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McNair's Death Ruled a Homicide as Officials Continue Investigation

Steve McNair and Sahel KazemiNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair's shooting death was a homicide, police said Sunday, but authorities stopped short of saying it was a murder-suicide committed by the 20-year-old girlfriend found dead by his side.

McNair, 36, was shot four times, twice in the head, by a semiautomatic pistol, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said. The woman, Sahel Kazemi, was killed by a single gunshot wound and the pistol was found under her body, Aaron said.

Aaron said the two had been in a "dating relationship for past several months."

All-Snub Team: American League

Miguel CabreraWith the introduction of the 2009 All-Star teams, the next step for fans is to complain about their favorite players not making the squad. Thus, we'll get a head start and go through each position in the American League.

The rosters, which will be complete once the fan vote for the final player in each league concludes, were announced during a selection show on TBS Sunday. Remember, this season baseball added yet another pitcher to the roster, in hopes that the game doesn't end in a tie like the 2002 debacle. The concern once again came to the forefront last season as the game went deep into extra innings and the pitching depth began to run out.


Two Months After Giving Birth, Candace Parker Returns to WNBA

News that reigning WNBA All-Star Candace Parker, without question the best women's basketball player in the world, got pregnant last winter surely sent a chill through the bones of WNBA boosters, Los Angeles Sparks management, and Parker's business partners. But Candace promised she'd be back quickly, better than ever.

Parker, who is married to fringe NBA forward Shelden Williams, gave birth to daughter Lailaa on May 13. Tonight, less than two months later, she will return to the Sparks line-up.

Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir on Their Memories of Royce Gracie

Frank MirAs they prepared to fight in the main event of UFC 100, Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar took a little time this week to heap praise on the first Ultimate Fighting Champion, Royce Gracie.

Mir said seeing Gracie win UFC 1 opened his eyes to a whole new style of fighting and made him want to become the Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt that he is today. And Lesnar fondly recalled seeing Gracie's battle with Kimo Leopoldo at UFC 3, which was Gracie's eighth UFC fight and the first time Gracie was ever seriously challenged in the Octagon.

Hedo Turkoglu Will Be a Raptor, So What Happens to Shawn Marion?

Hedo TurkogluIt seems Hedo Turkoglu really has made up his mind this time. After a stormy Friday that had Hedo in Portland for five years NO WAIT make that Toronto, the dust has settled and Turkoglu will apparently be a Raptor. For real. (We think.)

Turkoglu's agent Lon Babby admitted Saturday that Hedo made a verbal committment to the Blazers Friday before changing course. That might seem like bad pool, but that's one of the dangers of negotiating deals during the free agency moratorium the first week of July. Last-minute reversals have happened before, and they'll happen again. (It's also worth noting no one confirmed a Portland deal on the record during Friday's crazy hours. Everything was anonymously sourced.)

MLB All-Star Game 2009 Rosters

MLB All-Star Game 2009 logoThe votes are in and counted and St. Louis is ready to host the 80th Midsummer Classic on Tuesday July 14, so who will be representing the American and National League in the Gateway City?

There will be 33 players on each league's roster, with the eight position-player starters selected by a fan vote, eight pitchers (five starters and three relievers) and one reserve at each position selected by a vote among the players, coaches and managers and the remainder of the roster filled by the managers of each team -- Joe Maddon in the AL and Charlie Manuel in the NL. As has been the case the last few years, fans will also select the final player for each league in a vote to be conducted in the next week.

After the jump see the full rosters for the 2009 All-Star Game.

Baseball Brunch: Sometimes Relief Solution Is Closer Than It Appears

David Aardsma and Ryan FranklinEvery Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

A week ago Sunday night, Mariano Rivera earned his 500th save. Which should make us realize a few things about closers:

• The truly great ones are the those who can sustain it for a long time. Getting 40 saves a year for 12 years would still leave one short of 500.

• Even getting to the second tier isn't easy. Only 18 players have had as many as six 30-save seasons: Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, Billy Wagner, Troy Percival, John Wetteland, Dennis Eckersley, John Franco, Jason Isringhausen, Robb Nen, Jeff Reardon, Todd Jones, Jose Mesa, Roberto Hernandez, Randy Myers, Rick Aguilera, Tom Henke and Todd Worrell.

In other words, the shelf life for a typical closer is a short one. They can burst onto the scene – and flame out quickly (right, Mr. Gagne?)

• But it also means that teams can find short-term solutions for the ninth inning any number of ways.

Starting Five: Tim Lincecum Streaking Toward Possible All-Star Start

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That reigning NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum is actually better this year, which makes it seem like a long time ago that we wondered how he'd top his 2008 season. Lincecum has erased all memory of that slow start by stringing together 23 consecutive scoreless innings, including seven against the Astros on Saturday.

Lincecum is now 9-2 with a 2.23 ERA, lower than last year's 2.64 ERA. He's looking like a strong candidate to start the All-Star Game in St. Louis, which would be a nice way of making up for last year. Lincecum was picked to go to the game in New York, but he was too sick to attend.
"It would mean a lot -- the hard work paid off," said Lincecum. "If I do happen to start, it will make up for the fact I didn't even make it to the field last year."
As a team, the Giants have now pitched two shutouts in a row for the second time in a week. Previously, they hadn't done it since 2002.

More Coverage: Scoreboard | Standings | Statistics

Last-Lap Dramatics Bump Busch, Give Stewart Victory at Daytona

Tony StewartDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The celebratory Fourth of July pyrotechnics going off along the backstretch following Saturday night's NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway were nothing compared to the last-lap fireworks show minutes earlier on the frontstretch.

Two-time NASCAR champ Tony Stewart muscled his way by Kyle Busch about 100 yards before the finish line -- holding his line as Busch tried to block him. Ultimately, Stewart was able to get his nose in position for the pass. When Busch tried to stop Stewart's final push, the two cars collided and Busch's car spun out, hitting the wall and paving the way for Stewart to capture the victory.

Grant Hill Could Reunite With Doc Rivers

Grant HillDoc Rivers may get a second chance to coach Grant Hill. The last time it didn't turn out so well.

Rivers, now coach of the Boston Celtics, and Hill, an unrestricted free agent who played last season for the Phoenix Suns, will meet Sunday in Orlando to discuss the possibility of working together again. Both make their offseason homes here.

"I don't have to go very far to meet with him this time,'' Hill said Saturday night before watching his wife Tamia perform at a Summer Soul Series concert in Orlando.

Adu's Goal Paces US Rout of Grenada

SEATTLE (AP) -- Playing without its top stars, there was some concern that the United States would struggle to generate offense during the heading CONCACAF Gold Cup. That doesn't look like a problem anymore. The Americans, fresh off a stunning ...

Resilient McNair Earned Nashville's Love

Two months ago, Steve McNair walked into a bar named Loser's near downtown Nashville. It was after midnight. McNair wore blue jeans, boots and a black T-shirt hanging tightly on his broad chest. The patrons inside Loser's, a country-themed bar with ...

Woods, Kim Tied for Lead at AT&T

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- Anthony Kim finally gets a crack at Tiger Woods, and when he says he has been practicing for a moment like this all his life, Kim isn't kidding. As a 10-year-old growing up in Los Angeles, in those final hours of twilight as he ...

Mayfield Says He'll Return Next Week

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Embattled driver Jeremy Mayfield released a statement two hours before the start of Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Daytona International Speedway, thanking fans who have stood behind him and promising to do everything ...

Cancellara Wins, Upstages Armstrong in First Tour de France Stage

MONACO (AP) -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong went out early and put up a solid time in the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, then was upstaged by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. Cancellara finished the 9.6-mile time trial in 19 ...

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