Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Kim Clijsters pulled off another upset that didn’t really look like one. Now, she’s only two wins from a U.S. Open title hardly anyone could have seen coming.
The mother of 18-month-old Jada, Clijsters dismantled 18th-seeded Li Na, 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals Tuesday, punishing China’s top tennis star with deep, stinging groundstrokes that were part of a game that looked about like it did when she retired two years ago.
Or maybe better.
Clijsters has already beaten Venus Williams and two other seeded players and nothing seems like too big a stretch at this point.
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That upward-pointing arrow defining Andy Murray’s career flattened out dramatically Tuesday.The British star, who had ascended to a No. 2 ranking, was ousted from the U.S. Open by No. 16 Marin Cilic, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 ó a lopsided result as surprising for its score as the player he lost to.
PREP FOOTBALL
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ó The parents of a 16-year-old Kentucky football player who was baptized along with some teammates during a trip organized by their coach said Tuesday they believe their son may have felt some pressure to go through with the ceremony.
Parents said the voluntary trip was organized by Breckinridge County High School football coach Scott Mooney, who is a member of the Baptist church where the revival was held Aug. 26.
Dannie Ammons told The Associated Press he had no idea his son was being taken to a church in another county on a school bus. His son, Robert Coffey, told them he was going to see a motivational speaker.
“There wasn’t supposed to be anything religious,” said Ammons, who is Catholic.
NFL
PHILADELPHIA ó Michael Vick, speaking to a group of Philadelphia high school students Tuesday, warned against the dangers of peer pressure and offered himself as a cautionary tale of what can happen when someone is a follower instead of a leader.
The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, who served prison time for running a dogfighting ring, addressed a rapt audience of 200 freshmen on their first day at Nueva Esperanza Academy, a North Philadelphia charter school. He urged the students to make the right choices and to resist the temptation to follow the crowd.
“I didn’t choose to go the right way, which led to 18 months in prison, which was the toughest time of my life,” he said. “Being away from my family, being away from my kids who I adore dearly, and being away from the game of football, doing something so foolish, and I wish I could take it all back.”I was influenced by so many people when I should have been a leader, not a follower.”
ALAMEDA, Calif. ó Richard Seymour failed to report to Oakland for a second straight day Tuesday after being traded from the New England Patriots.
– NEW YORK ó Junior Seau would consider returning to the Patriots if they again come calling this season.
The 40-year-old linebacker said Tuesday he would sign only with New England because of his familiarity with the team. He’s willing to play up to six games ó any more would cut too much into his time with his children.
– PITTSBURGH ó Pittsburgh Steelers center Justin Hartwig has signed a four-year contract on Tuesday, two days before the season opener against Tennessee.
NBA
Michael Jordan has chosen David Thompson, another high flyer from North Carolina, to present him, while Charles Barkley and Isiah Thomas also will be presenters at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
NHL
SAGUENAY, Quebec ó The son of NHL great Patrick Roy will stand trial Oct. 7 on charges he assaulted a goaltender during a game last year, an outburst that prompted a national debate on violence in hockey.