NBA owners, GMs and coaches watch with trepidation as their stars embark on a month-long Olympic journey. Several high-profile players have Olympic hopes on various national teams, even though they were injured during the 2007-08 NBA season. Read more

She made the plans two years ago, after a 2006 season for which Sanya Richards was named the top women’s track athlete in the world, based on her utter dominance of the 400 meters. Richards would qualify to run the 200 and 400 at the 2007 World Championships, then do well enough in each that the international track federation (IAAF) would change the Olympic schedule to make that double possible in the 2008 Beijing Games. Read more

WIMBLEDON, England – Tennis nuts and other assorted humans once swooned over Steffi Graf’s forehand, until Graf departed the premises and left the loveliest-shot-in-the-game honors to Justine Henin’s backhand.Now that Henin suddenly and stunningly retired in May and left the game bereft of that picturesque shot, it’s clear the honors could go to a backhand so pleasing to the eye that it left Centre Court gasping serially on Thursday.Zheng Jie’s backhand, previously known only to the world’ Read more

A look at who won and what’s next at the All England Club. World rankings in parentheses: Who won * Venus Williams, United States (7) d. Read more

The proper name for the ungraded race being run at Hollywood Park on Friday is the $100,000 Flawlessly. What it should be called is the American Oaks Consolation. Read more

It’s four weeks before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Do you know where your big bat is? Read more

EUGENE, Ore. – Jeremy Wariner won gold medals at the last Olympics and the last two world championships. Read more

This week in motor racing GEARING UP By Jim Peltz, Times Staff Writer What’s happening in motor sports heading into this weekend: 1Borrowing a page from late President Gerald Ford, the people who sell authentic NASCAR memorabilia are trying to help cash-strapped fans by lowering prices. Motorsports Authentics said it would cut prices Read more

They have hit records in common A developing friendship between Alex Rodriguez and Madonna has sent the tabloids into a tizzy. Both superstars are married, but both marriages are reportedly on the rocks. Read more