Petterson clinging to 1-stroke lead

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Carl Pettersson couldn't have had a better time with Colt Knost at the RBC Heritage. He hopes to have as much fun when the two play again on Sunday.

Morosini collapses, dies during game

MILAN - Former Italy Under-21 midfielder Piermario Morosini died Saturday after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the pitch during his team Livorno's Serie B match at Pescara. He was 25. Edoardo De Blasio, a cardiologist at Pescara's Santo Spirito hospital, confirmed Morosini's death, saying "unfortunately he was already dead when he arrived at hospital. He didn't regain consciousness." Morosini, who was on loan from Serie A side Udinese, fell ...

Three have share of lead at Heritage

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Chad Campbell used a fast start, and Vaughn Taylor and Colt Knost had strong finishes to share the first-round lead at 4-under 67 in the RBC Heritage on Thursday.

Petrino, mistress in frequent contact

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Former Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino and his mistress were in frequent contact over the past six months, sometimes calling or texting each other dozens of times in a single day - including game days, according to a review of his business cellphone records by The Associated Press. Petrino was fired Tuesday night for failing to disclose his relationship with Jessica Dorrell, a 25-year-old former Razorbacks volleyball player he hired ...

Rajon Rondo lifts road-weary Celtics to a win over Hawks

BOSTON - Paul Pierce overcame a miserable shooting game with a key jumper in overtime and Rajon Rondo finished with a triple-double with 20 assists, 10 points and 10 rebounds to lift the surging Boston Celtics to an 88-86 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. Kevin Garnett had 22 points and grabbed 12 boards before fouling out with just under 3 minutes left in OT, and Brandon Bass, who also hit ...

Marlins' Guillen suspended: Manager out 5 games for Castro comments

MIAMI - A contrite Ozzie Guillen sat in the heart of Little Havana seeking forgiveness for what the Miami Marlins manager called the biggest mistake of his life - saying he admired Fidel Castro. This wasn't some offhanded insult about a sports writer, the type of thing that got the outspoken Guillen in trouble in Chicago. This was personal to the fan base that the Marlins rely on so much that they built ...

Outdoor Life - Great month to trout fish in N. Ga. mountains

When we planned our outdoor calendar for 2012, my suggestion for your April adventure was to head to the North Georgia Mountains and get in some trout fishing in one of the many streams and rivers our state has to offer. Although trout in Georgia streams don't rival the size of those in states to the north of us, it is still a lot of fun and a wonderful outdoor excursion for you and your kids or buddies.

Bubba must now master fame

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Bubba Watson had reason to feel like a rock star. His playoff win at the Masters on the second extra hole stretched into early evening, and when he finally slipped on the green jacket during the trophy presentation, the flashes from so many cameras danced across his face like strobe lights. "I'm not ready for fame," Watson said. "I don't really want to be famous or anything ...

Goodell upholds all suspensions after Sants' appeal

NEW YORK - Sean Payton now knows for certain he won't be coaching in 2012. And the New Orleans Saints must figure out whether Bill Parcells or someone else is best suited to take over a team seeking its fourth straight trip to the playoffs. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday rejected the Saints' appeals of their unprecedented punishment stemming from the league's investigation of the club's bounty system. The ...

Baylor basketball in hot water

The Associated Press WACO, Texas - Less than a week after its women's basketball team won the national championship, Baylor said Monday it has been involved in a three-year investigation with the NCAA into what are believed to be hundreds of impermissible phone calls and text messages sent by coaches to young prospects. The school did not describe any details of the investigation, including which sports were involved, but the ...

Genologist remains unbeaten, No. 2

Derby fever is springing up all over. Owner Kendall Hansen has it now, saying he "can hardly work" as he counts down the week before his horse named Hansen runs in the Kentucky Derby on May 5. First, Hansen has one more prep race, and that's the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, about a 90-minute drive from Louisville. The near-white colt will be facing about a dozen rivals on the ...

Moving day at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Two players from different ends of the spectrum each made Augusta National look vulnerable Saturday. Now, Peter Hanson and Phil Mickelson will be paired together for the final round at the Masters. Hanson, making only his second appearance at the year's first major, shot 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over Mickelson, who put on a short-game clinic Saturday to land in good position for a ...

From the Masters with Vince Johnson -Freddie Friday

AUGUSTA - Freddie's at it again. On the 20th anniversary of his only Masters' title in 1992, 52-year-old Fred Couples sits in a tie atop the Augusta National leaderboard after firing a 5-under 67 Friday. He's tied with Jason Dufner at 5-under, with Rory McIlroy among five others sitting one stroke behind. "It's a little shocking," Couples said after his round, "but I played really good golf (Friday)." Known only on ...

Couples, Dufner lead

AUGUSTA - Before there was Tiger, Rory, Sergio or Phil, a smooth-swinging guy named Freddie used to make 'em go crazy at the Masters.

Tiger claws way to opening 72

AUGUSTA - His driver was better suited for the left turns of a NASCAR track. He dealt with three mud balls, the South Georgia humidity, and a lemming-like following that dwarfed all other competitors.

Clemens accuser: 'I didn't make it up'

WASHINGTON - Roger Clemens' lawyer toyed with Brian McNamee's memory and attacked him from several directions at once. The attorney even put an easel next to the witness with the words: "MISTAKE. BAD MEMORY. LIE." Eventually, there came the inevitable question: "Do you sometimes just make stuff up?" McNamee has frequently taken long pauses before answering questions in three days on the witness stand, but he didn't hesitate this time. He leaned into ...

Celtics take 2-1 lead over 76ers

PHILADELPHIA - Kevin Garnett scored 27 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and used a dominant second quarter to help the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 107-91, on Wednesday night and take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Whistled for a costly illegal pick late in a Game 2 loss, Garnett crushed the Sixers early and never let them think about a fourth-quarter rally. Garnett scored 13 of Boston's 32 points ...

Cassius Osborn honored

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame University of Georgia Chapter recognized Cassius Osborn of Statesboro (center) at their 27th annual awards presentation on April 16, 2012, in Athens at the Athens Country Club. Osborn received a plaque honoring him for post graduate achievement for his commitment to his community and his alma mater in the highest of American traditions. He is shown with Mark Richt, University of Georgia head football coach (left); ...

Outdoor Life - A look at my dual doctoral studies for the outdoorsman

I am currently working on a double doctorate degree and I'm sure that comes as a total surprise to many of you who read this column each week.

Kuchar all smiles after Players win

McNamee testifies Clemens used steroids in 1998

WASHINGTON - Speaking softly, nervously and in detail, Brian McNamee testified about the life-changing moment when, he said, he first injected Roger Clemens with steroids.

Na shoots 68, leads by one heading to final round

Kuchar, Johnson, Na lead while Tiger survives cut

Hawks face offseason choices

Boston Celtics advance to Eastern Conference semifinals

BOSTON - Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 14 rebounds, hitting a jumper to give Boston the lead with 31 seconds left, and the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks, 83-80, in Game 6 on Thursday night to win their first-round playoff series and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the fifth straight year. The Celtics will play the Philadelphia 76ers, who eliminated East No. 1 seed Chicago in six games with a ...

Poulter, Laird tied at The Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Ian Poulter is enjoying his new digs - his newly built home and his spot atop the leaderboard Thursday in The Players Championship. Poulter, finally finished with a house at Lake Nona that took nearly three years to build, ran off four birdies around the turn and birdied all the par 5s at TPC Sawgrass for a 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Martin Laird. ...

Derby-winning trainer could face suspension in California

BALTIMORE - Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O'Neill could face a suspension in California after one of his horses was found to have an elevated level of total carbon dioxide, an infraction for which he previously has been punished. The California Horse Racing Board is considering the case, which involves "milkshaking," the illegal practice of giving a horse a blend of bicarbonate of soda, sugar and electrolytes. The mixture is designed to reduce fatigue ...

Celtics look to close out Hawks

BOSTON - John Havlicek against the 76ers. Larry Bird against the Pistons. When Rajon Rondo intercepted a Hawks pass in the final seconds of Game 5, he had a chance to add to the list of memorable Celtics playoff steals. Then he fumbled it away. "I hate that the game ended the way that it ended," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after Atlanta held on for an 87-86 victory in ...

Donald, McIlroy face off at The Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Golf's world ranking has been more like a game of musical chairs with the most turnover at the top in the 26-year history of the ranking. Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald would like the music to stop playing for good sometime this year, the sooner the better. And both want the same outcome. "Hopefully," Donald said Wednesday, raising his hand, "it will be me." McIlroy said the ...

Finchem: Masters 'too important' to ignore

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said Wednesday the Masters is "too important" for the tour to take it off its official schedule, even though Augusta National has never had a female member in its 80-year history.