Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden ó Asafa Powell took on the world’s fastest man with every intention of beating him to the finish line.
Usain Bolt just couldn’t catch up in time.
Powell capitalized on Bolt’s weak start and edged the world-record holder by one-hundredth of a second, leading from start to finish in the 100 meters at the DN Galan meet on Tuesday.
Powell, the former world-record holder, won their highly anticipated rematch in 9.88 seconds. Bolt, who was slow out of the blocks, nearly caught his fellow Jamaican at the finish line. Third went to Norwegian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure in 10.06.
“I was really happy with the race,” Powell said. “My goal was to win. My start was quick and fast. And the speed stayed with me through the finish.
“I’m really looking forward to the Olympics.”
The win was a measure of revenge for Powell, after losing to his close friend Bolt at Jamaica’s Olympic Trials last month.
Bolt set the world record of 9.72 in New York on May 31, breaking Powell’s mark of 9.74.
PRO HOOPS
LAS VEGAS ó As Team USA’s practice ended, LeBron James reclined on a table with trainers tending to his sprained right ankle.
A horde of television cameramen surrounded James and the trainers before team officials shooed them away.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he would know more on Wednesday, after James has had a chance to rest.
“He thinks it’s a mild sprain,” Krzyzewski said. “Our trainers think it’s a mild sprain. So we’ll find out tomorrow. But I don’t think it’s anything serious. Obviously, we’ll look and see what happens tomorrow.”
– OAKLAND, Calif. ó The Golden State Warriors acquired Marcus Williams from the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday, filling their need for a backup point guard.
Williams, a first-round pick in 2006, averaged 5.9 points and 2.6 assists in 53 games with the Nets last season after missing the first 23 games with a broken right foot. He made the NBA’s all-rookie second team in 2007 after a three-year career at Connecticut.
– SAN ANTONIO ó The San Antonio Spurs re-signed Kurt Thomas on Tuesday, getting the veteran forward under contract after trading for him in February.
WNBA
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. ó Candace Parker wanted to focus on all of the good parts of the Los Angeles Sparks’ win over the Detroit Shock.
Unfortunately, it will be the final 5 seconds that everyone else is going to remember.
Parker was one of three players ejected along with Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn after an ugly scuffle with 4.6 seconds left in Los Angeles’ 84-81 victory.
“To be honest, I don’t recall exactly what happened,” said Parker, who led Los Angeles with 21 points. “I’ll have to watch the tape.”
The skirmish started moments after Parker and Detroit’s Cheryl Ford had to be separated after Ford fouled Parker.
On the next possession, Parker got tangled up with Detroit’s Plenette Pierson and fell to the ground. As she was getting up, Pierson intentionally ran into her, setting off the melee.
Parker threw a punch at Pierson before being tackled by Detroit’s Deanna Nolan. Players and coaches from both teams joined in, and Mahorn knocked Lisa Leslie to the court at one point.
“I was trying to protect the whole game, the integrity of the game,” he said. “The WNBA is very special to me because I have four daughters. I don’t even raise my hand to them, and I would never push a woman. This game, I love this game too much.”
Mahorn was also involved in the 2004 Pistons-Pacers brawl while working as a Detroit broadcaster, going into the crowd to try to pull Ron Artest away from fans.
HURRICANES
RALEIGH ó The Carolina Hurricanes will retire Glen Wesley’s jersey number in February.
The Hurricanes announced Tuesday that they will raise the veteran defenseman’s No. 2 to the rafters of the RBC Center on Feb. 17 before their game against the Boston Bruins.
CYCLING
JAUSIERS, France ó Frank Schleck of Luxembourg kept the yellow jersey in the Tour de France on Tuesday, with riders pushing themselves through the Alps as cycling’s showcase race left Italy and returned to France.
French rider Cyril Dessel won the 16th stage for his first stage victory in this race. He led a breakaway group of four riders to a downhill finish, completing the 98-mile trip from Cuneo, Italy.
HALL OF FAME
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó Former South Carolina star Brian Winters, once traded for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his NBA career, was among eight people elected to the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 18.
Others named to the hall included soccer player Josh Wolff, football players Henry Martin, Clarence Williams and Collin Mackie, golfer Carl Paulson and track and field athlete Brad Snyder.