WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With much of the world anxiously counting down the hours until the beginning of the London Olympics, Cat Osterman admits her passion for the sporting spectacle is half-hearted at best.

The two-time medal-winning pitcher for the United States softball team traces her lack of enthusiasm to her sport being eliminated from the Olympic program.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With much of the world anxiously counting down the hours until the beginning of the London Olympics, Cat Osterman admits her passion for the sporting spectacle is half-hearted at best.

The two-time medal-winning pitcher for the United States softball team traces her lack of enthusiasm to her sport being eliminated from the Olympic program.

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Reuters) – With much of the world
anxiously counting down the hours until the beginning of the
London Olympics, Cat Osterman admits her passion for the
sporting spectacle is half-hearted at best.

The two-time medal-winning pitcher for the United States
softball team traces her lack of enthusiasm to her sport being
eliminated from the Olympic program.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – American Dara Torres is still waiting for the big cry.

Three weeks after missing out on her sixth Olympics by .09 of a second, the 45-year-old swimmer said that while the agony is still raw, it has not fully found its way to the surface.

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) – American Dara Torres is
still waiting for the big cry.

Three weeks after missing out on her sixth Olympics by .09
of a second, the 45-year-old swimmer said that while the agony
is still raw, it has not fully found its way to the surface.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey won his match-up against Gio Gonzalez for the major league lead in wins as the New York Mets snapped their season-high six-game losing streak by crushing the Washington Nationals 9-5 in a Thursday matinee.

Dickey (13-1, 2.72 earned run average), benefiting from two home runs and five runs batted in by David Wright, pitched 7-1/3 innings, scattering 10 hits while giving up four runs.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Stephen Strasburg’s season will end after 160 innings even if the success-starved Washington Nationals are involved in a playoff push, manager Davey Johnson insisted Wednesday.

The All-Star right-hander is 10-4 this season with a 2.66 earned run average and a league-leading 135 strikeouts but the flame-thrower has already pitched 105 innings for the National League East division leaders.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. men’s basketball team eased past Brazil 80-69 in an exhibition game on Monday, but their sluggish play and spotty shooting should banish any thoughts they will waltz to another Olympic gold medal in London.

LeBron James scored 30 to lead the Americans, who trailed by 10 after the first period and were out-rebounded (38-30) and out-hustled by their less-heralded counterparts.

WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) – The U.S. men’s
basketball team eased past Brazil 80-69 in an exhibition game on
Monday, but their sluggish play and spotty shooting should
banish any thoughts they will waltz to another Olympic gold
medal in London.

LeBron James scored 30 to lead the Americans, who trailed by
10 after the first period and were out-rebounded (38-30) and
out-hustled by their less-heralded counterparts.

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) – The National League erupted for five runs in the first inning and limited the American League to just six singles to win the All-Star game 8-0 on Tuesday, the first shutout in the Midsummer Classic since 1996.

A 382-foot, two-run homer by San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera and a three-run triple by his Giants team mate Pablo Sandoval highlighted the N.L. attack.