HOOPS: Nets make it official
Lawrence Frank‘s contract extension will be made official today. The Nets are expected to announce they are adding two years to Frank’s deal, extending the contract of the winningest coach in their NBA history (157-129) through 2009-2010.
Frank, who will earn $2.5 million this season, will receive an additional $8.6 million ($4.2M and $4.4M), making his three years worth $ 11.1 million. – Fred Kerber
CYCLING: Contador in second
Michael Rasmussen extended his Tour de France lead against all of his top rivals except Spain’s Alberto Contador in the 14th stage yesterday.
Contador, who won the stage by a bike length, and Rasmussen dusted the pack and battled one-on-one to the finish of the 122-mile ride from Mazamet to Plateau de Beille, the first of three demanding stages in the Pyrenees. Both were given the time of 5 hours, 25 minutes, 48 seconds, but because of bonus seconds awarded for a stage win, Contador gained eight seconds on Rasmussen and vaulted to second overall, 2:31 back.
NFL: Steelers, Timmons agree
Outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, the No. 15 pick in the NFL draft, agreed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a five-year contract that could be worth as much as $15 million and guarantees him $8,053,000 in bonus money.
GOLF: First for Ogilvie
Joe Ogilvie eagled the par-4 16th hole to break a tie with Tim Clark and win his first PGA Tour event in 230 starts by shooting a 67 to finish 14-under 266 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
Clark (71), along with third-round leader Tim Herron (72) and Charlie Wi (68) finished 10 under. Steve Flesch (68), Bob Heintz (68), Jeff Maggert (69) and Kenny Perry (71) were six strokes back.
TENNIS: Nadal rallies for title
Rafael Nadal dropped serve three times and had to sweep five straight games to capture the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. The top-seeded Spaniard hadn’t previously dropped serve in the tourney, but had to rally from 5-2 down in the second set to claim his sixth title this year and his 93rd win in 94 matches on clay.
* Unseeded Czech Radek Stepanek upset James Blake, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, for his second ATP title at the L.A. Classic.
AUTO: Alonso rules Europe
Two-time defending Formula One champion Fernando Alonso outdueled Felipe Massa on a slippery track, passing the Ferrari driver late to win the European Grand Prix in Nuerburg, Germany.
* Sebastien Bourdais won for the first time in four races, running away with the Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton. He beat 2006 Edmonton winner Justin Wilson to the finish line by 3.947 seconds, about half the final straightaway.
* Scott Dixon avoided a first-lap accident and went on to win the Honda Indy 200 at Lexington, Ohio, on his 27th birthday for his third straight IndyCar Series victory. Dario Franchitti was second.
SOCCER: It’s Argentina again
In Toronto, Argentina won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup for the sixth time, rallying to beat the Czech Republic 2-1.
* South Korea defeated Iran 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 0-0 tie and Saudi Arabia beat Uzbekistan 2-1 to advance to the Asian Cup semifinals.