SportsWire
Arakawa new figure skating champ
Shizuka Arakawa defeated Michelle Kwan in Dortmund, Germany on Saturday to become the new world figure skating champion. Michelle Kwan had won the title five times; one more would have set the United States record. Arakawa even earned a perfect six score for technical achievement?a very rare feat?and won 5.8s and 5.9s for artistic achievement with her program set to the music of the opera Turandot. Kwan scored numerous artistry 6.0s for her program, Tosca. Shortly before Kwan took the ice, a man in ice skates ran out into the rink and donned a tutu. Baring his chest, which had a website URL scrawled on it, he had to be escorted out by security. The incident left Kwan slightly jarred, but she managed to skate her routine regardless.
Source: The Associated Press
Williams continues winning streak
On Sunday, Serena Williams beat Elena Likhovtseva 6?1, 4?6, 6?3 at the NASDAQ?100 Open. The match was Williams? second since coming back from an eight-month break due to knee injury. It was also her second victory since her time off. Likhovtseva had defeated Willams in the past, at the Australian Open four years ago, but this time she let Serena?s confidence get to her. She told the Associated Press, ?When you think that you can win, then sometimes it overwhelms you, you know?? While Likhovtseva was worried about losing to Williams, one of Williams? greatest concerns was breaking a nail. On a dive she landed hard on the concrete, remaining unscathed except for the destruction of her recent manicure.
Source: The Associated Press
New competition in rugby tourney
The standings race for the Super 12 Rugby championships is heating up with both Canterbury and Waikato scoring wins this weekend. Canterbury, the reigning champions, defeated the Otago Highlanders 46?29. Likewise, the Waikato Chiefs beat New South Wales in a 32?17 victory?an important game, since the NSW Waratahs had been far ahead earlier in the tournament. Even with the loss, the captain of the Waratahs hadn?t given up hope. The Wellington Hurricanes ended their match with the Auckland Blues in a 26-all draw.
Source: The Associated Press
Duke advances to the Final Four
Duke University?s men?s basketball team beat Xavier on Sunday to secure a spot in the NCAA Final Four. The game was tied at 56 until 2:55 left in the second half, when J.J. Redick scored a three-pointer to put Duke on top for the remainder of the game. The teams competed fiercely, with the lead switching from team to team seven times in the first half?but that lead was never more than five points. Luol Deng was named most valuable player of the regionals, scoring 19 points against Xavier. This was Duke?s first year making the Final Four in three seasons. The only top seed reaching the last leg of the tournament, Duke will play the University of Connecticut Huskies on Saturday in their fourteenth Final Four appearance.
Source: The Associated Press
Pleasantly Perfect wins big money
Pleasantly Perfect won the Dubai World Cup on Saturday, netting $6 million in prize money. The Dubai World Cup is the world?s highest-paying horse race, and this year saw history repeat itself. Medaglia d?Oro placed second to Perfect; in October?s Breeder?s Cup Classic, Pleasantly Perfect beat Medaglia to a $4 million payoff in America?s highest payoff race.
Source: The Associated Press