Sexy Dinara Safina as knee injury flares up

Knee problem: Dinara Safina, of Russia, struggled on the way to her first-round singles victory against Lourdes Dominguez Lino

A 7-5, 6-3 defeat of Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino on Court No 1 was not as comfortable as expected and Safina's long-term participation in this tournament could be in doubt after her knee injury flared up in the second set.

"I have been having problems for two months with my left knee and at the end of the second set it was too painful," she said, although she refused to entertain suggestions that it might force her to withdraw.

Her ranking may be safe whatever her performance this fortnight but Safina needs to lift a major title, after being the bridesmaid in Melbourne and Paris, and renounce membership of the exclusive club she shares with Jelena Jankovic – they are the two players who have been No 1 and not won a grand slam.

Last month's defeat in Roland Garros by Svetlana Kuznetsova still haunts Safina, who has not watched the match. "I have to forget it," she says. "It's not the way I want to play but on the other hand I need to remember what I did wrong. I made the same mistake two years in a row, getting stressed on the day before, so maybe third time I will learn."

A victory that took 1hr 41min over a player ranked 72 in the world does not send out the statement of intent she might have hoped for, especially as she is yet to reach the second week in seven previous visits to SW19. She might, however, take heart from her brother Marat, himself a former world No 1, who made his only semi-final appearance at Wimbledon 12 months ago at the ninth time of asking.

Even though Serena Williams has stopped questioning Safina's right to top billing, saying on Monday that she has been "really consistent in the last couple of months", the No 2 seed will not be too worried about the Russian's form with sister Venus lying in wait should Safina make it as far of the semi-finals.

Ultimately, however, players are remembered for the trophies they collect, not the ranking points, but Safina needs to take one match at a time, with 33 year-old Paraguayan Rossana De Los Rios next up.

Former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic survived a scare to defeat the Czech Republic’s Lucia Hradecka late on Tuesday night. The 13th seed from Serbia saved two match points as she came through 5-7, 6-2, 8-6 to set up a meeting with Italy’s Sara Errani.

VWilliams beats Bondarenko at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England – Even on one good leg, Venus Williams is tough to beat at Wimbledon.

The five-time champion wore a strap on her left knee Thursday but still advanced to the third round by beating Kateryna Bondarenko 6-3, 6-2.

The tournament favorite, Williams has been hampered by knee trouble in the past, but there was no indication of a problem this week until she walked onto sunny Court 1 bandaged from mid-calf to mid-thigh.

Williams let out a yelp when she appeared to pull up on a backhand in the third game, perhaps because of the knee. Otherwise she moved across the grass freely, charging forward to pounce on short balls. She won 17 points at the net to two for Bondarenko.

The No. 3-seeded Williams lost only six points on her serve, two on double-faults. She slammed three aces in her first service game and finished with six.

She was just as ferocious with her returns. When one serve came at Williams slower than a lorry on the motorway, she eagerly stepped into the court, took a lusty swing and hit a winner.

That took her to set point in the first set, and she whacked another big return on the next point to win the set. There was no letup from there, and she swept the final four games.

Joining Williams in the third round was French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Pauline Parmentier 6-1, 6-3 in 59 minutes. No. 18-seeded Samantha Stosur rallied past qualifier Tatjana Malek 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Winners in men's play included No. 20 Tomas Berdych, No. 26 Jurgen Melzer and No. 31 Victor Hanescu.

Williams' younger sister, budding scriptwriter Serena, advanced to the third round by beating Jarmila Groth 6-2, 6-1. Serena is seeking her third Wimbledon title and her first since 2003.

"I should have won more than twice here," she said. "Hopefully I can rectify that this year."

The victory took only 57 minutes, leaving Williams with lots of time to get back to the TV script treatment she has in the works.

"You'll be excited to know I wrote three parts already," she said. "I was going to do it (Tuesday), but I started watching `Dexter' and I got a little sidetracked. You know what, today's a good day. I can write. For me it's really about being in the mood, and how I'm feeling."

Williams said the script borrows from some of her favorite shows, including "Desperate Housewives," "Sex and the City" and "Family Guy."

Williams always keeps busy. She's an actress, a clothing designer and the winner of 10 Grand Slam titles, most recently this year's Australian Open. She writes a blog — in one entry this week, she complained about Wimbledon rules prohibiting food in the players' locker rooms. She has a ghostwritten autobiography due this year.

And now she wants to write for television.

"Definitely for TV," she said. "I don't know how good I would be at writing a movie. But I just love to write."

Sister Venus gave her a book on script writing to help. Serena's agent also offered advice.

And how would she craft a script of the Serena Williams story?

"There are definitely so many options," she said. "I think I would open a scene holding a championship, and then I would rewind time. I think those stories are told well."

One possible Wimbledon plot has Williams facing Venus in the final.

"I wouldn't want anything less for me or for my sister," Serena said.

Sexy? Yes. Megan Fox says it's part of "Transformers"

Two years ago few people knew her face, much less her name. But now Megan Fox of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," is among Hollywood's hottest actresses whose sex appeal has won millions of fans.

While many of the 23-year-old's peers might want to avoid the label "sex symbol" for fear it would obscure their acting talent, Fox, whose new "Transformers" sequel debuts in theaters on Wednesday, is just the opposite.

She thinks being sexy has its advantages. It helped get Fox her start in 2007's original, big-budget action flick "Transformers" from director Michael Bay, and that has led her to her other parts where she is now achieving what she set out to do in Hollywood -- become a real actress.

"Women in movies, in general, are sexy -- especially in Michael's movies. And if you want to make movies that people want to see, that's part of it. That's part of the formula," Fox told reporters at a recent news conference.

Bay, who was sitting with her, chimed in: "It's called summer fun. It's a robot movie."

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is based on the popular toys and cartoons about shape-shifting cars which morph into "autobots" that fight alien "decepticons" who want to control Earth. In the 2007 movie, the decepticons got thrashed in the final battle. Now, they're back to avenge their losses.

The effects-filled movies are aimed mostly at young men, and with that in mind Bay hired the attractive brunette from Tennessee to co-star as the movie's main love interest, Mikaela Banes, who favors tight jeans and even tighter t-shirts.

OPENING SHOT, OPENING DOORS

Bay, ever willing to indulge fan tastes, has made sure Fox's first appearance in "Revenge of the Fallen" has an impact. As Mikaela, the lanky actress is filmed from behind, sprawled on a motorcycle in hotpants and motorcycle boots.

"We got that first shot out of the way, just to get it out for the young boys...and moved on," Bay said.

Before 2007, most of Fox's work had been small parts on TV and in movies, but fan buzz from the smash hit "Transformers" ($700 million global box office) catapulted her to stardom.

"The movie, its success and how well it was received has opened a lot of doors for me, career-wise," Fox said.

Fox wants to be more than just a pretty face in Hollywood's next big action flick, and when "Transformers" "opened a lot of doors" for her, she took advantage.

She will soon star opposite Oscar-nominees Josh Brolin and John Malkovich in sci-fi Western "Jonah Hex", due to hit theaters later this year. In September, she headlines supernatural comedy "Jennifer's Body", penned by Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody ("Juno").

"I've been able to be a part of films I don't really feel like I deserve to have been a part of," she said, in a nod to her lack of experience.

But what Fox can't quite get her head around, is the price of fame -- constantly being hounded by paparazzi and press.

"Being photographed at Whole Foods, or like coming out of Rite-Aid with your shampoo bottles and stuff, that's new to me," Fox said.

Favourite player hot news

Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.

Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in 1989. After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters. In 1998, Sosa and Mark McGwire achieved national fame for their home run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris' home run record. Although a fan favorite, Sosa fell out of favor in Chicago after he was caught using a corked bat in a 2003 game and later left the team during the final game of the 2004 season. Sosa finished his career with brief stints with the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers.With the Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th career home run to become the fifth player in MLB history to reach the milestone. He is also the all-time home run leader among foreign-born MLB players.

Sosa has long been the subject of speculation about suspected anabolic steroid use during his playing career. On June 16, 2009, the New York Times reported that Sammy failed a test for performance enhancing drugs in 2003.

Personal life

Sosa is known to family and friends as "Mikey." His maternal grandmother, who had suggested his birth name of Samuel, also came up with his nickname: "[She] heard the name on a soap opera she liked and decided from that moment on I would be Mikey."^[3]

Although his officially registered birthplace is San Pedro de Macorís, Sosa was actually born in Consuelo. San Pedro de Macorís was "the largest town nearby." Both Consuelo and San Pedro de Macorís are in San Pedro de Macorís Province.^[4]

Sosa is happily married to his wife, Sonia and has four children, Keysha, Kenia, Sammy Jr. and Michael

Major league career

Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox (1989–1991)

Sosa made his major league debut on June 16, 1989, with the Texas Rangers, and he hit first career home run off Roger Clemens. Later in the season, the Rangers traded Sammy to the Chicago White Sox. He played two full seasons for the White Sox and was traded, along with pitcher Ken Patterson, to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder George Bell before the 1992 season.

Chicago Cubs (1992–2004)

After years as a respected power/speed threat with a rocket arm in right field, he emerged during the 1998 as one of baseball's greatest. It was in this season that both Sosa and Mark McGwire were involved in the "home run record chase," when both players' prowess for hitting home runs drew national attention as they attempted to pass Roger Maris's single season home run mark of 61 home runs that had stood since 1961. Sosa ended the season with 66, behind McGwire's 70. However, Sammy had become the first Major League batter ever to hit 65 homers in a season. Then, McGwire passed him late in the season to become the first ever to hit 70.

Sosa wore the iconic #21 with the Cubs in honor of his childhood idol Roberto Clemente^[5]

Also in 1998, Sosa's 416 total bases were the most in a single season since Stan Musial's 429 in 1948. Sosa's performance in the month of June, during which Sosa belted 20 home runs, knocked in 47 runs, and posted an .842 slugging percentage, was one of the greatest offensive outbursts in major league history. Sosa won the National League Most Valuable Player Award for leading the Cubs into the playoffs in 1998, earning every first-place vote except for the two cast by St. Louis writers, who voted for McGwire. He and McGwire shared Sports Illustrated magazine's 1998 "Sportsman of the Year" award. Sosa was honored with a ticker-tape parade in his honor in New York City, and he was invited to be a guest at US President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union Address. 1998 was also the first time the Cubs made the post-season since 1989. The Cubs qualified as the NL Wild Card team, but were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.

In the 1999 season, Sosa hit 63 home runs, again trailing Mark McGwire who hit 65, however, Sosa became the first major leaguer to hit 60 or more home runs in back-to-back seasons. In the 2000 season, Sammy finally led the league by hitting 50 home runs.

In 2001, he hit 64 home runs, becoming the first player to hit 60 home runs in three seasons in his career. However, he did not lead the league in any of those seasons; in 2001, he finished behind Barry Bonds, who hit 73 homers, breaking the single-season home run record set by McGwire in 1998 (70). In the same season he set personal records in runs scored (146), RBI (160), walks (116), on base percentage (.437), slugging percentage (.737), and batting average (.328).^[1] He led the majors in runs and RBI, was 2nd in home runs, 2nd in slugging percentage, 1st in total bases, 3rd in walks, 4th in on base percentage, 12th in batting average, and 15th in hits. He also surpassed his 1998 number in total bases, racking up 425. Sosa once again led the league in home runs with 49 in 2002. Known as a free-swinger in his early years, and as a good strikeout candidate, Sammy became an effective hitter for average. He owns numerous team records for the Cubs, and he holds the major-league record for the most home runs hit in a month (20, in June 1998). In recognition of his accomplishments as a hitter, Sosa won the Silver Slugger award (an award for offensive output, voted on by managers and coaches) in 1995 and in 1998 through 2002.^[1]

Sammy Sosa had three 60+ home run seasons with the Cubs ('98, '99, & '01)

In 2003, the Cubs won the National League Central Division title. The year was not all good news for Sosa, however. In May, he spent his first period on the disabled list since 1996 after having an injured toenail removed. On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from a Chicago Cubs-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game in the first inning when umpires discovered he had been using a corked bat.^[6] Major League Baseball confiscated and tested 76 of Sosa's other bats after his ejection; all were found to be clean, with no cork. Five bats he had sent to the Hall of Fame in past years were also tested, and were all clean as well.^[7] Sosa stated that he had accidentally used the corked bat, which he claimed he only used during batting practice. But they soon interviewed the Cubs' manager, who said that any use of corked bats on his team is strictly prohibited. On June 6, Sosa was suspended for eight games.^[8] However, the suspension was reduced to seven games after appeal on June 11.^[9] Sosa finished the season with 40 home runs, and he hit two more in the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins, but overall, the Cubs lost the series in seven games. According to the New York Times of June 16, 2009, Sosa had also tested positive for steroids at some point during the season.

In May 2004, Sosa suffered an odd injury while sitting next to his locker chatting with reporters before a game in San Diego's PETCO Park. He sneezed violently, causing severe back pain. He was diagnosed with back spasms and placed on the disabled list. Later, he fell into one of the worst slumps of his career, only snapping out of it during the last week of the season. He finished with 35 homers, far below his numbers of his best years. The final straw for the Cubs seemed to be an incident in late 2004. Sosa requested to sit out the last game of the season, which was at home against the Atlanta Braves, and he left Wrigley Field early in the game. It was his last time he would be in a Cubs uniform.

Baltimore Orioles and year off (2005–2006)

Sosa in spring training with the Orioles in 2005.

On January 28, 2005, the Cubs traded Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston, Jr., infielder Mike Fontenot, and RHP Dave Crouthers. To facilitate the deal, Sosa and his agent agreed to waive the clause that guaranteed his 2006 salary, and the players' union indicated it would not object to that agreement. Under the deal, Sosa earned $17,875,000 for the 2005 season, with the Cubs paying $7 million of his salary. By playing for the 2005 Orioles alongside fellow 500-home-run batter Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Palmeiro became the first 500 home run club members in history to play together on the same team after reaching the 500 home run plateau (Hank Aaron reached 500 homers shortly after his teammate Eddie Matthews (512 homers) retired. Willie McCovey reached 500 shortly after his teammate Willie Mays had left the Giants).

Sosa finished the 2005 season batting .221 with 14 home runs, his worst performance since 1992, and continuing his post-2001 trend of declines in batting average, homers, total bases, and RBI. On December 7, 2005, the Orioles decided not to offer him an arbitration contract, effectively ending his Baltimore Orioles tenure and making him a free agent.

In 2005, The Sporting News published an update of their 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Sosa did not make the original edition, but for the 2005 update, with his career totals considerably higher, he was ranked at Number 95. During a stretch of nine consecutive years, Sosa hit 35+ home runs and 100+ RBIs, all with the Chicago Cubs.^[1]

At the end of January 2006, the Washington Nationals offered Sosa two different minor-league offers, both of which he turned down. On February 15, 2006, Sosa's agent Adam Katz stated: "We're not going to put him on the retirement list. We decided that [not putting him on that list] was the best thing to do. But I can say, with reasonable certainty, that we've seen Sammy in a baseball uniform for the last time."^[10]

During this year, Sosa accompanied President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic on several diplomatic trips including to the United States, Japan, and Taiwan.

Final years (2007-2009)

Sosa with the Rangers on July 2, 2007.

The Texas Rangers, Sosa's original team, signed him to a minor league deal worth $500,000 on January 30, 2007. This was the same contract that Sosa turned down the previous year from the Nationals. The contract included an invitation to spring training, where Sosa competed for a spot in the lineup with Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, and other rookies/prospects.^[11] Sosa was successful during spring training and was added to the team's 25-man roster. He started the 2007 season as the Rangers' designated hitter and occasional right fielder.

On April 26, 2007, Sosa made history by hitting a home run in his 45th major league ballpark. He has also homered in The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports, near Orlando, Florida, a usually minor-league and Spring Training park that hosted a regular season series between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in May 2007.

On June 20, 2007, Sosa hit a home run off of Jason Marquis during an inter-league game against Chicago Cubs. Sammy became only the fifth man in history, following Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds, to hit 600 regular season home runs.

The home run was the first one that Sosa had recorded against the Cubs, and as a result he has hit a home run against every active MLB team. Sosa is the Cubs all-time home run leader with 545 home runs with that team.

On May 28, 2008, Sosa announced that he instructed his agent not to offer his services to any Major League team for the 2008 season, and planned on filing for retirement, but never did. ^[12]

On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced he intended to unretire and play in the World Baseball Classic and once again test the free agent market in hopes of signing for a Major League ballclub in 2009. Sosa said that he had been keeping in shape at his home, and was hoping that after a strong World Baseball Classic he would prove to major-league teams that he was still capable of playing in the MLB. However, he was not selected as part of the Dominican Republic's roster. He remained a free agent and did not actively look for a team.

On June 3, 2009, Sosa announced his intention to retire from Major League Baseball. He made the announcement in the Dominican Republic and said that he was calmly looking forward to his induction within the Baseball Hall of Fame since his statistics were up to par. ^[13]

[edit] Drug test controversy

On June 16, 2009 the New York Times reported Sosa was on a list of 103 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. The paper did not identify the drug.^[14] Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, told The Associated Press he had no comment on the report. Rich Levin, commissioner Bud Selig's office spokesman, declined to comment on the situation, claiming that the MLB did not have a copy of the test results. Michael Weiner, the union general counsel, also declined comment. The union, while fighting to get the list back from the government, has mostly refused to discuss reports about the list because it does not want to confirm or deny who is on it.

Previously, Sosa sat alongside Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire at a 2005 hearing before Congress. His attorney testified on his behalf,^[15] stating "To be clear, I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything. I have not broken the laws of the United States or the laws of the Dominican Republic. I have been tested as recently as 2004, and I am clean."^[16]

In a recent interview with ESPN Deportes, Sosa, 40, said he would "calmly wait" for his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame, for which he will become eligible for induction in 2013. His comment angered many people and again brought up the argument of positive drug testing players being accepted into the Hall of Fame.

Favourite player hot news

Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.

Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in 1989. After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters. In 1998, Sosa and Mark McGwire achieved national fame for their home run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris' home run record. Although a fan favorite, Sosa fell out of favor in Chicago after he was caught using a corked bat in a 2003 game and later left the team during the final game of the 2004 season. Sosa finished his career with brief stints with the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers.With the Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th career home run to become the fifth player in MLB history to reach the milestone. He is also the all-time home run leader among foreign-born MLB players.

Sosa has long been the subject of speculation about suspected anabolic steroid use during his playing career. On June 16, 2009, the New York Times reported that Sammy failed a test for performance enhancing drugs in 2003.

Personal life

Sosa is known to family and friends as "Mikey." His maternal grandmother, who had suggested his birth name of Samuel, also came up with his nickname: "[She] heard the name on a soap opera she liked and decided from that moment on I would be Mikey."^[3]

Although his officially registered birthplace is San Pedro de Macorís, Sosa was actually born in Consuelo. San Pedro de Macorís was "the largest town nearby." Both Consuelo and San Pedro de Macorís are in San Pedro de Macorís Province.^[4]

Sosa is happily married to his wife, Sonia and has four children, Keysha, Kenia, Sammy Jr. and Michael

Major league career

Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox (1989–1991)

Sosa made his major league debut on June 16, 1989, with the Texas Rangers, and he hit first career home run off Roger Clemens. Later in the season, the Rangers traded Sammy to the Chicago White Sox. He played two full seasons for the White Sox and was traded, along with pitcher Ken Patterson, to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder George Bell before the 1992 season.

Chicago Cubs (1992–2004)

After years as a respected power/speed threat with a rocket arm in right field, he emerged during the 1998 as one of baseball's greatest. It was in this season that both Sosa and Mark McGwire were involved in the "home run record chase," when both players' prowess for hitting home runs drew national attention as they attempted to pass Roger Maris's single season home run mark of 61 home runs that had stood since 1961. Sosa ended the season with 66, behind McGwire's 70. However, Sammy had become the first Major League batter ever to hit 65 homers in a season. Then, McGwire passed him late in the season to become the first ever to hit 70.

Sosa wore the iconic #21 with the Cubs in honor of his childhood idol Roberto Clemente^[5]

Also in 1998, Sosa's 416 total bases were the most in a single season since Stan Musial's 429 in 1948. Sosa's performance in the month of June, during which Sosa belted 20 home runs, knocked in 47 runs, and posted an .842 slugging percentage, was one of the greatest offensive outbursts in major league history. Sosa won the National League Most Valuable Player Award for leading the Cubs into the playoffs in 1998, earning every first-place vote except for the two cast by St. Louis writers, who voted for McGwire. He and McGwire shared Sports Illustrated magazine's 1998 "Sportsman of the Year" award. Sosa was honored with a ticker-tape parade in his honor in New York City, and he was invited to be a guest at US President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union Address. 1998 was also the first time the Cubs made the post-season since 1989. The Cubs qualified as the NL Wild Card team, but were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.

In the 1999 season, Sosa hit 63 home runs, again trailing Mark McGwire who hit 65, however, Sosa became the first major leaguer to hit 60 or more home runs in back-to-back seasons. In the 2000 season, Sammy finally led the league by hitting 50 home runs.

In 2001, he hit 64 home runs, becoming the first player to hit 60 home runs in three seasons in his career. However, he did not lead the league in any of those seasons; in 2001, he finished behind Barry Bonds, who hit 73 homers, breaking the single-season home run record set by McGwire in 1998 (70). In the same season he set personal records in runs scored (146), RBI (160), walks (116), on base percentage (.437), slugging percentage (.737), and batting average (.328).^[1] He led the majors in runs and RBI, was 2nd in home runs, 2nd in slugging percentage, 1st in total bases, 3rd in walks, 4th in on base percentage, 12th in batting average, and 15th in hits. He also surpassed his 1998 number in total bases, racking up 425. Sosa once again led the league in home runs with 49 in 2002. Known as a free-swinger in his early years, and as a good strikeout candidate, Sammy became an effective hitter for average. He owns numerous team records for the Cubs, and he holds the major-league record for the most home runs hit in a month (20, in June 1998). In recognition of his accomplishments as a hitter, Sosa won the Silver Slugger award (an award for offensive output, voted on by managers and coaches) in 1995 and in 1998 through 2002.^[1]

Sammy Sosa had three 60+ home run seasons with the Cubs ('98, '99, & '01)

In 2003, the Cubs won the National League Central Division title. The year was not all good news for Sosa, however. In May, he spent his first period on the disabled list since 1996 after having an injured toenail removed. On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from a Chicago Cubs-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game in the first inning when umpires discovered he had been using a corked bat.^[6] Major League Baseball confiscated and tested 76 of Sosa's other bats after his ejection; all were found to be clean, with no cork. Five bats he had sent to the Hall of Fame in past years were also tested, and were all clean as well.^[7] Sosa stated that he had accidentally used the corked bat, which he claimed he only used during batting practice. But they soon interviewed the Cubs' manager, who said that any use of corked bats on his team is strictly prohibited. On June 6, Sosa was suspended for eight games.^[8] However, the suspension was reduced to seven games after appeal on June 11.^[9] Sosa finished the season with 40 home runs, and he hit two more in the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins, but overall, the Cubs lost the series in seven games. According to the New York Times of June 16, 2009, Sosa had also tested positive for steroids at some point during the season.

In May 2004, Sosa suffered an odd injury while sitting next to his locker chatting with reporters before a game in San Diego's PETCO Park. He sneezed violently, causing severe back pain. He was diagnosed with back spasms and placed on the disabled list. Later, he fell into one of the worst slumps of his career, only snapping out of it during the last week of the season. He finished with 35 homers, far below his numbers of his best years. The final straw for the Cubs seemed to be an incident in late 2004. Sosa requested to sit out the last game of the season, which was at home against the Atlanta Braves, and he left Wrigley Field early in the game. It was his last time he would be in a Cubs uniform.

Baltimore Orioles and year off (2005–2006)

Sosa in spring training with the Orioles in 2005.

On January 28, 2005, the Cubs traded Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston, Jr., infielder Mike Fontenot, and RHP Dave Crouthers. To facilitate the deal, Sosa and his agent agreed to waive the clause that guaranteed his 2006 salary, and the players' union indicated it would not object to that agreement. Under the deal, Sosa earned $17,875,000 for the 2005 season, with the Cubs paying $7 million of his salary. By playing for the 2005 Orioles alongside fellow 500-home-run batter Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Palmeiro became the first 500 home run club members in history to play together on the same team after reaching the 500 home run plateau (Hank Aaron reached 500 homers shortly after his teammate Eddie Matthews (512 homers) retired. Willie McCovey reached 500 shortly after his teammate Willie Mays had left the Giants).

Sosa finished the 2005 season batting .221 with 14 home runs, his worst performance since 1992, and continuing his post-2001 trend of declines in batting average, homers, total bases, and RBI. On December 7, 2005, the Orioles decided not to offer him an arbitration contract, effectively ending his Baltimore Orioles tenure and making him a free agent.

In 2005, The Sporting News published an update of their 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Sosa did not make the original edition, but for the 2005 update, with his career totals considerably higher, he was ranked at Number 95. During a stretch of nine consecutive years, Sosa hit 35+ home runs and 100+ RBIs, all with the Chicago Cubs.^[1]

At the end of January 2006, the Washington Nationals offered Sosa two different minor-league offers, both of which he turned down. On February 15, 2006, Sosa's agent Adam Katz stated: "We're not going to put him on the retirement list. We decided that [not putting him on that list] was the best thing to do. But I can say, with reasonable certainty, that we've seen Sammy in a baseball uniform for the last time."^[10]

During this year, Sosa accompanied President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic on several diplomatic trips including to the United States, Japan, and Taiwan.

Final years (2007-2009)

Sosa with the Rangers on July 2, 2007.

The Texas Rangers, Sosa's original team, signed him to a minor league deal worth $500,000 on January 30, 2007. This was the same contract that Sosa turned down the previous year from the Nationals. The contract included an invitation to spring training, where Sosa competed for a spot in the lineup with Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, and other rookies/prospects.^[11] Sosa was successful during spring training and was added to the team's 25-man roster. He started the 2007 season as the Rangers' designated hitter and occasional right fielder.

On April 26, 2007, Sosa made history by hitting a home run in his 45th major league ballpark. He has also homered in The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports, near Orlando, Florida, a usually minor-league and Spring Training park that hosted a regular season series between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in May 2007.

On June 20, 2007, Sosa hit a home run off of Jason Marquis during an inter-league game against Chicago Cubs. Sammy became only the fifth man in history, following Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds, to hit 600 regular season home runs.

The home run was the first one that Sosa had recorded against the Cubs, and as a result he has hit a home run against every active MLB team. Sosa is the Cubs all-time home run leader with 545 home runs with that team.

On May 28, 2008, Sosa announced that he instructed his agent not to offer his services to any Major League team for the 2008 season, and planned on filing for retirement, but never did. ^[12]

On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced he intended to unretire and play in the World Baseball Classic and once again test the free agent market in hopes of signing for a Major League ballclub in 2009. Sosa said that he had been keeping in shape at his home, and was hoping that after a strong World Baseball Classic he would prove to major-league teams that he was still capable of playing in the MLB. However, he was not selected as part of the Dominican Republic's roster. He remained a free agent and did not actively look for a team.

On June 3, 2009, Sosa announced his intention to retire from Major League Baseball. He made the announcement in the Dominican Republic and said that he was calmly looking forward to his induction within the Baseball Hall of Fame since his statistics were up to par. ^[13]

[edit] Drug test controversy

On June 16, 2009 the New York Times reported Sosa was on a list of 103 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003. The paper did not identify the drug.^[14] Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, told The Associated Press he had no comment on the report. Rich Levin, commissioner Bud Selig's office spokesman, declined to comment on the situation, claiming that the MLB did not have a copy of the test results. Michael Weiner, the union general counsel, also declined comment. The union, while fighting to get the list back from the government, has mostly refused to discuss reports about the list because it does not want to confirm or deny who is on it.

Previously, Sosa sat alongside Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire at a 2005 hearing before Congress. His attorney testified on his behalf,^[15] stating "To be clear, I have never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs. I have never injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything. I have not broken the laws of the United States or the laws of the Dominican Republic. I have been tested as recently as 2004, and I am clean."^[16]

In a recent interview with ESPN Deportes, Sosa, 40, said he would "calmly wait" for his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame, for which he will become eligible for induction in 2013. His comment angered many people and again brought up the argument of positive drug testing players being accepted into the Hall of Fame.

Latest News about Glover to appear on David Letterman show tonight

Former Clemson golfer Lucas Glover, who won the U.S. Open golf championship on Monday, will present the Top 10 List on The Late Show with David Letterman on the CBS television network tonight. The show airs locally at 11:30 p.m. on WCSC.

Glover is the first Clemson graduate to present the Top 10 List on The Late Show since May of 1997 when Jane Robelot read the list. Robelot was a host for CBS This Morning at the time.

Glover and Robelot not only graduated from the same university, they also are graduates of Wade Hampton High School in Greenville.

Glover will be the first former Clemson student-athlete to appear on the show since former Clemson pitcher Jimmy Key was one of many New York Yankees who appeared on the program as a group after winning the 1996 World Series. William “The Refrigerator” Perry is the only former Clemson athlete to appear on the program as a guest. His appearance was in November of 1985, his rookie year in the NFL.

Mariah Carey on 'America's Got Talent'?

America's Got Talent' Recap: America's Got Talent is relevant! The show that has already rewarded a ventriloquist and an opera singer is back to try and find another American with an obscure talent that no one really cares about. The Susan Boyle Effect is sure to play out this season, as a ton of hopelessly unattractive people will try to prove it's what's on the inside that matters.

Sadly for them, they probably missed the finale of Britain's Got Talent where Boyle lost to a dance troupe and proceeded to get checked into the hospital for exhaustion while cursing her way across the country. Beauty may only be skin deep, but just like fried chicken, the skin is the best part.

Here to guide us through a parade of freaks, children and ugly old ladies are the judges. There's Sharon Osbourne, who was sued by Megan Hauserman for assault during the Rock of Love Girls: Charm School reunion, David Hasselhoff, most famous for starring in Knight Rider, Baywatch, and eating a hamburger on the floor, and Piers Morgan, the poor man's Simon Cowell who won The Celebrity Apprentice.

That last one may sound impressive, but Joan Rivers won this season. It's a bit like me trying to impress you by saying I share a birthday with the Hoff's Baywatch co-star David Chokachi. It may be true, but it's certainly not anything to brag about.

Jerry Springer was smart enough to get off this merry-go-round after last season, as he's off to do more respectable things like his talk show. Replacing him as host is Nick Cannon, also known as Mariah Carey's boy toy. I know what you're thinking, and no, Nick Cannon is not the skinny kid from Good Burger.

The freak show kicks off in New York City. Nick Cannon is way to happy as host, probably because this is the first time he's been able to escape Mariah's menopausal eight-octave shrieking.

The first waste of time is a 26-year-old idiot who does some really bad singing and dancing. It's not even entertaining, it's just bad. He's followed by a unicycling guitarist and a white "rapper" who actually does poor spoken word. Finally there's a fire dancer who sets her hair on fire. The Hoff claims it was a terrible start, but it was entertaining. I'll agree with half of that statement.

Rather than stick around, the show moves to Chicago before NYC can suck any more. The first audition is a man who claims he's the only living person who can walk while turning his feet 180 degrees. The Hoff correctly points out that, while it may be unusual, it's not really a talent.