Her Retirement

2009-09-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

Former world No. 1 Justine Henin announced Tuesday that she's ending her retirement from tennis and will play on the WTA Tour in 2010.

U.S. Open: Del Petro Ends Federer's Reign

2009-09-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Juan Martin Del Petro has ended Roger Federer's string of five straight U.S. Open titles, defeating the top-ranked Swiss star in five sets.

Serena Fined; More Discipline to Come?

2009-09-14T07:41:00.001-07:00

Serena Williams has been fined $10,000 for her profanity-laced tirade during her semi-final match at the U.S. Open. However, tournament officials say more punishment could be coming because of a broader investigation now underway.

Unseeded Clijsters Wins U.S. Open

2009-09-14T07:32:00.001-07:00

Kim Clijsters made history Sunday night, becoming the first unseeded woman to win the U.S. Open, and the first mom to win a major since 1980, with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki.

Federer Advances to U.S. Open Final

2009-09-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Top seed Roger Federer moved on to the U.S. Open final after a 7-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic. Federer will be seeking his sixth straight Open championship.

Nadal Loses in Straight Sets at U.S. Open

2009-09-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

Six-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal was routed in the U.S. Open semifinals by Juan Martin del Potro Sunday, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. It was Nadal's worst loss in a major tournament.

S. Williams, Clijsters Discuss Bizarre Match

2009-09-13T06:09:00.001-07:00

Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters spoke to reporters moments after their match ended in bizarre fashion Saturday, when Williams was penalized a point on match point after yelling at an official who called a foot fault.

Serena's Meltdown Caps Clijsters' Win

2009-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Kim Clijsters moved into the U.S. Open women's final when Serena Williams put an abrupt end to the match. Caroline Wozniacki also reached the final.

Nadal Reaches Open Semifinals

2009-09-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

Third-seed Rafael Nadal advanced to the U.S. Open semfinals Saturday. He talks about the wait between the start and finish of the rain-delayed match and his semfinal opponent Juan Martin del Potro.

Rain Wipes Out Friday's U.S. Open Slate

2009-09-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Friday's U.S. Open women's semifinals were postponed by rain, as was the completion of Rafael Nadal's quarterfinal match vs. Fernando Gonzalez.