Football is in the air and on the ground in North Little Rock.

Nadal rolls on at US Open, as Clijsters, Venus through to semis (AFP)

AFP - Rafael Nadal kept his perfect record intact at the US Open as he powered past Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez into the quarter-finals while Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams booked a semi-final showdown with hard-fought victories.

Clijsters, Venus win to set up marquee semifinal (AP)

AP - Nobody can say Kim Clijsters took an easy path to her U.S. Open title last year. She played both Williams sisters.

Polanco's big hit lifts Phillies into first place (AP)

AP - Placido Polanco hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins 8-7 Tuesday night to move into first place in the NL East.

Football Fans Ignore Increasing Violence

To commentator Frank Deford, football provides us with nostalgia for the way war used to be -- with clear battle maps, focused campaigns and simple battle lines.

Hoffman gets 600th save, Brewers beat Cards 4-2 (AP)

AP - In a season that didn't go as planned for Trevor Hoffman, baseball's career saves leader added another milestone to his illustrious career.

Baseball-KBO set to launch targeted drug testing

South Korean baseball officials could introduce drastic anti-doping protocols next year with a plan to target specific players for drug tests.

Nadal reaches US Open quarters by beating Lopez (AP)

AP - Trying to complete a career Grand Slam, Rafael Nadal has won all 12 sets he's played so far at the 2010 U.S. Open.

Golf: Holes in one

Holes in one must be faxed on the golf course's official stationery to The Bee at (916) 326-5503.

GOLF ROUNDUP: Bulldogs cut through wind, L-P

STREATOR— The Streator golf team took the "D"off of "wind" in its Tuesday match with La Salle-Peru. At Streator Country Club, the Bulldog linksmen topped visiting La Salle-Peru 160-173 to improve to 2-1 in Northern Illinois Big 12 competition

Lou Marson and Indians slam Angels, 6-1 (AP)

AP - Travis Hafner hit a go-ahead homer that was upheld by video replay and No. 9 batter Lou Marson broke the game open later in the sixth inning with his first career grand slam, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 6-1 victory over the fast-fading Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

Golf course turning the corner

The Mesquite Municipal Golf Course has seen an increased commitment to customer satisfaction since the city took over management of the course, according to parks and recreation department officials.

Basketball Coaches Clinic Set For Oct. 2

SIOUX FALLS — The 2010 South Dakota High School Basketball Coaches Association’s Basketball Coaches Clinic is set for Saturday, Oct. 2 at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School.

Golf course renovations postponed

Planned renovations for Chase Oaks Golf Club have been held off until next year, city officials say.

Soccer ranked No. 1 in Great Lakes region

For the first time in program history the Illinois soccer team earned the No. 1 ranking in the Great Lakes NCAA Regional Rankings. Illinois’ rank, as voted on by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, had been as high as No. 2 on multiple occasions in the 2006, 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Basketball: China look to Asian Games after dismal Worlds

Bolstered by Team China's appearance in the knockout stage at the World Basketball Championships despite managing only one win, coach Bob Donewald now has his eyes on the upcoming Asian Games.

Soccer beats UTSA, takes down undefeated U of H for perfect weekend

Baylor soccer found its defensive stinginess again last weekend as it shut out the University of Texas San Antonio, 4-0, and the University of Houston, 1-0, at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.

Soccer club closer to its goal of permanent home

CALEDONIA - Ace Soccer Club has moved closer to its goal ofhaving a permanent place to play in Caledonia.

Tennis: Lewiston Rec doubles champs

LEWISTON - Lewiston Recreation tennis has announced its summer doubles champions. Elisa Whittier and Scott Gagne went undefeated to capture the Mixed 'A' division. In the 'B' division, Heidi and Preston Poussard are champs, with Jessica Roy and Danny Cloutier taking the 'C' title.

Tennis team falls to Wharton

Christian Tuazon competes against Wharton during the Calhoun tennis team’s first scrimmage of the season on Aug. 25. Tuazon went on to win in boys number one singles, 6-1 and 6-4.

Baseball field fees increased

The per-game fee at Ruth Field, the new baseball field along Route 422 in Womelsdorf, will be more than double the $10 fee for the old field, borough council decided Tuesday.

Tennis: Charleston, S.C. named Best Tennis Town

Charleston, S.C., has been named the winner of the USTA’s “Best Tennis Town.” Rome was recognized as a finalist and honorable mention in the contest. The announcement was made Monday afternoon d...

Baseball. Former USC Shortstop Gabe Alvarez Named Assistant Coach

LOS ANGELES - Former USC baseball and major league infielder Gabe Alvarez has been named assistant coach, interim head coach Frank Cruz announced today. Cruz filled out his full-time staff by selecting Alvarez, a three-time All-American at USC.

Golf greens not up to par after hot summer

Many golf courses around the Triangle aren't looking so green these days. Excessive heat and humidity during the summer months has taken its toll on the greens.

Jax State's Blanchard enjoying spotlight (AP)

AP - Coty Blanchard is a little overwhelmed.

GOLF

Newton Public Golf Course Friday Men 1. Loren Tedder Jr., Steve Brewer, Dave Schmidt, Ed Salsbery. 2. Shawn Hege, Jeremy Young, Greg Wagner, Tracy Cash.

FIFA inspectors on whirlwind US tour (AFP)

AFP - FIFA World Cup inspectors visited New York as part of a three-day, five-city US tour that includes breakfast at the White House.

Life without Roethlisberger begins for Steelers (AP)

AP - Ben Roethlisberger loves to be the guy who gets his team out of trouble, throws the big touchdown pass, makes the play that changes a season.

Tennis opener postponed again

Stuttgart head tennis coach Dennis Ragland said Tuesday that rain forced the postponement of the Ricebirds’ match at Batesville. It was the second time in the last week that tennis has been called off.

Whittier Baseball Club currently accepting registration

The Whittier Baseball Club presents its annual camp beginning Friday for five weeks only.

Boise State gains ground in AP Top 25 (AP)

AP - More AP Top 25 voters are buying into Boise State as the No. 1 team in the country. Boise State gained seven first-place votes and closed in on No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State as the top three teams in the first regular season Associated Press football poll held their spots from the preseason.

Soccer Team Rejects Gay French Player

A 14-year French soccer veteran who took a brief hiatus from his team after fellow players publicly made homophobic remarks says his requests to rejoin the team have been rejected.

Football. Auburn Football Practice Report

The Auburn football team practiced for 90 minutes Tuesday afternoon in its last workout before traveling to Starkville for its Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State on Thursday night.

Baseball taking a stand against cancer

Baseball. Former Sun Devil Legend Brett Wallace Finds A Home With The Houston Astros

In some ways, Brett Wallace's journey to Major League Baseball was like many other former Arizona State stars. He was a first-round draft pick, he had success at the various levels of the minor leagues, and, a little more than two years after his final game as a Sun Devil, he's an everyday player in the big leagues.

Boys' basketball: Two freshmen check out of Sierra Canyon

Two high-profiled freshmen basketball players, 6-foot-7 Devin Burleson and guard Namon Wright, spent a week attending Chatsworth Sierra Canyon and then proceeded to check out of school on Tuesday. They previously played for Los Angeles Price during the summer. No...

Tennis: St. Timothy's seniors thrive on court

Twenty years after her mother, Laurie Macgill, won a state tennis championship for Catonsville High, 18-year old Beatrice Capra captured the hearts of American tennis fans all over the nation when she won two matches at the 2010 U.S. Open in Flushing, NY. Nicknamed Trice (Tree-see), the Ellicott City...

Football. Patterson Holds Weekly Presser

TCU football coach Gary Patterson held his weekly media luncheon and news conference Tuesday in the Meyer-Martin Athletic Complex. Read excerpts from Patterson's meeting with the media. VIDEO

Soccer / No goals here

TBLISI - Israel's national soccer team walked away relatively satisfied from its 0-0 draw against host Georgia in its second European Group F qualifier. The players carried out coach Luis Fernandez's game plan almost perfectly, even if they did not perform at their best.

An important Ryder Cup for Tiger (AP)

AP - Tiger Woods experienced a Ryder Cup tradition for the first time Tuesday.

US Ryder Cup picks: Woods, Johnson, Cink, Fowler (AP)

AP - Tiger Woods was a no-brainer as a captain's pick for the Ryder Cup.

Basketball: China sent home by Lithuania

China produced some of their best form of the world basketball championships today but it still was not enough to upset an inform Lithuanian team who prevailed 78-67.Washington Wizards' Jianlian Yi was a welcome return to China's...

Baseball. Baseball Fall Practice To Start On Wednesday

The Auburn baseball team will begin its fall practice schedule on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at Plainsman Park as the team starts preparations for the 2011 season and a defense of its 2010 SEC Western Division Championship.

Milwaukee hosts 2011 IndyCar schedule announcement (AP)

AP - The IndyCar series will announce its 2011 schedule at the Milwaukee Mile on Friday, suggesting that racing will return to the historic track next year.

Wild center James Sheppard fractures left kneecap (AP)

AP - Minnesota Wild center James Sheppard has a fractured left kneecap and there is no timetable for his return.

Basketball focuses on China

The National Basketball Association wants to expand the game and are looking at emerging markets such as India and China to push their products.

Football. TCU Football Climbs to No. 4 in AP Poll

The TCU football team moved up two spots to No. 4 in this week's Associated Press poll and to No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches' Top 25. The Horned Frogs, who have been ranked a school record 27 consecutive weeks, have their highest ranking this early in the season since 1956.

Fantasy Baseball: An Early Look At Top 10 Pitchers For 2011

Baseball bat hoons in carjacking

TWO men wielding baseball bats have run a Subaru WRX off the road, thrown the driver out of the car and sped away in it.

Golf tournament to benefit family of woman killed in Greeley Mall this summer

The 20th annual Amy Anderson Golf Tournament and Poker Run will benefit the family of Kimberly Fletcher, who was 32 when she was killed when a truck ran into the Greeley Mall VisionWorks this summer.