Wimbledon | Federer beats Hanescu June 24, 2013

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Wimbledon: Roger Federer advances

Wimbledon: Roger Federer advances

Ten years after his first Wimbledon championship, Roger Federer began his bid for a record eighth title at the All England Club on Monday with the same dominance that has defined his grass-court greatness.

Opening the tournament on Centre Court as defending champion, Federer looked right as home as he dismantled Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 in just 68 minutes.

This was a grass-court clinic from Federer, who had 32 winners, seven aces and just six unforced errors. He won 90 percent of the points when he put his first serve in.

 When his serve is clicking, Federer usually is unbeatable. On this day, he won 15 of his first service points and 24 out of the first 25.

 A year after stunning Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, Lukas Rosol lost his first-round match against a qualifier ranked 121st. Rosol, who came in ranked 35th, was beaten 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-4 Monday by Germany's Julian Reister.

Federer vs Hanescu June 24, 2013

 Their match was on tiny Court 19, a short walk away from Centre Court, where the then 100th-ranked Rosol pulled off a surprising five-set victory over two-time Wimbledon champion Nadal in 2012's second round. Nadal then took a seven-month break from the tour because of a left knee injury. Against Reister, Rosol played the same sort of high-risk game he used so successfully against Nadal. This time, Rosol was not nearly as accurate, accumulating 74 unforced errors, 30 more than Reister.

 Last year, Roger Federer equaled Pete Sampras and William Renshaw with seven Wimbledon titles. He is now contending to become the first man to win the tournament eight times, which would bring his total of Grand Slam titles to 18. In keeping with tradition, Federer had the honor of playing the first match on the sport's biggest stage as the reigning men's champion. This was the seventh time he strode out first on Centre Court.

 "It's slightly different," he said. "Nine years ago when I came out the first time, it was the most special thing in the world. It still feels amazing. It was an absolute pleasure playing on Centre Court." Federer came out wearing a white collared jacket with orange trim, then quickly got down to business. He never faced a break point and broke six times. Federer has a habit of making things look easy. And so it was in the opening game when, stranded at the net, he reached behind him for a reflex forehand volley that landed in for a winner. In the third set, Federer lifted a perfect backhand lob over the 6-foot-6 Hanescu for a break and a 5-0 lead. Also scheduled on Centre Court was No. 2-seeded Andy Murray, playing Benjamin Becker of Germany. Murray, who lost to Federer in last year's final, beat the Swiss star a month later for the Olympic gold medal and won his first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open.

He is bidding again to become the first British player to win the men's Wimbledon trophy since Fred Perry in 1936. Two-time champion Rafael Nadal, seeded No. 5 this year, was paired against Steve Darcis of Belgium on Court No. 1. Nadal is coming off his eighth victory at the French Open.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins Game 6 Live Stream June 24, 2013

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Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins Live Stream

Jonathan Toews watched the end of the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final from the Blackhawks bench, unable to play after a hit to his head. Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was in a Chicago hospital after leaving the United Center by ambulance.

 As the Stanley Cup Final approaches a sixth and potential clinching game on Monday night, the attention shifted from the players on the ice to the ones who might not make it there, including two of the top forwards and biggest stars in the series. "It's not the best situation for either team," Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask said Sunday after both teams flew back to Boston.

 "But it's a tough sport, and injuries happen. When you leave it all out there to help your team win, that's all part of the game." Bergeron was injured in the second period of Game 5 on Saturday night,

Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins

which the Blackhawks won 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the series

. He made two brief appearances on the ice in the third period but something was obviously wrong and he was unable to complete either shift. Toews, who won the Selke Award as the NHL's top defensive forward -- Bergeron was a finalist -- missed the entire third period after a shot to the head from Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

 "They're both great players," Chicago winger Patrick Sharp said. "I think any coach in the league, any player in the league would like to have those guys on their team. They take pride in taking faceoffs, playing well away from the puck, making their linemates better, (they're) both big parts of the locker room. "I can't speak for what Boston is dealing with, with Bergeron. I know I don't need to say much about Jonathan. I think everyone knows what we think of him in our locker room. Hopefully we can have him back for (Monday)."

 Bergeron, who was taken to the hospital for observation, was released later Saturday night and rejoined his teammates for a team meal. "He was crushing some food," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said Sunday. Bergeron was on the team flight back from Chicago.

After the Bruins' bus arrived at the TD Garden in the afternoon, he walked without crutches or assistance to a car and was driven away. "He's good. He came back with us and everything so hopefully he can play," Marchand said. "He looked really good today. He had a nice suit on, very dashing.

 Obviously, he's a big part of the team and hopefully he can play." The Blackhawks lost Toews after Boychuk knocked him down in the slot, making contact with his head.

Boychuk wasn't penalized, and NHL spokesman John Dellapina said on Sunday that the league reviewed the hit and there will be no supplemental discipline. "I think they said it was clean, wasn't it? Then I agree with them," Bruins coach Claude Julien said.

 "I'm not going to hide from that. If it wasn't a clean hit -- I've been a guy that supported those kind of things that we need to get out of the game. But it was a clean hit." Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville alluded to the contact with the head but then said, "I'm not going to go there." Toews was tied with Patrick Kane for the Blackhawks' team lead with 23 goals during the regular season. Since being reunited with Kane on Chicago's top line in Game 4, Chicago has rallied to take the lead in the best-of-seven series.

 Before he was knocked out of the Game 5, Toews assisted on both of Kane's goals. "He's our leader," Chicago defenseman Johnny Oduya said. "You know, he's one of those guys, and when he's full-speed he gives everything he's got every game. That's something that is tough to replace."

Quenneville said Toews was doing much better and the team is optimistic he will be able to play in Game 6.

"We'll see how he is. I think the progress today, he's doing real good," Quenneville said. "We'll visit in the morning, and he seemed fine. So nothing has changed. Nothing is different. We'll keep an eye on him, and we'll go from there."

Chicago Blackhawks vs Boston Bruins

 With or without Toews and Bergeron, the Blackhawks have a chance to clinch their second Stanley Cup title in four seasons on Monday night in Boston. If they lose, the series returns to Chicago for a decisive seventh game on Wednesday. And that, Julien said, is why he wasn't worried about whether Toews will play or not. "I think I should be looking in my backyard and make sure I've got my guys playing tomorrow before I start worrying about the game plan with them," he said. "Right now we know it's up to us to ... bring our `A' game if we want a chance to win. That part of it should be more important than who they have and don't have in their lineup."

Nik Wallenda crossed Grand Canyon

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Daredevil Nik Wallenda trying to cross gorge near Grand Canyon

Daredevil Nik Wallenda is using the Navajo Nation as a backdrop to one of his most ambitious feats yet — crossing a tightrope 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge near the Grand Canyon.

Daredevil Nik Wallenda

The 34-year-old Sarasota, Fla., resident will set out Sunday on a quarter-mile cable stretched over the gorge that was eyed by another high-wire performer decades ago. The stunt performance comes a year after he traversed Niagara Falls earning a seventh Guinness world record. He'll be using the same 2-inch-thick cable he used to cross the falls, only this time he won't be wearing a safety harness.

After saying a prayer, "I give my wife and kids a hug and a kiss and tell them I'll see them in a bit," he told reporters Friday in Flagstaff.

Wallenda is a seventh-generation high-wire artist and is part of the famous "Flying Wallendas" circus family — a clan that is no stranger to death-defying feats and great tragedy.

His great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, fell during a performance in Puerto Rico and died at the age of 73. Several other family members, including a cousin and an uncle, have perished while performing wire walking stunts.

Nik Wallenda, who was born a year after his great-grandfather died, began wire walking at the age of 2, on a 2-foot high stretched rope. He grew up performing with his family and has dreamed of crossing the Grand Canyon since he was a teenager.

Daredevil Nik Wallenda completes wire walk over Grand Canyon

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Daredevil Nik Wallenda completes high-wire walk across the Grand Canyon

Daredevil Nik Wallenda completed a historic high-wire walk on a 2-inch (5-cm) steel cable over the Grand Canyon on Sunday and was greeted by wild cheers after his hair-raising stunt show.

Wallenda, the self-described "King of the High Wire," took 22 minutes and 54 seconds to walk 1,400 feet across the crimson-hued canyon with just a distant ribbon of the Little Colorado River beneath him. The event was broadcast live around the world.

Daredevil Nik Wallenda trying to cross gorge near Grand Canyon

Wallenda, the first person to cross the canyon, made the walk without a tether or safety net.

Wallenda could be heard praying almost constantly during the walk, murmuring "Thank you, Jesus." He kissed the ground when he reached to the finish.

"It took every bit of me to stay focused that entire time," Wallenda said. "My arms are aching like you wouldn't believe."

He said he stopped and crouched down twice, first because of the wind, the second because the cable had picked up an unsettling rhythm.

He spat on his hands and rubbed it on the sole of his shoe for grip as the cable had gathered dust.

Wallenda said the walk was stressful. But he also said the view, from 1,500 feet above the snaking river, was "breathtaking."

"It was a dream come true," Wallenda said of the crossing. "This is what my family has done for 200 years, so it's part of my legacy."

Daredevil Nik Wallenda trying to cross gorge near Grand Canyon

A seventh-generation member of the "Flying Wallendas" family of acrobats, Wallenda also made history last year by becoming the only person to complete a high-wire walk over the brink of Niagara Falls. He used the same cable on Sunday.

The 34-year-old first dreamed of Sunday's challenge during a visit to the Grand Canyon with his parents as a teenager.

There was no word on the financial benefits of Wallenda's stunt. He was listed by the Discovery Channel as one of the executive producers of the live broadcast. A Discovery spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Viewers watching live in 217 countries were able to share Wallenda's point of view from the cable during the crossing, through cameras rigged to his body. Wallenda held a 43-pound (20-kg) balancing pole.

Nik's great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, slipped and fell to his death from a high wire in Puerto Rico in 1978.

In an interview after Sunday's walk, Nik Wallenda teared up describing how he thought of his great-grandfather.

"I knelt down and I thought of my great-grandfather and that everything I do is to honor him," Wallenda said. "It took my mind off all this movement underneath me ... and I was able to focus on him and regain composure."

Wallenda said before the crossing that his greatest concern was the unpredictable wind gusts that are prone to buffet the site in a remote section of the Grand Canyon's watershed on the Navajo Nation.

Wallenda trained in his Florida hometown of Sarasota as Tropical Storm Andrea barreled ashore. He also used air boats to blast him with side and updrafts of 55 miles per hour.

Wallenda talks about his Christian faith in his new book "Balance."

"That's really where I get my peace," he said. "I have confidence that if something were to happen to me, I know where I'm going."

For a future stunt, Wallenda said he dreams of walking between New York's Chrysler Building and Empire State Building.

Adrien Broner wins welterweight title June 23, 2013

Adrien Broner was the bigger talker and the bigger puncher Broner had talked plenty before the fight, too, promising to knock Malignaggi out. He wasn't able to do that, but scored enough with lead right hands and left hooks to dominate the fight from the middle rounds on. Despite that, one ringside judge had Malignaggi winning 115-113 while Broner was favored 115-113 by a second judge and 117-111 by a third. The Associated Press had Broner winning 117-111. "He's a world class fighter," Broner said. "To come to somebody's hometown and beat them on a split decision, that's saying something." Malignaggi did plenty of trash talking before the fight himself, and taunted Broner several times during the fight. But while he landed a lot of punches, none of them seemed to have much effect on Broner, who kept pressing the attack throughout the bout. "He couldn't hit me. He couldn't hit me," Broner said.

 "He was shadowboxing." Malignaggi fought bravely and he fought hard, trying desperately to find a way to win before his hometown fans. But even though Broner was moving up two weight classes he was bigger than Malignaggi and, more importantly much stronger.Saturday night, scoring enough hard blows to beat hometown hero Paulie Malignaggi in a 12-round split decision and take Malignaggi's welterweight title. Fighting for the first time at 147 pounds after moving up from lightweight, Broner had enough power to overcome a gritty fight by Malignaggi and remain unbeaten in 27 fights. He won his third title in as many weight classes while cementing his reputation as one of the rising stars in boxing. With Floyd Mayweather Jr. watching from ringside, Broner talked throughout the fight to Malignaggi, who was plenty game but wasn't able to keep Broner off of him. Broner was unable to knock Malignaggi down, but won round after round to take the decision in the fight at Barclays Center. After allowing Malignaggi to take the first few rounds with his speed and precision, Broner began walking him down and landing some thudding punches. By the middle rounds he was hurting Malignaggi to the body, though after taking a body punch in the sixth round Malignaggi stuck his tongue out at Broner to taunt him. "He worked for about 30 seconds every round," Malignaggi said. "This was a close fight. I don't mind if you had him winning close or me winning close, it was that kind of a fight." Malignaggi, who works as a commentator for Showtime network fights, complained afterward that the loss was due to boxing politics. "I'm not saying it was fixed, but it's always the more connected fighter who gets the decision," Malignaggi said. Ringside punch stats showed Broner landing 246 of 524 punches while Malignaggi landed 214 of 843. But while Malignaggi was the busier fighter, Broner landed punches that seemed to score a lot more heavily. Broner improved to 27-0 with 22 knockouts while Malignaggi fell to 32-5. In another fight, heavyweight Seth Mitchell avenged his knockout defeat to Johnathon Banks, though he was far from impressive in doing so. Mitchell, a former linebacker at Michigan State, knocked Banks down in the second round and did enough to win rounds after that. He ended up taking a unanimous 12-round decision in a fight that was heartily booed by the crowd at Barclays Center for a lack of action. "I used patience and distance," Mitchell said. "I was ready to go the 12 rounds and use my stamina." Banks stopped Mitchell in the second round of their first fight last November, but didn't seem interested in pushing the action in the rematch. Though he hurt Mitchell with a flurry of punches in the third round and scored well in the fourth, he threw only occasional punches in a cautious effort the rest of the way. "I gave it all I could," Banks said. "I did as much as I could but I wasn't able to take advantage this time." Mitchell was fighting just two weeks after his wife gave birth to a stillborn son.

Minnesota Twins vs Cleveland Indians June 23, 2013

It hasn't always been easy, but the Cleveland Indians have managed to find ways to win of late. Trying for a fifth consecutive victory, the Indians look to complete a sweep of the visiting Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Michael Bourn had three hits with three RBIs as Cleveland (38-35) took advantage of five walks to score six times in the first inning, then hung on for an 8-7 win over Minnesota on Saturday.

Though the Indians have won eight of 10 since a season-high eight-game slide, it's been a challenge to succeed at times during the stretch.

They scored in bottom of the ninth for a 2-1 win over Washington on June 14; rallied from a pair of two-run deficits to beat Kansas City 4-3 on Tuesday and came back from two down to beat the Royals 6-3 the next game.

Cleveland had to sweat out Saturday's contest which it led 8-3 after five innings.

"We won the game," Vinnie Pestano said after he converted his third straight save opportunity despite allowing two ninth-inning runs. "That's the bottom line. If I go out there and give up five runs and we win by one, we win by one." Bourn is batting .429 (9 for 21) in six games, including 5 for 8 in this series. Making his return from serving a seven-game suspension for throwing at the New York Yankees' Kevin Youkilis earlier this season, scheduled Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 8.40 ERA) allowed a run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings but did not factor in the decision of a 2-1 loss to Kansas City on Monday. Carrasco, who missed all last season while recovering from elbow surgery, is 0-7 with an 8.08 ERA in nine starts since his last win June 29, 2011. However, his latest performance provides a reason to believe that drought could soon end. "That was what we were hoping for," manager Terry Francona said. "That kind of performance." The right-hander has posted a 1.82 ERA while going 1-1 in four starts versus Minnesota (33-38), which looks to avoid a fifth straight road loss and first sweep of at least three games at Cleveland since Sept. 15-17, 2008. Chris Parmelee had three hits, including two solo homers, Joe Mauer hit his eighth and Justin Morneau added two hits Saturday for a Twins team that swept the Chicago White Sox prior to this set. "Nobody should be hanging their heads," said Parmelee, who had four hits in his previous 27 at-bats before Saturday. "Our pitching wasn't there at the beginning, but we went out and played extremely well. "We've got a day game coming up, and we'll come back and get them (Sunday)." Mauer is batting .391 with two homers and four RBIs in five games. Scheduled Minnesota starter Mike Pelfrey (3-6, 6.11) is 0-3 with a 5.95 ERA in eight starts since he allowed a run and four hits while striking out seven in six innings of a 4-2 victory at Cleveland on May 5. The right-hander has not factored in his last three decisions, though the Twins won the last two. He gave up four runs and a season-high 10 hits over six-plus innings during Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. Pelfrey has a 4.66 ERA in those three June starts after he posted a 6.66 ERA over his first 11.

Allan Simonsen dies in crash at 24 Hours of Le Mans

Danish driver Allan Simonsen died following a crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Saturday in the first driver fatality at the high-speed endurance event since 1997. Race organizers said the 34-year-old Simonsen was taken to the hospital after his Aston Martin No. 95 crashed about 10 minutes after the start of the race. The car spun at high speed and skidded into the barrier at the Tertre Rouge corner where speeds reach up to 105 mph. The violence of the impact showed as a tire from Simonsen's car rolled on the track while a door hung open. Simonsen died at the hospital soon after arrival "due to his injuries," organizers said. "Tragically, and despite the best efforts of the emergency services in attendance, Allan's injuries proved fatal," Aston Martin Racing said in a statement on its website. Sebastien Enjolras lost his life in pre-qualifying in 1997. The last driver fatality in the 24 Hours of Le Mans itself was Jo Gartner in 1986. The worst crash in 24 Hours of Le Mans history occurred in 1955 when Pierre Levegh's Mercedes flew into the crowd, killing more than 80 spectators. Aston Martin, which has five Vantage V8 cars in the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am classes, will continue in the race "at the specific request" of Simonsen's family and in tribute to the driver. "I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the individuals, and families whose friends or loved ones were involved in today's terrible tragedy," Aston Martin Racing managing director John Gaw said. The safety car came out after the crash and the race was held up for nearly an hour to repair the guard rail. Simonsen was participating for the seventh time at the endurance race, which is won by the team that completes the most laps in 24 hours with up to three drivers alternating.

He finished second in the GT2 class at 24 Hours of Le Mans three years ago. He clocked the fastest time in qualifying on Thursday in the GTE-Am class. Jean Todt, the FIA president, and Pierre Fillon, president of 24 Hours of Le Mans organizer the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, paid tribute to Simonsen. "Allan was an extremely talented and experienced sports car driver who had raced in every corner of the world and was highly respected by his peers and his team," they said in a joint statement. "For many in endurance racing, Allan was above all a good friend who displayed his passion for racing on and off the track. His loss will be felt by the FIA, the ACO and the greater motorsport family." Simonsen and Danish co-drivers Kristian Poulsen and Christoffer Nygaard were leading the GTE-Am class in the world endurance championship after topping their category at Silverstone in April and finishing second in Spa-Francorchamps last month. Audi held the top three spots after the sixth hour, followed by two Toyotas. IndyCar series leader Helio Castroneves tweeted: "Very sad to know about the fatal accident of Allan Simonsen on Le Mans today. Praying for him and (his) family." Tony Kanaan, another IndayCar driver, tweeted: "Such a tragic news on the passing of (at) Allan Simonsen. Sad day in motorsports again. Thoughts and prayers are with his family." There was second driver death on Saturday, in Germany. Two-time champion Wolf Silvester died because of "health problems" during the German VLN Endurance Racing Championship, race organizers said. Safety marshalls said Silvester, 55, apparently lost control of his Opel Astra OPC, and when they approached the stopped car on the track they found him sitting motionless in the seat. The dpa news agency reported that Silvester had a heart attack.