STERLING, Va. — They don’t make road trips like this anymore. It starts in summer and ends in winter, could last up to six weeks and, by the way, the whole world will be watching.
There was plenty to think about Sunday as the U.S. team arrived at Dulles International Airport for the 17-hour flight to South Africa for the World Cup.
“It starts to get real now, you know?” goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann said.
Hahnemann and his teammates pulled off one final trick play before leaving U.S. soil: They went in through the “out” door.
The team entered the airport through the arrivals area — instead of departures — and went straight through security, bypassing the South African Airways ticket counter — where some employees had dressed in U.S. team jerseys — and a handful of disappointed fans who hoped to wish the team well.
If they’re fortunate enough to make the championship game, these Americans won’t return until mid-July.
• Germany defender Heiko Westermann will miss the World Cup because of a foot injury.
• Veteran Slovakia midfielder Miroslav Karhan will miss the World Cup with an Achilles tendon injury.
• Real Madrid defender Pepe (right knee) has been cleared to play for Portugal at the World Cup.
Basso wins 2nd Giro
VERONA, Italy — Ivan Basso won the Giro d’Italia for the second time, capturing his first major title since returning from a two-year doping ban.
Basso took the race lead after Friday’s epic mountain stage, stayed in front during another climbing leg Saturday and cruised to victory in the concluding individual time trial, which ended beside Verona’s ancient Arena.
David Arroyo Duran of Spain finished second overall — 1 minute, 51 seconds behind — and Basso’s Liquigas teammate Vincenzo Nibali was third, 2:37 back.
Footnotes.
Maryland won its 10th NCAA women’s lacrosse title, rallying from a six-goal deficit to defeat five-time defending champion Northwestern 13-11.
• A two-run home run by Texas A&M’s Brodie Greene in the 10th inning gave the Aggies (40-19-1) a 5-3 win over Baylor (34-22) in the Big 12 baseball tournament championship.
• Lewis Hamilton led McLaren to a 1-2 finish at the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul after a costly run-in between teammates Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel denied Red Bull a shot at the top two spots.
• Lauren Jackson scored 19 of her season-high 27 points in the first half, and the West-leading Seattle Storm routed the host San Antonio Silver Stars 84-56.
• Angel McCoughtry scored 32 points and Iziane Castro Marques had a season-high 24 points to lead the Atlanta Dream to a 101-82 rout of the host Los Angeles Sparks.
• Crystal Langhorne scored 17 points and tied a career high with 16 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics withstood a late run in a 69-65 win over the visiting Connecticut Sun.
The Associated Press
