McLaren won't appeal spying verdict

Woking, England (Sports Network) - McLaren Racing has decided not to appeal the verdict of the World Motor Sport Council in the spying scandal on the Formula One circuit.
The September 13 ruling included penalties of a $100,000 fine and a forfeiture of points in the constructors' standings for the 2007 season.
"We believe the time has come to put this huge distraction behind us," said McLaren chairman and CEO Ron Dennis in a statement. "McLaren wants to win races and world championships. We are fortunate to have, and continue to receive, unwavering support from our employees, sponsor partners and Formula One fans across the world -- all of whom are equally keen that we totally focus on winning this year's Drivers' Championship and the remaining three races of the season."
Despite the loss of constructors' points, the team's drivers were not affected and can capture the championship.
Lewis Hamilton still leads the standings with 97 points, two ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso.
Last week's penalties stem from an investigation that found a McLaren employee had possession of confidential technical data belonging to rival team Ferrari.
Earlier this year, news broke that a Ferrari employee apparently gave documents to McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan. Ferrari mechanic Nigel Stepney, accused of supplying those documents to the rival team, was subsequently fired. Coughlan was suspended.
McLaren has admitted that information from Ferrari was in the possession of one of its employees at his home, but has always denied that the team used that knowledge to gain an advantage.

"It is clear from the full judgment that the World Motor Sport Council concluded that the charge that a McLaren employee had 'unauthorized possession of documents and confidential information' was proven," Friday's statement from McLaren read.

"Despite the existence of no evidence that the information was applied, tested or shared with the engineering team (which it was not), this possession constitutes a breach of the Code. For this breach of Article 151c, a very heavy penalty has been imposed on the team.

"The major principle of the issue for McLaren is: this information was not used to gain advantage on its cars."

Just three races remain on this year's Formula One schedule, starting with next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Jankovic, Davenport reach semis; Mauresmo falls in Beijing

Beijing, China (Sports Network) - World No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport posted quarterfinal wins, while third-seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo came up a loser Friday at the $600,000 China Open.
The second-seeded Jankovic handled Japan's Akiko Morigami 6-3, 7-5, while the unseeded Davenport won her eighth straight match by ousting fourth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 at Beijing Tennis Center.
Jankovic and the three-time major titlist Davenport will now meet for a second straight week, as the 31-year-old American doused the Serbian star in last week's quarterfinals on her way to a title in Bali. Last week marked Davenport's first WTA Tour singles action since last September. She gave birth to her first child, a son named Jagger, in June of this year.
Davenport is a perfect 4-0 lifetime against Jankovic.
The former top-ranked and two-time major champion Mauresmo succumbed to Chinese crowd favorite Shuai Peng 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Mauresmo was last year's Beijing runner-up to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who pulled out of this year's event on Wednesday due to an injury...Full Story

Roddick gives U.S. 1-0 lead against host Swedes

Gothenburg, Sweden (Sports Network) - Andy Roddick handled Joachim Johansson in straight sets in Friday's opening singles rubber in the Davis Cup semifinal between the United States and host Sweden.
The former world No. 1 Roddick recorded a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory in 1 hour, 53 minutes in a hard-serving affair on an indoor carpet at Scandinavium.
Roddick launched 30 aces at the 6-foot-6 Johansson, who countered with 23 bombs in a losing effort. The rusty Johansson, who hasn't played on the ATP since the Australian Open back in January due to ongoing shoulder problems, piled up seven double faults on his way to surrendering the first point to the formidable Americans.
The former U.S. Open champ and three-time Grand Slam runner-up Roddick is now 24-9 in his career Davis Cup singles matches.
Friday's second singles rubber will James Blake against the hosts' Thomas Johansson, who is not related to Joachim. Blake is 11-7 in his career Davis Cup singles action...Full Story

Boxing's Huge Fall Season

Hatboro, PA (Sports Network) - The NFL season just kicked off and the baseball season is ending with some very interesting pennant races. So sports fans have their pick of what they want to watch on the tube. But perhaps the most intriguing sport this fall will be boxing, as it is lining up the best fall fight season in recent memory. There are plenty of exciting bouts, including Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera II on Oct. 6th, and Ricky Hatton vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr on Dec. 8th, but two others in particular are most worthy of your attention:

Saturday September 29th, Live on HBO

Middleweight Championship Bout: Undefeated World Champion Jermain Taylor (27-0) vs. Undefeated Number 1 Contender Kelly Pavlik (31-0)

This action-packed affair, is a potential fight of the year candidate. These former amateur rivals have a lot to prove. Taylor has to show that his recent lackluster performances can be attributed to a lack of a marquee opponent, while Pavlik will be out to show that he is a supreme Middleweight knockout artist.

I really believe Pavlik will knock out Taylor, as Jermain has gotten complacent. Whether you attribute it to money or a lack of focus, no one can deny that Taylor is not fighting up to his potential. His last fight against Cory Spinks was one of the worst boxing bouts in the last five years. Pavlik, on the other hand, has looked spectacular, and his win over Edison Miranda was fantastic.

Saturday November 12th Live on HBO PPV

Sugar Shane Mosley (44-4) vs. Miguel Cotto (30-0) for the WBA Welterweight Championship of the World

Rarely do we get a fight where you are going to be guaranteed action, but this is one such event. Make no mistake, if you have the opportunity to scrounge up 50 bucks for this fight, do it. Or if you are on a budget, get your buddies to go 10 dollars a piece. This fight will be worth it.

The bout has it all. A legend who is a little bit past his best - Mosley - and a young superstar looking to ascend to the top of his profession - Cotto. A Mosley victory will put him among the top-5 fighters of the last 20 years. A Cotto victory will propel him into the Puerto Rican legend status that Felix Trinidad once owned. The fight will take place in New York's hallowed Madison Square Garden, home of some of the greatest fights in history. This one might take its place as one of those classics.

You want a pick? Well it's tough, a pick 'em fight in my opinion. I am leaning towards Cotto's youth, but the 36-year-old Mosley is not to be slept on. He is a special fighter and may be able to put together another great performance.

Watch this fight!

NOT GOOD FOR THE GHOST

You have to feel bad for IBF Featherweight Champion Robert 'The Ghost' Guerrero (20-1-1). First, respected hard-hitting Rocky Juarez backed out what would have been a title defense for Guerrero, instead jumping at an opportunity to engage top-10, pound-for-pound fighter, Juan Manual Marquez. Guerrero acquired a different opponent on the same card, Martin Honorio (23-3-1), only to find out the September 15th date was cancelled due to a Marquez injury.

But the best things come to those who wait, and the Ghost will get his opportunity to fight Honorio on Showtime on November 3rd. A prime time date, and he hopes it will be a prime time performance.

"I was a little bit disappointed, but this is boxing and you just have to be ready. I am excited to defend my title," explained Guerrero.

The Ghost is training with his father for this fight and is hoping to join the ranks of some other successful father-son teams, namely Shane Mosley and Jack Mosley. Ironically, he has had an opportunity to work out with the Mosley's.

"There is nothing better to accomplish something huge with your father. It is also a great opportunity to be working out with a great fighter like Shane Mosley," said Guerra.

Guerrero's opponent, Martin Honorio, is not a marquee name, but Guerrero will not be looking past him. "He ain't a pushover. And he will come to fight. You can't look past anybody, because anything can happen."

ESPINO EMERGING

Some might remember Middleweight contender Miguel Espino (16-2-1) from his experience during the first season of 'The Contender.' But since his close loss to Peter Manfredo on that show, he has won seven fights in a row. And he will be fighting Friday, September 21st against journeymen Arturo Ortega (12-5-1), and will be trying to make his way up the Middleweight ladder.

"I am like a mechanic, I like hands-on training," said Espino.

If he keeps on winning, there will be more opportunities out there for him. He is a tall rangy middleweight who can box, and has a chance to do some damage in the near future.

Top seeds Golovin, Bammer ease into Portoroz QFs

Portoroz, Slovenia (Sports Network) - This week's top seeds -- France's Tatiana Golovin and Austrian Sybille Bammer -- highlighted Wednesday's second- round winners at the $145,000 Slovenia Open.
Golovin grounded Italian Karin Knapp 6-4, 6-3, while Bammer blitzed Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-2 on the hardcourts at SRC Marina in the beautiful coastal city of Portoroz.
Two other seeds moved into the quarterfinals here, as No. 5 Russian Vera Zvonareva held off Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy 6-0, 5-7, 6-4 and No. 8 Russian Vera Dushevina doused Czech Iveta Benesova 6-4, 6-4. Zvonareva and Dushevina will square off in an all-Russian quarter on Friday.
The first round finally concluded on Wednesday, with three matches that were either suspended or postponed because of rain and/or darkness here on Tuesday. Seventh-seeded Argentine Gisela Dulko dropped Swiss Emmanuelle Gagliardi 6-3, 6-4, while ninth-seeded American Meilen Tu got past Croat Jelena Kostanic Tosic 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) and Russian Elena Vesnina outlasted Slovenian wild card Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4...Full Story

Golovin, Srebotnik post easy wins in Portoroz

Portoroz, Slovenia (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Tatiana Golovin and Slovenian crowd favorite Katarina Srebotnik highlighted Monday's first-round winners at the $145,000 Slovenia Open.
The Russian native Golovin, who plays under the French flag and lives in Florida, snuck past American Lilia Osterloh 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, while the fourth- seeded Srebotnik dismantled her wild card countrywoman Masa Zec Peskiric 6-0, 6-0 on the hardcourts at SRC Marina.
One other opening-rounder saw Russian veteran Elena Likhovtseva sneak past Czech veteran Klara Zakopalova 7-6 (10-8), 6-2.
The 2007 Portoroz winner will pocket $21,140. Austrian Tamira Paszek beat Italian Maria Elena Camerin in last year's finale.

Kirilenko wins Kolkata opener

Kolkata, India (Sports Network) - Fourth-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko highlighted Monday's first-round winners at the $175,000 Sunfeast Open.
Kirilenko handled American qualifier Neha Uberoi 6-2, 6-2, while another seed posted a Day-1 victory, as No. 8 Yung-Jan Chan of Taipei double-bageled helpless Indian wild card Kyra Shroff 6-0, 6-0 at Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Up next for Kirilenko will be Russian Ekaterina Ivanova, while Chan will battle Slovakian Jarmila Gajdosova.
In other opening-round play, Aussie Casey Dellacqua drilled Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-2, 6-3, the qualifier Ivanova held off British qualifier Naomi Cavaday 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 and Gajdosova grounded France's Youlia Fedossova 6-3, 6-4.
This week's top seeds are Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli of France and last week's Bali runner-up Daniela Hantuchova. Bartoli will open up against American Vania King, while the Slovakian Hantuchova will encounter Poland's Marta Domachowska...Full Story