Valencia, Spain – In the end, a four-year race for the America’s Cup came down to one second.
Alinghi won a thrilling photo finish over Team New Zealand on Tuesday, with the Swiss team squeaking across the finish line one second ahead to take the best-of-nine series 5-2.
“To win at the last second, it’s unbelievable,” Alinghi’s billionaire owner Ernesto Bertarelli said. “… Aside from the birth of my children, (today) is the best day of my life.”
NFL
Raiders running back Rhodes suspended
Oakland Raiders running back Dominic Rhodes was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The league does not disclose reasons for substance-abuse suspensions, but Rhodes pleaded guilty in the offseason to reckless driving charges in Indiana after prosecutors agreed to drop drunken driving charges against him. Rhodes, who signed a two-year contract with Oakland after spending his first six seasons in the league with the Indianapolis Colts, will miss games against the Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Special-teams ace Torrie Cox of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the regular season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
The Chicago Bears signed first-round draft pick Greg Olsen to a five-year contract, making the tight end from Miami the first player taken in the first two rounds to agree on a deal.
NBA
Carlesimo set to coach SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics have scheduled a news conference for Thursday amid reports the team has hired P.J. Carlesimo as its new head coach. Carlesimo and former Minnesota Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey have been considered front-runners for the Seattle job vacated by the April 24 firing of Bob Hill.
Carlesimo, 58, has been an assistant the past five seasons in San Antonio and before that was a head coach with the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors.
Rashard Lewis, one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason, agreed to a “maximum contract” with the Orlando Magic, his agent said. The terms of the deal are still being worked out, but Lewis is expected to receive a deal in the range of $15 million per season. The forward averaged career highs in points (22.4), rebounds (6.6) and assists (2.4) last season with Seattle.
The agent for free-agent point guard Chauncey Billups denied media reports that stated the former George Washington High School and University of Colorado athlete had reached an agreement to sign a five-year deal with the Detroit Pistons.
“This is a vicious rumor,” Andy Miller said. “It’s entirely untrue. We have not reached an agreement. I don’t know what stage we’re at. We’re having ongoing discussions.”
Published reports said the talks centered on $60 million over five seasons.
Former Providence All-American Jimmy Walker, who was a first-round NBA draft pick by the Pistons in 1967, died of lung cancer Monday in Kansas City, Mo. He was 63. Walker, who averaged 16.7 points in nine NBA seasons, was the father of longtime NBA player and former University of Michigan star Jalen Rose.
GOLF
Woods’ wife hospitalized during Open
New father Tiger Woods said his wife, Elin, was admitted to a hospital in Orlando, Fla., four days before their daughter was born, while Woods was playing the first round of the U.S. Open in Oakmont, Pa.
“She had some complications,” Woods said. “We talked all the time. Everything was all right, I mean it wasn’t life-threatening or anything, but she just had a few problems and had to be admitted.
“It was not easy because I wanted to be there,” Woods said. “And the doctor and Elin said, ‘There’s nothing you can do. So go out there and just get a W.’ Came close. But that night was infinitely more rewarding than any W ever could have been.”
Sam Alexis Woods was born in the early morning of June 18, the day after Woods tied for second with Jim Furyk behind Angel Cabrera.
FOOTNOTES
Adu scores three in U.S. rout of Poland
Freddy Adu scored three goals and the United States recovered from an early deficit to rout Poland 6-1 in the Under-20 World Cup in Montreal.
Sophia Young matched her season high with 24 points as the San Antonio Silver Stars defeated the Washington Mystics 84-79 despite playing without WNBA assist leader Becky Hammon, out with a foot injury.
The Phoenix Mercury held off a late rally to beat the Minnesota Lynx 95-79.
Lauren Jackson scored 11 of her 23 points in the third quarter to help the Seattle Storm pull away from Los Angeles Sparks 90-71.
