West beats East in WNBA All-Star Game
NEW YORK, July 13 (UPI) -- After Lisa Leslie left the WNBA All-Star Game with a knee injury Saturday, Nikki Teasley took over and led the West to an 84-75 victory over the East.
Teasley, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, collected 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals to help the West improve to 5-0 all time.
Leslie scored all of her 17 points in the first half but exited with 14:33 remaining and her team behind, 50-46. After West teammate Lauren Jackson blocked a shot by Swin Cash, Jackson collided with Cash, sending the Detroit Shock forward into Leslie's right knee.
A three-time All-Star Game MVP, Leslie was carried from the floor on a stretcher and taken to Beth Israel Hospital for an MRI.
Els has five-shot lead at Scottish Open
LOCH LOMOND, Scotland, July 13 (UPI) -- Ernie Els will take a commanding five-shot lead into Sunday's final round of the Scottish Open.
The South African fired a 4-under-par 67 to move to 15-under 198 and, barring a collapse, will regain the title he won in 2000.
Ryder Cup teammates Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Phillip Price of Wales are his closest challengers at 10-under 203. Clarke carded a 64 and Price a 68 on Saturday as he looks for back-to-back wins following his European Open triumph last week.
Australian Peter O'Malley is two shots further back after shooting a 62 which matched Retief Goosen's course record set in 1997. But O'Malley's score will not be considered a record due to the preferred lies in operation in the wet conditions.
Els is preparing defend his British Open title next week.
U.S. blanks El Salvador in Gold Cup
FOXBORO, Mass., July 13 (UPI) -- Eddie Lewis and Brian McBride led the United States in a 2-0 blanking of El Salvador Saturday in its opening game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The win gave the U.S. control of its group. The Americans need a win or tie Monday night against Martinique to advance to the second round. Saturday's victory boosted the defending champions to 15
0 all-time in Gold Cup group play.
Earlier Saturday, Canada surprised Costa Rica, 1-0, on a goal by Paul Staltieri. The matches were part of a day-long tripleheader that featured an MLS game.
The Gold Cup, North and Central America's major regional tournament, continues Sunday when Mexico hots Brazil and Jamaica battles Colombia in Miami. The 12-team tournament concludes July 27.
Tracy wins pole for Champ Car Molson
TORONTO, July 13 (UPI) -- Champ Car World Series points leader Paul Tracy won the pole in his hometown for the first time Saturday at the Molson Indy Toronto.
Tracy posted a top lap of 58.839 seconds around the 1 1/3-mile street circuit. He averaged 107.378 miles per hour in a Ford/Lola to take the pole from provisional winner Bruno Junqueira of Brazil.
Tracy avoided intermittent rain during the final qualifying session and secured his third pole this season, second in three races and 16th of his career.
The 33-year-old Canadian will start on the front row for the seventh time this season on Sunday.
Junqueira guaranteed himself a spot on the front row by being fastest in Friday's qualifying session. He improved his speed to 106.486 mph on Saturday.
The top three starters will be Ford/Lolas. Mexico's Michel Jourdain Jr. held onto third.
Virenque leads Tour, Armstrong still second
MORZINE-AVORIAZ, France, July 13 (UPI) -- Frenchman Richard Virenque won Stage 7 of the Tour de France on Saturday to take the overall lead, while American Lance Armstrong remained second.
Virenque covered the opening mountain stage in 6 hours, 6 minutes and 3 seconds to move up from 46th place. He is the second Frenchman to wear the yellow jersey this year. On Tuesday, Jean-Patrick Nazon picked up key bonuses and became the first Frenchman to grab the overall lead since Francois Simon in 2001.
Armstrong, who excels in the mountains, was 15th in the stage. Overall, he is 2 minutes, 37 seconds behind Virenque.
Last year, the 31-year-old Armstrong dropped from third to eighth in the overall standings after being held up by a crash in Stage 7. Armstrong moved into the overall lead after Stage 11 last year.
Sunday Stage 8 covers 136 miles from Sallanches to L'Alpe d'Huez.
